Last updated 05 April 2008

A correspondent tells me he found a Greek tourist brochure about Paros which includes this:

"Go naked!

"Messada, Lageri and the back area of Ag. Ioannis will be the beaches, which you can visit if you like enjoying water full naked. "

Paros is an excellent place to stay if naturism is your priority.

Lageri/Laggeri

See Laggeri on Google Maps

Many of my contributors think this among the best beaches in the Cyclades; one said it was reminiscent of the South Seas, another claimed to be in heaven there. The water is clean, you can walk along the beach. Nudity is 95%. No tavernas, sometimes there is somebody with a cold box containing drinks where the boat lands, but bring your own water and food. The beach is clean with rubbish collected regularly. It is quiet and peaceful. Some contributors offer ratings of 98% or even 100%! The Captain himself unhesitatingly rates it 100%, it is one of my favourite naturist beaches.

Follow signs for Santa Maria. Two kilometres after the electricity generation station, you will see a taverna on the right (remember its location, for it is the closest to the beach). To the left, a picturesque bay, causeway and peninsula can be seen with a picture postcard church. Not far from this point there are some grey coloured apartments with yellow shutters. Just after these buildings there is a road to the left which has a shrine. This road leads to the gates of a ranch. Turning left follow the road past some farm buildings to an easy path which leads to that same picture postcard church (Zoodohos Pigi) that you saw earlier. Follow the path and soon you will come across some sandy coves. Nudism can begin here.

The Captain has been sent directions in the opposite direction which are reproduced that way so as to avoid mistakes ... ! There is a path that leads to the main road going back to Naoussa town. It is a bit north of the route described above as the way to get to the beach by car. The footpath starts at the beach from the south side of the marker house, going inland and then south again (there's also a dirt road going parallel to the beach, up the hill house visible in the picture above, and this may be the old way to get to the beach by car). A few minutes later one comes across a gate, intended to keep out cars from entering the path. There's a sign on it with 'cattle range - keep closed at all times' in Greek and English. At this time of the year there were no cattle to be seen, nor any cow droppings, as my contributor walked the path. From that point on it's downhill along a dirt road up to the main paved road. There are salt fields ('alikès' in Greek) on the other side of the road, which goes north to Santa Maria beach, and south back to Naoussa. The salt fields are just north along the main road from the point described above as the '2 grey houses' intersection. The existence of the path leading to the main road is of use to anyone who is looking for a way to get to Santa Maria on foot, since the two beaches aren't connected by boat.

Going to the beach by car could become difficult. The lady owning the farm, where most beach visitors used to park, posted parking prohibition signs. However you can drive further till you see the salt lake on the right side, turn left towards Laggeri Apartments, then right again just before entering the apartments house. A locked gate with a picture of a cow - even if no cows in sight. Park your vehicle on the right side. This is the (private) road used by the entrepreneurs building the new houses. Tip: Rent a bike and carry it over the gate and just ride on to the beach as one contributor did. It takes about 15-20 mins by bicycle from centre of Naoussa.

Lageri is a huge semi-circular bay facing west and therefore it is possible on different parts of it to find shelter from or exposure to winds from different directions. It was 95% nude in May 2000. It mixes families and couples, gay and straight. In August 2000 there were 80 people 70% nudist, 30% gay.  It is 800m long and 10m from water line to the top of the beach. It consists of fine golden sand. At the easterly end of the beach (furthest if coming by boat, closest if coming from the direction of the church) the beach is backed by dunes. There are no facilities at all and it is best to bring all you need. The nearest taverna is the one on the Naousa to Santa Maria road, but this is about 2km from the beach. At the east end, at the dunes, there are some trees for shade, but these are snapped up by early arrivals to the beach. Access to the water is easy and it is safe. There was no litter at all.

This beach is backed by beautiful flora, especially at the eastern end. Lageri is usually almost 100% nudist and is well populated. Most are couples and some single people of both gender. There were about 120 people on the beach (June 2003) and there was a positive naturist feeling of relaxation.

A report from 2000 describes this as a very nice beach, where you can be naked and walk without problems.

A report from September 2000 describes this as a spectacular beach. The area south of the jetty was about 95% nude, almost all couples (met people from Ireland, France, Denmark, Germany. My contributors were the only persons from the US. North of the jetty was clothed. A report from May 2001 describes it as a great beach with a very good nudist beach ethos and rates it 99%, and one from September 2001 rates it 100% after many visits.

For some years there were concerns about the future of this unique beach. In August 2000 the whole land behind the naturist part of the beach was sold for 12 million US$ (huge sum by Greek standards).

