Golden Beach, Paros (Windsurfing, Diving, + Romantic Villas)
Golden Beach (a.k.a. Paralia Chrisi Akti) might be the coolest beach in Paros.
It’s the windsurfing capital of Greece and a stunning beach for people who want to relax for a few days next to the Mediterranean Sea. There’s tons of beach space to lay out a blanket, plus restaurants and beach bars right on the water.
This is where everyone comes for their honeymoon in Paros. It’s far enough away from the busy tourist centers to remain peaceful, and there are lots of romantic villas on the beach.
If you can’t tell already, we thought this part of the coast was pretty awesome.
So, we’ll share everything we’ve learned about the beach, from getting there to where to stay and how to make the most of your time at Golden Beach!
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Where is Golden Beach (Chrisi Akti)?
Golden Beach is on the southwest coast of Paros. It’s as far as you can get from the popular towns of Naoussa and Parikia.
The closest village is Piso Livadi, which is considered a more ‘resorty‘ area of Paros. As you might expect, many people come here for their honeymoons. People here don’t want to be at the center of the nightlife or close to all the tourist shops. They’d rather relax on the beach or in their villa.
Yet, it’s close enough to visit for an evening or two if you want to visit the busier areas.
What to Do at Golden Beach
You might have already guessed, but this beach gets its name from the fine golden sand along the shore. Obviously, that’s what most people want when heading to the beach, but it’s always the case in Paros.
For instance, Piperi Beach may be the most convenient beach to Naoussa, but the sand and pebbles make it uncomfortable to swim or sunbathe without renting a sunbed.
Sunbathing
Sunbathing is our favorite activity at Golden Beach. The sand is super soft, so we don’t have to worry about renting an umbrella.
We just bring our lightweight travel beach blanket and find a secluded spot near the water. The beach is huge compared to other beaches in Paros, so it’s not hard to find a spot!
However, if you are looking for a sunbed, you can find some for rent near The Beach Project.
We also noticed a ton of windsurfers at Golden Beach. We’d like to try it someday, but when we came here for the afternoon, we were content just to watch the pros from the shoreline!
Chill at the beach bar
Another reason people love visiting Golden Beach is that there are a few cool beach bars right on the water where you can get food.
Rebel Beach Bar is a calm bar with nice music by the water. It serves fairly affordable drinks (€8-12) and food like handmade pasta with meatballs, acai bowls, and shrimp tacos. The bar also has seating and offers takeaway for people who want to eat their food on the beach. Sunbeds are up occasionally and free until June 1.
The Beach Project has a super relaxed atmosphere. There are almost always sunbeds available for about €20, and the restaurant is tucked away from the beach, making it a nice place to get out of the sun for a minute and get something to eat!
Sal Y Mar Beach Lounge is one of the nicest places to get something to eat or drink on Golden Beach. Sunbeds are closer to €30, but they also have seating elevated over the beach and bean bag chairs with a cabana. It’s a lot classier than the other two beach bars and tends to be less crowded!
If you’re looking for a more formal restaurant, you can walk up to Stella Taverna. It’s a proper tavern with Greek food just behind the beach. The portions are huge, and the food is really, really good!
Windsurfing
Golden Beach is the windsurfing capital of this island. In fact, the best has hosted the Windsurfing World Cups multiple times.
If you want official lessons, you should check out Force 7 Windsurfing. They offer lessons for both brand-new beginners and more advanced surfers.
There’s another place called Sun Wind Surf Club with cheaper rentals (€30-50 for 2 hours / €70-90 for 1 day), but the equipment didn’t look super new, and it’s certainly not as professional as you’ll get at Force 7.
Also, if you don’t know the difference, Windsurfing involves attaching a sail to your board, and you sort of ‘sail’ across the waves. Kitesurfing uses a harness attached to a kite to pull you across the water and is far more risky.
Diving & Other Watersports
If windsurfing seems a bit too wild for you, but you’d still like to enjoy the water, there are other options.
Vendors on the beach offer kayak and SUP rentals, plus there are opportunities for waterskiing, wakeboarding, and tubing. You’ll even find two scuba diving schools!
Paros Divers specializes in diving specifically, with a few open-water dives, deep dives, and even a cavern dive.
Paros Diving Center is more geared toward tourists, with a few snorkeling tours and freediving courses. Both visit sites less than 30 minutes from Golden Beach!
Hike to a Historic Church
On the north side of the beach is Poseidon Hotel & Spa Paros, which is easily the nicest place to stay in the area.
But even if you aren’t staying here, you can hike up alongside the property to the hotel’s helipad and find a small Greek church. It’s not the most remarkable thing you’ll see in Paros, but it’s a fun little hike (10-15 minutes from the beach) and offers a beautiful viewpoint overlooking Golden Beach!
