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    Naxos

    Greece

    Naxos

    CityCulture

    At around 430 square kilometres, Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades and one of the most fertile.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Greece
    7. Cyclades
    9. Naxos
    At around 430 square kilometres, Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades and one of the most fertile. Long sandy beaches such as Agios Prokopios and Plaka line the west coast, while the interior has mountains, olive groves and villages of marble and stone. Above the harbour of Chora stands the Portara, the marble gateway of an unfinished temple of Apollo, with the Venetian Kastro above the town. Visit in May, June or September if you can, and plan on a rental car for the mountain villages.

    Sights in Naxos

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Harbor of Agia Anna

    1Harbor of Agia Anna

    A small fishing harbour at the southern end of Agia Anna beach, with a few colourful Kaikia and taverns right on the pier. Mornings, the catch is sold here; evenings, you sit by the water. It’s the most convenient place on the west coast to eat fish without driving back to Chora.
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    Portara

    2Portara

    On the Palatia peninsula in front of the harbour stands a marble gateway about six metres high, the only surviving part of a temple of Apollo begun by the tyrant Lygdamis around 530 BC and never completed. The remaining blocks were later carried off as building material. A causeway takes you there on foot in a few minutes; it gets crowded at sunset.
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    Kastro of Naxos Town

    3Kastro of Naxos Town

    The Venetian Marco Sanudo made Naxos the capital of his Duchy of Archipelagos in 1207 and fortified the upper town. Above the alleys, the coats of arms of noble families still hang today; inside are the Catholic Cathedral, the Archaeological Museum in a former Jesuit school, and the Glezos Tower. The island's Catholic community dates back to this period.
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    Kouros of Melanes

    4Kouros of Melanes

    In a garden in the Flerio valley near Melanes lies a kouros statue just over five metres long from the 6th century BC, left unfinished in the ancient marble quarry. A short path leads on to a second reclining figure on the slope. The site is freely accessible, with a small café at the entrance.
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    Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna

    5Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna

    The west coast south of Chora offers an almost unbroken stretch of bright sandy beaches with shallow, clear water. Agios Prokopios is the most developed, Agia Anna directly adjoins, offering fish tavernas at its small harbour, behind which Plaka's dunes begin. All three are reachable by local bus from Chora.
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    City walks in Naxos

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Naxos Town: A Journey Through Time Along Lanes and History

    Discover the charming capital of Naxos on this two-hour walk. From ancient ruins to medieval lanes, this tour takes you through the highlights of the Chora, dotted with breathtaking views and special island charm. A perfect mix of culture, history and authentic Greek flair.

    ~2 Std. 5 Min.
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    Stops (6)

    Dining & Drinks

    1

    Boulamatsis

    The family-run Oinomageirio is situated on the hillside above the port of Naxos Town; from the terrace, you'll overlook the marina. The cuisine is Greek, featuring fish and seafood, along with Moussaka, stuffed vine leaves, and Papoutsakia – stuffed aubergines. To finish, a slice of orange cake is often served.
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    Irini's Restaurant

    The tavern is located on the waterfront promenade of Naxos Town near the ferry port, amidst numerous large planters. Meze and fish are served, along with meatballs, beetroot salad, and Gigantes, baked giant white beans. The menu features many vegetarian dishes, and the house wine comes in red and white.
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    2

    Meze *2

    The Meze eatery on the harbor promenade of Naxos Town serves small sharing plates. The menu features air-dried, grilled octopus, Naxian potato fries, seafood, grilled meats, and island cheese. Also available is Psimeni, a cinnamon-spiced brandy.
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    To Spitiko Naxos - SOUVLAKI & GRILL

    This grill house in Naxos Town specializes in Souvlaki and pita with gyros. The meat is fresh off the grill. Dine in or take out. A great spot for a quick, simple meal.
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    Food and Drink

    Naxos is the most fertile island in the Cyclades and is largely self-sufficient. You'll notice this on every menu: They cook with their own cheese, meat, and vegetables, not with ferry deliveries.
    Graviera Naxou

    Graviera Naxou

    This hard cheese with PDO is predominantly made from cow's milk, aged for months, and tastes mild-nutty. It is served plain, breaded as Saganaki, or grated over pasta. You can buy it directly from dairies in the mountain villages.
    Kitron

    Kitron

    A liqueur from citron tree leaves, unique to Naxos, available in three strengths, identified by green, yellow, and clear colours. The Vallindras Distillery in Chalki has produced it since 1896 and showcases its old equipment.

    Potatoes from Naxos

    It may sound trivial, but it's an island's pride: The potatoes from the western plains of the island bear the "Patata Naxou" Protected Geographical Indication and are specially highlighted on menus.

