In the fishing village of Naousa, blue window shutters and pink bougainvillea flowers pop against a sea of white square buildings. The stone laneways are full of cats lying lazily in the sun and seaside restaurants boast stunning ocean views. Naousa is quintessential Greece and a must-visit spot.
The island of Paros is part of the Cyclades group of islands. There are more than 200 islands in the Cyclades group, including around 33 inhabited islands such as the more well-known Santorini, Mykonos, Ios, and Naxos.
The ferry from Athens to Paros takes around three hours, docking in Paros’ capital Parikia. We stayed in Paros for five nights, basing ourselves in Naousa on the northern part of the island.
Naousa was beautiful and the perfect mix of quiet relaxation and buzzing nightlife. The food was the best we ate in Greece.
We didn’t have a car so our week in Naousa was spent relaxing in an amazing villa, swimming at the local beach, and exploring the town. There are public buses that can take you to the rest of the island, including Parikia, but we wanted to start our trip on a more relaxing note and just enjoy one location. It’s also only a 30-minute ferry ride to the neighbouring island of Antiparos which would be a great day trip.
Where to stay in Naousa?
I loved the location of our accommodation because it was far enough away from the centre of town to be peaceful while only being a ten-minute walk away from the main restaurants and shops. The house was near Agioi Anargiroi Beach, and I’d recommend finding accommodation around this area.
If you’re travelling with a bigger group (there were six of us), check out the Airbnb we stayed in. The owners helped book us local restaurants and we were near a small general store which was perfect to stock up on snacks and water.
What to do in Naousa?
Agioi Anargiroi is a great beach for swimming. You can rent the fanciest lounge chairs and umbrellas I’ve ever seen, and although a bit rocky, the water is amazing.
Naousa’s town centre is filled with gorgeous boutiques selling locally made clothes, jewellery, and souvenirs, so it’s a great place to shop. We bought some cute things from Jewels 4 You, Heel, and Aganta Paros Bites n Delights.
I wasn’t expecting the town to have such a big nightlife but once the sun goes down, the narrow laneways are bustling with people having late dinners and drinks. The most popular spots are any of the restaurants with outdoor seating directly on the seaside because they give the best sunset views. The colours of a Paros sunset are incredible.
Where to eat in Naousa?
Out of all the places we visited during our two weeks in Greece – Athens, Paros, Santorini, and Milos – Paros had the best food. I still think about the gyros, baklava and loukamades I ate in Naousa. Here are the best restaurants to visit:
Shosho Paros – traditional/modern Greek. We walked in and got a table for six inside without a booking, but I suggest reserving in advance to secure an outdoor table.
Souvlakia Kargas – the best gyros we had in Greece. We basically became regulars here every lunchtime because the takeaway gyros are that good. The chicken pita was my favourite, and the tzatziki is incredible. Pitas were only €4, and the serving gyros was €12 (meat, salad, tzatziki, and pita pieces). Opens at noon.
Ntravalos Meze – simple and traditional meze. Order lots of different plates to share including the amazing cherry tomatoes. This restaurant is located in the middle of town, so while you don’t get a seaside view, the trade-off is a more authentic Greek meal.
Almond in Paros – health café with juices and smoothie bowls. Almond has a very chill vibe with outdoor seating under palm leaves and breakfast options including eggs and pancakes. They do dinner as well, but you can’t go past the berry and banana smoothie bowl with muesli to start your day.
Batistas Bakery – located a bit outside of town but serving the most incredible savoury and sweet pastries. Get the baklava and lots of it. The spanakopita is also delicious. So is the chocolate pie. Basically anything here is a winner.
Paradosiako Loukoumades – the best loukamades I found in Greece. This small hole-in-the-wall shop sells traditional loukoumades for €6 (you get ten) in the classic honey and cinnamon flavour or drizzled with milk and white chocolate.
Rada – this is your fine dining splurge. Located on the Agioi Anargiroi beachfront, Rada is sleek and sophisticated. It had great seafood, cocktails and, a zucchini salad that we’ll be trying to replicate at home.
Christo Gastro Bar – cute brekky and drinks spot, located right on the beach.
Pastello Ristorante Italiano – authentic fresh Italian pizza. For when you’ve had your fill of Greek food, Pastello has delicious homemade pizzas and pasta and a gorgeous rooftop with a seaside view. Located just out of the town centre.
