Unforgettable Things to Do in Naxos, Greece
Naxos might not be as famous as Mykonos or Santorini, and it’s not the capital of the Cyclades Islands—that title belongs to Syros—but it more than holds its own. Located in the heart of the Greek Cyclades—a group of islands in the Aegean Sea—Naxos is actually the largest of them all. With charming villages, ancient ruins, and beautiful beaches, there’s plenty to explore, and you’ll want more than just a couple of days to take it all in.
Getting to Naxos isn’t quite as straightforward as flying into the more touristy islands. There’s a small airport with domestic flights from Athens, but most travelers arrive by ferry. The trade-off is worth it—outside of the August rush, the island stays fairly quiet. June and September are especially good times to go, and the sea is warmest in September.
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Why visit Naxos?
Naxos Island offers a rich variety of attractions:
- Historical landmarks tied to Greek mythology
- Long, sandy beaches perfect for lounging or exploring
- A charming main harbor that’s full of character
- A captivating Chora (old town) that’s a pleasure to wander
- Picturesque mountain and seaside villages to discover
- Delicious, high-quality food made from locally sourced ingredients
In short, whether you’re after adventure, relaxation, or a taste of authentic Greek culture, this island delivers.
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Best things to do on Naxos Island, Greece
Having spent some time on Naxos, I can tell you—it’s an island that strikes the perfect balance. While it’s no stranger to tourists, it still holds on to its authentic charm, especially once you step away from the more touristy areas. There’s something about Naxos that feels timeless.
So, if you’re planning a visit, here are 11 of the best things to do in Naxos, Greece, from someone who’s explored it all:
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1. Stroll around Naxos Chora
Naxos Chora (Old Town) is a splendid example of what you would expect from a Cycladic Chora: whitewashed houses, narrow alleys, adorable shops, cats (of course), and plenty of places to stop and eat or drink. It is a bit of a maze, and you might well get lost—but if you try to keep going up, you’ll eventually find the 13th-century Kastro (castle) at the highest point.
The Venetians built the Kastro in the 13th century as protection against any invaders and used it to house a school and a cathedral. Both are visible today, along with several original gates and the Glezos Tower, which stand as testaments to the area’s preservation. For today’s visitors, an elevator provides access to the Avaton Cafe, which offers magnificent views out across the water.
The Chora has plenty of places to eat and drink as well; Metaxi Mas and Apostolis are two well-known traditional tavernas worth visiting. Apostolis has a good atmosphere in a courtyard setting but can be a bit chaotic at busy times, though, and you may have to wait for a table.
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2. Enjoy the sunset over the harbor
As sunset approaches, you’ll see people gathering in the bars and restaurants along the harbor waterfront, particularly up on the first floor of the bars and restaurants. Places like Flamingo, 520 Bar, and Swing Bar serve up cocktails and nibbles to while away the time as the spectacular colors develop in the Greek sky.
You’ll find it difficult to resist taking photos as the orange sky provides a perfect backdrop to the masts of the boats moored at the harbor. Then, once the sun has gone, you can stroll to your choice of dinner venue around the town.
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3. Relax at the beach
Naxos has some lovely long sandy beaches for you to enjoy and the best blue water to cool off in when you need to. You can choose to rent one of the comfortable beds/umbrellas and get service from the cafes, or you can go your own way and roll out your towel where you like—there’s plenty of room on most of the beaches.
As you move south from Naxos Town, you’ll find Georgios, Prokopios, Anna, Maragkas, Plaka, and Orkos beaches. All are sandy and tend to get less busy and less organized as you head further south. The best news is that they are relatively shallow and good for young families, and they all have bars/cafes nearby to keep you fed and watered.
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4. Check out Graffiti Hotel at Alyko
Alyko is 17 km south of Naxos town, and there you’ll find a half-finished building (the “Graffiti Hotel”), that has been decorated by various graffiti artists. Some of the designs are truly stunning but be careful wandering around the grounds because some of the areas are a little uneven.
