Portara (Temple of Apollo)
The giant marble doorway of an unfinished sixth-century BC temple, standing on the islet of Palatia at the harbour mouth. Naxos's signature landmark, free to visit and best at sunset.
Cyclades, Greece
Naxos
Naxos is the largest and greenest of the Cyclades, an island that gives you far more than a beach week: a marble temple gate standing alone on a causeway at the harbour mouth, a Venetian castle quarter in the old town, long sandy beaches down the whole west coast, and a mountain interior of marble villages, Byzantine chapels and olive terraces.
This guide books the island properly, with sunset walks and food tours in Chora, village and temple day trips, hikes to the summit of Mount Zas, kayaking and cruises to Rina Cave and the Small Cyclades, a day on Delos and Mykonos, plus cooking classes, cheese making, wine tasting and a marble workshop. It pairs those with the free sights worth your time and nine hotels in Naxos Town and along the beaches of Agios Georgios, Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka, with planning guides for getting around, eating well and choosing the right season.
Don't miss
Portara (Temple of Apollo)
The giant marble doorway of an unfinished sixth-century BC temple, standing on the islet of Palatia at the harbour mouth. Naxos's signature landmark, free to visit and best at sunset.
Naxos Town Evening Food Tour with Wine
An evening walk through Chora tasting local cheeses, cured meats, pies, sweets and island wine across several stops. The best way to understand why Naxos is the food island of the Cyclades.
Rina Cave and Koufonisia Day Cruise
A full-day boat trip from Naxos to Rina Cave and the white-sand coves of Koufonisia in the Small Cyclades. Swimming, snorkelling and a beach lunch on the clearest water in the area.
Naxos Sunset Walking Tour
A guided evening walk through Chora timed for the golden hour, with stories of Venetian dukes, Greek myth and the Portara. An inexpensive way to understand the town before you explore it alone.
Things to do in Naxos
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Naxos Old Town and the Venetian Kastro
A maze of whitewashed lanes, arched passages and medieval gateways climbing to a Venetian castle quarter above the port. Free to wander, and the heart of any visit to Naxos Town.
Naxos Sunset Walking Tour
A guided evening walk through Chora timed for the golden hour, with stories of Venetian dukes, Greek myth and the Portara. An inexpensive way to understand the town before you explore it alone.
Naxos Town Evening Food Tour with Wine
An evening walk through Chora tasting local cheeses, cured meats, pies, sweets and island wine across several stops. The best way to understand why Naxos is the food island of the Cyclades.
Temple of Demeter and the Mountain Villages Tour
A reconstructed sixth-century BC temple of the grain goddess in the fields of Sangri, usually seen on a half-day tour that continues to Apeiranthos, Filoti and Halki.
Apeiranthos and the Mountain Villages Bus Tour
A shared highlights tour into the marble-paved mountain village of Apeiranthos and the interior of Naxos, with free time for lunch. One of the most affordable ways to see the island away from the coast.
Halki and the Citron Distillery Tour
A guided tasting at a citron distillery in the old Naxos capital of Halki, home of the island's unusual lemon-scented liqueur. A short, inexpensive, very local experience.
Melanes Kouros and Cycladic Tradition Tour with Lunch
A tour of the Melanes valley, where ancient marble quarries hold unfinished statues of young men, with a village lunch in the green hills east of Chora.
Rina Cave and Koufonisia Day Cruise
A full-day boat trip from Naxos to Rina Cave and the white-sand coves of Koufonisia in the Small Cyclades. Swimming, snorkelling and a beach lunch on the clearest water in the area.
Naxos Catamaran Cruise with Swim Stops and Lunch
A relaxed all-inclusive catamaran day along the Naxos coast, with swim stops in clear bays and a lunch on board. A comfortable way to see the island from the sea.
Rina Cave Sea Kayaking Tour with Snorkelling
A guided sea kayak trip to Rina Cave with snorkelling and a homemade lunch. An active, small-group alternative to the big cruise boats.
Delos and Mykonos One-Day Cruise from Naxos
A shared day cruise from Naxos to the sacred island of Delos and the town of Mykonos. Ancient mosaics in the morning, windmills and whitewashed lanes in the afternoon.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$Grotta Hotel
Naxos Town (Chora)
A spa hotel in the heart of Naxos Town with an indoor pool, rooftop terrace, Greek restaurant and breakfast guests rave about. A short walk from the port, the Kastro and the Portara.
Check rates →Nissaki Beach Hotel
Agios Georgios Beach, Naxos Town
A beachfront hotel on Agios Georgios Beach, five minutes on foot from the port, with an outdoor pool, hot tub, free breakfast and a beachside restaurant. Rated exceptional by hundreds of guests.
Check rates →Naxos Palace Hotel
Agios Prokopios
A four-class resort-style hotel in Agios Prokopios with two outdoor pools, a children's pool, a swim-up bar and a spa. Best for travellers with a car who want pool and spa time.
Check rates →Naxos Resort
Agios Georgios area, near the airport
A four-class beach resort near Agios Georgios with a private beach area, pool with lifeguard, spa and free breakfast, close to the airport and the port. Seasonal opening, so check dates.
Check rates →Aegean Palace Naxos
Plaka Beach
A four-class beachfront hotel on Plaka Beach, two minutes from the sand, with a pool, beach bar, spa facilities and free breakfast. Seasonal operation, so check dates.
Check rates →Agios Prokopios Hotel
Agios Prokopios
A family-run three-class aparthotel near Agios Prokopios Beach with a pool, children's pool, playground and tennis court. Quiet, friendly and well liked.
Check rates →Agia Anna Hotel
Agia Anna
A simple, family-run two-class hotel a short walk from Agia Anna, Plaka and Agios Prokopios beaches. Good location and friendly hosts at a modest price.
Check rates →Hotel Anemomilos
Agia Anna
A guesthouse-style aparthotel on Agia Anna Beach, one minute from the sand, with a pool, kitchenettes and a score of 9.6 from over a hundred guests.
Check rates →Ammos Naxos
Aliki, Agios Arsenios
A quiet, rural hotel near Aliko and Agios Georgios with a pool, spa, garden, free ferry shuttle and a very high cleanliness score. Best for guests with a car.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Portara (Temple of Apollo)Stay
Grotta HotelNaxos Town (Chora)
Do
Naxos Town Evening Food Tour with WineStay
Nissaki Beach HotelAgios Georgios Beach, Naxos Town
Do
Rina Cave and Koufonisia Day CruiseStay
Naxos ResortAgios Georgios area, near the airport
Naxos guides
Naxos in Three Days: Portara, Villages, Beaches and the Small Cyclades
A three-day plan that gives Chora an evening, the mountain villages a day and the sea a day, with the wind and the heat taken into account.
First Time on Naxos: What to Know Before You Go
The practical basics for a first visit to Naxos: how big it is, how to get around, what to book ahead and what to skip.
Where to Stay in Naxos: Chora, Agios Georgios, Agia Anna, Plaka and Beyond
A guide to the main areas for a Naxos stay, with the trade-offs between town, beach and countryside and the hotels that fit each.
Eating and Drinking in Naxos: Cheese, Potatoes, Kitron and Where to Taste Them
A guide to the food of Naxos, from graviera and potatoes to citron liqueur, with ways to taste them on tours, farms and in tavernas.
Best Time to Visit Naxos: Wind, Heat, Crowds and Seasons
A season-by-season guide to Naxos, covering the meltemi wind, sea temperature, crowds, what is open and the months that suit different trips.
Boat Trips and Day Trips from Naxos: Small Cyclades, Delos, Mykonos and More
A guide to the cruises, kayak trips and island day trips that leave from Naxos, with advice on the wind, the season and what each is good for.
