Paros is a beautiful island in the Aegean Sea located close to the popular Greek islands of Mykonos and Santorini.
The island of Paros offers the same experience as other Cycladic islands – picturesque Greek villages, winding alleys, traditional taverns by the water, beautiful beaches with crystal-clear waters and postcard worthy sunsets, but at a fraction of cost and crowd compared to popular islands of Santorini and Mykonos.
Paros is the perfect Greek island if you are looking for a relaxing summer holiday. It is still a hidden gem, and I highly recommend visiting before it becomes yet another touristy island.
In this guide, you will find everything right from things to do to, places to eat at, best way to get around the island and how to make the most of your time in Paros.
I visited Paros as part of my two-week Greek island-hopping trip in May 2025. Click on the individual links for detailed guides on Santorini, Mykonos, Crete and Athens.
Best Way to Reach
If you are traveling from a nearby island like Mykonos/ Milos/ Naxos/ Santorini, taking a ferry might be your best bet. Unfortunately, while a lot of islands have their own airports, there are not many direct flights between the islands.
We visited Paros from Mykonos, and it was just a 45-minute ferry ride. Smooth, comfortable and convenient! Even from the island of Naxos, Paros is a short ferry ride away. If you are taking a ferry from Athens, keep in mind that there are two main ports in Athens – Piraeus (located on the western side) and Rafina (located on the eastern side). Piraeus is just 30 minutes from Athens city center whereas Rafina is almost an hour away.
We booked our ferry tickets via Ferryscanner website. On this website, you will find a list of different ferry operators. Select the one that fits your schedule and budget. Book your tickets in advance specially if you are traveling in summer months.
Once you reach the ferry port, you can either take the bus or taxi or rent a car.
While Paros has an airport, it is pretty small. You will find direct flights to Paros from Athens and a few other European cities.
How to Get Around the island
Paros is really small compared to other Greek islands like Naxos or Crete. You can drive around the entire island of Paros in an hour, thereby making it easy to explore the entire island in a few days.
Even though the island is small, most of the places to see are spread out. The best way to get around is by a rental car. A car gives you the best flexibility, comfort, and freedom to explore all the islands’ highlights at your pace and convenience.
You can find many car rental agencies at the port of Paros in Parikia (the capital of Paros) and in the town of Naoussa. We rented a car through our Airbnb host (send a message on Instagram @beantowntraveller if you need more details). We paid around €125 for a three-day rental. The roads are in great condition and there are plenty of parking spaces in each town.
If you are not comfortable driving, you take even takes buses to get around the island. But keep in mind that you will be dependent on bus schedules and they may not provide last mile connectivity. You can check out the bus schedule here. Each bus ride costs €2 – €3 depending on the route you take.
Alternatively, if you are in Paros for long, then you can use buses for say 1-2 days and for the day you plan to explore other parts of the island, may be rent an ATV? A full day ATV rental costs around €40 – €50.
Best Time to Visit
The main tourist season runs from May to September. The water is at its warmest in July and August, making it ideal for swimming.
We visited Paros in the first week of May and had many places on the island almost entirely to ourselves.
The shops, bars and restaurants in Paros were completely operational. However, some restaurants & shops on the island of Antiparos had not yet opened for the season. Also, while we lucked out in spotting iconic bougainvillea flowers in some places, some spots were still barren.
The weather was in the range of 18-22 degree C and the beaches were a bit cold. But hey, you just need 10-15 minutes to acclimatize.
How Many Days to Spend
Ideally you need to spend at least 3 full days here. That way you have ample time to explore this island as well as do a day trip to the nearby island of Antiparos.
If you are doing island-hopping in Greece, I would suggest spending more time in one of the smaller islands like Paros. Both Santorini and Mykonos tend to get very crowded in summers so if you are looking for a relaxing holiday, then definitely spend more time in Paros vs. the other two. We spent 3 days here and felt it gave us ample time to explore this island.
Where to Stay
While most ferries land in the town of Parikia, in my opinion, Naoussa is the best town to stay in Paros.
This picturesque seaside town of Naoussa is super cute and has everything you need – right from boutique Airbnbs to fancy hotels, great restaurants, cafes & bars to cute shops, charming alleys, and way too many beautiful photo spots.