After you admire the artwork, you can admire some natural features. There are 2 nice beaches nearby: Hawaii (a bit wild but sandy) and Pyrgaki (some facilities at the southern end, which is the nicer part). There is also the Alyko Forest which has more sand hills and small cedars than a full-on forest.
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5. Drive through the mountains to Apollonas
A drive through the central part of Naxos with stops in the villages will give you a flavor of the real Cyclades. A good itinerary is to head across the island to the northeastern seaside village of Apollonas and then return to Naxos Town via the coastal road. It’s quite a day of driving and sightseeing—but well worth it.
Start by heading inland via Mili and Kinidaros—on the way you’ll see the impressive marble mining operation from the road—then on to Moni. The Elaiolithos Café is a wonderful place to stop here. You’ll enjoy a beautiful view and a good range of local dishes.
Then on to Sifones and Koronos, another attractive village for a break. After Skado and Mesi, you’ll head down towards Apollonas, which is an attractive bay village with a group of cafes/tavernas and a sandy shore. A good place for a lunch break.
You can head back via the coastal road, passing the ruined Venetian tower of Ayia, through Kampos and Akrotiri. Stop by the Olive Oil Museum when you get to Eggares—the friendly guides will teach you all about the history of olive oil making on Naxos, and you can sample some of the local produce. It’s just a short drive and then back into Naxos Town.
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6. Sample the local produce
One of the best aspects of visiting the various islands is experiencing the variations in food between the different destinations. They all pride themselves on their cheeses, olive oils, wines, and special dishes—and Naxos is no exception.
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Cheeses of Naxos
Naxos is a cheese lover’s paradise. With a wide range of textures and flavors to choose from, including the gentle, creamy Mizithra (perfect for Greek salads if you have a choice) and the hard, pungent, and strong Arseniko, everybody is sure to find something they love.
The main cheeses on Naxos are
- Xinomizithra—a soft, fresh, white cheese, slightly sour
- Mizithra—milky and slightly sweet
- Graveria—a salty, medium-hard cheese
- Arseniko—hard, strong, and salty
- Xynotiro—another hard cheese, good for baked dishes
Visit the eclectic Tziblakis Traditional Shop on Papavasileiou Street in Naxos Town (they sell pots, spices, and pretty much anything else you can imagine) and the nearby Naxos Cheese Koufopoulos for a cheese tasting and to pick up some favorites to try later.
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Naxian potatoes
The humble potato is an important crop on Naxos, and around 8 million tons are produced every year. They are a key component of some critical Greek dishes, such as moussaka and lemon potatoes. Both are delicious; we loved to try them whenever we could.
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Naxos honey
Honey is another renowned product of Naxos, utilizing particularly the local thyme to produce lovely-tasting honey. Heather and spring flower honey are two other popular variations, but try them all and see what you like. Just be aware of any restrictions on taking honey back into your home country.
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Farm tours
There are quite a few options to visit local farms or take cooking classes. All of them will give you a hands-on experience to help you prepare some local favorite dishes, answer your questions about life on Naxos, and give you the chance to taste the local cheeses and other products. And raki, of course.
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7. Photograph the Portara
You can’t miss seeing the Potara (Great Door) if you arrive at Naxos Port by ferry. This giant marble structure (6 by 3.5 meters) is all that remains of a temple planned by Lygdamis and started in the 6th century BC. Work halted when war broke out between Naxos and Samos, and it never resumed. The structure was planned to be 30 meters tall—imagine what that would have looked like!
Visitors can now traverse the narrow causeway that connects the town to the Palatia islet to appreciate the remnants. According to myth, it was here that Theseus left Ariadne after he defeated the Minotaur on Crete.
The Portara is still an impressive landmark, and photographers can capture it in all the different lights thrown by the Greek sun. The crowds gather at sunset for particularly impressive shots, but it is hard to avoid too many people in the background.
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8. Hike up to Zeus’ childhood cave
Mythology suggests that Zeus sought refuge in this cave outside Filoti, where he was given the light that made him ruler of Olympus. The hike is quite a challenge with some spectacular views—wear good, solid climbing shoes, take water, and allow up to an hour depending on your level of fitness.
Hiking in the morning before the heat of the day is also a good idea. The cave itself is quite impressive—over 100 meters high in some places—and contains good examples of stalactites and stalagmites.
If you are looking for a challenge, you can continue the climb toward the summit of Mount Zas (altitude 1,000 meters). But that is a serious hiking outing.
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9. Head to the fishing village of Moutsouna
A little further on from Apeiranthos, heading east, you’ll come to Moutsouna, a charming fishing village where there will likely be a small collection of fishing boats ready to go out the next day. There are also remnants of machinery for loading emery stones mined nearby onto haulage boats for delivery around the world.
Several tavernas serve decent seafood lunches here (of course), and afterward you can explore up and down the coast, checking out the beaches of Psili Ammos and Ligaridia before making the trip home.
On the drive back, stop by the landmark “Boats and Goats,” 700 meters above sea level, where a herd of goats has sought shelter among a cluster of boats. Filoti is a very nice village to stop at as well.
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10. Taste the Kitron liqueur at Halki
Halki, another lovely village in the Naxos hills, is very popular with hikers thanks to all the trails around the village. It is also home to the Vallindras Distillery (founded in 1896), which produces the Kitron liqueur from the fresh leaves of the Kitron tree. If you visit the distillery, you can learn all about the distillation process and try the three different versions produced, varying in alcohol level and sugar content.
When you’re in Halki, have a good wander around the village alleyways and have some more refreshments in the square. Someone may be spit-roasting some meat for dinner, giving off some pleasant aromas. You can also visit the Fish and Olive Gallery for superior art, ceramics, and jewelry.
Close to Halki is Apeiranthos, the marble village and one of the best villages on Naxos. Apeiranthos, known for its use of marble and Venetian-inspired architecture, boasts attractive houses that invite exploration, with doors sporting coats of arms that reveal the occupations of the original owners.
Apeiranthos is also home to four different museums and the largest library on the Cyclades.
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11. Take a boat trip to Koufonisia
Koufonisia is a small island just off the southeast coast of Naxos, and it’s worth visiting if you’re looking for an outing on the water. It’s actually two islands: Ano Koufonisia—the main one with most of the accommodations and restaurants—and Kato Koufonisia, which is uninhabited but beautiful.
Boat trips from Naxos Port typically visit beaches in the south of Naxos and then call in at both Koufonisia islands. There’s plenty of time to stop and swim and enjoy the souvlaki meals that the crews serve up along with the usual Greek spirits (of course!). It’s a big day, and you’ll be guaranteed to be happily tired as you arrive back in Naxos in time for dinner.
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FAQs about visiting Naxos
What is Naxos best known for?
Naxos is best known for its stunning beaches, charming villages, ancient ruins (especially the Portara), delicious food, and laid-back atmosphere.
How many days should I spend in Naxos?
Is Naxos expensive?
When is the water warmest in Naxos?
What is the best time of year to visit Naxos?
How do I get around Naxos?
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Ready to visit Naxos?
You can see that there are plenty of places to see and fun things to do in Naxos.
However, it is the people you encounter that help make a Greek Island holiday more than just places and things, and you will find the locals on Naxos will go out of their way to be welcoming and helpful to the visitors they get from all over the world.
When George (the manager at our accommodation) found out that my wife, Fiona, was a keen home baker, he suggested we visit the Vivlos bakery to see breads and biscuits being made. We did visit, and despite speaking very little English, the bakery team welcomed Fiona into the kitchen and showed off their skills as she attempted to ask questions about their process. The result was much laughter and joy for all.
