Paros and Mykonos are two of the best-connected islands in the Cyclades, and this is one of the busiest short crossings between them. Most people take it heading for the famous side of the pairing: Paros is the easy-going all-rounder of harbour towns, family beaches and villages like Naoussa and Lefkes, while Mykonos brings the whitewashed lanes of Chora, the windmills, Little Venice and the beach clubs. A few days on each makes a well-balanced island week.
The trip itself is short. Seajets high-speed boats do it in well under an hour, so you can have breakfast in Parikia and lunch in Mykonos. If time matters less than money, the conventional ships of Fast Ferries and Golden Star Ferries take longer, because they call at other islands, but on our August sample day they started at €36, against €53 and up for Seajets, and they give you open decks and room to spread out.
Choice is not a problem in season. On 12 August 2026, the day we sampled, there were nine departures from Parikia between 08:30 and 16:35. The route is seasonal, though: Ferryhopper lists sailings only from March to November, so a winter trip may need a detour.
Two things are worth knowing before you book. Mykonos has two ports, and while boats from Paros normally use the New Port at Tourlos, the Old Port is sometimes used depending on the vessel and the weather, so check your ticket. And in July and August, the transfer from the port to your hotel is often harder to secure than the ferry seat, so arrange it early.
