16 Superb Issues to do in Naxos Island!

In the event you’re in search of one of the best issues to do in Naxos, you’ve come to the place. We knew we needed to make the journey to Naxos Island after spending an exquisite week close by on Paros. We had heard many issues about Naxos and knew it was time to discover it!

After visiting over 15 different Greek islands, together with Milos, Santorini, Crete, and Mykonos I can for sure say that Naxos is one other considered one of my favorites. Though, it’s really powerful to go mistaken with any Greek island!

Naxos has every thing you would need from a visit to the Greek islands. Cycladic white and blue homes, incredible historical past, historical Greek structure, nice meals, stunning European seashores, wonderful sunsets, pleasant Greek individuals? Verify, Verify, Verify! We had a full 5 days on Naxos, and it was really powerful to do all of the wonderful issues to do on Naxos – however we tried!

The place is Naxos Island?

Naxos is the biggest and most fertile of all of the Cyclades Islands. It’s properly linked by ferry and airplane. It’s solely 2 hours through catamaran from Santorini and simply over 5 hours through ferry from Athens. There’s additionally a small airport that runs a number of flights per week between Naxos and Athens.

Finest Issues to do on Naxos, Island!

Stroll Round Chalkio

Chalkio, or Halki is a small village within the middle of the island. It’s a must-visit whereas on Naxos and the place one can simply spend a day strolling the attractive Greek streets.

There are quite a few artwork galleries, boutique outlets, small Greek tavernas, and dessert outlets. There’s lots to do right here, or you are able to do completely nothing however take in the sunshine and benefit from the Greek environment.

Eat Naxian Delicacies

It’s undoubtedly worthwhile to point out up in Chalkio hungry as there are a lot of cute and conventional locations to eat. Our favourite cease right here was Giannis Tavern, which offered us with an lovely setting exterior and scrumptious Greek meals.

Nonetheless there are many locations to eat and benefit from the ambiance!

Discover the Churchs round Chalkio

Because you’re already in Chalkio you might as properly go and take a look at among the outdated church buildings within the space. Most of them are walkable from city. There’s the Church Agios Nikolaos, the Church of Panagia Rahidiotisa, and the outdated Byzantine church Taxiarhis Rahis to call a couple of.

Take pleasure in Filoti

After visiting Chalkio, maintain going to a different small village. Filoti village is a cute cease in Naxos, and we discovered it to be tranquil in comparison with Chalkio (which was already very chill).

It’s in Filoti that you would be able to get pleasure from white-washed Cycladic buildings and picturesque “kafenio” (Greek cafes). The most effective factor to do is come right here and luxuriate in a Greek espresso or Ouzo and chat with among the locals.

You may also see the Church Panagia (Virgin Mary) Filotitissa, which is properly well worth the cease. Preserve driving up the street till you’ll be able to’t go any additional for good views over the village and to see the Church of Agia Irini.

Go to the Fontaine d’Aria

In the event you maintain going up the street previous the Church of Agia Irini, you’ll discover a spring! Sure, proper on the foot of Mount Zas is a small shady oasis, a pure spring, and a quiet place to benefit from the view over the Greek mountains.

In case you are seeking to get energetic, carry your mountain climbing sneakers as there are a number of trails from the fountain starting from 1-3 hours!

Discover Portara

In all probability the preferred factor to do in Naxos is to go to Portara. Portara is solely a web site that may’t be missed; actually, you’ll be able to’t miss it because it greets everybody coming out and in of Naxos by ferry. It’s a stunning landmark over the entire island and must be visited by all. We visited a number of occasions at completely different elements of the day, however the sundown was one of the best!

Portara is a monumental marble body standing 6 meters excessive. It’s half of what’s left of Historic Greece and the Temple of Apollo.

The construction is on the small islet of Palatia, only a five-minute stroll from the Naxos outdated city. Cautious crossing over the walkway in opposed situations, or you might get soaked!

Have Sundown Wine at Apollo Cafe Restaurant

For one of the best place to get pleasure from a glass of Greek wine on Naxos, head proper down from Portara and dangle a proper earlier than you cross again over to Previous City. The Apollo Cafe Restaurant is a small family-run Greek restaurant that offers insane views over Naxos. We loved a €3 glass of white and rose wine right here a number of occasions. It by no means received outdated!

Stroll round Naxos Previous City

Like most Greek island cities, Naxos Previous City, or Chora (Hora), is one to be explored. The outdated historic city is the primary harbor city of Naxos. In the event you’re arriving by ferry, you’ll be passing by Previous City anyway.

It’s the place one might come and spend your complete day strolling across the marble streets and admiring the white Cycladic homes. You’ll discover loads of scrumptious eating places, bars, tavernas, and memento outlets right here. I’d suggest combining Previous City with a sundown cease at Portara.

Go to The Fortress (Kastro)

Overlooking Chora’s Previous City is a Thirteenth-century fort. The Fortress of Naxos City as soon as served as a fortress and defend for Naxos constructed by the Venetian Duke in 1207.

The partitions and the Kastro are nonetheless properly preserved and supply a maze-like expertise of small alleyways, cobbled streets, and loads of ups and downs.

I completely liked strolling across the Kastro and hopping into a couple of cute cafes and outlets. Probably the greatest cafes on the island, 1739 Terrasse Cafe, has a shocking terrace overlooking the outdated city and lovely Aegean. It’s one other nice sundown spot on Naxos.

Sunbathe at Agios Prokopios

Only a quick drive away from Chora is a incredible Blue Flag seaside 1.5 kilometers in size!

Agios Prokopios is likely one of the hottest issues to do in Naxos and is essentially the most visited and delightful seaside. However how might you blame guests for heading straight to wonderful blue water and golden sand seashores?

Agios Prokopios is the right place to return and spend a day at. Alongside the seaside are a number of eating places and tavernas, and within the summertime, you’ll discover loads of locations to rent out seaside chairs and umbrellas. Don’t neglect to carry your towel and different seaside necessities although!

It’s an amazing place to return for households because the water is calm and heat, however it’s also the place you will see teams as buddies and {couples}, in addition to a couple of nudist beachgoers.

One in all my favourite issues to do right here at Agios Prokopiosis take a stroll alongside the entire stretch of sand!

Learn our information to the 12 BEST Seashores in Naxos

Plaka Seaside

Nonetheless questioning what to do in Naxos? A little bit additional south from Agios Prokopios seaside is Plaka Seaside. Plaka Seaside was an entire nudist seaside however now’s loved by all. Although you’ll possible nonetheless see a couple of bare our bodies lounging round.

Plaka seaside extends for 4 kilometers, that means yow will discover some peace and quiet even within the busy Greek summers.

Temple of Demeter (Temple of Sangri)

The Temple of Demeter isn’t on the well-beaten Naxos vacationer path, however it’s properly price a cease. Close to Sangri, a small Greek village is the Temple of Demeter. The ruins listed below are imposing and are product of the best Naxian marble.

Hike to the Prime of Mount Zas

In keeping with Greek mythology, Mount Zas (additionally referred to as Mount Zeus) is the place Zeus spent most of his childhood. It’s additionally the very best level in all of the Cyclades and is totally hikeable!

From Aghia Marina, the hike as much as Mount Zas is simply 7km with 300 meters of elevation. Though there’s a more difficult choice from Aria Spring that’s 5km and 500 meters of achieve, in case you go this manner, you’ll go the Cave of Zeus, so it could be price it to take the extra difficult route! We suggest heading up round sundown to get stunning colours over the entire island!

Kitesurf in Mikri Vigla

Naxos is a well-liked vacation spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing due to its newbie pleasant situations. The seaside at Mikri Vigla is the preferred place to go to get pleasure from this sea exercise.

Petros at KiteLife is correct there to offer learners with classes or anybody with out their gear a rental arrange.

Take a Cooking Class at Basilikó Household Tavern

One in all my favourite issues to do in Greece is take a cooking class. There’s nothing higher than studying the fundamentals of Greek meals from a neighborhood. At Basiliko Household Tavern, you’ll study Naxian delicacies, and choose your individual herbs, veggies, and fruits of their household backyard.

On the finish of your cooking class, you’ll get to get pleasure from a scrumptious dinner paired with Greek wine. E-book the expertise right here.

Day Journey to Paros

Probably the greatest issues to do in Naxos is definitely take a day journey to a neighboring island, particularly in case you are spending longer than a couple of days on Naxos. You might be to Paros on a quick ferry in lower than an hour (test Ferry Hopper for occasions and costs).

As soon as there, take in the vibe in Naoussa or cliff bounce at Ambelas Seaside. There’s a lot to do in Paros, you would possibly take into account extending your journey.

How Lengthy Ought to You Spend on Naxos?

Naxos is the biggest island within the Cyclades. That means there’s lots to do and discover on the island. You would simply spend every week right here and by no means get bored. Nonetheless within the effort to get essentially the most out of your trip to Greece, you might wish to spend much less time so you’ll be able to go to a couple of completely different islands.

On the very least, plan to spend two days and three nights in Naxos. This will provide you with a style of what the island has to supply and can make sure you get to a couple of the issues to do in Naxos talked about on this listing.

What did we do? We had a full three weeks to spend within the Cyclades on this explicit journey. We spent one full week in Paros, earlier than taking the ferry to Naxos for five days. After Naxos, we took the ferry to Milos the place we spent the rest of our time. We felt we divided our time up properly between the three islands as we felt there was extra of curiosity to us on each Paros and Milos.

The way to Get Round Naxos?

There are three choices for getting round Naxos. Rental Automobile, Moped, or 4×4.

Moped

A moped is the most affordable choice, however in Greece, you want a bike license with a purpose to hire one. Many rental businesses in Greece will allow you to slide and hire a moped with out this, however we couldn’t discover anybody in Naxos to hire us a moped on simply a normal license.

4×4

A 4×4 is essentially the most enjoyable choice to get round Naxos in. Nonetheless at round €40 a day it’s an costly one. Additionally in the course of the excessive season, you’ll want a complicated reservation to hire considered one of these unhealthy boys. I desire to not hire mopeds or 4x4s as I recognize my shade and AC whereas getting round Naxos.

Rental Automobile

The final choice is a rental automobile. To hire a automobile in Greece you want a normal Worldwide driver’s license (A legitimate US license works). In case your license isn’t in English or Greek, have a translation simply in case. You additionally must be ready handy over your passport. Additionally relying on the place you making an attempt to hire an Worldwide Drivers Allow could also be necessary for in case you get pulled over. It might be powerful to discover a rental company to hire to you with out an IDP on Naxos.

We’ve rented a automobile in Greece with out an IDP and had locations in Greece require that we’ve an IDP. In case you are from North America, Australia, or exterior the EU it’s greatest that you simply arrive to Greece with an IDP simply to be protected. You may get one right here in case you’re in a rush. In the event you get in an accident or our fulled over with out an IDP you might be topic to a steep effective within the EU.

Most automobile rental corporations in Greece would require you to be 21 and to have held a license in your house nation for a yr. In case you are underneath 25 you might face further expenses.

The Finest Eating places in Naxos

• Arolithos Restaurant: Conventional Greek restaurant in Melanes with rave opinions. Strive the tzatziki!
• Irini’s Restaurant: Greek household restaurant with scrumptious Greek meals, pleasant employees and good environment in Hora.
• BOULAMATSISL: Can’t go mistaken with this one in Chora. Head right here for sundown and sit exterior for essentially the most wonderful views.

The place to Keep in Naxos?

There are such a lot of choices for lodging round Naxos it could make your head spin when reserving. Listed below are a couple of nice Naxos lodging choices.

Hora Suites

That is the place we stayed on Naxos and completely liked our time there! It’s family-run, clear, and tremendous fashionable (which could be a uncommon discover in Greece).

Seven Suites

Simply 5 km from Naxos City and Port, Seven Suites provides stunning views. It’s one other tremendous snug place to remain in Naxos!

Airbnb

We keep in so many Airbnb’s world wide. They allow us to dwell in somebody’s residence and expertise a extra native lifestyle. They’re nice for people who need their very own kitchen too! Take a look at a couple of of our Airbnb suggestions earlier than reserving.

What to Pack for Greece?

Spending a summer season on one of many many Greek islands? Fortunate you. You could be questioning simply what to pack for Greece. The islands are stunning, swarming with historical past, and are populated with among the friendliest individuals on the planet.

READ MORE GREECE TRAVEL TIPS

I hope you loved this information on issues to do in Naxos! Hopefully you discovered it helpful. Listed below are a couple of related articles for extra journey round Greece!