A hidden little gem on the Aegean

It's hard to describe Antiparos in words. The magical aura of this island sends you back into years of carelessness, where nothing really mattered. Its summer fragrance dazes you even before you get a chance to step foot on the beach bars, while its loving vibes make you feel like you are floating under the hot Greek sun and as soon as it hides, under the disco ball, you head for the legendary local club, La Luna to dance the night away. It's such a small island ready to provide you with exciting experiences and endless memories of a Greek summer.

You will be mesmerised by the smells of Carroten (the famous Green sunscreen), Grecian salt and a promise that for years to come you will be back again, rolling on the hot sand and dancing till the morning sun comes up, while singing "My baby just cares for me".

The extra special thing about this small island is that you don’t need any means of transport, which contributes to “zen” situations and the fact that you get to bump into everybody everywhere. In the morning on the beach of Soros, under the trees, on the beach of Agios Georgios, but also on the small beaches nearby that not everyone knows of, or closer to the chora, at Psaralykes.

And, in the evening, on the main paved road, full of chic boutiques, white houses with blue touches, bougainvillea, eucalyptus and a relaxed atmosphere that will make you forget about any difficulties, anything that makes you sad, and you can live for the present moment. This sun kissed island exudes youthfulness, freshness, freedom and love.

If the summer finds you in Antiparos, don’t forget to →

1. Eat breakfast at “Elia café” at the beginning of the main road. Omelettes, bagels, pancakes and… my appetite is wide open!
2. Rent a bike to explore the island, so as to feel the Cycladic air.  This experience offers you a real feeling of freedom.
3. Visit the imposing Cave of Antiparos, on the hill of Ai-Giannis at a height of 177 m from the sea. While descending its 411 steps, you will be enchanted by the art of nature, with the stalactites taking the form given to you by your imagination.
4. Eat at “Margarita” restaurant. Unforgettable Italian dishes!
5. Watch some outdoor cinema at Cine Oliaros with free entrance.
6. Eat Souvlaki at “Oikogeneiakon”. Small, expensive but miraculous. It has a photo-proof of Tom Hanks' visit on the island.
7. Take a boat to Despotiko Island. Southwest of Antiparos and a breath away from it, there is a small uninhabited island, with untouched beaches. "Sargos" is the nickname of Giorgos Marianos who waits to Ai Giorgis to take you over to Despotiko.
8. Enjoy the sunset of Antiparos from “Sifneiko Café”.
9. Taste the handmade ice-cream from “Vicky's”.
10. For the evening, the main road will take you to the central square filled with cool places to sip on cocktails and listen to some smooth sounds. “Boogaloo”, “Lime”, “Tabula Rasa” and other bars with a Greek touch are all located on the back street. You will surely find them.
11. And certainly dance non-stop, in the most famous disco of the Cyclades, the famous “La Luna”, which will turn you back several decades, even though it has remained the same and unaltered.

How to reach Antiparos →

To get to Antiparos you go through Paros, which you can reach from Piraeus or Rafina. I travelled with seajets.gr and TeraJet from Rafina and in three and a half hours I was in the port of Paros, ready to face Antiparos. The easiest way to get to Antiparos from Paros is to take a little boat that you will find in the port of Parikia. The ticket costs 5€ and the trip lasts only 25 minutes. There is also an alternative if the weather is windy. In this case you have to go from the port of Parikia to the port of Pounta (not Punda Beach), to take the ferry. The ticket of the bus costs 1.80€ and the route takes about 40 minutes. The “journey” with the ferry lasts 10 minutes and the ticket costs 1.30€.

*All images by Polina Paraskevopoulou (Copyright)