This travel guide is full of tips on how to plan your perfect holidays in Paros. This lovely Greek island is famous for its white marble, little white and blue houses, beautiful beaches, crystal blue waters, fishing villages, amazing sea food cuisine and basically everything that can be associated with the Greek islands.
Table of Contents
What to Visit on Paros Island
Paros is the second largest island of the Cyclades on the Aegean Sea with the capital in Parikia. It’s known as the marble island located between the islands of Naxos and Sifnos, 150 km south-east of Piraeus in Athens. It covers 196 square km of land and and its populations is over 13,000 people.
Don’t leave Paros without seeing:
- Parikia
- Lefkes
- Marpissa
- Naoussa
- Panagia Ekatontapiliani
- Agioi Anargyroi Monastery
- Frankish Castle
- Agia Anna Church
- Jesus of the Woods
- Windmills of Paros
- Naoussa Venetian Castle
- Archaeological Museum of Paros
- Museum of Cycladic Folklore
- Moraitis Winery
- Paros Park
- Marcello Beach
- Kolymbithres Beach
- Faragas Beach
- Golden Beach
- Molos Beach
- Livadia Beach
- Santa Maria Beach
- Aliki Beach,
- Piso Livadi Beach
- Piperi Beach
- Boat Trips
Read more: What to See and Do in Paros – Top Tourist Attractions
Daily Excursions From Paros
- Santorini
- Delos, Mykonos
- Antiparos and Despotiko
- Aliki & Panteronisia
- Aliki Sunset Boat Trip
- Parikia Bay Sunset
- Naxos & Koufonisia
- Amorgos or Koufonisia
- Iraklia – Koufonisia
Read more: Best Day Trips from Paros Island
Hiking on Paros Island
Paros is 21 km long and 16 km wide, formed by the single mountain of Agioi Pantes (770 m) which is also the highest point. If trekking is what you’re after, the best hiking trails on Paros include the Byzantine Road from Lefkes to Prodmoros, Parikia to Piso Livadi, from Marmara to Kalogeras, from Marpissa to Avkoulaki, from Ampelas (Naoussa) to Santa Maria, the Environmental Park and along the Parikia Bay.
Beaches on Paros Island
Being surrounded by the waters of the Aegean Sea, the Greek island of Paros can really be proud of over 120 km of coastline and amazing sandy beaches. The most recommended beaches to visit on Paros include Livadia Beach, Kolymbithres Beach, Santa Maria Beach, Aliki Beach, Molos Beach and Piso Livadi and Piperi Beach. There’s the seaport located in Parikia, located inside the bay on the north – west side of the island.
Read more: The Most Beautiful Beaches on Paros
Where to Stay in Paros
The best places to stay on Paros island are either Parikia or Naoussa. Parikia is the capital of Paros and the main port town on the western side of the island. And, Naoussa is an old fishing village in the north. Both equally stunning!
If you want to look into different areas of Paros you can try districts such as Parikia, Naoussa, Lefkes, Marpissa, Piso Vivaldi, Drios and Aliki. My recommendation of places to stay on the Paros island:
- Argonauta Hotel in Parikia
- Hotel Senia in Naoussa
What to Eat in Paros
Paros has many tasty restaurants to try the local cuisine. The island is famous for serving fresh fish, delicious seafood and typical Greek food. The top dishes to try in Paros are:
- Octopus – best served grilled
- Gouna – roasted mackerel
- Revithia sto fourno – baked chickpeas
- Karavalas – snails in the garlic sauce
- Saganaki – fried cheese
- Mizithra – white goat cheese
- Kakavia – fish soup with veggies
- Petimezi – pumpkin pie
- Souma – local raki
- Paros wine – locally produced
- Ouzo – sweet alcohol made from grapes and anise
- Alpha Beer, Mythos Beer – best beer in Greece
Read more: Traditional Greek Food and Best Restaurants on Paros Island.
How to Get Around Paros
The best way to explore the island of Paros is to hire a scooter. If you don’t drive, there is a bus service you can use. There are two main bus stations in Parikia and Naoussa.
