Naxos is the Greek island you were dreaming of with some of the best beaches, villages and food experiences in Greece uncrowded

Naxos it’s like the Greece paradise but without the Hype of the more popular islands Forget the overpriced cocktails and overcrowded beaches of Mykonos or the influencers going to lines to take pictures in Oia village.

Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades, offers a much more relaxed and affordable Greek island experience with some the best beaches in the Greek islands, full of fine golden sand and blue transparent waters like in the Caribbean .

Here’s why you should consider Naxos for your next trip:

• Value for money: Compared to Santorini and Mykonos, Naxos is a bargain in food, accommodation and activities.
• Beaches for all tastes: From windsurfing paradise to family-friendly coves with calm waters, Naxos has a sandy beach for everyone
• A taste of history: Naxos boasts a rich past between ancient ruins, hiking through the mountains and discover charming villages.
• Foodie paradise: Naxos has not only fresh seafood, but also local cheeses, potatoes and delicious local wines.

Basically, Naxos offers everything you want in a Greek island escape: beautiful beaches, delicious food, a rich history without being overpriced or overcrowded . That’s why I liked it so much after doing Mykonos and Santorini, it was really something special!

In this map, you can see that Naxos is located quite close to Mykonos, is located centrally on the Cyclades islands group in Greece.

WHEN TO GO TO NAXOS

The best time to go to Naxos is during European Summertime. In June and then mid August to September is normally less hot and cheaper than during the school holidays high season from July to mid August. Temperatures will be in the low 20s degrees celsius (even below on windy nights) but will reach 30s and more during the day, especially in early August it will be on the 40s degrees celsius zone. Expect no rain during these months.

Despite being fairly busy during Summer as travellers hop on , hop off for day trips in transit to other islands, its still a very quiet island, namely outside the main Chora Town of Naxos, with many places feeling just there for you and a few others.

HOW TO GO TO NAXOS

The best way to get to Naxos is by ferry. You should fly to nearby Mykonos or Santorini and then catch a ferry to Naxos. Very few companies fly directly to Naxos as its a small airport. Take ideally a low cost company such as Ryanair, Wizz Air, Condor, TUI, Transavia, Eurowings to Mykonos or Santorini to also save money. In alternative fly to Athens and from there take a ferry to Naxos.

Ferry services run all Summer long , starting usually in June and ending in September/ October. The biggest ferry companies that can take you to and from Naxos are Blue Star ferries and Seajets. Both are good and reliabe. Seajets is much quicker as it has an Express connection between all Cyclades Islands. You can check schedules and book tickets here:

• Seajets website
• Blue Star ferries website

HOW TO GET AROUND NAXOS

Naxos has a good public transportation system that is great to connect between different towns, especially in the West Coast, with the reliable local bus company called KTEL . Here below you can find the 3 main bus routes that will take you to the top places to see in Naxos – lines 1, 2 and 3:

Here you can see all the lines and time schedules of the Naxos Bus: and in this link you can see the schedules of the Naxos bus

My recommendation is that if you can do rent car, scooter or a cool small buggy for a few days to make some day tours and the rest of the time take the bus or even a taxi if you are in a hurry. There are many local reliable rental car companies that you can use on the island, but call before to make sure you get a vehicle during July/ August they are often sold out. Expect to pay 45-50€/ day, discounts are not common on high season. Road conditions are mostly good in Naxos

On Taxis, most importantly only use the official taxis standing on a line near the airport / town. Never go to a taxi driver at the arrivals , offering you a cheap transfer. Road conditions are mostly good in Naxos

Finally do tour excursions if you prefer not to have worries with transportation, want to party/ connect with others or simply have limited time.

WHERE TO STAY IN NAXOS

The best area to stay in Naxos is on the West coast where the best beaches are located plus the capital Chora Naxos town.

Staying in the capital of Naxos means that you will have plenty of going out options and its very convenient to catch the ferry but the small hotels or villas that extend through the coastline south of Naxos town will give you more quiet nights after long days and also be much closer to the best beach areas.

