Paros on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes: Paros is one of the easier Cyclades on a budget if you stay in Parikia and use buses. A realistic minimum is about €71 per person a day: €35 for a bed, €20 for food, €10 for sights and €6 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €35 | €80 | €200 |
| Food & drink | €20 | €40 | €80 |
| Sights & tickets | €10 | €25 | €60 |
| Local transport | €6 | €20 | €40 |
| Per person, per day | €71 | €165 | €380 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Paros day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The Panagia Ekatontapyliani, the 'Church of a Hundred Doors' in Parikia (the church is free; the museum charges).
- The ancient marble quarries at Marathi, where you can walk into the tunnels.
- Naoussa's little harbour with fishing boats and the Venetian fort ruin.
- The village of Lefkes and the Byzantine path down to Prodromos.
- The granite rock formations and coves of Kolymbithres beach.
- The Frankish Kastro in Parikia, built with ancient marble blocks.
Cheap eats
- Gyros pita: €3.50–4.50.
- Bakery cheese pie or spanakopita: €2.50–3.50.
- Greek salad and house wine at a Parikia taverna: about €12–15.
- Souvlaki plate: about €10–13.
- Loukoumades (honey doughnuts): about €5–7.
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Parikia, the port, with rooms from about €60–100 a double in summer and campsites at Krios and near Naoussa for much less.
Getting around cheaply
KTEL Paros buses connect Parikia, Naoussa, Lefkes, the east coast and Pounta for Antiparos for a few euros. Distances are short (Parikia to Naoussa is 11 km). Ferries from Piraeus take about 3–5 hours, with conventional boats cheaper than fast ones.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Ekatontapyliani and the Parikia Kastro (free), with a bakery breakfast (about €5).
- Late morning: bus to Lefkes and walk the Byzantine path (about €3).
- Lunch: souvlaki or gyros (about €5–10).
- Afternoon: bus to Naoussa and swim at Kolymbithres (about €3).
- Evening: Greek salad and house wine in Parikia (about €12). Total: about €71 including a €35 bed share.
More ways to save
- Camp at Krios or Naoussa campsites for the lowest-cost nights.
- Buy picnic food at Parikia supermarkets for beach days.
- Use free public beaches without sunbeds.
- Visit Antiparos by the cheap Pounta ferry and walk its town.
- Come in early June or late September for warm sea and lower prices.
- Choose ferry tickets on conventional ships, which cost less than high-speed boats.
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Common questions
Can you visit Paros on a budget?
Yes: stay in Parikia or at a campsite, take KTEL buses, eat gyros and taverna dishes and swim at free beaches for about €71 a day.
How do I get to Antiparos cheaply?
Take the short car ferry from Pounta, a few euros per person, or the passenger boat from Parikia in summer.
What is free to see in Paros?
The Ekatontapyliani church, Marathi marble quarries, Naoussa harbour, Lefkes village, the Byzantine path and Kolymbithres beach.