A big house was built just behind the main part of the beach and other development was taking place too.  And the unspoilt landscape of Laggeri is gone. When you look from the southern part of the nude beach your view is obstructed by the three constructions.

Another contributor, in the cause of investigative journalism, walked along the road to Santa Maria and back over the hill to Laggeri. He was shocked to find new developments up the hill including one development of some 10-12 apartments. You cannot see these from Laggeri beach but for the holidaymakers who stay there in 2004 Laggeri will be the nearest beach unless they like the dubious and noisy charms of Santa Maria.

That textile invasion may be beginning already.  My contributor says in the first week of August 2003 Laggeri was 60-40 in favour of textiles including some families with the parasols etc. Us naturists were forced into the middle of the beach by the rocky outcrop.  Fortunately in the second week things improved. On one day I would say that we had 85% of sun worshipers naked.

Similarly there were a couple of reports of a textile invasion during August 2004.  This happens quite widely in Greece during the peak season, unfortunately.  Reports from September indicate that by then the beach was its old, delightful self.

On the brighter side, several reports say that nude visits to the construction site are proving a popular excursion.  And a more optimistic report says this last bastion is holding quite well. Nudists have always outnumbered textiles even in August. In early September the percentage of nudists approached 100%. A friendly guy is now selling drinks and snacks.

Rumours in the village suggest that the owners of the house are nudists themselves. If so, this could be good news for the future of the beach.  That rumour is corroborated by a report from August 2002 who saw visitors to the development site arrive by helicopter and after an inspection stripped and swam and sunbathed nude.  A report from mid-2006 suggests that construction at the southern end of the beach has come to an end because of financial problems.

The Captain made it to Lageri in June 2003 and again in 2004. In 2004 one big house behind the beach had been completed and a track led to the large unfinished building on top of the hill at the southern end. 

Nevertheless the beach was being well used by naturists; what's more the Captain fully endorses the views of previous contributors.  Swimming here was an absolute delight, with the water in the sheltered bay being warmer than in more exposed places.

The easiest access is by beach boat from Naoussa. The boat cost €4 for the return trip in summer 2004. From the place where the boat drops you walk east until you have passed the houses. Naked people can be found here, but the best part is 200-300 meters further (right before you come to the rocks), about 10 minutes walk from the boat. If you pass the rocks you find also another small beach before you see a house. Behind the beach you have bush formations and there is no trouble walking nude a little around here and along the beach. On this part of Laggeri about 80% of the people were naked (June 2001).

Keep an eye on the time and be sure not to be late for the last boat back to Naoussa!  The boat can be very pleasant and sometimes quite a thrill when the wind blows.

In June 2005 the beach was 95% nude and probably as good as ever.  A July 2005 report describes nice sand, lovely water, big and clean. There were about 20 -30 people on it split 50/50 between gay men and straight couples. All were nude.  There are big sand dunes behind the beach and it shows no signs of being built up yet.

Barefooters who visited twice in June 2005 report that construction work nears completion on the big house close to the beach, which overlooks the narrowest part of the beach, equidistant from the beach boat and the church end. It was impossible to judge how this will affect things in the future, it may make this particular part of the beach uncomfortable (it's already a rocky stretch, with a view of the power plant), potentially interrupting the divine full-length naked beach stroll enjoyed by my correspondent. Only time will tell, but it doesn't look like this will have any direct impact on the southern end of the beach at least.

On both visits, the beach was 95% nude, a friendly mix of young, middle-aged and older couples and singles, with no sign of families, and an unobtrusive but distinct gay flavour in the scrub area at the church end.

Despite a wicked Meltemi on the first day, the beach was sheltered, and as reported, has a lagoon-like aspect. The church end is definitely the most pleasant part (if also the busiest, although spotlessly clean), and the swimming is quite excellent, with archaeological interest coming from the rock-cut channels and salt-filled basins of this part of the Paros coast. A heavenly place to finish a fantastic holiday, and now one of my contributor's all-time favourite nude beaches. (It features in quite a lot of Barefooters' favourites!)

Barefoot reporters who visited in July 2005 say that although this was at a weekend, there were very few people around. The naturist section of the beach was wonderful: good sand, warm sheltered sea, and acres of sand dunes for walking. The building site mentioned in previous reports was deserted. My contributor took pleasure in walking through it naked!

Even in August 2006, at the height of the textile invasion, Lageri kept its character.  In August 2007 it was, if anything, quieter than last year and never fell below 50% nude.  My (Greek) contributor implores everyone: "Please keep coming, we need to maintain this very last paradise."

