Pounda Port

Pounda Port is the small harbour on Paros's west coast from which the short car ferry to Antiparos departs. The crossing takes approximately seven minutes and runs every day of the year, Monday through Sunday — making Pounda the most practical and by far the quickest link between the two islands. It sits along the Epar.Od. Parikias-Pountas road, roughly 12 kilometres southwest of Parikia, and its sole purpose is to shuttle people, motorcycles, and cars across the narrow strait to Antiparos harbour.

Unlike the longer conventional ferry routes that depart from Parikia and dock at Antiparos Town, the Pounda crossing is a local roll-on/roll-off service built for efficiency. Antiparos lies just one nautical mile southwest of this stretch of coast, which is why the boat barely has time to pick up speed before it's docking again on the other side. For anyone travelling with a vehicle, Pounda is essentially the only sensible option.

Tickets are priced per trip — there are no return tickets issued. As of the latest schedule information, the fare for a passenger is €1.50, children pay €0.75, a motorcycle costs €2.00, and a car costs €7.30 per crossing. Small children travel free. Prices for larger vehicles, camper vans, or boats vary by type and size. Tickets have historically been sold on board, and since 2020 they can also be purchased at the port itself. Payment is cash only — credit cards are not accepted at the point of purchase, so come prepared.

What to Expect

Pounda is a functional working harbour, not a scenic promenade or a tourist marina. There is a small quay where vehicles queue to board, and the ferries themselves are compact roll-on/roll-off vessels capable of carrying a modest number of cars alongside walk-on passengers. The setting is genuinely pleasant — the channel between Paros and Antiparos is calm and sheltered by the lay of the land, and on a clear day the view across to Antiparos is wide and uncluttered.

The boarding process moves quickly when the ferry is running on schedule. Walk-on passengers typically board after vehicles have loaded. Because there is no reservation system, cars and motorcycles queue in arrival order. During peak summer months, particularly July and August, the queue for vehicles can extend back along the approach road during midday hours. Foot passengers almost never wait more than one sailing.

The port facilities are minimal. There is no large terminal building, no restaurant, and no café directly at the quay. The nearby village of Pounta has a small number of tavernas and beach bars, so if you arrive early or face a wait, there is somewhere nearby to sit with a coffee or a cold drink.

The ferry operates continuously throughout the day in high season, with departures roughly every 20 to 30 minutes during peak periods. In the off-season the frequency drops, though service continues daily year-round. Because no advance booking exists and schedules are subject to seasonal adjustment, checking the current timetable through the antiparos.com ferry schedule page before you travel is worthwhile, especially if you are travelling with a vehicle outside summer.

How to Get There

By bus, KTEL buses from Parikia — departing from the main port bus station — serve the Pounda route. The journey takes around 20 to 25 minutes depending on stops. Buses from other parts of Paros also connect to Pounda during summer months.

By car or motorcycle, follow the road signposted toward Pounta from Parikia or from the main island road. The route runs along the western edge of Paros and is straightforward. Parking near the quay is informal and limited, so if you are leaving a car on Paros while you visit Antiparos on foot, arrive with enough time to find a space along the approach road.

By taxi, any Paros taxi driver will know Pounda Port. The ride from Parikia takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes.

There is no dedicated ferry terminal building with accessibility infrastructure. Passengers with limited mobility should be aware that boarding involves a ramp onto the car deck.

Best Time to Visit

The ferry runs year-round, so there is no closed season for the crossing itself. In summer — June through September — the service runs with the highest frequency and shortest gaps between departures. July and August are when vehicle queues are longest, particularly between 11:00 and 14:00 when day-trippers are heading to Antiparos's beaches.

For a relaxed crossing with your car, the early morning is your best option — departing before 09:00 means shorter queues and cooler temperatures on the quay. Returning from Antiparos, mid-afternoon queues in peak summer can be substantial, so either plan an early return or a late dinner on the island and come back in the evening when traffic has thinned.

The Aegean meltemi wind occasionally affects western Paros during July and August, but the sheltered channel between Pounda and Antiparos means the crossing is rarely cancelled due to weather. If conditions are genuinely rough, the longer Parikia–Antiparos Town ferry route may also be affected.

Spring (April–May) and early autumn (September–October) offer the smoothest experience: the service is running regularly, queues are short, and the coast around Pounda is at its least crowded.

Tips for Visiting

• Bring cash. Credit cards are not accepted for ferry tickets. The nearest ATMs are in Parikia or Aliki, so plan ahead rather than scrambling at the quay.
• No reservation is possible. The ferry operates on a first-come, first-served basis for vehicles. Walk-on passengers should not have to wait more than one sailing even in peak season.
• Check the current timetable. Ferry frequency changes between high season and shoulder or winter schedules. The antiparos.com website publishes an updated schedule, and calling the port number (+30 2284 061485) is an option if you need same-day confirmation.
• If you see a ferry waiting, get on it. The website excerpt from Antiparos.com makes this point explicitly: if a ferry is sitting at either quay, do not wait for a scheduled departure — walk up and ask to board.
• Vehicles queue by arrival order. If you are travelling with a car and need to make a specific connection or reach Antiparos by a fixed time, arrive at Pounda with a buffer of at least two sailings' worth of time in summer.
• Foot passengers can combine with buses. The KTEL bus from Parikia port delivers you directly to the Pounda quay, making the car-free day-trip to Antiparos easy and inexpensive — bus plus ferry is the most economical option for solo travellers.
• The return fare is the same as the outbound fare. All tickets are single-journey, so budget €1.50 each way per person on foot, or €7.30 each way per car.
• Small children travel free. This applies to the ferry crossing; confirm current age limits with the operator if needed.
• The crossing is short but exposed to sun. Seven minutes is not long, but if you are on the car deck in August midday heat, a hat is useful. Walk-on passengers usually stand or sit on the open upper deck.
• Pounda village has a beach and a few tavernas. If you are killing time before a departure, the small beach at Pounta is within easy walking distance of the quay.

Activities and Facilities

Pounda Port's primary role is the ferry crossing, but the surrounding area offers a bit more for travellers with time to spare. The beach at Pounta sits just north of the harbour quay — a narrow sandy strip that sees far fewer visitors than the more famous beaches at Santa Maria or Golden Beach, partly because it is primarily a transit point rather than a destination in itself. The water in the channel is clear and the shore is quiet outside the summer rush.

A handful of beach bars and small tavernas serve the area, catering mainly to people waiting for the ferry or to locals from nearby Aliki. Aliki itself, roughly three kilometres south along the coast road, is a more established small harbour with a better selection of fish restaurants and a calmer, less transit-oriented atmosphere — worth a stop if you arrive early.

For visitors using Pounda as a base to explore Antiparos, the ferry makes it easy to cross to the island, rent a scooter or ATV on the other side, and return the same evening. Antiparos Town, the Cave of Antiparos (one of the finest stalactite caves in the Cyclades), and the beaches of the island's west coast are all accessible as a day trip from Paros using this crossing.