Where to Stay in Paros: Naoussa vs Parikia, Piso Livadi, Golden Beach and Aliki

Almost every first-time visitor to Paros faces the same classic question: choosing between Naoussa and Parikia? Because the two towns sit only 10 kilometres (15 minutes by bus or car) apart, you will easily visit both, here is how they and the quieter beach villages compare so you pick the right base for your style and budget.

1. Naoussa (North Coast, Best for Chic Harbour Dining, Nightlife & Boutique Style)

If you want the postcard image of whitewashed alleys, upscale designer boutiques, cocktail bars above the waves, and dining two feet from bobbing fishing boats in the Old Venetian Harbour, stay in Naoussa:

• Pros: unbeatable evening atmosphere, walkable to Piperi and Agii Anargyri beaches, and direct water-taxis from the pier to Kolymbithres and Monastiri.
• Cons: hotel rates in Naoussa are 25% to 40% higher than in Parikia; if you don't have a car, you take the 15-minute bus to Parikia first when heading to Pounda (Antiparos) or the southern beaches.

2. Parikia & Livadia / Krios (West Coast, Best for Value, Sunsets & Car-Free Island Exploration)

If you are travelling without a car, want direct sunsets over the sea (Naoussa faces north inside a bay, whereas Parikia faces due west into the sunset), and want to roll your suitcase straight off the ferry to your hotel, stay in Parikia:

• Where to Book in Parikia: stay in the quiet lanes behind the Old Market / Frankish Kastro, along the sandy northern bay of Livadia Beach (10 mins' walk from the port), or across the bay at Krios / Marcello. Because Parikia is the central KTEL hub, every bus on the island (to Naoussa, Lefkes, Golden Beach, Aliki and the Pounda Antiparos ferry) starts right here.

3. Piso Livadi, Golden Beach & Aliki (Best for Quiet Beachfront Stays & Families)

• Piso Livadi & Golden Beach (East Coast): relaxed seaside fish tavernas and beachfront hotels looking across at Naxos.
• Aliki (South Coast): the most wind-sheltered, family-friendly fishing village on the island with three shallow sandy coves and playgrounds on the water.