Naxos is increasing rapidly in popularity and it would be worth your while to get here while it is still so incredibly charming. Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades Islands and there are so many amazing things to do and see here.
This guide will include everything that we did in Naxos. It will include tours that we loved, places we ate, beaches we went to, how to get around, and our favorite parts.
It will also include things we’d have done if we had more time and things that I’d still love to see on this incredible island. I truly wish we’d spent a LOT more time on Naxos and I hope to go back someday.
We also visited Paros, which is very close to Naxos and makes for great island hopping. You can check out my post about Paros here —-> Paros Greece: A Mini Guide
Introduction to Naxos
Naxos is such a gem. We didn’t realize how huge it was before arriving there. If we had more time I definitely would have spent a few more days here. We’d have visited more beaches, and villages on the island. There will be more about that later in this guide. We loved our time here and it had such a special charm. The fact that we could hike a mountain in the morning and then be on one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen in the afternoon was incredible. The old town was delightful and picture perfect. It’s so nice to sit along the water, people watch, sip a drink and enjoy the most beautiful sunsets.
Where to stay
Naxos airbnb
We chose Naxos main town as our base. It was where the ferry arrived and departed from and we could get to our airbnb on foot. We could walk or take busses to almost anything we needed to do. It was beautiful and full of shops, restaurants, and activities.
Our accommodation can only be described as incredible. One of the best apartments we’ve ever stayed in! It was so large and so clean! The terrace area was the most beautiful place we didn’t even want to go anywhere else. We had a view of the sunset over the Temple of Apollo. We enjoyed sitting there each night with some wine and snacks. We could walk right into the ocean if we wanted to and had views from the whole home. I would highly recommend booking this place if you can. It was also a very easy walk into Naxos main town and anything you’d need. It was walkable from the ferry port as well.
You can book this amazing spot by clicking here —-> Albatross Seafront House
Nissaki Beach Hotel: If you’re more interested in a hotel and all the amenities they offer, this hotel looks stunning and so chilled out! Seems like a perfect place to spend a few days and a 9.2 rating on booking.com
Getting to and around Naxos
Ferries
We arrived in Naxos by ferry from Syros. Our friends arrived from Mykonos. After our stay we took the ferry onward to Paros. Naxos is well connected by ferry. Are you even real friends if you don’t meet your friends at the ferry port with a sign? The ferry comes right into Naxos Old Town, which makes it really easy to get around.
Walking
We found getting around on foot in Naxos town to be very easy. We were within walking distance of the ferry port and of everything the town had to offer. We could also walk to numerous beaches.
Busses
We also used the Naxos bus system during our trip and found it very easy and efficient. There are also taxis that are very easy to grab as well.
Quad or Car
If we had planned to spend longer on this island I would have 100% rented a quad or car to get around and see so much more of this island. Our favorite thing to do on any Greek Island is to rent a quad.
If you’re looking for rental car options (which I thin you should), you can click here —> Rent a car on Naxos
Things to do and see
Hike Mount Zas
We only had 2 full days on Naxos and we spent the better part of one of them hiking Mount Zas. I did find this to be completely worth it, if you enjoy hiking! We did a guided hike, and although you could do this on your own, I found the guide to be extremely beneficial. A lot of this hike is just up the side of a rocky mountain and the path is honestly pretty unclear. We kept laughing about how many times we may have gotten lost on our own. We were also able to learn a lot about the mountain, the caves, and the island of Naxos from our guide.
You can book a hike here —-> Mount Zas Hike
Restaurant Rotonda Cafe Bar
Our guide took us here after our hike and it was INCREDIBLE. If you have a car you could also easily drive here on your own. The views from this restaurant are truly spectacular. The best part is that the food is also fantastic. We had a lamb shank wrapped in paper and was one of the best things we’ve eaten! We had some great wine here and took in the incredible view! This is definitely worth a stop if you have a car or a way to get here on Naxos!
Wander the old town
The streets of the Old Town are out of a dream! They are the scenes you imagine when you picture a little greek town, whitewashed and so adorable. You could wander for hours exploring shops, restaurants, bars, and little alleyways!
Temple of Apollo
If you’re wandering around Naxos old town, you kind of can’t miss the Temple of Apollo. Out on its own little island it is really an amazing site. We were lucky to have an incredible view of it from our apartment and during sunset we saw TONS of people gathering there. We walked out there in the morning to explore it as well and you definitely shouldn’t skip just taking a walk around in when you’re on Naxos.
Chalkio
Chalkio: We didn’t get the chance to do our usual quad around on this island, but if we had this is the village I would have most wanted to see. The inland villages look so lovely and seem to be a little more peaceful as less people venture to them.
Swing Bar
This was such a fun and cute little cocktail bar! It is right in the middle of the old town so it is easy to find. The drinks are so creative and cute and each drink comes in the most unique cup! It’s a little pricy, but its an experience and we thought it was really fun and worth a stop!
Where to eat
Meze Meze
Thankfully they were able to squeeze us in one evening! This place was packed full every time we walked by! We sat outside and had the most incredible muscles! We all loved our meals here and they were HUGE! The staff was so kind and welcoming it felt like a Greek experience you’d see in a movie. Sitting out by the water for sunset was so nice! You can make reservations here too, and you probably should!
Avaton 1739: Coffee & Wine Roof
We didn’t make it here, but I wanted to. Looks like such a lovely spot to relax and have a drink.
Beaches
Plaka Beach
This beach was BEAUTIFUL! The water was so blue and the sand was so white and we hung out at the beach bar here called “Petrino Beach Restaurant” for quite a few hours. We sipped wine on the beach in our little cabana and enjoyed a full afternoon here! It was the perfect spot to spend an afternoon after hiking all morning. The staff were super kind and attentive and we loved everything about it! You can also take the public bus here from Naxos town, which makes it a really easy spot to visit. You could also visit this beach and not sit at a beach club, bring some towels and find an untouched area. I truly found the water here to be unreal!
Agios Georgios Beach
This is the main beach right by Naxos town and is easily walkable. It is lined with shops and restaurants making it a really easy place to spend the day. The water was really shallow and this would be a great beach for families with kids. We liked it but we saw many more beautiful beaches during our time in Greece. This was a great and convenient place to spend a few hours!
Agia Anna Beach
This is supposed to be a nice area to visit for places to eat and things to see and also enjoy the beach! Again, we didn’t get to do as much moving around as we’d have liked with one full day spent at Mount Zas, so this is something else I’d recommend.
Take a boat tour
We didn’t get a chance to do this on Naxos with our limited time, but I recommend getting out on a boat on any Greek island you ever visit. Seeing them from the water is so special and fun and you will never regret a great boat day!
You can find an option that fits you here —–> Naxos Boat Tours
Island Hopping
If you’re planning on Island hopping in Greece we connected this with Paros, as mentioned above. We also visited Syros and Andros on this trip, you can find more information about those islands here —–> Underrated Greek Islands You Should Know About
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