Paros

Charming beaches and whitewashed villages

Paros is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea known for its whitewashed villages and clear blue waters. The main town, Parikia, has narrow streets lined with cafes and shops selling local crafts. Beaches like Golden Beach and Kolymbithres have fine sand and calm waves perfect for swimming. Cycling around the island reveals olive groves, ancient ruins and scenic hilltop views. Local tavernas serve fresh seafood and traditional dishes such as moussaka. The pace of life is relaxed, making Paros a peaceful escape from busy cities while still providing easy access to nearby islands by ferry.

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Island in Greece

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 7.5

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	8

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in tourist areas, especially in hotels, restaurants, and shops. In smaller villages, some locals may only speak Greek, but they are usually friendly and accommodating.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Paros Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Excellent for beaches and Cycladic island life. Swim in clear bays, explore whitewashed villages, enjoy seaside dining and try sailing or windsurfing.

Place score

7.7

Best at:

Islands

Sea

Beaches

Walkable

Spotless

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

❤️ 9

Couples

Greece – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 3/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common, especially in urban areas. However, many small shops and rural locations still prefer cash payments. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in Greece. In restaurants, 5-10% is typical, though rounding up is also common. Tipping taxi drivers is customary, and small tips for hotel staff are appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally allowed in Greece, especially in designated areas or during festivals. However, it’s prohibited in some areas like public transport or near schools.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places. There are designated outdoor smoking areas in most restaurants and public buildings.

Easter (March/April)	Easter is a significant religious holiday, and many businesses close. Popular for family gatherings and church services.
Assumption of Mary (August)	A national holiday with parades and festivities. Expect crowded tourist areas and higher accommodation prices.
Christmas (December)	Christmas celebrations take place in many towns and cities, with lively events, though many businesses close for the holiday.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Beat, TaxiBeat, Uber
Other:	Greece is a popular tourist destination, particularly in summer, so be prepared for high demand for accommodation and services during peak months.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Paros, Greece

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

☀️

May

☀️

Jun

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Jul

🌬️

Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Many hotels, restaurants and beach bars close November to March, main season May to October

Meltemi winds are strongest July and August, great for windsurfing and kitesurfing at Pounda and Golden Beach, but can cancel ferries

Ferries to Athens and neighbouring islands are reduced in winter and often cancelled in storms

Don't miss

⛪ Visit the historic Church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani
🏖️ Relax on golden sands of Kolymbithres Beach
🏘️ Explore the charming village of Lefkes with cobblestone streets
⛵ Take a boat trip to nearby Antiparos island
🌅 Enjoy sunset views from Naoussa Harbour

You've been here?

Why travel to Paros?

Paros offers some of the best beaches in the Cyclades, from golden sandy shores to hidden rocky coves. Its traditional villages, like Naoussa and Parikia, are filled with Cycladic charm, offering cozy tavernas, historic churches and picturesque streets. Whether you’re into windsurfing, exploring hidden coves by boat or simply enjoying fresh seafood by the water, Paros has something for every traveler.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Ancient Cemetery
2 Alyki
3 Ancient marble quarries (Marathi)
4 Frankish Castle

🎡Places for activities

1 Golden Beach
2 Santa Maria

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Paros Park Museum
2 Butterfly Valley

🎈Events

Paros Festival
Naoussa Pirate Festival
Holy Friday in Marpissa
Paros International Windsurfing Championship

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Book ferries and accommodation early for July–August peak weeks.
Meltemi winds can be strong; choose sheltered beaches on gusty days.
Rent a scooter, ATV or small car to reach inland villages easily.
Do a quick Antiparos day trip; the short ferry ride makes it effortless.

How to travel to Paros

Paros has a small airport with domestic flights from Athens. Ferries from Athens (Piraeus or Rafina) and other Cycladic islands like Mykonos, Santorini and Naxos provide regular connections.

Access summary

From Paros Airport (PAS): Taxi or bus to Parikia, about 15–25 minutes.
From Athens (Piraeus/Rafina): Ferry to Paros, usually 3–5 hours depending on route.
From Naxos or Mykonos: Frequent inter-island ferries to Paros, crossing about 1–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Paros

Paros offers a range of accommodations, from luxury hotels to cozy guesthouses. Naoussa is best for nightlife and upscale stays, while Parikia is great for a more relaxed experience. Budget travelers can find hostels and family-run pensions.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Paros Agnanti Resort & Spa

8.7

Summer Senses Luxury Resort

8.7

Poseidon of Paros Hotel & Spa

High Mill Hotel by Mr and Mrs White

9.2

Argonauta Hotel

9.2

Central Boutique Hotel by naoussa hills adults only

8.5

Narges Hotel

8.9

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Paros

Renting a car, scooter or ATV is the best way to explore the island at your own pace. Public buses connect major villages and beaches and taxis are available but can be limited during peak season.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-19 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 19% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Mykonos, Greece - 46 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£69	£182	£475
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£38	£116	£282
🍝 Food per day	£24	£58	£170
🚕 Transportation per day	£7	£8	£22

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£23
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£11.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£6.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£8
☕ Cappuccino	£2.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.30

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.60
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£12.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£7
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£35
🤧 Cold medication	£5
💇 Basic haircut	£8.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Paros is a very safe destination with low crime rates. Use common sense in crowded places and be cautious when driving, as some roads can be narrow and winding.

Health & Medical

Medical services are available, with a health center in Parikia and pharmacies across the island. For serious cases, larger hospitals are in Naxos or Athens.

Accessibility

While many areas are walkable, some older streets and remote beaches may not be easily accessible for those with mobility issues. Public transportation is available but not always frequent.

Tap water

Tap water is safe for brushing teeth but not always recommended for drinking due to high mineral content. Bottled water is widely available and inexpensive.

Packing recommendations for Paros

📷

Camera

👟

Comfortable walking shoes

🌞

Sun cream

👕

Light, breathable clothing

Quick-dry travel towel

📱

Travel eSIM

🔌

Universal travel adaptor

💳

Credit card with no foreign transaction fees

Nearby recommended places

Athens

Santorini

Mykonos

Oia

Naxos

Milos

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Summary:	Cool, wet and windy, many places closed
Temperature:	12 – 14 °C
Water temp.:	16 °C
Rain:	22 mm (On-and-off light rain)
Crowdedness:	Not touristy

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Temperature:	12 – 14 °C
Water temp.:	16 °C
Rain:	16 mm (Scattered light rain)
Crowdedness:	Not touristy

Summary:	Mild and fresh, wildflowers, sea still cold
Temperature:	13 – 15 °C
Water temp.:	16 °C
Rain:	12 mm (Scattered light rain)
Crowdedness:	Not touristy

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Temperature:	15 – 17 °C
Water temp.:	16 °C
Rain:	8 mm (Scattered light rain)
Crowdedness:	Few tourists

Summary:	Warm and sunny, sea still fresh
Temperature:	19 – 20 °C
Water temp.:	19 °C
Rain:	6 mm (Scattered light rain)
Crowdedness:	Few tourists