NAOUSSA, PAROS – THE COMPLETE TRAVEL GUIDE

Welcome to Naoussa, the charming little village on the northern coast of Paros, Greece. With its beautiful Cycladic architecture, colorful harbor, and narrow alleys adorned with white houses and vibrant pink bougainvilleas, Naoussa truly oozes that amazing Greek island charm! It’s pretty as a picture during the day, but it is when the sun starts to set that this place really comes alive with loads of energy, pulling in a multitude of visitors who come to explore some of the island’s best restaurants. So, what are the must-do things in Naoussa? From wandering around its charming streets to indulging in delicious local food and, of course, hitting the beach, there are plenty of things you can’t miss when you come to town. And don’t you worry, I’ve got you covered with a complete travel guide that includes all the best hotels and restaurants in and around Naoussa, plus some other handy info to help you plan the perfect trip!

BEST THINGS TO DO IN NAOUSSA, PAROS

1. Explore the Naoussa port and village

Step into the beautiful streets of Naoussa, and immerse yourself in its lively atmosphere. With white-washed houses, cobbled stone streets, and blue dome churches, Naoussa effortlessly captures the essence of a Greek paradise.

Stroll along the picturesque port and check out the freshly caught octopus drying in the sun. Continue on to the Venetian castle from where you will have a beautiful view of the village, revealing the tapestry of white-washed houses, cascading bougainvillea, and azure waters stretching towards the horizon. Finally, walk up to the beautiful Faneromeni (Panagía) Church with its stunning Orthodox architecture and decor. Sitting on top of a small hill. it is also an excellent viewpoint over the town, in particular at sunset.

Once a quaint fishing village, Naoussa has blossomed into a vibrant town filled with upscale bars, delicious restaurants, and shops featuring everything from local souvenirs to high-end Greek fashion brands. If you are into shopping you can easily spend the full day here, otherwise a couple of hours would do to explore all the beautiful corners of Naoussa.

For a quiet experience, wake up early and explore Naoussa in the morning, ideally before 10 am. Before everyone awakens, the town is draped in a peaceful ambiance, allowing you to capture its essence without the crowds. Watch as the local restaurants prepare for the day and set up their terraces for delicious lunches and dinners ahead.

It is at sunset when Naoussa truly comes alive. As the golden hour casts its warm glow upon the town, visitors start filling up streets, terraces, and rooftops to enjoy a cocktail or a tasty dinner! The best places to do so are mostly around the port and by the small beach located just East of it, from where the sunset views are amazing. I was truly swept away by the charming atmosphere of Naoussa at sunset time.

2. Visit the Moraitis Winery

There is evidence of wine being produced by the Greeks for more than 6500 years and you can learn more about it with a visit of the Moraitis Winery, just outside of Naoussa.

With a history dating back generations, this family-owned winery proudly showcases the island’s winemaking traditions. Book a winery tour and a super friendly and knowledgeable guide will share his insights on the family history, grape cultivation, and the winemaking processes. The 45 min tour ends with a wine tasting of 3 or 5 wines that can be paired with a cheese tasting. Visiting Moraitis Winery is one of the best things to do in Nouassa if you are a wine enthusiast seeking an authentic and enriching experience. Since most of the restaurants on the island have Moraitis wines on their menu, I recommend doing the wine tasting (that can be done without the winery visit) at the beginning of your trip, so you can make informed decisions during your upcoming dinners!

The winery tours are regularly fully booked, so don’t forget to book online well in advance.

3. Check out the stunning beaches around Noussa, Paros

The island of Paros is well known for its pretty beaches and a few of them are located on the North Coast, a short drive away from Naoussa.

• Monastiri Beach: Named after the church perched on a nearby rocky cliff, this beach is part of Paros Environmental and Cultural Park, dedicated to preserving the beautiful wildlife of the island. Once upon a time a quiet little cove it is now home to a trendy beach club, also named Monastiri Beach. The beach is lined up with loungers and parasols and there is a bar and a restaurant on site. Sheltered from the strong winds, and with very shallow water, this beach is ideal for a relaxing day, including with children. We didn’t stay at the beach as I personally prefer much wilder beaches, but we had lunch at the Monastiri Beach restaurant and both food and wine were excellent! Umbrella sets on the beach go from 50 to 70 EUR / day and you should book ahead.

