Kolymbithres Beach: Naoussa’s Most Popular Beach
Kolymbithres Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Paros, Greece. It is known for its clear water and stunning rock formations that make for beautiful scenery.
The beach is always crowded during the summer months, but it is worth a visit for most travelers to enjoy sunbathing, swimming, and the unique marble-like rocks along the shore.
We couldn’t find much reliable information on Kolymbithres Beach before visiting Paros for the first time, which is surprising because it’s so close to Naoussa and arguably the most famous beach on the island!
So, we wrote this article to help you decide if it’s a place worth adding to your Paros Itinerary!
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Is Kolymbithres Beach Worth Visiting?
In full truthfulness, Kolymbithres is so beautiful, but it’s not our cup of tea in the summer months.
It’s a really short shoreline, and there’s very little space on the beach to lay out. You either have to lay on the rocks or rent a beach chair (which is roughly €25 per person!)
But we’ve visited in the shoulder season, and it’s much better. It’s possible that you won’t have a chance to rent beach chairs, but the shore is completely empty! This is when we got all our best photos of Kolymbithres Beach.
The main draw is its accessibility to the town of Naoussa, and it’s truly a party in the summer. We personally prefer long, secluded beaches, like Moles & Kalogeros Beach farther south.
But, just because it was not our favorite, Kolymbithres Beach may be exactly what you’re looking for!
We want to give you all the information so you can decide for yourself, including how to get there and what there is to do at Kolymbithres Beach!
Where is Kolymbithres Beach?
Kolymbithres Beach is located in Paros, Greece. It’s across the bay from the popular tourist town of Naoussa and very easy to get to by car, bus, or on foot.
Kolyimbithres doesn’t refer to a single beach but several coves separated by white rock formations. The main section of the beach is the most popular, but the Ktel Beach and Parilia Moles are just as nice, with a lot fewer people and cheaper sunbeds!
Best Time to Visit Kolymbithres Beach
Kolymbithres Beach is a very busy beach in peak summer, so visit as early in the morning as possible to escape at least some of the crowds.
This only applies to summer travelers, though. In the spring/fall, the beach is actually quite peaceful, and in the winter, it is basically a ghost town! A lot of these pictures are from November, which is when we had the entire beach to ourselves!
4 Things to Do at Kolymbithres Beach
The coastline of Kolymbithres Beach is a busy area, but it can still be a fun place to kick back with a nice view, swim in the translucent water, or have a meal at one of the nearby beach clubs.
There are also water sports available for travelers looking for more thrills, and a restaurant for lunch/dinner overlooking the beach.
Pro Tip: Want a hotel close to Kolymbithres Beach? You should totally look in Livadia! It’s one of the most popular neighborhoods of Naoussa, walking distance to Kolymbithres Beach, and has a couple of incredible boutique villas to choose from!
Sunbathing / Renting a Sunbed
Kolymbithres is absolutely filled with sunbeds. In the summer, vendors place them everywhere except actually on top of the rocks.
One of our favorite things to do is find a beachfront cafe/bar and rent a sunbed for the day, but we cannot get ourselves to justify the prices at Kolymbithres Beach. The costs start at 2 umbrellas for €30-40 euros and go up to €60 for the front row close to the ocean.
If you’re like us and don’t see yourself paying these prices, bring a beach towel and find a place on the rocks to enjoy the sun 🙂
Water Sports
You can also try a variety of water sports at Kolymbithres. There are kayaks and paddleboards for rent, or you can take a wakeboarding/waterskiing lesson.
The lessons are short and a little pricey, but if you are visiting Paros as a family or have always wanted to try these sports, Kolymbithres Beach could be your chance! Lessons are roughly €40-50 for one 20-30 minute session.
To book a lesson, contact WaterSkiZone on Facebook.
Restaurants & Beach Clubs
If you’re looking for a bite to eat or a cool drink, there are several beach bars and restaurants located right on the sand at Kolymbithres Beach.
Paros on the Rocks is the main beach bar (Note: They also have the only restrooms on the beach).
Here you will find a variety of coffee, refreshments, cocktails, and smoothies for a reasonable price. They also serve New York-style bagels, salads, and burgers.
If you are in the mood for Greek Food, then Anemos Taverna at the top of the hill is your best bet. They have salads, pasta, and other Mediterranean dishes!
Pazook Tip: If Paros on the Rocks is a little too busy for you, walk up the road 20 minutes to Monastiri Beach Club. They are cheaper and have a nice, chill vibe on the beach!
Swimming & Snorkeling
Kolymbithres has plenty of opportunities for swimming and snorkeling. This is probably the most compelling reason to visit this beach. The water is super clear, calm, and relatively shallow, making it safe for children to enjoy the water, too.
HOWEVER.
This is FAR from the best snorkeling in Paros. If you really want a high-quality snorkeling experience, we highly recommend taking a boat trip from Paros to Blue Lagoon and Antiparos.
We personally took this tour with Paros Boat Trips and thought it was phenomenal.
But there are tons of options available.
Here’s our list of the best boat tour agencies and tours you can take!
Getting from Naoussa to Kolymbithres Beach
It’s fairly easy to get to Kolymbithres Beach from either Naoussa or Parikia. While there are no direct buses, you can drive yourself, hire a traditional taxi, or book a water taxi.
To be completely honest. We rent our own transportation every time we visit Paros. Usually, it’s a car rental like this, but we’ve also had great experiences renting scooters to get around in Naoussa!
Depending on where you are staying, you can also walk from Naoussa (it’s about 3-4 kilometers).
It would be best to plan your trip ahead of time and make appropriate transportation arrangements, especially if you are traveling straight from the Paros Airport to Naoussa / Kolymbithres Beach.
Kolymbithres Beach Bus
There is a bus to Kolymbithres Beach from Naoussa, but it only runs during peak travel season! This summer, the bus timetable shows that there will be a few routes running each day!
Naoussa to Kolymbithres Beach: 10:45, 13:35, 15:00, 17:30
Kolymbithres Beach to Naoussa: 10:55, 15:10, 17:40
If you happen to miss the bus or are traveling outside of summer, then you can always jump on the bus from Parikia to Naoussa and ask to be dropped off at the Naoussa Hotel, and then you can walk the final 1.2 kilometers to the beach.
Can you drive to Kolymbithres Beach?
If you have a car, it is just a short drive from both Naoussa (5 minutes) and Parikia (15 minutes), and there is plenty of parking available near the beach.
We love renting a car in Paros, and we highly encourage everyone visiting the island to rent their own vehicle!
But there are also taxis available in either city that can easily drive you to Kolymbithres Beach.
Water Taxi from Naoussa to Kolymbithres Beach
In the summer, water taxis take tourists from the Naoussa port to the surrounding beaches, including Kolymbithres. These are usually even more affordable than taxis, at roughly €3 per person (one way).
They also only operate during high season, so if you’re visiting Paros in the fall, winter, or spring, you might not find them operating.
Kolymbithres Beach Hotels
If you want to stay near Kolymbithres Beach, there aren’t any beachfront options.
So, any of the hotels in Naoussa are reasonable options. But they all require a short water taxi or 5-10 minute drive (and traffic can make it even more inconvenient in the summer).
So, here are a few great hotel options that are right on the outskirts of Kolymbithres Beach!
Acron Villa
User Ratings: 9.4 ⭐
Acron Villas is a romantic place to stay in the hills above Kolymbithres Beach.
You’ll choose from a collection of 24 villas that range between 2-5 bedrooms (which is why it’s a great option for larger groups traveling in Paros)
Every villa also has its own private pool, a fully equipped kitchen, and spacious living areas, and no matter which room you choose, you’re guaranteed to have incredible views of Naoussa Bay and Kolymbithres Beach.
Parilio Design Hotels
User Ratings: 9.0 ⭐
If you’re looking for a romantic getaway with your significant other, Parilio Design Hotels is a great option.
It’s arguably the most famous boutique villa in ALL of Paros!
The resort offers four different designs in which guests can stay: Sun (a luxury suite), Uranus ( intermediate), Halo, and Aurora (both more basic accommodations). All rooms have access to the hotel’s amenities, such as swimming pools and a buffet breakfast each morning!
This hotel is right in between Naoussa and Kolymbithres Beach, so it’s still a 15-20 minute walk to get ot the beach, but the area feels way quieter than staying right in the village and you won’t have to deal with Naoussa traffic while getting to/from the beach!
Astir Of Paros
User Ratings: 8.0/10 ⭐
Astir of Paros is a 5-star resort right on the waterfront, with its own private beach and a relatively short 10-minute walk from the famous rock formations at Kolymbithres Beach.
It’s slightly cheaper than Parilio Design Hotels but offers similar luxury. Also, most of the rooms have their own private balconies or terraces looking out over the bay, and there’s a huge pool surrounded by sunbeds, palm trees, and tables where you can order something from one of Astir’s two on-site restaurants (Greek & Asian Fusion).
More Paros Beaches
There are a ton of beaches all around the island of Paros, and you can actually take boat trips to a few more on separate islands like Antiparos and Iraklia!
Here are some of the best beaches on the island:
Beaches near Naoussa – Santa Maria Beach, Lageri Beach, Moles Beach, Kalogeros Beach
Beaches Near Parikia – Marcello Beach, Psaraliki Beach (Antiparos)
Finals Thoughts
While Kolymbithres Beach can definitely be overcrowded in the summer and around the holidays, it’s still a really beautiful beach. We’ve been there during the offseason, and the massive boulders next to the crystal-clear water create a stunning scene.
But if you are looking for something a little quieter, there are lots of other beaches near Naoussa.
You could also consider visiting Naxos next door, which is much different than Paros!
If you’ve rented a car or booked a scooter rental in Paros, just drive a little bit farther to Monastiri Beach (which still has a small beach club but half the crowds)!
