Paros
4.1/5The Cyclades in balance — nightlife, beaches, marble villages and easy island hopping
Parikia's marble church, Naoussa's painted harbour, the windsurfing beaches of the east coast and the ancient marble quarries.
Why 4.1: the loudest nightlife in the Aegean and some of the best beaches in Greece — but it is pricey in season.
Naoussa is the prettiest fishing harbour in the Cyclades — and in August, a Mykonos satellite. The other eleven months, Paros is where the Cyclades work best as a complete package: excellent nightlife in Parikia, some of the finest marble architecture in Greece (the Ekatontapyliani church is 4th century), great beaches and easy ferry connections to everywhere, three hours from Piraeus on the fast boat. The marble is still there to visit — the ancient quarries run 90 metres into the hillside and supplied the Venus de Milo. Kolymbithres is a run of natural pools between smooth granite boulders, Golden Beach hosts the PWA windsurfing World Cup, and Lefkes, the highest village, keeps a marble-paved Byzantine path down to the sea. Skip it if you are travelling on a budget — Paros is expensive in season and August prices follow Naoussa's club crowd — and skip August itself if the chill Cycladic Paros is what you came for, because it vanishes for the month. Late June and the first half of September are the windows: warm sea, and Naoussa back to being itself.
Good for
- First-time island hoppers — Paros connects almost everywhere, with fast ferries from Piraeus in about three hours
- Anyone who wants beaches and a harbour town — Naoussa is the archipelago's prettiest, Kolymbithres its granite pools
- Travellers interested in marble and church architecture — the Ekatontapyliani in Parikia is 4th century
Maybe skip if
- If you're travelling on a budget — Paros is expensive in season, and August prices follow Naoussa's club crowd
- If you came for the chill Cycladic Paros — it vanishes in August, when Naoussa turns into a Mykonos satellite
Getting there
Small domestic airport opened 2016 (Olympic, Sky Express). Ferries dock at Parikia.
Fast ferries from Piraeus ~3h, Blue Star ~5h, multiple daily year-round. Naoussa port handles only seasonal high-speed connections.
Tip: Rafina is sometimes cheaper for Paros — worth checking before you book.
Best time to visit Paros
Paros has gotten loud in August — Naoussa is now Mykonos-lite. Late June and the first half of September are the windows. Antiparos is right next door if you want quieter beaches; pop over for a day. Easter in Lefkes is one of the best in Greece.
Top beaches of Paros
Kolymbithres Beach
The most distinctive beach in the Cyclades — smooth granite boulders shaped by millennia of sea and wind create a series of natural pools and sheltered coves. The rock formations are extraordinary. Best approached by the water taxi from Naoussa harbour.
- Type
- Sand between smooth granite boulders
- Length
- Multiple small coves
- Depth
- Shallow to medium — crystal clear
- Wind
- Avoid visiting when the wind blows from the west to north at over 5 Bft. Northwest-facing — exposed to the meltemi (the dominant summer N/NE wind); often windy on meltemi days
- Facilities
- Good: beach bar, sunbeds, boat access from Naoussa harbour (15 min).
Golden Beach (Chryssi Akti)
The windsurfing capital of Europe — the PWA World Cup is held here annually. Long golden sand, good swimming in the morning before the wind picks up. If you windsurf, this is the reason to come to Paros.
- Type
- Fine golden sand
- Length
- 1.2 km
- Depth
- Medium — good swimming, strong afternoon wind
- Wind
- Avoid visiting when the wind blows from the northeast to southeast at over 4 Bft. East-facing — mostly sheltered from the meltemi (the summer N/NE wind); can be choppy on the strongest NE days
- Facilities
- Well organised: sunbeds, water sports, two windsurfing schools, tavernas, beach bars.
Santa Maria Beach
A beautiful sandy beach in a sheltered bay near Naoussa — calm, clear water and good facilities, with the added bonus of proximity to the best nightlife and restaurants on the island. The ideal base for exploring northern Paros.
- Type
- Fine sand
- Length
- 800 m
- Depth
- Shallow — calm, family-friendly
- Wind
- Avoid visiting when the wind blows from the north to east at over 5 Bft. Northeast-facing — exposed to the meltemi (the dominant summer N/NE wind); often windy on meltemi days
- Facilities
- Good: sunbeds, beach bar, water sports. Close to Naoussa.
3-day itinerary for Paros
Read the day-by-day plan on its own page →
Day 1: Parikia & the West
- 09:00 · Ekatontapyliani Church
One of the oldest and finest Byzantine churches in Greece — a 4th-century complex attributed to Constantine the Great's mother Helena. The interior mosaics and carved marble are extraordinary.
- 10:30 · Parikia Old Town
The capital of Paros — a classic Cycladic town of whitewashed lanes and blue-domed churches, with a Venetian castle built from the marble of an ancient temple. Walk the main market street.
- 11:30 · Paros Archaeological Museum
The Parian Chronicle — a 3rd-century BC marble tablet listing the key events of Greek history from the creation of the world to 264 BC — is preserved here. One of the most important ancient documents in the world.
- 15:00 · Parasporos Beach
Sandy beach with calm, shallow water 3km south of Parikia. Good facilities, protected bay. One of the best family beaches near the capital. - 🍴 Stop for dinner · Parikia — see Eat & Drink below
- 20:30 · Sunset in Parikia
Short drive back to Parikia (about 10 minutes from Parasporos). The waterfront promenade and the alleys around Ekatontapyliani come alive after sunset.
Day 2: Naoussa & Golden Beach
- 09:30 · Naoussa
The most beautiful fishing harbour in the Cyclades — a Venetian fortress at the entrance, painted fishing boats in the harbour, excellent restaurants on the quayside. Breakfast at a waterfront café.
- 11:00 · Kolymbithres Beach
Extraordinary beach near Naoussa where granite boulders have been shaped by the sea into smooth formations, creating a series of sheltered natural swimming pools. Crystal clear water. One of the most unusual beach settings in Greece. - 13:00 · Lageri Beach
Wild, sandy beach north of Naoussa — accessible by a 20-minute boat ride or path. Rarely crowded, excellent water. Nudist section at the far end.
- 16:00 · Golden Beach (Chryssi Akti)
The best-known beach on the east coast — long, golden sand with consistent winds making it the windsurfing capital of Europe. The PWA World Cup is held here. Good for swimming when the wind drops. - 🍴 Stop for dinner · Naoussa — see Eat & Drink below
- 20:30 · Sunset in Parikia
Drive back to Parikia (about 25 minutes from Golden Beach). Cross the island's spine through Lefkes if you have time — the marble paving glows in the evening light.
Day 3: Marble Quarries & Lefkes
- 09:30 · Lefkes Village
The highest village on Paros — the island's inland capital during Ottoman times, with superb marble Byzantine churches and the finest panoramic views on the island. Walk the marble-paved Byzantine path to the sea.
- 11:30 · Ancient Marble Quarries
The source of the finest marble in the ancient world — used for the Venus de Milo and the Hermes of Praxiteles. The underground galleries are carved 90 metres into the hillside. Bring a torch.
- 14:00 · Piso Livadi Beach
Sandy beach in a sheltered bay on the east coast. Good tavernas, calm water, less wind than Golden Beach. A relaxed final afternoon before the ferry.
- 17:00 · Parikia — Departure
Ferry from Parikia to Athens, Santorini, Naxos or beyond. Paros is the ferry hub of the Cyclades.
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How does Paros compare?
Paros vs Antiparos · Paros vs Ios · Paros vs Milos · Paros vs Mykonos · Paros vs Naxos