Santa Maria | Luxury Villa Rentals in Paros

Santa Maria is a long, developed beach on Paros near Naoussa, overlooking Plastira and Aliki Bay with views toward Naxos. Its sand is notably whiter than most of the island's beaches, and the waters support a diving school alongside windsurfing and paddle-boat rentals. A campsite behind the beach makes it one of the busier spots on Paros in July and August, reachable by local bus or boat from Naoussa harbor.

Santa Maria is one of Paros’s best-known beaches, a sheltered, family-friendly bay on the north coast a short drive from Naoussa, with fine golden sand and shallow water that stays calm even when the meltemi picks up elsewhere on the island. The bay’s natural shelter has made it a popular base for watersports schools offering gentler introductions to windsurfing and kitesurfing than the more exposed conditions at Golden Beach on the southeast coast, alongside snorkeling and stand-up paddleboarding for those who prefer calmer activities. A cluster of beach bars, tavernas, and sunbed operators line the shore, giving Santa Maria more amenities than many of Paros’s smaller coves, while the surrounding hillside stays relatively low-rise and residential rather than densely built up. Its proximity to Naoussa is a major part of its appeal — the drive takes only minutes, putting the harbor town’s restaurants, boutiques, and evening life within easy reach while keeping villa guests in a quieter, more beach-oriented setting during the day. The bay’s combination of a genuinely good swimming beach, family-friendly conditions, and easy access to Naoussa’s more sophisticated dining scene has made it one of the most consistently popular addresses for villa rentals on the north coast. It works particularly well for families with children who want calm, shallow water for swimming without giving up proximity to Paros’s best restaurants and shopping, and for groups who want an active beach day with the option of watersports without the stronger winds that define the island’s southeast coast. Even at the height of summer, the bay’s width means it rarely feels as crowded as its popularity might suggest, and a short walk along the shoreline usually turns up a quieter stretch of sand.

Santa Maria is Paros's most developed, amenity-rich beach near Naoussa — sunbeds, watersports, and a diving school — a busier counterpart to quieter village beaches like Ambelas.

Browse our curated Santa Maria villas — homes near one of Paros's most developed beaches, with watersports and a diving school on hand. Our team will help you find the right property for your dates and group size.