Use these exact times only from 25 August to 10 September
This is a dated operator board. Travellers on 24 August or after 10 September must open the live KTEL page and rebuild the connection before travel.
Paros departure guide
Santa Maria to Paros Port
Direct by road; public transport needs a change in Naoussa
A pre-booked transfer or confirmed taxi is the reliable route for an early ferry. Public transport needs Santa Maria–Naoussa and then Naoussa–Parikia. The dated first Santa Maria bus is 11:15 and the final one is 18:15, so it cannot serve morning departures and offers only six chances to start the connection.
Sources checked: 24 August 2026
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Exact route guide
1 guideYou may also find these useful
4 guidesParikia Port → Santa Maria
Two buses via Naoussa for a daytime arrival, or one direct taxi or transfer. The limited six-departure final leg ending at 18:00, ferry-delay risk and luggage handoff.
Open guideSanta Maria → Naoussa
Six dated direct buses make daytime visits easy, but the service ends at 18:15. How to plan dinner, nightlife, a round-trip transfer and the return before leaving the hotel.
Open guideSanta Maria → Paros Airport
KTEL requires three buses via Naoussa and Parikia, with the first Santa Maria service at 11:15 and only eight dated airport departures from Parikia. Flight check-in planning and when one confirmed direct vehicle is the sensible option.
Open guideNaoussa → Parikia Port
A direct KTEL route for most daytime and evening ferries, with 31 dated departures from 07:00 to 01:30. How to plan backwards from ferry check-in, allow for the correct gate and handle departures too early for the first bus.
Open guideTime-sensitive timetable
Dated KTEL board valid 25 August–10 September 2026
Santa Maria–Naoussa runs at 11:15, 12:45, 14:30, 15:15, 16:15 and 18:15. Change to one of 31 Naoussa–Parikia buses running from 07:00 to 01:30. The buses are separate and neither is held for the other.
Our practical verdict
Book direct for morning ferries; use KTEL only with a generous daytime match
The two-bus option can work for a later ferry when luggage is light and both legs leave recovery time. For a morning sailing, a family, substantial bags or a valuable onward ticket, use one confirmed vehicle from the exact Santa Maria property to the named Parikia gate.
Compare every option
KTEL public bus
Two separate buses via Naoussa, available only from late morning
Two rides plus an unprotected wait in Naoussa
Lowest cost
Pre-arranged taxi
Direct Santa Maria–Parikia Port journey when the vehicle is confirmed
Direct road journey; traffic dependent
Simplest
Pre-booked private transfer
One confirmed vehicle from the accommodation to the terminal
Direct road journey
Simplest
Rental car
Useful only when the vehicle also serves the wider stay
Direct drive plus return formalities
Your own vehicle
Mistakes that cost time or money
Public transport cannot serve a morning ferry
The first dated Santa Maria bus leaves at 11:15. For a morning sailing, reserve a direct vehicle or stay in Parikia the previous night.
Protect a Santa Maria departure through one bus change and a separate ferry
The limiting leg is Santa Maria–Naoussa. Start with its six dated departures, then leave recovery time for Naoussa–Parikia and the ferry gate.
1. Start with the ferry check-in deadline
Confirm the carrier's required arrival time and add the walk from the KTEL station to the correct gate.
2. Match both bus legs
Choose Santa Maria–Naoussa first, then an earlier Naoussa–Parikia service with a recovery option. Neither bus waits for the other.
3. Use one vehicle when the margin fails
For a morning ferry or a fragile connection, reserve direct pickup from the exact property rather than forcing the two-bus chain.
Every option in detail
KTEL public bus
Two separate buses via Naoussa, available only from late morning
Lowest cost
- Cost
- KTEL ticket for each leg; check current fares
- Journey
- Two rides plus an unprotected wait in Naoussa
- Availability
- Six dated Santa Maria departures, 11:15–18:15
How it works
Take the Santa Maria bus to Naoussa, then change for the main station beside Parikia port. Build both bus legs backwards from the ferry check-in deadline and do not assume either service waits.
Before you book
Plan backwards from ferry check-in, not departure time. Buy tickets before boarding where possible; onboard tickets cost more and payment is by card.
Best for
- Later ferries, light luggage and flexible travellers
Less suitable for
- Morning ferries, families or a restrictive onward ticket
Useful details
- •Public transport and your onward ferry are separate, unprotected journeys.
- •Keep at least one earlier recovery option when the ticket is valuable or restrictive.
