Naoussa

At a glance: North coast of Paros, 10 kilometres from Parikia port, about 15 minutes by road. Known for its fishing harbour, its ruined Venetian castle and its seafood tavernas. Best suited to travellers who want a base with atmosphere in the evening and easy access to some of the island’s best beaches during the day.

Is Naoussa worth visiting

Naoussa is the village most people picture when they think of Paros. It grew up around a small, sheltered harbour that is still used by working fishing boats, and in the evening the same harbour fills with people eating outdoors at the tavernas and bars along the water. It has a more polished feel than Parikia, with boutique shops and a livelier restaurant scene, while still keeping the whitewashed lanes and low houses typical of a Cycladic village. The one thing to know before you go is that Naoussa has no beach of its own within the village. The beaches are a short walk, drive or boat ride away, which suits most visitors fine but is worth planning around.

Highlights

• The harbour itself, particularly early evening, when the fishing boats and the waterfront tavernas are both at their busiest
• The ruins of the Venetian castle at the harbour mouth, built in the late 13th century and rebuilt in the 14th century by the Sommaripa family to defend the village from pirates
• The narrow whitewashed lanes of the old town, a few minutes back from the water, with small churches, boutiques and cafes
• Piperi Beach, a sandy cove only 5 minutes on foot from the harbour, the closest beach to the village centre
• The short boat crossing to Kolymbithres, whose granite rocks have been worn by the sea into shapes unlike anywhere else on Paros

A short history worth knowing

The castle at the harbour mouth was built to protect Naoussa from raiders, and it did not always succeed. In 1537, the fortress fell to the Ottoman corsair Barbarossa, and the village was looted. It is a detail that adds some context the next time you walk past the low stone ruins at the harbour entrance, now mostly submerged and used as a perch for gulls rather than cannon.

Getting to Naoussa

From Parikia port: Naoussa is 10 kilometres away, around a 15 minute drive by taxi, car or the regular island bus.

By bus: Buses run between Parikia and Naoussa throughout the day in high season, with a journey time of around 20 minutes. Check current times on the Paros bus timetable.

By car or taxi: A hire car gives the most flexibility for reaching the beaches around Naoussa. See getting around Paros and Paros taxi for prices and booking details.

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

Where to eat

The harbourfront is lined with tavernas and ouzeries serving the local catch, and this is where most visitors eat at least one meal. Barbarossa, named for the pirate who once raided the village, is one of the longest standing ouzeries on the water and a good example of the classic Naoussa combination of grilled fish, ouzo and a harbour view. Beyond the water, the lanes of the old town hold smaller, quieter tavernas that tend to be less busy at peak times.

Where to stay

Naoussa has a wide range of places to stay, from small family run rooms in the old town to boutique hotels closer to the beaches. Staying in the village itself suits anyone who wants to walk to dinner and the harbour in the evening. For a private villa with a pool nearby, see Paros villas with a private pool.

Beaches near Naoussa

• Kolymbithres Beach, a short drive or boat ride, known for its wind sculpted granite rocks
• Santa Maria Beach, about 10 minutes east, popular for watersports
• Monastiri Beach, reached by a short boat trip from the harbour, with boats departing through the morning

Best time to visit

July and August bring the busiest harbour evenings and the warmest sea. For a quieter version of the same village, June and September offer similar weather with noticeably fewer people at dinner. Outside these months, many of the harbourfront tavernas close for the season, so a visit in spring or autumn is better suited to sightseeing than to the evening atmosphere Naoussa is known for.