Paros, Island – Is it worth it?

Paros, Greece – Is it worth the hype?

I got that summertime, summertime sadness

Su-su-summertime, summertime sadness

Got that summertime, summertime sadness

Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

Follow my travel adventures on Instagram: @SallyGolanTravel 

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Solo Travel to Paros, Greece:

Paros has been on my mind since 2021, however I was never able to make it happen. For example: hotels would always get booked up, Airbnbs weren’t up to par yet and I guess the stars just didn’t align.

Finally, this summer, I wasn’t going to give up! I was hell bent on exploring Paros and  being able to round up to 10 Greek islands visited so that one day… I may rest in peace. 

For instance, I have visited Zakynthos, Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, Paxos, Anti Paxos, Crete, Kefalonia, Milos, and then finally Paros. Not to mention the fact that I have lived in Crete for 6 consecutive summers. 

I have spent more time in that country than the locals themselves. I have seen more Greek beaches than most mermaids and have sat at more taverns than most Greek grandmothers. I think it’s safe to say that when it comes to Greece, I am home.

They told me the beaches in Paros are amazing. They told me the nightlife is incredible. I heard whispers of Paros being the next Mykonos. I was told Paros is the gem of the Cyclades. To all of that I said “Yeah yeah yeah, I’ll be the judge of that”. 

I had the best summer vision in mind: rent a villa with a bunch of my friends (repeating my #destination40 Croatia trip) and vibe together on a budding island. But one by one, my friends dropped out for very adult reasons. Kids, camp, money, jobs… ya know… stuff you’re supposed to concern yourself with over a certain age. 

So my impatient self decided,”F it. I’m going solo”. 

Trip booked. 

Day 1 : Get a Feel For the Island: 

Traveling solo is nothing new to me. I always meet people, make new friends and slip into an already existing vibe that ends up becoming a great time. But with every trip I take to Greece, the Greek Goddess Athena forces me to reconcile with my inner truth….

I landed in Paros around lunchtime after a beautiful, 16 hour journey in Turkish Airlines Business Class (review link). I was pumped and ready to be in my favorite place on earth. I booked my stay at Mazee Paros, a brand spanking new (so new you can smell the paint) boutique hotel, walking distance to the famed Naousa town center. 

I had my plan downpat: unpack, settle in, eat lunch, get some rest and wake up ready to explore. 

After some much needed morning coffee and about 8kgs of hydration salts, I was ready for adventure number one: Naousa town center. Naousa is the heart of Paros island. A maze of perfectly painted white stone shops with Mykonian polish. 

It’s a blend of upscale, modern boutiques with traditional Greek taverns and sunset driven cocktail bars. It’s that classic Aegean/Cycladic aesthetic that most tourists chase and I was loving it. I couldn’t wait to see the place come to life at night. 

Expectation VS Reality:

That evening, I got dressed up to meet with an island local who was rather connected. Perfect! He will introduce me to a cool group of people and voila! Awesome time. But just like one of those “expectation vs reality” posts, I was duped. 

Expectation: Meet new friend. Friend opens up world of possibilities. I am now connected to 10 other incredible, globe-trotting humans. Trip of a lifetime. 

Reality: Meet new friend. Friend fucks off to go do stuff. I’m left at the bar alone for 28 minutes. Friend checks in here and there but is otherwise busy. 

I stood there twiddling my thumbs like the new kid in school. I looked around the club as it started filling up with local Greeks and tourists, all stuck to whoever they came with. 

The Greek Goddess Athena suddenly whispers something in my ear: “This is not what you want anymore.” My skin started to sting and my face turned red. “What is it that I don’t want anymore?” I asked myself. 

I contemplated sticking around a little longer to see if my island connector would indeed connect me, but instead, I found myself growing impatient. So I left. 

After picking up my car rental the next day, I headed out to a swanky beach bar: Crios Paros. A stunning setting against Crios Beach with comfortable loungers, a gourmet menu and evening beach parties. I was going to swim in the sea and hunt….for the likeminded. 

