Explore the Naxos town

This article, Explore the Naxos Town, will show you the best of the town, including what to see and do, what to eat and drink, when to come, and where to stay.

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About the Naxos town (Chora)

Situated high on a hilltop and guarded by its Venetian castle stands the capital of Naxos – one of the prettiest in the Aegean Islands. It has a rich history, beautiful architecture, narrow winding streets, and plenty of character.

The old town is known as Kastro. And it lies within the old Venetian castle, home to the ruler of the Duchy of Naxos in medieval times.

Kastro’s steep, narrow lanes are so pretty, with cerise-colored bougainvillea tumbling over whitewashed walls, elegant Venetian mansions, and numerous churches. This part of town is car-free too, which makes a leisurely wander easy.

The lanes from Kastro lead downhill to Bourgos to the west, where the Greeks lived during the Venetian occupation. Neo Chorio (New Town) is to the south, where the island’s main port and many of the town’s restaurants, bars, and cafés.

Exploring the Naxos Town

In this part, we will show you what to do and what to see in the town. So, let’s start.

Watch the sunset at Portara.

The very first sight visitors have of the Portara is as they arrive at the port. This magnificent archway was built in 522BC as the entrance gateway to the unfinished Roman Temple dedicated to Apollo. But they never completed it, and its inhabitants later used much of the stone to build the Kastro and its surrounding Venetian mansions.

The scenic view back towards Chora is lovely, especially when lit by the light orange glow of the setting sun. More importantly, you could take iconic photos of the sun setting through the gate. But we must warn you that it can get crowdy here during the summer, so you might have a better experience taking photos early in the morning as the sun rises. Now one will know the difference.

Wandering the maze of little old town lanes

In these twisting and whitewashed laneways, that time seems to stand still. There’s a whole other side to Naxos town, more authentic, that many tourists never get to see. That’s why wandering down the lanes is one of the best ways to explore the Naxos town.

Admire the Kastro (castle)

High above Naxos, overlooking the whitewashed roofs and walls of Naxos’ old town and the shimmering harbor, lies the Venetian Castle of Naxos (Castro). Built by the Venetian Conqueror, Markos II Sanoudos, in 1207, the fortified settlement has been inhabited ever since. So, wandering through the historic quarter is one of the best things on Naxos.

The narrow, covered laneways, historic churches, and cute courtyards make for a picturesque stroll, and there are also many churches and museums worth your time.

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Stroll down the promenade of the Naxos Harbor.

Naxos Harbour is the place to be as the sun slowly descends into the Aegean. Small, scenic, and with the pretty background of Naxos Castle, an afternoon stroll, followed by a drinking cocktail at one of the many bars, is essential.

The best tavernas, bars, and vibes are in the southern end.

Visit the old market.

In the core of the old town is Naxos market, a labyrinth of typical tourist stores selling souvenirs such as linen, shirts, magnets, soaps, etc., and boutiques, art, design, jewelry, and craft stores.

Many visitors find the Naxos market the best in the Cycladic islands, with reasonable prices, authentic pieces, and a more laid-back shopping experience than those in Santorini, Mykonos, or Paros.

Enjoy the town’s closest beach.

Agios Georgios (St George) beach is the town’s closest beach and is easy to reach. Sandy Ayios Georgios is one of the most popular beaches on the island.

Take a boat trip or visit local villages.

There are many boat trips to enjoy during your stay on Naxos, and all leave from the port in the main town. You can go on a boat tour, discover its beaches, or visit nearby islands (Paros, Mykonos, Koufunisia, or Santorini).

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Discover Naxos flavors

Chora has countless restaurants, including family-run tavernas, grill restaurants, and beachside fish tavernas.

Although it is a little island, Naxos offers a display of local dishes to try. We can divide them into three groups: the fish and seafood dishes, the vegetable and beef dishes popular on the plains and usually made with homemade butter, and the goat and lamb delicacies of the mountainous area- always cooked with plenty of local olive oil.

Note: Check out our tips on Choosing the right restaurant on your vacation.

Amongst the ‘must try’ dishes are:

First, every trip to Naxos is complete with a serving of Loukoumades, Greek doughnuts served with honey and topped with cinnamon.
Pig Rosto is a leg of pork stuffed with garlic and braised in wine.
Pork Fricasse is pork cooked with amarando – the leaves of sea lavender.
Zovla is braised goats meat with macaroni.
Zamboni is the island’s excellent cured pork.
Naxos is known for its tasty cheeses, including Graviera of Naxos, Arseniko, and Xynotyro.
The island cake Melachrino is a delicious walnut cake made with Kitron, drenched in syrup, and served with mastic ice cream (kaimaki).
There are vineyards on the north of the island, and some of the island wines are good, but Kitron is popular! The island’s liqueur is made from the citron tree’s fruit and leaves.

When to visit it

No matter where we suggest traveling to, we always recommend visiting during the low seasons. So, when is the best time to explore the Naxos town?

Naxos is most attractive in late spring when the landscape is still lovely and green and sprinkled with numerous wildflowers. During the summer months, the island is hot and very popular. But, in early autumn, it is quiet and relaxing once again.

Naxos is also prone to the summer Northern winds (called Meltemia), which can make the most popular parts of the island extremely windy, with the peaks around July and August.

How to get to Naxos town and how to move around

Naxos has an international airport. However, most of its flights come from Athens or neighboring more popular islands like Santorini or Mykonos. Therefore we recommend some island hopping. For instance, you arrive at Mykonos, visit Naxos, and finally depart from Santorini, as we did.

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Furthermore, there are also good fairy connections with Athens and some other islands, so you’ll have no problem reaching the island by sea.

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Once you are there, you can freely discover the town on foot. But you want to explore other parts (like beaches and inland villages). In that case, you should consider going by bus (the service is reliable) or renting a car or a scooter.
The bus and taxi terminals are at the end of the port pier, and all the car hire offices are also located there. The island bus service is excellent and reliable.

Where to stay

It all depends on your preferences. If you love beaches, then stay near the beach. If you love strolling down the whitewashed lanes, then remain in Castro. We, however, choose something in the middle. That way, we were close to the beach, the old town, the port, and the bus station.

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Final words

Exploring the Naxos town was one of our favorite activities, especially since we adore little towns and villages. But what was the most fascinating about it is that you don’t get to see only this magnificent Cycladic architecture if you decide to stay there, but you also have this fantastic town beach with crystal clear water.

We’d love for you to share some of your impressions with us. How did you Explore the Naxos town?

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