The waters around Paros are such a startling, unbelievable blue, that a Paros boat tour is a must when visiting this magical Greek island. But there are so many competing operators, that it can be hard to know which destination and type of tour is best for your interests and your wallet. Read on to find the best Paros boat tour for you – the right itinerary, right price, and right length of time.
Our Top 3 Picks: Best Paros Boat Tours
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Paros Semi-Private Full-Day Cruise with a Sailing Yacht
Small Group Full-Day Cruise Around Antiparos and Despotiko With Lunch
- Fully renovated ‘kaiki’ wooden boat for 12 people
- Mezze, coffee, biscuits, snacks, wine + beer
- Swim in the Blue Lagoon, sea caves, around Antiparos, and on Despotika Island
One-Day Cruise to Santorini from Paros Island
- Round trip transfers from hotel to port, boat fares, + Santorini transfers and bus tours
- English-speaking guide, spend time in Oia and Fira
- 24-hours free cancellation, 11 hrs tour
Should You Take a Paros Boat Tour or a Ferry?
Paros is the central ferry port of the Cycladic Islands and there are multiple ferries from nearby islands and Athens daily.
So why not hop on a ferry and take a day tour to a nearby island? Sometimes this is a great idea, and I do it a lot. A ferry is ideal when you just want a mode of transportation from one place to another.
But here are the top reasons why a boat tour around Paros and to some of the nearby islands is a better option:
⛴️ A ferry won’t show you around the coastline of Paros Island and its nearby tiny islands of Antiparos and Despotika.
⛴️ You can’t stop the ferry and swim, snorkel, and explore!
⛴️ Ferry times are occasionally convenient, but often just don’t work for day trips and some require an overnight stay. It’s just not possible for some destinations to get to and from Paros in a day by ferry.
⛴️ You can be almost blown off the deck of a ferry and you spend most of your time sitting inside. No lazing on the deck and sunbaking!
Types of Boats and Itineraries
Need to Know: Even though there are dozens of boat tours around and from Paros, the smallness of the island and the large number of ferries that dock here add up to boat tours being a bit more expensive here than on many other Cyclades like Santorini or Mykonos by about 20-25%.
⛵ Boat tours from and around Paros can be open (public), semi-private, or private with the price increasing as the number of tour guests decreases.
⛵ Catamarans, yachts, schooners, rib boats, and speedboats are all on offer.
⛵ The most popular tours circle Paros and take in the nearby small islands of Antiparos and Despotika, or else head to Santorini or Delos for the day.
⛵ There are many other islands that are options for fantastic boat tours from Paros including Mykonos, Koufonisias, Amorgos, and Sifnos as well as tours of the Small Cyclades islands.
With so many options, we’ve broken down the best quality experience in each main category of boat tour to help you easily choose between the best of what’s on offer.
Things to Know Before Booking a Paros Boat Tour
🌊 Wind and Distance
The boat tours that go to islands other than Antiparos and Despotika have many hours at sea and often in very windy conditions. Itineraries change because of the wind.
My advice is to book the same tour for several days in a row then cancel MORE than 24 hours before the tour is scheduled to begin if it’s windy. It’s not much fun spending 9 hours in the wind.
I always pack a windbreaker to make sure I don’t freeze on the way back to port on windy afternoons and evenings.
🤿 Snorkeling and Swimming
Some boat trips stop about 100 meters from the beach, so check the itinerary, look at the photos of the tour, and make sure there are noodles provided if you’ll be floating around in caves and the Blue Pool.
Snorkeling equipment often means a mask only, so again, check what the equipment will be and be prepared to pack your own snorkel.
Top 6 Paros Boat Tours
⛵ 1. BEST FULL-DAY BOAT TOUR – Paros Semi-Private Full-Day Cruise with a Sailing Yacht
By booking this Paros Semi-Private Full-Day Cruise with a Sailing Yacht, you’ll have the opportunity to be part of a semi-private tour (of no more than 10 people) and sail to the lesser Cyclades islands of Iraklia (Amalia Bay), explore an underwater wrecked plane, secluded beaches, and gorgeous coves.
⭐ 4.5 /5, 32 Reviews ⏳ 9 hrs Tour
On the way home, enjoy the sun setting over the Aegean Sea.