• Perikopetra Beach: My favorite beach, not only in Naoussa but on the whole island. Not technically a beach as there is no sand strip, Perikopetra is a stunning cove with crystal clear water, lined up by white bolder where you can lay your towel and leave your belongings. The area is not well known so you are quite likely to be there almost by yourself, which is pretty special in Paros! To access the beach, park your car at the Monastiri Beach parking and keep walking to the left of the Beach Club, following hiking trail #3.

• Kolymbithres Beach: Often mentioned as one of the best beaches on Paros island, Kolymbithres Beach is only 10 min drive from the center of Naoussa. It is a beautiful beach made of several little coves, bordered by large rock formations. The water is crystal clear and each little creek offer some parasols, sunloungers, etc. I personally visited in the afternoon and thought it was too packed but I can totally imagine Kolymbithres Beach to be stunning early morning before the crowd arrives.

• Santa Maria Beach: 12 min drive East of Naoussa, you will find Santa Maria beach, a sandy beach with turquoise waters and great views of the nearby Naxos island. The bay offers shallow and calm waters, ideal for families. You can grab some (pretty expensive)sun loungers in the eponym beach club or simply lay your towel on the sand in the small free area of the beach.

Hike in Paros Park, only 10 min from Naoussa

If you have had enough of lounging at the beautiful beaches of Naoussa, why not go for a hike and find new viewpoints to admire the beautiful island? Paros Park is located just 15 min drive from Nouassa, and offers 3 main walking routes and 4 secondary paths, going all around the Peninsula. The hikes are of moderate intensity (although the heat can make it more challenging than anticipated) and pass through beautiful viewpoints. Don’t miss the Korakas Cape Lighthouse and stop by some beautiful creeks for a refreshing dip, like in Perikopetra Beach .

Hiking Paros Park is one of the best things to do near Naoussa, and if you love it, you can also find quite a bit of hiking trails in the center of the island. You can check all the routes on ParosHikes.com.

WHERE TO STAY IN NAOUSSA

Naoussa and its surroundings offer some of the most beautiful properties on the island and are a great place to stay during your time in Paros. After hours (or days!!) of research for the best hotels in Paros, I came up with the below list of 8 amazing hotels and villas, that have stunning architecture, and beautifully decorated rooms, and are ideally located in or around Naoussa. Due to the increasing popularity of Paros island in general and Naoussa in particular, hotel prices get crazy high during peak seasons, so I highly recommend booking way in advance in order to grab the best deal

WHERE TO EAT IN NAOUSSA

Naoussa has hands down the best restaurants on the island! From street food to semi-fine dining and the best dessert in Paros, there is definitely something for everyone and we were never disappointed. Don’t hesitate to book ahead, as Naoussa gets extremely busy at night, and finding a table in the most popular restaurants can be a challenge. Here are the Naoussa restaurants we tried and loved.

• Sigi Ikthios: Located on a lively square by the port, Sigi Ikhtios serves delicious Greek cuisine and fresh seafood. At night the square is absolutely packed which brings a great lively ambiance! The tzatziki serving is generous and the main courses we tried (calamari risotto and prawn linguinis) were yummy. The digestive shot offered at the end of the dinner was the cherry on the cake! Service is friendly and incredibly quick considering the crowd! Definitely book ahead or come super early to grab a table.
  | Reserve here
• Luaz Seafood: Modern and trendy restaurant split between the seaside (facing Naoussa’s sunset) and a beautiful town square. We were happy to find some fresh sushis, sashimis and prawn tempuras to finally have a light dinner! The ambiance is a bit fancy (slightly pretentious maybe) but the service is impeccable. We had a lovely time, in particular thanks to the stunning sunset view by the sea, but I thought it was pretty overpriced. Book ahead and insist on being seated on the seaside, otherwise, it is not worth it.
  | Reserve here
• Daverona: If you can’t eat seafood and would like a quiet restaurant away from the crowd, Daverona is a great choice. We ordered the pasta linguini and stuffed chicken and both were delicious. The service was friendly and efficient, and the price was very reasonable (for Paros’ standards). Because it is located further from the center, the atmosphere is calmer, and less crowded than other places.
  | Reserve here
• Come back: A cool cafe, with good salads and cocktails, perfect for lunch by the sea or some casual sunset cocktails.
  | Reserve here
• To Paradosiako: It doesn’t matter how full you are from dinner, you simply cannot miss grabbing dessert at To Paradosiako. An institution for years, they serve the best Loukoumades on the island. Loukoumades are traditional doughnut balls, covered in delicious toppings, like honey and cinnamon, Nutella, etc. It is worth every single calorie!

