7 Nights: Athens and Paros?
Feb 9th, 2022 | 08:23 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Sep 2007
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7 Nights: Athens and Paros?
We booked flights September 5 - Oct. 12 to Athens. We haven’t started to figure out where we might go for much of that time. We had cancelled, during Covid peak, a similar trip that included surprisingly cheap flights from Athens to Israel (sort of a “why not?”) and a car rental for the Greece mainland.
Right now, we are focused on our first week there, since our daughter and her new husband will join us for their first trip to Greece. Due to job constraints, their time is limited. We have been to Athens multiple times, so we are allowing them an extra day there, ahead of our arrival. We decided to pick one island, and have initially selected Paros largely based on poster Heimdall and his many glowing comments over the years. We are thinking we can do reasonable day trips to Antiparos and Naxos from there. Our daughter, like us, is a seasoned traveler and can see and do a lot in a short period of time. Would appreciate any thoughts, other than just “you are trying to do too much.” Best area of Paros, near ferries, to get around without a car? We are more interested in DIY trips, rather than group things. We have not committed to anything at this point, other than the flights to/from Athens.
Our initial itinerary:
9/3 Daughter leaves US
9/4 Athens (daughter arrives at 10 a.m.)
9/5 Paros (Fly to Paros 2:50 pm - 3:35 pm; we arrive at Athens airport 12:30 pm)
9/6 Paros
9/7 Paros
9/8 Paros
9/9 Athens (flight from Paros 5:05 pm - 5:55)
9/10 Athens. "Visit three islands in one day: The best way to see a lot in a short time is the One Day Island Cruise. It runs every day of the year and is one of the most popular day trips from Athens, stopping at Hydra, Poros and Aegina. It departs at 8 am and includes live music and a buffet lunch. Island stops are between 1-2.5 hours and there are extra excursions available at Hydra and Aegina."
9/11 Daughter returns to US
Right now, we are focused on our first week there, since our daughter and her new husband will join us for their first trip to Greece. Due to job constraints, their time is limited. We have been to Athens multiple times, so we are allowing them an extra day there, ahead of our arrival. We decided to pick one island, and have initially selected Paros largely based on poster Heimdall and his many glowing comments over the years. We are thinking we can do reasonable day trips to Antiparos and Naxos from there. Our daughter, like us, is a seasoned traveler and can see and do a lot in a short period of time. Would appreciate any thoughts, other than just “you are trying to do too much.” Best area of Paros, near ferries, to get around without a car? We are more interested in DIY trips, rather than group things. We have not committed to anything at this point, other than the flights to/from Athens.
Our initial itinerary:
9/3 Daughter leaves US
9/4 Athens (daughter arrives at 10 a.m.)
9/5 Paros (Fly to Paros 2:50 pm - 3:35 pm; we arrive at Athens airport 12:30 pm)
9/6 Paros
9/7 Paros
9/8 Paros
9/9 Athens (flight from Paros 5:05 pm - 5:55)
9/10 Athens. "Visit three islands in one day: The best way to see a lot in a short time is the One Day Island Cruise. It runs every day of the year and is one of the most popular day trips from Athens, stopping at Hydra, Poros and Aegina. It departs at 8 am and includes live music and a buffet lunch. Island stops are between 1-2.5 hours and there are extra excursions available at Hydra and Aegina."
9/11 Daughter returns to US
Feb 9th, 2022 | 09:26 AM
#2
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,682
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It’s very easy to do day trips from Paros to Antiparos, and nearly as easy to do day trips from Antiparos to Paros. The best place to stay on Paros without a car is unquestionably Parikia, the port town and also the hub for KTEL buses to the rest of the island. There will be several daily ferries to Naxos and back to Paros in September, all taking an hour or less each way. Parikia is an interesting town, with the kastro (castle) district and one of the most beautiful churches in Greece, Panagia Ekatontapiliani, which dates back to the 4th century. Near the church is an archaeological museum with artefacts discovered on Despotiko and other small islets around Paros.
There is a taxi boat that leaves next to the ferry dock for Krios and Martselo beaches, and you can walk to Livadia Beach in Parikia itself. The direct boat from Parikia to Antiparos leaves about six times a day and continues until the end of September. Sometimes it’s cancelled when winds are strong, but there is a bus to Pounta, the little port that serves as the all year route for ferries to Antiparos. The landing craft ferries there leave every 30 minutes throughout the day, from early morning until after midnight. You can take the #4 bus from the station in Parikia to meet the ferry at Pounta.
Another place to stay without a car is Naoussa, a former fishing village, now more of a tourist town, but very beautiful still. There are taxi boats to take you to Kolymbithres and Monastiri beaches, and a station for buses back to Parikia and to the long sandy beaches on the east coast.
I have to say, though, that the main thing I like about Paros is staying on Antiparos. Day trippers often go away thinking that nothing much happens in Antiparos Town, but that’s because they go back to Paros before the town comes alive in the evening. You can walk across town past Kastro Square and watch a beautiful sunset at Sifnikos Beach, which has a taverna, then back into town to join the people who stroll around in the evenings looking in shops, sitting down for a drink or two, and picking a restaurant for dinner. You won’t have a problem getting back to Paros even if you stay late, but after the buses stop running around 10:30 pm you need to call a taxi to meet you at the Pounta ferry port.
There is a taxi boat that leaves next to the ferry dock for Krios and Martselo beaches, and you can walk to Livadia Beach in Parikia itself. The direct boat from Parikia to Antiparos leaves about six times a day and continues until the end of September. Sometimes it’s cancelled when winds are strong, but there is a bus to Pounta, the little port that serves as the all year route for ferries to Antiparos. The landing craft ferries there leave every 30 minutes throughout the day, from early morning until after midnight. You can take the #4 bus from the station in Parikia to meet the ferry at Pounta.
Another place to stay without a car is Naoussa, a former fishing village, now more of a tourist town, but very beautiful still. There are taxi boats to take you to Kolymbithres and Monastiri beaches, and a station for buses back to Parikia and to the long sandy beaches on the east coast.
I have to say, though, that the main thing I like about Paros is staying on Antiparos. Day trippers often go away thinking that nothing much happens in Antiparos Town, but that’s because they go back to Paros before the town comes alive in the evening. You can walk across town past Kastro Square and watch a beautiful sunset at Sifnikos Beach, which has a taverna, then back into town to join the people who stroll around in the evenings looking in shops, sitting down for a drink or two, and picking a restaurant for dinner. You won’t have a problem getting back to Paros even if you stay late, but after the buses stop running around 10:30 pm you need to call a taxi to meet you at the Pounta ferry port.
Feb 9th, 2022 | 09:41 AM
#3
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,258
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ABOUT PAROS/ANTIPAROS
FRankly, because (like Heimdall), I love Antiparos so much, I would suggest staying on Antiparos & taking the quick ferry over to Paros. My main reason is, from the little Antiparos pier, moost everything is walkable ... especially this lovely beach - https://antiparos.com/explore/psaraliki-beach/ has a few sunbeds, but NO big tavernas, bars etc. A lovely place like this -- ThalaSea Studios & Apartments // Antiparos Hotels | Antiparos Rooms -- is just uphill a couple hundred yards. At night, the main winding street/lane is lit up like fairyland, magical. Here's a photo album by whiz photog & Fodor contrib "Stanbr" -
FRankly, because (like Heimdall), I love Antiparos so much, I would suggest staying on Antiparos & taking the quick ferry over to Paros. My main reason is, from the little Antiparos pier, moost everything is walkable ... especially this lovely beach - https://antiparos.com/explore/psaraliki-beach/ has a few sunbeds, but NO big tavernas, bars etc. A lovely place like this -- ThalaSea Studios & Apartments // Antiparos Hotels | Antiparos Rooms -- is just uphill a couple hundred yards. At night, the main winding street/lane is lit up like fairyland, magical. Here's a photo album by whiz photog & Fodor contrib "Stanbr" -
Getting from Airport to Antiparos is actually easier than most aaccoms on Paros... if u look at GOogle map, the Airport is Very close to the Pounta ferry, which goes every 20? minutes or so & just takes 10-15 minutes. A bus also shuttles back/forth to the port, Parikia.
