The Ideal 4-Day Paros Itinerary (For First Timers!)

If you’re heading to Paros for the first time, then you probably want to make the most of each day on your itinerary, and that’s where we can help!

Thinking back to our first time in Paros, I remember wanting to see everything!

Granted, we had 10 days at the time, so it was a little bit easier. But we were able to see the entire island, and we made sure that this itinerary included only the spots that are actually worth visiting!

That’s what we mean when we say, ‘Make the most of your itinerary.’

It sucks traveling to a new destination only to feel like half of the sites weren’t as cool as advertised, but most places in Paros did live up to the hype, like the cosmopolitan town of Naoussa, east coast beaches, and mountain village of Lefkes!

We’ll also share where to stay in Paros for easy access to everything and a few options for getting around the island, in addition to the detailed 4 Days in Paros itinerary.

Our 4-Day Itinerary: At A Glance

• Day 1 – Naoussa
  • Kolymbithres Beach
  • Monastiri Beach
  • Monastery of St. John’s of Deti
  • Exploring Naoussa
  • Dinner on the Waterfront
• Day 2 – East Coast Beach Hopping
  • Golden Beach
  • Kalogeros Beach
  • Moles Beach/Tsoukalia Beach
  • Santa Maria Beach
• Day 3 – Villages & Marble Quarries
  • Lefkes
  • Ancient Marble Quarries
  • Parikia
• Day 4 – Antiparos
  • Cave of Antiparos
  • Beaches on Antiparos
  • ATV Tour

How many days to Spend in Paros?

Honestly, most people we talk to who are visiting Paros only spend 1-2 days in Paros, but that’s not really enough time to see the entire island. You need at least three days in Paros to see everything and a fourth day if you would like to go to Antiparos.

But if you only have a day or two, it’s still worth visiting. You’ll just have to pick and choose what you want to see!

How to Get To Paros?

Paros is a really easy island to get to. There are both direct flights from Athens and ferries traveling between the Cyclades all year round.

The flight is less than one hour and usually costs about $60-100 each way. Historically, we’ve always found the best flights on Skyscanner or Google Flights.

But we’ve recently been testing out a new flight aggregate called WayAway, and they almost always find a slightly cheaper flight. In addition to that, they show you how much the bags will cost right up front (we’ve never seen this) and have a cashback loyalty program for frequent travelers!

The ferry from Athens to Paros takes between 3-4 hours, depending on which company you book with, and it generally costs the same ($60-80). If you’re coming from Athens, it’s better to fly to Paros, but if you’re coming from Naxos or a different island, it’s easier to get a ferry.

Ferry Scanner is the only booking platform with free cancellation, so we always use it to book our ferries around Greece.

Best Way to Get Around Paros?

Paros is really small compared to other islands like Naxos or Crete. It takes less than an hour to drive around the island, which is why it’s easy to see everything in just a few days. Public transportation and day tours are available, but we prefer to rent our own vehicle in Paros.

Car Rentals – Renting a Car in Paros is really affordable and easy to do, but there isn’t an endless supply, so you will want to book one before you arrive. Typically it costs between $30-40, depending on which type of car you want.

Scooter Rental – Renting a scooter is another way to have the freedom to explore the island at your own pace. Parking is a bit easier, and some people find it’s more fun to zip around the island on two wheels. Just double-check the weather and make sure there’s little chance of rain during your trip.

Local Taxis – Taxis are readily available in Paros. It’s the same with airport transfers to Naoussa. But this isn’t the most affordable way to get around. You’ll likely spend at least €10-20 for a one-way taxi, So if you take 2-3 per day, it’s already more than a rental car.

Buses in Paros – All of the buses around the Greek Islands are really efficient, including the Paros Bus System. It costs just a few euros, and with routes circling the island, you can get pretty much anywhere you want by bus. The only downside is that they are slow, and most towns only have one bus stop.

Best Area to Stay in Paros

If you only have a couple of days in Paros and you want to be at the heart of everything, then we’d tell you to stay in Naoussa. Hotel Senia and Alexandros Apartments are two great options.

That said, we always find it difficult to find affordable hotels in Naoussa, so here are some alternatives.

If you are traveling on a tighter budget, you could also stay in Parikia. This is where the ferry port is and has a large local population, so there are plenty of cafes and restaurants around. We’ve stayed at Pelican Paros before and had a wonderful experience!

Some couples (particularly honeymooners) love staying on the beach in Paros.

Golden Beach is the best beach for this, and Poseidon or Paros is probably the best hotel in that area if it’s still available!

