Naxos has one of the better bus networks in the Cyclades, and it is by far the cheapest way to reach the beaches, mountain villages and the airport without renting a car. The official timetable is packed with detail but it can be a lot to read through, so this guide pulls the key times into one clear page, alongside prices and how the schedule changes through the year.
Table of Contents
Who Runs the Buses and Where They Leave From
All buses on the island are run by KTEL Naxos, which is the only public bus operator here. The main bus station sits right on the harbour front in Naxos Town, directly across from the ferry port. It is easy to spot as you step off the boat since it is a small open air terminal with a ticket office and a row of buses waiting along the road.
One important difference from many other Greek islands is that you cannot buy your ticket from the driver on Naxos. Tickets must be bought at the KTEL office at the port before you board. Some villages, such as Halki and Apollonas, have small shops or kiosks that sell return tickets, so it is worth asking when you arrive rather than saving it all for the way back.
Naxos Bus Routes and Prices
Prices stay fixed all year and only depend on distance, while frequency is what changes with the season. Here is what a one way ticket costs on the main routes.
| Route from Naxos Town | Fare | Journey time |
|---|---|---|
| Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, Plaka | 2.10 euros | 10 to 20 minutes |
| Mikri Vigla and Kastraki | 2.10 euros | 25 minutes |
| Naxos Airport | 2.10 euros | 10 minutes |
| Galanado, Melanes, Eggares | 1.80 to 2.10 euros | 15 to 20 minutes |
| Sagri and Agiassos | 2.80 euros | 30 minutes |
| Halki | 2.80 euros | 25 minutes |
| Filoti | 3.20 euros | 35 minutes |
| Pyrgaki | 3.50 euros | 40 minutes |
| Apeiranthos | 4.10 euros | 50 minutes |
| Koronos | 4.90 euros | 60 minutes |
| Apollonas | 7.10 euros | 75 minutes |
Students with a valid student card get 25 percent off, and children under 6 travel free. There are no day passes or multi trip cards, so every journey needs its own ticket.
Peak Summer Timetable, 29 June to 30 August
This is the busiest and most frequent part of the year. The beach corridor to Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka runs almost every 30 minutes from early morning until well past midnight, with a late night service continuing until around 2am. The table below shows the first and last bus of the day for the main routes, all 7 days a week.
| Route | First bus | Last bus | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, Plaka | 07:15 | 02:00 | Every 15 to 30 minutes |
| Naxos Airport | 07:15 | 19:15 | Every 30 to 60 minutes |
| Mikri Vigla and Kastraki | 07:15 | 18:30 | 7 buses a day |
| Halki, Filoti, Sagri, Galanado | 07:30 | 20:15 | 7 to 8 buses a day |
| Apeiranthos | 07:30 | 20:15 | 7 buses a day |
| Pyrgaki | 07:15 | 16:30 | 4 buses a day |
| Koronos | 09:30 | 15:00 | 3 buses a day |
| Apollonas | 09:30 | 13:30 | 2 buses a day |
A few routes are lighter even in peak summer. Melanes and Kinidaros get 3 buses a day on weekdays with none on Saturday or Sunday, and Apollonas keeps to just 2 departures daily all week, at 09:30 and 13:30, with the return leaving the village at 06:50 and 12:30.
September Timetable
Once September arrives the schedule already thins out a fair bit, and weekends see fewer buses than weekdays on several routes. The beach corridor still runs frequently, but the last bus is now much earlier than in high summer.
| Route | First bus | Last bus | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, Plaka | 08:00 | 24:00 | Every 30 minutes |
| Naxos Airport | not a separate line in September, use the Plaka route and ask the driver | ||
| Mikri Vigla and Kastraki | 11:00 | 16:30 | 3 buses a day |
| Halki, Filoti, Sagri | 07:30 | 19:00 | 6 buses a day on weekdays, 4 at weekends |
| Apeiranthos | 07:30 | 19:00 | 6 buses a day on weekdays, 4 at weekends |
| Koronos and Komiaki | 13:30 | 13:30 | 1 bus a day |
| Pyrgaki | 14:30 | 14:30 | 1 bus a day, weekdays only |
| Apollonas | 13:30 | 13:30 | Tuesday and Thursday only |
Getting to the Mountain Villages
Buses heading inland climb through the Tragaea valley to villages such as Halki, Filoti and Apeiranthos. Even in peak summer these only run a handful of times a day, so there is not much room for error if you miss your connection. Halki is known for its kitron liqueur distillery, Filoti sits at the base of Mount Zas, the tallest peak in the Cyclades, and Apeiranthos is often called the marble village thanks to its pale stone streets. Always check the return time before you leave Naxos Town, since missing the last bus back usually means an expensive taxi.
The Trip to Apollonas
Apollonas sits right at the northern tip of the island and is home to an unfinished ancient statue lying in an old stone quarry. In peak summer 2 buses a day make the 75 minute journey, leaving Naxos Town at 09:30 and 13:30, with return buses from the village at 06:50 and 12:30. By September this drops to just one departure a week on Tuesday and Thursday, so this trip needs real planning outside the summer months.
Handy Tips for Riding the Bus in Naxos
- Buy your ticket at the KTEL office at the port before boarding, since drivers do not sell tickets on Naxos.
- Carry small notes if you can, as the ticket office prefers 5 and 10 euro notes over large ones.
- Keep hold of your ticket for the whole journey, since conductors do check tickets on board.
- Always confirm the last return bus before you set off, particularly for Halki, Filoti, Apeiranthos, Koronos and Apollonas, where the alternative is a costly taxi.
- Arrive at the station 10 to 15 minutes early in July and August, since the beach routes fill up fast and there is no seat reservation.
Final Thoughts
The Naxos bus network reaches almost every beach and village on the island for a small fraction of what a rental car would cost, and the beach corridor in particular runs often enough that you barely need to plan around it in summer. The real thing to watch is the season, since the gap between the July and August timetable and the September one is bigger than many visitors expect. Whatever time of year you travel, check the board at the station or naxosbuses.com on the day itself, just to be sure the bus you are counting on is actually running.
