Guide to Visiting Santa Maria Beach, Paros
Santa Maria Beach is the second most popular beach in Paros, right behind the iconic Kolymbithres Beach, and the beaches do have some similarities.
For instance, it’s most popular in the summer, really easy to get to from Naoussa, and has all the amenities you could ask for, like beachfront bars and sunbeds.
But it’s a little more removed from the tourist hotspots, so most of the time, it feels more like a relaxed Greek Island in the middle of nowhere. This is why we recommend Santa Maria to people who want to still be close to the poppin’ areas while still having a semi-relaxing holiday!
We visited Santa Maria in the shoulder season, so it was way less crowded than usual and a beautiful place to spend a few hours!
Here’s everything you should know about Santa Maria Beach, from how to get there to the most luxurious villas, fun beach bars, and the best things to do!
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Where is Santa Maria Beach?
There are two sections of this beach. In this post, we’re talking about the main beach–Santa Maria Beach. But about 5 minutes north is Mikri Santa Maria, which means ‘small Santa Maria.’
It’s significantly smaller, but on windy days when the waves are rough at the main beach, you’ll still find calm water at Mikri Santa Maria, so it’s better for swimming or sunbathing!
Best Time to Visit Santa Maria Beach
You really should visit Santa Maria during the high season, which is from May to September.
We’ve been here during the low season, and there’s really nothing to write home about. Of course, the beach itself is still stunning, but there’s nothing to do except sunbathe and swim since everything is closed for the season (including most hotels and the beach bar).
What to Do at Santa Maria Beach
Since this is one of the most popular areas in Paros, there’s definitely a lot going on here.
As we said before, there wasn’t a lot open when we visited, but we could still enjoy the coast and imagine what it would be like during peak season!
Here are the top things to do around the beach!
Rent a Pair of Sunbeds
There’s space where you can set up your own stuff for free on either end of the beach, but if you go toward the middle, there are tons of sunbeds for rent.
Unlike other areas of the beach, they’re all the same price–€50 a set–so get here early if you want one close to the water!
No matter where you are on the beach, you’ll notice some vendors coming around with snacks and cold drinks. However, the prices are really high, so we usually bring our own drinks and snacks.
You can pick them up beforehand at this small supermarket.
Enjoy the water
Depending on the day, and time of year, the ocean at Santa Maria Beach can be a little unpredictable.
If there’s too much wind, the coastline gets very choppy, and the waves are too big for snorkeling or enjoying a calm swim. But the summer usually has calm weather, and the sea does calm down enough for swimming or snorkeling!
If you want to be more adventurous, you can even rent a sea kayak or windsurfing equipment at the small watersport center on the beach!
Just check the radar so you know what to expect and how to pack for Santa Maria Beach!
Grab a Snack at Koom Beach Bar
Okay, so if you’re looking for a meal on the beach, Koom Bar & Restaurant is really your only option. They have a large menu of seafood, salads, and sandwiches, and a wide selection of beer, wine, and cocktails.
In all fairness, there are significantly better places to eat in Paros. The food and cocktails here are overpriced, and the food is just okay. The drinks are what you would find anywhere else in Paros.
But the atmosphere is really nice, and it’s convenient to get something to eat right on Santa Maria Beach. They’ll give you your food in a to-go box so you can enjoy it from one of the sunbeds!
We’d come for an appetizer and something to drink, but head back to Naoussa for dinner!
Walk to Filizi Island
If you walk about 15 minutes to the south side of the bay, you’ll find a natural jetty that leads to the south corner of the beach. This jetty extends out into the ocean for about 200 meters.
At the end of the small piece of land, you can walk through water about 1 meter deep to Filitzi Island.
This is a wild island, and there are literally zero facilities here.
So bring everything you need, but if you’re tired of the cosmopolitan vibes and beach clubs, this is a way to experience the wild side of Paros and do something only a tiny fraction of tourists ever do!
Getting from Naoussa to Santa Maria Beach
Most people visiting Santa Maria will be coming from Naoussa. If you’re among the small percentage of people staying in Parikia (Paros Port), you’ll still need to get from Parikia to Naoussa first.
Then, you can move on to Santa Maria, so the exact directions apply, but you might have to drive an extra 10 minutes, spend a little more on your taxi, or have a bus connection in Paros.
By the way!
We always rent our own vehicle in Paros, and it TRANSFORMS our experience of the island. Whether we’re renting a small compact car, a scooter, or an ATV in Paros.
