Parikia is the capital of the island as well as the island's main harbour. The town is built amphitheatrically around the port and has a typical Cycladic architecture, with whitewashed cubic and flat roofed houses with spare architectural lines and coloured wooden doors, windows and balconies.

On the entrance of the port, a superb whitewashed windmill welcomes the visitors and constitutes the trademark of Paros. The bus station and taxi station are located nearby.

Numerous restaurants, taverns, cafes, bars and night clubs are lining the one side of the coast road (which is closed for the cars during the evening) while the town's beach is boarding the second part of the road.

A few minutes of walking from the port leads to the heart of the traditional Cycladic settlement of Parikia, which is clustered around the hill of Kastro (Castle). This quarter is typically Cycladic, full of whitewashed two-storey houses with coloured windows, doors and balconies and old mansions, separated by narrow whitewashed streets forming a labyrinth.

Naoussa is considered to be one of the prettiest villages in the Cyclades and, despite the development of tourism, this lovely village has manage to keep its authenticity, its character and its charm, with its whitewashed and flowered little houses and its tiny whitewashed churches and chapels, surrounded by labyrinth-like narrow, stone-paved streets.

The lovely village of Naoussa is built amphitheatrically around a tiny picturesque port where little colourful fishing boats called caiques are mooring and where remains of a Venetian castle can still be seen, creating a particular and enchanting atmosphere.

Little taverns and ouzeries (places where we drink ouzo and eat appetizers, called "mezedes") are boarding the port, creating a friendly and traditional atmosphere.

Even if Naoussa is much quitter than Parikia, it also offers animated bars and night-clubs, opened until dawn.

Small villages Piso livadi, Drios, Aliki and Marpissa are small fishing villages with some of the best beaches ideal for relaxing holidays. Plenty of nice hotels and resorts are located in these areas.