Paros, Greece

October 8, 2022

The Ultimate guide to Paros, Greece

Paros was our last stop on our most recent trip to the Cyclades. It was the perfect place to kick back and relax after an adventurous and busy week of Greek island hopping. We were looking forward to laying by the beach, never missing cocktail hour and cruising around on our scooter for a couple of days before ending our trip in Athens. We’ve put this extensive guide together detailing what to do in Paros, Greece so that you don’t miss out on the best sites and attractions.  

If you’re thinking of going to Paros, you’ll be in the Cyclades. So you may as well visit another island or two while you’re there. Our tops picks are:

IslandBest For
ParosAtmosphere, nightlife, relaxation, whitewashed villages
Milos Turquoise beaches, adventure, romance, privacy
SifnosFoodie scene, hiking, blue dome churches, off the beaten path

To help get you started, we have extensive guides for both Sifnos island, the best island for nature and food lovers, and Milos island, best for adventure and romance. We have also prepared a detailed 10 day Greek island hopping guide. 

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In this article

Why you should visit Paros, Greece

When I think of Paros, I think Pinterest worthy Cycladic villages (like Santorini, but without the price tag!), whitewashed alleyways covered in bright bougainvillea, and an incredibly vibrant atmosphere even in the low season. Paros has the most picturesque villages of all the islands we went to, and you get a bonus island only 7 minutes away by ferry (Antiparos)! 

Paros is nowhere near as commercialised as Santorini, less pretentious and way more affordable. If you’re short on time, and visiting during the summer, Paros is going to be a much nicer experience and you’ll be able to see and do a lot more compared to the overcrowded islands of Mykonos and Santorini.

What to do in Paros, Greece

Wander around Naoussa

Honestly one of the best things about Paros is just wandering around Naoussa. This town is absolutely gorgeous. You can spend the better part of a day just wandering around the labyrinth of whitewashed laneways filled with upmarket restaurants and boutique stores. Although much quieter than the Chora’s of Santorini and Mykonos, Nauossa will still feel quite crowded compared to the main towns on nearby islands such as Milos and Sifnos. Naoussa is modern, vibrant and a great place for those seeking a bit of nightlife. 

If you’re looking for an authentic and quiet getaway, Paros (and Nauossa specifically) probably won’t be for you. We would suggest that you check out nearby Sifnos instead. However, for those not wanting to simply lay by the beach all day, Naoussa will keep you occupied and entertained for hours and you’ll never put your camera down. 

Sunset cocktails (or mocktails)

Naoussa is incredibly photogenic at any time of day, but you should make sure to spend at least one sunset here. The harbour is particularly beautiful for sunset, and is surrounded by Instagram famous bars such as Linardo and Karnagio. Some of our favourite bars were Fotis All Day Bar, Agosta and Methystra Bar. Be sure to take a walk out to the Venetian Castle along the harbour wall to get the best views back over the port.

Villages

We recommend spending a morning driving (or bussing) between the prettiest mountain villages on Paros. You will only need half an hour to an hour in each village depending on how long you want to wander the pretty laneways.

Lefkes

Lefkes is probably the most popular village in Paros (outside of Parikia and Nauossa of course). Try and get here before 10am. The other villages aren’t nearly as busy so make this your first stop to get the photogenic white alleyways all to yourself before the day trippers arrive. Stop by the Bougainvillea Corner House for a quick photo before heading to Kafénion for a lemonade or coffee and another photo stop. This mountain village offers sweeping views over to Naxos and given its elevated location it provides a bit of respite during the heat of the day.

Marpissa

Marpissa is also located in the hills of Paros, not far from Lefkes. This village is one of the prettiest towns on Paros with its insta-famous pink door. There are a few cafes and tavernas dotted throughout the quiet whitewashed streets, but it is a very sleepy little town.
Prodromos

Prodromos was my favourite of the three villages! Tiny white chapels, typical Cycladic cube houses, and white streets filled to the brim with pot plants and bougainvillea. This village was so pretty and well-kept. While it’s a very quiet village like Marpissa, there were quite a few modern cafes here and I think it would make a nice place to stay overnight if you didn’t want to stay in the main towns of Parikia or Naoussa.

Antiparos

Antiparos is a hidden gem, a little-visited island that is gaining popularity as it is a known celebrity destination, with A-listers like Tom Hanks owning villas here. 

From Paros, you can catch a ferry from Pounta for €2 per passenger or €2 per scooter (one way). You buy tickets on board with cash. The ferry timetable can be found here. Ferries run all year, as long as the wind allows it, and the trip only takes 7 minutes.  