We stayed in this lovely and spacious Airbnb which had a hot tub with jacuzzi and kitchen. It was around 10-12 minute walk from the town center of Naoussa, so was perfect! We ended up going to Naoussa almost everyday for a meal or simply a stroll.
Aliki and Piso Livadi are beach towns and great options to base yourself in if you are traveling with. If you are looking for a quiet and peaceful stay, then check out the towns of Marpissa or Prodmoros. But if you do end up staying in these towns, then highly recommend renting a car.
Things to Do / Places to Visit
Naoussa
I may be biased, but for me, Naoussa is the most charming town in Paros! This quaint village boasts a picturesque harbor, white cobblestone streets, endless sea-facing bars and restaurants and endless stores.
The best way to explore Naoussa is to just wander around and get lost in the narrow alleys. Check out the old port of Naoussa – here you will find boats bobbing away as well as ruins of the old Venetian castle, which was used as a watchtower for pirate attacks in the past.
Even if you aren’t staying in this town, I recommend stopping by one of the evenings. It is well connected by bus from most towns in Paros.
Whether or not you are a shopper, you will love strolling through Naoussa’s narrow streets. It is lined with innumerable boutiques and souvenir shops. Whether you are looking for handmade jewelry, clothing or local crafts, unique souvenirs or simply browsing, you will love checking out the stores and aimlessly strolling through these Pinterest-worthy streets.
Once you are done shopping, make your way to the waterfront. Naoussa’s waterfront features many lively cafes, taverns, and bars with a view of the harbor. It is the perfect spot to enjoy al fresco dining while watching the sunset. Naoussa’s waterfront is also the center of Paros nightlife. This area is buzzing with people in the evenings, so make sure to reserve a table in advance if you are visiting Paros in the high season. Even though the sun sets on the opposite side of the island, I highly recommend stopping by during sunset / twilight hour.
Many of the restaurants here focus on local seafood dishes, particularly fresh octopus, a specialty of many waterfront restaurants. While Barbarossa Restaurant is the most popular restaurant in Naoussa, I hear the reviews aren’t great. But this area is very lively, so even if you aren’t dining here, do stop by.
Since we were staying in Naoussa, we ended up going there almost every day for a meal.
Almond in Paros is a great café, right at the start of the town, which offers a range of items, right from pancakes to smoothie bowls to pasta to hearty bowls to delicious coffee and drinks. We ended up having poke bowl here one of the days and it was just so delicious!
If you are looking for drinks with a view and some light bites, then check out Come Back. The outdoor seats offer a prime view of the sea and it is a lovely place to simply hit the pause button and soak in the views. But this place tends to get busy during sunset hour, so try to make a reservation in advance if you want to sit outside. We stopped by one of the evenings and it was completely packed. So, we ended up coming the next afternoon. It was a great place to spend a lazy afternoon.
There are also a ton of bars lining up the harbor where you can stop by in the evenings. One evening, we grabbed drinks at Kiranos Cafe, which offered lovely views of the harbor and boats. Most of them have Happy Hour in the evenings.
If you want a quick, cheap lunch, grab gyros at Pita Frank or a pastry/ sandwich at Ragoussis Bakery. Both are right at the port and easy to find! We loved Pita Frank so much that ended up eating there twice.
Have a sweet tooth? Then check out To Paradosiako (type “ΛουκουμάδAες Το Παραδοσιακό” in Google Maps), a must-visit spot for traditional Greek loukoumades (honey doughnuts). These light, fluffy dough balls are served hot and drizzled with sauce and nuts of your choice – honey, chocolate sauce and almonds / hazelnuts.
One of the days, we grabbed breakfast at this lovely cafe, Afros. Picked up a berry smoothie bowl, pistachio olive oil cake and freddo espresso. It is a bit far from Naoussa but easily reachable via car. Highly recommend stopping by.
Did you know there is a winery just outside Naoussa’s town center? If you are a wine lover, why not indulge in a wine tasting at Moraitis Winery? Here, you can enjoy a winery tour of the cellars and vineyard and enjoy a flight of delicious wines.
One more place worth checking out from Naoussa, is the Monastery of St. John’s of Deti. This place is perched on top of a small hill on the other side of the bay of Naoussa and offers incredible views of the bay and Monastiri beach. It is a 15 minute drive from Naoussa.
Parikia
Parikia is the capital of Paros and the main port of the island. It is bigger than Naoussa but personally, I felt that it lacked the charm of Naoussa.
