Antiparos

Day 1: First tastes of Chora and the island rhythm Ease into Antiparos with a slow morning by the water and an afternoon of whitewashed lanes and history. As the sun drops, join the evening volta when the village glows and boutiques spill light onto the cobbles.

• Morning: Arrive by ferry from Pounda (Paros), drop bags, then coffee and a pastry before your first swim at Psaraliki I or II (calm, walkable from the port). If you’ll be exploring more widely, hire a bicycle or scooter now; helmets and closed shoes make the dirt tracks far easier.
• Midday: Light lunch at a seafront taverna and a breather during the island’s siesta (roughly 14:00–18:00, when many shops pause). Use the heat to your advantage: beach time or a shaded nap keeps you fresh for the evening.
• Afternoon: Wander the Venetian Kastro and backstreets of Chora, ducking into tiny ateliers and galleries. For edible souvenirs at local prices, pop into a supermarket for island honey or souma rather than souvenir shops.
• Evening: Join the pedestrian main street for the nightly stroll: browse curated boutiques and jewellery ateliers (no haggling; greet with a friendly “Yia sas”). Dine in the plateia, grab gelato, and enjoy that late-opening Cycladic pace (in peak season, many shops stay open past 23:00).

Day 2: South-side seas and sunset rituals Today is about the blue between islands and long, lazy meals by the water. The south of Antiparos faces sacred Despotiko and offers some of the island’s best swims.

• Morning: Scooter or drive to Agios Georgios and take a small boat across to Despotiko for swims over pale sand and, when open, a look at the ongoing sanctuary excavations. Bring water, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen; there’s little shade.
• Midday: Settle into a long seafood lunch at a waterfront taverna in Agios Georgios (book ahead in July–August). If the meltemi winds are up, choose a sheltered table and linger until the breeze softens.
• Afternoon: On your way back, stop at Soros or Panagia beach for a final dip; if it’s windy on the south, return to leeward Psaraliki near town. Factor in a short rest before dusk—the best part of the day is still to come.
• Evening: Walk to Sifneiko (Sunset) Beach for golden-hour views over the Aegean, then back into Chora for aperitifs and another browse. In September you’ll often find end-of-season sales; many pop-ups announce hours and drops on Instagram.

Day 3: Caves, coves and a final shop-and-savour Choose adventure by land or sea before a last, unhurried evening among Antiparos’ boutiques. This is also the day to pick up the pieces you’ve been eyeing.

• Morning: If seas are calm, join a round-island boat trip for sea caves, snorkelling and hidden coves (pre-book in peak season; trips can cancel in strong meltemi). If you prefer land, go early to Antiparos Cave (cool inside; steps are steep) and the chapel of Agios Ioannis above it.
• Midday: Onboard BBQ lunch or a simple picnic you’ve sourced from the bakery and supermarket; Faneromeni’s remote cove makes a sublime picnic spot if you’ve chosen the land day (reach via dirt road; drive slowly and bring shade).
• Afternoon: Ease back to Chora for a coffee and a cool-down swim. If design is your thing, visit a lifestyle store or hotel boutique for books, ceramics, linen and niche fragrances; cards are widely accepted but carry some cash as ATMs can run low in August.
• Evening: Do a final circuit of the main street to pick up a wearable souvenir—linen, leather sandals or a small ceramic—asking about the maker’s story. Celebrate with meze and local wine by the marina, and remember shops close much earlier or entirely outside May–September.

By Air

• There is no airport on Antiparos. The nearest is Paros National Airport (PAS).
• Athens (ATH) to Paros (PAS): 40–45 minutes; multiple daily flights in season.
• From PAS to Antiparos: taxi 10–15 minutes to Pounda port (about 8 km), then a 7–10 minute car ferry to Antiparos. Total airport-to-Antiparos time: roughly 30–45 minutes.
• Alternative gateways with seasonal international flights: Mykonos (JMK) and Santorini (JTR). Continue by high-speed ferry to Paros (about 45–120+ minutes depending on route), then local ferry to Antiparos.

By Ferry

• Mainland to Paros: daily ferries from Athens’ ports.
  • Piraeus–Paros (Parikia port): about 3–5 hours (2.5–3.5 hours on high-speed).
  • Rafina–Paros (Parikia): about 3–4.5 hours (varies by vessel/season).
• Paros to Antiparos:
  • Pounda–Antiparos car ferry (year-round): every 20–30 minutes in summer (less frequent off-season); 7–10 minute crossing; takes vehicles and foot passengers.
  • Parikia (Paros Town)–Antiparos passenger boat (seasonal, roughly mid-May to late September): 20–30 minutes; foot passengers only; daytime/early evening schedules.

By Train

• No train to the islands. Use trains to reach Athens, then continue to ferry ports.
  • Thessaloniki–Athens: about 3.5–4.5 hours (Hellenic Train) to Athens Larissa Station.
  • From Athens Larissa Station: Metro Line 2 to Omonia then Line 1 to Piraeus (about 30–40 minutes total), or taxis to Piraeus/Rafina.

By Bus/Metro

• Athens Airport (ATH) to Piraeus: X96 express bus (about 60–90 minutes), or Metro Line 3 to Monastiraki then Line 1 to Piraeus (about 60 minutes).
• ATH to Rafina: direct KTEL Attikis bus from the airport (about 30–60 minutes).
• Central Athens to Rafina: KTEL Attikis buses from Pedion Areos/Victoria area (about 60–90 minutes, traffic-dependent).
• On Paros: KTEL Paros buses link PAS airport and Parikia to Pounda (about 15–25 minutes; more frequent in summer). Taxis are widely available.

By Car

• From Athens: drive to Piraeus or Rafina, embark car on ferry to Paros, then drive 10–15 minutes to Pounda for the short car ferry to Antiparos. Pre-book vehicle spaces in peak season.
• On Paros: the Pounda–Antiparos car ferry is the only vehicle route; expect queues at peak times (late afternoon/evening in July–August).