How to Get to Antiparos
Antiparos is directly in front of the Cycladic island of Paros. Hence its name of ANTI (in front of) Paros. In ancient times, the island was called Oliaros which meant forested land. At the height of the Cycladic civilization (3200 BC), Antiparos was a very different place. Covered in deciduous forest, Antiparos was connected to the larger island of Paros, forming one large land mass.
Today, a small channel separates Antiparos from Paros. While the channel is certainly narrow enough to have a bridge, the islands remain unconnected. A ferry, called the pantofla (meaning slipper-because it looks like a slipper) transports people from Paros to Antiparos at regular intervals depending on the season. There is also a boat that takes people directly from Paros’ main port of Parikia to the island of Antiparos. Below you will find a comprehensive guide on how to get to Antiparos.
The Cheapest Possible Way to Get to Antiparos
Fly into Athens Airport (ATH) – consider staying in Athens for at least two nights.
Take Athens Metro to Piraeus Port and cross the street to Blue Star Ferry Terminal. Ships to Paros depart from Terminal 7-8. You can buy your tickets online here or directly at the terminal. (Avoid ships departing from Rafina. Rafina is not connected to the Athens metro line and is a pain in the ass to get to. It takes at least 90 minutes by bus from the center of Athens and is a 50 euro taxi ride. Also, Blue Star is the newest and nicest ferry line. They almost feel like cruise ships. The best, cheapest ferry to take is always Blue Star from PIRAEUS at 17:30. All other options are more expensive and/ or not as nice.)
Take the Blue Star Ferry from PIRAEUS Port to PAROS at 17:30.
Arrive in Parikia Port about four hours after departing from PIRAEUS. Parikia is the main port of Paros. When you get off the ferry, look straight in front of you and locate the Cycladic wind mill, then head right. Here you will find the bus ticket office and bus departure lot.
Buy a ticket from Parikia to Punta, where the Pantofla Ferry to Antiparos departs. Schedule is here.
Take bus from Parikia to Punda (Most of the crowds will actually be waiting for the bus to Naoussa- be sure you do not follow them. This is the wrong direction.)
Arrive in Punda and wait for ferry to Antiparos. In the high season the ferry arrives every 15 minutes. In the low season, hourly. Check the schedule here.
Buy your ferry tickets on board. The ferry ride is about five minutes.
You are now in the main port of Antiparos. It is called Chora. Most of you will likely be staying in the town center. It is best to arrange with your hotel proprietor to retrieve you at the port. There are no actual street addresses in the old town of Antiparos so navigating upon arrival can be a challenge. After you have checked in, however, it is very easy to get around Antiparos.
Athens Metro Ticket: €1,30
Blue Star Economy Ferry Ticket Piraues-Paros: €35,00
Bus Ticket Paroikia-Punta: €1,80
Ferry Ticket Paros Punta-Antiparos: €1,40
Total Cost: €39,50
Other Ways to Get to Antiparos
Fly into Mykonos (JMK)
This is the best option if you actually want to spend some time in Mykonos before heading to Antiparos. Here are some important notes:
You will take the ferry from Mykonos New Port to Paros Parikia. Check the schedule here. Once you arrive in Paros, you can take the pantofla ferry to Antiparos as described above.
Depending on your flight arrival and departure times, you may have to sleep in Mykonos. This is not cheap. In the high season it can also be difficult to find lodging. This is a nice option for those who wish to split their time between Mykonos, Paros and Antiparos.
There is a bus which costs five euro that connects Mykonos Airport to the New Port. This is the easiest and cheapest way to get to the New Port from the Airport. The bus runs every 15 minutes in the high season. Check the schedule here.
If you are staying in Mykonos, you can also take the Sea Bus from the Mykonos Old Port to the New Port where the ferry terminals are. The schedules are here.
Fly into Paros
This is a great option if you plan ahead. Olympic Air has regular flights, connecting Athens to Paros. If you buy in advance tickets can cost as little as 30 Euro, making them cheaper than ferry tickets. Here are some important notes:
The Paros airport is near the Punda ferry terminal Antiparos so it is best to take the pantfola ferry to Antiparos.
If you have a lot of luggage, this will be an expensive option! Luggage costs more than people on these flights.
Take a Helicopter
This is by far the fastest way to get to Antiparos. It is also one of the most expensive. Here are some important notes:
It takes less than an hour to get to Antiparos from Athens by helicopter. There is a small helipad above the main town of Antiparos. That means you get directly to Antiparos with no stopover in Paros.
The prices for this option vary. It can be over 1,000 Euro for two people. BUT in the summer season there are so many choppers running all over the place, you might be lucky enough to find an empty leg, meaning the companies need to sell additional seats. These can be fairly inexpensive at several hundred vs. several thousand euro. Check out the Greek Air Taxi Network here.
The other nice thing about this option is the view. It is amazing. Seeing the Cycladic islands from above is a once in life time experience.
Hire a Private Boat Charter
In the summer months, many groups enjoy chartering private boats (often catamarans sometimes yachts) to explore the Cyclades. If you want to arrive in Antiparos by private charter, here are some important notes:
This is the best option if you are travelling in a group of six or more and are planning a multi-destination multi-day trip. Catamarans typically sleep eight people and if you plan ahead, exploring the Cyclades by sea can be a relatively affordable alternative to staying in hotels and island hopping by ferry. You also have more freedom.
If you just want to get to Antiparos directly from Athens, then the private charter can cost over a thousand euro. At that point, it just makes sense to take a helicopter.
Use this option when traveling with groups on a multi-day itinerary.
Check private charter rates here.
On a final note
You can also take a boat directly from Parikia Port to Antiparos. This is an alternative to taking the bus to Punda and the pantofla ferry to Antiparos. This direct boat, unlike the pantofla does not allow cars. It is 5 Euro for a boat ticket from Parikia to Antiparos. You can buy the ticket on the boat. Schedules are here.
Important Links
Athens-Paros Ferry Schedules– Avoid purchasing your tickets here. They charge big fees. Go directly to the ferry company you want to use and purchase on their site. This is simply a good option to see timetables across ferry lines and ports. Use as a research tool!