Small mountain villages, olive groves as far as the eye can see, goats roaming freely, and an endless amount of mountains and valleys. 🏞️ 🐐 🫒 ✨ The inner part of Naxos is what you picture when you think of authentic Greece. 🇬🇷 Trust us when we tell you – don’t miss Naxos. Naxos was by far our favorite Greek island that we visited – for a variety of reasons, and we are so excited to share our favorite things to do on Naxos Island.
Naxos grows almost all of its food locally, which made for by far the best food we had in all of Greece. 🥗 🍅 Almost everything you eat at the local ‘tavernas’ is grown within a few kilometers of the restaurant, and couldn’t be more fresh. When you explore the middle of the island you’ll be met by goats 🐐, olive groves, and fruit trees 🌳 – pretty much everywhere you go. Because of how hilly the island is, there are some amazing hikes to be had. Mount Zas, the tallest mountain in the Cyclades, is famous for being the place where Zeus was raised. You can even visit the cave where he “was raised”. ⚡️
We spent four days exploring this beautiful Greek island and came up with this guide to Naxos to help you on your upcoming trip. 🗺️ This is the travel guide we wish we had before coming to Naxos. Enjoy 🤩
🇬🇷 Things to Book Now for Naxos ⛵️
- Rental Car 🚗 (Discover Cars, pick up at the port)
- Hotel in Naxos 🏨 (Highly recommend Elaiolithos!) 🏨 (Booking.com)
- Greek Cooking Class on Naxos 🧑🍳 (Viator – Highly recommend!)
- Citron Tasting on Naxos 🍷 (Viator – Citron is the fruit of Naxos!)
11 Things to Do in Naxos, Greece
In our minds, Naxos is the place to visit for fresh, local food, authentic Greek mountain villages, and great opportunities for hiking and exploring amongst goats, olive groves, and mountains. There are also plenty of beautiful, secluded beaches to explore, but in our mind … that’s not what the island is all about. In our opinion, what makes Naxos special is the entire package.
There are loads of things to do on the island of Naxos – here are the top ones in our eyes. ⬇️
🚗 We recommend to rent a car for Naxos through Discover Cars. Book your rental car here!
1 – Hike Mt Zas for sunset
We arrived around noon our first day in Naxos, and we hiked up to watch sunset at the top of Mt Zas that very night. You can hike up to the top of Mt Zas in less than 90 minutes and you’ll be at the highest point in all of the Cyclades islands.
Ideally you’ll do this hike at sunset for some of the best views over all of Naxos and the surrounding Greek islands, but a morning hike of Mt Zas would be good too.
To hike Mt Zas, you park at Agia Marina and walk up from here. It should be about 60-90 minutes to the top depending on how fast you’re going.
🛌 Here are all your hotel options in Naxos
Tip ✨ 👉 If you want to see the cave where Zeus “was raised”, you can visit the Natural Spring and walk about 20 minutes from the Spring to get to the cave. There are some people who hike up to the top of Mt Zas from the cave, however it is not recommended as the trail is not good and it is very steep. There are signs warning you of the dangerous hike if you choose this route. Most people hike Mt Zas from Agia Marina for a safer, more comfortable hike!
2 – Visit Halki (Chalkio)
Halki is located near the middle of Naxos in the largest olive cultivation area of the Cyclades. Halki used to be the capital of Naxos as well as the main administrative and trade center. These days, all the kids who live in the surrounding mountain villages go to high school in Halki. It’s the only high school for the village kids of Naxos.
Halki is a very small and beautiful Greek village with great food and tons of little shops to get handmade, locally-grown products. Most people spend a morning or afternoon here getting a meal then exploring the streets.
💡Tip: Paravas and Caffe Greco are two famous spots to get food in Halki. 🇬🇷
In Halki you’ll find local cheese makers, soap-makers, textile-products, and much more. Warning, you’ll probably buy more than you should have when you come to Halki.
Another top thing to do in Halki is Citron-tasting at the distillery in town. Citron is a unique liquor in Naxos that comes from the Citron tree. If you don’t know what that is, it’s like a bigger, more sour form of a lemon. There are tons of tour buses that come here daily to tour Halki and the distillery.
🍷 Book the best Citron-tasting tour in Naxos HERE ⬅️
3 – Visit Filoti
This mountain village has the largest population on Naxos and the Cyclades in general. A truly traditional Greek mountain village. White-washed homes, built directly into the steeply-sloped mountains. Tons of locals who actually live here.
We stopped here for dinner on our way back from hiking Mt Zas and loved it. Filoti feels really local. Tons of Tavernas line the streets selling local food. Unlike many other mountain villages that seem to be solely operating for tourists, Filoti does not cater to tourists. (There are not shops on every corner selling over-priced cotton towels and linen clothing)
We ate at Karabasiolios and would highly recommend it. Great local Greek food for a good price. Very friendly workers. Not a tourist trap. We saw a ton of locals come in to pickup their ‘Gyros’ to take-away.
➡️ Read: Top 7 Things to Do in Paros ✨🌊
4 – Visit Apeiranthos
We stayed in the middle of Naxos, and we stopped in Apeiranthos for dinner and to explore the village on our way back from visiting the less touristy beaches of Western Naxos.
Apeiranthos, The ‘Marble Village’, is the second most famous village of Naxos. It’s also the highest (altitude) in the Cyclades. In Apeiranthos, you’ll find a ton of great restaurants and historic sites to explore. Most restaurants come with a beautiful view from the top of the mountain.
We ate at Taverna Platanos and had a great meal. The restaurant is located at the foot of the castle amidst the scenic and historic streets of Apeiranthos. The town is famous for its Tavernas that serve local meat dishes.
➡️ Read: The Best 7 Beaches in Milos ✨🏝️
For tourists who visit the mountain villages of Naxos, Apeiranthos is usually their favorite. You definitely don’t want to miss Apeiranthos!
5 – Naxos Portara (Temple of Apollo)
This is the symbol of Naxos – the ancient marble gate of Apollo’s Temple. When you get off the ferry at the port of Naxos, look to your left and you can’t miss this massive gate. National Geographic even took inspiration for their logo from the Portara of Naxos. Come here at sunset for the most beautiful pictures.
6 – Explore the Castle at the Chora
The Castle lies a top the Chora in Naxos town, and is worth exploring for an hour. We recommend exploring the ‘Portara’ then heading to the castle to explore the small, windy, and white streets. You’ll no doubt see a few cats while you’re exploring.
On the top of the castle there’s a museum to browse, as well as a cafe with a wonderful view of the water off the coast of the Chora.
🚗 We recommend to rent a car through Discover Cars. Book your rental car here!
7 – Take a Cooking Class in Naxos
Naxos is the most fertile island in the Cyclades – fresh olives, tomato, cheese, wine, etc. This makes it the perfect location for a cooking class. Greek food is some of the most delicious food in the whole world, especially when it’s done right.
👩🍳 Book the best cooking class on Naxos HERE ⬅️ 🇬🇷
💡Tip: ELaiolithos Luxury Villa Suites is the top place to stay on Naxos, without a doubt. If you don’t stay here, at least come for dinner or a cooking class to experience this beautiful oasis overlooking the mountains, olive groves, and Aegean Sea!🏨 Book Your Stay at Elaiolithos Here! 👈
8 – Visit Touristy Beaches on the West
There are plenty of beaches on the West side of Naxos below the Chora (main port town). As you head farther away from the Chora, the beaches become less crowded and more secluded.
We recommend Hawaii Beach, about 25 minutes South of the Chora. It’s a beautiful, small sandy beach located under a decently-sized cliff.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide to beaches on Naxos, we recommend this guide from Santorini Dave. In our eyes, you come to Naxos to explore the mountains. If you’re looking for beautiful Greek beaches, we recommend Paros, Antiparos, or Milos!
➡️ Read: Top 8 Things to Do in Milos ✨
9 – Visit the Secluded Beaches on the East
The East of Naxos is much less visited than the West side and much more secluded and local. We highly recommend you visit the Eastern beaches. The drive down the mountain from Apeiranthos (middle of Naxos) to Moutsuna (East side) is probably the steepest and windiest road I have ever driven on – anywhere in the world. You’ll be treated to beautiful views descending the mountain here. We went down the mountain from Apeiranthos to Moutsuna, then headed South to Psili Ammos Beach, which is a beautiful and secluded sandy beach.
If you have time, we really recommend you visit the East side of Naxos!
10 – Kite Surf at Mikri Vigla
Naxos is very windy – which makes it a great place for kitesurfing. The town of Mikri Vigla is very popular for kitesurfing. Laguna is another place that’s popular for kitesurfing located just South of Naxos town.
➡️ Read: The Best Greece Island Hopping Itinerary for the Cyclades! 🇬🇷
11 – Temple of Demeter
About 10 km outside of Naxos lies the Temple of Demeter. This temple is made of marble and dates back to the 6th Century BC. Demeter was the goddess of agriculture, harvest, and fertility – so people built temples on fertile lands to honor her.
This temple was built around 500 BC and has a similar architectural style to the Parthenon in Athens.
For us … this could be skipped when you come to Naxos. There’s more interesting things to do on the island. Entrance is 4 euros. If you want to squeeze every last drop of stuff out of Naxos, then come here.
How to Get Around Naxos
Naxos is a decently big island, so we strongly recommend you rent a car. We rented a Hyundai i-20 at the end of May 2024 for 24 euros per day. After some online research and talking to others, we heard that prices go up A LOT in July and August, so you should probably book early. We used Discover Cars to book our car throughout our trip to Greece and Turkey and would highly recommend them.
Discover Cars searches all the local rental agencies and finds you the car that you’re looking for. We love that they offer free cancellation up until 2 days before the rental starts in case our plans change.
🚗 We recommend to rent a car on Naxos through Discover Cars. Book your rental car here! 🇬🇷
Where to Stay in Naxos
Most people stay on the West side of the island near the port (Chora). However, we recommend you stay somewhere in the middle of the island. The highlights of Naxos are in the middle of the island. This is where the mountain villages are, the hiking trails, the olive groves, the peaceful areas, etc.
We stayed at ELaiolithos Luxury Villa Suites and would HIGHLY recommend it. Normally I would never recommend paying this much for a hotel ($300-$400 per night), but this hotel is honestly amazing. ELaiolithos is located near the small mountain village of Moni in the mountains and has a beautiful view of the olive groves, mountains, and the sea. Everything at the hotel is from Naxos (the furniture, building material, etc.) plus the food all comes within 5 KM of the hotel.
🛌 Here are all your hotel options in Naxos
Breakfast is included with your stay here and its honestly the freshest, most delicious food we’ve ever had in our lives. The hotel also has a gym and a pool.
➡️ Read: Elaiolithos Luxury Villa Suites – Complete Review ✨
Sample Naxos Itinerary
We think 3 days on Naxos is a good amount of time to see the island.
Day 1 in Naxos
On your first day in Naxos, get your car right at the port, put your stuff down at your hotel, then head up to Hike Mt Zas for sunset. Then, stop in the mountain village of Filoti for dinner on your way back.
Day 2 in Naxos
On your second day in Naxos, visit Chalki. Spend time exploring the streets, do hike number 4 to visit the olive groves surrounding the town. Then head to Apeiranthos to visit many people’s favorite town on the island. If you still have energy, head to Motsouma and then South to visit the more secluded beaches of Naxos.
🇬🇷 Book the best 🍷 Citron Tasting tour HERE ⬅️
Day 3 in Naxos
On your third day in Naxos, explore the things near the Chora. Take pictures at the Portara, walk the streets heading up to the castle, and head to the beaches south of the Chora. Maybe even do a cooking or wine-tasting in the afternoon.
🧑🍳 View the best cooking classes on Naxos HERE ⬅️
How to Get to Naxos
We took a ferry to Naxos from Astypalaia (a tiny, secluded Greek island). Since you probably won’t be coming from Astypalaia, you can also get a direct ferry from Paros, Mykonos, Santorini, or Athens.
We are big fans of ferries when traveling Greece as you don’t have to pay extra for bags, you don’t have to show up 2 hours early to the airport, you’re not cramped into tiny little seats (Greek ferries are COMFORTABLE), etc.
✈️ However, there are 45 minute daily flights to Naxos from Athens for about 50 euros.
➡️ Read: Top Things to Do in Astypalaia ✨
Summary – Things to Do in Naxos, Greece
Naxos is one of those places you don’t want to miss when you come to Greece. There are plenty of tourists on the island, but it’s also very easy to get away from the crowds and into the authentic mountain villages. Our favorite thing about Naxos was enjoying the fresh and locally grown products. We’ll be dreaming about the food in Naxos for quite a long time…
🚗 Also, checkout out our post on a Greece Road Trip to the North! The North of Greece is MUCH less touristy, and has some absolutely amazing sights that most have never even heard of. (Vikos Gorge, Meteora Monasteries, etc.) 🗻
Enjoy your trip to Naxos. ✨ 🇬🇷
