Naoussa sits on the north coast of Paros, built around a half-moon harbour where fishing boats still outnumber day-trip vessels — just. A ruined Venetian castle juts into the water at the harbour entrance, and in the evenings the waterfront fills with tables from the tavernas that line the quay. The streets behind are a satisfying maze of whitewashed walls, bougainvillea, and small churches.
It is the most liveable part of Paros: genuinely pretty without being manicured, with good restaurants, a beach nearby at Lageri, and several more beaches a short drive away at Santa Maria and Monastiri. The morning fish market on the waterfront is worth seeing if you happen to be up early. Naoussa also makes a better base than Parikia for exploring the north of the island.