One of the best reasons to base yourself in Naoussa is the water. The town sits at the head of an enormous, almost enclosed bay, and within a few kilometres in either direction you will find sculpted granite coves, long organised beaches with music and sunbeds, and scraps of empty sand you reach on foot. You could swim somewhere different every day for a week and never drive more than ten minutes.
Our hotel sits on the peninsula between Naoussa and Santa Maria, so these are quite literally our local beaches. Here are the nine we send guests to, how to reach each one, and which to choose depending on the wind.
How to get to the beaches from Naoussa
- Water taxi: in season, small boats shuttle from Naoussa harbour to Kolymbithres, Monastiri and Lageri. It is cheap, frequent and half the fun.
- Bus: seasonal services run from Naoussa to Santa Maria and other beaches; timetables are posted at the bus station.
- Bike, scooter or car: everything on this list is within about 6 km of town. Arrive before 11 am for parking in high summer.
- On foot: Piperi and Agioi Anargyroi are walkable from the old port.
More in our guide to Paros without a car.
1. Kolymbithres — the famous one
Kolymbithres means “baptismal fonts”, and you will see why: over millennia, wind and sea have carved the granite into smooth, curving shapes that divide the shore into a series of small sandy coves with shallow, pool-like water. There is nowhere else quite like it in the Cyclades. Part of the beach is organised with sunbeds and a couple of tavernas behind; the rest is a scramble over warm rock to find your own nook.
Best for: everyone, at least once. Children love the shallows. Tip: come early or after 5 pm in July and August — it is small and popular.
2. Monastiri — sheltered and sandy
At the far tip of the bay, beneath the little monastery of Agios Ioannis Detis, Monastiri is a deep, protected cove with very calm, shallow water, a beach bar and sunbeds. It sits inside the Paros Park, a protected headland with marked walking trails to a lighthouse and an open-air theatre that hosts summer events. On windy days this is often the calmest water on the north coast.
Best for: families, windy days, combining a swim with a walk.
3. Santa Maria — the big, lively one
About 4 km east of Naoussa, Santa Maria is a long arc of fine golden sand facing Naxos, with clear water, watersports and diving centres, and beach bars with music. It is the closest thing the north coast has to a “scene”, but the beach is large enough to find a quiet end.
Best for: a full beach day with facilities, watersports, a sociable atmosphere.
4. Mikri Santa Maria — the little sister
Just before its bigger namesake, “Little Santa Maria” is a smaller, prettier bay with pale sand, dunes and shallow water. It is organised but more low-key. Many regulars prefer it.
Best for: couples, a calmer version of Santa Maria.
5. Lageri — for peace and quiet
Lageri is the antidote to everything above: a long, undeveloped strip of sand backed by dunes and cedars, with no sunbeds and no bar. It is reached by a short footpath from the road or by water taxi, which keeps numbers low. The far end is traditionally clothing-optional. Bring water and shade.
Best for: quiet, natural surroundings, long swims.
6. Siparos (Xifara) — the local cove
On the way out to Santa Maria, the low peninsula of Xifara hides a small sandy beach with calm, shallow water, a few umbrellas and lovely views back across the bay to Naoussa. It rarely appears in guidebooks, which is rather the point. It also happens to be 50 metres from our front door: guests at Paros Comfy Suites use it as their morning swimming spot, and several ground-floor suites have direct access to the shore.
Best for: an easy, uncrowded swim; sunset views of Naoussa.
7. Piperi — the town beach
Two minutes from the old port, Piperi is a small sandy beach shaded by tamarisk trees. It will not win prizes, but for a quick dip before lunch or a last swim before the ferry, it is unbeatable.
Best for: convenience; families staying in town.
8. Agioi Anargyroi — the walkable alternative
A ten-minute walk on the other side of Naoussa, this is a slightly larger sandy beach with a few sunbeds, a taverna and clear water. Quieter than you would expect given how close it is to town.
Best for: a proper beach afternoon without transport.
9. Ambelas — beach plus fish lunch
Ambelas is a tiny fishing harbour about 4–5 km east of Naoussa, with a couple of small beaches and some of the most reliable fish tavernas in the area. Swim first, then settle in for a long lunch looking across at Naxos.
Best for: combining a swim with a seafood meal.
Which beach for which wind?
In July and August the Meltemi blows from the north on many days, and choosing the right beach makes all the difference.
- Strong northerly: pick beaches inside the bay — Monastiri first, then Kolymbithres and Piperi. Alternatively, drive to the south or east-coast beaches below Piso Livadi.
- Light wind or calm: this is the day for Santa Maria, Mikri Santa Maria and Lageri, which are at their clearest and most beautiful.
- Not sure? Ask your hotel in the morning. We check the forecast daily and tell guests where to go.
Wind is far less of an issue in September, when the sea is also at its warmest.
Beach practicalities
- Sunbeds at organised beaches are paid and can sell out in August; the front row at popular beach bars often needs booking.
- Shade is scarce at natural beaches such as Lageri — bring an umbrella.
- Water shoes are handy for clambering over the rocks at Kolymbithres.
- Snorkelling is best around the rocks at Kolymbithres and at the edges of Santa Maria.
- The famous east-coast beaches — Golden Beach, Logaras, Molos — are 20–30 minutes away and make a good day out. We include them in our things to do in Paros guide.
Stay between the bay and Santa Maria
If beach-hopping is the plan, location is everything. Paros Comfy Suites sits right in the middle of this stretch of coast: Siparos beach 50 metres away, Santa Maria about 2 km up the road, Naoussa’s harbour and its water taxis about 2 km the other way. We lend guests bicycles free of charge, there is private parking if you hire a car, and every suite looks out over the sea you will be swimming in.
See the suites — including those with private pools for the days you do not feel like going anywhere — and book direct at paroscomfysuites.com.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best beach near Naoussa?
Kolymbithres is the most famous and most unusual, thanks to its sculpted granite boulders and shallow coves. For a long sandy beach with full facilities, Santa Maria is the favourite. For peace and quiet, head to Lageri.
Can you walk to a beach from Naoussa?
Yes. Piperi beach is right at the edge of town, a few minutes from the old port, and Agioi Anargyroi is about a ten-minute walk. The bigger-name beaches need a water taxi, bus, bike or car.
How do you get to Kolymbithres from Naoussa?
The most enjoyable way is the small water taxi from Naoussa harbour, which crosses the bay in around 10–15 minutes during the season. You can also drive or take a taxi in about 10 minutes; parking fills up early in July and August.
Which beaches near Naoussa are sheltered from the wind?
When the northerly Meltemi blows, the beaches tucked inside Naoussa bay — Kolymbithres and especially Monastiri — are the most protected. Exposed north- and east-facing beaches such as Santa Maria can be choppy on strong-wind days.
Are the beaches near Naoussa good for children?
Very. Kolymbithres, Monastiri and Piperi all have calm, shallow water and soft sand. Santa Maria and Mikri Santa Maria also shelve gently and have facilities close by.