travelerjan

That video is lovely, it should be noted that it is very likely done in High Season (July-August) when the cafes & beaches are at their busiest - especially in the "agora" (market street) winding thru the port town ... In May/Early June or Early Sept onward, its pleasantly populated but lower-key.

Heimdall

The video was done over several days, but would have been in July. That’s when the cross channel swim has traditionally taken place. Whitehall, when the winds are strong on Antiparos many people head for the southern beaches that are sheltered from the Meltemi. That would be Soros, Agios Georgios, Faneromeni, etc.

My favourite beach when winds are strong is Panagia, which is about 20 minutes walk on a rough path from Psaraliki II Beach or along the road to Agios Georgios. The beach is completely unorganised, but has mature tamarisk trees for shade, and a stone wall that acts as a wind break. This is one of the most beautiful beaches within walking distance of town.
https://antiparos.com/explore/panagia-beach/

whitehall

On Paros island, the prime alternative to staying in the port town of Paros, is the town of Naousa. It is about half an hour away. We took a bus there, We visited twice (the second time by car), the first time at night when the place really comes alive. Although we felt it was not as convenient if you want to move about, the night life was more active, the restaurants a bit more posh and a little pricier and the place seemed a bit more trendy. We were still having a lot of Covid anxiety then, and some of the dining tables along the waterfront were packed like sardines. And, unlike Paros itself, many restaurant employees were pushy to get you seated.

whitehall

Time for an inexpensive local car rental and a tour of the island’s roads. First stop was laid back beach town Alyki. Winds beginning to subside a little.

crazyh

Where would the least touristy place to stay be on the island for late Sept/early Oct. but still have decent selection of shops, markets and tavernas?

whitehall

I again will defer to Heimdall for the best answer. We were there in early September, and, except for the port area of Paros and some of the restaurants in Naousa, we didn't feel overwhelmed with tourists. In fact, just the opposite. But, if you want to simply hunker down in one place, and have no need to visit other islands, Antiparos might be your perfect spot.

Heimdall

Crazyh, if you mean the island of Paros, think about Piso Livadi. Parikia, of course, is more the working town you seem to prefer, and will be quiet by October. If you mean Antiparos, it gets very sleepy from the 1st of October, but many repeat visitors who have friends on the island come then, and they even join in, by invitation, with the harvest and tspouro making.

whitehall

A dozen or so miles from Paros town, away from the sea, up in the hills is picture perfect Lefkai. A great stop-ver for a walk on the narrow passageways of the town and for lunch, swordfish, sausage and chicken. Looked like a lot of interesting trails for ambitious hikers nearby.

crazyh

Sorry for not being clear, yes Paros.

Having traveled to Greece in early October many times I found most islands even the "Big Name" ones tend to be quieter.

Also had Paros in mind many times but never got around to it.

Possibly thinking about it this October and I know you are very knowledgeable about the island so appreciate your thoughts.

I wouldn't think Parikia would be crowded but Greek Islands gain in popularity every year so who knows what this year will bring even in October.

Heimdall

I think it’s fair to say that Paros will be busier this October than in past years, but the island has enough villages scattered around to absorb any additional visitors. If you want to stay somewhere traditional, also take a look at Prodromos and Marpissa, not far from Piso Livadi and at the end of the Byzantine path from Lefkes.

crazyh

I'm already researching which is one of my favorite things to do to help me get through our winters here!

Thanks!

whitehall

Paros, like many Cyclades islands in Greece, is quite arid. This translates to very few locally grown fruits and vegetables. So, it was a bit of a surprise to find a rather sophisticated looking winery outside of Naousa. There were a few grape vines in the limited space that this suburban-type area afforded (with more concrete than agriculture), and they didn’t look healthy. We saw a scattering of other grape vines throughout the island, but none looked particularly vibrant. However, Moraitis claimed all their grape varieties, used in most of their wines, come from Paros. We dropped in and were told we couldn’t tour the facility without a prior reservation, but we did manage a tasting in a quiet inside area of their elegant stone building. We enjoyed the wines

whitehall

One clarification: Although some refer to the port town in Paros as "Paros Town", as I have, it is probably better known as Parikia. It is also sometimes referred to as Hora, or main town, not to be confused with other Horas on other islands. From hereon, I will refer to Paros Town, where we are staying, as Parikia.

The end of our car trip included a daylight look at Naousa and some very tasty cocktails that didn't seem to affect the drive back.

The mugs contained “prickly pear zombies” (the menu says it was a blend of four rums, an added overproof rum, apricot, spices, prickly pear, absinthe, and lime oleo saccharin, which I learned is a few hours of lime peels and sugar marinating to create a syrup.)

An evening walk back “home” in Parikia ended our day.
























Parikia

Heimdall

I don’t know if the link will work, but here is the new cover photo of Facebook group Visit Antiparos Out of Season. Paros and Antiparos are green in the winter, and covered with wildflowers in spring. That’s why they can grow grapes on Paros.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5458...9936153265952/

whitehall

That photo is a wow. Hard to believe that green is on Paros or Antiparos. Thank you; we have shared that with our daughter.

whitehall

The ferries that operate to and between the islands are not as massive as cruise ships, but they are still quite large. One after another at the port and on the sea. Since winds lessened, we lined up for one of those big, crowded ships to take a peek at Naxos. There were huge public areas, with all kinds of seating, inside and out, making it feel less crowded. But we were extremely Covid-sensitive last September, and not the best place to be when passengers embarked and disembarked.

Heimdall

Whitehall, I’m glad you liked that photo of Antiparos when it’s green. The photographer, Yannis, who owns ThalaSea Studios, also has a farm in the hills, and has fruit trees, grapes, and all sorts of vegetables. If you go on the actual FB group “Visit Antiparos Out of Season” and scroll back to last August you will see photos of bins full of grapes ready to go to Paros to be crushed. Scroll further back (it’s a small group so won’t take long) to March and April 2022 you will see stunning photos of fields filled with wild flowers. There are even photos from last January when the two islands were covered with snow.

The Facebook group is public, but the posts are distinctly local. You will see photos on the website of people enjoying themselves when the tourists are gone, and a completely different aspect of life in the Cyclades Islands.

whitehall

Looks like spring there will start any day now. We scrolled back to last year at this time and saw dazzling displays of fields of wild flowers of all colors. And, long lasting, February through April, most flowers recognizable like poppies and daisies; others unique like wild pink gladiolas. We also saw the crates of green grapes, but we also saw olives, capers, and artichokes. We have found (and have participated in) in our recent multiple trips to Sicily, where my grandfather came from, some excellent Facebook groups, like this one, that provide lots of great travel info. Thanks again for sharing.

whitehall

Our partial day was hardly enough time to get a feel of gorgeous Naxos. It is obvious that there is much to do and see on this whitewashed island. Unfortunately, we didn’t have an extra five days to explore the island’s several villages or many beaches. We got a quick taste and all we can do is provide this quick look at the Hora or main town of Naxos.

KarenWoo

I love all of your photos. You have a good eye for composition and detail. Love that Greek salad! I am sure I would love Paros. My husband doesn't want to return to Greece in the near future because he wants to see countries we have not been to yet. I understand his point of view. I hope we stay healthy and able-bodied long enough so we can return to Greece in the next 5 years or so and visit new places, such as Paros and Antiparos.