Located in the Mediterranean, the Aegean Sea is a spectacular body of water bordered by Greece and Turkey, and home to over 1,000 islands. Ancient civilizations sailed its waters in pursuit of communication, trade, and war. On his way back from the Trojan War, Odysseus himself spent the first half of his journey here while trying to return to his wife Penelope’s side.

In its southern part, just north of the Sea of Crete, lie The Cyclades. These famous islands are peaks of a submerged mountainous region and a few of them, like Santorini and Milos, were formed by volcanic activity. The name Cyclades stems from the Greek word kúklos (circle) because they seem to extend like a circle around the sacred island of Delos, where the gods Apollo and Artemis were supposedly born. The Cyclades are well-known for their charming fishing villages, picturesque white-and-blue architecture, lovely beaches, relaxed atmosphere, traditional vibe, and ancient ruins. I had never been to the island of Paros before but heard it was a typical Cyclades, considered to be extremely beautiful and less touristy than neighboring Mykonos and Santorini.

This past May, I boarded a modern ferry in Athens’ Pireus port and arrived in Parikia, Paros’ capital, some 2 ½ hours later. Parikia is a charming village with ocean-front bars and restaurants serving delicious local seafood, from where to watch spectacular sunsets. I loved visiting Naoussa, a picturesque fishing village only one hour away by bus. The mountain village of Lefkes is also worth a visit.

Paros is ideally situated for island hopping in the Cyclades, if you are interested in visiting several other islands on the same trip. I felt happy just relaxing in Paros for a few days and visiting its lovely beaches. Its tiny sister island of Antiparos is a popular day trip destination, and I enjoyed the mere 10-minute ferry crossing from Pounda in Paros to neighboring slow-paced little Antiparos. Paradisiacal Paros truly captivated me, and I hope to be able to return soon to continue enjoying its many charms and laid-back atmosphere.