Parikia is the capital and the main tourist resort and it is located in a protected bay on the west coast. This place has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, and was always the capital. There was once an early Cycladic village on the site. Only during the occupation by the Turks Parikia was not the capital, as they chose Lefkes for that. This place offered a better protection against attacks by pirates. Today Parikia is a long stretched village that extends primarily along the coast rather than up into the hills. In the center is a typical Cycladic Chora, complete with a piece of Venetian wall (built in 1207 on the site of the old akropolis). Even if it gets busy Parikia is still a bit of fun. To the west lies the old part of town and to the east the beach and the more modern part, where most of the hotels are located. The ferries come into the quay where the large white windmill is standing. Nearby you will find the bus station, the taxi stand (behind the mill) and the place where the boat to the island of Antiparos leaves.

Along the quay of Parikia there is a great choice in tavernas, shops, ticket stores (for the ferry) and cafes and you find relics from the ancient Greek time. In Parikia there are also two cinemas, including an open-air theater (with English films). The nightlife is dominated by a large number of cocktail bars at the port and the streets a bit beyond. Behind the promenade of the Port are narrow shopping streets and pretty white houses with bougainvillas and here and there a small square with a couple of tavernas. Parikia also has a few nice beaches within reach, of which the largest is the townbeach. On both sides (in the east and the west) are even more beaches, including the beach at Livadia in the west and the bays / beaches of Krios still a bit further, which are also used by naturists. Greek wooden boats, buses and taxis will bring you to the other beaches on the island that are often more quiet and more beautiful. We liked the harbour and main-village Parikia, allthough the beach directly in the port is not very inviting with ferries sailing in all the time. It is better to go to one of the beaches just outside the center, like the long sandy beach of Livadia. Parikia has plenty of sights, some nice shopping streets and lots of terraces overlooking the sea. The only problem is pherhaps the waiters in the restaurants, that can sometimes be a bit pushy trying to get you in their restaurant when you are not hungry. A friendly terrace I found was at the end of the boulevard in a cafe called Latte.