Pre-arranged taxi
Direct Santa Maria–Parikia Port journey when the vehicle is confirmed
Simplest
- Cost
- Metered; confirm supplements and expected total
- Journey
- Direct road journey; traffic dependent
- Availability
- Reserve for a named pickup time
How it works
Reserve a licensed taxi and share the exact accommodation pin, passenger count, every bag and departure details. Do not rely on finding an unreserved car at the last moment.
Before you book
Confirm the pickup time in writing and state the ferry check-in deadline. Ask about luggage, port supplements and waiting policy.
Best for
- Small parties with luggage and a firm departure time
Less suitable for
- Depending on an unreserved rank car in peak season
Useful details
- •There is no official fixed fare for this route; ask for an estimate, not an invented tariff.
Pre-booked private transfer
One confirmed vehicle from the accommodation to the terminal
Simplest
- Cost
- Fixed quote per vehicle; compare inclusions
- Journey
- Direct road journey
- Availability
- Pre-booked around the departure
How it works
The driver collects at the exact Santa Maria property and travels directly to the closest legal point for the named ferry gate, avoiding the Naoussa change and two luggage handoffs.
Before you book
Send the property pin, ferry company, required check-in time, passengers and every bag. Confirm pickup, terminal instructions, waiting policy and the complete vehicle price.
Best for
- Families, groups, child seats, substantial luggage and valuable tickets
Less suitable for
- Solo travellers who safely match an earlier public route
Useful details
- •Ask for the exact terminal meeting or drop-off instructions in the confirmation.
Rental car
Useful only when the vehicle also serves the wider stay
Your own vehicle
- Cost
- Hire, fuel, insurance and return conditions
- Journey
- Direct drive plus return formalities
- Availability
- Advance reservation recommended
How it works
Drive to the relevant return point and allow time for fuel, inspection, keys and the walk or shuttle to the terminal.
Before you book
Confirm the exact return office, opening hours, after-hours procedure and whether the company provides a terminal shuttle.
Best for
- Travellers already hiring a car for the island
Less suitable for
- Hiring only for a one-way departure transfer
Useful details
- •Do not assume every rental office accepts a different return location or after-hours handover.
What recent travellers are reporting
These observations are anecdotal, not official schedules or price guarantees. We use them to expose recurring friction, then verify the underlying facts against operator and government sources.
Recent travellers plan backwards from the departure
A July 2026 Reddit logistics thread discusses how little margin an early Parikia departure can leave. It is anecdotal reporting, but the useful lesson is sound: use the ferry or airline check-in time, not only the scheduled departure, and keep a recovery option.
Read the discussion · Reddit /r/GreeceTravel, July 2026Travellers praise the buses but watch seasonal change dates
A June–July 2026 forum discussion describes the main Paros bus service as good or excellent and notes that replacement seasonal timetables can appear close to the change date. Treat this as anecdotal traveller reporting and use the dated operator PDF for the exact journey.
Read the discussion · Tripadvisor Naoussa forum, June–July 2026Numbers worth saving
- KTEL Paros
- +30 22840 21395 / 22273
- Confirm the live board when travelling before 25 August or after 10 September 2026.
- Parikia taxi rank
- +30 22840 21500
- Municipality-published dispatch number for the port and airport side of Paros.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct bus from Santa Maria to Paros Port?+
No. Take Santa Maria–Naoussa and change to Naoussa–Parikia. These are unprotected services, so leave recovery time at Naoussa and before ferry check-in.
Can I reach a morning ferry by bus?+
No on the dated 25 August–10 September board. The first Santa Maria bus leaves at 11:15. Reserve a direct vehicle or stay in Parikia the previous night.
Is a Naoussa pickup quote valid for Santa Maria?+
Not automatically. Give the exact Santa Maria property pin and require the confirmation to name that pickup point.
Official sources used
Timetables are snapshots, not permanent promises. Open the linked operator page again on the day of travel.
- KTEL Paros: dated 25 August–10 September board
Primary source for every exact bus time and count quoted in these guides.
- KTEL Paros: live timetable index
Use this operator page to find the replacement board outside the dated validity window.
- KTEL Paros: tickets
Official ticket outlets and onboard-payment rules.
- Municipality of Paros: taxis
Official Parikia and Naoussa taxi-rank telephone numbers.
- National taxi tariff decision
Official meter and supplement rules; it does not publish a fixed route price.
- Municipal Port Fund of Paros: Parikia Port
Official port identity and passenger-terminal context.
Found a changed timetable or number? Tell us so we can re-check the primary source.
More Paros transport guides
Guide last updated on