However, the Captain is beginning to hear repeated and worrying reports of overt sexual behaviour by gay couples on the beach.  Barefooters who visited in May 2007 reported that the dune area at the south of the beach was full of single men and male couples.  There was a lot of "looking, talking and visiting" going on, to the extent that they did not feel comfortable.  In August, one family was evidently so upset by such behaviour  that they called the police - who turned up and forced everyone to cover up.  Various other reports confirm this disturbing trend. 

It makes no difference whether the perpetrators are gay or straight.  The Captain does ask users of the Guide to respect the distinction between the beach and their bedroom.  Not only is it inconsiderate to other users of the beach, improper behaviour can result in responsible naturists losing the use of wonderful places like this.  The last thing we need is more "no nudism" instructions. 

Worst Part of the Beach
From where the boat drops people off - to the left / North there is a small beach with sun loungers and a superannuated fridge used for selling soft drinks & water melon from during July & August (although 2001 reports suggest that the superannuated fridge may have been - er - pensioned off and no drinks were being sold). This beach is very prudish (not even topless or thongs) and where a fair proportion of the punters dropped off by the Caique seemed to stay. In the evenings when we walk back to catch the boat we always covered up when we came here. It seemed mostly teens & twenty-somethings who stopped off here (a fair proportion local Greeks).

Mediocre Part of the Beach
Surprisingly occasionally some nudists stay North of the house (which is 200 metres south of the jetty) near the start of the beach (the seabed is partly rocky & you are staring out at the power station, there is sheep dirt here, & it can be extensively textile here), plus as mentioned above those of us who walked back to the ferry nude or topless (or wandered around during the day) felt obliged to think about covering up around here. The "house" marking the division of the textile from the C/O area has erected wire mesh fencing, coming down to the water's edge, but that has been cut down at one spot for the bathers to walk through this now 'private' beach in order to get to the south section.

Best Bit of the Beach
The best bit of the main beach is the further most southerly part between the first minor rock formation & the first small cove / the rocky formation / dunes. Here it is totally sandy, the beach is wide & there is some shelter.
Towards the end of this stretch you have more shelter particularly from bushes on the sand hill / larger rock formation which forms the first cove. The second cove whilst affording more privacy is rockier.

The further south one walks, the terrain evolves from compact sand and low-lying greenery to rolling dune-like soft sand and thicker vegetation that offers a greater opportunity for shade. This section takes up about 3/4 of the whole bay, so there's plenty of space for everyone.

Who uses the beach
The mixture is diverse. A lot of Greeks use the beach at weekends (some by their own boat) many go nude. There seem to be less backpackers using this beach - the line of less resistance is to go to Monastiri - quicker and more frequent ferry. Plus all day techno!!

My contributor, who provided the detailed report above, rated the beach 95%.

The only negative aspect of this part of the beach is that it's at the centre of the bay where the sea flow tends to bring in marine trash onto the shore - there were a few (emphasis on 'few') bits of tar, plastic bottles, and bits of fishing net washed up, which had been collected into a small pile by some thoughtful people. There are a couple of trash bins available.

Monasteri

From Naoussa, at the northern end of the island, it is possible to take a boat to Monasteri Beach (700 dr in May 2001). Walk to the east of the jetty through an abandoned taverna. There are various secluded sandy and rocky coves suitable for nudism on the way.  To make sure you hit the right beach, it is the very last one at the end of the path, if you use the small boat from Naoussa.

Alternatively, from Parikia take road to Naousa. Just before Naousa is reached, take the road on the left for Kolimbithres and Monasteri. Follow the road until you pass the boatyard. Beyond this is a taverna car park (but the taverna is said to be expensive by local standards). Follow the mostly easy, but occasionally arduous, path beyond this taverna for 2km to reach Monistiari beach. However, nude sunbathing begins on rock and on small beaches just after the jetty where the boat lands approximately 500m from the taverna car park.

As a third option, it is possible to walk from Naousa via Kolimbithres but that would take about one and a half hours.

The beach is of coarse sand and shingle and the water is clear, sheltered and glorious. Some people regard it as limited in scope, being no more than a large cove with a narrow beach. Nudity was the norm when I visited. Behind the beach a path leads up on to the small peninsula from which there is a panoramic view over the sea: very scenic; no need to take any clothes except sandals. (Rating: 85%).

Monasteri beach is 75m long and between 2.5 and 4m from the water to the top of the beach. The beach consists of hard packed fine golden sand with 1.5m of pebbles at the top of the beach.

There are no facilities nor is there any shade, so come well prepared. Access to the water is easy and the seabed slopes gently. There was some litter, but not a great amount. It must be said that not everyone likes it; views differ.

