Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Skorpios Cycladic Folk Museum
Daily May-Sept 9.30am-2pm • Free
A fascinating and deeply idiosyncratic private museum with a collection of model boats
and miniatures of various typical buildings from the Cyclades. You can find here
painstakingly reconstructed examples, from the dovecotes of Tínos to Náxos cereal
grinding mills, and from the Lion Avenue of Delos to the windmills of Mýkonos.
INFORMATION
THE SOUTHWEST
6
Activities
Paros Watersports in Poúnda
(
T
22840 92229,
W
paros-watersports.gr)
equipment for all levels of kitesurfing, wakeboarding and
scuba diving leading to a PADI certification course.
offers
courses
and
rents
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Galatis
Alykí
T
22840 91355,
W
galatishotel.com.
This
is the best hotel outside Parikiá and Náoussa, several
notches up from merely comfortable, offering a pool, a
restaurant and (mostly) se
a-vie
w rooms. Free wi-fi.
Breakfast included. April-Nov.
€75
Náoussa and around
Many consider
Náoussa
as a more fashionable alternative to Parikiá. Although a major
resort town, with modern concrete hotels and attendant trappings, it has developed
around a charming little port whose layout has not been adversely affected. The local
festivals are still celebrated with enthusiasm, especially the re-enactment on August 23
of a naval victory over the pirates, followed by a fireworks display.
Although the nightlife is on a par with that of Parikiá, most people are here for the
local beaches.
Áyii Anárgyri
is just of the path that goes east of Náoussa's harbour, while
Pipéri
is a couple of minutes' walk west. To the northwest, 4km on the road around the
bay brings you to
Kolymbíthres
, with its wind- and sea-sculpted rock formations. A few
minutes beyond,
Monastíri
beach
, below the abandoned Pródhromos monastery, is
similarly attractive for diving and snorkelling. A regular summer
kaïki
service connects
them for €6 return.
Go northeast of town and the sands are better still: after the glorious sandbank of
Xínari
you reach the barren
Viglákia
headland, also reached by
kaïki
. It is dotted with
good surfing beaches such as
Platiá Ámmos
that lies on the northeastern tip of the
island and
Lángeri
which is backed by dunes; a walk ten minutes south of the main
beach brings you to the mostly gay section. The best surfing beach, though, is at
Sánta
María
, an expanse of sand 6km by road from Náoussa.
Ambelás
, 3km southeast of Náoussa, has a safe, sheltered beach, as you might guess
from the number of fishing boats moored here. It is also the start of a long, rough
coastal 6km track that leads south, passing several undeveloped shady coves on the way
such as
Glyfádha
and the almost deserted
Tsoukália
until you reach the impressive spread
of
Mólos beach
, never particularly crowded. From here you can pick up again the
asphalted road straight back to Náoussa or through the
inland villages
back to Parikiá.
ACCOMMODATION
NÁOUSSA AND AROUND
Astir of Paros
T
22840 51976,
W
www.astirofparos.gr.
Superb and lavish five-star resort on the road to Kolymbíthres
with marble baths, huge balconies and excellent service. Its
sixteen-acre site includes two restaurants, large pool, tennis
court, three-hole golf course, h
eliport
and even two small
chapels for weddings. April-Oct.
€250
Christiana
Ambelás
T
22840 51573,
W
christiana
hotel.gr.
A good-value hotel, with great fresh fish and local
wine in the in-house restaurant and extremely friendly
proprietors; they have both rooms and fully equipped
apartments, all with
balc
onies facing the beach. Breakfast
included. May-Sept.
€45
Ì
Heaven
T
22840 51549,
W
heaven-naoussa.com.
As it is difficult to find (walk up the steps above the bus
station car park), this feels like a true discovery: an elegant,
cool, gay-friendly and spotlessly clean boutique hotel
belonging to a Scandinavian Gree
k and
his family. Internet
and parking available. May-Sept.
€60
Sea House
T
22840 52198.
This was one of the first
places in Náoussa to let rooms and has one of the best
