Naxos Greece--The Cyclades "Big Island" Brimming with Undiscovered Charms
/Naxos is the largest of the Greek Cyclades island group in the southern Aegean. It’s about an hour by ferry from Santorini and, as the crow flies, less than 9 miles from Paros (30 mins via ferry). Naxos has a fertile, yet scrubby, terrain with some of the most inviting beaches on any Greek island. It also charms with its mountains and villages, picturesque windmills, busy farms, ancient ruins, and marvelous marble. With family-friendly restaurants, reasonable accommodations, and the relative quiet that comes from very few cruise ship crowds venturing here, it’s the Cyclades’ best kept secret.
As a quieter locale, it’s a wonderful place to experience the famous Greek life style. The photo below is the pretty Port of Naxos harbor. Our accommodation was within walking distance of this inviting sea; this was the basic view we had every morning and night. Sublime!
Naxos Harbor view from Avaton restaurant with paros island in the distance
We spent a full week on Naxos. It was eye-popping! From tourist-saturated Santorini, we’d arrived by ferry to Naxos’s most serene setting—a serenity that lasted for weeks after we returned home. We’d rented a Booking.com apartment right at waterside (pictured). From here, we had walking access to grocery stores, bakeries, shopping, night clubs, tavernas, boats for hire, the ferries, and some of the best people watching in Greece!
John waving from our naxos apartment
An advantage of staying at the harbor near the “Old Town” was that we could wander around the shops and eateries during the day or night. The painted walkways, ancient stone staircases, and flower-laden walls pergolas created a very romantic feel.
Flowering passageway in Old Town
They’ve done a lot to create a magical ambience here with whimsical bicycles, hanging lamps, and colorful bric-a-brac. You’ll also come across another local species that is much loved in Naxos—cats! They are everywhere. But they’re quite regal in how they wander around and are cared for by the locals (and tourists)!
Whimsical naxos decor
Cats are Naxos royalty
Unlike other Cycladic islands, Naxos is rich in resources with an excellent water supply. Thus it’s the most “self-sufficient” island in the group. In addition to gorgeous beaches and picturesque villages, it’s also famous for its marble (some helped build the Acropolis), hand-made textiles, pottery, cattle breeding, Arseniko Naxou cheese, famous Naxion potatoes, Kitron (a local lemon-citrus spirit), and Naxian honey (derived from the nectar of thyme.)
Naxos Products Map
We truly loved the food here; not only did we enjoy a cooking class up in the mountains, every evening we wandered to yet a new taverna and had some of the best food in Greece! Plus it’s very affordable.
Mixed souvlaki with Naxian Fried Potatoes
Our cooking class in the mountains at Basiliko was a charming half-day affair. About 20 of us gathered together; for starters we wandered the farm with our guide, selecting produce for our cooking experience, meeting the local farm animals, and learning about agriculture on Naxos.
Pj in Basiliko’s garden
hand picked vegetables ready for cooking class
Once we had our produce selected we spent the afternoon prepping a number of classic Greek dishes (while sipping delicious Naxos wine). At last we sat down to taste our hard work in classic family style!
Afterward, we danced some classic Greek dances and broke white plates for good luck!
A famous must-see on Naxos is the ancient Portara (Temple of Apollo). Night or day, these marble ruins are a majestic sight that dominates the Naxos harbor. It’s a short walk from the harbor and well worth the stroll.
pj at the Portara at daybreak
There is much to do here. Swimming, sunbathing, hiking, sailing, fishing, driving through the rustic hills, seeing museums and wineries, and visiting the various hamlets like Apeiranthos village, the marble city, are just a few. Along the way there are plenty of tavernas with classic Greek food, some with stellar views. Cars, dune buggies, motorcycles, and bikes are all available for hire.
riding in the naxos hills
scenic dinner at rotonda restaurant
Last, Naxos has many pristine beaches like Plaka, a long sandy beach with sunbeds, water sports, and tavernas. Another favorite is Agios Prokopios Beach, a lengthy bay with white sand and clear blue water. Naxos also has a windy side where wind surfing and kitesurfing are fantastic at Mikri Vigla and Amitis Beaches!
Windsurfing on naxos
Naxos is well worth a visit. But shhhh…don’t let anyone else know!
