The best beaches in Paros
The beaches of Paros please just about everyone. Some have a worldly vocation, Caribbean sunbeds on the beach, beach club music echoing among the umbrellas, but there is no shortage of space for those who prefer the free beach, and a quieter nook. Some beaches are huge, and you can choose between an umbrella and cocktail on the beach, or a remote area where not even the echo of the music reaches.
The only downside, for our taste, is the absence of traditional beach taverns, which we are used to finding on every Greek island. The beach clubs offer more international cuisine and the quality is not very high especially considering the prices.
There are the beaches for locals, those for families, those for dancing to DJ notes and those for windsurfing. Just choose your favourite.
1. PARALIA MONASTIRI
equipped beach | free with little shade / fine sand / beach club on the beach
This beach gets its name from the small monastery on the cliff overlooking the sea. The very deep bay ensures that the sea is calm even on very windy days. Fine sand and crystal clear turquoise sea make it one of the best beaches on the island.
Part of the beach is occupied by the beach club, with umbrellas and sunbeds that can be rented for 60-90€ per day. There is a restaurant, which definitely requires reservations, and a bar whose cuisine did not excite us.
In the free area, which is quite large, it is good to arrive early to occupy one of the few trees that provides shade. The bay is not very large and yet very busy. If you are with family, the only downside is the very loud club music throughout the day.
If you want to do an unusual but very rewarding activity, you can take a 1h trek on the headland behind the beach, which will lead you to other small coves, where you can also swim away from the crowds. Keep in mind that these are all very wild beaches with no shelter from the sun. The trek up to a lighthouse on the cliff will give you a fantastic view of the open sea, Monastiri Bay, and the town of Naoussa.
2. PARALIA KOLIMBRITES
equipped beach | free without shade / fine sand / restaurant nearby with beach service
Kolimbrites is a hidden paradise. Arrive very early in the morning to enjoy the deserted bay, as its small coves are very narrow and get crowded right away. On windy days it is less sheltered than Monastiri.
From the entrance on the road with the large parking lot, continue on the dirt road to the left until you reach a fairly spacious beach with a small jetty.
From here, walk over the polished granite rocks that separate some small hidden coves, which cannot be seen from the road.
The calm, clear waters and the gentle cliffs that surround them make this beach a truly lovely place. Every now and then a caique from Naoussa disembarks, bringing a few dozen tourists.
3. PARALIA SANTA MARIA
equipped beach | free without shade / fine sand / beach bar on the beach
Santa Maria is located on the other headland and faces east. The beach is vast, and from the parking lot, you will have to walk all the way south to the edge of the rocks to find the quietest area with the clearest waters, if you want to take advantage of the free beach.
Although it is equipped, this beach is very wild. It has very white sand, turquoise waters, and beautiful cliffs that frame a pleasant view of Naxos beyond the sea.
4. GOLDEN BEACH
equipped beach | free with little shade / fine sand / beach bars and taverns on the beach
Famous for its sporting vocation, this is a vast beach with golden sand and deeper sea. On windy days it is not a good place for bathing, but it is a good hangout for surfers. It is so exposed, that even on calmer days the central area of the beach is still suitable for water sports such as windsurfing.
The area to the north offers some natural shade under a few tamarisk trees, going south instead you find beach clubs and even a few taverns, such as the restaurant at the Golden Beach Hotel, where we enjoyed an excellent traditional lunch at decidedly modest prices.
5. PARALIA LOLANTONIS
free beach with little shade / coarse sand / beach bar on the beach
Unknown beach that we frequented because it was close to our accommodation. A quiet and very pleasant place to spend the day. If you are looking for some silence and calm after the mundane beaches of the north, this is a fabulous place. The tamarisk trees provide a backdrop and allow some shade, the water is immediately quite deep but very pleasant for swimming, and there is a beach bar next to the beach that has a nice atmosphere and good food.
6. FARAGAS
equipped beach | free with little shade / fine sand / beach bar on the beach
Very small beach, mostly invaded by the beach club, with calm, turquoise waters and golden sand. Suitable for families but also frequented by socialites, it has a very elegant beach club, where you can eat well although at fairly high prices.
