Top Things to Do in Naxos

First things first; summer is for seaside fun, and Naxos offers just the beaches for it!
As aforementioned, Naxos is a big island, resulting in an extended coastline. The most well-known beaches lie on its west side.
Famous locations one has probably heard of before their initial visit to the island are Plaka, Agios Prokopios, Aliko, and Mikri Vigla (Sahara). Those location names are linked to long, pure white, sandy beaches with crystal clear waters and should be rated top of your bucket list. They are regarded as some of the most beautiful beaches in the Aegean Sea, so it is advisable to spend a considerable part of your vacation there.
After all, both the organized ones with beach bars and sunbeds, as well as the unorganized, secluded ones, offer a great tan that visitors are sure to be complimented on back home!
Worrying about how to find them? No need to; just book your car with us and get the best rates.

Our favorite beaches are in Aliko— unbeatably charming and completely unspoiled. There, visitors have the opportunity to experience a unique sense of freedom by getting in touch with the simplicity of nature.
Another beach we love is Mikri Vigla (Sahara). The setting here is just perfect—turquoise waters sheltered from the wind, and a small, authentic tavern, Mikri Vigla tavern, right on the beach. It’s run by Kostas, who does everything he can to keep the area as natural and simple as possible. Nearby, you’ll also find some stunning rock formations worth exploring. Unfortunately, this beach can get very crowded. But if it’s not windy, you’ll still find a peaceful swimming spot somewhere between Sahara and Kastraki—the beach is vast and equally beautiful throughout.

Naxos in Greece hosts a significant historical and compelling cultural heritage. Among the first things that you gaze upon while entering the port are the ancient monument of Portara on your left and the old castle of Chora on your right.
Portara is the most well-known landmark on the island.
It constitutes a huge, antique marble doorway standing on a small islet. When you see it for the first time, its elegance will leave you speechless.
For the romantic souls, the best time to visit this site is during sunset when the sky turns to gold!

We love this spot! Just bring a bottle of white wine, some local cheese and claim your sunset spot early—crowds gather here every evening to catch the sunset.

Kastro is one of the most well-preserved castles built by the Venetians in the Cyclades. It is located in Chora, the capital of the island.
After entering the Castle through its enormous, centuries-old wooden doors, you will find yourself among whitewashed churches, Catholic monasteries and schools, the Archaeological Museum, some of the oldest houses on the island, antique shops, and beautiful cafes.
The 1739 Avaton is a place where you can enjoy a coffee or drink while feasting upon a panoramic view of Naxos. The cafe can be considered an open museum since it is part of the Ursuline Monastery Boarding School, which was situated in the Castle of Naxos and used to educate girls of wealthy Catholic families.

One of our favorite places to wander! We love getting lost in the narrow alleys of Kastro as it feels like stepping back into medieval Venetian times. Once we find our route, we always head to Avaton for a cocktail—it comes with an incredible view!
When in the Castle, don’t miss a visit to the Antico Veneziano Art Gallery—an incredible space filled with antiques. What makes it truly special is that it was built during the Venetian era, using columns from an ancient temple, which you can still see inside the store. We’re left speechless every time we visit it.

Chora is the capital of Naxos and expands from the port to Kastro. Anything you know about Cycladic architecture, you will find it there. Whitewashed, sugar cube houses with blue doors and windows, chapels, arches, and endless narrow paved alleys make that labyrinth so charming.
It is the center of life on the island. It is lively, with numerous restaurants, taverns, cafes, bars, and shops.
Stroll in Chora and experience the true Greek island ambiance!

Chora is where the island’s soul lives—and we love spending time exploring it before dinner. From quaint shops and local treats to quiet corners and lively squares, it’s the kind of place that always delights.
The Pocket Gallery is your place for tasteful souvenir shopping, whereas at Pagonis Greek Sandals, you can buy the finest hand-made sandals in the Cyclades. Lastly, at the old grocery market of Tziblakis, you can purchase olive oil, cheese, honey, and other Naxian delicacies to bring home. And if you’re looking for a place to have dinner, don’t miss our selection of restaurants in Chora. And for dessert? Head to the Waffle House for the best ice cream on the island!

Finding lodging suited to your needs will not be a draining task, since the island provides quite a variety. However, attention to distances and amenities provided by each facility can go a long way in arranging a smoother stay, especially for first-time visitors.

Discover the best areas to stay, along with a selection of the most suitable hotels on the island—whether you’re looking for luxury, a honeymoon retreat, beachfront views, family-friendly options, or more!

Some of our favorite hotels in Naxos are 18 Grapes in Agios Prokopios, Ayiopetra in Sangri and Ploes seaside houses in Plaka, just to name a few. For us, the best area to find lodging is in Plaka, between the Plaza Beach Hotel and Orkos Beach. The accommodations in this small area have direct access to the beach, with no busy road in front, making it very safe for children.

