Getting from Crete to Paros

If you are heading to Paros from Crete you are going to the hub of the Cyclades, a large and varied island with one of the most beautiful small harbour villages in Greece at Naoussa, long sandy beaches on the west coast and a position at the centre of the island ferry network that makes it one of the easiest islands to reach from almost anywhere.

Take the ferry

There is a direct seasonal ferry from Crete to Paros running in summer, departing from Heraklion and taking around 3 to 4 hours on the fast catamaran. The route is not year-round so check the schedule before planning around it. Outside of the summer season the connection goes via Piraeus. Book ahead in July and August.

Getting there by air

Both Crete and Paros have airports. Flying from Crete to Athens takes around 50 minutes and then Athens to Paros takes around 45 minutes, giving a total journey time of around 3 to 4 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the direct summer ferry from Heraklion when it is running. At around 3 to 4 hours it is comparable in time to flying via Athens and considerably more enjoyable. If the direct service is not available for your dates, fly via Athens or take the overnight ferry from Heraklion to Piraeus and connect from there.