SeaTV · Cyclades Islands · Paros Anchorages
Paros Island — Complete Sailor’s Anchorage Guide
The central Cyclades hub: 3 main marinas, 3 quiet bay anchorages, the Byzantine Church of a Hundred Doors, Antiparos with its cave, and Golden Beach for windsurfing. The natural base for exploring the surrounding Cyclades islands by boat.
Paros sits in the heart of the Cyclades, west of Naxos — the central hub for sailors moving between the western Cyclades (Sifnos, Serifos, Milos) and the eastern Lesser Cyclades (Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonisia). It has 3 marinas with full sailor services, 3 additional bay anchorages for quiet days, the small neighbour island Antiparos for a short crossing, and inland attractions worth the shore time. This page is the parent guide — for full detail on each marina, follow the links into the dedicated pages.
⚠ Reality check across the island:
→ Paroikia bay — surrounded by islands and reefs · plot the chart
→ Naoussa bay — above and below-water rocks around the islets
→ Piso Livadi — shallow water from the southern approach
→ Ferry surges at Paroikia — busy ferry port
→ Alyki: calm weather only
⚓ Paros at a Glance
Position
Central Cyclades · west of Naxos
3 marinas
Paroikia · Naoussa · Piso Livadi
3 quiet anchorages
Agios Ioannis · Plastria · Alyki
Side trip
Antiparos (small island) + cave
Inland
Lefkes mountain village · Marathi marble quarries
Cultural anchor
Panagia Ekatontapyliani (4th-century church)
⛵ The Three Main Marinas of Paros
Paros’s three main mooring options give you full coverage of the island — west, north, and east. Each has its own character, its own approach hazards, and its own role in a sailing itinerary. For complete depths, services, hazards, and pro tips, follow the links into the dedicated pages.
1. Paroikia Marina · 37°5.243’N · 25°9.125’E · Main Ferry Port · NW Coast
Paroikia — Main Port & Ferry Hub
Position: NW coast of Paros · the main port of the island.
Authority: The harbour is under the control of the Port Police.
Backup if marina is full: Anchor in the large bay · good shelter · good holding.
⚠ Hazards: Bay surrounded by islands and reefs · ferry surges · plot Portes & At Fokas lights for night.
→ Full detail: Paroikia Marina, Paros
2. Naoussa Marina · 37°7.466’N · 25°14.084’E · Northern End · Resort Marina
Naoussa — North-End Resort Marina
Position: Northern end of Paros, in a large bay.
Character: Started as a fishing village, now a resort marina with full sailor services.
⚠ Hazards: Above & below-water rocks around islets · NW winds cause backwash on NW & S piers · Korakas lighthouse marks entrance.
→ Full detail: Naoussa Marina, Paros
3. Piso Livadi · 37°2.024’N · 25°15.513’E · East Side · Quiet Village
Piso Livadi — Eastern Fishing Village
Position: East side of Paros · small fishing harbour.
Character: Quieter village alternative · tavernas and shops along the front · Golden Beach (windsurfing) walkable.
⚠ Hazards: Shallow water when approaching from the south.
→ Full detail: Piso Livadi, Paros
⚓ Three Quiet Bay Anchorages
Beyond the three main marinas, Paros offers three additional bay anchorages that work well for day stops, swim breaks, and quiet overnight anchoring in suitable weather. Each fills a different wind niche.
1. Ormos Agios Ioannis Cove · 37°8.715’N · 25°13.705’E · N-Wind Shelter
Agios Ioannis Cove — Best in N Winds
Position: North coast of Paros · close to Naoussa.
Shelter: Good shelter from north winds — including the prevailing Meltemi.
Holding: Good.
Best use: Quiet anchorage when Naoussa is full or the marina backwash is uncomfortable in NW winds.
2. Ormos Plastria · 37°7.572’N · 25°12.975’E · Multi-Direction Shelter
Ormos Plastria — Large Bay, Wide Wind Coverage
Position: Northern Paros · large bay.
Shelter: Good shelter from east, south, and northwest winds.
Holding: Good.
Best use: Most flexible Paros anchorage by wind direction — works in 3 of the 4 main wind directions. Solid backup option.
3. Alyki · 36°59.827’N · 25°7.862’E · Calm Weather Only
Alyki — Calm-Weather South Coast Bay
Position: South coast of Paros.
⚠ Best use: Quiet day-anchor in calm weather only. Move on if the wind builds.
Wind Strategy Across Paros
Strong Meltemi (NE): Agios Ioannis Cove, Paroikia (inner harbour), or Plastria (NW shelter component) are the safe choices. Avoid Naoussa NW & S piers (backwash).
South winds: Plastria works · Naoussa works · avoid Alyki and the south coast.
East winds: Plastria · Paroikia (sheltered behind the headland).
Calm weather: All anchorages workable. Alyki opens up. Piso Livadi quiet harbour.
