Naxos is the largest of the Greek Cyclades islands even if it is not the best known (compared to Mykonos or Santorini) or even the capital of the Cyclades (that title belongs to Syros). As the largest island, it follows that there is plenty for a visitor to do and see on the island and it means that you do need to stay for more than a couple of days to get the full Naxos experience.
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Naxos is not the easiest island to access for international visitors. It has a small airport for domestic flights to connect with Athens but otherwise, ferry travel is the most common way to get there. The positive of this is that the island is quiet outside the August peak – if you like it relaxed, the best times to visit are June and September (the water is warmest in September).
Why visit Naxos?
Naxos Island offers a great diversity of attractions:
- Historical landmarks, linking back to mythology
- Many long sandy beaches
- An attractive main harbor
- A Chora (old town) that’s fun to explore
- Mountain and seaside villages to explore
- Excellent quality food using local produce
To sum it up, Naxos is the perfect all-around Greek island. There’s plenty for all types of families, including those with young children, couples, older visitors, and even singles.
Things to do in Naxos
This article will reveal some of the best things to see and do on Naxos island. You will discover an island that does cater significantly to tourists but still maintains much of the old way of life, especially away from the main tourist areas.
So here are the best things to do in Naxos, Greece:
1. Stroll around Naxos Chora
Naxos Chora (Old Town) is a splendid example of what you would expect from a Cycladic Chora: whitewashed houses, narrow alleys, cute shops, cats (of course), and plenty of places to stop and eat or drink. It is a bit of a maze, and you might well get lost – but if you try to keep going up, you’ll eventually find the 13th-century Kastro (castle) at the highest point.
The Venetians built the Kastro in the 13th century as protection against any invaders and was used to house a school and a cathedral, both of which are visible today. The area is well preserved with several original gates and the Glezos Tower. For today’s visitors, an elevator provides access to the Avaton Cafe which offers great views out across the water.
There are plenty of places to eat and drink as well; Metaxi Mas and Apostolis are two well-known traditional tavernas worth visiting. Apostolis has a good atmosphere in a courtyard setting but can be a bit chaotic at busy times though and you may have to wait for a table.
2. Enjoy the sunset over the harbor
As sunset approaches, you’ll see people gathering in the bars and restaurants along the harbor waterfront, particularly up on the first floor of the bars and restaurants. Places like Flamingo, 520 Bar, and Swing Bar serve up cocktails and nibbles to while away the time as the spectacular colors develop in the Greek sky.
You’ll find it difficult to resist taking photos as the orange sky provides a perfect backdrop to the masts of the boats moored at the harbor. Then once the sun has gone, you can stroll to your choice of dinner venue around the town.
3. Relax at the beach
Naxos has some lovely long sandy beaches for you to enjoy and the best blue water to cool off in when you need to. You can choose to rent one of the comfortable beds/umbrellas and get service from the cafes or you can go your own way and roll out your towel where you like – there’s plenty of room on most of the beaches.
As you move south from Naxos Town you’ll find Georgios, Prokopios, Anna, Maragkas, Plaka, and Orkos beaches. All are sandy and tend to get less busy and less organized as you head further south. The best news is that they are relatively shallow and good for young families, and they all have bars/cafes nearby to keep you fed and watered.
4. Check out Graffiti Hotel at Alyko
Alyko is 17kms south of Naxos town and there you’ll find a half-finished building (‘Graffiti Hotel’) that has been decorated by various graffiti artists, some of the designs being stunning. Just be careful wandering around the grounds because some of the areas are a little uneven.
After you admire the artwork, you can admire some natural features. There are 2 nice beaches nearby – Hawaii (a bit wild but sandy) and Pyrgaki (some facilities at the southern end, which is the nicer part). There is also the Alyko Forest which has more sand hills and small cedars than a full-on forest.
5. Drive through the mountains to Appollonas
A drive through the central part of Naxos with stops in the villages will give you a flavor of the real Cyclades. A good itinerary is to head across the island to the northeastern seaside village of Appollonas and then return to Naxos Town via the coastal road. It’s quite a day of driving and sightseeing – but well worth it.
