Parikia, “the Hora”, is the capital of the island, as well as the small town that welcomes visitors, since it is also the main port of the island. It was built in the location of the Old Town and combines the picturesqueness of the Cyclades and the comforts offered by the modern way of life.
Here, the signs of intense touristic development - the restaurants, cafés and shops which have sprung up in the picturesque corners of Parikia in order to serve the crowd of visitors - coexist with the daily lives of the locals who whitewash their courtyards, fish, and care for their colorful flowers. Until a few years ago, in its alleys one could meet the costermonger with his small donkey laden with vegetables, or the milkman who delivered fresh milk.
Parikia has no stairs like other “Horas” in the Cyclades, however, the navigation through the narrow alleys, the cool, curved passages, the old mansions, the tiny Cycladic houses and the picturesque, small churches, affects the senses in the charming way that characterizes Cycladic beauty.
The route within the town passes through the crowded market (Lohagou Fokianou street) with numerous small shops and small surprises for lovers of antiquity in almost all of its corners, eventually reaching the middle part of the market where the 13^th century Castle and the castle town that surrounds it are located. The walk continues to Lohagou Gravari Street, where the shops are replaced by cafés and bistros, offering rich breakfasts and treats.  Located here is the balcony where the heroine of the Greek revolution, Manto Mavrogenous, lived. The route can end at the famous church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani (Our Lady of the Hundred Gates), where you can choose one of its 99 available doors to enter!
Another route is the coastal one, which is preferred mainly during the evening, with a crowd of people gathering in the elevated cafés of the promenade, enjoying the picture formed by the orange-pink sky and the small boats with the fishermen that cross the waters. The exploration can be continued with visits to museums, exhibitions or to the old cemetery, and may end with the delicacies of a regional fish “taverna".
Parikia is ideal for night walks, as it has several bars and clubs that provide entertainment for visitors until the early-morning hours, while those who prefer mild entertainment can enjoy cool cocktails, dancing to lounge rhythms above the sea.