Preparing for a trip to Paros

Hi there, My partner and I are planning to visit Paros from June 4th to 11th, 2025. I’ve been reading a lot of conflicting things, so I’m a bit confused. Does Paros feel more like St. Tropez or Porto-Vecchio—overcrowded, too built-up, and has it lost its authentic charm? Are umbrella and sunbed prices on the beach still reasonable? Thanks so much for your input—we’re thinking of heading there in early June with my partner.

Does Paros look more like St Tropez or Porto-Vecchio with overcrowding, too much concrete, and has it lost its authentic charm?

It’s the same, if not worse. This island lost its soul a long time ago. Mykonos, Paros, Santorini—the unholy trio.

Hi there,

Well, yes, Paris looks like Saint-Tropez or Porto-Vecchio. I was disappointed. I went there in June three years ago and was disappointed. Private beaches galore and way overpriced!! Sure, it’s pretty, but I prefer other islands. For example, Anti-Paros is cute.

I’d recommend other options: Paros I like Naxos (even though it’s crowded and has changed a lot). But Syros is a great option or maybe envy Sifnos.

Hi there,

I’d say it really depends on what you're looking for. Overcrowding: no doubt about it.

The towns are built up, yes—but they’re also stunning. Sunbeds are expensive, but you can easily just lay your towel down on the beach for free!

I’d say this island is worth a visit, but you might want to go before and/or after to some more natural and less crowded islands?

Don’t forget that Paros is also a party destination. Instead of being compared to Saint-Tropez, Greeks compare it to Mykonos—just cheaper. So, there are a few towns that stay lively from dusk till dawn, with buses arriving at night in places like Naoussa to drop off dozens of young people. On the flip side, I found the daytime in Naoussa, for example, really pleasant. People sleep in and don’t hang around the busy towns.

Also, I’m not sure if this will still be the case this year since tourism in Greece keeps growing, but Milos is another very popular island—so it’s not perfect, but it’s still quite natural. With a tourist crowd made up almost entirely of couples, it offers a peaceful and serene vibe. It’s pricey but relaxing. I ended both of my trips to Greece on this island and always loved it.

Unfortunately, less developed islands mean fewer visitors. And fewer visitors mean lower prices. But as time goes on, more tourists arrive, prices go up, and development follows, etc., etc.

I didn’t hate any island except Ios (the party island—I was there for that, but it was almost only American tourists, so I barely left my hotel and the little port).

In short, I’d say Greece is changing at an incredible speed, and unfortunately, I don’t think any island will escape this phenomenon… :/

Hi there, First, let’s clarify that the Cyclades in summer are like the French Riviera—crowded! But off-season, it can be amazing. We went there at the end of October, and while Santorini was still busy, Paros was empty. We really enjoyed it! The island is quite large with varied landscapes: long beaches in the north, small coves in the southeast, mountains in the center, and a few interesting villages (Lefkès, Marpissa, etc.). I rented a car for 3 days for a ridiculous price. The only place we didn’t like was Naoussa—the town was completely dead because it only lives for tourism and seaside bars.

Hello, I agree with you, it’s like everywhere. But during the travel dates of the forum creator, it’ll already be peak high season. That’s why I made those remarks based on my experience—two years in a row in Paros, for example.