We considered staying here, rather than Paros, but we’re glad we didn’t in the end. Antiparos is a small, and expensive, island. Its fashionable and exclusive status means that prices are almost double what we experienced elsewhere in Greece. If you are planning on staying overnight here, we would highly suggest renting an ATV over a scooter as there are a lot of dirt roads across the island leading to remote beaches. 

Antiparos highlights
Agios Georgios

This small area in the south of Antiparos consists of multiple small beaches separated by rocks. The largest beach Vathis Volos is organised during the summer. Beware this area can be quite windy. We saw more people kitesurfing than laying on the beach here. Sidenote: Antiparos is one of the best locations in Europe for kitesurfing. The wind didn’t bother us so much however, as our main reason for visiting Agios Georgios for lunch at the gorgeous Captain Pipinos.

Soros beach

This wide sandy beach is protected from the northerly winds and has the option of either a beach club or simply laying your towel out on the ground. The beach club is very expensive, with sunbeds starting at €60 (more if you want front row). Thankfully, there’s also plenty of shade just past the beach club which we really loved in the middle of the day. The water drops off quite quickly, so be careful with children.

Chora

The Chora (main town) of Antiparos is where the ferry lands. This a typical Cycladic village with traditional white houses lining stone alleyways absolutely chock full of beautiful boutique stores and restaurants. When we went in early June, most places were actually still closed. This was the only island we visited that hadn’t yet completely opened for the season. 
Paros beaches

If you’re going to the Cyclades in search of beaches, we would recommend Milos instead. The organised beaches on Paros are more expensive than Milos (and Sifnos) and they aren’t nearly as beautiful. We have an entire post on Milos, which includes the best beaches on this pristine and unique island. 

We have listed our favourite spots on Paros below. For a more detailed guide on Paros’ beaches we recommend this detailed post by Dave’s Travel Pages.

Kolympethres

This beach has such a vibe. The unique granite boulders are not dissimilar to Seychelles and contribute to making this one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. There is a maze of small sandy coves interspersed between the boulders, with a couple of organised beach clubs scattered here and there. It’s an incredibly popular beach, so book ahead if you want a sunbed. We were there in the low season and there was limited availability. 

We thought that Paros beaches were quite expensive and Kolympethres is no exception. You’ll pay around €45 for a set of sunbeds. There are a few tavernas set back from the beach along the road. We went to Taverna Anemos for lunch and would highly recommend it. The views are beautiful, the staff were incredible and the food was fresh!

You can reach Kolympethres by land, otherwise you can catch a caique boat (traditional fishing boat modified to carry people) from Naoussa port. In June the boats departed every hour, increasing to every half an hour in peak season and will cost around €15 return per person. 
Agia Irini beach

This understated beach was our absolute favourite. Follow a dirt road for a few kilometres and you’ll find this beautiful oasis lined with palm trees with toilets, sunbeds and a taverna. It is a small beach, so it gets busy in summer, but when we were there in early June it was at perfect capacity! We had lunch at the tavern and they gave us sunbeds for free (I think they’re usually €20 in peak season). It would also make a perfect spot for sunset as it faces west.

Punda beach

We stopped by Punda beach club and decided it wasn’t for us, but I can’t totally discount it as we weren’t there at the right time. I think Punda is one of those places that you actually need to go to during peak season. The attraction is the atmosphere. 

When we went it was dead quiet with blasting music which never feels right. I imagine in the peak of summer this place would be incredible though. The pool looks beautiful and the beach is very pretty. It would be a great place to spend an afternoon. I would just suggest skipping it if you’re there outside of peak season.

Drios beach

We happened across Drios beach (Paralia Drios) more or less by accident after we decided not to stop at Punda. This tiny little beach had such a nice atmosphere to it. Set in front of a quaint coastal village, this isn’t an organised beach and the trees are limited so don’t expect to find shade. It will rarely be affected by the winds during summer and there are quite a few taverna’s lining the beach. You can walk to Golden Beach from here along a coastal trail which would make for a beautiful afternoon.

Moraitis Winery

Moraitis wine is sold everywhere on Paros. This family run winery is located in Naoussa which makes it a really convenient afternoon out, especially when it’s just too hot to be out and about. We did a winery tour and finished with a wine tasting and cheese board for €60 per person. In our opinion it was definitely worth the price, the tour was really informative and the tasting at the end was divine!