Here are my 3 top areas to stay in Naxos island:

• Alyko – beautiful mix of forest and beach, remotely located but still only one hour away drive from Naxos town, with lovely secluded bays and very good restaurants and supermarkets nearby
• Kastraki – 15 minutes up north from Alyko, its the start of a long beach stretch that ends up at Mikri Vigla area but its much less touristy, with a couple of restaurants but mostly only villas and small hotels
• Agios Prokopios – where the action starts but still moderate , with excellent beach lounges and restaurants, water is simply incredible and the hotels at the seafront or sprawling up the hillside have SPA or pools facilities

WHERE TO EAT IN NAXOS

If you had only one meal in Santorini, then Fira Town is the best place as where you can see amazing sunsets over the volcano caldera while experiencing .

My absolute favorite restaurants in Naxos were:
⭐️ Macao beach club & restaurant in Agios Prokopios has the best sushi plus South American fusion cuisine and cocktails in Naxos, plus a great beach club feeling but not too loud. Just nearby the Del Mar café offers good value for money pizzas, greek food an more.
⭐️ Faros Tou Alykou in Alyko area is the fine dining experience that will delight you with excellent Greek food while watching the sunset
⭐️Paradise Tavern Kastraki and Blue Lagoon Taverna, both just by the beach in Kastraki are just in the perfect location to hearing the sea waves crashing gently and then going for a beachwalk after a great value meal with traditional local food, over lunch or dinner for the latter and dinner for the former
⭐️Apostolis in Chora Naxos Town is the most incredible setting under paper lanterns and a beautiful decor including a old yellow bike, serving great Greek and Italian food, its always fully packed so come with time and patience to get a table
⭐️520 Cocktail Bar Restaurant in Chora Naxos Town by the harbour seems to be another of the many restaurants facing the beautiful marina, but I really liked the atmosphere and vibes, food and cocktails were excellent
⭐️Vassilis Tavern is one of the most beautiful taverns in Chora Naxos town, being in the middle of the huge maze of Naxos Town with great traditional greek food in a very unique decorated space

⭐️Rotonda restaurant located between the scenic villages of Filoti and Apeiranthos is not only one of the best sunset watching spots in Naxos on the mountains but also boasts excellent food with great value-

Expect to pay 25-30€ for a normal meal cost with beverages and dessert, lunch deals will bring you to 10-15€ per person, if you go for a quick lunch like pizza, burgers or kebab sandwiches.

TOP THINGS TO DO IN NAXOS

Naxos most incredible attractions are its wonderful beaches, that rank among the best in Greece and Europe, with dozens of different options for every taste. Then there are some beautiful villages worth visiting as well as the lovely capital of Naxos called Chora. For hiking lovers, the mountains in Naxos have great paths with stunning views over the coastline.

The must see places in Naxos island are the following:

• Chora Naxos Town
• Agios Prokopios beach
• Alyko beach and forest
• Kastraki beach
• Mikri Vigla beach
• Plaka beach
• Halki village
• Apeiranthos village
• Filoti village
• Sunset at Portara Temple
• Sunset at Rotonda restaurant windmill

In this interactive map of Naxos, you can see the location of all the top things to do in Naxos:

CHORA NAXOS TOWN

Chora Naxos, also known as Naxos Town, is the vibrant and historic capital of Naxos. Here are some of the must-see attractions in Chora Naxos:

1. Portara: The beautiful ruins of an ancient Greek temple with its massive marble doorway. It’s located on the islet linked by a small bridge with breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea and the town.
2. Old Town streets: The medieval Old Town of Naxos area is like a true labyrinth with narrow streets, tunnels and dead ends, full of lively shops, tavernas and cafés.
3. Archaeological Museum: Visit the Archaeological Museum of Naxos to delve into the island’s history
4. Naxos Castle (Kastro): Discover the well-preserved Venetian castle, which was built in the 13th century. It’s a great spot for history and enjoy panoramic views of Naxos town and harbour.
5. Harbour area: Wander through the seaside with its many cafés, bars, ice cream shops and traditional tavernas , especially at night when it gets lively.

AGIOS PROKOPIOS BEACH

Agios Prokopios is a half moon bay being one of the most spectacular beaches in Naxos. The sea here is like taken from a Caribbean island transparent blue with a soft golden sand that make it a spectacular beach trip from Chora Naxos Town, only 15 minutes drive north.

I especially liked the great sun lounges, restaurants and summer vibes, really a great place to enjoy a great beach day with all services nearby. I liked mostly the Macao beach restaurant, with its excellent food and cocktails plus service. Near Agios Prokopios is Agia Anna beach that has many fishing boats and is smaller.

