27 Best Sights in The Cyclades, Greece

The square above the port, to the northwest, was built to celebrate the church's 1,700th anniversary. From there note a white wall with two belfries, the front of the former monastic quarters that surround the magnificent Panagia Ekatontapyliani, the earliest remaining proto-Byzantine church in Greece and one of the oldest unaltered churches in the world. As such, it is a renowned pilgrimage church of the Aegean, second only to Megalochari on nearby Tinos.

The story began in 326, when St. Helen—the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great—set out on a ship for the Holy Land to find the True Cross. Stopping on Paros, she had a vision of success and vowed to build a church there. Though she died before it was built, her son built the church in 328 as a wooden-roof basilica. Two centuries later, Justinian the Great (who ruled the Byzantine Empire in 527–65) commissioned the splendid dome.

According to legend, 99 doors have been found in the church and the 100th will be discovered only after Constantinople is Greek again—but the name is actually older than the legend. Inside, the subdued light mixes with the dun, reddish, and green tufa (porous volcanic rock). The columns are classical and their capitals Byzantine. At the corners of the dome are two fading Byzantine frescoes depicting six-winged seraphim. The 4th-century iconostasis (with ornate later additions) is divided into five frames by marble columns. One panel contains the 14th-century icon of the Virgin, with a silver covering from 1777. The Virgin is carried in procession on the church's crowded feast day, August 15, the Dormition. During Easter services, thousands of rose petals are dropped from the dome upon the singing celebrant. The adjacent Baptistery, nearly unique in Greece, also built from the 4th to the 6th century, has a marble font and bits of mosaic floor. The church museum, at the right, contains post-Byzantine icons.

The Archaeological Museum contains a large chunk of the famed Parian chronicle, which recorded cultural events in Greece from about 1500 BC until 260 BC (another chunk is in Oxford's Ashmolean Museum). It interests scholars that the historian inscribed detailed information about artists, poets, and playwrights, completely ignoring wars and shifts in government. Some primitive pieces from the Aegean's oldest settlement, Saliagos (an islet between Paros and Antiparos), are exhibited in the same room, on the left. A small room contains Archaic finds from the ongoing excavation at Despotiko—and they are finding a lot. In the large room to the right rests a marble slab depicting the poet Archilochus in a banquet scene, lying on a couch, his weapons nearby. The ancients ranked Archilochus, who invented iambic meter and wrote the first signed love lyric, second only to Homer. When he died in battle against the Naxians, his conqueror was cursed by the oracle of Apollo for putting to rest one of the faithful servants of the muse. Also there are a monumental Nike and three superb pieces found in the last decade: a waist-down kouros, a gorgon with intact wings, and a dancing-girl relief.

Head 11 km (7 miles) south of Antiparos Town to the calm, southeastern beaches of Ayios Georgios. This series of small, fine-sand coves has a view of the uninhabited island of Despotiko. Here, three small fish tavernas sit on the edge of the tiny village road, overlooking the sea. Otherwise, what you see is what you get—a serene untouched landscape. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

Served by the Kolymbithres boat, Ayios Ioannis's golden, sandy beach is peaceful, clean, and quiet. Also known by locals as Monastiri Beach, it is protected by a rocky cove and has a snack bar and numerous amenities. Nice, gently shelving waters are perfect for kids.The blue-domed, whitewashed Ayios Ioannis Monastery sits to the right side of the beach, a short walk away. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming.

This long, quiet sandy stretch of beach is located off a small path leading from the Antiparos Camping campground and just north of Antiparos Town. The view is peaceful: just the neighboring inlet of Diplos and a turquoise sea. On one section of the beach, umbrellas and lounge chairs can be rented and another area is frequented by nudists—it's one of Greece's recognized naturist beaches. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: nudists; solitude; walking.

