Seafood lovers will probably prefer Paros. Common dishes include hórta greens and kleftiko goat meatballs in a stew.Īlso Read Is Santorini Safe To Visit? The Ultimate Travel Safety Guide That means the local cuisine makes use of more game meat, dairy, and fruit. Naxos is the larger and more mountainous of the two places, and it has fewer natural fishing harbors around its shores. Where they differ is in a focus on the land and sea. They are both known for their olive production and citrus orchards, so the basics of the Greek kitchen – oil, lemon juice – are always done right. We’ve rarely had a bad meal on either of these islands. Winner: Paros, just, but there’s not enough in it to swing this decision Is the food better in Paros or Naxos? Photo credit: Despina Galani/Unsplash Price shouldn’t be the major deciding factor here. Having vacationed in both, we’d say there’s very little in it. That’s just a touch below the average estimate for Naxos on TravelTables, which puts the cost of a meal at around $18.31 per person. Price comparison site BudgetYourTrip estimates the cost of a meal out in Paros to be around $14.40 a head.

It’s the same story over on Naxos, but there’s probably a little more scope to score a bargain stay in the lower end of that spectrum. We’d estimate the cost of accommodation on Paros to range from around $25/night for the cheapest hostels to over $250 a night in those elegant boutique hotels. They are nowhere near as pricy as Santorini or Mykonos. It’s really a toss of a coin when it comes to picking the cheapest of the two islands – no pun intended! Both of these places come in easier on the travel budget that the great A-listers of the Cyclades. Winner: Draw – this one’s all personal taste Is it cheaper in Paros or Naxos? It climbs to over 1,000 meters up and hosts a cave where the great god Zeus is said to have been born! That dramatic geography ensures Naxos gets extra rainfall than most, so it’s greener and more agricultural than its neighbors to boot. It manages that thanks to the cloud-haloed peak of Mount Zas. Naxos has positioned itself as the wild child of the Cyclades. Very few people choose to stay and venture beyond the ferry quays in Paros, which means it’s got a true off-the-beaten-path feel. We’d recommend staying in the quieter harbor of Naoussa to avoid that, or leaving Parikia for the daytime when the boats come in. The upshot? There’s a big footfall of travelers in the main town during the high season months between May and August. It’s big port in Parikia serves as the first port of call for ferries heading in and out of Santorini and Mykonos. The one thing you’re sure to notice is that Paros is a major transport hub.

There’s a mere five miles separating them across a narrow strait, so it’s hardly a surprise that they are pretty similar. Paros and Naxos are next-door neighbors in the very heart of the Cyclades chain. Let’s go… Naxos vs Paros – the general vibe Photo caption: Daria Nepriakhina/Unsplash It’ll look at a number of the main features of both islands and lay out the debate of Paros vs Naxos for all to see.

We hope this guide will give you something to consider when you come to plan that fix of sun, sand, and sea at the southern end of Europe this year. It’s rarely as busy as other isles in the chain, especially Mykonos and Santorini! It also boasts empty beaches and blustery kite surfing spots. Paros, meanwhile, is often content to fly under the radar. But they’re also unique in their own way…įrom soaring mountaintops woven boy hiking paths to long-lost ancient ruins, enthralling hill villages to salt-smelling harbors that bob with fishing boats, Naxos is a show-stealer for many. They should both tick the box for wave-lapped beaches on the shimmering Aegean and age-old tavernas in quaint whitewashed villages. Both are pretty big stars when it comes to Greek holidays. This guide to the showdown of Paros vs Naxos will whisk you away to the two largest isles in the Cyclades chain.

Stay in paros or naxos