When you stay on Antiparos, it's SO simple to hop a ferry and do a day-trip to PAROS then return before sunset to the charm of Antiparos. This colorful phot-illustrated blog - https://agreekoddity.com/monday-24th...trip-to-paros/ -- shows one couples daylong exploration of Naoussa and the port town of Parikia, then a dinner back on ANtiparos. If daughter/husband want late-night clubbing, ferrie run very late.
Don't get me wrong! I've stayed on Paros 4-5 times, much to fascinate. The dilemma: Parikia has the most interest -- winding lanes, shops, nightlilfe -- but if you stay there, the only walkable beach, Livadi, is, to put it kindly, meh. If you stay in Naoussa (a "postcard village" that's quaint-pretty, not quite real IMHO), not much of beach nearby, need to drive. The beaches on Paros' EAst side are super-windy in Sept, mainly good for wind-surfing, people tell me, I visited those May-June. If u stay in Naoussa & rent car, u can get around -- I once had a 1-day rental car w travel pals & pretty much covered the island -- East pebbly beaches, inland high village of Lefkas?, a closed marble mine/quarry, Naoussa, & Kolimbros (sp?) beach, & hilltop Apollo Temple ruins (we were chased away by a shepherd's dog - he'd usurped ruins for his grazing flock!). This website shows ancient highlights - The archaeological sites of Paros But for me (and I think Heimdall) much of the appeal of an island stay is strolling about, not geting in/out of a car or finding a parking spot.
ABOUT that 3-ISLAND ATHENS EXCURSION --
In a word -- don't. -- it's not really about "seeing" 3 islands, it's about mainly being at sea 80% of time, with a lot of drinky people, and having a rushed time on shore to walk up & down the port sea-front, buy some pistachios & postcards, take pix & ge push back on board. No island experience at all... would be a big letdown after a more authentic island time on Paros/Antiparos. (NOTE: I just clicked on your name for your amazzzing trip reports from Italy etc, and know that this is the kind of pseudo-excursion you would hate).
If you'd not been on an island, I'd say, instead do a day-trip to Aegina only -- here's a good photo-album of that kind of adventure -
Here's a thought: Don't go into ATH at all, on Sept 9... go to nearby hotel (25 mins) on beach, village of Rafinaa http://www.hotelavra.gr/ sunset, relaxed dinner in town square. Either a free shuttle from/back to AIrport OR car rental. Then on Sept 10 (you'll already be outside Athens) get EARLY STart - 7? 7:30? -- on Greece's most modern divided highway, (just a 2.5 hr drive if u beat the Athens traffic) to what Greeks consider THE most beautiful Old TOwn in all of Greece -- Nafplio. Gorgeous italianate Architecture... Thrilling History (1st capital of Modern Greece)... flower-garlanded lanes.. marble-paved square... seafront cafes with best sunsets of all IMHO).. here are Stanbr's superb photos -
To show the route & landscape use this swell online map - https://tinyurl.com/zekuft9 And to get BEST roundup of info & highlights, check this splendid NONcommerciala website - http://www.visitnafplio.com/ U could have a memorable day that would draw you back on another trip.
OPTIONS? - (1) a looong day, drive back (sharing drive-chors) to the beach hotel next to airport. (2) -- you don't say when your daughter's plane departs on Sept 11. If it's noon or later, you could easily stay o'night in Nafplio 9/10 and leave early AM to drop her at airport. THat inbound ride should have little traffic.