Some of the major sites of the island are located on the Naxian mainland:
Demeter temple, Kouros of Melanes and Kouros at Apollonas and Panagia Drossiani church should be on your visiting list.
Those monuments and statues comprise a great part of Naxian History and deserve to be toured and admired.
Many of these places are accessible by car, but you can also visit them as part of a guided bus tour. Luxury private minivan tours are also available. Let us organize your excursion!

There are a number of amazing places to explore, but we particularly love the monasteries of Fotodotis and Kalamitsia. They’re off the beaten track and offer stunning settings, beautiful architecture, and a truly unique atmosphere.

Naxos is the largest island of the Cyclades, so a car is almost mandatory. Booking a car rental in Naxos is strongly recommended if you want to explore the island. Although a public bus (KTEL) serves routes on the island, many remote beaches, mountainous villages, archaeological sites, and nice restaurants can only be reached by car.
In cooperation with the best local car rental agencies, we offer the best prices and our service is rated .

Naxos is a big island with a local bus network, but we recommend renting a car to discover all the hidden gems the island has to offer.

From day one of your vacation, you will fall in love with the culinary and tasteful uniqueness of the Naxian products.
Naxos is a very fertile land and maintains a thriving agricultural economy, producing some of the most delicious vegetables, cheese, meat, and last but not least, fresh fish and seafood in Greece.
Choosing a restaurant for your meal is never disappointing since most serve palatable, traditional food.

If we had to recommend only two not-to-miss restaurants on the island, those would be Axiotissa for the finest Greek cuisine with a twist in a lovely location (due to high demand, a reservation 4-5 days in advance is necessary) and Vassilis Tavern for a local, more homelike touch.
Kontos Restaurant is also recommended for toothsome, traditional Greek dishes with amazing sunset and sea views.

Our selection of Restaurants

Due to its fresh products and delicious Mediterranean recipes, a new trend of cooking lessons has emerged in Naxos.
If you want to take the secrets of Naxian cuisine back home, you can attend a cooking workshop at Vassiliko or Vioma.

For wine lovers, we recommend a visit to the Tranampelo in Glinado!

Find the Best Cooking Classes

Visiting the picturesque village of Halki, the capital of the Tragea region, is essential during your vacation on the island. Two-story houses with neoclassical architecture, Venetian towers, small paved alleys, bougainvillea and jasmine trees, olive groves, cafés and fine shops are only a few of the things to expect in this village; it is no wonder that it has become such a trend among travel bloggers and photographers!

We are in love with the Tragea area; it is a green and fertile land, full of olive groves and scattered villages—and honestly, we could write a whole book about it.
For Halki, visit the Vallindras Distillery to see how the local kitron liqueur is made and maybe grab a bottle to take home. And you simply can’t miss Fish & Olive, a gallery featuring stunning fine ceramics.
After a short walk through olive tree groves, you can reach the Byzantine church of Agios Georgios Diasoritis—a beautiful structure with stunning frescoes. Note that the church is only open to visitors in the summer, during morning hours. Just a short walk away, you’ll reach Monitsia, a tiny village with incomparable charm.
An alternative walk is to pass through Akadimi village, which is actually an extension of Halki and then head to Kaloxilos, which we consider the most beautiful village on the island. There is also a small café housed in an old industrial olive mill, adding to its unique charm.

Several other villages in the area are well worth a visit too:
In Filoti, having a coffee in the main square under the old plane tree is a must. But don’t miss the Fasolas Project—a great initiative that brought some old shops back to life, just as they were 100 years ago, and you can hop from shop to shop. There’s also a cozy little café there with a rich menu.
Damarionas is an authentic and peaceful village with a couple of traditional restaurants, while Damalas is a tiny, picturesque place best known for the Limpertas pottery shop, which is included on the route of many guided tours. A quick walk through Damalas village is definitely worth it! A restored olive mill is open to visitors and can be visited for free.
On the way to Moni village, you’ll come across the church of Panagia Drossiani—one of the oldest Byzantine churches on the island. We’re always impressed by its unique architecture and remarkable frescoes.

*Not in the Tragea area, but definitely worth mentioning, are the villages of Sangri (Ano Sangri and Kato Sangri). Ano Sangri is a beautiful spot that has fully preserved its authenticity. As for Kato Sangri, we were bewitched by it. There’s a special atmosphere there. The Venetian tower is stunning, and you can also visit the Terra Grazia Winery. Another place worth mentioning is Apollonas. It’s quite far, but this small port feels like it has paused in the 1980s, and we love this nostalgic charm. Lastly, a visit to Koronos is well worth adding to the list. We love its setting, authenticity, and the little taverns in the main square.

Apiranthos is a well-preserved village with a strongly traditional ambiance, located only a few kilometers from Filoti. It comprises the highest village of the Cyclades, altitude-wise and features old stone mansions.
It is famous for taverns serving local meat dishes. We highly recommend that you taste the rosto dish, a local recipe with pork.

What amazed us in Apiranthos is that it feels like time forgot to pass, with its marble alleys and timeless charm. If you make it here, don’t miss sunset cocktails at Rotonda and a traditional dinner at Stou Koutoupa—our perfect way to end the day.

