Antiparos is a magical, shimmering jewel shining in the Aegean Sea. Only 7 minutes by ferry from Paros yet visited by few, it is one of those true Greek island hidden gems and it’s easy to see why Hollywood royalty like Tom Hanks call it home in summer. To inspire you to include it on your trip to Greece and to help you best plan your visit, we’ve put together this complete guide to ensure you get the most out of Antiparos,Greece.
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When to visit Antiparos
The best times to visit Greece are April-June and September-October. The weather is mild and most places have few crowds. High season is late June to early September, and prices will reflect that as will the crowds, the number of cruise ships and accommodation availability.
Summer is still great, especially for beach time and in some of the lesser-known spots. The water is warm, there are blue skies every day and a fun holiday atmosphere. Antiparos has a number of stunning beaches so it is a great place to be in summer when lazy lunches and dips in the sea are daily events.
Best beach and swimming weather: June to September
Best sightseeing weather: March to June and September/October
Where is Antiparos?
It’s probably no surprise to learn that ‘Anti’ means ‘opposite’ in Greek and is where the English word comes from. Antiparos is an island in the Cyclades group of islands in the middle of the Aegean Sea and is only 1 nautical mile west of, or opposite, the island of Paros.
It is 45 square kilometres in size and has a population of around 1200 people. There is one main town called Antiparos Town.
The main attractions on the island are its famous cave and its excellent beaches whilst fishing, tourism and farming are its primary industries.
In ancient times the island was called Oliaros.
How to get to Antiparos, Greece
Antiparos island is located one nautical mile southwest of Paros island. There is no airport on Antiparos and the only island that connects to it by ferry is Paros.
Due to its proximity it is the most popular day trip to do from Paros and also one of the cheapest in the Cyclades.
Paros to Antiparos from Pounta
Buses depart frequently from the main Paros port, Parikia, as well as the most popular villages around the island. From there, travellers can take the vehicular ferry over to Antiparos which takes 7 minutes. You can take your car or leave it in the carpark in Pounta and ride as a walk-on passenger.
In 2025 the Antiparos – Paros ferry tickets cost €1.50 for adults, €.75 for chicldren, €7.30 per car and €2.00 per scooter.
All tickets are one way. Tickets are only sold inside the boat or at the Port in Parikia. You can only pay in cash and only in euros.
Ferries run daily Monday to Sunday all year around. (depending on the wind.) During peak season, you may not get on the first ferry you want and might have to wait for the next.
The ferry runs from Pounta every 20 to 30 minutes between 7:15 am and 11:30 pm daily. The return ferry from Antiparos to Pounta runs every 20 to 30 minutes between 7:00 am and 11:15 pm.
Ferry to Antiparos from Parikia, Paros
There is also a small boat operating daily between the main port of Paros, Parikia, and Antiparos that only takes passengers and no vehicles.
The service usually operates from mid-May until October. The trip takes 30 minutes and a one-way ticket costs 7 euros.
The ferry typically runs every hour between 10:00 am and 17:00pm and returns between 9:00am and 19:00pm.
Sailing Trips from Paros to Antiparos
There are also some fantastic boat trips you can do from Paros to Antiparos. These are full-day excursions that include swimming and exploring sea caves and coves and beaches.
Doing one of these with a bunch of friends remains one of our favourite things to do on Paros, ever!
Where to stay on Antiparos
For couples : Artemis Hotel has lovely sea views from the rooms as well as a rooftop terrace and a plunge pool. The decor is modern and chic and yet the hotel is surprisingly affordable. In 2021 the island welcomed its first 5 star hotel and in fact it is a highly regarded and sought after ‘wellness’ hotel with an award winning Chef and a focus on local produce and sustainability. There are only 17 villas at The Rooster and it has quickly become a dining-destination for people staying on Paros and Mykonos.
For families and groups: Kastro Antiparos is one of the few places on Antiparos that has a swimming pool. They have 2 bedroom apartments and put on a huge breakfast spread. It’s an easy walk into town and close to everything.
Solo: Nicolas Studios are in town but in a quiet spot. The rooms are basic but spotlessly clean and have a small kitchen. You can walk to most things including the local tavernas and shops.
Where to eat on Antiparos
Lunch: In town Anargyros and Nautica both have excellent food and service and are right on the waterfront near the ferry dock. A bit further along is Soulatso who do great Italian food as well as Greek. Along ‘pedestrian street’ ( the main street into the village) you have many great choices including Cafe Babel Metaxa and the aptly named, Bougainvilles who also do great breakfasts.
If you are driving around the island or heading over to Despotiko you can enjoy a lovely meal down at Captain Pipinos on the water, where they dry their fish, as well as octopus, each day.
Dinner: Sapou is serving up some of the best and most inventive food on the island and is right on the waterfront. Great atmosphere at night. The main square, at the end of Pedestrian street, has a number of bars and tavernas, some of which play live music at night time.
Drinks : Head to the Sifneikos Gialos(seashore) behind the main town for amazing sunsets at Sifneiko Cafe.
Manos
Sea Bream & Horta at Manos
Things to do on Antiparos
Antiparos beaches
With a coastline of 57 kilometres, Antiparos has some incredible beaches. On the east side, facing Paros, the island has tranquil waters and sandy beaches, whilst on the west side, there are limestone cliffs and sea caves.
During summer you can take the bus to some of the most popular Antiparos beaches or go on a boat trip to some of the more beautiful remote spots.
- Agios Georgios Beach is popular with small tour boats
- Glyfa Beach is wide and shallow and popular with families
- Apantima Beach is protected from the wind
- Psaraliki Beach is great for water sports
- Sunset Beach ( Sifneiko) and Agios Sostis have magical sunsets
- Camping Beach is the official nudist beach on the island
Antiparos Cave
The #1 attraction on the island is the cave. This is the deepest vertical cave in Europe and is really incredible.
Located about 10 minutes south of the main town and harbour, it’s an easy drive to the cave and there’s plenty of parking, or you can catch the bus. There are also tours available at the small travel agencies near the port.
Further reading: A Complete Guide to Antiparos Cave
Antiparos Cave
Glyfa Beach
Antiparos Kastro
The castle ( Kastro) on Antiparos must have once been quite something for this small island. Located in the center of Antiparos Town it was built in the mid-15th century by the Venetians as a single, residential unit and fortified tower. Pirates often plundered Antiparos due to its isolation and exposure, so the Kastro was an important addition to the island and its inhabitants.
Shopping on Antiparos
There are some really lovely shops on Antiparos. I was pretty surprised by this, as it’s such a small, low-key island, but I was really impressed by the quality and selection at some of the boutiques along Pedestrian Street, in particular. Plus super friendly and helpful staff.
Some items are quite upmarket and expensive so brace yourself!
Visit Despotiko island
The island of Despotiko (Despotico) lies at the southern end of Antiparos. Ιn ancient times, it was believed to be heavily populated, but today no one lives there.
There has been extensive restoration work, and excavations are ongoing at the ancient Mantra Sanctuary, believed to date back to the 7th century BC.
Despotiko was identified by the Ancient Greek historian and geographer Strabo and by Pliny the Elder, the Roman historian and philosopher, as the ancient island of Presepinthos.
The island has several beautiful beaches and sea caves. The best beach is Livadi, with magnificent silver sand.
Despotiko can be reached by a private boat or one of the many daily trips from Saint George village or Antiparos town.
Boat to Despotiko
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