Santa Maria
Best for. Travellers who want a sociable day on soft pale sand with the choice of a relaxed lounger or an afternoon with music, all a few minutes from Naoussa.
Best spot. The southern bays for the calmest family swimming, with the livelier club sections and the watersports kept toward the busier northern end.
Know this. This is several bays under one name, so the mood changes as you walk; pick your section to match the day you want rather than trusting the first stretch you reach.
Santa Maria is the most sociable of the northeast beaches, a long sweep of pale soft sand broken by low rock into a string of small bays a few minutes north of Naoussa. It is the kind of beach you can shape to your mood, with calm shallow water across the protected pockets, a versatile run of beach clubs from quiet loungers to afternoon music, and one of the better watersports scenes on the island. For a day that can be as relaxed or as lively as you like, it is the easy choice.
The honest note is that Santa Maria is really several beaches under one name, and the experience depends entirely on where you put your towel. The northern sections lean busier and more upbeat as the afternoon goes on, while the southern bays stay gentler and better for families, so the first stretch you reach may not be the one that suits you. The clubs are well run, but this is not a hushed, exclusive cove, and on a breezy day the more open stretches feel the wind.
Choose your section with a little care and Santa Maria rewards almost everyone, from a couple wanting a lounger and a long lunch to a family after shallow water and a paddleboard. For something quieter and more refined nearby, Monastiri across the headland is the calm, scenic alternative, and for the signature rock coves Kolymbithres is minutes away. The smart play is to walk the sand for a few minutes before you settle, then book a bed in the section whose pace matches your plan.
A run of clubs, your pick of pace
Santa Maria offers a versatile line of beach clubs from relaxed loungers to afternoon music rather than one single venue. For the full island picture, see the Paros beach clubs guide.
Photo: Santa Maria Beach Bar via GoogleSanta Maria Beach Bar
Santa Maria Beach Bar is the long standing club on this sand, open from morning to late with sunbeds, food and drink and a lift in the music as the day goes on. It anchors a sociable, versatile beach where you can keep it calm or join the pace. Sunbed prices and any minimum spend are set by the venue and to be confirmed. For a quieter, more refined swim nearby, scenic Monastiri is the pick.
On the northeast coast near Naoussa
Santa Maria lies on the northeast coast, about five to ten minutes by car or scooter from Naoussa, around twenty minutes from Parikia and roughly twenty five to thirty from the airport. A summer bus runs from Naoussa, and in season small boats hop across the bay, so it is one of the easier beaches to reach without your own wheels.
There is parking behind the sand that fills at peak times, and a short sandy track leads in from the road, so come earlier for a space and the calmer water. Natural shade is limited beyond the club umbrellas, so bring sun cover and water, and choose your section before you carry everything down.
Photo: Santa Maria Beach Bar via GoogleBook a beach club
Santa Maria has a versatile run of beach clubs. Tell us your dates and the pace you want, and we can point you to a daybed at Santa Maria or another Paros club. We reply by email.
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to clubs and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Santa Maria
Is Santa Maria beach Paros good for families?
The southern bays are, where the sand is soft and the water shallow and usually calm in the protected pockets. The beach runs livelier toward the northern club sections in the afternoon, so families do best choosing a gentler southern stretch. Shade beyond the club umbrellas is limited, so bring sun cover.
Does Santa Maria have beach clubs?
Yes, it has a versatile run of beach clubs and bars along the sand, from relaxed loungers to sections that lift the music in the afternoon. Santa Maria Beach Bar is the long standing name here. Sunbed prices and any minimum spend are set locally and to be confirmed.
Is Santa Maria a sandy beach?
Yes, it is a long sweep of soft pale sand broken by low rock into a series of small bays, so you get both open stretches and sheltered pockets. The water is shallow and clear, which suits swimming and the watersports based here. For sculpted rock scenery instead, nearby Kolymbithres is the island signature.
How do you get to Santa Maria beach?
It sits on the northeast coast, about five to ten minutes by car or scooter from Naoussa, twenty minutes from Parikia and twenty five to thirty from the airport. A summer bus runs from Naoussa and small boats cross the bay in season. Parking behind the sand fills at peak times, so arrive early.
When is the best time to visit Santa Maria?
June and September bring warm clear water, open clubs and a lighter crowd than the August peak, which is the sweet spot. July and August are hottest and busiest, and a little breezier on the open stretches. Mornings are calmer than afternoons. Conditions are typical rather than guaranteed.