The surrounding area is so isolated that it is possible to wander and explore for quite a distance without fear of offending a local. A short walk form the beach, over a low ridge there are several areas offering sun bathing and snorkelling opportunities. A little further on there is a small pink pebble beach, which was exclusively occupied by men. The rock formations of the cliffs are spectacular and would be a real treat for any nudist rock climber. The bay attracted a few yachts, which added to the tranquil picturesque scene. There was a relaxed laid back nudist atmosphere, with the beach being populated by mostly couples, one family and a few single people and a group of three young men (textile). The beach was not entirely nudist, about 50 / 50 at times, but most of the time, nudists made up the majority. At its peak, there were around 11 nudists and 8 textiles.

It is difficult for me to understand why textiles would go to a great deal of trouble and effort to reach a nudist beach when there are better facilities and more comfortable sand at easily accessible textile beaches.

A Barefoot reporter thought the freedom of being able to go for nude walks raised the score and on that basis it rated  75%.

A correspondent returned here in May/June 1998, having first visited it in 1977. He was pleasantly surprised how little had changed in that time, even though Naoussa has multiplied in size enormously. The beach was as described above: only a dozen people on the beach, 90% nude, and the beautiful peninsula and rocky bay behind it making for nice walks. It looks like it has remained so because of the difficulty there would be in building a road to it, and the rocky path is the only access other than boats. The main change since he first visited is that then it was mainly young, vaguely hippy-ish couples, and in 1998 about 75% gay men and the remainder middle-aged couples (i.e. the same people who were there in the 70s, just older).

The Captain paid a return visit in June 2003 and once again found this a delightful beach, spoiled only by the small but smouldering rubbish dump a few yards behind the beach itself.  A number of Barefoot reporters have remarked on this - and the fact that it seems to be a favoured anchor and picnic point for yachts. 

One report from August 2004 suggested that the beach had been completely taken over by young Greek textiles.  This is the only such report the Captain has received, but it is known that established nudist beaches are sometimes overrun by textiles during the peak season.

In July 2005, a regular visitor reported that there were 10 to 20 couples there, mostly gay men, rarely a clothed couple.  This is how it had been for some years.

In September 2006 it was 60% nude.

On the way to Monastiri

Described as a delightful beach - nude for the most part. If you have a car, access is very easy. Proceed 0.7-km past the Porto Paros Hotel where you will find a break in the stone wall and a dirt track leading to the water. The track turns right at the water and ends at the north end of the beach. Park and step onto the beach. This beach faces east and is a great morning beach. We used this beach in the a.m. & Langeri (which faces west) in the afternoon for several days.

A Barefoot reporter was able to walk along a coastal footpath almost all the way from the
boatyard near the Monastiri Club bar, south to these little beaches, then along the beach through the the Porto Paros hotel grounds, through the waterpark (closed) almost back to Kolimbithres. Just one house with a stone wall up to the cliff prevented the path following the coast the whole way.
 

Porto Paros

The Captain has also received a report of a small beach just after the Porto Paros Hotel on the way to Monastiri. If you take the boat to Porto Paros/Aqua Park from Naoussa and walk north 200-300 meters you can find this small beach. When my contributor passed in the end of June 2001 there were around 10 people. 50% of them nude.
Take a path about 200 meters after Porto Paros Hotel just before the first house you come to and after a short walk you arrive at a small nice sandy beach. No facilities but has rubbish bins which are collected regularly. Visited several times June 2000 - mainly 98% nudist mainly couples, families and female groups always more ladies than gents which seems unusual. It is not a large beach but there were usually about 25 to 30 with people coming and going and it seemed several were locals.

From Parikia take road to Naousa. Just before Naousa is reached, take the road on the left for Kolimbithres and Monistiari. Follow this road until the water park is reached on the right. A few hundred metres further on; there is an apartment with a wheat field adjacent to it. There was a small parking area in this field and an easy route of about 100m to the beach.

The beach is 75m long and crescent shaped with the widest part being 6m at the mid point. It consists of fine golden sand with pebbles at the waters’ edge. There are no facilities except for some shade offered by tamarisk trees mid way along the beach. Access to the water is easy and the seabed slopes gently. As is common with most nudist beaches, there was no litter.

This beach was almost 100% nudist with 30 people naked and only two textiles sharing the beach. Almost all were male / female couples with just a few single people. The view from this beach was fantastic with beautiful Naousa at the opposite side of the bay and the breathtaking display of wild flowers at the edge of the golden wheat field that backed the beach. Another favourite of my contributor, despite its lack of facilities.

In early Sept 2006 Barefoot reporters found and relaxed on this beach. There were very few folk there, all nude, quite a few walking along, no doubt to other little 'coves'. beach clean, and managed to get enough shelter from the prevailing winds.
 