Travel Tips: The best way to book for dinner is by calling the restaurants as most don’t seem to have WhatsApp. But if like me you don’t have a functioning phone line while in Paros, you can either email (better do it a few days ahead) or just walk to the restaurant in the early afternoon. Usually, there is staff preparing for the dinner service and they can take your reservation on the spot.

HOW TO GET TO NAOUSSA

Paros island is easily accessible from Athens and the nearby Cycladic islands, via plane or ferry:

• Flying to Paros: Paros has a small local airport, effortlessly connecting the island to Athens and Thessaloniki through two leading airlines, Aegean and Sky Express. Prepare for a swift flight, as the journey from Athens to Paros is only 45 minutes. During peak seasons, daily connections abound, but it’s wise to plan ahead and secure your spot early, as flights tend to fill up quickly. My go-to platform for checking out the best flight options is always Skyscanner.
• Ferry to Paros: Hopping on a ferry to Paros is a great alternative for travelers journeying from Athens or other nearby islands like Mykonos and Naxos. Embrace a slower pace as the Athens-Paros route typically takes between 3 to 4.5 hours. During the summer months, ferry fares between Athens and Paros range from 40 EUR to 70 EUR while the shorter trip from Mykonos to Paros (1h) costs around 50 EUR. Based on my own experience, the ferries are both secure and reliable, providing comfy seating, reliable internet as well as food and beverage service. You can find the best ferry options and book your ticket in advance with Ferry Hopper.

Once you arrive either at Parikia Port, or Paros Airport, Naoussa is only a short drive away (20 min from the ferry terminal and 30 min from the airport). The best way to reach Naoussa and discover the island on your own terms is by renting a car. In 2023 we rented our car via RentalCar and paid only 27 EUR / day for a small Volkswagen Up, which was a great deal. Traffic can be intense and parking situations difficult around Parikia and Naoussa, so don’t hesitate to rent a small car, like a Fiat 500 or equivalent. You can also easily rent an ATV or some scooters from Parikia or Naoussa.

If you prefer public transport, there are quite a few bus lines connecting all the main towns of the island, including one starting from the Airport. To go to Naoussa, you will have to stop in Parikia first and then hop onto the Parikia – Naoussa bus, which comes every 30 min to 1h, from 6.30 am to 3 am. You can find the latest info on schedules and tickets here.

BEST TIME TO VISIT NAOUSA

Like all the Cycladic islands, the best time to visit Naoussa and Paros, in general, is during the shoulder months of May, June, and September. During these months, the weather is lovely without being too hot, and the full crowd hasn’t arrived yet. Chances are, prices will also be slightly lower than during July and August too. Sadly, Naoussa is no longer the quaint little fisherman village it once was, so if you want some calm and quiet, definitely avoid the peak summer months.

Looking for more beautiful things to to in Paros? Don’t my round up of the 12 best things to do in Paros

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USEFUL RESOURCES TO PLAN YOUR TRIP TO NAOUSSA & PAROS

From booking a flight to finding some beautiful cultural tours, or getting an e-sim ahead of your trip to stay connected, I have gathered here all the super useful websites I always use to organize my travels!

Did you know? If you purchase something through the links below I will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me maintain this website and continue to provide valuable information, for free! Thank you for your support 🙂

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Here you go, this was my complete Naoussa, Paros travel guide! I hope you fund all the information you were looking for, and if not, please do not hesitate to drop me a message in the comment section below, or to reach out on Instagram!

Love, Emma

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