Paros Travel Guide: Naoussa

With warm weather, white houses and the beautiful pink bougainvillea flowers that everybody on Instagram is obsessed about, Paros, part of Greece’s Cyclades islands, is a beautiful destination for those looking to relax at the beach, attend cultural events and try the best greek dishes. Luckily, while the new Santorini, as people call Paros, is starting to see an increase in crowds, the island is still considered off the beaten path for massive tourism and offers incredible beaches on a budget.

From how to get there to how to spend 3 days on the island, this Paros travel guide will help you plan your holidays and enjoy your time in Parosdise. For a more complex understanding of the island, you can read the complete travel guide of Paros or use the following table of contents to skip right to your favourite part:

Travel guide: How to Get to Paros

Paros can be reached by boat or by plane. Because of its location, Paros port is well connected with Athens and many of the Cyclades Islands, it is simpler to arrive by ferry. However, if you wish to hop on a plane, Paros airport was renovated in 2016 and receives flights from Greece’s capital.

Flight to Paros

Paros National Airport is about 6.2 miles/10 kilometres from Parikia, the island’s main port. It can be reached by public transport ($3.50 one-way ticket) or taxi (around $15 from/to Parikia). 

While the airport was renovated in 2016, the truth is that it doesn’t cover many routes so most of the visitors choose to arrive by ferry to the island. As of 2019, these are the flights coming to the island:

Flights from Athens to Paros

Olympic Air operates around 8 daily flights from Athens to the island, while Sky Express has between 1 and 3 flights, depending on the season. The cost of these tickets can range between $120 (high season tickets booked one week in advance) or $60 (low season tickets booked three months in advance)

Flights from Thessaloniki to Paros 

During the summer months, Astra Airlines and Olympic Air also offer direct flights from Thessalonica to the island that range from $60 to $150, depending on how far in advance you book your tickets.

Flight from Cyclades Islands to Paros

If you are coming from other islands like Santorini, Mykonos, Milos, Naxos, etc., you can arrive in Paros by plane, but you will have to do a layover in Athens.

Ferry to Paros

The easiest way of arriving at Paros from Athens, Santorini or other islands in the Cyclades is by ferry. Paro’s port is located in Parikia, the island’s main center, along with Naoussa. From there, you can catch the local buses that serve the whole island, or, why not, find a lovely beachfront hotel in Parikia!

While it is not mandatory to book your tickets in advance, we recommend you do it without hesitation if you are coming to the island during the summer season (mid-June through mid-September) or during major holidays like Easter.

Tip: There are many price comparison websites where you can check timetables and prices from many different Greek ferry companies. Because many of these websites charge an extra fee when booking with them, 3 Days Abroad recommend Ferry Hopper since they don’t charge this extra fee and they event offer lower prices from time to time.

Ferry from Santorini to Paros

One of the most frequently asked questions about arriving in Paros is:  How long is the ferry from Santorini to Paros? The ferry from Santorini to Paros can take between 1 hour, 4 minutes to 5 hours, and 35 minutes depending on whether you are taking a high-speed or conventional ferry. Companies like Golden Star Ferries offer direct high-speed ferries from Santorini to Paros during the high season, while Sea Jet has the most extended ferry options.

Regarding prices, the average ferry ticket from Santorini to Paros is $30 EU, but you can find deals starting at $23 EU or more expensive tickets at $45. Since this route tends to sell out during the summer, buying your Santorini – Paros tickets at least one week in advance is best.

Ferry from Athens to Paros

Ferries from Athens to Paros always depart from Piraeus port; however, during the summer months, you will also find ferries from Rafina port. Whether it is best to go from Athens to Paros using Piraeus or Rafina ports depends on where you are staying in Athens, since both of the ferry companies serving those routes have an average duration of 3 hours, with some exceptions like Sea Jet’s Piraeus – Paros route that takes 2 hours, 45 minutes, and the Golden Star Ferries route from Rafina to Paros that takes around 6 hours.

A ferry trip from Athens to Paros can cost you between $50 EU and $125. Chances are that if you book last minute, you will only find tickets starting at $100 EU.

Cruise to Paros

No Paros travel guide could be complete without mentioning that another way to reach the island is by taking a cruise. While you won’t have as much time to explore it as if you were arriving by plane or boat, a cruise is an excellent way of exploring Greece and tasting the best of each island in a short time. However, you should remember that the more budget-friendly cruises like Royal Caribbean and Costa Cruceros don’t stop at Paros, so you should expect to pay more for a luxury yacht trip.

Some of the cruise companies that have a port of call in Paros are:

Best place to stay in Paros

The best place to stay in Paros depends on which transportation you will use on the island. If you want to move around Paros by public transportation, the best place to stay is in Parikia or Naoussa. However, if you are willing to rent a motorbike or a car, you will have more options to choose from.

 Staying in Parikia – the best place to stay in Paros

Parikia is the central transportation hub of Paros and where the main port is located. 3 main reasons make Parikia one of the best places to look for a hotel on the island:

  1. You can reach every spot on the island from the central bus station, including the airport
  2. Parikia Town Center is full of shops and great restaurants that are open and crowded not only in the high season but also in the winter months.
  3. Livadia beach is located in Parikia. While it is not the most exotic beach in Paros, it is good to have a beach you can access within walking distance for those days when you don’t want to move around too much.

One thing to notice about the best places to stay in Paros, is that it is hard to find luxury accommodation like the one you could easily spot in Santorini (think about those $500 per night caldera view hotels in Oia) or Mykonos (how many of us dream about staying at Cavoo Tagoo hotel at least one night?). However, there are a lot of clean and nice hotels that can range from $40 to $200 per night.

Below you will find our choice of the best places to stay in Paros:

  • Argonauta Hotel: located just in front of Parikia’s bus station, this cozy hotel is just in the center of the action, and its rooms have the traditional greek style but are modern and cozy at the same time. One of the best things about Argonauta is the free breakfast served by a waitress waiting to take your order to bring you the best greek pastries. This hotel has an average rate of $140 per night, with prices starting at $80 during the low season.

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  • Grozos Rooms: this a family-owned hotel located almost in front of Livadia Beach and 8 minutes away from Parikia’s port and bus station. Because it offers double rooms and apartments, Grozos Rooms is perfect for families and couples on a budget looking for a clean and centrally located apartment. This hotel has an average rate of $80 per night for a double room, with prices starting at $50 during September and going as high as $100 for an apartment during August that can host up to 4 people.

Check Grozos Rooms rates on Booking.com

Staying in Naoussa – the most charming town of Paros

Naoussa is a small fishing village located north of Paros with charming views and Greek facades. The central transportation hub of the island is Parikia. Still, from Naoussa, you can get to Golden Beach, Santa Maria Beach, and the lovely town of Lefkes without having to switch buses at Parikia. 

Naoussa has a more upscale look, as are its hotels. Naoussa is one of the best places to stay in Paros if you visit Paros during the summer. However, during the winter, this part of the island lacks people, so the general advice is to stay in Parikia and rent a car or take a bus to visit Naoussa for a day.

For a relaxing stay in Naoussa, we recommend the following hotels:

  • Quartano Luxury Cycladic Residence: This is the perfect choice to celebrate a special occasion in Naoussa. The outdoor swimming pool is spectacular, and the rooms are modern and big, and some of them have a hydromassage or jacuzzi inside. A basic double room can cost around $150 per night, and you can have a two-bedroom suite for up to 4 people for $360.

Check Quartano Luxury Cycladic Residence On Booking.com

  • Madaki Hotel: This hotel is an excellent choice for those looking for clean accommodation located right in the center of the action in Naoussa. The rooms are decorated with beach vibes, and you can expect to pay between $50 and $85, according to the season.

Check Madaky Hotel On Booking.com

If you are coming in a large group, Naoussa is full of beautiful villas overlooking the ocean that can cost the same or even less than a hotel when you split the rate with your friends or family. We have gathered a list of Airbnb’s in Naoussa that is worth checking out:

3 Days in Paros Itinerary  – Things to Do in Paros Greece

What to do in Paros for 3 days? There are many things to do in Paros, but the good thing about this island is that you can have a great sneak peek of it in just 3 days if you are short on time. This travel guide of Paros aims to gather the best things to do there and mix them into a fun itinerary that will let you rest, enjoy and see.

Paros travel guide: Day 1

Parikia Town

Paros Travel Guide: Parikia Port
Parikia, the main port in Paros

One of the best ways to start discovering Paros is to wander around Parikia Town. Start your day at one of the breakfast cafes in front of the port, and then start walking inside the town to check local fashion brands, traditional Greek houses, and souvenir shops.

After wandering around for a while, head to the Monastery of Panagia Ekatontapiliani, also located in Parikia Town. As it is known, the “church of the 100 doors” dates from 326 AC and was founded by the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great when she stopped on Paros during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land in search of Jesus Christ’s Cross.

Right behind the church, you will find the Archeological Museum of Paros, one of the most important museums of Greece because of the extensive collection of exhibitions founded during Paros and Antiparos excavations. One of the fascinating things you will find at the museum is the marble statue of Nike that dates back to 470 BC.

Paros travel guide: Parikia Town
Parikia Town, full of local shops

Golden Beach

Golden Beach in Paros
Golden Beach is the best beach for water sports lovers.

After a morning of discovering Parikia, it is now time to relax and head to the beach. Any beaches on the island will make you feel like you are in paradise, so it isn’t easy to choose one. Still, if we must do it, Golden Beach makes our list as one of the most beautiful beaches in Paros thanks to its blue water, excellent beach facilities (there are many beach bars with reasonable prices + two beach chairs, and an umbrella can cost you between $12 and $20 EU) and the great offer of water sports. In fact, this beach is popular among locals and tourists because of the Professional Windsurfing World Cup that takes place in August.

Parikia bus station has direct buses from the town center to Golden Beach if you decide not to rent a car.

Naoussa

Paros Travel Guide: Naoussa
Naoussa is the most charming village in Paros

After an excellent sunbathing session, there is no better plan than getting back to your hotel (check out the best hotels in Naoussa)  and taking a shower, but don’t take too long because our last destination is Naoussa. The best thing to do in Naoussa is to wander around this charming village, prepare to get lost, shop a lot, and eat.

If you want to try fish dishes, Naoussa’s harbour is the place on the island. If you can’t decide where to sit for a special evening, Barbarossa is located just in the harbour and has fantastic views and the best-grilled octopus. 

Paros travel guide: Day 2

On your second day on the island, you will hop on a ferry (don’t worry, it will only cost you $1.30 EU) and discover the beautiful island of Antiparos. Smaller than Paros, Antiparos is a delightful island that seems to have been taken out of a fairytale and has only 200 habitats, with Tom Hanks being one of them.

For the celebrity lovers: Tom Hanks is super engaged with the Antiparos community and is always involved in the cultural events that the island holds (for example the Short Movie Festival that happens every year). Because in Antiparos he is just your-next-door-neighborhood, it is not unusual that tourists spot him wandering around Antiparos Town.

Before starting your adventure, don’t forget to have a Greek breakfast! If you are staying in Parikia, an excellent place to try Greek pastries (and have a super cheap breakfast, too!) is The Bakery, located just in front of the harbor between the port and Livadia beach. In Naoussa, a great place to start your day is Ragoussis Bakery:

To take the ferry from Paros to Antiparos, you need to head to Punda port; if you have rented a car or a motorbike, you can hop on the ferry with it for an extra fee of $2 EU. If you rely on public transportation, you must take a bus from Parikia station to Punda Port.

Once you reach the port, hop on the ferry as soon as you see it, the ticket booth is inside the ferry, so don’t worry about paying. Ferries from Paros to Antiparos come and go quite often, but it is always recommended to have the ferry timetable in hand.

TIP: Paros is well connected by public transport, and Antiparos has a hop on hop off bus that will cost you $6 EU for a day and will take you to all the main tourist places, so, at least for this day, we think it is a waste of money to hire a car since you won’t be needing it very much

Antiparos Town

Antiparos Town
Antiparos Town is just a few steps away from the port.

Antiparos port is next to Antiparos Town, so this is the first place to start your Antiparos adventure. During the morning, the streets will be quiet, and few shops will open. Still, it is an excellent opportunity to have a photo shoot around the island and sightsee locals doing their day-to-day activities (for example, there is a real modern gym in the town, and you will spot many people going there for a morning routine). While exploring the town, don’t forget to check the Church of Agios Nikolaos, the island’s cathedral, and the Venetian Castle of Antiparos, built-in 1440 when the Venetian Giovanni Loredano married Maria Sommaripa of Antiparos. 

Antiparos Caves

View from Antiparos cave

After your morning stroll, head again to the Antiparos Port. Right where the ferry left you, a bus stop will charge you $6 EU for a full tour around the island. The bus’s first stop is the Cave of Antiparos, where you are heading.

The cave of Antiparos is believed to be the oldest cave in Greece but wasn’t discovered until 1673 when the French ambassador to Constantinople, Marquis de Nouadel, stepped inside for the first time. The stalagmite at the entrance is the oldest in Europe, and it was used as an altar for a mass performed by order of the Marquis. Since then, the cave has become a sacred place for Greek Christians. 

The cost of entering the cave is $6 EU, and the bus will return for you every hour. You can also ask the driver for the exact time of the return.

Inside Antiparos Cave
Inside Antiparos Cave, one of the oldest in Europe.

Agios Giorgios Beach

Agios Giorgios Beach in AntiparosAfter feeling like Indiana Jones inside Antiparos Cave, it is time to get back to the bus and head to the beach for a while. Antiparos has many beautiful beaches with crystal water to soak some sun, but what we recommend for a one-day adventure on the island is Agios Georgios, which is the last stop of the bus. This beach is located in one of the most expensive towns of Antiparos, so the bus views, while heading to the beach is spectacular since you can see the ocean and the incredible Greek mansions where locals live. 

Agios Georgios is perfect for a one-day visit because there are many things to do nearby, you can choose to do nothing and relax at an uninhabited beach (you can rent an umbrella and there are also many water sports activities but that it’s it, there won’t be any food shops at the actual beach) or take a boat trip around the island and visiting Despotiko island that is just in front of Agios Georgios (expect to pay around $35 EU per person). 

The bus will stop at the beach entrance, where many waterfront restaurants offer delicious fish dishes; all places are recommended for lunch with a view. For the beach, you need to walk a few steps to the right.

After the beach, the bus will take you back to town. From there, you can come back to Paros or enjoy an evening at Antiparos. Ferries come and go between the island until 2 am so it is a great opportunity to discover the vibe of Antiparos at night and have a nice dinner and cocktails.

Paros travel guide: Day 3

Sailing cruise around Paros

Paros sailing tour
A day at the ocean in Paros

An excellent way of ending your trip to Paros is to take a sailing cruise around the Cyclades. There are many boat owners in Parikia port, and you can arrange a private day trip around the island with any of them. 

If you want to hire a private boat, expect to pay around $450 – $500 EU for a 6 hours trip in a small boat with a skipper included. For this option, we recommend contacting Paros Rent a Boat, a well-known boat company on the island. 

If you are travelling on your own or with a partner and can’t afford a private boat, for $155 EU per person, you can book a 10-hour semi-private boat tour that will take you to the islands of Iraklia, Schinoussa, Naxos and Despotikos. The trip includes lunch, wine, snacks, and beverages and can be booked in advance through Get Your Guide.

If you want to take the best pictures during your boat trip around Paros, check the tutorial that we made of how to take underwater pictures with your iPhone like a pro!

Santa Maria Beach

Beach club at Santa Maria
Beach club at Santa Maria, Paros Travel Guide

If a boat trip around the island is out of your budget, don’t worry, there are many beautiful beaches to visit in Paros! Santa Maria beach is at the northeastern end of the island, and one of the best things about this beach is that it is well-protected from the winds.

Santa Maria beach is full of facilities, and you can expect to pay between $20 and $30 EU for two beds and an umbrella. Because it is just 3km from Naoussa, we recommend you end the day at the port town and drink a goodbye cocktail at Sante Cocktail Bar. 

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