Suggested itinerary for what to do in Paros, Greece

Day 1
  • Arrive early and check in
  • Head to Kolympethres beach
  • Wine Tasting at Moraitis Winery 
  • Sunset drinks in Naoussa at Fotis All Day Bar
  • Dinner at Sigi Ikthios
Day 2
  • Spend the morning visiting villages 
    • Lefkes 
    • Prodromos
    • Marpissa
    • Parikia 
  • Laris tavern for a late lunch 
  • Afternoon at Agia Irini beach
  • Sunset drinks in Naoussa at Agosta 
  • Dinner at Tsachpinis-Ouzeri ton Nautikon
Day 3
  • Option 1: Day trip to Antiparos
  • Option 2: Move on to your next location

When should you visit Paros, Greece

We visited in the low season at the beginning of June and it was already quite busy. But we thought it was the perfect level of business – it gave the island a buzzing atmosphere which added to the experience, without being so busy that it caused frustration. We were told by multiple locals that it was the best time to visit the islands. 

The weather we had was perfect for swimming and staying outdoors all day. The Meltemi (strong, dry northerly winds) will sometimes start in June, but we had very few days where we experienced them and it only impacted our ability to swim on one day (and we were still able to find protected beaches).

I would definitely suggest avoiding Paros during July and August if you can, however if this is the only time that suits you Paros will still be much less hectic than Santorini and Mykonos. 

A late summer holiday in September would also be gorgeous. The winds will have died down, the crowds dispersed, the water still warm. 

Most tour operators and facilities are open between May and October. Outside of these months, you will find it more difficult to find accommodation, open restaurants and running tours. 

How long do you need on Paros, Greece

Three nights on Paros is perfect. If you don’t want to do a day trip to Antiparos, then two full days (two nights) is enough. If you’re visiting nearby islands, try to get to Paros as early as possible on the first day and leave early on your third day. Any longer than this and you will begin to run out of things to do, unless you are looking to really unwind and just spend a couple of days at the beach. Although the beaches on Paros are much nicer than Santorini, we would suggest going to Milos if you’re looking for serious beach time. You can’t beat the pristine, turquoise bays on Milos.  

How to get to Paros, Greece

Paros is part of the Cyclades islands group, close to Sifnos, Serifos and Milos. In fact we visited both Sifnos and Milos on the same trip as Paros. Sifnos is less than an hour ferry away, and Milos is under 2 hours away. 

You can get to Paros from many islands, however if this is going to be your first destination, then you’ll likely be arriving from Athens (Piraeus). Ferries from Athens will take between 3 to 6 hours, costing between €40 to €70 one way. We booked all of our ferry’s on Ferryhopper and used the app to check in, as well as for our boarding passes. It’s a really easy app to use, so we’d suggest downloading it before your trip, but you can always go through your email as well. 

You can also take a 45 minute flight from Athens to Paros. There will usually be multiple flights a day, with all operators offering flights for under, or close to, €100. We consider taking the ferry as the better option as it’s such a short haul flight and a ferry will be much more environmentally friendly. 

Athens

However you decide to get there, you’ll likely be leaving from Athens. Make sure you leave yourself a day to explore this ancient city that most people skip over on their way to the islands. We were surprised at how young and vibrant Athens was. It has incredible nightlife, and plenty of trendy suburbs littered with cocktail bars and boutique shops. Pair this with some of the most outstanding historical landmarks in the world and you will not run out of things to do in a 24 hour stopover. 

We would also strongly suggest leaving yourself a night in Athens on your return to allow for any delays coming back from the islands (they really do get delayed a lot).

Be prepared

Be prepared for delays with all ferries around the Cyclades. You may have booked the fast ferry, but if conditions on the day don’t allow for it they will revert to the slower ferry. This happened on our first ferry from Piraeus to Milos. It was supposed to take 3 hours but ended up taking twice that because of the weather. Even with this delay, we were lucky compared to some horror stories from other people we met while traveling including cancellations and long overnight journeys on small boats in terrible weather. If you’re flying in and out of Athens, we suggest spending the night there on both sides of your trip to allow for any delays with ferries (or your flight!).  

Even if you don’t get motion sickness normally, we would urge you to consider stocking up on travel sickness medication before you go. One couple we met had such bad weather on one of their ferries that the entire boat was sick. Bec is seasoned when it comes to motion sickness, so we had plenty of Kwells on hand and avoided getting sick on any of our ferries. Just ask your pharmacist for a non-drowsy option! 

How to get around Paros, Greece

To make planning your days on Paros a bit easier, we’ve included a map here highlighting all the best sites that you shouldn’t miss on the island.

