Drios

At a glance: South east coast of Paros, around 20 kilometres from Parikia and about 2 kilometres from Golden Beach. A small, quiet fishing settlement rather than a village built around a square. Best suited to travellers who want to be close to Paros’s best windsurfing and kitesurfing beach without staying in the busier resorts along it.

Is Drios worth visiting

Drios does not look like most Cycladic villages, and that is part of its appeal. Rather than a central square surrounded by cafes, it is built along a narrow lane enclosed by two tall stone walls that leads straight down to a small harbour and the sea. It stays quiet even in high season, since most visitors to this stretch of coast head for Golden Beach a couple of kilometres away, leaving Drios itself to those who want a calmer base within easy reach of the windsurfing scene.

Highlights

• The narrow stone walled lane that runs through the settlement to the harbour, unlike the open squares found in most Paros villages
• The small fishing harbour at the end of it, still used by local boats
• Golden Beach, also called Chrissi Akti, about 2 kilometres away and one of the best known windsurfing and kitesurfing beaches in Greece
• Lolantonis Beach, a quieter stretch of sand nearby for anyone who wants the coastline without the wind sport crowds
• Easy access to hiking, cycling and diving along this part of the coast, alongside the windsurfing that put the area on the map

Golden Beach and the windsurfing connection

Golden Beach earns its reputation honestly. Around 700 metres of golden sand and reliably strong summer winds have made it a fixture on the professional windsurfing calendar, hosting rounds of the Windsurfing World Cup and drawing wind and kite surfers from across Europe through the summer months. Staying in Drios rather than directly on the beach means quieter evenings while keeping the sport, and the beach itself, within a short walk or drive.

Where Drios is

Getting to Drios

From Parikia port: Drios is around 20 kilometres away, roughly 30 to 35 minutes by taxi or car.

By bus: The island bus network connects Parikia to this side of the island via Piso Livadi. Check current routes and times on the Paros bus timetable.

By car or taxi: A hire car is the easiest way to combine Drios with Golden Beach and the other villages on this coast. See getting around Paros and Paros taxi for prices and booking details.

Arriving on Paros: For ferry routes and journey times to the island, start with how to get to Paros.

Where to eat

Drios itself has only a small number of tavernas, in keeping with its quiet, low key character. More choice is available a short drive away in Piso Livadi and along Golden Beach, where beach bars and restaurants cater to the windsurfing crowd through the day and into the evening.

Where to stay

Accommodation in Drios tends to be small, family run studios and apartments rather than large hotels, suited to travellers who want quiet nights within easy reach of the beach. For a private villa with a pool elsewhere on Paros, see Paros villas with a private pool.

Beaches near Drios

Golden Beach is about 2 kilometres away and the main draw of this coast, known for its sand and its windsurfing conditions. Lolantonis Beach is also nearby for a quieter swim without the wind sport crowds, though it does not yet have its own detailed guide on this site.

Best time to visit

July and August bring the strongest, most reliable winds for windsurfing and kitesurfing, along with the busiest beach bars. For a quieter visit with a gentler breeze, June and September still offer warm sea temperatures with fewer people on the sand.