    Lamb and Goat from the mountains

    In the villages of the Tragea Valley and around Apeiranthos, dishes are braised and oven-cooked, often with herbs from Zas's slopes. The taverns there cater mainly to locals and are thus affordable.

    History and culture

    Naxos was a centre of island culture as early as the Early Cycladic period in the 3rd millennium BC. In the Archaic period the island exported its marble and sculpture; among other things, the Naxians dedicated the Terrace of the Lions on Delos. Myth links Naxos with Dionysus and Ariadne, whom Theseus left behind here.Duchy of NaxosAfter the Fourth Crusade, the Venetian Marco Sanudo founded the Duchy of the Archipelago in 1207, with its seat on Naxos. The Kastro of Chora, with its Catholic cathedral and noble houses, and the tower houses of the interior date from this period. In 1566 the island came under Ottoman control; the Catholic families have remained to this day.Churches and villagesThe Tragea valley and the area around Chalki hold many small Byzantine churches, some with very early frescoes; those of Panagia Drosiani date back to the 7th century. In Apiranthos, older residents speak their own dialect, traced back to settlers from Crete.

    Nightlife

    Kitron

    The café with cocktail bar is in the Old Town of Naxos Town, about an eight-minute walk from the port. By day, enjoy coffee and brunch; by night, cocktails.
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    Getting around

    Getting thereFerries link Naxos daily with Piraeus and Rafina, taking about three to six hours depending on the vessel, plus connections to Paros, Mykonos, Santorini and the Small Cyclades. The port is right next to Chora. The small airport south of town only has flights from Athens.BusesKTEL Naxos buses run from the bus station at the port to the beaches in the southwest, such as Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka, and to mountain villages like Chalki, Filoti and Apiranthos. Buy tickets at the bus station or kiosks. Beach buses run frequently in summer, village buses only a few times a day.Rental car and on footA rental car is handy for the interior and the coves in the east; mountain roads are winding. Explore Chora with its Kastro and old town on foot, with parking on the edge.

    Accommodations in Naxos

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    Nearby

    Cyclades

    Cyclades

    The Cyclades are a group of around 220 islands and islets in the central Aegean Sea; only a fraction are inhabited. White-washed villages, barren hills, and a dense ferry network define the region, uniting very diverse islands, from Mykonos' nightlife to Amorgos' quiet mountain villages.If you want to see more than one island, plan your route along the ferry lines, not the map. Two or three islands on a single route are easily manageable in a week.
    Naoussa

    Naoussa

    Naoussa, located on the large northern bay, is Paros' second-largest town and boasts one of the biggest fishing fleets in the Cyclades. Around its small old harbour, fishing boats, tavernas, and bars cluster, some housed in former boathouses. Behind this begins a car-free labyrinth of whitewashed alleyways, small churches, and courtyards brimming with bougainvillea, originally designed to protect against pirates.At the harbour entrance stand the partially submerged remains of Kastelli, a 15th-century Venetian fortification, next to the Chapel of Agios Nikolaos, patron saint of fishermen. Around the bay lie beaches like Kolymbithres, Agios Ioannis, and Monastiri; many can be reached by small boats from the harbour in summer. On August 23rd, the town re-enacts a pirate raid with fireworks and dancing.
    Lefkes

    Lefkes

    Lefkes is located at about 250 meters, almost in the center of Paros, eleven kilometers from Parikia, and was once the island's main village. The village sprawls amphitheatrically up the slope beneath a pine-covered hill, with Cycladic houses standing alongside neoclassical buildings. Cars are left at the car park on the outskirts; the labyrinth of alleys is only accessible on foot.The main street, Ramnos, leads past the House of Literature, a residence for writers and translators since 2004, up to the Agia Triada church of Parian marble. On the village's edge begins the Byzantine path to Prodromos. A small folklore museum exhibits tools, embroideries, and household items from past village life, and after August 15, Lefkes celebrates its major village festival.
    Paros

    Paros

    Paros is located in the center of the Cyclades and is an important hub in the ferry network, bringing the island significant transit traffic and excellent connectivity. From its quarries came Parian marble, which ancient sculptors like Praxiteles used.Those who stay will find two very different port towns, a quiet mountainous interior with old paved paths in between, and on the east coast, windy bays popular with wind- and kitesurfers.
    Mykonos

    Mykonos

    Mykonos is a small, barren Cycladic island between Tinos and Naxos. The main town, Chora, is a tangle of white cube houses and narrow lanes, with the balconied houses of Little Venice on the water and the Kato Mili windmills above. The island is known for its nightlife, beaches and high prices; the north and the interior have quieter coves and villages. From Mykonos you can take a boat to the ancient island of Delos. Walk through Chora early in the morning and, if possible, travel in May, June or September.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Unsplash, Pexels. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI