Paros: The Next Greek Island to Fall Victim to Overtourism?

Amid unchecked construction and growing tourist numbers, the Greek island of Paros may soon follow Mykonos and Santorini in becoming the next destination in Greece to fall victim to overtourism.

Overtourism in Greece

Greece is a wonderful country to visit and one of my personal favourites to travel to.

I’m not the only one who thinks this, as over 36 million foreign visitors arrived in Greece last year, with numbers expected to rise further in 2025.

Tourist numbers are not evenly spread across Greece, with some places experiencing massive overtourism, while many islands and mainland regions remain off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems for those in the know.

The Greek capital of Athens and islands like Mykonos and Santorini are poster children of overtourism, while islands popular with European charter tourists, such as Corfu, Zakynthos, Kos, and Rhodes, continue to attract large numbers of visitors during the extended summer season.

With growing tourist numbers in recent years, it’s not surprising that islands which previously avoided the clutches of overtourism are now slowly falling victim as well.

Next overtourism victim: Paros?

Perhaps no island in Greece is as close to becoming the next victim of overtourism as Paros.

Paros, one of the islands of the Cyclades, is just a short flight by turboprop from Athens or a relatively quick 4-hour ferry crossing from Piraeus.

While some of its neighbours, such as the largest Cycladic island of Naxos to the east or Sifnos to the west, remain relatively undiscovered by foreign visitors, the same cannot be said for Paros, which is now firmly on the tourist map for both European and American travellers.

Part of the reason for Paros’ popularity among tourists is its geographic location, as the island is conveniently situated halfway between Mykonos and Santorini, two of the worst places in Greece in terms of overtourism.

As it’s just a short crossing to Paros from Mykonos or Santorini, and intra-Cycladic ferry routes have burgeoned in the last decade, it’s unsurprising that the island has seen a significant increase in visitor numbers as well.

“Hottest” island in Greece

Having previously lived in Greece and visited 18 islands so far, I closely follow Greek news and tourist trends, as the country is dear to me.

Looking at social media, internet forums, and message boards, it’s evident how much more Paros is talked about now compared to ten or even just five years ago, with the island described as the “hot new destination” in Greece and a significant amount of hype building around it.

It doesn’t help that the number of luxury accommodation options on Paros — whether large hotel complexes or holiday villas — has grown enormously, attracting more influencers as well as the rich and famous, all eager to show off their picture-perfect travel snaps.

This social media hype, in turn, attracts even more new visitors to the island — the kind of people who might have previously only heard of Mykonos and Santorini but are now suddenly eager to visit Paros as well.

It’s exactly the kind of death spiral that has transformed Mykonos and Santorini from relaxed Cycladic islands into tourist hells.

Unchecked construction

According to Greek environmentalist and former MEP Kriton Arsenis, Paros has been “overbuilt at a dramatic pace” in recent years.

Mr Arsenis said: “In the past five years alone, it has topped the Cyclades in new building permits, surpassing even Mykonos and Santorini.”

“Villas, hotels, roads and swimming pools have replaced the dry-stone terraces that once held water, slowed down runoff and kept the soil alive.”

The consequences were evident last month when a storm hit Paros, and flash floods swept through the streets, with mud avalanches swallowing cars, motorcycles, and furniture.

Naousa

Nowhere is overtourism more evident on Paros than in the town of Naousa on the island’s northern coast.

Arguably, Naousa is a highly picturesque town, and if you visit during the low or shoulder season — as I did — it’s a delightful place to explore, with the tourist masses yet to arrive on Paros.

Even in the shoulder season, the high-end tourist shops, boutique hotels, and fancy restaurants make it clear that Naousa has little to do with authentic Greek life and everything to do with the well-off tourist crowd.

When big mainstream publications as diverse as The Times and Vogue begin describing Naousa as a “chic” and “chilled” alternative to Mykonos, you know exactly what kind of place it is – and just how extremely touristy this Paros town becomes in the summer months.

Already during my visit to Paros in 2018, the early signs of overtourism were already abundantly clear, so I can only imagine how much the island must have developed in recent years given the sharp rise in tourist numbers.

Local life

Paros still offers plenty of beauty and local life, both along its coastline and inland, with villages like Lefkes still having some authentic Greek charm.

However, locals fear that if unchecked construction and overtourism continue, the island’s natural landscapes and local fabric could be irreversibly damaged.

Fight against overtourism

Some of the islanders of Paros are actively fighting back against overtourism.

It was on Paros that the Greek “beach towel revolt” started in 2023, with locals protesting against unchecked beachside construction and unscrupulous tourism entrepreneurs illegally seizing large stretches of sand or pebbles to place sunbeds and umbrellas.

The movement soon spread to other islands and the Greek mainland, leading to government vows for stronger action against illegal activities, though their response and the promised additional checks by inspectors have proven to be a mixed bag and not particularly effective to date.

A local non-profit association, Friends of Paros & Antiparos, is also working to protect the Cycladic identity of the island by promoting more sustainable development.

On their website, they also warn that “the living conditions of both residents and visitors are in danger of deteriorating”, as “building permits on Paros are often issued in a relatively permissive manner” and “independent checks seem to fail most of the time”.

Only time will tell whether the coming years will see Paros transform even more into a mirror image of its neighbouring island of Mykonos, or if some of its authentic character can still be preserved.

Conclusion

Of all islands in Greece, it’s Paros that is most at danger of becoming the next victim of overtourism just like its neighbours of Mykonos and Santorini.

Paros is becoming a trending destination among both European and American tourists, with unchecked construction of new hotels and villas further threatening the island’s natural landscape and social fabric.

Many locals on the island of Paros are fighting back, demanding more effective building regulations and inspections to combat illegal construction projects, although only time will tell if they are still in time to save the island from overtourism.