Discover Cyclades
Discover Cyclades
Plan your trip to Naxos, Greece: things to do from the Portara to Plaka beach, Zeus Cave, mountain villages, where to stay & how to get there by ferry.
Towering mountains, endless beaches, and ancient temples on the largest and most fertile Cycladic island
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Naxos is the largest Cyclades island in Greece — search "naxos" and you'll find fertile landscapes, long sandy beaches like Plaka, and the iconic Portara marble gateway. Just 3.5 hours by ferry from Athens (Piraeus to Naxos), it combines culture, food, and beaches better than any other island in the group. From neighbouring Paros the Paros to Naxos ferry takes as little as 25 minutes. Piraeus to Naxos ferry durations: 3–3.5h high-speed, 4–5.5h conventional.
Naxos is the giant of the Cyclades, and it earns that title in every way. At 430 square kilometres it dwarfs its neighbours, rising from some of the longest sandy beaches in Greece to the cloud-capped summit of Mount Zas (1,004 m), the highest peak in the Cycladic chain. The harbour town has a 13th-century Venetian castle. The inland valleys grow the finest potatoes, cheese, and citrus in the Aegean. And the mountain villages feel like they've been measuring time in centuries rather than years.
The ancient Greeks considered Naxos the most blessed of islands. In mythology, Dionysus found Ariadne here after Theseus abandoned her and rewarded the island with eternal fertility. That fertility shows up everywhere: in olive and citrus groves carpeting the Tragea valley, in the marble quarries that supplied sculptors across the ancient world, and in the enormous Portara. This massive marble doorway, the entrance to a 6th-century BC Temple of Apollo begun by the tyrant Lygdamis, has stood for 2,500 years. It frames the sunset over Paros every evening.
Modern Naxos has become the Cyclades' most complete family destination without losing any authenticity. The west coast offers kilometres of golden sand and shallow turquoise water: Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, and Plaka are consistently ranked among Greece's finest beaches. Inland, villages like Apeiranthos (the "marble village"), Filoti, and Halki preserve a mountain culture of stone towers, folk music, and artisan traditions. Then there's the food. Naxian graviera cheese holds PDO status, Arseniko is aged in caves for at least six months, the tiny local potatoes grow in volcanic soil, and Kitron liqueur is distilled from citron leaves grown nowhere else in the Cyclades.
Naxos is where the mountains remember the gods, the sea kisses the longest beaches, and every meal tastes like the earth itself is generous.
Naxos Town (Chora) for first visits; Agios Georgios for families; Plaka for couples. Naxos hotels.
Handpicked hotels with exceptional reviews and local character.
Detailed breakdowns of every neighborhood and village.
Expert Recommendation
"For the first-time visitor, staying in the main Chora provides the best balance of accessibility and atmosphere."
In Greek mythology, Dionysus found and fell in love with Ariadne on Naxos after Theseus abandoned her. The god blessed the island with extraordinary fertility, and it became a centre of Dionysiac worship. Ancient temples, marble quarries, and the colossal Portara gateway all testify to how seriously the ancients took this island.
The Portara is the marble doorway of an unfinished Temple of Apollo, begun by the tyrant Lygdamis around 530 BC. Had it been completed, it would have been the largest temple in Greece at the time. The 6-metre-high gateway, made of four massive marble blocks, has stood for 2,500 years and is now the island's most recognisable symbol.
After the Fourth Crusade in 1204, the Venetian adventurer Marco Sanudo conquered Naxos and established the Duchy of Naxos, ruling over most of the Cyclades for three centuries. The Venetian kastro in Naxos Town, with its Catholic cathedral, aristocratic mansions, and tower houses, is one of the best-preserved medieval fortress towns in the Aegean.
Unlike most Cycladic islands, Naxos never fully depended on the sea. Its fertile interior has sustained farming communities for millennia, producing renowned graviera cheese (now PDO-protected), potatoes, Kitron citrus liqueur, and olive oil. Villages like Apeiranthos maintain a distinct cultural identity, with their own dialect, marble architecture, and folk music traditions.
Explore the heart of Naxos
Naxos Town is a layered city where Venetian grandeur meets Cycladic white. The waterfront is lively with restaurants, cafés, and shops, but the real reward is uphill in the Kastro: the 13th-century Venetian castle quarter with its Catholic cathedral, aristocratic tower houses, and wide views over the harbour. The Portara on the causeway peninsula is the obvious sunset spot.
The most distinctive village on Naxos, Apeiranthos is built entirely from local marble and grey stone, giving it a dramatically different appearance from the typical white Cycladic aesthetic. Founded by Cretan refugees, the village maintains its own dialect, folk songs, and fiercely independent character. Narrow marble lanes wind past tower houses, four small museums, and traditional kafenia where village elders debate over Greek coffee.
Once the commercial capital of Naxos, Halki sits in the heart of the Tragea valley surrounded by olive groves and citrus orchards. The Vallindras Kitron Distillery has been producing the island's citrus liqueur here since the 1800s. Nearby, the Byzantine church of Panagia Protothroni (6th–7th century) preserves some of the oldest frescoes in the Cyclades.
The largest mountain village on Naxos, Filoti is an amphitheater of white houses beneath the flank of Mount Zas. The village is the starting point for hiking to the summit and home to excellent tavernas serving mountain-raised meat and local cheese. Its imposing Church of Panagia Filotitissa dominates the central square, where village life revolves around the plateia kafenia.
