The best beaches in Paros: a guide by area

The most beautiful beaches in Paros

Paros has dozens of beaches, most with sand and clear water, and each part of the island has its own character. In the north, around Naoussa Bay, the beaches are sheltered and pretty; in the east there are windsurfing beaches; in the south, quieter ones. Here are the beaches most worth knowing.

Beaches near Naoussa

• Kolymbithres: Paros's most famous beach, with rounded granite rocks forming little coves. Reach it by car or by small boat from Naoussa harbour. Fills up early in summer.
• Monastiri: a sheltered cove at the tip of the Naoussa peninsula, with a beach bar and calm water, next to the little chapel on the rock.
• Santa Maria: a long beach with soft sand, good for windsurfing and water sports.
• Lageri: quieter, reached by a short path.

Beaches in east and south Paros

• Golden Beach (Chrissi Akti) and New Golden Beach: a long stretch of golden sand and one of Europe's best-known windsurfing spots.
• Pounda: a kitesurfing centre with a large beach bar and music.
• Faragas and Agia Irini: lovely south-west beaches with clear water and fish tavernas.
• Marcello and Aliki: easy beaches for families.

Beaches near Parikia

Near Parikia, the port town, are Livadia, a long town beach within walking distance, and Krios, which you can also reach by small boat from the harbour. They are handy if you don't have a car.

Which beach to choose when it's windy

In summer a strong northerly wind, the meltemi, blows across the Cyclades. When it is strong, the north- and east-facing beaches get waves, while south-facing beaches such as Faragas and Agia Irini are more sheltered. Naoussa Bay, with Kolymbithres and Monastiri, is sheltered on most days. Check the wind in the morning before choosing a beach.

When is the best time to swim in Paros?

The swimming season in Paros runs roughly from late May to mid-October. July and August have the warmest water, but they are also when the meltemi blows hardest and the beaches are busiest. In June and September the sea is already or still warm, there is less wind and fewer people, and most beach bars are open. In October you can still swim on calm days, though some beach facilities have closed.

Organised beach or wild beach?

Most of the big beaches, such as Santa Maria, Golden Beach and Monastiri, have sunbeds and umbrellas for hire, a bar and showers. The smaller beaches have no facilities at all, so bring water, shade and food. Even organised beaches usually have a stretch where you can sit on the sand without hiring a bed.

Paros beaches for families with children

Families do best with shallow water and facilities: Livadia near Parikia, Marcello, Aliki and parts of Monastiri. See also Paros with kids.

Getting between the beaches

A hire car or quad bike is easiest. Local buses (KTEL Paros) also run from Parikia and Naoussa to the main beaches, and in summer small boats go from Naoussa to Kolymbithres and Monastiri. Getting to the island? See the ferry from Athens to Paros. Torn between two islands? See Naxos or Paros, and everything else on our Paros page.

FAQ

What is the most beautiful beach in Paros? Kolymbithres, with its granite rocks, is the most famous. Monastiri and Faragas are very beautiful and less crowded.

Where can you swim in Paros when the meltemi blows? On south-facing beaches such as Faragas and Agia Irini, and in sheltered Naoussa Bay.

Can you reach the beaches without a car? Yes, by local bus to the main beaches, and by boat from Naoussa to Kolymbithres and Monastiri in summer.

Which Paros beach is best for windsurfing? Golden Beach and New Golden Beach for windsurfing, and Pounda for kitesurfing.