Stunning Antiparos – a Secret Hideaway, Minutes Away from Paros

The small and charming island of Antiparos lies offshore from Paros. Only a short ferry ride away from Paros you can cross over on a day trip or stay a few days. As soon as you cross over you feel a distinct slowing down in the pace of things. Antiparos boasts stunning beaches and a crystal-clear sea perfect for scuba diving with reefs, wrecks, and caverns.

Where is Antiparos Greece?

Paros and Antiparos Map

How Big is Antiparos?

How to Reach Antiparos?

What does “Antiparos” mean?

Why to Visit Antiparos?

Antiparos Beach Guide

Antiparos – What to See?

Cave of Antiparos

Villages in Antiparos

Antiparos – What to Do?

Cultural Festivals in Antiparos

Weather and Climate in Antiparos

Archaeology in Antiparos

Saliangos Islet

Travel to Antiparos, Greece - fishingboat - Photo by Alex Voulgaris
Fishingboat – Photo by Alex Voulgaris

Having left the main village and port, called Antiparos you will find a quiet countryside with several good beaches, Psaralyki near town and to the south Glyfa and Soros. It is also in the southern part of Antiparos you will find one of the most celebrated caves in Greece. For millennia, the island has been inhabited by humans – Greeks, pirates, Venetians, and Turks. In recent years Antiparos has acquired a “secret getaway” factor for those who do not want to be disturbed. Hollywood stars, royalty, and rock stars spend days in a laidback atmosphere on Antiparos.

Where is Antiparos Greece?

Map of Cyclades Archipelagos
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Located in the heart of the Aegean Sea, less than one nautical mile (1.9 km) from Paros island, Antiparos belongs to the Cyclades archipelagos. Antiparos has less visitors than its neighbor Paros with a laidback holiday style. The port of Antiparos is interconnected with Paros by a local ferry. In the strait between Antiparos and Paros you find Saliangos island which has the most ancient settlement in the Cyclades and southwest of Antiparos you find Despotiko, an uninhabited island and a place of great archaeological importance.

Sailing around Paros Greece - Photo by Max Libertine

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Paros and Antiparos Map

Map of Antiparos, Paros and Naxos – Click to enlarge map

How big is Antiparos?

The island of Antiparos is lying 0.8 nautical miles southwest of Paros. The ferry port abstains from the main port of Parikia by 4.8 nautical miles. In the past, Antiparos was united with Paros; now it is separated from it by the Strait of Antiparos, known as Amfigeio, 500-1000 m wide and 4.5 m deep. The maximum length of the island is 7 miles in a direction North-south, while the maximum width reaches 2.8 miles.

The economy of Antiparos is based on tourism, fishing, farming and less on agriculture in the plains. It is known for its distinctive Cycladic beauty with white houses, cobbled streets and beautiful flowers that thrive in the yards. It is a popular tourist resort in the summer for Greeks and European visitors, as well as land investors from the United States.

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How to reach Antiparos?

Antiparos habour, Cyclades, Greece
Antiparos habour

Being a rather small island Antiparos is only accessible by ferry from Paros. You therefore need to reach Paros first and then travel to Antiparos by ferry from Pounda port. The trip lasts only ten minutes and tickets are booked on the location. The ferries transfers passengers as well as private vehicles.
The nearest airport is Paros National Airport which is connected with Athens, Thessaloniki and Heraklion, Crete. During summer it receives flights directly from different destinations in Europe. Staying in Paros you can choose to go on a day trip to Antiparos.

What does “Antiparos” mean?

The name “Antiparos” means “opposite Paros” referring to the close distance to the bigger island of Paros. In ancient years Antiparos had the name “Oliaros”, a word probably of Phoenician origin, meaning “wooded mountain”.

Why to visit Antiparos?

Travel to Antiparos, Greece - Beach - Photo by Alex Voulgaris
Photo by Alex Voulgaris

Antiparos is famous for its beaches, so swimming and snorkeling is some of the best activities in Antiparos. Most of the beaches are within walking distance from Chora, the capital and port of Antiparos, boasting soft sand and crystal-clear waters.

Antiparos Beach Guide

Vathis Volos beach, Antiparos island, Cyclades, Greece
Vathis Volos beach, Antiparos

The beaches on Antiparos all have clean water and a peaceful environment. Go swimming or diving in the transparent waters, all beaches can be accessed on foot from Chora. You can also take the town bus during the day hours.

Partly organized beaches

  • Glifa Beach – Sandy, family friendly – located 4 km south of Chora
  • Psaralyki Beach – Sandy, nudism friendly – located 1 km south of Chora
  • Camping Beach – Sandy, nudism friendly – located 100 metres from Chora
  • Agios Spiridonas Beach – Sandy, family friendly – located in a walking distance from Chora
  • Kako Rema Beach – Pebbled – located 12 km south of Chora
Panderonisia, Antiparos is surrounded by small islands and islets, Cyclades, Greece
Panderonisia, Antiparos is surrounded by small islands and islets, Cyclades, Greece

Non-organized beaches

  • Panagia Beach – Sandy – located 3 km south of Chora
  • Soros Beach – Sandy, nudism friendly – located 10 km south of Chora
  • Vathis Volos Beach – Pebbled – located 12 km southwest of Chora
  • Livadia Beach – Pebbled, secluded, nudism friendly – located 17 km southwest of Chora

Antiparos – What to see?

