Yacht Charter Paros

Paros Island is a Cyclades Island on the Aegean Sea famous for its sandy beaches and holiday resorts. Party till dawn in the main towns of Parikia and Nauoussa or hide from the hubbub in one of the many quiet villages outside such as Lefkes and Marpissa.

More
100+ Boats Available
Recommended

Yacht Charter Paros

Paros Island is a Cyclades Island on the Aegean Sea famous for its sandy beaches and holiday resorts. Party till dawn in the main towns of Parikia and Nauoussa or hide from the hubbub in one of the many quiet villages outside such as Lefkes and Marpissa.

The Cycladic Island is one of the most popular Greek island destinations on the Aegean thanks to its beaches and lively atmosphere. Easily accessed from Athens thanks to its proximity to the mainland, Paros buzzes all holiday season.

Did we say beaches? Santa Maria, Golden Beach Paros, and Punta are some of the best sandy beach destinations in Greece and have lots of great facilities as well as crystal clear waters. That said you don't need to go where everyone else goes - there are some hidden sandy beaches sometimes only accessible from the sea which a Paros yacht charter can make possible.

For those who want to breathe a bit, explore Parikia Bay and take in the views of the ancient ruins and beautiful scenery.

Explore Paros By Renting A Yacht

A Paros yacht charter will be mostly about sailing in the Cyclades Islands off the Athenian Peninsula. Whether the smaller neighbouring island of Antiparos or the larger islands such as Naxos, Sifnos, Serifos or Mykonos, you can enjoy island hopping to get just the Greek sailing holiday you seek on your charter yacht.

What do you want from a sailing holiday? Whether on a luxury yacht or a budget monohull sailing yacht or motorboat, you will find what you want on the Cyclades.

If you want ancient Greek history, many of the islands have ruins from different times. Overlooking Paros capital, Parikia, the Apollo Temple is a sight that will immediately connect you to the past with its empty landscape and jaw-dropping views. Akrotiri on the Cyclades island of Santorini is one of those places you should never miss if you are interested in Greek history and worthy of a day trip in its own right.

If you're interested in nightlife you won't do badly on Paros itself with its youth-focused bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Mykonos also has a reputation of 24 hours partying. Ios is one of those places everyone aged 18-30 should hit before they run out of energy!

For those seeking a sleepy village or two and a taste of the 'real Greece,' you won't be disappointed - head to a smaller island like Amorgos, or Antiparos a step aside from the main tourist trail.

Whether on a skippered yacht charter or bareboat charter, ultimately the choice is yours.

How To Get To Paros

Four airports serve Paros. There is a small airport on the island that takes flights from other airports in Greece but for the most part, you will take a ferry to the island.

Paros National Airport

This takes flights from Athens and other locations. 10km from Parikia this is the new main airport on the island. From there you can take a bus or taxi to the marina.

Athens Airport

This is Greece's main international airport with 80 airlines flying there from around the world. You can take a connecting flight to Paros or take a ferry (see below) to Parikia Port.

Mykonos Airport

The closest Cyclades Island international airport to Paros, this has a number of airlines from around Europe flying in during the summer months. You can take a ferry to Parikia from Mykonos

Santorini Airport

This is another Cycladic international airport and you can take a ferry or a short flight to Paros.

Ferries

Piraeus (Athens) to Parikia, Paros: The SeaJet fast ferry takes around 2.5 hours and costs around €60 per head. The slower car ferries cost around €40 per head and take 4 hours or so.

Mykonos to Paros: These ferries take around an hour and cost around €40 per head.

Santorini to Paros: Taking around 1h45 minutes you can pay up to €100 a ticket though on some sailings this can be considerably less.

Marinas In Paros

While there are some fishing ports on Paros where you can come alongside (stern-to as with the Mediterranean way) there is only one actual marina - Naoussa - on the north of the island.

Naoussa Marina:

There are charter yachts available including motor yacht, catamaran, monohull sailing boat and RIBs.

