NAXOS ISLAND IN 3 DAYS – updated 2023

Naxos Island is such a unique island in Greece! It’s the largest island in the cyclades best known for food, beaches, and hiking making it a great destination in Europe! Naxos is becoming much more popular in the Greek Islands. Located in the cyclades Naxos Greece is just 45 minutes from Mykonos and 2 hours from Santorini meaning it’s the perfect stop on a trip to Greece.

Max and I spent about a month traveling around the Greek Islands, Naxos was a last minute addition that exceeded our expectations! Since it’s less touristy than the most popular islands in Greece, prices are much more reasonable. Plan on spending about 3-4 days on the island.

If you’re still deciding on which Greek Island is right for you- here is an article comparing Paros or Naxos.

And don’t forget to pin this for later!

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As I mentioned, Naxos Island is located in the cyclades in between Mykonos and Santorini. It takes 3-4 hours via ferry from Athens to Naxos. You can also fly to Naxos from Athens on a quick 40 minute flight. If you’re already in the cyclades, you can also ferry from Santorini to Naxos, from Paros to Naxos, and Mykonos to Santorini. Prices for flights tend to rise during the summer months from June through August. Generally, taking the ferry is the more budget friendly option.

Booking:

• We primarily used Let’s Ferry throughout our travels in Greece.
• If you’re planning to fly I recommend using Google flights to find the best option!

I recommend staying in Chora which is is the capital and main port of Naxos Island. Chora is pretty large however, feels small when you wander through the narrow alleys. There are a handful of tourist attractions as well as a number of restaurants making it the preferred place to base yourself.

Our Stay: We were in Naxos for about a week and split our stay between two adorable hotels! Both Naxos hotels are a quick walk into town and I highly recommend them. They’re quaint, clean, and mid-range in price. We stayed at Nastasia Village Hotel and Glaros Studios.

Being the largest island in the cyclades, Naxos is a big island with a lot to see! You can rent a car/ scooter or rely on public transportation. If you plan on renting a car or scooter make sure to have an International Drivers License. Greece requires foreign drivers to have an International Drivers License. Most rental companies will still rent vehicles without an International Drivers License however, if you get pulled over, you run the risk of a hefty fine by local authorities. The public transportation on Naxos isn’t as consistent as other islands. I found the buses to be reliable but they don’t run consistently across the island. Buses run frequently from Chora to popular beaches such as Agios Prokopios. You can purchase tickets from the bus station in Chora where schedules are also posted.

Like most of the Greek Islands, I recommend planning a trip late May, mid June, or in September and October. The hotel prices will be slightly less during these months and the island will be less crowded and touristy than peak season. The Naxos weather is hot enough to enjoy the beach and swim in the sea making it the perfect time to visit! If you prefer hiking and sightseeing, visit between October and May since the prices will be lower and the weather will be cooler.

Spend your first morning exploring Chora or Naxos town which is the main town on the island. With a large waterfront and an Old Town hidden in the alleyways, there are so many things to do in Chora Naxos! From the Old Town, meander your way to the Medieval Castle which sits at the top of the town. Once you’ve explored town for a bit, walk to the Temple of Apollo for the best view of Naxos. If you arrive to Naxos via ferry, the Temple of Apollo is most likely the first thing you’ll see. This marble gate is considered the landmark of the Island of Naxos.

One of my absolute favorite experiences in Naxos was visiting the villages. Make your way to Melanes in order to explore Melanes as well as a few nearby villages. You can hike from Melanes to surrounding villages on a loop that starts and ends in Melanes. The path is just under four miles long and takes about two hours depending on your pace. I recommend downloading the app maps.me for the walk as we found it to be the most reliable. If you’re not a hiker, you can also drive between the towns. The views are absolutely beautiful as you’ll see white washed houses in the mountains. The views are so different from the coast making a unique trek.

Melanes has a few family taverns where you’ll find the most incredible Greek food. Some of the taverns have gorgeous views of the mountains so be sure to set aside time to eat!

Getting There: You can drive to Melanes from Chora pretty easily as it’s a quick 15 minute drive. Melanes is easy to get to using public transportation however, buses don’t leave regularly. We used public transportation which worked for us but isn’t ideal. During our visit, the bus left Chora around noon and returned to Chora around 3 pm. We had plenty of time to hike the villages and grab a bite to eat but we move pretty quick!

If you’re into hiking, head to Filoti to hike Mount Zas first thing in the morning. Mount Zas is the highest peak in the Cylclades! According to Greek Mythology, it’s said to be where Zeus spent his childhood.

There are two routes you can take when it comes to hiking Mount Zas. We chose the Aria Springs/ Cave of Zeus trail which is actually the more challenging route. It’s considered to be more of a challenge because it’s not well marked and there is a pretty steep incline. Most people start the hike from Aria Springs however, we started in Filoti. We followed directions on maps.me again which worked like a charm! The trail is only about 6 kilometers round trip but it’s difficult since it’s so steep. If you follow the trail from Aria Springs, once you pass the Cave of Zeus it’s pretty much a straight incline. The other trail is Aghia Marina which is slightly longer at 8 kilometers round trip. It’s supposed to be an easier trail that’s well marked.

After hiking, head to Filoti for lunch! The village is pretty small and adorable with a handful of restaurants.

Getting There: You can take a bus from Chora to Filoti to start the Mount Zas hike. You can also drive to Filoti which is approximately a 30 minute drive.

As an alternate, you can book a boat trip for the day. There are a variety of tours you can choose from lasting about 8-10 hours. Some popular tour options are to the Koufonissi Islands off the coast of Naxos. You can also take a day trip to Paros, Mykonos, and many other islands nearby. My recommendation is the sailing tour from Naxos as you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the day!

Spend your last day in Naxos enjoying the Naxos beaches. The island is filled with some incredible beaches; Agios Prokopios and Plaka are two of the best beaches in Naxos. We visited Agios Prokopios while I was in Naxos and it’s one of my favorite beaches. There’s a small town in Agios Prokopios which was mainly built for tourism. There are restaurants in town as well as along the waterfront. The sandy beach is big with plenty of chairs and open areas to lay out.

Getting there: Buses leave frequently from Chora to both beaches. It’s a quick 10 minutes to go from Chora to Agios Prokopios and 20 minutes to Plaka beach Naxos Island.

I hope you enjoy Naxos! The island has so much to offer and has a wide range of activities. The island is known for hiking, site seeing, and fabulous beaches. It’s an excellent stop on a Greece vacation or European vacation in general.

If you’re planning to travel Greece, here are a few additional articles to plan your trip:

• Paros vs Naxos
• Basic Guide to Paros Island
• Santorini in 3 Days

Safe Travels,

Sarah :)

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