Did you know that the Venus de Milo and Napoleon's tomb were both made from Parian marble? Unfortunately the artefacts at the tiny Archeological Museum (also in Parikia) are rather less racy, but the museum is a fascinating walk through the island’s ancient history nonetheless. When you’re ready to head out, Parikia is Paros’ largest town and where you’ll find the awe-inspiring (and admittedly hard to pronounce) Panagia Ekatondapyliani, a Byzantine monastery complex that dates from AD 326. Start with what’s here: breeze through the bountiful breakfast spread, banish any remaining tension at the Asian spa before dropping into a sunlounger to while away the afternoon with a good book, aided by a refreshing cocktail or two from the poolside bar. They’re stocked with goodies like local wine, beer, truffle crisps and Oreos. Room service is available around the clock – or you could rummage through your minibar for a midnight snack.
The pool bar is open from 11am to midnight. Last ordersīreakfast is 8 – 11am lunch is noon – 3:30pm and dinner is 7:30 – midnight. The bar also serves snacks to your sunlounger – choose from superfood or kale salad with marinated salmon, or beef burgers with caramelised onions and spicy mayonnaise. Or, ask the sommelier for recommendations about the lesser known Greek vintages on the wine list. Try not to make suggestive eye contact when you order the Kiss Me cocktail, made with Mastiha liqueur, vodka, fresh strawberry puree, basil leaves and lime juice. Running alongside the pool, this sleek spot, with a Café del Mar soundtrack to match, is perfect for seeking shade from the midday sun or a post-dinner digestif. Start with the goats cheese and grilled peach salad, then the lamb ragu orzo and finish with the local honey ice cream – you’ll still be buzzing about it come home time. There’s a decidedly grown-up and glamorous air about the whole getup, but all ages are very welcome and babysitting is available with advance notice for €8 an hour (a minimum of four hours a booking).Īt Mr E, chef Alexandros Tsiotinis serves seasonal Greek and Mediterranean fare in a light-filled space with huge arched windows, chic greenery and an outdoor terrace. The hotel's significant number of steps means it's not ideal for anyone with restricted mobility. Tote Teva sandals for clambering over the rocks at Kolymbithres and a Polaroid camera for printing those instantly nostalgic, sepia-toned snaps. Don’t fear, honeymooners: every treatment is offered à deux, so you needn’t spend even an hour apart. Choose from tension-banishing massages, body scrubs or facials – all the treatments use potions by all-natural and organic brand Ila. The boutique Asian spa has two treatment rooms and one cabin for beautifying: manicures, pedicures and waxing. The turquoise temptation is enhanced by the two rock formations built into the sides – throw yourself across them to pretend you’re a ship-wrecked Odysseus at sea (if the ‘sea’ had nary a wave and someone occasionally offering to refresh your cocktail).
The hotel’s name is a hybrid between ‘Paros’ and ‘Helios’, the Greek sun god – so we think it’s only proper to pay your respects to the deity by lying supplicant in a sleek sunlounger beside the enormous, cross-shaped swimming pool.
Our favourite roomsĪll suites are spacious, light-filled and supremely soothing (thanks to outdoor living areas and enormous beds), but if pressed, we’d hop to a Halo Suite: each has an outdoor dining area and two white sunloungers overlooking the gorgeous native gardens.
Hotels paros greece free#
In rooms: free bottled water, tea and coffee.