Things to Do in Naxos

Naxos is the largest and greenest island in the Cyclades, and one of the most rewarding to explore. It has more to offer than almost any other island in the group: a great ancient marble gate that greets you as you sail in, the highest mountain in the Cyclades, long sandy beaches that never feel crowded, giant ancient statues lying in the fields where they were carved, and mountain villages that still feel completely authentic. It is also famous for its food, widely considered some of the best in Greece, and it offers all of this at far better value than Santorini or Mykonos. Whether you have three days or a week, here is what to do when you visit.

The best things to do in Naxos at a glance

• See the Portara, the great marble gate of an ancient temple, best at sunset
• Explore Naxos Town and climb through the Venetian Kastro
• Hike Mount Zas, the highest peak in the Cyclades, from the village of Filoti
• Find the giant Kouros statues at Melanes and Apollonas
• Visit the Temple of Demeter near Sangri
• Tour the mountain villages of Halki, Filoti and Apeiranthos
• Relax on the long sandy beaches of the west coast
• Taste the island’s famous food, from graviera cheese to the local kitron liqueur

The main things to do in Naxos

See the Portara

The Portara is the trademark sight of Naxos and the first thing you see as you sail into the port. It is a colossal marble doorway standing alone on the islet of Palatia, joined to Naxos Town by a causeway, and it is all that was ever completed of a grand temple to the god Apollo begun around 530 BC and never finished. The great marble frame, weighing around 20 tonnes, has stood for over 2,500 years, and walking out to it along the causeway is the classic Naxos experience.

The Portara is at its most magical at sunset, when the sun sets directly through the great gate and the marble glows gold. It is the best sunset spot on this side of the island, a short and easy walk from the town, and it costs nothing to visit. Get there a little before sunset to find a good position, as it is popular, and stay to watch the light fade over the sea.

Explore Naxos Town and the Kastro

Naxos Town, the capital, is a lively port town with a beautiful old quarter climbing the hill behind the waterfront to a Venetian castle at the top. The Kastro, built in the 13th century when the Venetians ruled the island, is the highest point of the old town, and its twisting alleyways lead you past old mansions, small museums and monasteries to a 360-degree view over the town and the sea. It is easy to get pleasantly lost in the maze of lanes, and asking a local for directions is part of the fun.

Below the Kastro, the old town is full of atmospheric alleys, shops and tavernas, and the waterfront is the heart of island life in the evening. The town has a genuine, lived-in feel that reflects the fact that Naxos is a real, working island rather than a resort. For more, see our guide to the villages of Naxos and the best photography spots.

Hike Mount Zas

Mount Zas, also called Mount Zeus, is the highest mountain in the whole of the Cyclades at 1,004 metres, and climbing to its summit is the best hike on the island and one of the finest in the Greek islands. In mythology, this is the mountain where the god Zeus was said to have grown up, and on the way to the top you pass the Cave of Zas, a large cave associated with the myth. The trail usually starts from near the mountain village of Filoti, and the climb to the summit takes around two hours, rewarding you with breathtaking views across Naxos and out over the surrounding islands.

Take proper walking shoes, plenty of water and a hat, as the trail is rocky and exposed. Naxos is a superb island for walking more generally, with old paths crossing the green Tragaia valley and linking the mountain villages, passing ancient churches, ruins and countryside that feel a world away from the beaches. Check the Naxos weather page before setting out.

Find the giant Kouros statues

One of the most intriguing things to do on Naxos is to seek out the ancient Kouros statues, colossal unfinished marble figures that lie exactly where they were abandoned in the quarries thousands of years ago. Naxos was famous in antiquity for its marble, and these giant statues of young men, some over 10 metres long, were carved on site and left behind, most likely because they cracked during the work.

There are two main ones to visit. The Kouros of Melanes, in the Flerio area, lies on its back in a green garden setting a short walk from the village, and is the easier to reach. The larger Kouros of Apollonas, in the far north of the island, is over 10 metres long and lies in an old marble quarry near the village. Both give an extraordinary sense of the scale of ancient Naxian ambition, and they are free to visit.

Visit the Temple of Demeter

Near the inland village of Sangri, set alone in the peaceful countryside, is the Temple of Demeter, a beautiful partially restored ancient temple dating from around 530 BC and dedicated to the goddess of grain and the harvest. Built of the island’s fine white marble, it is one of the most important ancient monuments in the Cyclades, and its quiet rural setting, surrounded by fields and hills, makes visiting it a genuinely peaceful experience. There is a small museum on the site explaining its history. It is an easy stop when exploring the inland villages and one of the highlights of the island’s ancient heritage.

Tour the mountain villages

The green interior of Naxos is dotted with beautiful mountain villages that still feel completely authentic, and touring them is one of the best things to do on the island. Halki, in the heart of the Tragaia valley, is an elegant former capital with Venetian mansions and the historic Vallindras distillery, where you can taste the local kitron, a liqueur made from the leaves of the citron tree that is unique to Naxos. Filoti, on the slopes of Mount Zas, is the largest mountain village and the gateway to the summit hike. Apeiranthos, known as the marble village, has streets and squares paved entirely in marble, along with several small museums.

Other villages worth seeking out include Koronos and Moutsouna on the old emery mining route to the east coast, and Apollonas in the north near its giant Kouros. The mountain tavernas of villages like Filoti and Koronos are famous for their local lamb, cheese and wine, a completely different and more authentic culinary experience than the seaside restaurants. See the full guide to the villages of Naxos for more.

Relax on the long sandy beaches

Naxos has some of the best and longest sandy beaches in the Cyclades, running down the west coast, and they never feel as crowded as the beaches on Mykonos or Santorini. Closest to town is Agios Georgios, an easy walk from the centre with shallow water good for families. South of it are the beautiful Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna, two of the most popular beaches, followed by the long sweep of Plaka.

Further south the beaches grow wilder and quieter, with Mikri Vigla, a world-class windsurfing and kitesurfing spot, and the beautiful cedar-forest beaches of Alyko and Hawaii, Pyrgaki and Glyfada. On the north coast, Panormos is a remote sandy bay. The full Naxos beaches guide covers all of them and how to reach each one.

Try windsurfing and watersports

The west coast of Naxos, particularly around Mikri Vigla, catches the summer wind and is one of the best windsurfing and kitesurfing destinations in Greece. There are watersports centres offering lessons and equipment hire for all levels, from complete beginners to experts, and the combination of reliable wind and shallow water makes it an ideal place to learn. The beaches around Agios Georgios also have watersports facilities, making Naxos a great island for active families and anyone who wants to get out on the water.

Take a boat trip to the Small Cyclades

Naxos is the gateway to the Small Cyclades, the little cluster of islands to the south east including Koufonisia and Iraklia, and a boat trip to them is a wonderful day out. These tiny islands have some of the clearest water and quietest beaches in the whole of Greece, and a day cruise from Naxos lets you sample them. Catamaran swimming cruises also run along the Naxos coast to spots like the Rina Cave, combining swimming, snorkelling and a taste of the island from the water. See the main ferry page for connections to the Small Cyclades.

Taste the famous food and wine

Naxos is one of the great food islands of Greece, thanks to its fertile green interior and its farming tradition. Local specialities to seek out include the island’s graviera cheese, one of the best in Greece, the famous Naxos potatoes, and local meat dishes in the mountain tavernas. The island is also known for kitron, the unique citron-leaf liqueur made at the Vallindras distillery in Halki, which you can taste at the source. Naxos also has good wineries and wine tastings and cheese making experiences where you can taste the island’s produce and learn how it is made.

Best things to do in Naxos for…

Families

Naxos is widely considered the best family island in the Cyclades. The long, shallow, sandy beach at Agios Georgios is perfect for young children and within walking distance of town, the watersports at Mikri Vigla suit older children and teenagers, the giant Kouros statues and Mount Zas are fun to explore, and the island’s excellent food and good value make it easy for families. Check the Naxos weather page before travelling.

Couples

The Portara at sunset, a hike through the Tragaia valley, dinner in a mountain taverna in Filoti or a wander through the marble lanes of Apeiranthos, and lazy days on the quieter southern beaches make Naxos a wonderful island for couples who want beauty, food and authenticity over glamour.

Hikers

Naxos is one of the best walking islands in the Cyclades, with the Mount Zas summit hike as the highlight and a network of old paths crossing the green Tragaia valley and linking the mountain villages. The walks pass ancient churches, ruins, and the Kouros statues, giving you the historical and natural heart of the island on foot.

History lovers

The Portara, the Venetian Kastro in Naxos Town, the Temple of Demeter near Sangri, and the giant Kouros statues at Melanes and Apollonas give Naxos an exceptional depth of ancient history, and you can see all of it without the crowds or the queues of the more famous sites.

Planning your visit

Naxos is a large island and its highlights are spread widely, from the beaches on the west coast to the mountain villages, the ancient sites and the remote northern Kouros, so how you get around matters. A bus network links Naxos Town with the west coast beaches and the main mountain villages, and there are well-priced full-day guided bus tours that take in the Kouros, the distillery at Halki, the Temple of Demeter and the mountain villages in one trip, which is ideal for those without a car. To explore fully at your own pace, though, a hire car makes a real difference. See our guides to getting around Naxos, the bus timetable and taxi and car hire for full details.

To decide where to base yourself for the things you most want to do, read our guide on where to stay in Naxos. To plan your arrival, see how to get to Naxos and the main ferry page. To see how everything on the island fits together, use the Naxos map, and for the wider region, the Greek islands map shows how Naxos connects to the rest of the Cyclades.