Boat trips, Antiparos and island tours
Most organized trips on Paros are by boat. They run to Antiparos, to the swimming spots around the neighboring islands and, in some cases, to the archaeological site on Despotiko. Island tours by bus or minibus also exist. Operators publish their own prices and dates, and these change from season to season, so use the live offers below as your starting point.
Before you compare prices, decide what you want. A swim-and-sunbathe cruise, a visit to the Antiparos cave and a landing at an ancient sanctuary are three different trips. The table sums up the main options. The sections after it cover the costs you can work out for yourself and the questions that separate one offer from another.
Tour options compared
What each option is and what you pay, where a price is published.
| Option | How it works | Cost reference | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private motorboat | Whole boat for your group | €800 total for up to 7 passengers, incl. fuel, skipper and VAT, from one operator | Departure time and route are agreed with the crew after you inquire |
| Group boat trip | Seats on a shared boat | – | Compare per-person price, start port, length and meals |
| Self-organized Antiparos day | Bus to Pounta, ferry, cave | About €9 per adult for ferry and cave, plus the bus to Pounta | Ferry and cave ticket are paid separately |
| Despotiko visit | Boat plus access to the excavation | – | Boat price and site entry are separate; ask about the landing |
| Bus or minibus island tour | Guided drive around the island | – | Check which stops are included |
If you only have one day, Antiparos is the easiest trip to do yourself. If you want a boat to yourself, a private charter is the cleanest comparison because you pay a single total. For a swim trip with a landing on Despotiko, read the questions below first. For ideas on where to go, see the things to do page.
Our picks: tours compared
Two boat days and a half-day drive around the island.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Antiparos full-day boat tour with grilled lunch
Seven hours with a light breakfast, a grilled lunch, snacks, fruit and three drinks of your choice. There is no guide on board.
Check availability →
Half-day island tour with a driver
Four hours with an English-speaking driver in an air-conditioned vehicle, with visits to Kolymbithres, the Mycenaean acropolis, Paros Park, Naoussa and Lefkes.
Check availability →
Blue Lagoon boat tour from Pounta
Three and a half hours with a skipper and three swim stops. Mask, snorkel and fins, water, soft drinks and fruit are included; lunch and hotel transfer are not.
Check availability →Paros boat trips and island tours
Boat trips, Antiparos excursions and island tours around Paros, with live prices and availability.
What to ask before you book
The same question can have very different answers from one operator to the next.
Whole boat or per person?
Some offers quote one price for the boat, others a price per seat. Divide the boat price by the number of people before you compare. The €800 charter above works out to about €114 per person with a full boat of seven.
Where and when does it start?
Check the departure port and time. Parikia, Naoussa and Pounta are different places, and the bus connections differ. Ask whether a hotel transfer is included.
How long, and what is included?
Ask for the length of the trip, whether food and drinks are included and whether snorkeling gear is provided. Do not assume anything the offer does not list.
Is there a landing at the ruins?
Despotiko is an uninhabited island with an archaeological sanctuary of Apollo, under strict protection. A swim stop near the island is not a guided visit. Ask whether the trip lands, whether site entry is included and whether you need a separate ticket.
What happens in bad weather?
Strong wind can change or cancel boat trips, especially in July and August when the meltemi blows. Read the cancellation terms and the weather policy before you pay. The weather page explains the wind.
An Antiparos day without a tour
You can reach Antiparos on your own. Take the bus to Pounta on the west coast of Paros, then the short ferry across. In 2026, adults pay about €1.50 each way, children €0.75, a car €7.30 and a scooter or quad €2. Tickets are sold on board, so keep a little cash on hand.
Add the stalactite cave at €6 per adult (€3 for children from 6 to 12, free under 6) and you get about €9 per adult for ferry and cave, plus the bus to Pounta. The cave is open from 10:00 to 16:00 with last entry at 15:30, until the end of October. Between 3 and 20 October 2026 the Pounta ferry runs from 06:45 to 00:30, and from 21 to 31 October the last departure moves to 23:30. The direct passenger boat from Parikia is paused until summer 2027. See the Antiparos page for the rest.
Wind sports lessons
Not a tour, but often booked as a half day on the water.
Golden Beach on the east coast has a surf club for equipment rental and private or group windsurf lessons. At Pounda Beach in the west, a kite school runs from April to October. Prices are set by each school. As one example, a school at Molos Beach lists windsurf lessons at €50 per hour, kitesurf lessons at €90 per person per hour, windsurf equipment at €35 per hour and stand-up paddle boards at €20 per person per hour. Those rates apply to that school only and carry no date, so confirm them with the school you choose. The beaches page lists the bays.
Paros tours: frequently asked questions
How much is a private boat for the day?
One Antiparos operator lists a private motorboat for up to 7 passengers at a total of €800, including fuel, skipper and VAT. The date of that price is not shown, so confirm the price, route, duration and availability with the operator.
What does a self-organized Antiparos day cost?
Ferry and cave come to about €9 per adult in 2026 (€1.50 each way plus €6 for the cave), plus the bus to Pounta. A car adds €7.30 each way on the ferry.
Does a Despotiko trip include the archaeological site?
Not necessarily. A boat trip and entry to the excavation are separate services, and a swim stop does not mean a landing. Ask the operator exactly what is included.
When are boat trips most affected by wind?
The meltemi is usually strongest in July and August, but it has no fixed dates. If your trip depends on calm water, keep a spare day and read the cancellation terms.
Where do the trips leave from?
That depends on the operator. Check whether the start is in Parikia, Naoussa or Pounta, and how you get there by bus or car, before you book.