Paros, Greece: things to do, Naoussa, beaches and Antiparos

Things to do in Paros, Greece: the short list

Ten things, roughly in order. The first five fit into three days.

1. Spend an evening in Naoussa, around the old harbour and the castle at its mouth.
2. Cross to Antiparos for the town, the cave and a swim.
3. Walk the Byzantine path from Lefkes down to Prodromos.
4. Swim at Kolymbithres among the wind-carved granite rocks.
5. See the Panagia Ekatontapyliani in Parikia, one of the oldest churches in Greece.
6. Take a boat to the Blue Lagoon and the islet of Despotiko.
7. Try windsurfing or kitesurfing at Golden Beach or Pounta.
8. Watch the sunset over the bay from the Parikia waterfront.
9. Drive the east coast villages, Marpissa and Piso Livadi.
10. Swim on the south coast at Faragas when the meltemi blows.

Naoussa, Paros: the harbour, the castle and the evenings

Naoussa sits on a deep bay on the north coast, about 11 km from Parikia. Its centre is the small fishing harbour, with caiques tied up a few metres from the tables. At the harbour mouth are the remains of a Venetian castle, usually dated to the 15th century, half collapsed into the sea. Behind the waterfront, the lanes climb through white houses to the church on the hill.

Naoussa is where the island goes out at night. Restaurants run along the harbour, and the bars fill after 11 pm and keep going late in July and August. That makes it the best base for an evening, and the dearest. The beaches of Kolymbithres and Santa Maria are on either side of the bay, and the choice between Naoussa and Parikia decides most Paros stays.

Parikia, Paros: the port town, the old church and the museum

Parikia is the capital and the ferry port, and most people see it only from the quay. It deserves an afternoon. Behind the windmill on the waterfront, the old town is a maze of marble-paved lanes, with a 13th-century Venetian kastro whose walls reuse marble from the ancient temples that stood on the hill. The sunset over the bay is the best on the island.

Panagia Ekatontapyliani, the church of a hundred doors

A few minutes from the quay stands the Panagia Ekatontapyliani, the church of a hundred doors. Tradition attributes its founding to Saint Helena, mother of Constantine, in the 4th century. The domed, cross-shaped church you see today dates from the rebuilding under Justinian, around the middle of the 6th century. It is still a working church, so cover your shoulders and knees. A small Byzantine museum sits in the courtyard. On 15 August, the feast of the Virgin, the town fills with pilgrims and the ferries are full.

Archaeological Museum of Paros: hours and tickets 2026

Behind the church, the archaeological museum holds finds from the island, including work in Parian marble, the white stone that made Paros famous in antiquity. The 2026 grid of the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades gives 08:30 to 15:30, closed on Tuesday, and €5, or €3 reduced. It was reported temporarily closed at points in 2026, so check before you go.

Lefkes, Marpissa and Piso Livadi: the villages of Paros

The ring road around the island links the two towns to a string of villages, and the inland ones are the part of Paros that most day visitors miss.

Lefkes and the Byzantine path to Prodromos

Lefkes was the capital of the island in the Middle Ages, built high in the hills to stay out of sight of pirates. It is a village of white houses and marble lanes below Profitis Ilias, the highest point of Paros at 771 m, with the twin bell towers of Agia Triada above the rooftops. It is cooler than the coast and has a few good tavernas.

From the edge of Lefkes, an old paved mule track runs down to Prodromos. The Byzantine path is about 3.5 km, 45 to 75 minutes on foot, and mostly downhill, which is the direction to walk it. The marble slabs are uneven and slippery after rain, so wear proper shoes. Prodromos has a bus stop for the ride back, or you can carry on towards Marpissa.

Marpissa and Piso Livadi on the east coast

Marpissa is a quiet village of windmills and chapels on the east side. Above it, the hill of Kefalos carries the monastery of Agios Antonios and the ruins of a Venetian castle taken by Barbarossa in 1537, with a view down the east coast. A path climbs from the village past the windmills.

Below Marpissa, Piso Livadi is a small fishing harbour with a beach, a few tavernas on the quay and rooms at lower prices than Naoussa. It is a good base if you came for the east coast beaches: Logaras is next door, and Golden Beach is a few kilometres south.

Best beaches in Paros: Kolymbithres, Santa Maria and Golden Beach

The rule on Paros is the wind. When the meltemi blows from the north, the beaches facing north get the waves and the south coast stays calm. Check the forecast the night before and pick your side of the island.

To see where each beach sits on the island, use our map of Paros, which marks the ring road, the villages and the ferry ramp at Pounta.

Kolymbithres beach and its granite rocks

On the western shore of Naoussa bay, Kolymbithres is a series of small sandy coves between granite boulders worn smooth by wind and sea. The bay shelters it from the north wind, so the water is usually calm. In summer, a small boat crosses from Naoussa harbour, which saves the drive and the parking. Come early: the coves are small and fill by late morning.

Santa Maria beach, Paros

North-east of Naoussa, Santa Maria is a long beach of fine sand with shallow water that suits children. It has beach bars, sunbeds and a windsurf centre, and on a calm day it is the easiest beach on the north coast. On a meltemi day it is the windiest.

Golden Beach and New Golden Beach: windsurfing and kitesurfing

On the east coast, Golden Beach (Chrysi Akti) is the longest stretch of sand on Paros. Next to it, New Golden Beach has the island's reputation for wind: the windsurfing world cup came here from 1993 through the 1990s, and the Paros Wingfoil Cup ran there from 3 to 6 September 2026. Several schools rent boards and give lessons from beginner level. In July and August the wind is strong and steady most afternoons, ideal for riders and less so for a quiet swim.

Kitesurfers also use Pounta, on the west coast facing Antiparos. For a calm day, go south to Faragas, a sandy beach with clear water that stays sheltered when the north wind blows.

Day trip to Antiparos from Paros: ferry, town and cave

Antiparos is the small island off the west coast, and one of the easiest day trips in the Cyclades. The car ferry from Pounta takes about 7 minutes and leaves every 20 to 30 minutes in summer, every 30 to 60 minutes in winter, from early morning until after midnight. In summer, a passenger boat also sails from Parikia harbour, which is longer but saves the trip to Pounta.

The boat lands in Antiparos town, a single lively street running up from the quay to a small Venetian kastro. The cave of Antiparos is in the south of the island: in 2026 it opened daily from 10:00 to 16:00 until the end of October, last entry 15:30, and the €6 ticket also covers the town's history and folklore museum. Hundreds of steps lead down past the stalactites, so allow an hour and wear shoes with grip. Outside the season, ask the municipality before you go. To see Despotiko and the Blue Lagoon, book one of the boats above.

How many days in Paros, and when to go

Four days is the right length. Three is the minimum, with no spare day if the wind cancels a boat. A workable four days:

• Day 1: Parikia, the church and the old town, sunset on the waterfront.
• Day 2: Kolymbithres in the morning, Naoussa for the evening.
• Day 3: Lefkes, the Byzantine path, then Piso Livadi and Golden Beach.
• Day 4: Antiparos, or a boat to Despotiko and the Blue Lagoon.

Late May, June and September are the best months: the sea is warm, everything is open and the wind is lighter. July and August bring the crowds, the highest prices and the meltemi, the north wind that can blow for days, shake the boats and cancel sailings. It is good news if you windsurf, and a reason to keep a spare day before a ferry or a flight. The season runs from late April to early October, when most hotels and restaurants close.

Naxos vs Paros: which island to choose

The two islands sit side by side and the crossing is short, so the question is where to sleep, not which to see. Paros is smaller, livelier and better connected. Naxos is twice the size, with a mountain range, farming villages and a long sandy coast that stays cheaper.

Pick Paros for a shorter trip, for evenings out, for windsurfing or as the middle stop of an island-hopping route. Pick Naxos for a week, for walking and for beaches that stay calm. Our guide to the Cyclades compares them with the other islands of the group, and the map of Naxos shows its beaches and villages.

Getting around Paros: buses and car hire

The KTEL bus runs out of Parikia, by the port. The busiest line is Parikia to Naoussa: in September 2026 it ran 25 times a day, from 07:25 to after midnight. Other lines serve Lefkes, Marpissa, Piso Livadi, Golden Beach, Pounta and Aliki. Buy the ticket before you board, and check the current timetable, which changes through the season.

A car or scooter is worth it for two or three days: the inland villages, the south coast and the Antiparos ferry are all easier on your own wheels. The roads are paved and the distances short. Book early for July and August, and park outside Naoussa and Parikia, whose centres are closed to traffic.

Where to stay in Paros: Naoussa, Parikia or the east coast

Naoussa for the evenings, Parikia for the ferry and lower prices, Piso Livadi or Golden Beach for the wind and a quieter week. Our guide to where to stay in Paros compares each area and its hotels.

Getting to Paros by ferry and plane

Ferries dock at Parikia. From Piraeus or Rafina, the Athens to Paros ferry takes about 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes on a fast boat and 4 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes on a conventional ship. Paros is also on the main line to Naxos, Ios and Santorini, so it fits easily into a longer route. The airport of Paros, in the south near Aliki, has flights from Athens of about 40 minutes.