The tour leaves and returns from Piso Livadi port (pick up from your hotel is not included). Much of the day is spent sunbathing, socializing, and eating and drinking on board.
Bring a snorkel (only masks are provided) to see the wrecked seaplane 7 meters below the water at Amalia Bay.
You’ll also get to see Rina’s Cave, a secluded cove, and swim off Koufonissia or Schoinousa islands.
There’s a light lunch and snacks that are described by every traveler as ‘delicious,’ and the drinks flow freely throughout the day.
After lunch, it’s onwards to the southern shores of Naxos and more swimming before returning to Piso Livadi at about 6. 30 pm.
Great experience! I went solo and had a blast. They had local wine to share with some snacks. Lunch was great also! Snorkeling was fun and we went back into a cave which was cool too. The water is just so pristine and clear! We even had dolphins swimming along the boat with us. It was an all-day tour but it went by so fast! Loved every minute of it!
Jenny_S (Read more reviews)
There’s free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour, the reviews are fantastic, and you can see from the full itinerary that the Paros Semi-Private Full-Day Cruise with a Sailing Yacht covers a lot of ocean in one day!
⛵ 2. BEST BOAT TOUR AROUND PAROS AND NEARBY ISLANDS – Small Group Full Day Cruise Around Antiparos and Despotiko With Lunch
The Small Group Full Day Cruise Around Antiparos and Despotiko with Lunch is perfect if you’d like to explore all around Paros island and its nearby islands of Antiparos and Despotika.
Staying closer to shore and being on a motor yacht means you’re not at the whim of the Meltemi winds and you swim in some of the world’s bluest waters.
⭐ 5 /5, 11 Reviews ⏳ 7 hrs Tour
On the way home, enjoy the sun setting over the Aegean Sea.
It’s also the right boat tour for you if you’d like a smaller vessel that only takes a maximum of 12 passengers and if you’d love a high-quality Greek mezze meal, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, coffee, and biscuits.
This lovely ‘kaiki’ was fully renovated in 2021 and it will take you to unbelievably turquoise waters at Panteronissi, sea caves, coves, and the shores of Despotika island.
Although the tour above is the most popular and most-often booked boat tour from Paros, this is my favorite boat tour because it’s not a wide-open water day.
It’s no wonder this boat tour has only perfect 5 out of 5 review scores!
It sails around beautiful Paros – I love swimming in the Blue Lagoon and stepping on the shores of the uninhabited island of Despotika – all on a boat that only takes a dozen people.
Every last bit of this day was amazing. We’ve been on a number of boat tours in Greece and other countries and this one stands out. Beautiful boat, plenty of room for all the passengers, excellent crew, fantastic food, and all the stops throughout the day were breathtaking. Highly recommend!
Shannon_R (Read more reviews)
There’s free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour, the reviews are fantastic, and you can see from the full itinerary that the Paros Semi-Private Full-Day Cruise with a Sailing Yacht covers a lot of ocean in one day!
⛵ 3. BEST BOAT TOUR TO SANTORINI – One-Day Cruise to Santorini from Paros Island
By booking this One-Day Cruise to Santorini from Paros Island you have the opportunity to see the two most important and picturesque towns on Greece’s most beautiful and popular island in a one-day round trip from Paros.
⭐ 4.5 /5, 3 Reviews ⏳ 11 hrs Tour
This boat tour is really a series of well-organized interconnecting transport system that allows you to leave from your hotel and be deposited there 11 hours later having seen Santorini’s major attractions.
This boat tour is really a series of well-organized interconnecting transport system that allows you to leave from your hotel and be deposited there 11 hours later having seen Santorini’s major attractions.
If you’ve never been to Santorini before, take this precious opportunity to tour the ancient ruins at the Akrotiri archeological site, sip wine at a winery on the cliffs of Santorini and visit the major towns, including beautiful Oia.
A day exploring Santorini will give you a good idea if you want to return for a longer time on Greece’s most beautiful island paradise.
Long day but well worth it….. the Transport was well organised and our guide was lovely and full of information…. would definitely recommend we even got the sunset on the ferry on the way back
Susan_M (Read more reviews)
Not many boat tours involve day trips to Santorini because of the distance and the need to organize a series of seamless boat and bus transfers on two islands. This boat tour manages to do all this and more and gives you an incredible day in Santorini.
