What to do in Naxos

Naxos is a Greek island in the Cyclades, the famous islands of blue and white houses. Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades. It boasts a diversity of landscapes found on few other Greek islands. In Naxos, you’ll find both large white sandy beaches and small coves. The central part of the island is mountainous, and the villages nestling there contrast with the traditional Cycladic villages. Naxos also boasts several archaeological sites well worth a visit. So, when asked the question“what to do and see in Naxos?“, the answers are many. Here are our top 10 must-sees, 10 things we’ve tested and enjoyed.

Other articles you may be interested in about Naxos :

• Where to stay in Naxos? And our best places to eat and drink: restaurants, bars, accommodation and hotels.
• How to get to Naxos and around the island?

1 – Visit Chora, the island’s capital

Narrow streets, Kastro, Old Market

Take a stroll through Chora (Hora), the capital of Naxos, located at the island’s main port. Take a stroll through the old town, going as far as the Kastro district to visit the ancient Venetian castle. Lose yourself in the charming alleyways so typical of the Cyclades, stroll through the little stores of the OldMarket. Enjoy the terraced cafés set in small squares.

Chora comes alive in the evening, with its terraces, tavernas, bars and stores open late into the night. Take advantage of this delicious moment to dine in the car-free streets. And stay late to enjoy the Greek summer.

See a sunset at Apollo’s Gate

The Naxos Chora faces due west, making it ideal for admiring the sunsets. At the end of the islet Palatia stands a vestige of the ancient temple dedicated to the famous Greek god of beauty, the Gate of Apollo, also known as Portara. A must-see walk if you visit Naxos, as the sunset spectacle through this ancient gateway is fabulous.

A great moment of romance for even the most reluctant!

2 – Enjoy the great white sand beaches of the west coast

Unlike the smaller islands of the Cyclades, Naxos boasts immense sandy beaches, ideal for lazing around and enjoying the simple pleasures of a seaside vacation. They are often equipped with showers and parking facilities, and many beach bars offer deckchairs. Most of them are located on the west coast.

• Agios Georgios: located right next to Chora Naxos, very convenient for those staying there. Deckchairs and bars.
• Agios Prokopios: one of the most beautiful beaches in a delightful bay. Unfortunately a bit crowded in the middle of summer. Deckchairs, bars.
• Agia Anna: an extension of Agios Prokopios, this is undoubtedly the busiest and liveliest beach on Naxos.
• Plaka: a pretty, sandy bay with a family-friendly beach and a large number of rental rooms and small hotels nearby.
• Mikri Vigla: this wilder beach is famous for kitesurfing and sailing.
• Kastraki: further away from the main tourist centers, it’s a little quieter. Some traditional taverns.

You’ll find almost all the beaches on Naxos on this site.

3 – Windsurfing and kitesurfing

What to do in Naxos Sailing, kitesurfing and water sports, of course! Naxos is one of Greece’s best-known sailing islands. We’ve already mentioned some of the most famous: Mikri Vigla for experienced sportsmen and women, but also the more protected areas south of Agios Giorgos, ideal for beginners.

We tested three sailing clubs:

• Ride with the Gods at Mikri Vigla, very professional and sharp on equipment, level….
• Laguna Beach Park: offers lessons for beginners (including children). Friendly, simple and relaxed.
• Naxos Surf: Very well organized, courses… but a bit of a tourist factory, from our point of view.

You’ll also find other clubs offering kite surfing courses, such as Naxos Kite Life (highly rated on Manawa) or Kite Centre Naxos.

4 – Discover an open-air street art site

If someone had told me that in Naxos I could admire street art, I wouldn’t have believed them. And yet an incredible discovery on the Aliko peninsula.

At the far end, just above Mikro Limano beach, lies the wasteland of an unfinished luxury hotel. Artists took advantage of this unusual location to take over the walls of the hotel. I loved wandering around this abandoned site, discovering a monster, a woman, a monkey…. and always with the deep blue sea in the background.

To complete the experience, you can also stop off at the wonderful beaches of Micro Limano and Aliko Beach or Pirgaki Beach.

5 – Go to the end of the island

If you like quiet places, you’ll prefer to go to the east coast of the island. Here you’ll find small, quiet beaches. We particularly recommend the beaches of Psili Ammos and Panermos to the south. The latter is unusual in that it is lined with beautiful palm trees. A small gargote offers something to eat. So you can easily spend the day here. There are even short boat trips to discover the south coast. Another option for exploring the surrounding area is to rent paddles by the half-hour or hour.

6 – Visit mountain villages

Don’t miss the pretty villages of Halki, Filoti and Apiranthos.

The first, Halki, is the ancient capital of the island of Naxos. Testifying to its rich and prosperous past, the village features numerous neoclassical houses. The village also features pretty Byzantine churches and Venetian tower-houses. Stroll the streets and enjoy a drink on one of the shady terraces. Don’t miss the small museum at the distillery of Kitron Vallindras, the local lemon liqueur, a Naxos speciality!

Apiranthos and Filoti are less spectacular villages, but will charm you with their rough stone houses. Numerous traditional craft stores (weaving) and gourmet stores (the famous Naxos cheeses) offer top-quality products, so you can take home some nice souvenirs.

=> Best addresses and restaurants in the following article.

7 – Finding the Kouros

If you’re lacking inspiration for your children and don’t know what to do in Naxos, you can motivate them by suggesting they set off to discover the Kouroi (Kouros in the singular) hidden in the mountains!

But what is a Kouros? It’s a marble sculpture of a young ephebe. Typically, they were commissioned by wealthy families, then offered to decorate temples or adorn tombs.

Naxos is home to some of the world’s finest marble quarries. They are still in operation today. In the 6th-7th centuries BC, Kouroi were carved in these quarries. This required large pieces of marble. And it was not uncommon for them to break while being carved. Sometimes, it was during transport that the statues broke irreparably.

These are the “broken” Kouroi found on Naxos. in the Flério valley near Mili and on the heights of Apollonas in the north of the island. It’s a lovely free walk that delights children who play archaeologist as they discover these stone giants.

Also built from this Naxos marble: the temple of Demeter near the village of Sagri. This archaeological site and its museum are well worth a visit. Built before the Parthenon, it has been partially restored.

8 – Walking the trails

The island of Naxos is full of charming hiking trails. They are punctuated by beautiful discoveries: Kouros, chapels, villages, caves, fountains…. The trails are well marked. Beautiful walks start from Filoti and Halki.

Take, for example, the hike from Filoti which, via the Aria fountain, takes you to the grotto of Zeus and then to the summit of Mount Zeus. According to Greek mythology, this is the birthplace of Zeus himself, so it’s not to be missed! It’s a three-hour walk to the summit, but the panoramic view of the island from up there is well worth the effort.

Among the hikes you can undertake on this enchanting island, here are the most popular:

• Apiranthos Valley: steep paths, traditional villages and windmills,
• Plaka Beach: a picturesque coastal walk,
• Monastery of Fotodotis: an important pilgrimage site on Naxos, superb!

9 – Taste the cheeses of Naxos

Naxos is famous for its cheeses. They are rarely eaten “à la française” at the end of a meal, but rather as a snack with a piece of bread, or cooked in traditional recipes. Here are the main cheeses to be found on Naxos. But the best thing is to taste them!

• Kefalotyri: goat and sheep tomme.
• Anthotiro: a blend of goat’s and sheep’s milk, creamy and very mild.
• Xinomyzithra: a blend of goat’s and sheep’s milk, a mild, slightly acidic cheese.
• Xinotyro: blend of goat’s and sheep’s milk, semi-soft paste, very salty.

And if you want to cook Greek recipes, we spotted this cooking class in a traditional taverna (we haven’t tested it, but it has great reviews).

10 – Take a day trip on a boat

Tempted by a day out on the water? Naxos is an ideal starting point for exploring the coastline of Naxos or the Cycladic islands of Mykonos and Koufonissia.

In fact, we’ve spotted these excursions that look pretty interesting:

• Sailboat excursion to Iraklia and Schinoussa: swimming and snorkeling on the program. Meals included. In English.
• From Ag Anna: Rina’s Cave and Ano and Kato Koufonisi Cruise, a day’s sailing from Agia Anna.
• A day’s cruise on a catamaran around Naxos, swimming in the crystal-clear waters and snorkeling. Lunch and drinks included
• Day cruise on a sailboat, Georges takes you to discover the wonders of the Aegean Sea, with swimming, snorkeling, cave visits and snacks included.
• Delos and Mykonos One Day Cruise from Naxos
• Day cruise in the Cyclades on a sailboat. The program includes swimming, snorkeling in secluded spots and lunch (in English).

And for even more beautiful vacations, we recommend Clickandboat a sailboat and catamaran rental agency for cruises of around a week, with skipper or without if you have a license. You can set off from Paros or Mykonos and discover Naxos, other Cycladic islands and the smaller Cyclades.

Any other ideas on what to do in Naxos? So don’t hesitate to write to us.

• Where to eat, drink and sleep in Naxos?
• How to get to Naxos Getting around the island?

Sophie B.

Updated March 11, 2024