The old town of Parikia is characterized with lovely white-washed streets, little shops, cafes, restaurants and historic churches and a beautiful waterfront. Also, don’t forget to check out the Byzantine Church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani (also known as the Church of 100 doors).
Since Parikia is located on western coast of the island, it is the perfect spot to enjoy sunset. You will find many restaurants and bars lining up the waterfront.
After roaming around the streets, we decided to grab dinner at this sea-front restaurant, Mira. We ordered Greek salad, fava beans with pita bread and of course, wine. Everything was delicious and we even had cute cats for company 😊 But the best part undoubtedly, was the view.
After dinner, we simply walked by the waterfront soaking in every bit of this lovely sunset. Alexandros Bar is yet another fantastic spot to catch sunset in this town, sadly, it had not yet opened for the season when we visited in early May. Cosa and Bebop are other great spots to enjoy sunset in this town.
Check out the smaller towns
These charming villages give you an authentic Paros feel. They are characterized by traditional Cycladic architecture with white-washed houses, narrow bougainvillea-filled alleys and small churches. There isn’t much to see and do here. Simply wander around without a map and I guarantee if you will love getting lost in the beautiful streets of these small villages.
We visited most of these towns in the evening (around 5 pm – 7 pm) and even then, they were quite deserted.
Lefkes
Lefkes, the former capital of Paros, is a small mountain village located just 20 minutes from Naoussa. Here, you will find small shops, cafes, restaurants and of course, the resident cats😉
The village is surrounded by hills and olive groves. After Naoussa and Parikia, it is the most popular town in Paros.
Ramnos Café provides a lovely view so definitely stop by for a coffee or drinks. Check out Lefkiano Restaurant if you are looking for traditional Greek food.
One of the prettiest spots in this town is this adorable house on the corner brimming with bougainvillea. It is located on a narrow path right before the start of the village. Lefkes has lots of small, winding paths so it can be somewhat difficult to find. If you are having a hard time finding it, just ask a local😉
We ended our day in Lefkes with a delicious tiramisu gelato from Meli Cream.
Prodromos
Prodromos was my favorite small town on this island. This town embodies Cycladic beauty with narrow alleyways, arched entrances, and white houses with endless bougainvillea. Every corner of the village is beautiful. You can venture into as many side streets as you want and admire the beauty.
We spent almost an hour here and had most of the streets to ourselves.
Marmara
This one is just a three minute drive from the town of Prodromos. With its whitewashed houses, narrow alleyways, and charming atmosphere, Marmara offers a glimpse of authentic Paros life.
One of the highlights here is a windmill located right in the town – be careful as you get your photos since cars are continuously passing by. The windmill is definitely unique and the blue dome church will actually make you think you are in Santorini! But other that than, I felt Marmara was quite dead compared to the other towns. So if you have time, then stop by, or you can skip this one.
Marpissa
This town is even smaller and quieter than Prodromos. We were probably the only ones here except the cats 😊 but this village is lovely and provides a breath of fresh air if you are looking for tranquility. And how cute is this pink door😍
There were just way too many cats here and every time I kept my bag down for photos, they hounded me for treats 😂 Here I am trying to negotiate with them 😉
Piso Livadi
This is a small fishing village on the east coast of the island and is only a 5-minute drive from Marpissa. This coastal village is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious lunch / drinks right on the waterfront. You can find many seafood restaurants at the port of Piso Livadi as well as a small beach. The port is also the starting point for many boat tours in the summer months.
Aliki
It is located on the other side of the island, around 20 minute drive from Parikia. Like Parikia, it is a great spot to enjoy the sunset. We simply wandered around one afternoon and grabbed lunch at one of the restaurants.
Explore the Beaches
A short drive from Noussa lies one of the most unique beaches on this island, Kolymbithres Beach. This beach has unique rock formations and crystal-clear turquoise water. There are multiple lagoons separated by the rock formations and it is the perfect beach to swim or simply sunbathe by the coves.
The water felt cold the moment we stepped in but after seeing a few people in, we braced ourselves and dipped fully in. A few minutes after, we were comfortably swimming.
Another 5 minute drive from Kolymbithres is Monastiri Beach. Other beautiful beaches close to Naoussa are Santa Maria Beach and Little Santa Maria Beach which are located on the northeast side of the town. These beaches are known for their clear, shallow waters and soft sand.
Since we were visiting in early May, the water in the beaches was cold. We spent some time at Kolymbithres and Santa Maria but didn’t venture out to the other beaches. But if you are visiting in better months, then here are a few more beaches worth checking out on this island.
- Golden Beach – This beach features a long stretch of soft, golden sand and clear blue water. It is a family-friendly, organized beach with sunbeds, umbrellas, a beach bar and a restaurant. Golden Beach also offers water sports like windsurfing, kitesurfing, wing foiling, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.
- Kalogeros Beach – It is a unique natural clay beach. Here you can over yourself in clay sourced right from the beach rocks and enjoy a natural spa day. Isn’t that so cool?
- Molos Beach
- Glifades Beach
Take a Day trip to Antiparos
Antiparos, is a small island, just a short ferry ride from Paros.
Compared to other Cycladic islands, Antiparos is still a hidden gem. This small island is home to beautiful beaches, a picturesque old town (Chora), a unique cave and provides an overall relaxed atmosphere. We spent half a day here and really loved the charm and the laid-back vibe of Antiparos!
Did you know that Tom Hanks owns a house on this beautiful island? Have I convinced you to visit? Then continue reading 😊
There are two ways to reach Antiparos from Paros. You can take a short 5-7 minute ferry ride from the port of Pounda. The best part about this ferry is that you can even take your vehicle (car/scooter/ATV) for an additional fee. A single ferry ride costs €1.5 per person with an additional fee of €7.3 for the vehicle. If you plan to explore the whole island of Antiparos, then its definitely worth paying extra to ferry your vehicle.
The ferry between Pounda and Antiparos departs every 30 minutes (check the schedule here). No need to pre-book tickets, you can directly buy them on the boat. It is very convenient and before you even blink your eyes, you have reached Antiparos!
Even if you don’t have a car, there are bus connections available from Parikia so it is very convenient to get to Antiparos via Pounda.
There are ferries leaving from Parikia to Antiparos as well, but it is a passenger-only ferry, so you can’t take your car or scooter rental to Antiparos. This ferry is slightly longer (and more expensive) than the one at Pounda so recommend taking the one from Pounda vs. from Parkia.
Once you step off the ferry, you directly arrive in Antiparos town. The Chora (old town) is relatively small, so it doesn’t take very long to explore. But it is filled with picturesque alleys, beautiful bougainvillea flowers, cute cafes & restaurants, and boutique stores. Antiparos town has been built around an ancient 15th century Venetian castle. You can still see the remains of the castle (Kastro) in the center of the town.
When we visited Antiparos in May, some of the shops and cafes were still closed because the tourist season hadn’t started yet. We saw locals trimming the leaves and actually prettying up this town for the tourist season. Nevertheless, I really loved wandering through this dreamy little town. In fact, compared to the island of Paros, I saw way too many bougainvilleas here.
Take your time meandering thru the little alleys and drooling over the bougainvilleas and pretty courtyards. During our time here, we grabbed a hearty breakfast at Bougainvilles cafe. We got Greek yoghurt, OJ and a falafel wrap. We also grabbed coffee and drinks at Nautica Coffee & Bites, located close to the port.
Here are some more snippets from the lovely island of Antiparos.
If you have additional time on hand, check out the beaches here. In fact, the beaches of Antiparos are more beautiful than the ones in Paros. Some of the beaches worth checking out on this island are Agios Georgios, Soros Beach, Glifa, Psaralyki. And if you don’t have a vehicle, don’t worry, they are all easy to get to via bus. And you can always rent an ATV too to get around the island.
Antiparos Cave is yet another unique place worth checking out on this island. It is the only vertical cave in Europe, plunging to a depth of around 85 meters. Inside, you will discover stunning stalactites and stalagmites—including the oldest stalactite in Europe, estimated to be 45 million years old. It’s truly one of Greece’s most magical natural wonders.
The cave is open every day from 10 am to 4 pm and there is an entrance fee of €6 for adults and €3 for children. We have seen a couple of such caves on our previous trips to Mexico, New Zealand and Slovenia, so we skipped this.
Take a Day trip to Naxos
I would suggest this only if you are in Paros for longer. Anything less than 3-4 days, keep Naxos for next time. Naxos is a huge island and with a day trip, you will probably get to see just a little glimpse of this island.
*All prices as of May 2025