ATV

The best way to get around in our opinion is by ATV. An ATV will be €30-€90 (depending on when you visit and how many cc’s you want). On Paros we saw plenty of people who hired buggy’s as well. Although a bit more expensive at €40-€150, the buggy’s had roofs to keep the sun off and will provide the same stability as an ATV so that you can get off road and explore more of the island than you can on a scooter. Rates include helmets, which you should ALWAYS wear – you’re in an open vehicle after all and bitumen isn’t kind to unprotected skulls.

Nervous about driving in Paros? Honestly, don’t be. Driving around Paros is quite easy compared to what we’ve heard for Santorini and Mykonos. There is plenty of parking, and outside of the major towns traffic dies down a lot. Traffic on the island is a little bit busy and locals are obviously used to driving around ATVs and scooters. Like anywhere, the taxi drivers can be a bit aggressive so just keep slightly to the right if you are being tailgated and they should go around you.

Scooter

If you’re on more of a budget, you can also rent a scooter. A scooter will cost between €20-€45 a day, depending on the time of year that you’re visiting. We hired a scooter through Ride Moto Rental in Naoussa and would highly recommend them for any vehicle hire (they have scooters, ATV’s, buggies, everything!). They were quick, affordable and flexible, and brought the scooter directly to our hotel at the time we wanted it. It would be worth booking ahead of time if you’re going to be in Paros during the high season so that you don’t miss out on the type of vehicle you want.     

Something to consider if you are renting a scooter is that you will be limited in terms of accessing some of the tracks. Most of the roads are fine, but there are tracks leading down to more remote beaches that can’t be accessed on a scooter. This was especially true on Antiparos. We had intended to go to a beach while we were there on a day trip but only realised too late that the road to the beach was a poorly managed dirt track, so we had to turn around.

Budget tip

Renting a vehicle will be much cheaper in the low season. Renting during the low season will save you around €10 a day when hiring a scooter or €20 a day for an ATV.

Scooter
LowMediumHigh
20€ - 40€25€ – 55€35€ - 70€
ATV
LowMediumHigh
30€ - 55€45€ – 80€55€ - 90€

For example, a company on Paros breaks down the seasons as follows: 

  • Low Season: 01/04-15/06 & 21/09-30/11
  • Medium Season: 16/06-15/07 & 29/08-20/09
  • High Season: 16/07-28/08

When we went in early June, it was considered low season. It is really worth considering planning your trip during this time if you’re looking to save money. The weather is beautiful and warm at this time of year, without being stiflingly hot, and all tourism operators are already running. So you won’t miss out on anything, and you’ll get it all for much cheaper.

Bus

There are also a few bus routes around the island. Timetables for 2022 can be found here. You can purchase tickets in advance from the bus terminals in Parikia or Naoussa or mini-marts in most towns. Otherwise tickets are issued on the bus, you will just pay more. All bus tickets are issued on the bus, and range from €2 – €3.50 per person each way. There are plenty of routes that cover the majority of main sightseeing points. You will need to plan ahead and factor in the times in between scheduled buses as there can be up to two hours before the next one will arrive.

Travel Budget?

Paros is definitely more expensive than Milos and Sifnos. For example, buses on Milos and Sifnos were a flat €1.80, whereas they go up to €3.50 on Paros. The same goes for beach beds. They were €20 for two on Milos and Sifnos and €30 on Paros. All the small price increases add up over a few days. 

The below costs are what we actually spent in early June. Beware that prices will increase during the high season in July and August. We decided to splurge on our accommodation on Paros as we had done budget accommodation on Milos and Sifnos. You could definitely save money by finding a cheaper hotel! 

ActivityCost
Ferry - Athens to Paros (fastest option, per person)€70
Taxi to your accommodation (one way)€25
Scooter per day€20
Fuel (for 3 days)€15
Day beds (set of 2)€30
Winery tour (per person)€60
Accommodation per night €191
Food and drink: 2 mains + carafe of wine €50

Where to stay on Paros, Greece

We would highly suggest that you stay in Naoussa, it has SUCH a buzz and is definitely where you want to be at the end of the day. If we were to suggest staying anywhere else it would be Parikia (where the ferry comes in). We didn’t spend much time here, but it will be super convenient if you’re only staying for a short amount of time or don’t want to travel to and from your accommodation.

Kalypso Hotel

We stayed at the Kalypso Hotel in Naoussa and absolutely adored it! This gorgeous hotel is located right on the water, next to Agioi Anargyroi beach and is an easy 10 to 15 minute walk into town. The buffet breakfast every morning was huge with a great variety of choices, the staff were so helpful and friendly, and the rooms were massive with stunning views over the water. Our room on the ground floor opened right out to a balcony overlooking day beds sprawled along the waterfront. There was a bar at the hotel as well which was perfect for a private nightcap under the trees when we returned to our room each night.