Getting to Golden Beach
Part of the allure of Golden Beach is how peaceful it can be, even during high season. However, that also means it’s a little more difficult to get there, especially if you don’t have a rental car.
Bus to Golden Beach
Any bus route that goes to Drios will pass through Golden Beach. It’s the stop right before Drios. Buses depart all day from both Parikia and Naoussa to Drios, as well as the return trip.
If you’re trying to take the bus back to town from Golden Beach, we recommend just getting to the bus stop when it is scheduled to depart from Drios. It should arrive at Golden Beach no more than 5 minutes later.
Here are the current timetables:
Parikia – Golden Beach: 9:00, 10:40, 11:45, 13:50, 15:00, 19:30, 23:10
Naoussa to Golden Beach: 09:20, 11:00, 12:05, 14:15, 15:20, 19:50, 23:30
Drios to Parikia: 07:05 ,08:55, 11:00, 13:05, 14:55, 17:00, 19:00
Drios to Naoussa: 07:05, 10:00, 12:40, 16:30, 20:30
Check current Paros Bus Schedules Here
Driving to Golden Beach
Getting to Golden Beach (Chrisi Akti) from Parikia or Naoussa will take about 30 minutes.
From Parikia, you can choose to go through the heart of the island, past Lefkes and Marpissa, or you can take the road that follows the south coast past the Paros airport and Aliki village.
Either way, it’s the same distance, and all the roads are paved and easy to follow with Google Maps.
Taxi to Golden Beach
We’re always totally upfront with people and tell them that taxis are really expensive in Paros. They’re pretty similar to what you’d find in most major cities like London, Paris, or New York.
If you want to book online, we’ve seen taxis from Parikia (Paros Port) to Golden Beach for €50 on Welcome Pickups. But if you’re willing to wait until you get there, it’s possible you could hail a ride for closer to €30-40.
Just be aware that there is no Uber in Paros.
Where to Stay in Chrisi Akti
Since the beach is so popular for water sports and honeymooners, there are quite a few places to stay nearby.
You can grab a boutique villa just steps away from the beach for pretty cheap or indulge in a luxurious resort, like the iconic Poseidon of Paros!
Poseidon of Paros Hotel & Spa
This hotel is one of the most prestigious places to stay in Paros and the best spot for a romantic and luxurious stay on the island. It sits on a massive complex with views of Golden Beach and has loads of amenities, from a luxury spa to the swimming pool with a pool bar and tennis courts with lights in the evening.
The rooms are all designed in traditional Cycladic architecture, and we love that you can walk to the beach in just a couple of minutes to try windsurfing or relax at one of the beach bars!
As for food, breakfast with a view of the ocean is included in each room. You can also grab lunch or dinner at their onsite restaurant or order room service directly to your villa.
Golden Beach Hotel
Golden Beach Hotel is located right on the beach in Chrissi Akti, next to Amaryllis Beach Bar and Sal Y Mar Beach Lounge. It has a large terrace with sunbeds and a couple of rows of sunbeds on the beach, but unfortunately, they aren’t free to rent.
We’ve also read that it has a ‘younger’ vibe, which might not be exactly the best atmosphere for couples. But it’s perfect for adventurous travelers who want to explore the area and try windsurfing or diving.
Try to get a unit with a sea view, and make sure to eat at their restaurant at least once during your stay—it’s really good!
Calme Boutique Hotel
Calme Boutique Hotel is an adults-only retreat near Golden Beach.
It’s one of the most luxurious boutiques in Paros, built entirely from local stone, blending seamlessly into the Cycladic landscape. It is designed for privacy, seclusion, and peaceful living.
Most suites have their own private pool on a furnished terrace, and the on-site restaurant (Seven Senses) serves an a la carte gourmet breakfast made with organic ingredients every morning!
Golden Beach (Chryssi Akti Beach) is just 700 meters away, and they will help you arrange kitesurfing or windsurfing lessons if you’d like!
Closing Thoughts
We would tell anyone hoping to have a more relaxing holiday in Paros that Golden Beach is a phenomenal place to spend a few days.
It strikes an awesome balance between fun and relaxation. You can spend the morning learning to windsurf or taking a couple of dives, then the afternoon relaxing on a sunbed with a drink from the beach bar!
Our top tip is to rent a car if you’re staying here. Otherwise, finding taxis whenever you want to go somewhere else in Paros becomes expensive, and taking the bus becomes quite a hassle.
Want to discover more unique places to visit in Paros? Check out our curated 4-day itinerary!
