Paros to Athens Guide
How to get to Paros Port
Accessing the Paros ferry port is very straightforward regardless of where you are located on the island. It is especially easy if you are travelling by car as it takes only 30 minutes to drive the entire length of the island (22km). Alternatively, you can use the public bus system, which operates on a regular basis throughout the year. Please don’t hesitate to visit our accommodation page where you can find all the best prices on hotels in Paros.
Paros Port Guide
Located in the Cyclades group of islands, the Greek island of Paros lies in the Aegean Sea, to the west of the island of Naxos from which it is separated by a channel that is around 8 km wide. The island is 160 km to the south east of the Port of Piraeus. Historically known for its fine white marble, which gave rise to the term 'Parian' to describe marble or china of similar qualities, the marble mines and quarries have now been abandoned and can be found around the island. Today, the island's principal source of income is derived from tourism. The capital of Paros, Parikia, is a typically beautiful Cycladic village with whitewashed houses and lovely grand neoclassical mansions. Standing atop a hill in the centre of the village is a 13th century Venetian castle which provides glorious views of the town and surrounding area. There is also an important ecclesiastical attraction in the town in the form of the 6th century Church of Panayia Ekatontapyliani, also known as Katapoliani.
The island's port is also in Parikia and hosts both conventional ferries and high speed ferries. Ferries generally depart to Piraeus and to the other islands of the Cyclades.
Piraeus Port Guide
The Greek city and port of Piraeus is one of the largest ports in the whole of the Mediterranean, and the third largest in the world, and has become a major hub for the ferry network that spans the Aegean Sea. Piraeus is an important city in its own right despite the fact that it is frequently considered to be a suburb of Athens, the Greek capital, which is only a very short distance away. Despite its proximity to Athens, Piraeus' waterfront has its own distinct appearance and visitors will see that the most appealing parts of the city are located around its eastern quarter, alongside both Mikrolimano Harbour and Zea Marina. A popular event in Piraeus is the Ecocinema International Film Festival which is held annually in late February and is where a number of films are screened at the Atticon Cinema and the Cineac Cinema, which are both located in the city's Town Hall Square.
As the port of Athens is so large, please keep in mind from which gate your ferry departs. There is a free shuttle bus service available every 20 minutes and transports passengers from E7 to gates E1, E2, E3. Passengers can easily reach Piraeus port from Athens city centre by taking Line 1 (Green Line) from Monastiraki station. This journey takes approximately 30 minutes and drops passengers between gates E5 and E6 at the terminal. Metro tickets are available for purchase at any metro station or transport ticket office. Please be mindful that the metro only operates between 06:30 to 23:30 on weekdays and finishes at 01:00 on weekends.
How to get from Paros to Athens
The most convenient way of travelling from Paros to Athens is by ferry. The journey takes as little as 2 hours and 50 minutes and departs up to 4 times per day. You can also bring your car onboard this service, saving you the trouble of having to hire a rental car when you arrive in Athens.