Neighbourhood · Greece

Paros and Naxos

Paros lies at the centre of the Cyclades, says GNTO, and Naxos is the largest and most fertile island in the group. Both have the white-and-blue Cycladic look, long sandy beaches, and less hype than Mykonos and Santorini.

Best for travellers who want the Cycladic look with less hype · couples · families on a multi-island trip

Wrong for anyone whose trip is the beach-club scene.

From Where to Stay in Greece 2026: An Island-by-Island Base Guide.

Where to stay in Paros and Naxos

All of Greece

  • Citorah PickHotel · Paros and Naxos

    Hotel Grotta

    Citorah says A family-run two-star on the hillside above Naxos Town (Chora), with views over the sea and the town.

  • Citorah PickHotel · Paros and Naxos

    Parīlio, a Member of Design Hotels

    Citorah says A five-star of 46 suites and villas at Kolympithres, near Naoussa, built around a cross-shaped pool.

  • Citorah PickHotel · Paros and Naxos

    Naxian Collection

    Citorah says Suites and villas in the coastal area of Stelida, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

  • Citorah PickHotel · Paros and Naxos

    Kavos Naxos

    Citorah says Villas and suites in gardens above Agios Prokopios beach.

Things to do in Paros and Naxos

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  • Citorah PickBeach · Paros and Naxos

    Plaka

    Citorah says Plaka runs on from Agia Anna beach: “an endless stretch of golden sand”, in the municipality’s words.

  • Citorah PickSight · Paros and Naxos

    Portara

    Citorah says The Portara is a huge marble gate, the only part left of an unfinished temple of Apollo from 530 BC. It stands on the islet of Palatia at the harbour entrance, joined to the town by a paved path, and the island’s municipality calls the sunset there one of the most enchanting in Greece.

  • Citorah PickBeach · Paros and Naxos

    Agios Prokopios

    Citorah says Agios Prokopios, 4 km from the port, is the island’s most acclaimed beach, the municipality says.

  • Citorah PickSight · Paros and Naxos

    Kastro

    Citorah says In Naxos Town (Chora), walk up through the Kastro, the old town inside the walls of the Venetian castle, then out to the Portara for sunset.

  • Citorah PickDay trip · Paros and Naxos

    Apeiranthos

    Citorah says Around Zas, the highest mountain in the Cyclades, GNTO lists villages such as Apeiranthos, with its marble-paved alleys, Halki and Filoti.

  • Citorah PickDay trip · Paros and Naxos

    Halki

    Citorah says Around Zas, the highest mountain in the Cyclades, GNTO lists villages such as Apeiranthos, with its marble-paved alleys, Halki and Filoti.

  • Citorah PickDay trip · Paros and Naxos

    Filoti

    Citorah says Around Zas, the highest mountain in the Cyclades, GNTO lists villages such as Apeiranthos, with its marble-paved alleys, Halki and Filoti.

  • Citorah PickDay trip · Paros and Naxos

    Naoussa

    Citorah says GNTO’s food tour of the island starts at Naoussa’s old harbour, with fresh bogue, chub mackerel and picarel served by the water

  • Citorah PickDay trip · Paros and Naxos

    Alyki

    Citorah says Alyki, a fishing village on the other side of the island, for octopus sun-dried on ropes through the morning and served warm.

Other neighbourhoods

All neighbourhoods

  • Neighbourhood · 24 places

    Athens

    Spend a night or two in Athens at the start or end of the trip, or skip it and fly straight to an island. It’s worth a night even if the trip is about the islands: the Acropolis at golden hour justifies the detour.

    Best for first-timers · culture-first trips · anyone flying in and out of Athens

  • Neighbourhood · 22 places

    Mykonos

    Mykonos is the party island, built around its beach clubs: Scorpios on Paraga beach, Nammos on Psarou, Principote at Panormos and Branco on Platys Gialos.

    Best for groups whose trip is the scene: beach clubs, long lunches, late nights.

  • Neighbourhood · 30 places

    Santorini

    Santorini is two or three nights of caldera views, not a week of beach holiday. Its villages sit on the rim of the caldera, and its beaches are volcanic, with black and red sand.

    Best for couples · photographers · a two- or three-night stop on a longer trip

  • Neighbourhood · 6 places

    Crete

    Crete is the largest Greek island, and the one most travellers should consider for a real island holiday.

    Best for week-long trips · families · anyone who wants one base and a hire car

  • Neighbourhood · 7 places

    Rhodes and Corfu

    Rhodes (in the Dodecanese) and Corfu (in the Ionian) feel very different from the Cyclades. Rhodes has its Medieval Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the village of Lindos with its acropolis.

    Best for families · anyone who wants an old town and a resort on the same island

  • Neighbourhood · 3 places

    Hydra, Spetses and Aegina

    The Saronic islands make an easy weekend from Athens, and a good extra-night option if you’d otherwise lose a day flying to a more distant island.

    Best for an extra night or two from Athens · anyone who’d rather not lose a day flying

Plan the trip

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