This is typically the #1 tip we share with anyone coming to Paros. Here’s more info:
Santa Maria Beach Bus
If you’re taking the bus to Santa Maria, the bus stop is right here. It’s right next to the parking lot, so you’ll only need to walk a few hundred meters to get to the beach.
The timetable changes every year, but there are 4 trips between Naoussa and Santa Maria at the time of writing.
Naoussa to Santa Maria: 11:15, 13:35, 16:00, and 18:00.
Santa Maria to Naoussa: 11:30, 13:50, 16:15, and 18:15
Check the current Paros Bus Schedule here!
Driving to Santa Maria Beach
It only takes about 10 minutes to get from Naoussa to Paros, and the roads are all paved and well-maintained. You likely won’t need any sort of pit stop, but just in case, it’s nice to know that you’ll pass through the villages of Siparos and Lageri on your way!
We always use this website to find the cheapest car rental deals!
And if you’re nervous at all about renting a car in a new country, this car rental guide will help a lot!
The Santa Maria Beach parking lot is right here. It’s totally free, and there’s enough space that we would never tell someone they need to worry about parking.
Just be aware that it’s a completely dirt parking lot!
Taxi to Santa Maria Beach
Of course, you can take a taxi to Santa Maria. However, it will be pretty expensive if you come from Parikia, Naoussa, or the airport.
For instance, on our favorite taxi service, Welcome Pickups, it’s about €45 to get from Parikia to Santa Maria and €60 from Naoussa to Santa Maria (I have zero idea why Naoussa is more expensive when it’s closer).
But you can probably get a taxi for between €30-40 if you wait and find a cab in person.
Santa Maria Beach Hotels
If you’re wondering where to stay in Paros near Santa Maria Beach, you’ll be glad to know there are a couple of options.
Here are the top places we could find in the area that are worth your money!
Surfing Beach Village Paros
Surfing Beach Village is the only place to stay on Santa Maria Beach proper.
There are other places a short drive away, but if you want to stay right on the beach, this is the spot!
It’s very affordable but also isn’t the most luxurious accommodation. It reminds us more of summer camp as a kid, with various huts and bungalows to stay in. But they all have air conditioning, Wi-Fi, private bathrooms, and complimentary breakfast!
If you want something luxurious, book the ‘Deluxe Suite with Sea View.’ It’s right on the water, and the reviews for this room are significantly higher than those for the rest of the resort!
White Dunes Luxury Boutique Hotel
White Dunes is the most luxurious place to stay in the entire area. The suites are small but beautiful, and all the interior design and decor match the feel of a Greek island, especially the whitewashed terrace with sunbeds and umbrellas overlooking the ocean.
There are also stunning grounds with a pool and lights for ambiance in the evening. In the reviews, it seems everyone mentions something positive about the staff and the breakfast! The only issue is that it’s rarely available, so you’ll unlikely get a last-minute booking here!
You have easy access to both beaches since it’s up on the hill between Santa Maria and Mikri Santa Maria.
The Sand Collection Villas
These luxury suites are also on a small hill between the two beaches at Santa Maria, and it can be difficult to find availability.
But these studios are much bigger and closer to the water, so you’ll get a better view.
Many of the villas (even the more affordable ones) have a sitting area, a full kitchen, an outdoor terrace, and their own private pool! There’s no free breakfast, though, and the villas function a little more like an Airbnb, where you have the whole place to yourself!
More Paros Beaches
Paros is full of beaches, and while Santa Maria Beach is undoubtedly one of the most popular, we found a few others to be even more enjoyable!
Kolymbithres Beach – The most popular and crowded beach in Paros, but possibly the most beautiful.
Kalogeros Beach – A unique beach with therapeutic, mud-like sand and stunning cliffs.
Golden Beach – The wind-surfing capital of Paros, with fine golden sand and multiple beach bars!
Marcello Beach – a wonderful beach near Parikia, with a beach club and great swimming!
Monastiri Beach – a more secluded beach close to Kolymbithres. It has a relaxed vibe, a restaurant, and lots of day hikes to the surrounding peninsula!
Final Thoughts
All in All, Santa Maria Beach is a great place to go for a beach day in Paros. It’s close to Naoussa, and there is a lot going on in the summer. We wish we’d been able to spend even more time here.
On our next trip to Paros, we might even set aside a few days on our itinerary to stay in a more romantic place like this.
We love that there’s food right on the beach and the fact that there’s always something to do on this side of Paros, whether it’s calm or windy.
Whether you’re staying in Santa Maria or just visiting from another town, we’d still encourage you to rent a car in Paros. We rent a car every time we visit and love that we don’t have to rely on the bus system or taxis to get into town!
