Paros Greek Night

A Paros Greek night is an evening of island food, wine, live music and traditional dancing on the Cycladic island of Paros. Dancers lead the circle, and guests learn the steps and join in. Tours across the rest of the country are listed on Greece Tours.

The sections below cover the events, the venues, the dances, the music, the food and drinks, and the dance lesson. They also cover customs, who it suits, inclusions, getting there, the season and booking, with links into the Paros pages. The evenings shown are checked on GetYourGuide and Viator.

What is a Paros Greek night?

A Paros Greek night is an evening of dinner, live folk music and dancing on Paros. Guests eat Parian dishes, drink local wine and learn steps from dancers in traditional costume. The regular events take place in the village of Drios.

Greek social life turns on three things: eating, drinking and dancing. The evening brings all three together at one long table in the open air.

The roots lie in the panigyri, a saint’s-day feast in a village square. These feasts end with island music and dancing until dawn. A Paros Greek night offers visitors the same mix on a fixed date.

Dancers in costume show the steps first, then pull guests into the circle. The night has folk songs in place of the DJ sets found across Paros nightlife.

Which Paros Greek night events can you book?

Three Paros Greek night events are open to book. GetYourGuide sells a 3-hour evening by MTM Experiences. Viator sells a Polos Tours night with an optional dance lesson. Anezina Village in Drios runs its own Monday evening.

The GetYourGuide listing says its traditional nights turn a Paros holiday “into a celebration”. Its menu features Parian food and local wine from experienced chefs.

• Paros: Greek Night with Food, Wine & Dancing: 3 hours in Drios, with pick-up and an English-speaking host.
• Dancing Lesson and Greek Night: a 1-hour lesson in Drios, then a 3-hour party with buffet.
• Greek Night at Anezina Village: 3.5 hours in Drios, hosted by Maria Anousaki.
• Learn to Greek Dance in a Traditional Village: a 1-hour class in Marpissa for ages 8 to 99.

The Viator product, run by Polos Tours, comes in two forms. Guests choose the lesson plus the Paros Greek night, or the night alone. Mrs Maria meets guests at the Anezina hotel reception in Drios.

Where is a Paros Greek night held?

Every bookable Paros Greek night takes place in Drios, a seaside village. Village tavernas in Lefkes, Marpissa, Naoussa and Parikia also host live Greek music and dancing on summer nights. Marpissa adds a dance school for lessons.

• Anezina Village, Drios: the Monday buffet and dancing fill the hotel garden.
• In Balance, Marpissa: a new air-conditioned dance centre in the old village.
• Lefkes: an inland village whose tavernas hold Greek nights with live bouzouki.
• Naoussa: To Takimi, a café and ouzo bar on the central square, plays live Greek music.
• Parikia: the Island bar in the Old Town plays Greek music until the early hours.

Anezina stands metres from the Drios bus stop and Anousakis Market. Drios beach is five minutes’ walk away, so a swim fits before a Paros Greek night begins.

Village feast days add more nights of live music. Every village on Paros holds a panigyri on 15 August. Naoussa feasts on 29 June, Lefkes on 23 August and Marpissa on 30 August.

Which dances does a Paros Greek night show?

A Paros Greek night shows Greek and Cycladic folk dances. The syrtos opens the circle and the balos pairs couples. The kalamatianos links the room, and the sirtaki builds from slow to fast. Instructors also teach the tsamiko.

• Syrtos: a flowing circle dance whose name means “to drag” or “to lead”.
• Balos: a couple’s dance in which pairs leave the circle and spin.
• Kalamatianos: a 12-beat circle dance known in every region of Greece.
• Sirtaki: steps created for the film Zorba the Greek, mixing slow and fast parts.
• Sousta: a springy island dance with a bouncing step.

The syrtos is simple to follow and opens the evening at village feasts. The balos comes next, as couples break away to dance face to face.

In the kalamatianos, the leader at the front improvises. The rest of the line keeps the basic step. Newcomers pick up this step in about five minutes by watching. At a Paros Greek night, costumed dancers teach each step before guests join in.

What music plays at a Paros Greek night?

A Paros Greek night plays live folk music. The violin carries the tune and the laouto, a long-necked lute, keeps the beat. A bouzouki adds the bright taverna sound, and singers perform nisiotika, the songs of the Aegean islands.

In the Cyclades, the violin and laouto form the standard pair. The violin leads the melody. The laouto player plucks the strings with a pick to drive the rhythm.

