Cheap holiday on Paros

When is the best time to go?

May and September are ideal: 24 to 27 degrees, sea temperature of 21 to 24 degrees and a fraction of the high-season crowds. June is also excellent. In July and August the Meltemi north wind can blow hard, beaches fill up and hotel prices roughly double. October is pleasantly quiet, though more and more businesses close. Outside the season (November to April) almost nothing runs and most restaurants and hotels are closed.

The best areas on Paros

• Parikia The lively capital on the west coast, with the ferry port, market, best supermarkets and the famous Byzantine church Panagia Ekatontapiliani. Best base for practical travellers and backpackers.
• Naoussa The most photogenic village on the island, on the north coast. White alleyways, the ruins of a Venetian fort in the water, boutiques and cocktail bars. Popular with couples and upmarket travellers, yet 40 to 60 percent cheaper than comparable spots on Mykonos.
• Lefkes A picturesque mountain village inland, deliberately built far from the coast as pirate protection in the 17th century. Bougainvillea, blue-domed churches and almost no mass tourism.
• Chrissi Akti (Golden Beach) The long golden sand beach on the south-east coast, world-famous as a windsurfing paradise and host to international windsurfing competitions.
• Santa Maria / Drios Santa Maria in the north-east is the perfect family beach with shallow turquoise water and water sports. Drios in the south is quieter, less touristy and ideal for an authentic island experience.

Top 5 things to do on Paros

• Panagia Ekatontapiliani One of the most impressive Byzantine monuments in Greece, dating from the 4th century AD. The church itself is free to enter. The name "100 Doors" refers to the legend that the 100th door will only appear when Hagia Sophia returns to Greece.
• Naoussa harbour and Venetian fort The half-submerged Venetian fortress walls in the harbour are the most photographed spot on Paros. Free to access, spectacular at sunset.
• Butterfly Valley (Petaloudes) A lush nature reserve 7 km from Parikia, open June to September, 10:00 to 18:00. Hundreds of Jersey Tiger butterflies cover the trees. Entry around €4 for adults, free under 12. Visit early in the morning for the best experience.
• Archaeological Museum Parikia Houses the Parian Chronicle, a marble timeline of Greek history from the 3rd century BC. Entry €5, reduced €3. Free for EU students and under-18s.
• Marble quarries of Marathi About 6 km from Parikia, free to visit. The famous white Parian marble from these quarries was used for the Venus de Milo, the Caryatids of the Parthenon and Napoleon's tomb. Raw and uncommercialized.

Flights + transport from the Netherlands

There are no direct flights from the Netherlands to the small Paros airport (PAS). The most common route: fly with KLM or Transavia from Amsterdam to Athens (ATH) in just over 3 hours, then onwards with Aegean Airlines or Sky Express to Paros in 40 minutes. Another option is the ferry from Piraeus (Athens port) to Paros, a pleasant crossing in around 4 hours with Blue Star Ferries or 2 hours 40 minutes by high-speed catamaran. TUI also offers seasonal package holidays from Amsterdam.

On the island the KTEL bus runs on main routes for €2 to 4 per trip. For more remote beaches such as Kalogeros and Monastiri, a rental car or quad via DiscoverCars is the most convenient option (rental car around €35 to 65 per day, quad around €20 to 40).

Insider tip: Kalogeros clay beach

Hidden on the south coast of Paros, Kalogeros beach is barely mentioned on standard travel websites. The real reason to go: ochre-coloured clay in the cliff walls along the shore. You dig the soft clay from the rock face yourself, spread it over your skin, let it bake in the sun and rinse off in the sea. Completely free, entirely natural. Reachable only by your own transport on an unpaved track, which keeps it remarkably quiet even in August.

What does a week on Paros cost?

Paros is 40 to 60 percent cheaper than Mykonos and Santorini. Hostels start from €25 per night, mid-range hotels €60 to 100. A set lunch in a local taverna costs €12 to 20, souvlaki as a street snack €3 to 5. For 7 days budget from around €540 per person including flights via Athens and mid-range accommodation.