The Best Beaches in Naxos and Paros

Why Naxos and Paros Deserve Your Attention

The Cyclades get plenty of love, but most of it goes to Santorini and Mykonos. That's fine by the locals on Naxos and Paros, who enjoy longer stretches of sand, cheaper tavernas, and far fewer selfie sticks. These two islands sit side by side in the central Aegean, connected by a 45-minute ferry, and together they hold some of the best beaches in Greece. Period.

Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades, with a mountainous interior that feeds freshwater streams down to broad, sandy bays. Paros is smaller, rounder, and ringed with coves that catch different winds depending on the season. Between them, you can spend two weeks and never repeat a beach.

The Best Beaches on Naxos

Agios Prokopios

A long, gently curving bay about 5 km south of Naxos Town. The sand is fine and pale gold, the water shallow for 30 meters out, and there's enough space that even in August you can find room. The northern end has sunbeds from beach bars like Medusa (lounger and umbrella around 12 EUR for the day), while the southern stretch stays empty. Bus service runs every 30 minutes from Naxos port in summer, or it's a 10 EUR taxi.

Plaka

South of Agios Prokopios, Plaka stretches for nearly 4 km. It's the beach you see in drone photos of Naxos: white sand fading into turquoise. The northern section near the parking area has a few cantinas selling freddo cappuccino and toasted sandwiches for 3-5 EUR. Walk ten minutes south and you'll have the beach to yourself. Plaka is also one of the best spots for families—the water stays knee-deep for ages, and the sand is soft enough for castle building.

This is one of the reasons Naxos Beaches continues to draw visitors year after year.

Mikri Vigla

This is where the wind hits. Mikri Vigla sits on a small headland that divides two bays: the southern side (Parthena) catches the meltemi and draws kitesurfers from across Europe. Flisvos Kite Centre operates here from May to October, with beginner lessons running about 80 EUR for two hours. The northern bay (Limanaki) is calmer and better for swimming. The rocky headland between them offers a short scramble with views down both sides.

Alyko

A wilder option on the southwest coast. Alyko is actually a collection of small coves set among cedar trees, with an abandoned hotel from the 1970s that's become an unofficial street art gallery. The main beach has coarse golden sand and no facilities at all—bring water, food, and shade. The snorkeling around the rocky points is excellent, with sea bream and octopus visible in the shallows.

Moutsouna

On the remote east coast, Moutsouna is a former emery-mining port with a tiny harbour and a dark-sand beach. You'll need a car to get here—the road from Apiranthos takes about 25 minutes and includes some proper mountain switchbacks. The reward is a beach with maybe five other people and a single taverna, To Steki tou Andrea, serving grilled fish by the kilo (around 40-50 EUR per kg for fresh catch).

Compared to similar options, Naxos Beaches stands out for its mix of quality and accessibility.

The Best Beaches on Paros

Kolymbithres

The signature beach of Paros. Giant smooth granite boulders, sculpted by wind and waves into organic shapes, frame a series of small sandy coves. It looks like a Henry Moore sculpture garden that happens to have a beach. The water between the rocks is brilliantly clear. In summer, a small boat runs from Naoussa harbour (5 EUR return) which is more pleasant than driving—parking is tight.

Santa Maria

A double bay on the northeast tip of Paros, about 4 km from Naoussa. The left bay is organised with sunbeds from beach clubs, and the right bay is more relaxed. Santa Maria is another wind magnet—windsurfers and kitesurfers gather here when the meltemi blows from July through September. Paros Kite Pro offers equipment rental from about 30 EUR per hour. When the wind drops, the swimming is superb.

Faragas

On the south coast, Faragas is a pocket beach with fine sand sheltered by low cliffs. A beach bar plays music at reasonable volume and serves decent cocktails for 10-12 EUR. The water here is warmer than the north-facing beaches because it's protected from the meltemi. It gets busy by midday in July and August, so arrive before 10 AM or come after 5 PM when the light is better anyway.

Local travel experts consistently recommend Naxos Beaches as a top choice for visitors.

Kalogeros

A curiosity. Kalogeros is a small beach on the east coast where the clay cliffs have been crumbling into the water for centuries. Visitors smear the grey-green clay on their skin like a spa treatment. Whether it actually does anything is debatable, but the ritual is fun and the beach itself—narrow, pebbly at the waterline, backed by those strange eroded cliffs—is genuinely unusual. No facilities. Bring shoes for the rocky entry.

Golden Beach (Chrysi Akti)

A 700-meter stretch on the southeast coast that has hosted the Professional Windsurfers Association World Cup multiple times. Even if you don't windsurf, it's a beautiful beach: golden sand (hence the name), steady breeze, and a handful of tavernas along the road behind. Try Taverna Markakis for stuffed tomatoes and lamb chops—main dishes run 10-16 EUR.

Island Hopping Between Naxos and Paros

The two islands are connected by frequent ferries. Blue Star Ferries and SeaJets both run multiple daily crossings. The slow ferry takes about an hour and costs 8-10 EUR; the high-speed catamaran takes 25 minutes and costs 15-20 EUR. In peak season (July-August), book a day ahead. Off-season, you can walk on.

A good itinerary gives Naxos 4-5 days and Paros 3-4 days. Naxos has more beach variety and better inland hiking (Mount Zeus at 1,004 meters is the highest point in the Cyclades). Paros has Naoussa, which is one of the most charming harbour towns in the Aegean, with excellent restaurants like Barbarossa and Sigi Ikthios serving fresh seafood on the waterfront.

Practical Tips

When to Go

June and September are the sweet spot. Water temperatures reach 22-24°C, crowds are manageable, and prices drop 20-30% from the July-August peak. The meltemi wind blows strongest in July and August, which is great for kitesurfing but can make some north-facing beaches choppy. May is warm enough for sunbathing but the sea is still cool at around 19°C.

Getting Around

Rent a car on both islands. On Naxos especially, the east-coast beaches are unreachable by bus. Expect to pay 35-50 EUR per day in summer for a small car. Naxos also has a decent bus network covering the main west-coast beaches, but service drops to a few runs per day outside July-August. On Paros, scooters are popular (20-25 EUR/day) but the roads can be narrow and the meltemi makes two wheels tricky.

If Naxos Beaches is on your list, booking during shoulder season typically delivers the best value.

Where to Eat Near the Beaches

On Naxos, don't miss the Naxos potato—a PDO product that's genuinely different from regular potatoes, creamier and sweeter. Most tavernas serve them fried or baked. In Naxos Town, Meze2 does excellent small plates. On Paros, the fishing village of Aliki on the south coast has several waterfront tavernas; Taverna Tao-Tao is the locals' pick for grilled octopus.