Berth Characteristics:

70 berths

Max Length 25m (82 Feet)

Max Draught 3.8m (12.5 Feet)

List of additional services: Water, bar, restaurant, ATM, Market, Repair yard

Suggested Sailing Routes From Paros

Whether on a bareboat or skippered sailing holiday, largely there are three ways to enjoy the Cyclades Islands - a partying holiday where you go to sea to rehydrate and chill out a sightseeing and relaxing holiday, or a mixture of both to different degrees. Both younger and older will appreciate what the islands have on offer.

7 days - Paros, Sifnos, Serifos, Syros, Mykonos, Naxos: All of these islands have seen history pass through them since ancient times, and the Cycladic culture has taken elements of all the ages through time. Yes, there are Athenian and Roman relics, but there are Ottoman flavours to the food and the architecture itself is peculiar to the islands.

14 days - Paros, Sifnos, Santorini and Naxos: Though Santorini is famed for its volcano and laid back atmosphere, this will be one-stop of 10, island hopping southeast and then back northwest. For those who love ruins, Akrotiri on Santorini will be a huge draw, as are the ruins on Naxos - though you won't have to look very hard to find something of interest on every island.

Best Times To Hire A Yacht In Paros

The sailing season runs from mid-May to mid-October with July and August being the busiest months for yacht charter.

The sea is cooler - often quite chilly - at the beginning of the sailing season but there is rainfall in Spring. As the days lengthen you will still see green fields and flowers in May and the winds can be quite benign too. Combined with the crowds being smaller, this suggests that May to early June are the sweet spot for a Paros yacht charter.

Come September and October the seas are still like a warm bath.

Sailing Weather In Paros

April to mid-June: There is rainfall and the temperatures build steadily from the mid-teens to the mid 20 degrees C range. There are sometimes gentle southerly winds, though these are replaced by ever stronger N-NW Meltemi winds that make for exciting sailing at times.

Late June-August: You'll be unlucky if you see any rain, though it could be welcome in the summer heat.

September-October: The seas remain warm and the Meltemi eases. These months can be some of the best time of year to sail as the temperatures are often in the comfortable low to mid-20s. In mid-October, the tourist season ends.

Frequently asked questions
What should I consider when hiring a Yacht or Boat?

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it's not going to have a skipper, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.

What are the Marinas in Paros?

While there are several fishing harbours on the island where it is possible to come alongside, only the 70 berth Naoussa Marina is a 'proper marina'. It is pretty basic but comfortable and sheltered.

When are the best times to hire a boat in Paros?

July and August are the most popular times of year to rent a boat on a Paros yacht charter. They aren't always the best months though, consider also trying late May to June when the fields are still green, the Meltemi isn't at its height and the crowds not so big.

Do you have to pay a deposit when hiring a Yacht in Paros ?

You will typically pay 50% up front on booking the yacht hire and the balance on arrival. You will either pay a security deposit with your credit card on departure or can get insurance covering damage in advance. In some cases (such as the recent Covid situation) charter companies may be more flexible but this depends on the individual charter companies themselves.

What happens if my Yacht breaks down?

If you are at sea and in danger, call MAYDAY on VHF Ch16 or ring the coast guard on your phone if you have reception. If you have a mechanical fault and can make it to or are on a mooring you will be able to phone a help line number given by the boat charter company.

What should I think of before I hire a Yacht or Boat in Paros?

You should consider do you have the experience to handle the yacht charter or boat hire before you book and where do you want to go along with what the weather will be like. Bring warm weather and cool weather clothing if it looks like the weather can be cool as well as warm and remember at sea it can be cool on most evenings.

What Qualifications Do I need to hire a boat or yacht?

If you want to sail without a skipper then you will need relevant qualifications like RYA Day Skipper/International Certificate of Competence (ICC)/ASA 104 Bareboat certificate or the US Sailing Certificate. For small 'day boats' or if you choose to have a skippered on board your yacht charter you typically don't require licences.