Day 1 – Naoussa + Beaches

Assuming you book a place to stay in Noussa, Paros, the most convenient way to spend your first day is exploring the village and the surrounding beaches.

But even if you stay elsewhere, we’d still spend our first day here. Noussa is the most beloved part of the island by so many travelers and a great introduction to the atmosphere you can expect while spending a few days in Paros.

Here’s everything we did in Noussa on our first day in Paros. It ended up being a great plan, so feel free to steal it for your first day!

Kolymbithres Beach

Before going into Naoussa town, our first stop was Kolymbithres Beach. We’d seen pictures of the smooth, granite rock formations against the crystal clear lagoons, and it looked like paradise.

To get here from Naoussa, it’s less than 5 kilometers. You can drive yourself, take a taxi, or even take a water taxi across the bay from Naoussa.

It was smaller than expected but still cool to see, and we didn’t realize that there are multiple lagoons separated by the rock formations and places to lay out on the rocks with a view of the bay. There’s even a small beach bar called Paros on the Rocks with drinks and small plates!

Kolymbithres Beach is also known for watersports like jetskiing, kayaking, and other water activities.

One thing to note is that this beach can also be incredibly busy during summer, so get here early if you’re visiting Paros in July or August. You can also try one of the alternative lagoons. The farther you go from Paros on the Rocks, the less crowded it is.

Unfortunately, the sunbeds are ridiculously expensive ($40-60 per pair), so bring your own beach towel!

Monastiri Beach & Monastery of St. John’s of Deti

Once you’ve visited Kolymbithres Beach, head a bit further down the coast from Naoussa to Monastiri Beach.

We didn’t spend much time at this beach during our first trip to Paros, but we came back on our last trip, and it was easily one of the best beaches on the entire island!

There are also plenty of sunbeds, umbrellas, restrooms, and one of Paros’ top beach clubs (Monastiri Beach Club. So, it has all the facilities you could need, but it’s way nicer than Kolymbithres Beach!

The beach is surrounded by high cliffs and lush greenery, providing a stunning backdrop to the turquoise waters, and there are some small hiking trails leading into the cliffs and to even more remote beaches along the bay.

The parking lot for Monastiri Beach is situated on a hill to the south of the beach, adjacent to the Monastery of St. John the Theologian of Deti.

If you’re making the extra effort to get there, take the time to see the monastery before walking down to the beach. It’s a beautiful birds-eye view of the lagoon.

Wander Naoussa’s Streets

After spending the morning at the beach, you should take the afternoon to wander through the charming streets of Naoussa.

If you want a quick, cheap lunch, grab gyros at Pita Frank or a pastry at Ragoussis Bakery. Both are right at the port and easy to find! Then start wandering into the village.

The town is chock-full of historical whitewashed buildings and fun boutiques.

It’s kind of easy to get lost, and even after walking around for about an hour, we were still discovering new pockets and corners that we hadn’t seen yet. A good route is to start at the Old Venetian Harbor and make your way up to Faneromeni Church, then turn around and make your way back on a different set of streets.

If you get done walking around town a little early, you could tour Moraitis Winery or head over to Piperi Town Beach and enjoy more time in the sun!

dinner & Drinks on the Waterfront

In addition to the maze of streets in Naoussa, the waterfront is lined with lively cafes, tavernas, and bars with a view of the harbor.

The best way to end the evening in Naoussa is by choosing a restaurant or lounge on the water and enjoying dinner with a view of the fishing boats bobbing in the harbor (even if the sun sets on the opposite side of the island).

Barbarossa Restaurant is the most popular restaurant in Naoussa, but honestly, it’s way overpriced. Instead, go to Statheros Restaurant for seafood or Fotis All Day Bar for drinks on the water! Many of the restaurants here focus on local seafood dishes, particularly fresh octopus, a specialty of many waterfront restaurants.

A lot of people love this, but we don’t really like seafood.

Thankfully, there were plenty of options, and it was worth sitting down for a drink, even when we went elsewhere for dinner.

Day 2 – Beach Hopping

Although we spent the first morning in Paros on the beach, this is one of the main reasons to visit the island.

So, we took the next day to beach-hop along the East Coast and spend more time in the sun!

Anytime we’re planning out a day for ourselves while traveling, we almost always go to the furthest destination first. I think there’s something about getting most of the driving out of the way that makes the rest of the day less stressful. So, that’s what we did here (even though Paros is so small that it doesn’t really matter!

Golden Beach

Golden Beach is possibly the most beautiful beach in Paros. It’s super wide with soft golden sand and enough amenities around that you won’t be struggling for a place to grab brunch or use the restroom.

