Greece
Antiparos
A cave so vast that the Marquis de Nointel held Christmas Mass inside it in 1673.
The cave drops a hundred metres underground — stalactites hanging in chambers so large that a French marquis held Christmas Mass inside with five hundred guests in 1673. Above ground, the island is a low-key Cycladic hideaway across a fifteen-minute ferry crossing from Paros.
The Antiparos cave is one of the largest accessible cave systems in the Cyclades, with inscriptions on the walls recording visits going back centuries. The Marquis de Nointel's 1673 celebration is documented in contemporary accounts, and the cave remains a popular visitor attraction. Beyond the cave, Antiparos has maintained a quieter character than its neighbour Paros — the main village has tavernas and boutiques but no resort infrastructure, and the beaches on the southern and western coasts are reached by dirt tracks.
Couple
Lunch on the waterfront with Paros visible across the channel, the cave's underground chambers, and an island that feels like a slower version of the Cyclades.
Family
The cave is accessible with older children, the beaches are calm and shallow on the western side, and the village is safe and walkable.
- The cave descends 100 metres underground through chambers of stalactites and stalagmites — one of the largest accessible cave systems in the Cyclades.
- The Marquis de Nointel held Christmas Mass inside the cave with 500 guests in 1673 — inscriptions on the cave walls record visits going back centuries.
- A 15-minute ferry from Paros connects the islands — Antiparos is often treated as a half-day trip but has enough beaches and coves to reward a longer stay.
- The island has been a discreet retreat for wealthy Athenians for decades — the main village has tavernas and boutiques but no resort infrastructure.
Freshly caught sea bream grilled whole at waterfront tavernas where toes touch sand.
Watermelon and feta — the simplest Greek summer combination, perfected on a hot Cycladic afternoon.
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Chania Old Town
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Kythira
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