Island guide · the Cyclades
Paros Travel Guide: Is Paros Right for You?
Paros is for couples, groups of friends and windsurfers who want Cycladic style, good food and nightlife in Naoussa without Mykonos prices. Honest guide.
Paros at a glance
Go if: Couples · Friends' trips · Windsurfing and kitesurfing · Foodies · Island hopping
Skip it if: Budget travelers in peak season · People looking for solitude · Serious hikers
Getting there: Paros Airport (PAS) reopened with a longer runway in 2016 but still handles only domestic flights: Olympic Air, Sky Express and Aegean from Athens many times a day in summer, plus Thessaloniki and a Mykonos link.
Paros is the right island if you want a taste of the Mykonos scene, good restaurants, pretty white villages and a lively harbor town, at roughly two-thirds of the price and with a far more relaxed attitude. It suits couples, groups of friends, windsurfers and first-timers who want a central base for hopping. It is the wrong island if you want empty beaches or a bargain: Paros has become fashionable and it shows in July and August.
Paros at a glance
- Island group: Cyclades (central, about 196 sq km)
- Getting there: Paros Airport (PAS), domestic flights only from Athens (about 40 minutes), Thessaloniki and Mykonos. Ferries from Piraeus take about 3 hours on a high-speed boat and around 4 hours on Blue Star; from Rafina 3 to 3.5 hours fast, 5 to 6 hours conventional. The main port is Parikia.
- Best for: Couples, friends’ trips, windsurfing and kitesurfing, foodies, island hopping
- Not for: Budget travelers in peak season, people looking for solitude, serious hikers
- Best months: Late May to June and September
- Price level: Mid to High
- Size & getting around: Medium. You can get by on buses between Parikia, Naoussa and the east-coast beaches, but a car or scooter opens up the whole island in a day or two.
Who Paros is for
Paros is for people who want the Cyclades to look the way it does in the pictures, with less of the effort and expense Mykonos demands. Naoussa is the reason many people come: a working fishing harbor ringed by cocktail bars and seafood restaurants, with a maze of whitewashed lanes behind it.
It is also for wind-sports people. Chrysi Akti (Golden Beach) and Nea Chrysi Akti on the east coast are classic windsurfing spots that have hosted world championship events, and Pounda on the west coast is the kitesurfing hub, with a steady meltemi in July and August.
And it is for hoppers. Paros sits in the middle of the ferry network: Naxos is 45 minutes away, Mykonos and Santorini both around 2 hours or less on a fast boat, and Antiparos is a 7-minute crossing from Pounda.
Who should skip Paros
Skip Paros if peace and quiet is the point. Since roughly 2019 the island has been the Cyclades’ rising star, and in August Naoussa’s lanes are shoulder to shoulder, the beach clubs at Santa Maria and Kolymbithres are full, and rooms cost more than on Naxos next door.
Also skip it if walking is the main event. The Byzantine road is pleasant, but there is nothing on the scale of Naxos or Amorgos.
What to actually do on Paros
Naoussa
Arrive around 7pm, walk the harbor while the fishing boats come in, then drift into the lanes.
The beaches
Kolymbithres, across the bay from Naoussa, is famous for its wind-sculpted granite boulders and calm water. Santa Maria, 5 km northeast of Naoussa, is the cleanest sand on the island. On the east coast, Chrysi Akti and Logaras suit families; Piso Livadi is a small harbor village with tavernas on the sand.
Lefkes and the Byzantine road
Lefkes, the former capital 10 km inland, is a marble-paved village with a large church and an amphitheater setting. From here the Byzantine road, a paved medieval trail, runs 3.5 km down to Prodromos, about an hour of easy walking with views to Naxos.
Antiparos
Take the car ferry from Pounda (7 minutes) or the passenger boat from Parikia. The Cave of Antiparos is 8 km south and the west-side beaches stay calm in a meltemi.
Where to stay on Paros
- Naoussa: Best for couples, groups and anyone who wants the island’s best restaurants and bars on foot
- Parikia: Best for hoppers and budget-conscious travelers: the main ferry port, more affordable rooms, good sunsets from the seafront
- Chrysi Akti / Piso Livadi: Best for families and windsurfers who want to be on the east-coast beaches
- Lefkes: Best for a quieter, village-based stay with a car
When to go
June and September are ideal: sea temperature 22 to 24C, Naoussa busy but not painful, rooms at 60 to 70 percent of August rates. July and August are peak, with the strongest crowds and the strongest meltemi wind. Stick to the sheltered south and west beaches on windy days.
May and October are quiet and pleasant. From November to April most tourist businesses close and ferries thin out to one or two a day.
Getting there and around
Paros Airport (PAS) reopened with a longer runway in 2016 but still handles only domestic flights: Olympic Air, Sky Express and Aegean from Athens many times a day in summer, plus Thessaloniki and a Mykonos link. There are no direct flights from other countries.
Ferry connections are the best in the Cyclades. From Piraeus, Seajets and other fast operators take about 3 hours and Blue Star about 4 hours; from Rafina there are fast boats in around 3 hours. Onward, Naxos is 45 minutes and Santorini 2 to 3 hours.
The KTEL bus is decent between Parikia, Naoussa, Lefkes, Pounda and the east-coast beaches. A scooter or small car is worthwhile for two or three days to reach the southern beaches and Antiparos.
Paros vs the alternatives
Paros is often described as Mykonos ten years ago, and compared with Mykonos it is calmer, cheaper and less exclusive, with better beaches for ordinary swimming. Next door, Naxos has bigger and better sand, lower prices and more authentic village life, but quieter nights. For a more low-key alternative with a similar look and even better food, consider Sifnos. If evenings out matter, see our guide to the best Greek island for nightlife.
Booking Paros
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- A scooter: Paros is compact enough that a scooter covers it, and parking in Naousa is easier on two wheels. BikesBooking.
- Or a car: Worth it with children or if you want the south coast beaches in comfort. Localrent.
- Getting there: Paros has a small domestic airport; most people fly to Athens and take the ferry. Compare flights on Aviasales and read our ferry guide.
Also in the Cyclades
Amorgos
A dramatic, mountainous island for hikers and divers who don't need sand.
Folegandros
Santorini-style cliff drama for couples and walkers, minus the crowds.
Andros
A green, mountainous island near Athens for hikers who skip the beach clubs.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Paros expensive?
It is mid to high by Greek standards and clearly pricier than Naxos, but well below Mykonos and Santorini. Expect around 50 to 80 euros for dinner for two in Naoussa, less in Parikia or the villages.
How many days do you need in Paros?
Three to four days covers Naoussa, a couple of beaches, Lefkes and an Antiparos day trip. A week is comfortable if you also want day trips to Naxos or Mykonos.
Does Paros have an airport?
Yes, Paros National Airport (PAS), about 10 km south of Parikia near Aliki. It is served only by domestic flights, mainly from Athens with Olympic Air, Sky Express and Aegean.
Last updated 2026-09.