Our room was €191 per night, which was by far the most we spent in Greece on accommodation. We knew we wanted some downtime on Paros after being a lot more active on Sifnos and Milos, and Kalypso Hotel was worth every penny in our opinion. We also saved a lot on beach bed hire as well because there were so many available at the hotel and the waterfront was beautiful and quiet here. If we ever go back to Paros, we will definitely be staying at this hotel again. We paid for this ourselves (like everything we do), we just really loved our stay at Kalypso.  

Where to eat (and drink) on Paros, Greece

You can’t really go wrong when it comes to food anywhere in Greece, but the below were highlights for us.

Naoussa
  • Fotis All Day Bar: GORGEOUS bar set right on the water (this will be a common theme). We highly recommend an aperol here before sunset, and be sure to book ahead as it gets really busy even in the low season. If you’re looking for nightlife, this place was also super busy in the evenings and looked like it had a great atmosphere.
  • Barbarossa Restaurant: Definitely more upmarket and fancy than other restaurants in Naoussa, but we would highly rate it. It has a really nice atmosphere and the food is beautiful, both in taste and in presentation. You will need a reservation!
  • Sigi Ikthios: This was our favourite restaurant on the whole island. The food is unreal, the location can’t be topped and the waiters are some of the most hospitable people we’ve ever met. If you’re going to eat out anywhere on Paros, make it here! Be sure to book ahead!
  • Agosta: Probably our favourite spot for a sunset drink. The sun sets directly in front of you with a beautiful view over the iconic harbour, it’s relaxed and vibrant without being over the top and has a great selection of cocktails.

  • Tsachpinis-Ouzeri ton Nautikon: So fresh! Prices are great and the service was exceptional. Located in the same square as Sigi Ikthios, this area is our favourite spot in all of Naoussa for dinner. Given its location, definitely book ahead
Agia Irini beach
  • Laris tavern: After spending the morning on Antiparos, we stopped here for lunch as it’s close by to the ferry in Pounta. We LOVED this tavern. During our visit in low season we were given beach beds for no extra charge after lunch. We spent all afternoon here reading by the beach in between dips in the protected bay. It’s such a relaxing area, we would highly recommend spending an afternoon here. Apparently it does get quite busy in the high season though! 
Drios beach
  • Kima Restaurant Paros: We accidentally ended up at this modern restaurant that sits above Drios beach and adored it! It’s located on the south side of the island and is a perfect spot for a long lunch after visiting the villages of Lefke, Prodromos and Marpissa.
Kolimpithres
  • Taverna Anemos: The beautiful Kolimpithres beach should be one of your first stops on Paros. While you’re here we highly recommend having lunch at Taverna Anemos. The service was incredible, the restaurant offers a beautiful view over the turquoise waters of Kolimpithres and it is very reasonably priced.
Antiparos
  • Captain Pipinos Fish tavern: This tiny little taverna located on the south-west of Antiparos overlooks a beautiful shallow lagoon right next to a quiet beach. If you take your scooter or ATV over to Antiparos for a day trip, the drive down to Captain Pipinos will give you a great overview of the island. The seafood here is incredible! 

Thanks for stopping by!

We hope we’ve inspired you to plan a trip to Paros, the perfect island for typical Cycladic whitewashed villages like Santorini, but for a fraction of the price! Paros has a fantastic vibe without being too crowded, waterfront restaurants, photogenic towns and lively beach clubs. It’s certainly for the more urban-orientated traveller, but you’ll still find plenty of (busy) beaches a short distance away.  

Suggested: If you’re looking to see more islands in the Cyclades, read our post on why you should visit Sifnos – an island best known for its foodie scene, hiking trails and hundreds of blue dome churches, or if you’re an adventure seeker then maybe you would prefer our post on Milos – an island best known for turquoise beaches like Kleftiko, volcanic moonscapes like Sarakiniko and epic boat days. We also have a 10 day guide to the Greek islands to help plan your entire itinerary from start to finish! 

If you have any questions, please let us know, and please subscribe! 

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Victoria
Victoria
9 months ago

Do you need an international drivers license to rent ATVs?

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travelforworkingpeople
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travelforworkingpeople
9 months ago
Reply to  Victoria

Hi Victoria! We have international drivers licences but they didn’t ask for them, instead they asked for our Australian licences (any licence written in English was fine for them). Just double check with your vendor though 🙂

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