Paros has a proper island wide bus network, and it reaches almost every beach and village worth a visit, from the harbour in Parikia all the way out to Naoussa, Lefkes, Aliki and even across to Antiparos. This guide brings the key times together in one place, based on the official summer schedule, along with prices and a few things that catch first time visitors out.
Table of Contents
Who Runs the Buses and Where They Leave From
All buses on the island are run by KTEL Paros, the only public bus operator here. The main terminal is in Parikia, right by the ferry port, and it is the hub for almost every route on the island. Naoussa acts as a second, smaller hub in the north, with several routes branching out from there towards the beaches and villages nearby.
One thing that catches people off guard on Paros is how tickets work. Buying in advance from the terminal, a kiosk or a shop is the cheaper option. If you leave it and pay the driver on board, the price jumps, and on Paros that on board fare is taken by bank card only, so it is worth having your ticket sorted before you get on if you can.
Paros Bus Prices
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard single ticket, bought in advance | from 1.80 euros, rising with distance |
| Ticket bought on the bus | 2.80 to 4.00 euros, card payment only |
| Full day unlimited ticket | 10 euros |
| Student discount | around 25 percent off with valid student ID |
Paros Bus Routes and Summer Timetable, 1 July to 24 August
Below is a short version of the main routes, showing the first and last bus of the day and roughly how often they run. Times apply to the current summer schedule.
| Route | First bus | Last bus | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parikia to Naoussa | 06:30 | 03:00 | Every 20 to 40 minutes in the day, hourly overnight |
| Naoussa to Parikia | 06:00 | 03:30 | Every 20 to 40 minutes in the day, hourly overnight |
| Parikia to Lefkes, Marmara, Marpissa, Piso Livadi, Drios | 07:30 | 22:30 | About 11 buses a day |
| Drios to Parikia, same villages | 07:05 | 20:55 | About 8 buses a day |
| Parikia to Naoussa, Prodromos, Piso Livadi, Drios | 09:00 | 00:30 | About 14 buses a day |
| Drios to Naoussa and Parikia | 07:05 | 23:30 | About 14 buses a day |
| Parikia to Aliki | 07:10 | 00:10 | About 13 buses a day |
| Aliki to Parikia | 07:40 | 00:40 | About 13 buses a day |
| Parikia to Antiparos, Punda crossing point | 07:30 | 00:10 | Roughly every hour |
| Antiparos to Parikia | 07:50 | 00:30 | Roughly every hour |
| Parikia to the airport | 07:10 | 20:00 | 8 buses a day |
| Airport to Parikia | 07:25 | 20:20 | 7 buses a day |
| Naoussa to Santa Maria Beach | 11:00 | 20:00 | 10 buses a day |
| Naoussa to Kolimpithres Beach | 10:30 | 19:30 | 5 buses a day |
| Naoussa to Ampelas | 08:30 | 20:45 | 4 buses a day |
A handful of smaller villages such as Kostos, Prodromos and Marmara also get their own direct connections towards Lefkes, Naoussa or Drios a few times a day, so if you are staying somewhere quieter it is worth checking the full official table for your specific stop.
Getting to Antiparos by Bus and Boat
Antiparos sits just off the coast of Paros and the bus to Punda covers the Paros side of the trip, running roughly every hour throughout the day. From Punda a short passenger ferry crosses over to Antiparos in a few minutes, and this combination is the standard way to visit without a car.
Getting to and from the Airport
Paros Airport lies south of Parikia and the bus is a reasonably good option here, with 8 buses a day heading out and 7 coming back, spaced fairly evenly from early morning to early evening. If your flight lands late at night or leaves very early, a taxi is a safer bet since the bus does not run right through the night on this route.
Naoussa Beach Buses
Naoussa works almost like its own small hub in high summer, with regular buses out to Santa Maria, Kolimpithres and Ampelas beaches. These are handy if you are staying in or around Naoussa and want to beach hop without needing a car, though services are noticeably lighter than the main Parikia to Naoussa road.
Handy Tips for Riding the Bus in Paros
- Buy your ticket in advance from the terminal, a shop or a kiosk whenever you can, since paying the driver costs more and can only be done by card.
- Seats are not numbered, so arrive a few minutes early in peak season if you want your pick of where to sit.
- Keep your ticket for the whole journey in case it is checked on board.
- If you are island hopping to Antiparos, build in a little extra time at Punda for the ferry crossing rather than cutting it fine.
- Double check the return time before heading out to a smaller village like Kostos, Marmara or Ampelas, since some of these routes run only a few times a day.
Final Thoughts
The Paros bus network covers the island well, especially the busy stretch between Parikia and Naoussa and the routes down towards Piso Livadi and Drios, which run often enough that you rarely have to wait long. The main things to plan around are the ticket pricing, since buying ahead saves you money, and the quieter village routes, which need a bit more care with timing. As always with island buses, it is worth checking the current schedule on the official KTEL Paros website or at the terminal before you set off, since times can shift during the season.