⛵ 4. BEST VALUE BOAT TOUR WITH MOST SWIMMING SPOTS – Koufonisia by traditional Kaiki from Paros
If you’d love a full-day sailing tour with lots of swimming spots at half the price of the most popular tour, then book the Koufonisia by traditional Kaiki from Paros.
⭐ 4.5 /5, 42 Reviews ⏳ 9.5 hrs Tour
There are lots of fantastic stops on this sailing tour. The first port of call is Naxos Island, at a tiny church on top of a headland built by local fishermen at Agios Sostis.
Then it’s on to the island of Koufonisia and the caves of Glaronisi, an island that is part of the “Small Cyclades” and the coastline of the island where there are stops for swimming and snorkeling.
It’s then time to stop for a freshly cooked BBQ lunch on board (with tea, coffee, sodas, and alcoholic beverages) at the beautiful and secluded Kato Koufonisi. The green waters are calm – sheltered by limestone cliffs and rock formations.
After lunch, the boat turns towards Paros with another stop on Naxos Island where you’ll visit sea caves, beaches, and a chapel on the rocks by the sea.
A brilliant day out, the crew were so friendly and helpful. A really laid back day out with plenty of stops for swimming and some cliff jumping. The kids loved it.
Stuart_E (Read more reviews)
There’s free cancellation within 24 hours, snorkeling equipment is provided and this is a great value boat tour!
⛵ 5. BEST DELOS AND MYKONOS BOAT TOUR – From Paros: Delos and Mykonos Full-Day Boat Trip
By booking this From Paros: Delos and Mykonos Full-Day Boat Trip you are opting to skip the hassle of buying a Paros to Mykonos return ferry trip (about 59 Euros), a return Sea bus journey from Mykonos New Port to the Old Port (4 Euros), a Mykonos to Delos return trip ( ) and make all the timings work!
Plus, you are getting return transfers to your hotel for a perfect and hassle-free day – this is a good value boat tour package!
⭐ 4.2/5, 170 Reviews ⏳ 10 hr Tour
This day trip gives you about three hours on Delos and then three hours on Mykonos. It uses commercial ferries between the islands.
In Delos, your three hours go quickly, and many people hire private guides when they arrive at the ticket office.
See the terrace of the Lions, the Temple of Isis, the amphitheater, the many spectacular Roman ruins, and the Museum (when it reopens).
In Mykonos, you have what I believe is the perfect amount of time. Start at the Old Harbor and Mykonos town.
See the Church of Panagia Paraportiani and wander the truly beautiful old town, built in a maze of twisty, tiny alleyways to confuse pirates.
Great value for money. Delos was awesome and they gave you the perfect amount of time for people who enjoy exploring ancient history.
Ali (US) (Read more reviews)
Walk a few minutes to the wonderful iconic windmills of Mykonos Town before heading down the small hill to Little Venice, where you can drink cocktails overlooking the harbor and the windmills. A perfect half-day in Mykonos!
⛵ 6. BEST SUNSET PRIVATE BOAT TOUR – Private Sunset Cruise to Panteronnisia, Antiparos and Despotiko
If you’re looking for a private sunset cruise around Paros with no more than 12 people on the tour, then the Private Sunset Cruise to Panteronnisia, Antiparos and Despotiko is perfect for you.
⏳ Tour Length: 3 hours
The Glaros traditional Kaiki boat sets off from Aliki and catches the sunset as it sails around Paros and Anitiparos to the Blue Lagoon and over to Despotika Island.
Explore the Cyclades in the early evening with stops to swim in the turquoise crystal clear waters of Panteronisia, go diving in the “pirate’s cave” of Paros, and swim at lovely Agios Myronas.
There’s no dinner on board, instead, there are some fabulous snacks that include traditional appetizers, pasta with seafood, spinach pie, a variety of salads, as well as wine, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks.
Went on a wonderful cruise to Panteronisia, my first time to Paros, I was so excited. The scenery was out of this world!
John Yord
For the swimming and snorkeling stops you are provided with a seabed mask, a snorkel, and an underwater camera which makes this boat tour a little unusual!