It’s also a huge spot for watersports, particularly windsurfing and kitesurfing. There are even international competitions here every summer! We have never windsurfed, but it’s still fun and quite impressive to watch the surfers glide and skip across the water.

Spend the morning chilling on a sunbed and enjoying the beach before it gets really crowded in the afternoon. You’ll probably want to spend most of the day here, but if you only have four days in Paros, you should make time for at least one other beach.

There’s also a really popular cooking class near Golden Beach, if that’s your thing

Kalogeros Beach

Although most people say that Kolymbithres Beach or Golden Beach is their favorite part of the Paros coastline, our favorite beach is Kalogeros Beach.

It’s nestled in a secluded cove with massive cliffs on both sides. The shoreline is made of this rich natural clay, which people use as a makeshift spa treatment.

Basically, you cover yourself head-to-toe in the mineral-rich clay. Leave it on for 30-60 minutes, and then wash it all off in the ocean. Wear a swimsuit that you don’t mind getting clay on, as it can be messy.

We also love that Kalogeros is relatively off the beaten path, so it’s not very busy. There aren’t even any facilities on the shoreline, just a vendor or in the parking lot. This makes it a very peaceful place to spend a couple of hours.

Moles Beach

Moles Beach is right next to Kalogeros Beach and stretches for miles! It’s also one of Paros’ best-kept secrets, known for its peaceful ambiance and natural beauty. The beach is pretty undeveloped, which makes it feel way more peaceful than other major tourist spots.

Moles Beach is ideal for sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling, but it’s not the most scenic beach on the island, and it can be super windy. So, when we only have time for 2-3 beaches, we would skip this one.

Santa Maria Beach

Santa Maria Beach is a bustling beach known for its clear, shallow waters and soft sand. For this reason, it’s actually known for being one of the most family-friendly beaches in Paros.

The beach is also a great place for snorkeling, diving, and finding luxury villas on the water. It’s super built up with a number of sunbeds, watersport rentals, restaurants, and a few popular beach bars with music.

The beach bars and tavernas serve delicious local cuisine and refreshing drinks, creating a lively atmosphere. This is why we like the idea of it being our final beach of the day. We can wind down, grab something to eat, and watch the sunset with a view of Naxos.

Santa Maria is also just 10 minutes from Naoussa, so it’s a short drive or taxi ride back to your villa!

Day 3 – Villages & Marble Quarries

After a couple of days on the coast, it was time for us to explore Lefkes and some of the places to see inland.

I don’t think we did this until our fifth day in Naxos, but that’s because we had more than four days to spend there, allowing us to take our time traveling through the island.

This is also the most convenient day to see the ancient Marble Quarries before ending the evening in Parikia, Paros’ other major town.

Leftkes Village

If you visited Paros without taking a morning to go up to Lefkes, we’d say you really missed out. It can get quite crowded during peak travel season, so try to get here early. But if you’re visiting in the winter, spring, or fall, there’s no need to rush.

Lefkes is a pedestrian-only mountain village that’s incredibly charming and offers a very different atmosphere from Naoussa. It’s actually really close to the island’s highest point, so as you can imagine, the views are pretty epic.

Our favorite spot in Lefkes was Agia Triada church.

The church has amazing architecture, and it sits on the edge of town, overlooking the Aegean Sea. Walk around behind the church for the best views.

In addition to the church, there are some small coffee shops, local tavernas, and an insane number of cats, which is not uncommon around Greece. Between all the small businesses are narrow stone laneways, traditional white-washed houses, and loads of flowers.

If you happen to be visiting in August, see if you happen to be in Paros for the Karavolas Festival. It’s basically a snail festival, held on the Saturday after August 15, and it’s one of the largest celebrations in Paros.

Yeah – pretty wild! We haven’t been here in August yet, and we hate seafood, but it’s so intriguing!

Walk the Ancient Marble Quarries

While spending the morning in Lefkes, you might notice that there’s a hiking path called The Byzantine Road. This is an ancient paved footpath from the Byzantine period, leading from Lefkes to the ancient Marble Quarries in Marathi.

In the ancient world, Parian marble was considered some of the best, and to this day, you can see some of the quarries where it was found.

You don’t have to walk the whole Byzantine Road, though. You can just drive to Marathi and park here.

There are some short hikes, a couple of caves, and a marble art shop selling fun souvenirs. If you’re really into marble art, there’s a 3-hour marble workshop where you can sculpt your own piece of art out of Parian Marble!

