Naxos: visitor guide

Cyclades · Mountain villages · long beaches · local produce

Naxos is large and fertile, so go beyond the west coast. Halki, Filoti, Apiranthos and Mount Zas balance beach days with culture and hiking.

Chora · Naxos

Ferry from Piraeus/Rafina or short Athens flight

4–5 days

4–5 days

May–June and September–October

4–5 days

Buses serve beaches and main villages; a car helps inland.

Places to see

• Portara, Kastro and old Chora.
• Halki, Filoti, Apiranthos and the ancient kouros statues.

Things to do

• Swim at Agios Prokopios and Plaka.
• Hike Mount Zas and taste kitron in the villages.

What to eat

• Arseniko and graviera cheeses, Naxos potatoes and rosto.
• Kitron liqueur and melachrino walnut cake.

Restaurant picks

• To Elliniko · Chora · home-style food.
• Axiotissa · Kastraki · inventive island cooking.
• Rotonda · Apeiranthos road · views and local dishes.

Getting there and around

• Regular ferries from Piraeus and small aircraft from Athens.
• Buses run from Chora to beaches and villages; avoid overpacking distant routes.