Koronos clings to a steep mountainside in northeastern Naxos, a cascade of whitewashed houses amid terraced hillsides. It's one of the most remote and traditional villages on the island, known for emery mining heritage, powerful local raki, and a lively August panigiri that draws visitors from across Naxos for music, dancing, and communal eating.
Boutique villas, cave hotels, and sea-view suites — all in one place.
The best shores of Naxos
Kilometres of golden sand stretching south from Agia Anna. The further you walk, the quieter it gets, with dunes, cedar trees, and water so clear it glows turquoise
Consistently voted one of the best beaches in Greece. A sweeping bay of fine golden sand with shallow, bathwater-warm turquoise water and full facilities
A small sandy beach beside a tiny fishing harbor, with tamarisk trees providing natural shade and traditional tavernas serving grilled fish steps from the water
A dramatic headland divides two bays. The sheltered south side is for swimming; the windy north side (Sahara) is for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Views stretch to Paros.
A long, undeveloped sandy beach south of Mikri Vigla with dunes and green hills behind it. One of the most beautiful and least crowded beaches on Naxos
A protected cape with cedar groves, rocky coves, and sandy patches on the island's southern tip. An abandoned hotel ruin here has become a graffiti art canvas
Explore every beach and hidden village at your own pace.
Explore every beach, village, and hidden corner with your own wheels
The top-rated local fleet on Naxos (4.9 stars) from the Picanto to hybrids, with free delivery to the port and your hotel, no hidden fees and a free child seat.
Friendly Naxos Town agency with cars, scooters and quads, free port delivery and quick paperwork so you can reach Plaka and the mountain villages fast.
Modern, well-kept automatics and compacts, ideal for the long west-coast beaches and the Tragaea valley, with full insurance and delivery.
The most fertile island in the Cyclades produces ingredients that elevate every dish, from mountain cheese to citrus liqueur
A firm, full-flavoured PDO-protected cheese made from cow's milk enriched with sheep's or goat's milk. Nutty, complex, and widely considered Greece's finest graviera.
A hard, aged cheese unique to Naxos with a sharp, peppery intensity. Traditionally made from goat's milk and aged in caves for at least six months.
Small, golden-skinned potatoes grown in volcanic soil with a creamy texture and rich flavour. They're a protected product and an island obsession.
A citrus liqueur made from the leaves of the citron tree, produced on Naxos for over 150 years. It comes in three strengths: green (sweet), yellow (balanced), and clear (dry).
Naxos's version of the classic baked pasta dish, enriched with local graviera and Arseniko cheeses and slow-cooked meat. Richer than any version you'll find on the mainland.
Free-range lamb raised on wild herbs in the Naxian mountains, slow-roasted with potatoes and lemon. This is the island's celebration dish.
From sunrise to sunset in Naxos
Walk along the causeway to the Portara before the crowds and watch the sun rise through the massive marble gateway of the unfinished Temple of Apollo. The ancient stones glow amber in the dawn light. It's a five-minute walk from the port.
1 hourTackle the highest peak in the Cyclades (1,004 m) via the trail from Filoti or the Aria Spring trailhead. The summit offers 360-degree views across the entire Cycladic archipelago, and the Cave of Zas (mythical birthplace of Zeus) lies along the route.
4-5 hoursThe Kastro is the medieval fortress quarter of Naxos Town. Enter through the fortified gates, find the aristocratic tower houses, visit the Catholic cathedral (the Duchy of Naxos was Venetian Catholic), and explore the Archaeological Museum in a former Jesuit school. The Cycladic figurines collection is particularly good.
2 hoursDrive or cycle through the Tragea valley, stopping at Halki for Kitron liqueur tasting, the Byzantine church of Panagia Drosiani (one of the oldest functioning churches in Greece, with 7th-century frescoes), the marble village of Apeiranthos, and Filoti for a mountain lunch.
4-5 hoursHead to the windy north side of Mikri Vigla for kitesurfing or windsurfing. The flat water, consistent wind, and sandy bottom make it one of the safest and best spots in the Cyclades for learning, with several schools offering lessons.
3 hoursSit under a plane tree in Filoti or Apeiranthos and eat slow-roasted lamb, Naxian potatoes baked with local cheese, wild greens, and homemade bread. The mountain tavernas here serve some of the best traditional food in the Cyclades, and the prices are startlingly reasonable.
2 hoursJoin the nightly gathering at the Portara as the sun sets behind Paros, framed perfectly by the ancient marble gateway. Bring a bottle of Naxian wine and sit on the surrounding ruins as the sky turns from gold to crimson.
1 hourSailing trips, sunset cruises, diving, cooking classes and more.
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Ferry routes and travel connections
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Ferries, hotels, car rental and neighbourhood guides — everything you need after reading this Naxos guide.
Naxos connects to 13 nearby islands by ferry. These are the live island-hopping routes from Naxos, with direct connections drawn from our full Cyclades ferry catalogue.
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Curated tours and activities
Guided drive through the Tragea valley visiting Halki, Apeiranthos, Filoti, and Byzantine churches, with cheese tasting and mountain taverna lunch.
Trek to the summit of the Cyclades' highest peak with an experienced local guide · includes Cave of Zas visit and panoramic summit views.
Visit a local farm, taste Naxian graviera and Arseniko cheeses, tour the Kitron distillery, and enjoy a multi-course traditional meal with wine pairings.
Insider tips for your Naxos trip
Hand-picked Cyclades photography — refreshed weekly from Pexels.
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The ancient Portara, the summit of Mount Zas, endless golden beaches, and marble mountain villages. Naxos is the Cyclades at its grandest and most honest.
