The back story
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The back story
Naxos: the generous giant of the Cyclades
The biggest and greenest Cycladic island, with golden beaches, marble villages and famous produce.
Island guide · Naxos, the Cyclades
Naxos island guide
Naxos is the island for people who want everything: long sandy beaches, mountain villages, a Venetian old town, ancient marble and some of the best food in Greece.
Plan your trip:Ferry timetables Arriving in Athens The Athens Riviera
Towns & villages
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Venetian castle, bustling harbour
Naxos Town (Chora)
A lively harbour town crowned by the Kastro, the old Venetian quarter, with the Portara on its islet next door.
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Golden sand, easy living
Agios Prokopios & Agia Anna
The island’s favourite beach resorts, with long golden beaches and shallow turquoise water.
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Neoclassical heart of the interior
Halki
The old capital of the interior, with neoclassical houses, Byzantine churches and the Vallindras kitron distillery.
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The mountain village of marble
Apiranthos
A mountain village of marble-paved lanes, arches and Venetian towers, with its own dialect and museums.
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At the foot of Zas
Filoti
A large village on the slopes of Mount Zas, with a square shaded by a huge plane tree.
Sights & museums
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The great marble gate
The Portara at sunset
A giant marble doorway of an unfinished temple of the 6th century BC, on an islet joined to the town.
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Lanes of the Venetian dukes
The Kastro
The 13th-century castle quarter above the harbour, with arches, mansions and coats of arms.
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Top of the Cyclades
Mount Zas hike
Marked paths from Filoti or the chapel of Agia Marina to the summit of Zas, about 1,000 m high.
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Taste the island in a glass
Vallindras Kitron Distillery
A historic distillery in Halki where kitron is made from citron leaves, with tastings.
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Olive oil the old way
Eggares Olive Press Museum
An olive press dating from 1884 in the village of Eggares, now a small museum of olive-oil making.
Beaches & beach clubs
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One of Europe’s finest
Agios Prokopios Beach
Fine golden sand and crystal water that stays shallow for a long way.
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Friendly and sociable
Agia Anna Beach
A family-style beach with a little harbour and tavernas, continuing south towards Plaka.
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Room to breathe
Plaka Beach
A long stretch of pale sand backed by dunes, organised at one end and wild at the other.
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Kite on one side, swim on the other
Mikri Vigla
A headland with a kitesurf beach to the north and a calmer swimming bay to the south.
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Town beach for families
Agios Georgios
The very shallow town beach next to Naxos Town, with cafés and windsurf lessons.
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From breakfast to late
Banana Beach Bar
A lively beach bar on Agia Anna, serving everything from breakfast to grilled fish and cocktails.
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Coffee to cocktails on Plaka
Tohu
A creative beach bar on Plaka with specialty coffee, brunch, grills and sunset cocktails.
Restaurants & tavernas
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Naxos’ most praised table
Axiotissa
A countryside taverna cooking Naxian meat, cheese and vegetables with flair.
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Meze in the lanes
Metaxi Mas
A much-loved taverna in the old-town lanes for sharing meze and grills.
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Dinner facing the Portara
The Naxos Apothecary
A stylish restaurant and wine bar with a terrace facing the Portara.
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Mountain lunch
Lefteris
A flower-filled veranda in Apiranthos serving the hearty food of inland Naxos.
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From the family’s own land
Vassilis Tavern
A village taverna near the kouros of Melanes, cooking produce from the family’s farm.
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Where the name says it all
The Locals
A Greek restaurant in Naxos Town with home-style island cooking.
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Dinner facing the sunset
Sunset on the Beach
A beachfront restaurant with a Greek kitchen on Agios Prokopios, facing the sunset.
Cafés & sweet things
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A meeting point in Filoti
The Old Cinema
A café and taverna in the heart of Filoti, the mountain village below Mount Zas.
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Breakfast and cakes in Chora
Rendezvous
A café in Naxos Town for breakfast, coffee, cakes and ice cream.
Bars & nightlife
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Cocktails with a sea view
520 Cocktail Bar
A stylish bar in a historic building with a terrace looking out to sea.
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From sunset to dancing
Swing
Two terraces over the water, with sunset cocktails turning into a dance party.
Where to stay: luxury, boutique & value
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On the sand, near town
Nissaki Beach Hotel
A highly rated hotel right on Agios Georgios beach, with a pool and an easy walk into town.
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Above the best beach
Kavos Boutique Hotel
A stylish boutique hotel above Agios Prokopios, with sea-view rooms and pools.
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Art and dunes
Iria Beach Art Hotel
A hotel on Plaka beach with rooms decorated with art and the dunes at the door.
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A modern retreat by Plaka
The Key Naxos
A modern boutique resort near Plaka beach, designed around the landscape of the Cyclades.
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On Plaka beach
Medusa Resort & Suites
A beach resort and suites on Plaka, one of the longest sandy beaches in the Cyclades.
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Adults-only on the beach
Glaros Petit Hotel
A small, adults-only boutique hotel on Agios Georgios beach, a walk from Naxos Town.
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Between town and beach
Porto Naxos
A four-star hotel a few minutes from the old town and the beach of Agios Georgios.
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The quiet north
Adonis Hotel
Simple rooms with sea views in the fishing village of Apollonas, on the north-east tip of Naxos.
Shopping, markets & jewellers
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A Chora institution since 1938
Tziblakis
A traditional shop in Chora selling Naxian cheeses, olive oil, wine, honey and spoon sweets.
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Aged graviera
Naxos Cheese Dairy shop (Koufopoulos)
The Chora shop of a Naxian cheese-maker, on Papavasiliou Street, with cheeses to taste.
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Greek design in Chora
Tereza’s Greek Concept Store
A concept store in Naxos Town with clothing and accessories by Greek designers.
Car & scooter hire, getting around
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Naxos rewards a car
Car & scooter hire on Naxos
Many local firms rent cars, scooters and quads in Naxos Town and deliver to the port and airport.
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Delivery to port and airport
Escape in Naxos
A Naxos car-hire company that delivers to the airport, port and hotels.
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Cars, scooters and buggies
Auto Moto Falcon
A Naxos rental company for cars, scooters, motorbikes, ATVs and buggies, with online booking.
Getting there
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Gateway to the Small Cyclades
Port of Naxos
A ferry hub with connections to Piraeus, Paros, Mykonos, Santorini, Ios, Amorgos and the Small Cyclades.
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Minutes from the beaches
Naxos Airport
A small airport a few minutes from town and the west-coast beaches, with flights from Athens.
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Beaches often, villages less so
Naxos buses
Buses from the port to Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka, and to the mountain villages.
Share your Naxos experience
Been to Naxos? Share your tips with other travellers.
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