Cyclades
Naxos
The island that has everything — and somehow stays relatively sane about it.
Getting around
Car recommended
Cost
€€€
In peak season
Moderate
Best months
May, Jun, Sep, Oct
From Athens
Flight or ferry
In pictures
Naxos
Naxos is the island that keeps on giving. The Portara — a massive marble doorway standing alone on a small islet at the harbour entrance, remnant of an unfinished Temple of Apollo — is one of the defining images of the Cyclades. The island's interior is as rewarding as its coast: Venetian towers, Byzantine churches, and the marble village of Apiranthos, where residents still speak an archaic Greek dialect, sit above terraced fields producing the cheese, potatoes, and citrus that make Naxos one of the only Greek islands genuinely capable of feeding itself. The west-coast beaches — Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, Plaka — are among the finest long sandy beaches in the Cyclades. The local Kitron liqueur, distilled from citron leaves, is worth trying. No nightlife to speak of, which is precisely why families and food lovers love it.
How it scores
- Beaches
- Nightlife
- Food
- Culture
- Nature
- Family
- Accessibility
- Value for money
The catch
Limited nightlife. The interior and mountain villages require a car to explore properly.
Hidden gem
Drive into the Tragea valley and find the 9th-century Panagia Drosiani church — the oldest in the Balkans, almost no one stops.
Where it sits
Cyclades, Greece
Naxos — frequently asked
- When is the best time to visit Naxos? +
- The best months to visit Naxos are May to October. It's busy but manageable in peak season, so even peak season is workable.
- How do you get to Naxos from Athens? +
- Naxos has an airport, so you can fly direct from Athens in under an hour or take the ferry (about 5.5 hours).
- Is Naxos good for couples? +
- Naxos is a charming pick for couples, especially shoulder season.
- Is Naxos good for families with kids? +
- Naxos is a great choice for families — calm swims, walkable towns, and short transfers.
- Is Naxos expensive? +
- Naxos is affordable by Greek-island standards.
- Do you need a car on Naxos? +
- You'll want a rental car on Naxos — distances are longer and the best beaches are spread out.
- What's the catch with Naxos? +
- Limited nightlife. The interior and mountain villages require a car to explore properly.