ALYKO BEACH AND FOREST

Alyko is one of the most beautiful areas in Naxos island and my personal favorite as it has a collection of beach coves amidst a large cedar forest background and sea cliffs. It also has some great restaurants namely the Villa Faros.

The Little Hawaii beach is a true gem here, plus Mikrogialos and Alykos beach itself forming an incredible beach trio protected from winds and with calm azure waters perfect for the best snorkeling area in Naxos.

KASTRAKI BEACH

Kastraki Beach in Naxos is worth visiting for its golden sand, crystal-clear waters, and tranquil atmosphere. The beach is less crowded than other popular beaches on the island, allowing you to enjoy a more relaxing seaside experience.

Additionally, Kastraki Beach is surrounded by stunning natural scenery, including dunes and impressive rock formations, making it a picturesque spot for nature lovers. There are very few restaurants here but the ones there are all top quality and quite affordable, being located just a few meters away from the beach.

I stayed here for a couple of nights and can guarantee its really peaceful without any big parties going on.

MIKRI VIGLA BEACH

Mikri Vigla beach is a tale of two beaches separated by a giant rock. On the southern side its almost like a nature pool with crystal clear calm waters and on the northern side its really windy and a windsurfers paradise.

Its worth climbing up to the top of the rock for 10 minutes for an incredible panorama of both Mikri Vigla beaches and of Naxos western coastline.

PLAKA BEACH

Considered by many one of the most beautiful in Naxos, this large beach does live up to its name and gives you all you can expect from a Greek paradise beach with nice sun lounges and beautiful sand dunes contrasting with a blue transparent sea.

I like especially the fact that you have a bus stopping close enough and there are nice bars and restaurants, feeling less busy than Agios Prokopios or Mikri Vigla beach.

HALKI VILLAGE

In the heart of Naxos mountsind, the picturesque Halki village can attract travelers with its rich heritage, with labyrinthic alleys, cobblestone streets and many beautiful cafés, tavernas and artisan workshops. I really liked this authentic experience in Naxos because it brought me to a completely different Naxos, very peaceful and laid-back.

I would recommend having a meal here at Halki before heading further inland to Filoti and Apeiranthos villages, under the beautiful bouganvillea trees colourful shadow.

APEIRANTHOS VILLAGE

If Halki Village is already charming, I think that Apeiranthos is even more stunning. To start with, its location on the hill looks like taken from a postcard as the white and brown houses stretch down the hill. Then the cobblestone streets and courtyards are just beautiful, with locals and travellers blending in. Finally the trees seem to embrace the old castle walls and buildings like no other town in Naxos.

I was really very impressed by this town in the middle of Naxos mountains because it gave me a quite unique picture of how beautiful Naxos is beyond the beaches and main town.

FILOTI VILLAGE

Nestled between Halki and Apeiranthos, Filoti is the White pearl city of Naxos that you must stop to admire its architecture and tree laned streets that make it really beautiful among the mountains scenery.

I liked especially the main square, churches and how the white houses are so well aligned, feeling like its a large amphitheater. I didn’t have the chance to visit the Cave of Zas above the town, supposedly the cave that Zeus, the Father of the Greek Gods spent his childhood, full of stalagmite and stalactites.

SUNSET AT PORTARA TEMPLE

Portara temple is already a highlight of Naxos but to be there at sunset is one of the most beautiful experiences in Naxos as you can frame the sunset with the main temple arch, probably one of the only places you can do that in Greece.

It will feel a little more crowded as many travelers flock into this location but you will have enough space to take some beautiful pictures. Also the panorama of Naxos town under the last sun rays becomes a magical orange color on its beautiful white houses. An experience that you won’t forget!

SUNSET AT ROTONDA RESTAURANT WINDMILL

My final recommendation is to hike to the windmill above Rotonda restaurant, an extremely beautiful scenery for breathtaking views of Naxos mountains and the western and eastern coastlines. Its absolutely magical at sunset as you will see all orange and red shades in the sky across the landscapes.

And of course then you can have a meal at Rotonda restaurant to round it up!

Stay also tuned for posts for more Greece islands and have a look to the posts already published. Send me any questions per message or comment below.

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