Older island line-ups add the tsabouna, an island bagpipe, and the toumpaki, a small hand drum. Paros, like Naxos and Amorgos, has its own style of island singing.

The Drios show also features the zurna, a loud folk pipe. The sirtaki is danced to Zorba’s dance, a tune by composer Mikis Theodorakis. Bouzouki songs also fill an Athens Greek night. The island violin gives a Paros Greek night its own sound.

What do guests eat at a Paros Greek night?

Guests at a Paros Greek night eat a home-style buffet. At Anezina Village in Drios, it holds at least 20 dishes. Starters, main dishes, salads and desserts all appear, and vegan and vegetarian plates sit among them.

Each Paros Greek night listing names island food. The GetYourGuide evening by MTM Experiences promises traditional Parian cuisine from experienced chefs. The Viator evening by Polos Tours serves a buffet with a traditional Parian menu.

Paros cooks build their food on cheese, fish, wine, pulses and vegetables. Pulses are dried beans, peas and chickpeas. These Parian dishes appear on island tables:

• Revithada: chickpeas baked overnight in a clay pot.
• Gouna: mackerel dried in the sun, then grilled.
• Kakavia: fish soup made with at least eight kinds of fish.
• Xinomyzithra, kopanisti and ladotyri: three local cheeses.
• Myzithropitakia: small pies filled with local cheese and honey.

For a wider look at island dishes, read the guide to Paros food and wine. A guided Paros food tour lets you taste more of them.

Which wines and drinks come with a Paros Greek night?

A Paros Greek night comes with local drinks. At Anezina Village, the ticket includes house wine or a local spirit, either ouzo or souma. Beer, whisky, vodka and other spirits cost extra and sit outside the deal.

Souma is the island’s own grape spirit. Makers distil it from the skins and seeds left after wine pressing. A standard souma holds 38 to 45% alcohol. Parian souma can pass 60%.

The house wine at a Paros Greek night comes from island grapes. Vineyards cover 600 hectares of Paros. The drinks on offer break down like this:

• House wine: made from island grapes such as white Monemvasia and red Mandilaria.
• Souma: a clear grape spirit, distilled each autumn on the island.
• Ouzo: a Greek spirit flavoured with aniseed.
• Beer and whisky: available, paid for separately.

Each autumn, Parians distil new souma and celebrate with island music and dance. A souma festival takes place at a different distillery each year. Book a Paros wine tasting to meet the island’s winemakers.

Can guests learn to dance at a Paros Greek night?

Yes. Each bookable Paros Greek night includes dance teaching. Dancers in traditional costume show guests the steps. The Viator version adds a full lesson of one hour before dinner, then guests repeat the steps live.

The lesson runs from 19:15 to 20:15 at the reception of the Anezina hotel in Drios. Maria, the host, runs it. Guests arrive 15 minutes early.

During the Paros Greek night itself, the music starts and the dancers call guests into the circle. Greek folk dances move in a line or ring, with hands linked. Nobody needs dance skills to join.

Guides to the MTM evening name the sirtaki and the hasapiko, an old butchers’ dance, as steps taught. The listing promises guests will learn to dance like a Greek.

Which Greek night customs appear at a Paros Greek night?

A Paros Greek night centres on group dancing, singing and clapping. The listings for the Drios evenings do not name plate smashing. Flower throwing, the gentler Greek custom, is also absent from the listed inclusions.

Plate smashing expresses kefi, a Greek word for high spirits and the joy of living. Greeks broke plates to show joy, display wealth and scare off bad spirits. At a Paros Greek night, kefi shows in the dancing.

Greece banned plate smashing in tavernas for safety reasons. Venues now need a licence to allow it, and they charge for each plate. Flowers took the place of plates, thrown at singers and dancers. Across Greece, these Greek night customs still run:

• Opa: a shout of joy during a big dance move.
• Flower throwing: trays of flowers tossed over performers.
• Napkin tossing: paper napkins thrown in the air at high points.
• Plate smashing: plaster plates at staged shows and weddings.

Who suits a Paros Greek night?

A Paros Greek night suits all ages, from babies to grandparents. Families, couples, friends and solo travellers join the same evening. Vegans and vegetarians eat well at the Drios buffet, and the MTM evening is wheelchair accessible.

