BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
Boat Rental in Paros and Naxos, in the Cyclades
Naoussa, the Portara, the meltemi that kitesurfers love: renting a boat between Paros and Naxos, two quieter Cyclades than Mykonos.
By Clément Lacaille, editor of Boat-Comparator · updated
Between Mykonos and Santorini, two Cyclades islands keep a more authentic feel while staying very easy to reach by boat: Paros and Naxos, barely an hour's sail apart.
Paros and the village of Naoussa
The small fishing harbour of Naoussa, with its white Cycladic houses and half-submerged Venetian fortress, has turned into a chic stop without losing its charm. The meltemi that blows steadily in summer makes New Golden Beach a kitesurfing and windsurfing spot recognised across the whole Aegean.
Naxos, the largest and greenest
Naxos is the biggest of the Cyclades, with a mountainous interior (Mount Zas, where mythology places the cave where Zeus was said to have been raised) that makes it more fertile and less arid than its neighbours. At the harbour entrance, the Portara — the huge marble gate of an unfinished temple to Apollo — is a landmark for every boat arriving.
Sailing between the two islands
The crossing usually runs with the wind behind you, but the meltemi can pick up sharply in the afternoon in high summer: check our Mediterranean winds guide and favour morning departures. Our one-week Cyclades itinerary shows how to string several islands together without rushing.
Budget and comparison
Sailboat €300-700/day (€1,500-4,000/week), catamaran €800-1,500/day, skipper €150-350/day. Boat-Comparator compares Boataround, SamBoat, Click&Boat and GlobeSailor for Paros and Naxos in one search. Not sure which platform to book with? Our guide to choosing a boat rental platform compares them side by side.
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