24H in Antiparos
If you visit Paros, don't overlook a trip to its smaller sister, the island of Antiparos.
An excursion to Antiparos can be made in a day trip, but we recommend you stay overnight to also enjoy the evening atmosphere of the small, eponymous village.
Antiparos is a really small island that can be reached by boat from the port of Pounta, south of Paros. From here, a boat departs every 20 minutes that embarks cars, in order of arrival, and up to maximum capacity, and will disembark you on the opposite shore in 7 minutes.
The beaches of Antiparos, in my opinion, are not unmissable, with the exception of the beautiful Faneromeni Bay, the last one encountered as you drive along the island's dirt roads to the southern tip.
Just after the first settlements, moving southward from the port, after Paralia Soros, the road becomes unpaved and very rough, although it can be traveled safely, and at very moderate speed, with any car. The roads to the caves and the more rugged coastline to the west are more impassable, and if you want to see this side of the island, it will be good to take a boat ride.
Moving south from the harbor, the beaches you will encounter are:
Fanari: convenient beach near the harbor, with coarse sand and tamarisk trees that provide shade.
Glyfa: similar to Fanari, with open sea and little shade behind it
Paralia Soros: beach with a noisy beach club behind, close to a high cliff, with coarse sand and fairly deep sea.
Paralia Sostis, encountered just before Faneromeni, a bay with very pleasant blue waters, but with a really thin wild beach and not even a little shelter.
Finally, you come to Faneromeni, a very small beach in a deep inlet with turquoise waters and white sand. There is very little space, with no shade, and it will be good to arrive very early to earn a spot on the small beach. If you arrive early enough to be the first, you can also carve out a spot on the even smaller beach on the same headland, in the opposite direction down the wind-shaped cliff from the small church on the headland.
The village of Antiparos is very small, but it has a delightful center. A street runs through it between taverns and clothing and jewelry boutiques, and in the evening there is a nice vibrant atmosphere. There are some very free-range taverns, including the quaint Zorba, with traditional music, tables encroaching on the street, and disproportionately large plates. Or quiet, reserved places like the restaurant where we dined, Poet, with a romantic terrace and sophisticated fish dishes.
The small village to the south, Ag. Georgios, is the only other town, with a few taverns admiring the sunset.
