Many travelers view Paros as a quick stopover on the way to the beaches of Naxos, or just as a gateway to other amazing islands in the Cyclades. However, if you skip Paros island you’d be sorely missing out on one of the most special places in the entire country! Naousa is a small town located in the northeastern corner of Paros Greece.
From the minute you enter this little enclave, you’ll be impressed with how the fishing boats and fancy yachts gel together with the bright colors of the Aegean Sea. The one-time fishing community of Naousa has transformed into a tourist destination for its architecture and fine restaurants but has yet to lose its local luster. Here are 10 things we loved about Naousa Greece!
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Greece Travel Inspiration
- Planning a Trip to Greece: 10 Step Easy to Follow Travel Guide
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- 30 Fun Facts About Greece and its Incredible Ancient History
- Greek Island Ferries: The 12 Most Important Questions Answered!
- Agios Prokopios and More of Our Favorite Beaches in Naxos Greece
Getting to Naousa Greece
Assuming you’re arriving into the port of Paros, you’ll want to take a right getting off the boat and head towards the bus station. The station is a short walk and on the ocean side of the street.
It may be a bit tough reading the bus schedule if you’re not familiar with it. There was no one in the booth to help during the off-season, and you’ll see a machine to buy tickets which were equally as confusing!
Just remember that you can almost always buy tickets on the bus from the driver in Greece. If your bus isn’t there yet take a seat and grab food or coffee at one of the restaurants across the street.
The bus ride was only about 15 minutes from the port to Naousa and from the bus stop, it’s only a 5 minutes walk into town… Just walk towards the water!
You can also take a taxi to Naousa, but it’ll cost you between €15-20 euros.
10 Things We Loved About Naousa on Paros Island
1. Colorful Cafes & Bars
The first thing you’ll notice when you get to the main town of Naousa is the cute and colorful cafes everywhere you look. Grab a glass of Greek wine with a side of olives, and watch as the boats pull into the harbor. Whether you’re walking through the back streets, or just sitting in the main port you’ll fall in love with this part of Naousa!
Two of our favorite Naousa restaurants to grab drinks at are Methystra Bar & Monkey’s Cocktail Bar!
2. Local Seafood
Another thing that will immediately catch your eye is all the octopuses. They actually hang these wild looking sea creatures out right in front of many of the Naousa restaurants!
We’re not sure how appealing this is even for the most avid seafood fans, but this unique feature of town certainly draws you in. Other popular seafood options include mussels, shrimp, and a variety of fresh fish.
3. Crystal Clear Water
We couldn’t believe how stunningly clear the water was in Naousa. While the sparkling Aegean Sea is known for its clear blue color, the water seemed especially see through in this little island town.
Maybe it’s the way it gleams off the pearly white buildings, or possibly its enhanced by the Greek sun shining so brightly above. Whatever the case, it makes you want to dive right in!
Head to the Piperi town beach for an afternoon dip.
4. Amazing History
Like everywhere in Greece there’s no shortage of history, and that’s especially true in Naousa Paros! The Venetian Fortress is the best example of that, as it’s sitting beautifully right on the edge of the port.
Originally constructed in the 15th century, it was once a watchtower for enemies… Including pirate attacks! While there’s no longer the threat of pirates to Paros Island, the fortress gives you an eye into what life must of been like 500 years ago.
5. Scenic Churches
The Greek islands are filled with churches ranging from tiny monasteries to massive places of worship in the mountains. They’re often the most incredible buildings in every town, and that’s also true of Naousa Greece!
If you walk up the hill to the top of the village you can visit the gorgeous Church of Assumption of the Virgin. During our visit they were having a beautiful baptism ceremony at one of the chapels in town, and it seemed to bring all of Naousa out to celebrate!
6. Winding Back Streets
When you’re not busy having fun in the historic harbor area, exploring the streets has to be done! One of our favorite things to do was walk through the back streets of town, window shop, dip in and out of cafes and bakeries, and mingle with the friendly Paros locals. You’d be surprised how many great local Naousa restaurants you can find by just getting lost on the outskirts of town!
