Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades islands and, certainly, one of the most beautiful Greek islands! In our Naxos travel guide, you will find essential things about your holidays there. Discover the things to do and to see. Furthermore, we will reveal some of the most fantastic beaches on the island, recommended hotels and restaurants, and a lot more.
Naxos is truly a heaven on Earth. So, are you ready to discover it?
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Naxos Travel Guide – Top Things To Do and To See
Naxos is truly a heaven on Earth. So, are you ready to discover it?
Visit Naxos Chora
The capital of Naxos carries all the typical features of a Cyclades island. Its heart beats in Old Chora, the fortified town with the cobble-stone alleys and the Venetian walled houses. The front doors of the grand residences still bear the coat of arms of Venetian owners; the narrow backstreets and the galleries, the catholic churches, and the fortifications have created a unique mixing of Cycladic and medieval architecture. Quite a few of its monuments date to various historical periods. Visit the Archaeological Museum, where you’ll see many finds dating as far back as the Late Neolithic period and up until the Early Christian times. The impressive collection of Cycladic figurines holds a prominent position among the displays.
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Enjoy the Sunset at Protara
The very first sight visitors have of the Portara is as they arrive at the port. They are the only remains of the ancient Apollo temple. More importantly, you could take iconic photos of the sun setting through the gate. However, everything comes with a price. As one of the most popular spots on the island, the area can get quite crowdy during the peak season.
Best Naxos Beaches
Beaches in Naxos differ from those in other Cycladic islands due to their various forms and characteristic length. Most of them have soft fine sand and crystal blue waters. The most charming sandy ones are on the island’s western side, which is also the most touristy and developed. On the other hand, the eastern beaches are more wild and pristine.
One has tranquil waters, while others, like Mikri Vigla and Amitis, are famous for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Now, let’s explore the best beaches together.
Mikri Vigla Beach on Naxos
The breathtaking beach of Mikri Vigla on Naxos Island is 12 kilometers away from the capital. It consists of two enchanting sandy beaches with incredible
Plaka Beach on Naxos
Plaka Beach in Naxos used to be just a nudists’ beach. It is now one of the most popular beaches there. During high season, there
Agios Prokopios beach
Agios Prokopios beach in Naxos lies on the western side of the island, 5 km away from the center of Naxos Town.It is one of
Food in Naxos
Our Naxos Travel guide will also show you what to eat while vacationing on the island. Firstly, places to eat and drink in Naxos are numerous and spread throughout the island. Most restaurants, café, and bars in Naxos lie in Chora, either along the port promenade or in the Old Town. Many taverns and beach bars are along the beaches, especially those on the western side, such as Agia Anna, Plaka, Agios Prokopios, Agios Georgios, and more. Furthermore, visitors will find many taverns serving palatable dishes in the country villages of Naxos, like Halki, Apiranthos, Koronos, Filoti, and others.
So, if there is something that you will never forget from your trip to Naxos, it’s the mouthwatering cuisine. What is unique about Naxian cuisine is the balanced combination of Cretan and Cycladic elements.
During your vacation in Naxos, we recommend that you try the following:
- Delicious Naxian potatoes (the island’s most famous product!)
- Arseniko (local cheese made from goat’s and sheep’s milk)
- Graviera (a type of local cheese made from cow’s milk)
- Kitron (citron liqueur)
- Gouna (sun-dried fish)
- Zamboni (locally produced salt-cured ham, similar to prosciutto)
- honey jams and glyka tou koutaliou (“spoon sweets”), traditional desserts made from fruit preserved in syrup
Shrimp Saganaki (shrimp served with feta and tomato sauce)
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Nightlife in Naxos
Although the nightlife in Naxos is moderate, there are numerous bars to enjoy a drink and listen to music. Many bars are in Naxos Town or on well-known beaches such as Agios Prokopios. Naxos Town also has a few clubs that stay open until the early hours and mostly play Greek music.
You can also find popular nightlife spots in various villages on the island. And that’s not all! Throughout the year, especially during the summer, Naxos hosts many music gigs, theater performances, and cultural and food festivals.
Filoti village on Naxos
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Naxos villages
The island is also home to unforgettable traditional villages.
So, it’s always a fantastic idea to rent a car or a scooter when visiting it; this gives you the freedom and the flexibility to spend days exploring off-the-beaten-path landscapes.
There are several small settlements to explore when you venture far from the coast; the most famous and picturesque ones are Halki and Apeiranthos.
They are close, so you can dedicate a day to visiting both. From the center of Naxos’ Chora, drive north to reach the Halki, one of the best-known traditional villages you can check and the former capital of Naxos island. It is best known for being home to a unique distillery called Vallindras, producing the most famous Naxos spirit since 1896: Kitron.
Another vital settlement on Naxos is Apeiranthos, an original village wholly made of marble. Furthermore, according to visitors, it is the most picturesque village on the island, located 26 km from the capital, between two green valleys, at an altitude of 650 meters. Here you can taste the most authentic local gastronomy and explore the different museums the village proudly hosts.
Another village is the whitewashed Filoti village, amphitheatrically built on the steep slopes of Mount Zas. It is one of the island’s most famous, well-known for its olive groves and little Byzantine churches.
How to get to Naxos
Naxos has a small airport, so you will likely have an indirect flight if you come from outside Europe. First, you will land in Athens and then fly from Aithen’s International Airport to Naxos Airport.
For those coming from Europe, it is easier. Although there are few direct flights to the island, except charter flights, you can fly to neighboring islands (Mykonos, Santorini). Usually, the prices are affordable.
The next and most probable option is to take a ferry. Naxos can be easily reached by ferry from Athens (port of Piraeus, Rafina, or Lavrio) and most nearby islands.
We usually use Ferry Hopper App for booking a ferry and Sky Scanner for booking flights.
How to move around Naxos
Naxos has an intercity bus (KTEL) that runs daily services from Chora to the island’s villages and beaches. There are also taxis, though rides can be pretty expensive.
Naxos is a big island, so we suggest renting a vehicle to explore it. You can find gas stations in and around Chora and some of the island’s main roads.
How many days should you stay there?
Naxos is a large island with many sights, villages, and beaches. We recommend 3 to 5 days in Naxos to visit as many places as possible. Naxos is a multifaceted island, so you need days to understand it. But if you need more, you can see the must-sees in a day or two.
Where to stay in Naxos?
It always depends on a few factors. So firstly, you’ll need to answer a few questions.
Would you like to stay in a hotel or an apartment?
Would you like to stay near the beach or in a town? If you want the first choice, several excellent facilities are near the beaches on the island’s west side. So booking a room near Agios Prokopios Beach, Plaka Beach, or Mikri Virgla Beach would be your best choice.
Do you like more tranquil and authentic places, or would you rather stay at the center of attention? If you want a more authentic vibe, consider one of the inland villages mentioned before. However, suppose you’d like to be in the center, where everything is easily accessible. In that case, consider staying in Chora.
The next question you should ask yourself is whether you drive a car. If not, then Chora would be your best option. It’s near the bus station, beach, and old town.
If you already have the answers to the fundamental questions, you can freely book your accommodation here.
Naxos Travel Guide Tip: Visit Noussa and its beaches nearby as a one-day tour.
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Useful info about Naxos
Chora offers a modern city’s amenities: supermarkets, banks, ATMs, pharmacies, a post office, a hospital, and numerous shops.
As for accommodation, there are plenty of hotels and rooms in Chora and other villages on the island. You can also find some campsites close to the port.
Final words
Naxos is still under the radar destination compared to other more famous islands in Greece. Still, it deserves the top spots among the best. That was the main reason we wrote this Naxos Travel guide. However, now it is your turn. What did you like about this island? And if not, which other island would you recommend?
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