Santa Maria beach

Make your way to Naousa and follow signs for Santa Maria. Pass the salt pans on your right and continue to a crossroads and take the road on the right. At the first sign for a taverna, turn right and you will enter what seems to be a car park for this taverna. Continue to the beach and follow the water line to the east (right). At the end of this beach there are two very small coves that can be used for nudist sunbathing and swimming.

The beaches are about 15m to 20m long and about 15m from water to beach top. It consists of fine golden sand with pebbles for the last 2m at the top of the beach. There are facilities at the tavern, which is about 100m away, but there is no shade. Access to the water is easy and the water is safe.

There was only one nude man on the beach, but he left soon after my contributors arrived. The cove was, of course, 100% nude (my contributor and his wife), but they felt as though it may not be the norm for this beach.

The adjacent beach was populated by textile Greeks, and although they seemed to accept the idea of nudists in the small coves, I am not sure going for a walk would be so readily accepted.

Because of the feeling that we were nudists on a textile beach, we score this beach 50%. Someone with a thicker skin may have a different opinion.  It must be said that this is the first report the Captain has received concerning nudism on Santa Maria so this opinion may well be correct.

Kolimbithres
About 400 meters south of the landing-stage at Kolimbrithis there is quite a large protected cove, swimming very good, nudity quite accepted, about 50% of the bathers were nude, others topless, you felt very much at ease if you removed all your clothes. Quite a protected place to go to, if Langeri is too exposed to the northern winds. (June 2001).  But other reports suggest no nudism at all.  And the Captain's most recent reports suggest it is now far too commercialised to permit nudism.

Parasporos

South of Parikia, the beach at Parasporos has, it seems, been designated as a nudist beach. It was dirty, with litter widespread, and the water rough when we visited (however, the Sunseekers' Guide says it is suitable for bodysurfing). There is a taverna. The beach was, however, practically deserted. We stripped off and went for a swim. Whilst we were in the sea an elderly Greek couple, complete with enormous swimming costumes, settled themselves down immediately behind our beach mats, with the consequence that they got an eyeful of us as we emerged from the water. Staying put would have been uncomfortable for us and we had no wish to cause offence to local people so we dressed and settled for a beer in the taverna. (Rating: 20%).

A report from June 1998 speaks of a one visit during which there was a nudist couple and sufficient space to go nude likewise. On the other two occasions, there was no nudism at all and not enough space to start a trend at a discreet distance from textiles.

More recent reports are fairly clear that whatever the designation the beach is not, in practice, nudist, and has not been since the establishment of the beach club.

Krios and Martselo

According to a report from June 1998: From Parikia there is a beach boat advertising itself as going to Krios and Martsala beaches. If when the boat reaches the jetty you turn left, away from the visible beach, you come in 200 metres to a small beach which is majority nudist: this was popular, 2 or 3 metres of waterfront per party and therefore possibly very crowded in high season. This is Krios Beach. A small wall of stones warns you to bathe only off the latter half of the beach due to rocks. Martselo/Martsala is a small beach with sunbeds which belongs to a taverna, where the boat stops occasionally. In 1998 there was no chance of nude sunbathing in the coves to the left of the jetty - there are now apartments built behind these and the beaches were populated by Greek families.

There are several routes to the rocks near Krios.

1. From Parikia follow the road to Krios. Beyond Krios beach. Continue on an easy path to Agios Fokas church for 200m, there are a few areas on the rocks where sunbathing and swimming nude is possible.
    
2. A short boat trip can be taken from the port at Parikia to Krios. Then follow the cost towards Agios Fokas church for 200m, there are a few areas on the rocks where sunbathing and swimming nude is possible.
    
3. Following the relatively easy a coastal path 3km northeast, then west from Parikia is possible, but it will take an hour, and the boat is so much quicker.

There are only three or four possible locations for laying flat and gaining access to the water. First come first served. If coming by boat or walking, it is possible the dyed-in-the-wool nudist will find nowhere to sunbathe. The beach population at Krios was made up of many Greek families and there were only a few topless women. It seems offence may be caused if nudists were to bathe on Krios beach. There are facilities 100m away at Krios beach. Access to the water is tricky.

There was a fair amount of litter and there is no shade. We score this location 50%.

If you get off at the boat's second and final stop (Martsala) and walk left, you can find a nice sandy cove, gently shelving, pleasant swimming.  Some shade from trees.  Watch out for the swell from the ferries going to Parikia - my reporters' towels got wet (but quickly dried out in the 40 degree temperature) from it.  Only a few people (mainly naturist) there when they visited one morning.