In the 19th century the most famous sight in the Aegean was the cave of Antiparos, and it still draws many visitors every year. Greece's oldest known cave sits on the southeastern part of Antiparos. It's filled with shapely stalactites and stalagmites of which the oldest is said to be 45 million years old. The natural wonder was first discovered by a French ambassador in the 16th century and myths, legends, and stories have been associated with it along the way. You'll need to take exactly 411 steps down into the cave's 100-meter-deep core to explore. Look for Lord Byron's autograph. Outside is the church of Agios Ioánnis Spiliótis, built in 1774. Audio tours are available.

A 15-minute walk or 2-minute drive back toward Paros Town from the Valley of Butterflies leads to the convent known as Christos sto Dasos, from where there's a marvelous view of the Aegean. The convent contains the tomb of St. Arsenios (1800–77), who was a schoolteacher, an abbot, and a prophet. He was also a reputed rainmaker, whose prayers were believed to have ended a long drought, saving Paros from starvation. The nuns are a bit leery of tourists. If you want to go in, be sure to wear long pants or skirt and a shirt that covers your shoulders or the sisters will turn you away.

This small beach is known for its pretty water and relaxed atmosphere. It’s also known around the island for Magaya, a colorful beach bar set right in front of the beach. In the summer, beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent, so grab one and settle in to enjoy the view of Paroikía Bay. There’s a small rocky islet with an underwater cave in the near distance, popular for swimmers to head to, but it’s often full of sea urchins. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming.

The Folklore Museum is set in a garden full of large models of traditional windmills, dovecotes, churches, and other such famous Cycladian monuments, making for an utterly charming setting. It also showcases the lifetime hobby of fisherman Benetos Skiadas, who loves to make detailed models of ships and his scrupulous craftsmanship is on view here.

Naousa's small Folklore Museum, about 500 feet from the main town square, is in a traditional house donated by Kanstantinos and Marouso Roussos. It's run by the Music, Dance and Theatre Group of Naousa and features folk costumes from Paros and the rest of Greece. The furniture and implements are also historic.

Golden Beach (or Chrysi Akti in Greek) is a series of tree-fringed sandy beaches that are well organized and in close proximity to an array of taverns, restaurants, and cafés. The area is famous for its water-sports activities and several centers are based here offering diving excursions and kitesurfing and windsurfing lessons. The Windsurfing World Cup has held events here. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; water sports; windsurfing.

Sandy, long, and unorganized, Kaminia sits to the north of Paroikía Bay. Beachgoers seeking more solitude can head here, even though it’s right next to the popular Krios Beach. See if you can find the cave of Archilochos, which is a small opening on the rock along the coast. The famous Ancient Greek poet was said to visit the cave for inspiration and wrote poetry there. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; swimming.

The beach, which is noted for its anfractuous rock formations, is also considered to be one of Paros's best, attracting its share of crowds to the small, sandy cove. The granite formations create shallow pools of water popular with the kids. It's within walking distance of two tavernas that overlook the region. Lounge chairs and umbrellas are available for rent from a seasonal café. Head to the top of nearby Koukounaries Hill to view the remains of an ancient site. You can get there by car, and there is designated parking for the beach. A water-taxi crosses the bay to Kolymbithres from Naousa. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free). Best for: swimming.

Close to Paroikía, this sandy beach is a popular summer destination. Cliffs jut into the sand line, parting the coastline and providing protection from the summer island winds. From under a rented umbrella you can watch the boats and ferries slowly sail into the harbor. If you need to take a break, there's a selection of nearby tavernas. To get here, you can hike the half-hour-long cliff-top trail, take a small boat from the harbor, or drive to the nearby parking area. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; walking.

A boat from Naousa regularly heads to Lageri, a long beach known for its fine sand, dunes, and calm, quiet atmosphere. These are just a few of the reasons it attracts its share of nudists, who prefer the less crowded Paros beaches. It's also accessible via a small footpath from the main road. Amenities: none. Best for: nudists; solitude; walking.

Considered the closest authentic Parian beach near Paroikía, Livadia is the first wide bay north of the harbor that's comprised of a series of smaller, white-sand beaches. Some areas are organized with beach chair and umbrella rentals while others are untouched by tourism, and only trees provide shade. Just a 10-minute walk from the town and harbor and near campgrounds, it can get crowded. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming.

