Boat rental and yacht charter in Paros

Where do boats in Paros sail from?

Most of the fleet is in Parikia, the main port on the west coast. Others sail from Piso Livadi on the east coast, Aliki in the south and Monastiri Bay near Naousa. All are listed together on this page.

Paros has a domestic airport with flights from Athens, and fast ferries run from Piraeus and Rafina.

Where to sail from Paros

Antiparos is just across the channel, with Despotiko and its turquoise anchorages beyond it. To the east lies Naxos, and south of Naxos the Small Cyclades: Koufonisia, Schinoussa and Iraklia, some of the clearest water in Greece. Mykonos, Ios and Sifnos are all within a day's sail.

Starting in Paros puts you in the middle of the islands from day one. From the mainland, you would first sail from Lavrion or Athens.

The meltemi

Paros is in the path of the meltemi, the strong northerly wind of July and August. Sheltered anchorages on the south and east coasts help, but plan crossings for the morning, or charter with a skipper. May, June and September have lighter winds.

Bareboat, skippered or crewed

For a bareboat charter in Greece, the skipper needs a recognised licence such as the ICC, and a second crew member needs sailing experience. Many Paros boats, including the motor yachts, come with a skipper or crew. Each listing shows its options and the price for your dates. See all yacht charters in Greece.

Boat charter on Paros: four harbours to choose from

Most yachts on Paros leave from Parikia, the island's main port on the west coast, a bay that is closed to the north and only uncomfortable in strong westerlies. Others are based at Piso Livadi on the east coast, which the municipality notes is protected from the strong north winds, at Aliki in the far south near the airport, and in the bay of Naousa in the north, a sheltered anchorage with a maximum draft of about 3 m. Sailing yachts and catamarans are roughly equal in number here, with some motor yachts and day boats.

The best short trips are to the south-west. Antiparos is only about 1.5 km away across a narrow strait, crossed every half hour by the small ferry from Pounda. Beyond it, the uninhabited islet of Despotiko holds an ancient sanctuary of Apollo. To the east, Naxos is about 8 km off.

The wind needs respect. On meltemi days in the Cyclades it often reaches force 7 to 8 from midday to late afternoon, and the National Observatory of Athens notes it blows 25 to 40% harder in the channel between Paros and Naxos than in the open sea, with short, steep waves. Short hops in the morning are the way to handle it.

Our Paros and Naxos sailing week links the central Cyclades into one loop.