As there is no international airport flights to Paros journeys usually comprise a flight to Athens, Mykonos or Santorini and then a ferry trip to Paros. Many prefer an overnight flights to Athens and an early morning ferry from Piraeus (5-6 hours ferry trip). Any later schedule probably requires and an overnight stop in Athens.
There are daily domestic flights from Athens to Paros but again these are early morning and seats can be in short supply. Olympic Airways has daily flights and the trip takes about 35mins. You can't book online though and telephone reservations are made on 0030 2103 550550.
There are now cheap international flights to the islands of Mykonos and Santorini which are close enough to Paros to make a ferry connection an option but these routes usually require an overnight stop as ferry sailings rarely coincide with flight arrivals.
Fly from all major European airports.
Most European languages and currencies.
Paros Panteleio Airport (PAS) is located near Alyki in the south of Paros. It is too small for international charter aircraft but it does take domestic Olympic flights from Athens (35 minutes) and from other Greek islands such as from Crete and Rhodes.
There are regular buses from the airport to Parikia and Naoussa. The transfer time to Parikia is about 10 minutes and many hotels offer private mini bus pick-ups.
One way to fly to Paros is to get a cheap flight to Athens and catch a regular domestic Olympic flight from there, although there are now also cheap flight options to both Mykonos and Santorini in the summer months.
Ferry connections can be made from both these islands to Naxos and Paros, although this usually requires an overnight stop as ferries rarely link well with flight times. Hellenic Star have three flights a week from Athens.
A flight to Mykonos International Airport (JMK) is probably the cheapest bet. The airport is 4km from Mykonos Town where there are ferries daily to Naxos and Paros but none after 10am. However, Santorini may be the quickest as ferries to Paros and Naxos are often more frequent and if you land before 11am you will probably be able to make a ferry connection.
Mykonos International Airport (JMK) is located 4km from Mykonos Town and takes charter flights from major European cities throughout the summer.
Olympic Airlines also operates regular flights to Mykonos from Athens. The flight take about 45minutes.
The transfer time to Mykonos port is about 10 minutes and there is now a regular bus service operating from the airport to the main port town.
• The Liligo search engine finds hundreds of cheap flights to Greece and the Greek islands
• Flightline has been providing cheap flights to Greece, holidays and accommodation for over 20 years
Paros, like neighbouring Naxos, is part of the hub of the Cyclades ferry service and there are ferries connections both to the mainland and to most islands. Ferries leave daily from Piraeus (Athens) and Rafina , about six ferries a day departing from the mainland, the last one leaving for Paros at 5pm. The journey takes 6-8 hours or about 3 hours on a fast ferry catamaran.
The main ferry companies operating to Paros are GA Ferries, Blue Star and Minoan, although Nel and Hellas Flying Dolphins also run services.
From Paros you can get ferries to Amorgos, Anafi, Ikaria, Ios, Samos, Koufonisi, Mykonos, Naxos, Rhodes, Santorini, Schinousa, Skiathos, Syros and Tinos, as well as Crete, Volos and Thessaloniki.
Paros has a pleasant port at Parikia with a traditional quayside windmill to greet visitors. The main bus station and the taxi rank are on the waterfront to the left of the windmill as you disembark.
There are several daily island cruises to both popular and the more remote beaches of Paros. From Piso Livadi on the east coast you can catch a ferry to the neighbouring island of Naxos (1hr journey time) for the day.
Summer ferry schedules may not be confirmed until April or May, and not published until then.
The information is as accurate as I can make it but note that ferry schedules can change at any time.
Paros has a wide range of holiday accommodation, from luxury hotels to family-run small hotels, plenty of self-catering studios and apartments and several good camp sites.
Parikia is the busiest resort on Paros, especially at the height of the summer when island-hopping visitors pour into the port for a ferry connection. Most of the accommodation in Parikia is in three areas - the old town just inland, the waterfront just to the north of the port and at Livadia beach at the northern end of the town.
Room owners meet ferries on arrival with offers of rooms. These are generally cheap and good, although you should check exactly where the accommodation is in case you don't like it. It is hard to change your mind in the middle of nowhere.
If you prefer, there are quayside kiosks with information on Paros hotels and rooms to let. For the better hotels on Paros it is probably better to book well in advance as many get snapped up by holiday tour operators. The road from the ferry port to Livadia beach is lined with modern hotels offering sea views and easy beach access. The old town has hotels with more character but, unless they are in a quiet back street, they can be noisy at night.
Budget visitors have plenty of cheap rooms to choose from as Paros has often been a favourite with student backpackers. There is also camping at three sites near the port. Camping Koula at Livadia is the choice of young backpackers but there is also camping at Krios Beach, with a taxi boat service from Parikia every 10 mins, or about 2km south of Parikia near Delfini beach.
Another favourite for hotels is Naoussa in the far north-west of Paros. There are also hotel and rooms to let at the pretty village of Lefkes, high in the hills and an ideal base for walkers. Piso Livadi on the east coast and the popular Chryssi Beach nearby also have plenty of good Paros accommodation.
There are fairly good roads on Paros connecting all the main island resorts and you can rent a car or a bike, take a taxi or use the local buses. The waterfront at Parikia has several car hire firms and both car and motorbike rental are widely available in the main Paros holiday spots, including Naoussa and Piso Livadi. Car hire isn't particularly popular on Paros as most resorts are concentrated and the island is relatively small. The roads are in reasonable condition, but drive times can be long as many country lanes are narrow and winding.
Paros has a limited bus service and the main route is along the road between Parikia and Naoussa but what services there are cheap and efficient. Buses do run regularly to all the main villages but they can only be a few times a day and visitors may hire a car or moped for at least part of their visit. Apart from the Parikia - Naoussa route the main bus services are Parikia - Lefkes - Marpissa - Drios; Parikia - Alyki; Parikia - Pounda (for Antiparos) ; Naoussa - Drios; Naoussa - Kolimbrethes; Naoussa - Ampelas; Naoussa - Santa Maria. All of the island bus routes are posted near the small parking area next to the ferry dock in Parikia.
Click here for KTEL Paros bus timetables but note that the actual route often depends on the number of passengers and that Santa Maria and Ampela are also often visited in the summer months - the driver usually decides whether to bother.
The main taxi rank in Parikia, is in the central square, left of the windmill by the port. There are is also a taxi rank in Naoussa along the main road. Taxi fares are set each year and are fixed for each destination in the island. There are no taxi meters. Taxi drivers may be a bit pushy when getting a fare but they are generally honest and friendly. A good tip is to keep the taxi driver's mobile phone number so that you can call them for a pick-up.
Paros tends to be a little large for walking and there are not that many walking trails. A decent hiking map is the Road-series (no. 112) which has a few trails marked, such as the well-known 'Byzantine' trail from Lefkes to Prodromos and some good paths in the south of the island, but you will need transport to get to the start points. There is supposed to be a coastal path around the whole island but some parts have been eroded. For a good selection of Paros island walks try Foxy's Paros Walks
