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Where to Stay in Paros

Greece › Paros › Best Towns
By Santorini Dave

Boats in a harbor ringed by boxy white buildings.

Naoussa is the most upscale and trendy town in Paros and my favorite town on the island. It’s an especially great choice for couples and honeymooners.

Our favorite hotels and things to do on Paros in Greece.
1. Argonauta • 2. Mythic • 3. Poseidon • 4. Opal • 5. Villa Isabella • 6. Stelia Mare • 7. Cosme • 8. Cove

See Also

Paros, one of our favorite islands of the Cyclades, offers visitors a captivating blend of traditional charm and modern allure. The island’s capital, Parikia, is a vibrant hub known for its iconic whitewashed buildings, cobblestone streets, and the historic Church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani (Church of 100 Doors). The bustling harbor area is lined with tavernas, shops, and cafes, making it a perfect spot for leisurely exploration. Nearby Livadia Beach provides a convenient and scenic place to relax close to the town center.

Cobbled pedestrian lane lined with shops and eateries, and overhung with flowering vines.

A typically picturesque pedestrian lane in Parikia.

Naoussa, the island’s second largest town, is a charming fishing village with a cosmopolitan twist. Its picturesque harbor is surrounded by lively bars, seafood restaurants, and boutique shops, creating a unique atmosphere that blends traditional and modern Greek island life. Just outside Naoussa is the resort area of Livadia, an enclave of serene seaside hotels that provide quick access to both nearby beaches and Naoussa’s shops and eateries.

People sit at restaurant tables at a Greek harbor at sunset.

Overlooking the restaurants of Naoussa harbor at sunset.

The beaches of Paros are a major draw. Chrissi Akti (Golden Beach) and adjacent Nea Chrissi Akti, located on the island’s east coast, are renowned for their golden sands and clear waters, ideal for windsurfing and other water sports. Parasporos Beach, just souty of Parikia, is popular for its lively beach bars and relaxing atmosphere.

Sunset at a beach with thatched umbrellas and golden sand.

Chrissi Akti Beach at “golden hour.”

Paros also boasts a collection of charming fishing villages. Piso Livadi is known for its waterfront tavernas serving fresh seafood, while Aliki is a laid-back spot ideal for a quiet getaway. Ambelas’ peaceful port offers a tranquil escape and authentic local flavor. Lastly, Drios combines the charm of a traditional fishing village with easy access to beautiful beaches and water activities. The island’s interior is equally enchanting. Lefkes Village, nestled in the hills, is a traditional gem with narrow alleys, whitewashed houses, and stunning views of the island. It offers a glimpse into the island’s past and is perfect for those who love history and nature.

Restaurant with tables set in the sand right up to the water's edge.

Taking waterfront dining to a whole new level in Aliki.

If you’ve got a day or two to spare in your itinerary, it’s worth taking the short ferry from Paros to it’s smaller sister island, Antiparos, where you’ll find a charming harbor town, pristine beaches with waterfront eateries, and Europe’s only vertical cave.

Staying in Paros – My Advice

Where to stay in Paros.

View of Parikia from an arriving ferry. Shops, bars, and restaurants are clustered in the streets straight ahead. A handful of hotels are within walking distance of the port. The bus station is visible to the right.

  • Which towns and beaches in Paros are best? Stay in Parikia or Naoussa for a great mix of walkability, dining, nightlife, shopping, and good beach access. Stay in Antiparos or Chrissi Akti for an idyllic beach escape at a slow pace. Stay in Livadia to explore natural wonders, like nearby Kolymbithres Beach and Paros Park. Stay in a fishing village – Piso Livadi, Aliki, or Drios – for authentic Greek hospitality, wonderful food, and great beaches. Parikia and Naoussa are best if you’re not renting a car.
  • Booking.com is the best website for booking hotels in Paros.

Best Places to Stay in Paros

A person looks over the edge of an infinity swimming pool to the blue sea.

The luxurious 5-star Cosme is the best hotel in the magical seaside town of Naoussa. It’s located right on Agioi Anargyroi beach, with restaurants, nightlife, and the bus station all within an easy walk.

The Best Places in Paros for…

  • Best Place for First Timers: Naoussa
    The charming seaside town of Naoussa is what I recommend for first-time visitors to Paros. A half-sunken Venetian castle anchors its picturesque Old Port, with fishing boats and pleasure boats moored in its natural bay. A water taxi connects Naoussa to three gorgeous beaches: Kolymbithres (known for its lunar-like landscape), Monastiri (part of Paros Park nature preserve), and Laggeri (a rustic, clothing-optional beach). More than a dozen small chapels and churches dot the harbor and streets, many open to pedestrians only. An excellent winery sits on a hillside at the edge of the village. Certainly quaint but also sophisticated, Naoussa’s winding flagstone lanes host several fine dining restaurants, swish cocktail lounges, trendy hotels, and luxury boutiques offering clothing and accessories from Greek and international designers. Two beaches, Piperi and Agioi Anargyroi, bookend the village. Both are organized beaches with sunbed/umbrella sets, casual snack bars, and hotels onsite or steps away.
  • Best Places for Sightseeing: Parikia, Naoussa, and Livadia
    Parikia is home to the landmark Byzantine church Panagia Ekatontapiliani (Church of 100 Doors), the Frankish castle ruins, and an archaeological museum). Naoussa’s Old Port is home to a mostly sunken Venetian castle and a winery. Livadia is the closest area to the natural wonder of Kolymbithres Beach and Paros Park nature preserve.
  • Best Places for Living Like a Local: Piso Livadi, Ambelas, Aliki, and Drios
    These four picturesque fishing villages each have a small marina, authentic tavernas serving fresh-caught seafood, and lovely little beaches. Piso Livadi is the busiest of the four with a larger marina and more beach clubs, while Ambelas and Aliki are the best for families, and Drios is almost always quiet, except during the peak travel month of August.
  • Best Beach with Hotels: Chrissi Akti or Antiparos
    Chrissi Akti (AKA Golden Beach) has a long stretch of soft sand, turquoise water, beach clubs, a dive center, and a water sports center. Antiparos is a laid-back island (easily visible from Paros) with several idyllic sandy beaches wrapped around its coast.

Staying in Parikia

Colorful buildings with venetian balconies lining a cobblestone pedestrian lane
A map of Parikia on Paros island in Greece.

Parikia is the capital of Paros and where most travelers will arrive and depart. This bustling village is home to the island’s most important historic landmark, Panagia Ekatontapiliana (Church of 100 Doors), a Byzantine church dating to the 4th-century A.D. and believed to be founded by St. Helene, mother of Emperor Constantine. Near the church is a small archaeological museum, and the ruins of a 13th-century Frankish castle built by the Venetians out of an already ruined 6th-century BC temple.

Two people walk in a cobblestone courtyard of a stone church.

Church of 100 Doors in Parikia.

Heading south along the waterfront, you’ll find a string of lively bars and casual tavernas with unobstructed sunset sea views. Some of Paros’ best restaurants, bars, artisan workshops, and local product shops can be found in the village’s maze of pedestrian footpaths. The main ferry port is in the middle with marinas and beaches on either side. Livadia Beach in the northeast is the main beach of Parikia, though Parasporos to the southwest is the best beach in the area.

The Best Hotels in Parikia

Covered outdoor breakfast area of a small Greek hotel.

Parikia’s charming Apollon Boutique Hotel.

Staying in Naoussa

Boats moored in a small harbor ringed by boxy white buildings.
A map of Naoussa on Paros island in Greece.

Cosmopolitan Naoussa is more modern than Parikia but no less charming. The village sits in a natural bay at the north end of the island with fishing boats docked and a 12th-century Venetian castle half sunken in the Old Port. From the old port, there is a water taxi connecting Naoussa with Kolymbithres Beach (known for its moon-like rock formations), Monastiri Beach (family-friendly, part of Paros Park), and Laggeri Beach (a popular clothing-optional beach). Several picturesque seafood restaurants and cocktail bars sit along the waterfront.

Tourists take photos of a blue-domed white church in a Greek village.

The picturesque Church of the Virgin Mary in Naoussa.

Heading inland you’ll find the typical Cycladic tangle of pedestrian streets, filled with colorful bougainvillea, boutiques, churches, and a winery. Dining, nightlife, and hotels here tend to be trendier and more luxurious than those in Parikia, though plenty of casual options still abound.

The Best Hotels in Naoussa

Glass-front swimming pool leading to the sea.

The glass-front swimming pool at Avant Mar leads directly to the 5-star hotel’s private sunbeds at Naoussa’s Piperi Beach.

Staying in Livadia

Granite rock formations at Kolymbithres Beach on Paros island.
A map of Livadia on Paros island in Greece.

The Livadia neighborhood (not to be confused with Livadia Beach in Parikia) is a luxury resort space between Naoussa village and Kolymbithres Beach. Once the site of a Mycenaean acropolis, the latest developments here have all been high-end hotels and villas. Ideal for romantic getaways or family vacations, Livadia offers quiet, restful nights with easy access to the dining, shopping, and nightlife of Naoussa and the natural wonders of Kolymbithres Beach’s granite rock formations and Paros Park’s sandy beaches and hiking trails. There are no restaurants or markets here, so it’s a good idea to stay at a hotel with a shuttle service into Naoussa and Kolymbithres (there are plenty here) or to rent a car.

The Best Hotels in Livadia

Boxy white hotel with Cycladic design and mediterranean landscaping

Parilio hotel is only a 3-minute drive or 20-minute walk to Kolymbithres Beach, pictured above.

Staying at Chrissi Akti Beach & Nea Chrissi Akti Beach

A man walks down a wide beach with golden sand
A map of Chrissi Akti Beach and Nea Chrissi Akti Beach on Paros island in Greece.

Chrissi Akti Beach, also called Golden Beach, is one of the best beaches on Paros. Its long expanse of fine, soft sand literally sparkles in the sun due to its glass-like composition. The water is shallow for a long way out, making this a popular beach among families with younger children. Several beach clubs, hotels, tavernas, and water sports centers (offering lessons and equipment rentals) run the length of the beach.

Like many Cycladic beaches, Chrissi Akti catches the strong meltemi winds, but its location on the east side of the island facing nearby Naxos compresses the wind and boosts its strength, making this the top windsurfing and kitesurfing beach on the island. The yearly Professional Windsurfing World Cup takes place at Nea Chrissi Akti Beach (a.k.a. New Golden Beach or Tseredakia Beach – about 850 meters north along the coast) every August, so book early for travel during this time.

The Best Hotel at Chrissi Akti Beach

The Best Hotel at Nea Chrissi Akti Beach

Hotel swimming pool and hot tub at sunset.

Poseidon of Paros, on Chrissi Akti Beach, is our favorite Paros hotel for families.

Staying at Parasporos Beach

Sandy beach with wooden walking paths leading past thatched umbrellas
A map of Parasporos Beach on Paros island in Greece.

About 3 km from the ferry port (a 30-minute walk away), Parasporos Beach is the best beach close to Parikia. Though only about 250 meters long, this little beach is filled with activity all summer long thanks to its two beach clubs with all-day music, late-night dancing, and peak summer parties. The beach is mostly sandy with pebbles beginning at the waters’ edge and extending into the sea for a couple of meters; the water is emerald and turquoise colors, calm as a pool, and great for swimming. Lodging is a mix of luxury and budget hotels and a campground. The crowd skews younger here with many partiers in their 20s and early 30s.

The Best Hotels in Parasporos Beach

Hotel swimming pool surrounded by boxy white buildings.

The fantastic Andronis Minois hotel near Parasporos Beach.

Staying in the Fishing Villages

Aliki Beach in Paros.
A map of the Fishing Villages on Paros island in Greece.

For a taste of local life, stay in one of Paros’ fishing villages, the best of which are Piso Livadi, Ambelas, Aliki, and Drios. All of these villages boast sandy, swimmable beaches; casual, waterfront, seafood tavernas (many owned by the fishermen’s families); and small marinas where local fishers go out early in the morning to catch the seafood delights served fresh here or sold in the larger villages of the island.

