Best Time to Visit Paros

Knowing the best time of the year to visit Paros can save you from the hassle and allows you to organize your schedule effectively and in advance. Below, you can find out about the possibilities each season in Paros offers.

Jump to: • High Season • Shoulder Season • Low Season

In brief, most visitors prefer to travel to Paros during summer, due to the good weather and lively ambiance.
Nonetheless, visiting in the shoulder season becomes more and more popular among tourists who want to take advantage of the sun in a quieter environment.

The cosmopolitan Paros is one of the prettiest Cycladic islands to visit in the Aegean Sea. Mostly known as a summer destination, Paros is a great choice if you are looking for an escape to have a relaxing vacation. The majority of guests visit the island during the high season (i.e. summer) to enjoy the sun and sea at their warmest. In addition, all activities available on the island are offered throughout summer, while restaurants, bars, clubs and shops work non-stop.

On the other hand, most establishments also operate during spring and autumn since many holidaymakers prefer not to visit Paros when it is in its most populous form but hanker after sunny weather.
Winter is the least-preferred option since most businesses close up until around March or April, yet there are some things to do if you would rather visit the island at its quietest.

The time of the year when Paros gets the busiest is in the summer and more specifically, the months of July and August. During the high season, Paros is livelier than any other time and this is when the majority of both Greek and foreign visitors arrive. The sea reaches its warmest temperature, the nightlife is as vivid as it can get and the tourist facilities work nonstop. Even though booking everything in advance is necessary, this is hands down the best time of the year to visit the island.

Weather Conditions

Similarly to the other Cycladic islands, the summer in Paros is hot, dry and occasionally windy. The temperature is usually between 25°C and 30°C on average and it may drop to 20°C at night. Almost no rainfalls are expected and there are hardly any cloudy days if any at all. It is best to limit sun exposure during the peak hours (around noon), even though the Aegean Sea's strong summer winds help cool down the ambiance and prevent heat waves, while also creating the optimal conditions for kitesurfing, windsurfing and other watersports.

Things to do in Summer

All kinds of tours, excursions and sailing trips are available during the summer in Paros.
Check out the available activities and book your favorite tours, cruises, or watersport sessions in advance.
Various entertainment events also take place during the summer, as well as local celebrations, including the August 15th feasts for the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and the Pirate Festival on August 23rd in Naoussa. Paros is particularly popular for its rich nightlife, with numerous clubs and cocktail bars with a stylish atmosphere promising an unforgettable nightlife experience until the early morning hours.

Keep in mind that this is the best time to visit other islands of the Aegean as well and consider seizing this opportunity to go island-hopping in order to form a deeper connection with the Cycladic culture. A wide variety of island hopping packages is available, offering the opportunity to meet other beautiful islands and make amazing memories there, including Naxos, Santorini and Mykonos. Make sure to book your favorite holiday package soon enough, since they usually sell out quite fast!

Tips

The best way to make the most of your summer vacation in Paros is to arrange everything months in advance so that you can be totally stress-free. Most tours and hotels in central areas like the towns of Parikia and Naoussa, as well as near the famous bays like Chrissi Akti and Pounda get fully booked during high season, making last-minute bookings practically impossible. In addition to your accommodation, make sure to book your guided tours, island hopping bundles and vehicle rentals ahead of time. Early dining reservations in upscale restaurants and popular taverns are strongly recommended as well.

 

If you are not interested in the lively nightlife of Parosand would rather have a calmer vacation when the island is less crowded, we recommend visiting during the shoulder season, which accounts for spring, early summer and autumn. Within this timeframe, you will have the opportunity to see a less touristy side of the welcoming island. The weather is still very pleasant and the rhythm in villages and beaches slows down, allowing you to explore around more peacefully. The shoulder season is the best time to visit Paros for an alternative kind of vacation.

Weather Conditions

During the shoulder season, the temperature may not be as high as in the summer but the temperatures are still mild.
Early spring and late autumn bring cooler days compared to the rest of the season. The temperature in spring ranges from 15°C in early March to 23°C in late May and 26°C in June. Expect around 25°C in September and early October and 16°C in November as well.
Rainfalls are rare, even during the autumn, and when they do occur, they are usually quite mild, which means that the availability of tours and facilities will not be affected.

Things to Do in Spring & Autumn

Many bars and restaurants are open during this time of the year, with numerous tours and other organized activities being available still. This is the best time to visit museums and other cultural centers or ecclesiastic monuments. The weather conditions are ideal for long hikes in Paros Park and you may also decide to spend a few days island hopping in order to explore other Cycladic destinations near Paros. Various local celebrations take place during the Easter week and you will have the opportunity to join the festival of Agios Georgios in Agkairia during April or the celebrations of Agios Ioannis Theologos in Drios (May 8th). May 1st is a national holiday and a great opportunity to meet the locals and celebrate spring with them.

When visiting during the autumn, you can attend the annual Trata festival which takes place in September and is a celebration dedicated to sailors and fishermen. Music, dancing and delicious fish barbeques take place for everyone to enjoy. October 28th is another national holiday with special events and celebrations.

Tips

Remember to pack carefully if you are choosing to visit during the shoulder season! You will need light clothes and sunglasses for warm days and fluffy jackets for chilly evenings. Although Paros does not attract as many visitors as it does during the high season, it is still recommended to book your tickets, accommodation, tours and other activities a few months in advance. Dining reservations are not necessary unless you are visiting during the Orthodox Easter week, which is quite busy since many Greeks visit the islands for a staycation.

In the past few years, Paros, as well as other Cycladic islands have been attracting an increasing number of visitors who pick the least popular time of the year for their trip to Greece in order to experience a more authentic side of the local life. The low season is considered the timespan between November and March. These are the coldest months of the year (and certainly not the best time for a swim)!

Weather Conditions

The typical Mediterranean winter is relatively mild. The sea temperature reaches 17°C so swimming is not recommended unless you are used to the cold. Sunny days in the middle of the winter are not a rare occurrence in Greece, although rainfalls are common during these months. The temperature ranges between 10°C and 17°C from late November to January respectively. A considerable number of seaside resorts are closed during the low season.

Things to do in Winter

Due to the weather conditions, there are not many things to do in Paros during the winter. Most restaurants and bars are closed for a few months, leaving out traditional taverns and cafes as the only option. On the bright side, there you will be able to interact with the locals and have the best time getting to know the authentic life of Paros. We recommend renting a car to travel around and reach remote villages. This is also the best time to stick to museums, ecclesiastic monuments and other indoor cultural institutions, enjoy a hot cup of Greek coffee and admire a gloomier version of the Cycladic landscape. In addition, a few events and celebrations which take place in wintertime that are worth attending do exist, including the carnival feasts in all the villages of Paros, along with vibrant costume parties in the towns of Naoussa and Parikia. For travelers visiting around New Year's, the Epiphany on January 6th is worth attending in the island’s largest settlements.

Tips

If you are planning to visit during the low season, demand is limited so you will not have to book your accommodation months in advance. You should, however, bear in mind that the majority of hotels, apartments and other similar facilities remain closed for a few months, so your options will be limited. Reservations can be done about a month before your arrival, mainly for confirmation reasons. Restaurant reservations are only recommended for public holidays and around Christmas time when many Greeks hang out in Parikia and Naoussa during their winter break.