Naxos is a gorgeous island, with some of the most beautiful beaches
in all of Greece. It’s also known for its fabulous food, quaint mountain villages,
and ancient ruins. The island is the largest in the Cyclades Island group,
located directly between Santorini and Mykonos, and to the east of Paros. Its verdant landscape
is covered in greenery, including farms, vast olive groves and fruit orchards, and lots of
mountains. A visit to Naxos is an excellent choice both as a complement to the more popular
nearby islands of Santorini and Mykonos, or as an alternative with fewer tourists.
Naxos is a short 2 hour ferry ride from Santorini, or 3 hours from Athens,
and many people enjoy including a visit to nearby Naxos before or after as well. Like
Paros, Naxos is a popular kiteboarding and windsurfing destination, with the seasonal
Meltemi winds drawing both beginners and seasoned pros from mid-July to mid-August.
Before we go any further, know that everything you see featured in this video, plus in depth travel
guides to all of Greece’s best islands including Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Paros and more- plus
leading destinations across Europe including Paris, London, Rome, Amsterdam, and Lisbon, can be
found on our site at SantoriniDave.com. Don’t miss our 2 great maps featuring Where To Stay in Naxos
and The Best Beaches in Naxos; and you can find those links in the description below this video.
Here are our 8 favorite areas in Naxos that we recommend for tourists: Naxos Town,
Agios Giorgios, Stelida, Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna, Plaka Beach, Mikri Vigla, Aliyko,
and a handful of mountain villages including Moni, Chaalki, Filoti, and Apeiranthos.
Most visitors to Naxos stay in Naxos Town, also known as Chora,
or in the beach towns of Agios Giorgios, Agios Prokopios, and Agia Anna. If you have the time,
a stay in one of the mountain villages is an awesome way to experience the local culture,
eat some great food, and enjoy the gorgeous landscape.
We begin with Naxos Town, the commercial center of the island. This is where you’ll
find the greatest concentration of hotels, restaurants, and bars. It’s also the main
ferry port where most guests arrive to and depart from, though there’s also an airport
with service to Athens only. Here is also home to the iconic Temple of Apollo known as the Portara,
perched on a sea-surrounded hilltop overlooking the town. The stunning ruins of its stone gate are
all that remain of an unfinished 1,400 year old temple. The site is free and open to the public,
and a wonderful place to enjoy the sunset. Like many Cycladic villages, Naxos Town
is a warren of narrow, stone footpaths and stairways, full of small shops and restaurants,
and centuries-old churches, that are a pleasure to explore on foot.
Short term or first time visitors will appreciate Naxos Town for its compactness, easy access to
both the ferry port and other parts of the island, and overall walkability. Most hotels in Naxos Town
are budget or rentals directly from owners, though Hotel Grotta is a great choice that we love.
Agios Giorgios or Saint George, is the closest beach to Naxos Town.
This beach is a great choice for families, as the location on a small bay, is protected from
the wind, with calm and clear water. The long sandy stretch has many chill restaurants, and
beach clubs offer umbrellas and sunbeds. And at the south end of the beach, a watersports center
offers kitesurfing, windsurfing, sailing, and cycling equipment for rent. From here it’s an easy
and enjoyable walk to Naxos Town for cocktails or dinner after a long day at the beach. Our favorite
hotels on Agios Giorgios are Nissaki Beach Hotel, Korali Boutique Hotel, and Galaxy Hotel.
Stelida is located at the westernmost point on Naxos. Though it sits between the 2 popular
areas of Naxos Town and Agios Prokopios Beach, Stelida itself is quite mellow,
with just a handful of stylish hotels and private villas. Most of the restaurants in
Stelida tend to be in hotels, but a pleasant walk to nearby Agios Prokopios has many dining options,
and Naxos Town is just a short bus ride away. Our favorite hotels here are Kavos Boutique Hotel,
Naxian Collection Luxury Villas, and Naxian Utopia Luxury Villas.
Agios Prokopios & Agia Anna are two neighboring beaches south of Stelida, that face southeast,
which means they’re shielded from the wind which can be significant during summer. Both
beaches have mellow, beautifully clear water and perfect sand. You’ll also find a variety
of great restaurants and beach clubs, and easy access to Naxos Town by bus.
Agios Prokopios is the busier beach of the two and has a small dive center,
while Agia Anna is quieter, with a smaller beach and an active little
port. Walking the length of both beaches takes roughly 30 minutes,
then it’s a 10-minute walk beyond that to Plaka Beach for even more options. Our favorite hotels
in these areas include 18 Grapes Hotel, Lagos Mare Hotel, and Iria Beach Art Hotel.
Plaka Beach is the longest and best beach on Naxos and among the best in all of Greece.
The golden sand, crystal clear water, and serene natural beauty, make for a perfect
combination. There are a handful of places to eat, drink, and have fun along the long stretch,
with the majority of commerce at the north end. It’s also an easy area to get into town from.
Our favorite hotels here include Medusa Resort, Naxos Island Escape, and Naxian on the Beach..
Mikri Vigla is a headland on the southwest side of Naxos with beaches on the north and
south sides. The main beach here faces into the wind, making this a very popular beach for wind
and kitesurfing, which is also great fun to watch from the shore. The south-facing part
of the beach is protected from the wind, making it a popular choice with families. Mikri Vigla
has a few smaller hotels and traditional tavernas but is largely quiet, with open spaces to enjoy.
Alyko is also on the Southwest side of the island, featuring a unique and special cedar
forest. Of 8 cedar forests in Greece, Alyko is the largest, spread out over 800 square meters with a
variety of species. Here there are a handful of 4 small, sandy beaches along a rocky coastline.
In the middle of the zone are the funky ruins of a never-finished hotel, which has evolved into
an open-air art gallery covered in colorful murals. Just south of Alyko is Pyrgaki Beach,
a tranquil stretch of soft sand in a big cove largely protected from the wind. There are few
services available at these beaches, with only a few small restaurants and hotels.
Here, we recommend Finikas Beach Hotel and Faros Villa.
Lets get into some Mountain villages. The lushest island in the Cyclades,
Naxos is the agricultural center of the region, producing most of the ingredients used in the
fine dining restaurants of Santorini and Mykonos, and its inland mountain villages
are the heart of the harvest. In the mountain villages, many locals still make their living
in traditional ways: herding goats and sheep, farming crops especially olives and grapes,
cheesemaking, ceramics, and handcrafting textiles. Though steeped in tradition,
the villages offer modern conveniences, including open-air restaurants and bars,
and small shops. The hotels in mountain villages that we suggest are magnificent ELaiolithos
Luxury Retreat in Moni, Ayiopetra Exclusive Getaways in Sangri, and Belogna Ikons in Vivlos.
Getting around Naxos is relatively easy. To get beyond Naxos Town and explore the island,
there are safe and convenient buses that connect the main towns and beaches. You
can find maps and more info to help you plan your visit using the local bus in our Naxos
Travel guide. Renting a car, or ebike is a great way to explore more of the beautiful
landscape which we highly recommend. Taxis are also available to get around the island.
Being the largest island in the region, Naxos is a hub for ferry travel, that’s well connected to
the neighboring islands and Athens. The Naxos ferry port is right in downtown,
with the bus station directly in front. If you’re renting a car, the agency will
often bring the car and come meet you at the port to sign paperwork and be on your way.
Check out our many great travel guides that cover where to stay,
eat, and go for popular destinations across Greece and throughout Europe
at SantoriniDave.com and across this YouTube channel. Thanks for watching.