Naxos, Greece | The Complete Guide to this Underrated Greek Island
We decided we were going to visit Naxos spontaneously. We were currently on the island of Paros (and before that Athens) and wanted to visit one more Greek island before our trip was over. We saw online that Naxos was only a 40 min ferry ride away from Paros and that it was gorgeous and underrated. That’s all we needed to hear to book our ferry tickets right away!
Naxos is the biggest island in the Cyclades, and it also has a ton of cool history. The Greek god Zeus is said to be born in a cave on Mount Zas, which is the highest point in the Cyclades. There is also a temple to the Greek god Apollo from 6th Century B.C. that is still standing and in nearly perfect condition! We had a great time in Naxos and loved that it wasn’t crowded but still absolutely beautiful. Keep reading for our complete guide to the island!
How to Get to Naxos
You can fly into the island, but the ferry system in Greece is a well-oiled-machine and works insanely well. The ferries are on time, reliable, and efficiently get you to nearly every island you want to visit. The ferry is also a lot more affordable that any other mode of transportation. Our favorite was The Blue Star Ferry, but nearly any ferry will get you to where you want to go.
We left from the Parikia Port in Paros and bought our tickets a few days in advance on Ferryhopper. Ferryhopper is a fast, easy, and secure website where you can buy Ferry tickets for any of the Greek islands. The ferry from Paros to Naxos took about 40 minutes and Naxos was the next stop. When you arrive in Naxos you will be in the port town of Chora which is the most populated town on the island.
Where to Stay in Naxos
We would recommend staying in the port city of Chora. Chora is very walkable and you will find tons of restaurants, shops, and bars here. Chora also has the most things to do and see so you will definitely want to spend a day or two here while visiting Naxos. It’s also a great transportation hub if you are going to take the public buses.
Book your Naxos accommodation here!
How to Get Around Naxos
Once you are settled in Naxos, you can walk around that area without needing transportation. But if you want to explore other areas of Naxos like the mountains or the beaches, then you will need something to get around. Renting a motorbike or ATV was the most popular, but you can also rent a car or take the public bus. The bus works great and is very affordable, I believe it was only €1.50 (or less) to go from Chora to the mountain town of Chalki!
Best Things to do in Naxos
Explore the shops in Chora
Wander through the town of Chalki
Apollo Temple
Vallindras Kitron Distllery
Wander the streets of Chora and explore all the local shops and restaurants.
Head up to the Apollo Temple for sunset. It’s not only a gorgeous view, but seeing the sun set from up there is truly magical. You will also see locals & tourists going up there for sunset as well!
Take a trip to the cute mountain town of Chalki. There you will find cafes, historical buildings, and make sure you do a tasting at the Vallindras Kitron Distillery. Kitron is a liqueur made locally on the island of Naxos!
Hike Mount Zas. There are a few different hikes you can do on the mountain, but we would recommend doing the hike to the cave where Zeus was born. We recommend starting the hike in the nearby town of Agia Marina.
Visit the Kastro Castle in Chora. The castle is a lot bigger than you may think! We found ourselves getting lost in the winding streets inside. There is also some shops and restaurants inside the castle as well.
Relax on one of the many beaches on the island, we loved Agios Prokopios, Plaka, and Agios Georgios.
Book other Naxos activities & tours here!
Where to Eat & Drink in Naxos
Boulamatsis
Mitos Arternative Bar
520 Cocktail Bar
Mitos Arternative Bar
Chora
Boulamatsis
Metaxi Mas
520 Cocktail Bar (great for sunset!)
Su e Giu
Labyrinth Wine Restaurant
Pizza Bit
Chalki
Dolche Vita Cafe
Mitos Arternative Bar
To see even more of what we did during our time in Naxos, make sure you watch our Naxos YouTube video! There is even more information in our vlog so make sure you check it out below.
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