To reach the Paros island by air you can take a domestic flight from Athens or Thessaloniki. The flight from Athens takes 40 minutes and costs around €50 (£45) one way. The flight from Thessaloniki lasts 2 hours 30 mins (stopover in Athens) and it's roughly €150 (£135). There is a daily service between the mainland and the island.
You can book your flight to Paros island with:
- Olympic Air
- Sky Express
You can reach Paros island by taking the ferry from Piraeus or Rafina in Athens. To find the tickets use ferryhopper.com, gtp.gr or directferries.com. When in Paros, you can continue the Cyclades island hopping to get to: Antiparos, Naxos, Mykonos, Serifos, Sifnos, Milos and Santorini.
What kind of ferry to book to Paros?
- high speed ferries - €100 (£90)
- car/passenger ferries - €60 (£54)
What ferry company to book with to Paros?
- Blue Star Ferries
- Aegean Speed Lines
- Sea Jets
- Hellenic Seaways
There is a good bus service on the Paros island. The two main bus stations are located in Parikia and Naoussa. You can travel by taking the five lines that cover the whole of the island. The bus ticket prices in Paros:
- single ticket - €1.80 (£1.60)
- all day ticket - €9 (£8)
Renting a car in Paros is affordable. The typical charge to hire a small car starts from €23 (£21) a day. The best car rental companies in Paros:
- Paros European Rent in Parikia (parosrentcar.com)
- ML Motor Land in Naoussa (motorland.gr)
Scootering around Paros is the best way to explore the island. The typical price to hire the 125 cc scooter is €17 (£15) and the AVTs (squads) is €19 (£17) a day. The best scooter and AVT hire companies in Paros:
- Paros European Rent (parosrentcar.com) in Parikia
- ML Motor Land (motorland.gr) in Naoussa
Paros Travel Guide – Cost and Budget
The island of Paros is an affordable travel destination in Greece. If you’re backpacking Paros, your daily budget should be around £40. That’s assuming you stay in a hostel, eat most delicious street food and use the local transport.
If you travel to Paros on the mid – range budget, you’re likely to spend around £80 a day. That allows you to stay in a standard hotel room, dine at the local taverns and rent a scooter to drive around the island.
If you want luxury in Paros, you should spend at least £185 on your daily travels. This budget will cover your choice of the best hotel, dining at the most expensive restaurant and renting a car.
| Accommodation | Food | Transport | Attractions | Avg Daily Cost | |
| Backpacker | £20 | £10 | £5 | £5 | £40 |
| Mid-Range | £40 | £20 | £10 | £10 | £80 |
| Luxury | £100 | £40 | £20 | £25 | £185 |
Paros Travel Guide – Best Time to Visit
Best time to go to Paros is between May and October. Those months bring the average temperatures between 21°C and 28°C. The summer in Paros is from June to August and that’s definitely the most enjoyable time to be on the beach. The average air temperature in August is 28°C and the sea temperature around 26°C. It hardly ever rains in Paros during summer and when it does, it’s mostly one day a month.
Summer is about musical shows, dance performances and food festivals. The Festival of Pirates is held on the 23rd of August and the Greeks it celebrate by dressing up in the village of Naoussa.
Spring in Paros lasts from March to May and brings the average temperatures between 16°C and 22°C. The following festivals are celebrated in Paros in spring: the festival of Agios Ioannis Theologos in Drios (8th May), the Festival of Agios Georgios in Agairia in April and Easter holidays (March or April).
Autumn in Paros runs from September to November with the average temperatures between 19°C to 25°C. The following events are held in Paros in autumn: the Festival of Trata, the Ochi Day, Antistaseos – Resistance and Polytechnio. All of those are to celebrate the Greek history.