Antiparos Cave is the most impressive sight on the small island. You will find it on the southern side of Antiparos, stunningly beautiful full of stalactites and stalagmites. In Chora Antiparos you can see the Venetian castle and fortress of the island and have a walk among the charming, traditional Cycladic houses.

Cave of Antiparos

At the center of the island at the foot of the mountain of Antiparos is the famous Cave of Antiparos to be found. It is one of the most beautiful and mysterious caves in the world. The area of the cave was used as a natural shelter from the Neolithic period and onwards. The place was also used for pottery and for worshipping of the goddess Artemis. At the entrance of the site a simple but charming church of Agios Ioannis Spiliotis was erected.

View from the rock of the ancient fortress in Chora Andros, Andros island, Cyclades, Greece

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Villages in Antiparos

Antiparos, traditional cafes, Cyclades, Greece
Antiparos, traditional cafes

Chora Antiparos, the main settlement on the island, lies at the north-eastern tip of the island with Pounda on the other side of the channel on Paros, where ferries sail for Antiparos harbour. The historical centre is in the Venetian castle of Antiparos, which is connected through the shopping streets in the picturesque coastal street. Another village is the famous resort of St. George on the southwest coast.

The base of the central tower of the castle, known as «Τhe House of the Prince», Antiparos, Greece
The base of the central tower of the castle, known as «Τhe House of the Prince», Antiparos

Antiparos – What to do?

Diving in Antiparos

Blue Island Divers invite you to dive and explore the idyllic island of Antiparos. Here you will enjoy diving into a colorful underwater world, discovering hidden treasures and experiencing the endless blue. The island is well known for its golden beaches, crystal clear waters, friendly atmosphere, and rich marine life. Find Blue Island Divers here

Windsurfing in Antiparos

The Meltemia, the strong summer winds are roaming through the sea strait between Paros and Antiparos making it the perfect spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Most organized windsurfing centers are to be found at the side of Paros, but a few are also making their appearance on the beaches of Antiparos. Specially, Psaralyki and Glyfa beaches have good windsurfing possibilities in Antiparos.
Spot One on Psaralyki Beach

Windsurfing in Greece

Cultural festivals in Antiparos

Bonfire Night

Bonfire Night takes place at midsummer night on June 23rd where all garlands hung by the locals over their front door are collected and piled up at the port of Antiparos in the sand along the waterfront. The tradition is to set fire to the garlands and enjoy the huge bonfire.

Travel to Antiparos, Greece
View of Antiparos town

Summer Festival

This is the greatest summer event in Antiparos and the celebrations last for three days. Activities like sports, concerts and parties are going on until the early morning hours.

Weather and climate in Antiparos

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Average air and sea temperature in Antiparos in °C
Sailing around Antiparos, Cyclades, Greece
Sailing around Antiparos
Travel to Antiparos, Greece - Port of Antiparos
Port of Antiparos
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Archaeological significance of Antiparos

The island of Antiparos is surrounded by many small uninhabited islands with great historical and archaeological interest, such as Kimitiri, Strongylo, the Diplo, Kavoura, Revmatonisi, and the Red and Black Tourlos. Particularly well known internationally is Despotiko, an uninhabited island west of Antiparos, which in recent years carried out excavations of great archaeological value.

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Saliangos islet

Saliangos is a tiny island on which an archaeological site was discovered (by the same name) and which might be the oldest settlement in the Cyclades. The islet is not even 500 m² and is in the northern cluster of Antiparos islands, north of the small strait between Paros and Antiparos. In antiquity and up to Byzantine times the sea level was lower, and more land was above sea level.
The settlement was discovered in 1964-1965 by British archaeologists of the Archaeological Institute in Athens and excavations were conducted and an archaeological study was undertaken. The settlement dates to Neolithic times and in accordance with the method of radiocarbon it was inhabited between 4300 – 3700 BC.

Saliangos islet, Cyclades, Greece
Saliangos islet, Cyclades

In the ruins of the ancient village many ceramic fragments was found. Nearly 3.5 tons of ceramic material was studied by archaeologists, who managed to assemble 60 clay pots and utensils in whole or in part.
The culture of the village on Saliangos islet is unique and an isolated example in the Neolithic era. In the surrounding areas there has not been found similar settlements, nor does it seem that the traditions of this settlement have been disseminated in the subsequent seasons.
On the nearby islands only little evidence of human activity has been found, eg. a few ceramics on Naxos. Saliangos is the only island in the Aegean practicing farming in those times.