The East & South Coast Beaches: Piso Livadi, Golden Beach (Chrissi Akti) and Faragas

South of Marpissa along the eastern and southern coast of Paros (20 to 30 minutes by KTEL bus or car from both Parikia and Naoussa), a string of wide, golden-sand beaches and traditional fishing harbours looks straight across the blue channel toward the mountain peaks of Naxos and Ios.

1. Piso Livadi Harbour, Logaras & Kalogeros "Clay Mud" Beach

• Piso Livadi (17 km south-east of Parikia): once the sleepy fishing port of inland Marpissa, Piso Livadi is now the finest lunch harbour on the eastern coast. Its tiny sandy cove is lined with family-run seafood tavernas (such as Halaris and Markakis) serving sun-dried grilled gouna mackerel and lobster pasta, while excursion boats depart its pier daily for Naxos, Koufonisia and Delos.
• Logaras Beach (5 Mins' Walk South of Piso Livadi): a deep, coarse-sand Blue-Flag family beach shaded right on the shoreline by a row of mature tamarisk trees.
• Kalogeros "Natural Spa Clay" Beach (15 Mins North via Molos): just north of Molos bay lies Kalogeros, a quiet cove framed by greenish-grey mineral clay cliffs, visitors wet the soft clay from the cliff base, cover themselves head-to-toe in a natural mineral mud mask, let it dry in the sun, and wash it off in the crystal-clear sea.

2. Chrissi Akti ("Golden Beach"), Drios & South-Facing Faragas Bay

• Chrissi Akti (Golden Beach) & New Golden Beach (Tserdakia): stretching for 700 metres along the south-eastern shore, Golden Beach gets its name from microscopic flakes of golden mica and glass-like quartz in its fine sand that glitter in the sunlight. While the northern end is shallow and great for swimming, the steady thermal breeze through the Paros, Naxos channel makes neighboring New Golden Beach a world-cup windsurfing venue.
• Faragas Beach (On the Southern Coast, Best Wind-Free Beach on Windy Days): if the northern Meltemi wind is blowing hard, drive 10 minutes past Aliki to Faragas, a south-facing triple cove completely shielded by hills, where the turquoise water stays as flat and calm as a lake.