Start by heading inland via Mili and Kinidaros – on the way you’ll see the impressive marble mining operation from the road – then on to Moni. The ELaiolithos Café is a nice place to stop here. It has a nice view and a good range of local dishes.
Then onto Sifones and Koronos, another attractive village for a break. After Skado and Mesi, you’ll head down towards Appollonas which is an attractive bay village with a group of cafes/tavernas and a sandy shore. A good place for a lunch stop.
You can head back via the coastal road, passing the ruined Venetian tower of Ayia, through Kampos and Akrotiri. When you get to Eggares, have a stop at the Olive Oil Museum – the friendly guides will teach you all about the history of olive oil making on Naxos and you can sample some of the local produce. It’s just a short drive then back into Naxos Town.
6. Sample the local produce
One of the best aspects of visiting the various islands is experiencing the variations in food between the different destinations. They all pride themselves on their cheeses, olive oils, wines, and special dishes – Naxos is no exception.
Cheeses of Naxos
Naxos is a cheese lover’s paradise. With a wide range of textures and flavors to choose from, including the gentle, creamy Mizithra (perfect for Greek salads if you have a choice) and the hard, pungent, and strong Arseniko, everybody is sure to find something they love.
The main cheeses on Naxos are:
- Xinomizithra – a soft fresh white cheese, slightly sour
- Mizithra – milky and slightly sweet
- Graveria – a salty, medium-hard cheese
- Arseniko – hard, strong and salty
- Xynotiro – another hard cheese, good for baked dishes
Visit the eclectic Tziblakis Traditional Shop on Papavasileiou Street in Naxos Town (they sell pots, spices, and pretty much anything else you can imagine) and the nearby Naxos Cheese Koufopoulos for a cheese tasting and to pick up some favorites to try later.
Naxian potatoes
The humble potato is an important crop on Naxos and around 8 million tons are produced every year. They are a key component of some very important Greek dishes such as Moussaka and Lemon Potatoes (both delicious – we loved to try them whenever we could).
Naxos honey
Honey is another renowned product of Naxos, utilizing particularly the local thyme to produce lovely-tasting honey. Heather and spring flower honey are two other popular variations but try them all and see what you like. Just be aware of any restrictions on taking honey back into your home country.
Farm tours
There are quite a few options to visit local farms or take cooking classes. All of them will give you a hands-on experience to help you prepare some local favorite dishes, answer your questions about life on Naxos, and give you the chance to taste the local cheeses and other products. And raki of course.
7. Photograph the Portara
If you arrive at Naxos Port by ferry, you can’t miss seeing the Potara (Great Door). This giant marble structure (6 by 3.5 meters) is all that remains of a temple planned by Lygdamis and started in the 6th century BC. When war broke out between Naxos and Samos, work was halted and never restarted. The structure was planned to be 30 meters tall – imagine what that would have looked like.
Now visitors can cross the narrow causeway linking the town to the Palatia islet to admire what’s left. It was here according to myth that Theseus left Ariadne after he defeated the Minotaur on Crete. The Portara is still an impressive landmark and photographers can capture it in all the different lights thrown by the Greek sun. The crowds gather at sunset for particularly impressive shots, but it is hard to avoid too many people in the background.
8. Hike up to Zeus’ childhood cave
Mythology suggests that Zeus sought refuge in this cave outside Filoti and it was here that he was given the light that made him ruler of Olympus. The hike is quite a challenge with some spectacular views – wear good solid climbing shoes, take water, and allow up to an hour depending on your level of fitness.
Hiking in the morning before the heat of the day is also a good idea. The cave itself is quite impressive—over 100 meters high in some places—and contains good examples of stalactites and stalagmites.
If you are looking for a challenge, you can continue the climb toward the summit of Mount Zas (altitude 1,000 meters). But that is a serious hiking outing.
9. Head to the fishing village of Moutsouna
A little further on from Apeiranthos heading east, you’ll come to the cute fishing village of Moutsouna where there will likely be a small collection of fishing boats ready to go out the next day. There are also remnants of machinery for loading emery stones mined nearby onto haulage boats for delivery around the world.
Several tavernas are serving (of course) decent seafood lunches and afterward you can explore up and down the coast, checking out the beaches of Psili Ammos and Ligaridia before making the trip home.
For a quick stop on the road back, check out the landmark ‘Boats and Goats’. Here you’ll find boats left high and dry 700m above sea level and a family of goats that have taken refuge there. Also on the way home, Filoti is a very nice village to stop at.
10. Taste the Kitron liqueur at Halki
Halki is another lovely village in the Naxos hills and it’s very popular with hikers given all the trails around the village. It is also home to the Vallindras Distillery (founded in 1896) which produces the Kitron liqueur from the raw ingredient of leaves from the Kitron tree. If you visit the distillery, you can learn all about the distillation process and try the three different versions produced, varying alcohol % and sugar content.
When you’re in Halki, have a good wander around the village alleyways and have some more refreshments in the square. Someone may be spit-roasting some meat for dinner, giving off some pleasant aromas. You can also visit the Fish and Olive Gallery for superior art, ceramics, and jewelry.
Close to Halki is Apeiranthos, the marble village, and one of the best villages on Naxos. The use of marble and Venetian-inspired architecture makes for some good-looking houses and a chance to explore, including spotting the coats of arms over the doors of the houses showing the occupations of the original owners. Apeiranthos is also home to four different museums and the largest library on the Cyclades.
11. Take a boat trip to Koufonisia
Koufonisia is a small island just off the southeast coast of Naxos and it’s worth visiting if you’re looking for an outing on the water. There are 2 islands – Ano Koufonisia is the main one with most of the accommodations and restaurants and Kato Koufonisia is uninhabited but beautiful.
Boat trips from Naxos Port typically visit beaches in the south of Naxos and then call in at both Koufonisia islands. There’s plenty of time to stop and swim and enjoy the souvlaki meals that the crews serve up. Along with the usual Greek spirits of course. It’s a big day and you’ll be guaranteed to be happily tired as you arrive back in Naxos in time for dinner.
FAQs about visiting Naxos
What is Naxos best known for?
Naxos is best known for its stunning beaches, charming villages, ancient ruins (especially the Portara), delicious food, and laid-back atmosphere.
How many days should I spend in Naxos?
You can easily spend a week or more in Naxos, but 3-5 days on Naxos Island is enough to see the highlights.
Is Naxos expensive?
Naxos is one of the most affordable Greek islands to visit. It is generally less expensive than other Cyclades islands like Santorini and Mykonos.
When is the water warmest in Naxos?
The warmest water temperature in Naxos is in August, averaging around 76.6°F / 24.8°C.
What is the best time of year to visit Naxos?
The best time to visit Naxos is during the spring (May-June) or fall (September-October) when the weather is pleasant and there are fewer crowds.
How do I get around Naxos?
The best way to get around Naxos is by bus, which is cheap and reliable. You can also rent a car or scooter if you want to explore the island at your own pace.
Ready to visit Naxos?
You can see that there are plenty of places to see and fun things to do in Naxos.
However, it is the people you encounter that help make a Greek Island holiday more than just places and things and you will find the locals on Naxos will go out of their way to be welcoming and helpful to the visitors they get from all over the world.
When George (the manager at our accommodation) found out that my wife Fiona was a keen home baker, he suggested we visit the Vivlos bakery to see breads and biscuits being made. We did visit and despite very little English being spoken, the bakery team welcomed Fiona into the kitchen and showed off their skills as she attempted to ask questions about their process. The result was much laughter and joy for all.
So please visit Naxos, enjoy the sights, activities, and foods, and engage with the residents for a memorable Greek Island holiday.
This article was written by Paul Carter. Paul & Fiona have been visiting the Greek islands over the past 20 years and have developed an affinity with the relaxed and friendly Greek way of life. They have convinced many friends and family to follow them over the years and now have created a website to share their knowledge with a wider audience. Read more of their stories at www.cycladesholiday.com.
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