Paros Transportation

The Paros Island Bus Service by the Govt Agency (forgot the name, something like KEIP) runs from a small Bus Office, pretty next to the PAros jetty where all the ships and speed ferries reach.

The Bus service runs from around 8 am in the morning to about 9.30 pm at Night.
It runs to most destinations in the island.
Buses are comfortable by mist standards, though never luxurious by any standards.
:)

Paros is connected with Athen and all the other cyclades island with a lot of ferries companies, there are fast ferries with the possibility to bring with u your car or motorhome, slow ferries for pax and car, hig speed catamaran, old ferries.....
If u want to planning a loop trip in different islands of the region it's better to have a look to the time table before..in sept for example there are less ferries thatn in hig season and last greek trip we had to change the destination, also due to the see conditions...
When you are on a island there are many elements to consider before!

In web site I list below you can find all the company feries for your destination!
In Paros the big ferry arrive in Parikia, but I rememeber tht in Hig season there are ferry form Piso livadi to Naxos and other destination too.

A 9 km southwest of Parikia, near the village of Alyki is the airport of Paros, from which regular flights come and go from Athens.
For more details olympicairlines
there are also charters in hig season that fly directly from othere european country

Bus local frequently go from 'airport in Parikia (10 minutes) and from the airport to Naussa (5 minutes) the second town of Paros, located 10km north-east of Parikia.

2 more images

Paros is connected to many other Greek islands, as well as Piraeus, by an extensive service of ferries and hydrofoils. Paros is the transport hub of the Cyclades, so you will find dozens of boats leaving for various destinations throughout the day.

Most ferries arrive at and leave from the port at Parikia, the island's capital. However, some boats to Mykonos (but not all Mykonos-bound boats) leave from the northern port of Naoussa. I caught a boat to Mykonos from Naoussa as part of an organised daytrip on a catamaran. It may well be that the only boats leaving from Naoussa are these privately owned pleasure cruise boats rather than ferries and hydrofoils.

As a rough guide to prices (as at September 2005) and journey times, the following information relates to my experiences of travelling to and from the island:

I arrived in Paros on a ferry (the "Blue Star Naxos") from Naxos. The journey took 1 hour and cost 6.60 Euros. The journey was direct from Naxos Town to Parikia. Hydrofoils make the same journey in 30 minutes, but cost twice the price.

I left Paros on a hydrofoil (the "Seajet 2") to Tinos. The journey was a little over 1 hour (via a short stop at Mykonos) and the cost was 19 Euros. The hydrofoil was carrying on its journey to Rafina. Ferries make the same journey (1 hour to Mykonos, 2 hours to Tinos, 4+ hours to Piraeus/Rafina) at roughly half the price of hydrofoils.

Timetables for all boats are displayed on chalk boards outside the numerous tour operators and travel agencies that line the coast road of Parikia. Tickets are also bought from these outlets.

When we were walking back from Kolymvrathes beach this old farmer drove by on his lawnmower and just managed to pass us. However we must have been quite sorry looking after our day at the beach because he stopped and gave us a sign to jump onboard.

This was one of these moment that add a spice to one's journey. A local farmer offering total strangers a ride in his lawn mower without charging a penny. Great.

To properly see Parikia, you must first ...Slooow downnn ... and stroll. Take your time, wander, and look. Try to really ... 'see' ... what you are looking at.

You will observe a community that is very happy in life, a community that is proud of their heritage, and a people that live life to the fullest.

You will see well maintained homes, streets frequently swept by home owners, and neighbors who care about one another.

Tiny churches, pristine white and blue, doors wide open and trusting, and smiling people everywhere. Never a harsh word was heard during our meanerings, always within inches of open windows and small gatherings of friends.

At first appearance, Parikia seems to be a perfect life. As tourists, that appearance is all we need see, and above all, to feel.

Parika has numerous buses that travel all around the island of Paros. Unfortunately, I can't say that the staff located within the booth were any help. Not very forth coming with information, and we felt like we were disturbing their nap. When asked which bus goes where, the young lady just pointed in the general direction of all the buses, and resumed her conversation with her co-worker.

The destinations as indicated on the front of each bus is written in Greek, but when you purchase the local guides, the Greek alphabet is included on the back page. A few minutes spent deciphering this alphabet will help tremendously in figuring where each bus goes.

Payment for your ticket is collected by a young man who goes from seat to seat once the bus is in motion. Once again, price is cheap, possibly two euro from Parika to Lefkes.

Ferry travel between islands is so easy. Relatively cheap, and always room for a passenger. Loading your car could pose a problem, and may require a reservation, so don't leave that to chance.

Before we began our trip, we worried about reserving space, but now realize booking a ferry for individual travel is not required.

When we left Paros by ferry for Athens, we sat on deck, exposed to wind and salty spray. I do not recommend that arrangement, as our clothing was stiff with salt, and my hair stood straight in the air when we arrived at the dock. I can't think of a time I felt grubbier.

Personal opinion, fly whenever possible. I hated the ferry. Will use again, but only under protest. The food is terrible, and extremely expensive, and washrooms 'stink'.