Just around the bend from Piso Livadi is the long stretch of yellow sand known as Logaras Beach. A few tavernas are nearby, and in the distance the little whitewashed church of Ayios Georgios Thalassites, or St. George of the Sea, stands where it has since the 13th century. This quiet beach has chairs and umbrellas available for rent in the summer season. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; walking.

Marcello's famously cool waters attract Parians on the hottest summer days. You can spend the entire day eating, drinking, swimming, or watching the calm water lap against this long, sandy stretch of coastline, as the beach is well equipped with beach bars and cafés, tavernas, and umbrellaed lounge-chair rentals. Next to Krios Beach, it's accessible by car, boat, or a 40-minute hike from Paroikía. Amenities: food and drink, parking (free). Best for: swimming; walking.

Halfway from Paros Town to Naousa, on the right, the 17th-century Monastery of Longovarda shines on its mountainside. The monastic community farms the local land and makes honey, wine, and olive oil. Only men, dressed in conservative clothing, are allowed inside, where there are post-Byzantine icons, 17th-century frescoes depicting the Twelve Feasts in the Life of Christ, and a library of rare books; it is usually open mornings.

This large sandy beach is surrounded by a few shady trees, but umbrellas are available for rent in the summer season. The clear turquoise water gets deep fast, making it ideal for swimming. There are a few bars on-site that add a little beach-party fun. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: partiers; swimming; water sports.

The Jersey tiger moth returns year after year to mate in Petaloudes (Butterflies Valley), a lush oasis of greenery in the middle of this dry island. In May, June, and perhaps July, you can watch them as they lie dormant during the day, their chocolate-brown wings with yellow stripes still against the ivy leaves. In the evening they flutter upward to the cooler air, flashing the coral-red undersides of their wings as they rise. A notice at the entrance asks visitors not to disturb them by taking photographs or shaking the leaves.

One of the most popular beaches on Paros's southeastern coast, Piso Livadi has trees offering natural shade, but lounge chairs and umbrellas are also available to rent. The small resort town of Piso Livadi, once an ancient port for the marble quarries, surrounds the sandy stretch of well-developed beach and is filled with lodging options, tavernas, restaurants, and cafés. Boats depart from this port for Mykonos, Naxos, Amorgos, Ios, and Santorini. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming.

Within walking distance of Antiparos Town, this beach has two parts, referred to by locals as Psaraliki One and Psaraliki Two. Yellow, soft sand fills both and each is dotted with natural shade trees; lounge chairs and umbrellas are available during the summer months. The shallow waters make it a favorite for families, and its southeasterly placement on the island keeps it sheltered from gusty Cycladic winds. Several tavernas are close by. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; walking.

Several sandy footpaths from the main road lead you to one of Paros's most popular family-friendly beaches; the boat that travels to nearby Lageri also makes a stop in Santa Maria. Little fishing boats dock in the distance from the sandy cove, which is filled with sand dunes and lined with green brush. There's no natural shade, but in peak season it's well equipped with beach chair and umbrella rentals from seasonal cafés. Several tavernas are within walking distance. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming.

As its name implies, this is where Antiparians head to watch their island's fantastic sunsets. Clear water and golden sand are guaranteed, but ideal beach weather is not—located on the west coast, the beach isn't sheltered from the Cycladic winds that can stir things up. When the winds do die down, the conditions are ideal for snorkeling and swimming. The beach is also known as Sifneiko, because the neighboring island of Sifnos can be seen in the distance. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming.

Close to the port you’ll find yourself walking into the pedestrian paths of Antiparos Town, lined with whitewashed shops, restaurants, and cafés. Farther up, the arched stonework entrance to the historical center, known as the camara, leads to the centuries-old Venetian kastro, or castle, of Antiparos. Like other Cycladic islands, this architecture reflects the construction of fortresses built between the 13th and 16th century when Venetian and Ottoman influences took over the islands. You can walk the whitewashed streets of this small village, where Antiparians still live in small homes built on top of each other as one continuous block construction within the stone walls. There are also four churches within the settlement.