Among the sea sports community, Naxos Island is a very popular destination for windsurfing, kitesurfing and wing foiling.
The beach of Mikri Vigla is a place where perfect wind conditions are met, so people from all around the world come to enjoy their favorite sea activity. Another popular location for windsurfing is Laguna, next to Naxos town. If you are a beginner or unfamiliar with those sports, you can take up lessons from the windsurfing and kitesurfing schools available.

Our top pick for windsurfing lessons is Laguna Beach Park, run by windsurfing champion Stamatis Proponas. What's even better is that the lessons take place in a small, safe bay, perfect for beginners.

It’s a peninsula with many small, secluded bays of soft white sand and pristine waters, and at its center lies a unique cedar forest with enchanting sand dunes.
An abandoned hotel that has been repurposed into an open gallery for street artists also lies near the shore. Some of the most significant works of the renowned artist WD were painted here.
Moreover, the forest has been declared a protected natural area, so the modern infrastructure is almost nonexistent. No sunbeds or umbrellas are available, but guests may encounter a few shops near the area and a delicious canteen where you can taste fast food with a twist, homemade ice-creams, and cocktails.

We’ll always have Aliko—Tourism has boomed, and new hotels and villas are popping up across the island, filling many beaches with sunbeds and umbrellas. And this is why Aliko is our absolute favorite place in Naxos - just unspoiled nature, no buildings, no crowds. What we love to do on our dog walks is hop from one beach to the next on foot, through the beautiful cedar forest.

On the east side of the island lies the quaint small harbor of Moutsouna, which is a lovely and peaceful spot to eat fresh fish and seafood.
Once you get there, you can also take a 16 km coastal ride that leads to a small secluded bay called Panermos and discover more of the pristine region of Naxos.
The clear and calm blue waters, the palm trees on the beach, and the traditional boat taking you for a tour to hidden beaches, as well as Rina sea cave, are worthy of a spot on your bucket list of Naxos.

Panermos rules! We absolutely adore this spot. The bay is sheltered from the wind, making it perfect for snorkeling—there are always plenty of octopuses to spot. Sometimes we catch the little boat to Rina in the morning and head back in the afternoon. Our routine? Dinner by the sea in Moutsouna. Pure magic.

Naxos is located in the middle of the Cyclades complex and is ideal for island hopping or one-day trips to nearby islands such as Koufonisia, Paros, and Mykonos.
Other ideal single-day tours from Naxos are to the small Cyclades islands of Iraklia, Schinoussa, and Donoussa, which are less than one hour away from Naxos. You can discover some of those islands with an organized day cruise or take a ferry. If your itinerary allows it, consider scheduling a full-day boat trip to Santorini!
Discover what islands are ideal for ferry day trips from Naxos.

Our favourites: Every year, we take a day trip from Naxos to either Koufonisia or Donoussa. Both are stunning and perfect for a little escape—Koufonisia is a must-visit, but we do have a soft spot for Donoussa.

Hiking is a very popular activity in Naxos and many people visit the island specifically for its rich and well-organized network of trails.
You can get a guided tour or go by yourself. If you hanker for adventure and nature, you won’t regret trading a day at the beach!

Now, allow us to share our favorite hiking routes with you! The island is full of well-marked trails, so just pick one that fits your mood and go explore! For us, hiking up Mount Zas is an unforgettable experience. On a clear day, the views are incredible—you can even spot Santorini in the distance. The trail from Keramoti to the Routsouna waterfalls is an easier hike that we love. There’s water even in summer, and after a 30-minute walk through a lunar-like landscape, you’ll arrive at a little oasis in the valley, where you can cool off in a natural pool. Equally memorable is the route from Agiassos Beach to the photogenic chapel of Agios Sozon, as well as the trail from the Potamia villages up to the castle of Epano Kastro. The three Potamia villages are nestled in a valley along a small river, and the hike follows this watercourse up to the upper village before continuing to the castle. Walking through Potamia is a real delight—and to us, it’s quite rare to find such lush, river-fed landscapes on a Cycladic island. Another option is to get from Ano Potamia to the Kouros of Melanes.

Naxos island has been renowned for its high-quality white marble and gifted craftsmen since antiquity, which has resulted in the creation of a great many statues and temples. Thus, it is the perfect place for you to embark on a creative journey that will make your holiday unforgettable! Under the supervision of the experienced sculptress and instructor Maggie Ross, Mythic Diastasi offers workshops, as well as intensive summer courses that explore both traditional and modern techniques, aiming to give a mythical dimension to the art of marble carving. Don’t miss this unique chance to unleash your creativity and take your creations back home as the best possible souvenir!

Book the workshop

Naxos Animal Welfare Society is a group of people who care about the welfare of stray and maltreated animals on Naxos.
The organization was established in 2005 and offers first aid to animals, vaccination for strays, sterilizations, and hospitality to dogs and cats before they find a loving adoptive family.
You can find them on www.naws.gr

But that’s not all! There is a lot more to do, like open-air cinemas and more.
We invite you to explore even more options that the island has to offer and which will fulfill all visitors’ needs: