Naousa
Naousa's tiny harbour, guarded by a half-sunk Venetian fort, might be the prettiest in the Cyclades — octopus drying in the sun, tables at the water's edge, bougainvillaea against whitewash.
- Best forCouples · Beach lovers · Foodies
- In January14°C · 12 rainy days · sea 17°C
- Ideal stay4–5 nights
- Approx. flying time~14h from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageGreek
- Local time14:102h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+30
Why go
A small fishing harbour on the north coast has grown into one of the most appealing towns in the Cyclades without losing its shape. Boats still land octopus beside the half-submerged Venetian fort, and the lanes behind the waterfront are a tangle of whitewash, bougainvillea and shops that stay open late. Sandy beaches spread along both arms of the bay, most of them a short drive or boat hop away.
Paros works well as the anchor of a Cycladic trip, with fast ferries to Athens and constant links to Naxos, Mykonos and Santorini. Four or five nights lets you split time between town, beaches and the marble villages inland. June and September are the sweet spot; August brings crowds and high prices. The meltemi wind can be fierce, which delights kitesurfers and irritates everyone else.
- Ideal stay
- 4–5 nights
- The vibe
- Whitewashed, salty, quietly stylish
From our guides
Superb sandy beaches fan out on either side: Kolymbithres with its sculpted granite, Monastiri for calm water. It gets lively in August; June keeps the charm and halves the queues.
Featured in Ten lovely beach towns for lazy harbourside evenings
Things to do
-
The harbour and Venetian fort
A stubby ruined castle sits in shallow water at the harbour mouth, wadeable in calm weather. Tables line the quay a few metres from the moored boats.
-
Kolymbithres
Sculpted granite boulders divide this bay into a series of small sandy pockets with shallow, warm water. Reachable by road or by boat taxi across the bay.
-
Monastiri beach
Sheltered, calm and backed by a small monastery, with a marine park offshore that makes for genuinely good snorkelling.
-
Santa Maria
A long sandy stretch on the exposed north-east coast, where the wind draws kitesurfers and windsurfers through the summer.
-
Lefkes
The old inland capital, high in the hills with marble-paved lanes and a Byzantine path running down the valley towards the east coast.
-
Parikia's great church
The Panagia Ekatontapiliani in the main port town is one of the oldest churches in Greece, built around a fourth-century core and set in a quiet courtyard.
Getting there
-
Fly to
Paros (PAS)
Nearest airport to Naousa, about 16km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Naousa
From Naxos (JNX) it is a short ferry hop to Parikia, around 30 to 45 minutes, then about 15 minutes by road to Naousa; Paros has its own small airport too.
-
On the ground
Getting around
Naousa's harbour and lanes are walkable, and Kolymbithres and Monastiri are a short drive, a bus ride or a small boat across the bay.
Public transport: Decent in summer: buses link Parikia, Naousa and the main beaches, and water taxis cross Naousa bay.
Flights
Los Angeles Naousa, Paros, Greece
Fly from anywhere — search 4,000+ airports worldwide.
Roughly 14h in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
Check dates and prices
Pick your departure date, then your return.
Search flightsNot sure when? Compare fares across a whole month.
Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 14°C in January to 27°C in August. Driest April to October; wettest in January, with rain on about 12 days. The sea is warmest in August at around 26°C, coolest at 16°C.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
January14° · rain 12 days · sea 17°Cool and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — May to October. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Boutique cycladic hotels and suites around Naousa, family-run studios everywhere, and villas with pools in the hills. Very few large resorts on the island.
-
Best base overall
Naousa
The harbour, the restaurants and the boat taxis to Kolymbithres are all here, with Monastiri a short hop. It is the island's busiest night-time scene, and parking is a summer sport.
Find stays in Naousa -
Best value
Parikia
The port town on the other side of the island, cheaper and better connected for ferries, with a fine old quarter behind the waterfront. Beaches nearby are ordinary.
Find stays in Parikia -
Best with children
Santa Maria and Ambelas
Just east of Naousa, with sandy shallow beaches, low-rise hotels and calm evenings. You will want a car for restaurants, as the walk into town is long in the heat.
Find stays in Santa Maria and Ambelas -
Quietest
Lefkes
The old inland capital up in the hills, cooler at night and entirely free of resort noise. It is fifteen minutes to any beach, which some people consider the point.
Find stays in Lefkes
Worth knowing before you book: August fills months ahead with Greek as well as foreign visitors, and ferry tickets from Piraeus sell out on the same weekends the rooms do.
Search everything else in Naousa by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Timing
- June and September give warm water and a manageable crowd. August is at full stretch, with the highest prices of the year.
- Book ahead
- Rooms in Naousa itself are limited and go early for high summer. Ferry seats also need booking in advance in August.
- Meltemi
- The northerly wind blows hardest in July and August and can cancel small boats. Head to the south coast beaches when it does.
- Getting there
- Fast ferries from Piraeus and Rafina take a few hours, and there is a small airport with domestic flights from Athens.
- Cash
- Cards are widely accepted in town, but boat taxis, beach canteens and village tavernas often prefer cash. Machines can run dry in August.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Antiparos
Greece · 22km away →
Little Venice
Mykonos, Greece · 37km away →
Mykonos
Greece · 39km away →
Folegandros
Greece · 62km away →
Oia
Santorini, Greece · 75km away →
Milos
Greece · 80km away →Elsewhere in Greece
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Naousa?
For warm, mostly dry days, May to October. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 14°C in January to 27°C in August. Driest April to October; wettest in January, with rain on about 12 days. The sea is warmest in August at around 26°C, coolest at 16°C.
How long should I spend in Naousa?
Our suggestion: 4–5 nights.
How do I get to Naousa?
From Naxos (JNX) it is a short ferry hop to Parikia, around 30 to 45 minutes, then about 15 minutes by road to Naousa; Paros has its own small airport too.
Do I need a car in Naousa?
No. Decent in summer: buses link Parikia, Naousa and the main beaches, and water taxis cross Naousa bay.
What currency and language are used in Naousa?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Greek. Plugs: type C and F.
Who is Naousa best for?
Best for couples, beach lovers and foodies. In a phrase: whitewashed, salty, quietly stylish.