Naxos: The Cyclades Island That Needs No Introduction — and Deserves a Better One
The largest and most fertile island in the Cyclades, with the best beaches, the finest ancient ruins, a magnificent medieval Venetian castle and a food culture rooted in its extraordinary produce. Naxos is the Cyclades at its most complete.
Naxos is the island that has everything. It is the largest of the Cyclades, the most fertile, and — many would argue — the most beautiful. It has the best beaches in the Cyclades, a magnificent medieval Venetian castle, ancient ruins that rival anything in Greece, mountain villages of extraordinary beauty and a food culture rooted in produce of exceptional quality. It is also, remarkably, one of the most affordable islands in the Cyclades. Naxos is not a secret. But it deserves a better reputation than it sometimes gets.
The Island
Naxos sits at the heart of the Cyclades, large enough to feel like a proper destination in its own right rather than a stepping stone. The capital, Naxos Town (Chora), is one of the finest in the Cyclades — a working port with a Venetian kastro at its heart, a labyrinth of medieval lanes, excellent restaurants and a waterfront dominated by the iconic Portara (the marble doorway of an unfinished Temple of Apollo, standing alone on a promontory at the harbour entrance).
Sights and Attractions
The Venetian Kastro in Naxos Town is one of the best-preserved medieval fortifications in the Cyclades — a complete walled town within the town, with Catholic churches, Venetian mansions and a small museum. The Archaeological Museum inside the kastro has an outstanding collection of Cycladic figurines.
The Temple of Demeter at Sangri is one of the finest ancient sites in the Cyclades — a 6th-century BC temple in a beautiful rural setting. The Kouros of Apollonas — a massive unfinished ancient statue lying in an ancient marble quarry in the north of the island — is one of the most extraordinary ancient monuments in Greece.
The mountain villages of the interior — Apeiranthos, Filoti, Halki — are among the most beautiful in the Cyclades, built in local marble with a dignity and solidity quite different from the whitewashed coastal villages.
Beaches
Naxos has the best beaches in the Cyclades. Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna are the most popular — long, sandy and well-organised. Plaka is wilder and longer. Mikri Vigla is excellent for windsurfing. Kastraki and Pyrgaki in the south are quieter and more remote.
Eating and Drinking
Naxos is the food island of the Cyclades. Local produce is exceptional: Naxian potatoes (famous throughout Greece), graviera cheese, kitron liqueur (made from citron fruit, unique to Naxos), loukoumades and excellent local meat. The restaurants in Naxos Town and the mountain villages are excellent.
Weather
Hot and dry in summer (July–August at 28–32°C), with a reliable meltemi breeze. The sea is swimmable from May through October. Spring is excellent — the island is green and the mountain villages are at their most atmospheric.
How to Get There
Naxos has an airport with connections to Athens. Ferries run from Piraeus (Athens) in around 5 hours, and from Santorini (2 hours), Mykonos (45 minutes) and Paros (30 minutes). It is one of the best-connected islands in the Cyclades.
Best For
Naxos suits families who want excellent beaches and good facilities, history lovers, food enthusiasts, walkers who want to explore the mountain interior, and anyone who wants the Cyclades experience without the price tag of Santorini or Mykonos. It is one of the most complete islands in Greece.
Thinking about Naxos? Talk to us — we can combine it with Paros, Santorini or the Small Cyclades for a perfect island itinerary.
Written by
The Greeko Team
Greeko has been crafting bespoke Greek holidays for over 25 years. Every article is written from genuine first-hand knowledge of the islands, the culture, and the experiences that make Greece extraordinary.
