Paros: What to Know Before You Go

Short answer: Parikia (west coast) is the main ferry port, sunset promenade and bus hub while Naoussa (10 km north) is the chic Venetian fishing harbour; never confuse 'Pounda Port' (for the 7-minute Antiparos ferry on the west coast) with 'Punda Beach' (on the east coast); and use Naoussa's wooden water-taxis to reach Kolymbithres.

How Paros is Laid Out: Parikia, Naoussa, Lefkes & The Coast

Shaped like a smooth oval measuring 21 kilometres from north to south, Paros is encircled by a single paved ring road that connects four main areas in 15 to 25 minutes:

• 1. Parikia (West Coast, Ferry Capital): greeted by its whitewashed 19th-century harbour windmill, holding the 326 AD Church of Panagia Ekatontapyliani, the 1260 Frankish Kastro and the central KTEL Bus Terminal.
• 2. Naoussa & Naoussa Bay (North Coast, 10 km / 15 mins from Parikia): a deep, natural amphitheatre bay protecting the picturesque Old Venetian Fishing Harbour of Naoussa, flanked on its west side by the granite coves of Kolymbithres and Monastiri and on its east side by Santa Maria.
• 3. The Inland Spine (Marathi & Lefkes): rising to 771m at Mount Profitis Ilias, holding the ancient underground Parian Marble Quarries at Marathi and the marble-paved mountain village of Lefkes (connected by the 1000 AD Byzantine Road to Prodromos and Marpissa).
• 4. The East & South Coasts (Golden Beach, Piso Livadi, Aliki & Pounda): golden sand beaches facing Naxos on the east (Piso Livadi, Logaras, Golden Beach and Faragas) and the 7-minute car-ferry port at Pounda facing Antiparos on the west.

Crucial Local Warning: Do Not Confuse the 'Two Poundas'.

Paros has two completely different places named Pounda / Punda on opposite sides of the island.1. Pounda Port (West Coast, 7 km south of Parikia): the ferry pier where boats cross in 7 minutes to Antiparos and where kite-surfers ride the strait. 2. Punda Beach Coast (East Coast, near Logaras): the beach-club bay facing Naxos. Always tell your bus driver or taxi 'Pounda Ferry for Antiparos' when heading to the boat.