Holidays in Naxos GREECE
Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades. It is also, with
Santorini,
Mykonos and
Paros, now one of the most popular, due largely to much-improved ferry links in recent years. But away from the main town and handful of burgeoning resorts Naxos has largely preserved its slower, more Greek pace of life. It offers abundant sandy beaches and a fertile interior still dedicated to farming. Naxos Town is particularly attractive, its extensive waterfront bedecked with tavernas and small shops. Behind, a maze of narrow streets and tiny passages leads to the Venetian Kastro, worth visiting for the island’s archaeological museum. Naxos boasts some 92 kms of beach and nearly all are excellent. Aghios Georgios, closest to the town, is sandy and very long. Some 8 kilometres away – and easily reached by the very good local bus network – Prokopios and Ayia Anna are of fine golden sand shelving gently into a clear blue sea. Small but growing resorts, busy in the summer months, have sprung up behind these beaches. Carry on south and the beaches simply get better and better (and emptier and emptier) culminating in the great golden sweep of Pyrgaki.
You can explore Naxos very effectively by bus or organised excursion or hire car. Visit the old capital of Chalki, delightful Philoti, and Apollonas in the north, where a large statue of Apollo (a ‘Kouros’) lies to this day. Inland is superb walking country with mountains, springs, valleys and plains.
Information about Naxos beaches
A wide selection of beaches is offered to you in the island of Naxos. Most of them have thin, white sand, while one can find pebbled beaches as well as rocky ones. In Naxos Town, the island's capital, there is the beach of Saint George, covered with thin sand. Its main characteristic is its shallow waters that make it very safe for the children. On the beach of Saint George there are many taverns and bar-cafe, literally on the sand, that are open from very early in the morning till late at night. The beach of Grotta is located just below Grotta settlement. It is usually wavy, which is why the locals love it for playing around when the wind is blowing from the north. Towards the north of the island one can find the beaches of Ammitis, Abram and Apollonas beach at the very top of Naxos.
On the east of the island there are the beaches of Moutsouna, Psili Ammos and Lionas. In order to get there, one has to drive for about half an hour, passing through Apiranthos village. The road, although narrow, lets you see most of the eastern side of the island. On the south of Naxos lies the beach of Panormos, one of the most quiet beaches. The best known beaches however are those located on the west side of the island, starting from Agios Prokopis (5km from Naxos Town) and reaching Agiassos, approx. 22 km from the island's capital. Most of Naxos beaches are sandy.
Naxos sites and attractions - Naxos highlights ...
Historically, Naxos island was one of the most important Cycladic islands of Greece , and a major center of the Cycladic civilization, as well as a significant island during the Venetian Rule. Naxos Town is packed with wonderful historical sites, such as the Portara (the Gate to the Temple of Apollo), which is the trademark of the island. The Venetian Castle in the capital town is a splendid example of medieval architecture. Located just a few kilometres from Naxos Town is the Tower of Bellonia, which was the residence of the Bellonia family from Venice. Lastly, don’t miss visiting the Archaeological and the Metropolis Museum, as well as the lovely churches of Panagia Vlacherniotissa and Zoodochou Pigis. In Apirathos, a picturesque mountain village on Naxos Greece, we suggest visiting the Zevgoli Castle, which was built in the 17 th century, and its wonderful museums (Archaeological, Geological, Natural History and Folklore). Sagri settlement, located in the center of Naxos Island, is host to a number of interesting historical sites, such as the excellent Sanctuary of Demetra and Apollo- which has recently been restored and is considered an archaeological jewel of the island -, the windmills, the castles and the Byzantine Church of Kalogritissa. The Ancient Site of Iria is the finest archaeological site on Naxos Island Greece. Built in the 9 th and 8 th centuries BC, the 4 temples are exquisite examples of ancient architecture. Other significant Naxos sites include the Kouros in Apollonas, the Kouros and the Towers in Melanes, and the Tower of Chimarros and the Cave of Za in Filoti.
Naxos Nightlife - Clubs, Cafes & Restaurants
Naxos may not have the wild "anything goes" party image of Mykonos but
there are plenty of music bars and dance venues which stay open till dawn.
Book accommodation within easy reach of Naxos Town (Hora) if a lively night
scene is important to you because this is where you'll find the island's sole
concentration of cocktails bars, restaurants and clubs. The beaches of Agios
Prokopis and Agia Anna just to the south of the town are flanked by bars and
cafes which stay open late and buzz during the summer months. Start your evening by watching the sun go down at one of the many bars
which line the waterfront of Naxos Town. Several bars offer half price drinks
during "happy hour" which in many cases extends over two or three hours. When it comes to dining, this small town offers an unexpected number and
variety of restaurants - you can find everything from superb fresh fish dishes
to international cuisine and fast-food gyros joints. One of the most popular
seafood restaurants in town is Nikos on the Paralia (above the Commercial
Bank). The emphasis is on locally caught fish and there's a staggering range
of seafood dishes on offer along with some innovative meat alternatives.
There's also a good selection of wines from Naxos and the rest of the
Cyclades.
or excellent value traditional Greek fare head for Apostolis in Old Market
Street at the foot of the old town.
Or if you need a break from stuffed vine
leaves and tzatziki try the nearby Old Inn where the focus is on German food
including tasty home-made sausages. The peaceful open courtyard is located
within the walls of a former monastery and the wine cellar is housed within a
former chapel. There are two Indian Restaurants in town - the Dolfini in the old town (up
the steps from Ergo Bank) and East West at the southern end of town near
Plateia Protodikiou. Both offer Thai dishes as well as Indian fare and East
West also has some Chinese choices on the menu. There's a Mexican restaurant,
Picasso's, on the other side of the road from East West.
The biggest nightclub in town is Super island at Grotta beach which opens
at 11am and throbs till sun up. The waterfront is packed with late nightspots
and in high season you'll be pestered by staff trying to lure you in with
offers of free shots and cheap cocktails. Cream, Ocean and Veggera are three clubs clustered together at the southern
end of the harbour near the OTE (tourist office). At the opposite end of the
waterfront in the middle of the port you'll find the beautifully decorated
Karma Café-Bar which is a romantic spot with wonderful sea views. Naxos by Night, between Plateia Protodikiou and the beach, offers
traditional bouzouki music and Greek folk dancing.
Climate and weather in Naxos GREECE
Naxos island has a very varied landscape: barren, rocky districts, high mountains, (Mount Zas, alt. 1000m), lush ravines and green plateaus. In the fertile valleys of the hinterland and the west coast, where there is water in abundance, the islands main products -potatoes, fruit, and olives for oil- are grown. Stock farms are also widespread and Naxos is known for its exellent cheeses, meat and sausages. The southwest of Naxos is blessed with many capes and bays lined with broad sandy beaches, while the north coast is carved into the coves with smaller beaches. Naxos beaches to the east are fewer but still interesting.The island also has considerable mineral wealth, such as the marble known from antiquity, granite and emery. Naxos weather and climate is dry, with mild winters and summers cooled by the northerly winds (meltemia), that blows through the Aegean during the hotest months. From the end of July and throughout August, as in all the
Cyclades islands, northerly winds, known as meltemia, blow strongly. Although they have a blessedly cooling effect they can be a hazard to boats out at the sea and tricky for the swimmers too, to the extend that some of the most exposed beaches can be practically unusable. Between the months of May and September, the average daytime temperature is 28-30 C and the average night-time temperature is 18-20 C.
Getting to Naxos island - flights & ferries - Getting arround ...
You can travel to Naxos Greece easily and conveniently. Direct flights to Naxos are provided from
Athens. number of other Cyclades islands can be reached from Naxos by airplane, making it an extremely convenient holiday destination for those who want to see more islands during their stay in Greece. Air travel to Naxos caters to all types and all budgets, as visitors are provided with both expensive and cheap air flights to Naxos. Budget flights, discounted flights and student airfare to Naxos are frequently offered by airplane companies.
Ferries to Naxos depart from Athens (Piraeus Port), Thessaloniki, and Cyclades islands, NE
Aegean islands,
Dodecanese islands and Crete. Ferry travel to Naxos island is daily and even more frequent during the summer months. Since a variety of sea transportation is offered (conventional ferries, high speed boats, hydrofoils), boat and ferry fares depend on the type of vessel and the time of the year.
Naxos Island has a sufficient road network and most of Naxos attractions can be easily reached. Bus schedules are frequent and taxis are also available. Car rental is inexpensive and
carNET rent-a-car is one of the best companies in terms of service and prices in the island. Motorbike and bike rentals is also available, while remote beaches can be reached with boats which also offer day cruises.
Donkeys were, until relatively recently, the most reliable form of transport on all but the main roads in Naxos. Many roads were little more than a mess of potholed dirt tracks with signs that were either misleading or non-existent. Much has changed in recent years. Roads are now generally good and the signposting much better, not only for villages but for historical sites too. The coast road from Hora to Apollonas, in particular, has been surfaced and is now excellent as well as scenic. Roads can still be rough, however, with the Sangri villages still linked by dirt tracks and the south east of the island still suitable only for donkeys. What you won't run short of on Naxos are petrol stations. They have sprung up like the more famous windmills and the island appears peppered with petrol pumps. The only customers must be tourists and how the owners make a living is a mystery. At the last count there were 14 on the island with nine of them on the 20 km stretch from Hora to Filoti. It is worth shopping around for car deals as there can be a considerable difference in pricing, particularly in the high season. Excursion tours are not a bad way to see the island, especially to visit the kouros and west coast resorts. There are frequent regular bus services out of Hora, mainly to Agia Anna, Apeiranthos and Apollonas with occasional run to the more remote villages and to the west coast. The taxi rank is near the bus station in Hora.
Sailing in Naxos Greece
This is the only way to travel in Cyclades which is seething with ferry boats throughout the summer months. Many of the larger ones are luxurious with deep bucket seats, air conditioning, ever-open bars and surprisingly cheap ticket prices too. Throughout the summer there are daily sailings to the Athens port of Piraeus by at least five boats with connections three days a week to Rafina, just Northeast of Athens. Other regular connections include daily boats to Ios, Santorini, Paros, Amorgos, Mykonos, Tinos and Andros; sailings four times a week to Syros and Silanos; three times a week to Siphnos, Crete and Samos and once weekly to Astypalea. Add the daily excursions to island beaches, Mykonos and Delos and you can see why the harbour is such a bustling, busy place.
Quick facts - Naxos overview
Naxos sits at the heart of the main central Cyclades group of Greek islands. Its position puts it at the heart of the Greek island ferry system and Naxos, along with its neighbour Paros, is often thought of as the hub for Greek island ferry hopping. Naxos is a big island but most tourist accommodation is confined to the south west coast. Visitors to Naxos expect the best beaches in the Med - that's what the brochures promise - and beaches it certainly has. The whole of the south west coast is one long blonde swathe of sand. Unfortunately much of it is coarse and gritty stuff and many of the beaches are backed with unattractive low-humped dunes or by flat, desolate salt marsh. Inland Naxos has some impressive mountain scenery, particularly around Mt Zas the highest peak in the Cyclades. Abundant springs and rich soil result in dense Greek valleys of citrus and olive and a fertile coastal plain extending south of Naxos town. Inland villages are, for the most part, shabby and workaday dull. Naxos island's rich, agricultural heritage has meant the islanders have not needed to make too many concessions to tourism, despite the large numbers passing through the main port. Naxos has maintained a strong Greek island identity and has taken in tourism on its own terms.
For those looking for a beach holiday with opportunities for easy island hopping this is a Greek island to consider.
Naxos is the largest and highest island in the Cyclades and the most fertile with many crops and orchards in the cultivated valleys. Miles of white sand beaches, the best in the Cyclades and probably the best in the Mediterranean - that's what the brochures say. True, the beaches are vast and the sands often sugar white. But it is not all beer and skittles. The sand can be harsh, like ball-bearing granules, and a splash in the sea requires paddling over underwater rocks that line much of the shoreline. Miles of salt flats back many of the best beaches creating an air of desolation that is not everyone's cup of tea. The beaches are also huge, adding to the attraction for those who don't like company but feeling a little lonely for those that do. Naxos is at the hub of the Cyclades ferry system and so is an ideal location for an island hopping holiday.
