Naxos Island, Greece

Naxos is the biggest and most fertile island in the Cyclades with impressive high mountains and long sandy beaches. The visitor here can explore beautiful countryside, meet some of the local farmers and get away from the busier tourist Greek islands.

Getting to and around Naxos

Daily flights connect the island of Naxos with Athens. Ferries from Piraeus port are very frequent and take around 8 hours to reach the island. There are also faster hydrofoil and catamaran services, which will cut the travelling time by almost half.

Naxos can be combined with visiting other islands in the area and has regular connections with Mykonos, Paros, Santorini and Crete.

Highlights of Naxos

Most people visiting Naxos stay in Chora or some of the beaches nearby. The Venetian castle built in 1207 towering above the whitewashed houses remains one of the live reminders of Naxos history. Within the castle’s inner walls are a number of Venetian residences, the museum, a 13th Century Catholic School and the French school all worth visiting.

The beaches of Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna are to the south of Chora and are full of hotels, bars, cafes and local tavernas. In the summer months they stay open till the late hours of the night.

If you venture further into the island you are bound to discover unspoilt beaches, mountain villages, ancient Byzantine churches, monasteries and Venetian watch towers. On the northern tip of the island there is a giant Kouros (nude male 10-metre statue) dating back to the 7th century B.C.