High Season (Jun – Aug)
- Expect the crowds on Paros
- Expensive hotels
- Air 28°C, Sea 26°C
- Summer cultural festivals
Mid (Mar-May, Sep-Nov)
- Less crowds on the beaches
- Prices more affordable
- Air 16°C-25°C, Sea 16°C-24°C
- Spring/Autumn festivals
Low Season (Dec – Feb)
- Very few tourist
- Cheap or closed hotels
- Air 13°C-16°C, Sea 15°C
- Rainy winter months
Paros Travel Guide – Average Monthly Temperatures
Paros enjoys warm temperatures all year around but it’s the hottest in summer from June to August. Those months bring the average temperatures between 26°C and 28°C with August being the hottest. Paros island is the coldest in winter from December to February. Those months bring a lot of rain and the average temperatures between 13°C and 16°C with January being the coldest.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| High Temp (°C) | 13 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 25 | 21 | 19 | 16 |
| Low Temp (°C) | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 11 |
| Sea Temp (°C) | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 17 |
Paros Travel Guide – Average Monthly Precipitation
Paros is the wettest in winter between December and February. In fact, December is the month when it rains the most and average 95 mm of rainfall and eleven days of showers are common. On the contrary, Paros is the driest in summer from June to August with an average 2 mm to 4 mm of rainfall and one day of showers a month.
Although, many resorts are closed for winter in Paros, you can still enjoy the festivals such as the carnival costume parties and the Epiphany festival (sporting event held on the 6th of January).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Rainfall (mm) | 94 | 66 | 58 | 25 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 50 | 63 | 95 |
| Rainfall (days) | 10 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 11 |
Paros Travel Guide – Practical Information
This travel guide gives you some practical tips on what to expect on your travels to Paros island. For more information on language and local time, religion, electricity plug, internet, currency, visa, safety and health matters in Paros, just follow my comments below.
Population and Language – The population of Paros with the capital in Parikia is over 13,000. The official language is Greek and most people, except for the elderly, speak English well on the island.
Religion – In Paros the main religion is the Greek Orthodox Church and others.
Local Time – There is 1 time zone in Paros: UTC+2 hours.
Electricity – Paros runs on 230V voltage. There is 50Hz and the plug type C and F. Getting an adapter is recommended.
Internet – The internet in Paros is available pretty much all over the island. Most hotels, taverns and pubs offer a free wi-fi. It’s recommended to buy a cheap sim card and mobile internet on arrival. Best prepaid sim cards in Paros are: Cosmote, Vodafone, and Wind.
Money and Currency in Paros
Money – There are many ATMs on Paros island. If you need to visit the bank in Paros, there are four available in Parikia: Piraeus, Ethniki, Eurobank, Alpha Bank and one available in Naoussa: Ethniki Bank. Visa and MasterCard Debit or Credit Cards are accepted. Having some cash is always advisable.
Currency – The official currency on Paros island is Euro (€) (EUR).
Visa Requirements for Paros
Visa – EU citizens don’t need a visa to travel to Paros, Greece. There is the Schengen Zone Area that allows free travel with no passport or border control. The UK left the EU on 31st of January 2020 meaning the UK citizens can spend up to 90 days within the Schengen Area (during any 180 day period). Valid ID document is required. If you are coming from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Americas you don’t need the visa if your trip is less than 90 days. Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months before your travels.
Safety in Paros
Safety Paros is generally a safe destination to travel. Things to be aware of are the rental scams. If you want to rent a bike, scooter or other ATVs, it’s better to do it from the official rental agency. Some companies offer to rent the vehicles that are damaged for the lower price and later demand to cover the whole cost of the repairs. If you decide to rent one, make sure it comes with a fully comprehensive insurance cover.
Emergency Numbers – 112 is a free number to dial in Greece. The numbers for each emergency services in Paros are: Police Station in Parikia: +30 22840 23333, Police Station in Naoussa: +30 22840 51202, Parikia Port: +30 22840 21240, Naoussa Port: +30 22840 51 250, Fire: +30 22840 25199, Health Center: +30 22843 60000, Medical Center: +30 22840 24410, Ambulance: +30 22840 22500, Tourist Police: +30 22840 21673, Tourist Information: +30 22843 60170.
Health and Travel Vaccinations in Paros
Health – Traveling to Paros island in Greece requires no vaccinations. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that everyone is covered for the diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B regardless of their destination.