Guide to Paralio Astros

Beaches

Beaches and Paralia Astros go hand-in-hand. And one of the beauties of the town is that they're all within walking distance, so getting there doesn't swallow up too much of that all-to-precious sunbathing time. The town beach stretches a whopping 10 kilometres southwards, and is made-to-measure if you want to stay within flip-flopping distance of Paralia's buzzy cafes and tavernas. Rocky and pebbly at the start, it becomes sandier and quieter the further out you go, so if you want to wallow undisturbed, keep walking for a bit. But don't think that's it. To the north lie Paralia's stellar beaches. Washed by crystal-clear seas and laden with soft sand and smooth shingle, they command devastating views over the mountains of the eastern Argolic Gulf. At Astygaros, you'll find picnic pagodas and shady trees providing welcome respite when the sun overheats. Alternatively, stroll further to Vervena beach and you'll be rewarded with radiant blue waters as shallow and tepid as a baby's bathtub. Snorkellers needn't worry either. If you like nothing better than donning a facemask, head for Paralia's harbour wall. Just beyond, a small pebble beach offers the kind of transparent fish-filled waters that snorkellers dream about. Dive in and enjoy.

Eating out

You'll never get bored with eating out in Paralia. Packed to the gunnels with authentic kafenion, affable tavernas, intimate bars and pavement cafes, you'll stumble on a new eaterie on practically every street you walk along. Not surprisingly, the most popular are the waterfront restaurants, where you can sit in the sun eyeing the yachts and boats while feasting on super-fresh seafood and sizzling fish straight from the grill. Popular choices include tuna, bream, red mullet and of course, platters heaped with firm, freshly-netted prawns and calamari rings drizzled with lemon. Other scrumptious specialities include tender lamb cooked in a light lemon sauce, cuttlefish risotto and Kalamatian cheese. Save some space for puddings, especially treats like 'karidopita', a succulent walnut cake and 'kataifi', delicious shredded wheat style pastries. Wash everything down with an ice-cold Mythos beer or rich Peloponnese red or white wine and you'll leave feeling totally satisfied. And while you're in town, make sure you try some authentic Greek coffee. Settle at a cosy kafenion one morning, take out a backgammon board, make a few extravagant conversational gestures whilst sipping on a cup of the potent brew and passers-by may even mistake you for a local.

Nightlife

Whatever kind of night floats your boat, Paralia has enough to keep you happy. To be truthful though, the atmosphere tends to stay a couple of notches below the 'let's party like there's no tomorrow' mindset. Most people kick things off with an evening stroll along the waterside, perhaps calling in at the souvenir shops to stock up with postcards and essentials. Then, having watched an iridescent sun sink below the horizon over a glass or two or chilled beer, it's taverna time. For the buzziest atmosphere, head for the waterfront or palm-dotted square which, in high summer, become thronged with locals and Greek and British visitors. Alternatively, dive into the sidestreets and you'll probably find somewhere more traditional and maybe quieter and cheaper. And after your meal, if you're up for some fun, seek out one of Paralia's animated bars, many of which erupt with live music. You may even find a late-night dancespot where you can boogie till the early hours too. Or if you feel a more cultural night is in order, check out what's happening at Paralia's stunningly located open-air amphitheatre – it's the setting for regular evening arts and music performances throughout the summer.

Shopping

When you bore of the beach, it's easy to fritter away a morning or evening poking around Paralia's shops and picking up local handicrafts and trinkets to take back home. The shaded main street hosts an array of interesting gift shops heaving with everything from brightly-patterned beach fashions to trays of glittering gold and antique silver jewellery. Olive woodcarvings and utensils are fairly easy to come by, as are lovely hand-made rag rugs or 'kourouloudes', some of which originate from the Peloponnese's remote hill villages. It's also worth foraging for genuinely old versions of the region's famous 'tagaria' or shepherd's shoulder bags, which are more expensive than the newer, cheaper and run-of-the-mill ones. And as you'd expect in Greece, Paralia's little delis and grocery stores can often turn out to be gastronomic treasure troves. Many are stacked high with seductively inexpensive tins of locally pressed olive oil, jars of firm black Kalamata olives, pots of fragrant thyme honey and tantalising herb and spice mixes which are ideal for whisking up the tasty holiday dishes you've discovered once you've returned home.