Beachside Fever Dreams:

The waters were frigid (which I love). The sky was a perfect blue and the music was a soft, house-lounge vibe. This is what I live for. I dipped in the sea and started my usual swim. Couples, families, groups, locals, internationals, it was a hodge podge salad of people I found myself swimming between. 

When oh when is someone going to just open their big fat mouth and START A FUCKING CHAT? I don’t get it! It shouldn’t be this hard! I should know at least 4 people by now!  I just wanted to MAKE NEW FRIENDS, DAMMIT! 

But nada. Zip. Everyone just acted like I wasn’t even there and I found myself swimming in the Aegean at a swanky beach bar, very very alone. “This isn’t what you want anymore.” Athena whispers in my soul again. I look up at the perfect Adriatic sky. “It’s time.” She says. But I ignore her and the thoughts in my head. I head out of the water to tan my cheeks and drift off under the sun. 

I feel trickles of water drip over me. I hear deep puffs of breath and feel a shadow blocking my sun. A cold, wet body slumps down beside mine and a hand slips under my palm. I smirk with my eyes closed. “Should we do Barbarossa for dinner tonight?” he asks. “Sunset cocktails first, then let’s head there?” I respond. He squeezes my hand. I see the scene around me differently now. More colorful, more vivid, so much brighter. “Where’s everyone?” I ask him (but who even is he)? He scans the beach scene. “Everyone’s in the water.” I squint my eyes to spot the group. “We’ll need to make reservations for 6 so can you call, babe?” I beg. His phone rings loud. 

Louder. Louder. LOUDER! 

My eyes spring open from my beachside fever dream. There’s no cold, wet body next to mine. No group of friends waiting for me in the sea. I sit up. “It’s time.” I mutter under my breath. I knew exactly what Athena was trying to tell me. 

It’s time to stop traveling solo. 

It’s Time To Stop Traveling solo:

It’s time to find my tribe. It’s time to find the others. To stop going at it alone. Time to stop expecting “magic” everywhere and time to make the magic happen with others. Birds fly in flocks. They die alone. This isn’t what I want anymore. 

Paros made me realize that I have grown tired of my own company. The sound of my own voice. My face in the mirror. Me me me. Bla bla bla. Boring! 

That night, I ate dinner at Taverna Karina near my hotel and made myself a promise: I will never come to Greece alone again. I would rather not go at all then do a solo trip. It’s NEVER going to be good alone. Especially after a series of trips recently taken with friends, how could I have expected to just be OK by myself after that?

Greece is meant to be shared. It’s meant to be explored with others. Full stop. 

If I could describe Paros in word, It would be: Cute

Paros is a cute island with very few but very quality offerings. It’s most certainly not an island for advanced travelers like myself and it is most certainly not the next Mykonos. There simply isn’t enough to see or do and the beaches are probably the least beautiful that Greece has to offer. 

Naousa is the main star of the show with portside restaurants and one of a kind shopping boutiques. Aside from that, Paros can be done in 4-5 days and easily be coupled with another nearby island. If I could sum up Paros in one word, it would be: cute. 

What Paros Taught Me:

I left Paros with a big dose of reality and a new sense of purpose. I am not 32 anymore. I am not interested in meeting perfect strangers on a beach or befriending randoms at a club. I am not entertained by mediocre conversations with travelers who I will never see again and I don’t desire to sit at a table of foreigners speaking rapid fire Greek while I sit there picking my nose. 

I am done with that life. What’s next?

I want to travel for the art of it, but I want to travel WITH my friends. My tribe. My love. I want to share curated experiences with people of like mind and I want to watch the damn sunset with someone who gets it. 

I know who I am. I don’t need further searching. 

Now let me find my flock. 

Love Always

Saliet Golan

Digital Nomad 

Follow my travel adventures on Instagram: @SallyGolanTravel