Frequently Asked Questions about Paros Boat Tours
Can you do a day trip to Santorini from Paros?
It’s possible to do a day trip to Santorini from Paros Island on a variety of private and semi-private boat tours during the summer months. Ferries from Paros to Santorini arrive and depart on the same day with only a 3.5-hour turnaround.
It takes time to get from Athinios Port in Santorini to Fira and Oia, so it’s not feasible to have more than an hour in Santorini on a day trip from Paros by ferry.
Can I do a day trip to Naxos from Paros?
A day trip to Naxos from Paros is very simple as the travel time is about 30 minutes and there are multiple ferries each day on both directions.
There are also many semi-private and private boat tours to Naxos from Paros and it’s also possible to rent your own boat and cross the channel between the two islands.
What islands can you day trip from Paros?
In summer it’s possible to day trip from Paros to Santorini, Mykonos, Delos, Naxos, Koufonisia, Amorgos, Sifnos, Andros, Folegandros, Ios, and Tinos to mention just a few possibilities!
Only Santorini requires a boat tour, all of the other islands have return ferry connections each day to Paros that make a day trip possible.
How long is the boat ride from Paros to Naxos?
5 days is enough time on Paros Island. This allows a full day to explore Naoussa and Parikia, as well as a day visiting an inland village such as Lefkes, a day visiting one or more of Paros Island’s beautiful beaches, and a final day to take a boat tour or hop over to Antiparos Island.
How long is the boat from Paros to Santorini?
The time taken for boat trips from Paros to Santorini depends on the kind of boat you take. The fastest ferries can travel the distance between the islands in 1 hour and 35 minutes.
A full-day private or semi-private boat trip from Paros to Santorini return is about 11 or 11.5 hours and will include stops in Oia and Fira to see the island’s main towns, boutique shops, museum, and blue-domed churches.
How many days is enough in Paros?
3 days is enough time to explore the main towns of Paros Island, but 4-5 days is optimal. The two main towns on Paros, Parikia, and Noussa, are each worth a day’s exploration, and lovely Lefkes in the mountains is also worth a half-day trip.
If you only have 3 days to explore Paros, this still leaves you a half-day to lie on one of its stunning beaches or to join one of the Paros boat tours around Paros, Antiparos, and Despotiko.
Is it worth visiting Paros and Naxos?
Paros and Naxos are two of the most charming Greek islands and are most definitely worth visiting. Naxos is the larger island and if you want a relaxing atmosphere, stunning beaches, and hidden gems of villages, it makes sense to base yourself on Naxos and take day trips to discover Paros as well.
If you enjoy nightlife and prefer a more cosmopolitan atmosphere (but down a level from the Mykonos nightlife!) then base yourself on Paros island and take many of the Paros boat tours to Naxos.
Is Mykonos or Santorini closer to Paros?
Mykonos is much closer to Paros than Santorini and makes an easy day trip. Mykonos is 24 nautical miles, or 27.3 miles (44 km) from Paros, and takes between 50 minutes and 1 hour by ferry. Santorini is 41.6 nautical miles, or 47.8 miles (77.0km) from Paros, and takes between 3 hrs 40 minutes and 4 hours by ferry.
What is Paros close to?
Paros Island lies in the heart of the Cyclades chain of islands in the Aegean Sea and is the major ferry hub for the islands. Paros is close to Naxos, Mykonos, Delos, Tinos, Andros, Antiparos, Despotiko, the Small Cyclades, Serifos, Sifnos, Folegandros, Ios, Chora, Amorgos, Milos, and Siros.
Ferries go between Paros and these islands in summer but for day trips you may need to book a private Paros boat trip to some islands because the ferry schedules don’t match up.
How far is Milos from Paros by boat?
Milos is 46.7 nautical miles, or 53.7 miles (86.5km) from Paros. The ferry ride takes between 5 hrs and 20 minutes and 7 hours and 35 minutes and half-day boat trips from Paros to Milos Island take 6 hours.
There are many full-day boat tours and private Paros sailing day trips from Milos and depending on your nautical skills, it’s also possible to hire a boat rental to have your own DIY full-day boat trip!