Top Attractions on Paros
Panagia Ekatontapyliani — Church of a Hundred Doors
Located in Parikia, this 4th-century Byzantine church is one of the most important religious monuments in Greece. The “Hundred Doors” name comes from the architectural complexity inside. A short walk from the harbour — the cultural anchor of the island.
Golden Beach (Chrissi Akti)
Famous for golden sand and clear waters. The best windsurfing and kitesurfing spot in the central Cyclades — the bay catches the Meltemi consistently. Walkable from Piso Livadi.
Antiparos & the Cave
Small island a short ferry crossing from Paros. Highlights: the Cave of Antiparos with its impressive stalactites and stalagmites, and the small main town Chora. A relaxed day-trip alternative to the busier Paros side.
Lefkes Mountain Village
Inland · cobblestone streets, traditional architecture, cooler air at altitude, walking trails. The interior counterpart to the coastal villages. Worth a half-day visit by car.
Marathi Marble Quarries
Inland from Piso Livadi · the historic source of Parian marble, used for some of the most famous Greek sculpture (including the Venus de Milo). The translucent quality of Parian marble made it the prestige material of the ancient Mediterranean.
Naoussa Old Town
The original fishing-village layout still survives — narrow whitewashed alleys behind the harbour front, churches, the remains of a Venetian castle. Walkable in the evening after dinner.
Pro Tips for Sailing Paros
Use Paros as your hub. Paros’s central position makes it the natural base for a 7–8 day Cyclades charter — west to Sifnos/Serifos/Milos, south to Ios/Santorini, east to the Lesser Cyclades, north to Mykonos.
Top up at Paroikia. Paros’s most complete services for fuel, water, electricity, and provisions. Top up here before heading out to smaller islands.
Use Plastria as your wind-flexibility anchor. Of the three quiet anchorages, Ormos Plastria covers the widest range of wind directions (E, S, NW). Solid backup.
Day-trip Antiparos. Quick crossing, the cave, a quiet Chora to explore. Good half-day or full-day side mission from Paros.
Visit Panagia Ekatontapyliani. A short walk from Paroikia harbour. The 4th-century Byzantine architecture is the cultural counterpoint to the white Cycladic everything-else.
Try Golden Beach if you windsurf. The Meltemi makes Chrissi Akti one of the best wind-water spots in the Aegean. Rentals on the beach. Walkable from Piso Livadi.
Rent a car for a day inland. Lefkes village in the mountains, the Marathi marble quarries — the inland Paros most charters miss. Worth a day off the boat.
Suggested Routes from Paros
South to Ios + Santorini: The classic southbound run · ~30 NM to Ios. See Ios Island and Santorini.
SW to Sifnos / Serifos / Milos: Western Cyclades. See Sifnos and Milos.
SE to Lesser Cyclades: Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonisia. See Koufonisia.
North to Mykonos: ~25 NM north for the busy Cyclades north stop.
Full route: See the SeaTV 8-Day Cyclades Route — Paros features in the central section.
✅ Sailor’s Checklist for Paros
▢ Paroikia islands & reefs plotted on chartplotter
▢ Naoussa rocks around islets plotted
▢ Piso Livadi southern shallows plotted
▢ Wind-direction strategy clear (Plastria for E/S/NW · Agios Ioannis for N · Alyki calm only)
▢ Top up planned at Paroikia (most complete services)
▢ Antiparos day-trip considered if time allows
▢ Heavy fenders ready for ferry-port quay
▢ VHF on Ch. 16 throughout
Emergency & Service Numbers — Paros
European Emergency: 112
Coastguard Distress (VHF Ch. 16): Universal
Coastguard Working (VHF Ch. 12): Per region
Paros Port Authority (Paroikia): Port Police on site · VHF Ch. 12 / 16
Olympia Radio (VHF Ch. 03/86): Greek HF/VHF maritime service
Watch the SeaTV Visual Pilot Video
Drone passes over all six anchorage choices around Paros — the three marinas, Agios Ioannis cove, Plastria’s wide bay, and Alyki’s south-coast water. Plus the Panagia Ekatontapyliani church, Golden Beach windsurfing waters, and the small island of Antiparos. Free for members.
Related SeaTV Pages
Paros · The Three Marinas in Detail
→ Paroikia Marina, Paros · main ferry port (NW coast)
→ Naoussa Marina, Paros · north-end resort
→ Piso Livadi, Paros · eastern village
Cyclades Neighbours
→ Ios Island · S
→ Santorini · further S
→ Sifnos Island · SW
→ Koufonisia Island · SE Lesser Cyclades
→ Milos Island · SW
Cyclades Routes & Region
Sailing Paros?
3 marinas · 3 quiet anchorages · Antiparos cave · 4th-century church · the central Cyclades hub.
“Paros is the central Cyclades hub — three working marinas covering NW, N, and E coasts, three quiet bay anchorages with different wind shelters, a 4th-century church in the main town, and the small island of Antiparos a short hop away. The natural base for an 8-day Cyclades charter, with the rest of the islands within a day’s sail in any direction.”
— SeaTV Visual Pilot · Cyclades Edition