Though small, Piso Livadi on the east side is the busiest and most charming of the villages, with a larger marina and 3 lively beaches; many guests enjoying the food and beaches here are on day trips from nearby Naxos Island. Aliki in the southwest is the largest of the fishing villages, popular for windsurfing during the height of summer and ideal for families with plenty of restaurants, beaches, affordable hotels, a playground, and the Museum of Cycladic Folklore, a tiny museum run by a fisherman-turned-artist who makes miniature replicas of traditional boats.

Family-friendly Ambelas is a tiny village offering a quiet stay with a shallow, sandy, calm beach, though its convenient location just 3.5 km from Naoussa makes it a breeze to enjoy the village for dining and nightlife. Drios at the south end of the island is the quietest of the four villages and only really gets busy during August for its windsurfing (Chrissi Akti Beach is on the outskirts of Drios).

The Best Hotels in Piso Livadi

The Best Hotels in Aliki

The Best Hotels in Ambelas

The Best Hotels in Drios

Wide and shallow children's pool at a Greek hotel.

Even the children’s pool is beautiful at Piso Livadi’s Summer Senses Luxury Resort.

Staying in Lefkes

People sitting at small tables at a cobbled plaza in a Greek village
A map of Lefkes on Paros island in Greece.

Lefkes is a traditional, mountain village in central Paros in the greenest part of the island, perched at the highest altitude, boasting panoramic views to the sea and Naxos island. Lefkes was the island’s capital during the medieval era, and its former grandeur is reflected in its 15th-century churches and mix of Venetian, neoclassical, and Cycladic architecture. Its most recognizable landmark is the Church of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity), built in 1830. Several smaller churches, mostly built after the 17th century, are scattered around the village.

White marble gravestones at a Greek cemetery

Formerly the agricultural hub of Paros, Lefkes is now largely a tourist destination with wonderful boutiques, tavernas, museums, and galleries. A popular hiking trail, the Byzantine Road, is an ancient stone footpath dating back to about 1000 A.D. and connecting Lefkes with Prodromos village, about 3.5 km away. Though Lefkes can get crowded, especially when a tour bus or two is in town, most people don’t stay overnight. There are only a few small hotels and guesthouses here.

The Best Hotels in Lefkes

Staying in Antiparos

View over leafy vegetation to the sea and a Greek village
A map of Antiparos island in Greece.

The nearby island of Antiparos is perfect for truly getting away, ringed with sandy beaches and crystal-clear water, filled with authentic tavernas, and home to a handful of family-owned boutique hotels. The main village, simply called Antiparos Town, sits at the north end of the island with its small port on the eastern edge and Venetian castle ruins at its heart.

People walk past souvenir shops and cafes in the narrow pedestrian lanes of Parikia Town.

Antiparos Town

On the southeast side of the island is the resort area of Agios Georgios, the next largest settlement. Though there are a couple of beach clubs and casual seaside restaurants, most of the beaches here are left natural and peaceful. Take a ferry to the uninhabited island of Despotiko to enjoy even quieter beaches and glimpse the ancient ruins of a sanctuary believed to be devoted to Apollo (excavations are currently underway). Antiparos has garnered some attention more recently as a favorite retreat of celebrities, including Tom Hanks, who owns a villa here.

The Best Hotels in Antiparos

View from a hotel balcony across a pool terrace to the sea.

The view from our room at Kouros Village, the wonderful family-owned hotel that’s one of our favorites in Antiparos Town.

Summary: My Favorite Paros Hotels

• 5-Star: Cosme
• 4-Star: Opal
• Boutique: Stelia Mare
• Cheap: Villa Isabella
• Beach Resort: Cove
• For Couples: Mythic
• For Families: Poseidon
• Parikia: Argonauta
• Naoussa: Cosme

About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave I'm Santorini Dave. I started this site in 2011 with a short article on tips for visiting Santorini with kids. We're now a small team of writers and researchers dedicated to providing the best travel content on the internet. We focus on Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece, offering recommendations for top hotels, neighborhoods, and family-friendly hotels worldwide. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.