The MTM listing for the Paros Greek night gives clear access details. It suits all fitness levels. Public transport stops nearby. These points help families plan:

• Babies sit on an adult’s lap during the meal.
• Small children can stay in a pram or pushchair.
• All areas and surfaces suit wheelchairs.
• Service animals are welcome.
• Guests under 21 get no alcohol on the Polos Tours evening.

Groups and single guests can both book the Polos Tours evening. For more family tips, see Paros with kids.

Food lovers find the Paros Greek night a relaxed first taste of island cooking. The Anezina restaurant also hosts a Greek cooking lesson. To make island dishes yourself, book a Paros cooking class.

How long does a Paros Greek night last, and what is included?

A Paros Greek night lasts three hours on the GetYourGuide and Viator listings. The Anezina Village evening in Drios runs three and a half hours. Each one includes a dinner buffet, local drinks, live music and dancing.

The Anezina buffet holds at least 20 dishes. They cover starters, main dishes, salads and dessert. The main dishes include vegan and vegetarian choices. Guests also receive the recipes of the dishes.

• A buffet dinner of Parian and Greek home cooking
• House wine, or ouzo and souma, a strong local spirit
• Live Greek music all evening
• A show by dancers in traditional costume
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off on the transfer option

House wine comes with the meal on every listing. No alcohol is served to guests under 21 on the Viator evening.

How do you get to a Paros Greek night?

Each Paros Greek night in the listings takes place in Drios, on the south-east coast. The village sits about 20 kilometres by road from Parikia. Guests arrive by hotel pick-up, taxi, hire car or the KTEL island bus.

The GetYourGuide transfer option collects guests at their hotel or a spot a short walk away. The exact pick-up time and place arrive at least 24 hours ahead. On Viator, a private transfer from any part of the island costs extra.

A taxi from Parikia takes about 25 minutes. A car takes 25 to 30 minutes on the central road through Lefkes and Marpissa. From Naoussa, the drive lasts about 30 minutes.

KTEL buses leave Parikia for Drios every two to three hours, a ride of up to one hour. The Parikia bus station stands less than 100 metres from the ferry quay. Ferry arrivals can also book Paros port transfers to reach their hotel first.

When does a Paros Greek night run?

A Paros Greek night runs every Monday evening, from April to October on the Polos Tours programme. Anezina Village in Drios holds the Monday evening in its garden. The music there starts at 20:00 and ends at 23:00.

• 19:15: the dance lesson begins on the lesson option
• 20:00: live music starts at Anezina Village
• 20:15: guests arrive for the GetYourGuide show
• 20:30: dinner, music and dancing begin after the lesson
• 23:00: the Anezina music ends

Lesson guests arrive 15 minutes before their 19:15 start. The GetYourGuide show runs from 20:30 until around 23:30. One copy of the GetYourGuide listing opens bookings from late spring.

The page on Paros weather by month shows how the evening air changes between April and October. The outdoor setting makes that useful for a Paros Greek night early or late in the season.

How do you book and cancel a Paros Greek night?

You book a Paros Greek night online through GetYourGuide or Viator, or directly with Anezina Village. All three listings give a full refund for cancellations made at least 24 hours before the start. Later cancellations get no refund.

Both GetYourGuide listings let guests reserve now and pay later. Viator confirms each booking at the time of purchase. Phone bookings on Viator quote the product code 420048P13.

On Viator, changes made less than 24 hours before the start are refused. Cut-off times follow local time on Paros. Travellers heading on to Santorini can compare this evening with the Santorini Greek night.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Paros Greek night wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the GetYourGuide listing marks the evening as wheelchair accessible. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Service animals are allowed, and the evening suits all fitness levels.

How big is the group at a Paros Greek night?

The Viator evening takes a maximum of 20 travellers. The Polos Tours programme caps a whole night at 40 guests. The Anezina garden hosts guests from all over the world on the same night. Viator sets the ages for its evening at 6 to 99.

What happens if a Paros Greek night lacks enough guests?

The Viator evening needs a minimum number of travellers before it goes ahead on a Monday. When the operator cancels because that minimum is not met, guests receive an offer. They choose a different date, a different experience or a full refund.

Can a group hold a private party at a Paros Greek night venue?

Yes, Anezina Village in Drios hosts small celebrations and private events. Its team helps with the planning and the practical arrangements. Requests go straight to the venue in Drios. The Polos Tours programme also takes group bookings for its Monday nights.

Where does a Paros Greek night meet and end?

The Viator evening meets at the hotel reception, with Mrs Maria in charge. The evening ends back at the same meeting point. Anezina stands on the main street of Drios.