Naxos is the largest of the Greek Cyclades islands and one of the best all-around Greek Islands to visit. Its popularity with tourists outside Greece has grown since being features on shows like Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown. Its main town of Naxos Chora features charming pedestrian-only laneways and has a picturesque harbor offering breathtaking sunsets. There are distinct similarities to Cyclades Island neighbors like Mykonos, but Naxos generally offers better value and a more authentic Greek experience.
Unlike some islands that largely abandoned agriculture for tourism jobs, Naxos strikes the perfect balance. Its fantastic culinary scene is rooted in local products grown and produced on the island, including fresh vegetables, meat, local cheese, honey, herbs, olive oil and wine. Beautiful beaches, delicious gastronomy, authentic mountain villages, ancient sites and stunning scenery combine to make this a growingly popular island with tourists. Here are some great tips for visiting Naxos as well as planning travels around Greece!
Naxos on a Family Trip
We visited Naxos as part of a family trip to Greece. It was my 89-year-old father’s final planned trip to the country of his birth, so it was a special trip. We chose to make Naxos part of the itinerary because none of us had previously visited the island, and our Greek relatives raved about it. It’s also not too long of a ferry ride from Piraeus port, a harbor town of Athens, to Naxos. Read our article on great tips for visiting Athens.
This article was not written in collaboration with the Naxos tourism board, or any hotel or tour partners on the island. It’s based solely off the experience of our family and friends trip. We were not compensated or reimbursed for our travels in exchange for a review or plug.
Ferry Tickets from Athens’ Port of Piraeus to Naxos
The ferry ride from Piraeus to Naxos takes 3.5 hours on the high-speed ferry or 5.5 hours on the slower large ferry. We took the slow ferry going, and the high speed ferry returning. Both ships were comfortable. The slow ferry has more dining options as it is a bigger ship.
Check out Greek ferry schedules and route options on Ferry Scanner. Tickets can be booked through the site, and Blue Star ferry tickets are digital and can be downloaded on your phone. Just be sure to download your ferry tickets more than 2 hours prior to departure. It’s also worth printing a paper back up just in case, if you can.
Flights to Naxos
You can also fly into Naxos from a variety of destinations. Aegean Airlines has direct flights to Naxos from Athens and Thessaloniki. Aegean Airlines also has flights to European destinations like London, Amsterdam, Geneva, Zurich, Tel Aviv, Larnaca and Brussels. So you can reach Naxos from many places in Europe, with a connection in Athens or Thessaloniki.
Travel Between Naxos and Mykonos
Mykonos is one of the most popular Greek islands, especially with American tourists. Naxos’ close proximity to Mykonos means you can base yourself in one, and visit the other on a day trip. We recommend staying in Naxos and visiting Mykonos just for the day, as it’s charming blue and white historic center, packed with tiny laneways can be explored in just a few hours.
There are up to 7-8 daily ferry crossings between Mykonos and Naxos during summer. The Mykonos – Naxos connection is operated by several ferry companies. The average journey takes around 1 hour and 25 minutes between the islands. Check updated ferry schedules and route options on Ferry Scanner.
Mykonos also has an international airport. Flights from around Europe, especially in summer, connect the island. So depending on the length of your visit, you can fly into Mykonos and then catch the ferry to Naxos.
Naxos Chora
The main town of Naxos Chora is an idyllic spot on the Aegean Sea. It has a fantastic harbor lined with great restaurants, cafes and artisan shops. It also has a charming pedestrian-only old town that you should climb to the top of at sunset. There is also a beach right in town. While it is not the best beach on the island, it’s fine to lay out or go for a swim.
Island Hop the Cyclades
Naxos Chora is a great place to relax for a few days. It also makes for the perfect base to explore the majestic Greek islands by car or bus. In season, you can take day trips to islands like Santorini, Mykonos, Delos (considered the Athens of the islands for its impressive ancient ruins) and nearby Paros, which is just 30 minutes by boat. There are several travel agencies in Naxos Chora to book ferry tickets and tours if you want to wing your trip (only advisable outside the busy summer tourist season).
Andros is another great Greek Cyclades island for an authentic experience. Around 85% of tourists to Andros are Greeks. So when you sit down for a meal in Andros, you’re typically sitting next to Greeks rather than fellow tourists. It’s a great island for hiking and rugged natural beauty. It’s a green island that reminds us of Ireland- especially in places with stone walls and bridges.
Temple of Apollo
The Temple of Apollo dates back 2,500 years, but only the door remains (the Portara). It is particularly fantastic at sunset as you can watch the sun and moon through the doorway, depending on which way you look. You also get a panoramic view of the moon over Naxos Chora, along with breathtaking colors in the sky over the mountains of Paros. This is a seriously photogenic area.
Villages of Naxos
Naxos has several charming and authentic villages, unspoiled by major tourism. Some of the popular ones are becoming more touristy, but they are still beautiful and worthwhile. We especially enjoyed the mountain villages of Halki (Chalkio) and Filoti. Small fishing villages like Agia Anna and Apollonia are great for beaches.