Parikia Old Town

While staying for an extended time in Paros, we actually prefer to stay in Parikia. It’s a lot cheaper and has a lot of local life that we really love. It also has a fun Old Town area with shopping, markets, cafes, and a famous church.

The church is called Panagia Ekatontapiliani, and our hotel room in Parikia was just a few steps from it!

It’s a Byzantine church dating back to 326. Its nickname is ‘the church with 100 gates’, and it’s one of the best-preserved monuments from its era.

You should also try to see the Frankish Castle of Parikia. Although it is now largely in ruins, the remnants of this castle are steeped in history about Parian life and defense mechanisms during the Frankish rule. In addition to the historical significance, it also has a really nice view of the Paros Port.

In between exploring Old Town Paros, try to stop by our favorite cafes in Paros, Big Noses!

Beaches Near Parikia

Okay, we really tried not to include beaches on every single day of this itinerary, but it was almost impossible with so many to see!

So, consider this an ‘alternative’ or an ‘if you have extra time.’

If you aren’t really a history buff or get an early start and finish everything on this day of the itinerary really quickly, there are some really nice beaches near Parikia.

Just a short walk from town, Livadia Beach is a nice stretch of sand that we like to stop by and relax on without straying far from town. On your way to the beach, grab a gyro at To Souvlaki Tou Pepe. We probably had gyros here every other day while staying in Parikia!

However, if you do have time, there’s an even nicer beach a bit further away – Marcello Beach.

Marcello Beach is still within Parikia’s boundaries and only 10 minutes away, but it feels like a different island. The long stretch of sandy beach is lined with tamarisk trees, providing natural shade, and the clear, shallow waters make it popular with tourists and local families.

The beachfront is dotted with cafes, restaurants, and bars, so if you decide to come here, you’ll have everything you need within easy reach!

Day 4 – Day Trip to Antiparos

Since you’ve seen most of the main island, the last day in Paros should be spent visiting Antiparos – a smaller, tranquil island just a few kilometers away. The island is literally minutes away by ferry, and it’s famous for its beaches, charming Chora, and a huge cave system you can explore.

Catch the Ferry to Antiparos

Ferries run frequently between Paros and Antiparos all year round. The ferry only takes about 7 minutes and costs €2-5. It’s a little bit confusing because some ferries leave from the Paros Port, but most depart from the port of Pounta (about 10 minutes north)

A ferry is easily the most affordable way to get to/from Antiparos. But there are also full-day Boat Tours of Antiparos and Despotiko and semi-private sailing cruises that can stop here!

If you are leaving from Parikia, the ferry leaves every hour during high season and only a couple of times a day during low season. This is also a passenger-only ferry, so you can’t take your car or scooter rental to Antiparos.

But, the ferries departing from Pounta can accommodate vehicles and leave way more frequently.

You can also rent your own boat and drive yourself there! We did this in Crete, and it was one of the best experiences of our lives!

Relax on The Beaches In Antiparos

Antiparos has a bunch of beautiful beaches. Lots of people stick around the Paralia Psaraliki and Paralia Sifneiko, which are right near town and have organized restaurants, beach beds, and water sports.

But there are other, more secluded beaches around the island, too. Faneromeni Beach, Livadia Beach, and Soros Beach are all about 20 minutes from Antiparos Chora, so it’s not hard to get to a place with a more peaceful atmosphere.

Caves of Antiparos

The Cave of Antiparos is one of the main reasons to go to Antiparos. It’s an incredible natural wonder that takes you down over 400 steps to a depth of 85 meters! It’s well-maintained and not really scary at all, though. There’s really good visibility, making it easy to appreciate the rock formations and ancient drawings on the walls.

The entrance fee is €5, and it’s occasionally closed in the winter, so double-check with a local before you make the trip.

The last ferry back to Paros departs at 23:15, so don’t worry about rushing because you’ll always definitely have a way back to the main island after you’re done exploring.

Is 4 Days in Paros Enough?

4 days is enough time to see most of Paros without feeling incredibly overwhelmed. But you won’t be able to see absolutely EVERYTHING. With more time, you could visit the fishing village of Aliki, see more beaches, spend a night in Antiparos, or take a day trip to more islands in the Cyclades!

The best advice we can give you is to base yourself in Naoussa and rent a car in Paros. Simply having your own transportation and staying in the heart of the city will make everything so much more efficient and easy.

If you have a week, though, consider visiting the fishing village of Aliki, seeing more of Paros’ beaches, or spending a night in Antiparos. You could even head next door and spend a few days in Naxos!