7. Spectacular Sunset in Naousa Greece
After an amazing day in Naousa Greece, there’s no better way to end it than by watching the magical sunset. We couldn’t believe the orange and pink colors that emerged as the sun set over the port and rocky mountains. As far as sunsets go, it’d be hard to find a better one!
8. Naousa Greece Sweets and Treats
Wait… You thought we were done with food? One staple of Greece is its delicious pastries, and we had some of the best desserts ever right here in Naousa! For over 100 years the famous Ragoussis Bakery has been churning out some of the best treats in all of the Cyclades.
The baklava we ate here was hands down the best we’ve ever had! Ragoussis also has cafeteria-style dining with cheap and delicious food options compared to the rest of the Naousa restaurants in town. That means you can order traditional Greek dishes like Pastitsio and Moussaka for just €5-6 euros!
→ Ragoussis Bakery Website & Location
9. Beautiful Naousa Boats
Another distinct feature of this pretty little Greek island town is its beautiful boats and ships. Naousa Paros has everything from small white fishing boats in the main harbor to massive yachts on the far side of the port. We loved walking out on the rocks past the Venetian Fortress and watching the ships sail into town!
→ Enjoy the ultimate day of fun and book a full-day sailing cruise in the Cyclades!
10. Day Trips
If you made the wise decision to stay in Naousa like us, you should still know there are plenty of other things to see on Paros Island. Day trip to one of the many beaches up the coast, or visit the mountain village of Lefkes. However, if you can’t bring yourself to leave Naousa old town we wouldn’t blame you!
Have any questions about our trip, want to recommend some more great Naousa restaurants? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar!
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Where To Stay In Naousa Greece
Luxury – Saint Andrea Resort Hotel – Located just outside the main town of Naousa, Saint Andrea Hotel has a pool and private beach area for you to enjoy. Amazing luxury-style resort with all the amenities you’d expect on a Greek island.
Fun Vacation – Yades Suites – Apartments & Spa – Set right on the hill right above Naousa, the rooms at Yades Suites are equipped with balconies and incredible views of the ocean. If you’re looking to spice up your visit you can even book a room with a Jacuzzi inside!
Budget Travel – Villa Galini – Our home in Naousa Paros! Just a short walk from town and on the hill overlooking the village. This is one of the cheapest options near the port, but still a great quality stay.
For more places to stay on Paros island you can check the latest prices here!
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Greece Travel Planning
Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!
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Flights: We always check Skyscanner and Kayak to search for cheap flights. That’s how we got from Crete to Athens for under $50 USD!
Accommodation: Compare multiple sites to get to the best deal such as Booking.com and Agoda! Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget.
Rental Car: You can book a rental car for around $20 a day in Greece! We use Discover Cars to explore the larger islands with a vehicle.
Tours: Check out Get Your Guide for thousands of activities in Greece. You can find everything from visiting the Acropolis in Athens to wine tasting in Santorini, and a boat tour in Milos.
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without protection. We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.
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Explore Greece
Rhodes: Planning a Trip – Renting a Car – 1 Week Itinerary – 23 Things to Do – Old Town – Elli Beach – Kallithea Springs – Lindos Guide – Lindos Acropolis – Monolithos – Melenos Art Boutique Hotel – 11 Best Beaches – Anthony Quinn Bay
Karpathos: Fun Things to Do – 1 Week Itinerary – Must Try Food – 6 Best Beaches – Olympos – Saria Island Boat Tour – Sky Express Review
Crete: 10 Day Itinerary – 19 Food & Drinks – Matala Hippie Caves – Elafonisi (Pink Sand) – Renting a Car – Bus Tips – 20 Facts – Vai Beach Palm Trees – Best Things to Do
More Dodecanese: Halki Island – Symi Island Guide – Symi Things to Do
Cyclades: Moon Beach Milos – Adamas Milos – Ios – Galissas Syros – Mykonos Old Town – Santorini
Corfu: Old Town Food – Greece to Albania Ferry
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Can you recommend restaurants in Paros?
ah there’s so many amazing places to eat! One of our favorite in Naousa is Ragoussis Bakery if you make it there (-: