Boasting the iconic winding cobble-stone alleys, an old castle on a hilltop, the mountain where Zeus was born, and a breathtaking coastline, the island of Naxos quickly stole my heart and became one of my favorites of the Greek isles.
Naxos is the largest of the Cycladic islands and offers a plethora of things to do from kite surfing, hiking, spotting the Venetian architecture, to exploring remote mountain villages. It’s one of those places you can spend a week exploring and never get bored.
Here is a guide to enjoying all that Naxos has to offer no matter how long the trip!
Where to Stay
With Naxos being a larger island, there is no shortage of amazing places to stay. The main hub of the island is Chora, which means town in Greek and is pronounced horrya (with a rolled R sound). I definitely recommend staying here since it’s close to the airport, sea port, and night life!
We stayed at this amazing AirBNB in the heart of the old castle in Chora. It was decently priced (we paid $250 a night for 5-person apartment) in a great location, not to mention the hosts were phenomenal! They will meet you at the port and walk you through the weaving alleys to the doorstep of the picturesque Cycladic apartment house. Within an hour of sitting at the table outside of the apartment, we had at least 10 people stopping to take a photo of the picturesque steps leading up to our house. The hosts will give you the full run-through of the house, what to do on Naxos, and stock the fridge with amazing goods from their farm! If you stay for long enough, they may even take you to their farm where they make delicious olive oil!
Another great location to stay is along the Western coast of Naxos in one of the beach towns. Agios Prokopios or Plaka are both beautiful beach towns to stay in with enough restaurants that it won’t feel too secluded.
Getting to and from the island
There is a small, easy airport to fly between Naxos and Athens. It’s about a 5-10 min drive from the Chora. Flights can cost around $55-90. The other option is taking a ferry. It’s easy and less expensive than a flight but may take longer depending on where you’re coming from. From Athens, the ferry takes about 4-5 hrs and can cost around $40; or from other islands, such as Santorini, the trip takes 2 hrs and can cost around $25.
Getting Around
With Naxos being a large island, renting a car, scooter, or ATV is your best option, but taking the bus is still doable as well!
Renting an ATV is my recommendation because a lot of the roads will end up being a rocky dirt trail. And there is limited parking in most towns so an ATV is small enough to fit almost anywhere. A car, ATV, or scooter will cost you around $30 per day and gas is relatively cheap on Naxos. Most rental places will have the same costs, but I recommend Naxos Akrogiali Rent A Car & Moto right next to the port. If you plan on riding the ATVs with 2 people get the higher cc. It’ll give you that peace of mind that you won’t overheat the engine while going up the mountainsides and give you a little more horsepower.
If you’re wondering about safety, a car will be the safest option of course. Scooters are slightly easier to control around bends than ATVs, but they don’t maneuver as well on the dirt roads. ATVs are perfectly safe, but make sure you really slow down on the turns. They don’t have a great turn radius and a majority of accidents happen due to tourists speeding around bends. Plus the ATVs have big storage boxes on the back. Bring a little lock if you want to lock up your valuables inside!
The bus can be an easy way to get around if you don’t want to rent a vehicle. It’ll cost you anywhere from 1-7 euros depending on where you’re going. The main hub is in Chora right near the port. You can find the schedule there, but here is a sample one with the locations they go to and from.
Things to Know
- When to go
- The best months to go are in the summertime, from May to September. May is still slightly colder at an average high of 71°F, so that’s why I recommend September. The temperature is a high of 77°F, and it’s slightly less crowded than the main summer months, but still crowded enough to have all the shops and restaurants open.
- What to pack
- Since this island offers adventure and relaxation, your itinerary will dictate what you pack. I recommend easy walking shoes or sandals. Leave those heels at home so you can explore those winding alleyways. It’s a pretty casual vibe in the evenings here. Be sure to pack some athletic clothes and shoes if you plan on heading up to Mount Zeus. And if you’re planning on heading to the beach or partaking in some of the fun water sports this island has to offer, pack an appropriate bathing suit.
Where to Eat & Drink
A note on Naxian cuisine: This island is known for their locally produced foods. You definitely need to try their potatoes and other vegetables since they’re extremely fresh!
- Meze 2: Great place in Chora for dinner. They have plenty of options and all are delicious! Try their potato salad, and make sure to get a table before 10pm when they get extremely busy!
- Flamingo Cafe/Bar: If you want one of those plate smashing, Greek dancing kind of nights, head to Flamingo! You will need ot make a reservation ahead of time to ensure you get a spot in the courtyard with the live music, or try sitting on the balcony for a wonderful view of Chora and more relaxing environment.
- 1739 Terrasse Cafe: This cute cafe is buried in the heart of old Chora. The view makes this cafe a beautiful place to relax and grab a coffee or drink!
- Jazz & Blues bar: Little cafe (right next to the AirBnB listed) that comes alive at night with relaxing music and drinks.
- Duetto: A restaurant located right in Filoti’s main square. They have plenty of options for all diets, but make sure to try the gigantes!
What to do:
- Chora: The main town on Naxos, Chora offers weaving pathways to get lost discovering little restaurants, bars, and shops. The main street is full of bustling restaurants offering delicious meals and good times!
- The Castle of Naxos: The old Venetian castle can be found by winding up the alleyways in Chora. There are over 10 different sites to discover amongst the apartments, shops, and restaurants.
- Portara: Known as the Great Door, this temple was built in 500BC, but was never completed. Now it stands as a beautiful gateway welcoming visitors to its shores.
- Cave and Mount Zeus: Hailed as the cave where Zeus (or Zas) grew up, this is a beautiful, slightly challenging hike. Pass the charming town of Filoti and follow the signs for the Cave of Zas. The cave is about 20 mins up past the Aria Springs. Be sure to bring a strong flashlight as there is big holes in the cave floor to watch out for, the light from your cellphone or a standard flashlight is not enough to illuminate much. After the cave, head (or scramble) 10 mins up the rock gully and find the trail on the left, right near a tree. Be on the look out as it’s easy to miss the trail! You will see little spray painted red dots denoting the path. The hike will take between 2-3 hours depending on your speed, and give you a magical view from the highest point in the Cyclades.
- Kouros of Apollanos & Flerio: Dating back to the 7th century, these 35 ft giant marble statues can be find in both Apollanos and Flerio. These statues were mysteriously found unfinished and it’s still unknown why they were left here.
- Temple of Demeter: Located in the middle of the Naxian countryside, this temple dates back to the 6th century. It’s open air marble walls stand quietly waiting to be discovered. I recommend using an ATV to get here as some of the roads may be bumpy (and fun!) dirt roads.
- Aliko & Hawaii beach: Bet when you booked a trip to a Greek island you didn’t expect to get to go to Hawaii, huh? Aliko & Hawaii should definitely be on your must-visit list. It’s a beautiful set of tiny beaches with the perfect water for swimming set beneath a small juniper forest. There’s even a food truck offering tasty cold drinks and great food! They even have a delicious vegan option!
- Day trip to Koufonissi: Only a 2-hour boat ride from Naxos, these two small islands are a paradise all their own. Ano Koufonissi offers restaurants, bars, & hotels, while Kato Koufonissi in an uninhabited island featuring beautiful beaches.
- Koronos: A town known for having tasty and high quality wine. Be sure to wear your walking shoes though, as this town is embedded into a hillside and has a plethora of steps!
- Explore the countryside: One of my favorite things to do in Naxos was riding our ATVs and exploring the roads of Naxos. From the mountainside to the beaches, the views around the island are breathtaking. Member to lather on that sunscreen as you won’t feel the burn coming with the breeze hitting you.
- Halki: A tiny picturesque village complete with Venetian towers and Byzantine churches. Make sure to stop by the Vallindras Kitron Distillery and try out this tasty liqueur made on the island.
- Kite Surfing: There are a few beaches where you can learn to kite surf, but one of the major ones is Mikri Vigla. Even if you don’t want to participate, it’s an entertaining place to stop for a snack and watch the kite surfers go soaring into the air and return to the sea.
- Plaka Beach: Being one of the bigger beaches, Plaka has plenty of places to stay and eat. Here you can relax, try a water sport, or just stop into one of the tavernas for a cool drink.
- Agios Prokopios: Boasting beautiful award winning shores, this beach is a favorite amongst those visiting the island. It has plenty of places to stay, eat, drink and have fun.
- Agios Georgios Beach: This beach is located right next to Hora. It’s perfect for an easy trip to the beach and its shores allow you to wade far out into the ocean before it gets deep. Great for kids!
- Panagia Drosiani: This little church dates back to the 6th century. The murals on the walls and old hallways are decently preserved and amazing to look at. Make sure to give a small donation to help them with the church upkeep!
- Filoti: If you’re heading to Mount Zeus, make sure you stop by this village on your way back for a replenishing drink and meal. There are many great restaurants and folk culture stops, not to mention the drive there is stunning.
- Moutsana: A small seaside village on the eastern side of Naxos holding remote beaches at the end of a beautiful drive.
- Vivlos: This large village has the typical Cycladic houses, narrow alleys. and ancient windmills sitting on the surrounding hillside. Be careful which road you choose to drive down if your vehicle is large!
Want more Greece blogs? Check out my Santorini and Milos ones!