Halki used to be the capital of Naxos. With Venetian towers and Byzantine structures like the Church of Panagia dating back to the 9th century, it has a long history. This is a fantastic town to park the rental car and grab lunch or a drink in a restaurant or cafe. There are also some great artisan shops and bakeries in Halki. Here are some additional recommendations for Halki. Filoti has a charming tree-lined street filled with restaurants and cafes, some of which have a picturesque view of the valley.
You may encounter some four legged traffic driving around the mountains of Naxos! Sometimes the goats yield, sometimes they do not. Below is the only traffic jam we found ourselves in while visiting Naxos. Goats have the right of way in Greece, but honk if they are blocking the road for too long.
Naxos Hotels
Book a good hotel in advance with free cancellation. That way you don’t miss out on the best accommodation for your budget. If plans change, you can then cancel without penalty. We like searching on booking.com as we find there’s less hidden fees and good options with free cancellation.
Naxos Resort Beach Hotel
Naxos Resort Beach Hotel is one of the best places to stay in Naxos. Just off the sandy beach of St. George, the hotel’s architecture incorporates local Cycladic and Venetian styles.
Its 88 luxurious rooms are decorated with warm colors. All rooms include balconies with a view of either the gardens or the sea and mountains. Amenities include a pool, steam room, sauna and hot tub facilities.
Polis of Naxos
We stayed at Polis of Naxos. This stylish boutique hotel is great for a comfortable family trip. The owner Alexis and his family are welcoming, hospitable and knowledgeable about the best places to visit on their island. Our first morning Alexis spent over 3 hours talking with my 89-year-old father while pouring all of us glasses of raki (basically ouzo without the anise, similar to grappa). There is a bar in the lobby solely to pour his guests a welcome drink, or maybe to just randomly have a drink at midday if everyone feels like it.
Polis of Naxos recently underwent a complete renovation. Its beds are plush and comfortable – perfect for a good nights rest before and after exploring Naxos. Tasty breakfasts offer a nice assortment of hot and cold options. We loved having a slice of orange cake each morning, a ubiquitous dessert throughout Greece. Room rates at Polis of Naxos are excellent value outside peak summer months.
Naxian Hotel
Naxian Collection is a complex of luxurious and uniquely styled villas and suites with a panoramic view of the Aegean Sea. The resort is 2,300 feet from Agios Prokopios beach and 2km (1.2 miles) from Naxos Chora. The Cycladic-style villas and suites have state-of-the-art facilities with private pools, sea-view terraces and hot tubs. They aim to please your gastronomic experience from in-room dining to offering gourmet picnic baskets.
Where to Eat and Drink in Naxos Chora?
We had several fantastic meals in Naxos. The best experience we had was at Flamingo, which has been in business since 1991. The food, ambiance and live rembetika music (Greek blues) in the courtyard is simply idyllic. They also have seating overlooking the harbor and mountains of nearby Paros, so it’s a great place to eat around sunset.
Naxos is an Island that Hasn’t Abandoned its Agricultural Roots
Naxos is a fantastic island for local products like seafood (especially local octopus and squid), spirits, cheese, lamb, honey and figs. Try the graveria cheese on Naxos, it’s a delicious sheep cheese similar to Italian pecorino and Spanish manchego.
Chania, Crete might be the foodie capital of Greece, but Naxos is not far behind. Some Greek islands have largely abandoned agriculture for various tourism enterprises, but agriculture is still an integral part of Naxos’ economy. This means there’s a lot of “farm to table” happening, with the bonus of not needing to constantly mention that phrase on menus.
There are a lot of really cool places to hang out in Naxos Chora and in the villages. The harbor of Naxos’ main town is lined with restaurants and cafes that have views of the sea and the picturesque mountains of nearby Paros. Go for a cocktail at sunset at 520, which has a rooftop terrace to get a bird’s eye view of one of the most stunning sunsets you’ll see. Interestingly, 520 gets its name from the beginning of bar codes with 5 20, which identifies that a product was made in Greece.
Naxos’ Excellent Hospitality
More Tips for Visiting Naxos
It is usually customary to receive a complimentary drink, dessert and sometimes even both gratis, after a meal in Naxos. Be nice to your server and they’ll most likely treat you great in return. Filoxenia is an important principle in Greece. It translates to “love of strangers.”
Sadly, Bell had a terrible jogging accident during our visit. She tripped and fell flat on her face in the old town, busting her lip and fracturing her nose. They sent an ambulance and she needed 10 stitches in the hospital. When we asked the hospital receptionist about payment, she said that since Bell did not stay in the hospital, there was no charge! We were stunned, especially coming from the United States, where the healthcare system is extremely greedy. Using an ambulance in the US, without insurance, is going to cost thousands of dollars just for the ride!
More Tips for Travel to Greece
As Naxos is a large island, it would also be one of the best Cyclades islands to visit in winter. Syros, which is the capital of the Cyclades, is another great island to visit in winter. We were previously in Syros over New Year’s and had a fantastic time. The Greek islands are not warm in winter, but if you find yourself traveling in Greece during this time, it is a good option. Here are some other great places to visit in Greece!
Planning to visit Naxos and have questions?
Leave a comment or email me at [email protected] and I can assist. As a dual Greek and American citizen, I’ve made many trips to Greece over the years. I’m happy to answer your questions and help plan your trip!
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