Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades, and it is far more varied than most, with long sandy beaches down the west coast, a green mountainous interior, and old villages scattered through the hills. Because it is so big, knowing where everything sits makes a real difference to planning your days. This Naxos map puts it all in one view, from the port and the Portara at Naxos Town, down the beach coast, and up into the mountain villages inland.
Click any pin on the map to see photos, a short description and a direct link to the full guide for that spot. You can also switch the layers on and off to show just the beaches, just the villages, or just the roads and trails.
Interactive Naxos map
The map above shows every place we cover on Naxos. Below you will find the same places written out by area, so you can read through them and click straight to the guide for anywhere that interests you.
The port and how the island is laid out
Naxos has one main port, at Naxos Town, also called Chora, on the west coast. This is where the ferries arrive, and the first thing you see is the Portara, the huge marble gate of an unfinished ancient temple, standing on an islet by the harbour. The town is the island’s hub, with the old Venetian castle quarter above the waterfront. To plan your arrival, see how to get to Naxos.
The island splits into two clear parts. The west coast, running south from the town, holds the long sandy beaches. The interior, to the east, rises into real mountains, the highest in the Cyclades, dotted with old villages like Halki, Filoti and Apeiranthos. Because the two sides are so different, the map is the quickest way to plan a mix of beach days and mountain drives. For the full picture, see our main Naxos guide.
Villages on the map
Naxos has some of the best villages in the Cyclades, and they are spread through the green interior. Naxos Town, the capital, is the lively port and old town. Inland, Halki is a handsome former capital known for its old mansions and a distillery, Filoti is the largest mountain village on the slopes of Mount Zas, and Apeiranthos is a striking marble village high in the hills. To the north, Apollonas is a small coastal village famous for its giant unfinished Kouros statue, while Melanes and Sangri hold ancient sites of their own. Koronos and Moutsouna sit on the old emery mining route to the east coast. For more, see our guide to the best villages on Naxos.
Beaches on the map
The west coast of Naxos is one long run of sandy beaches, and the map shows how they line up south of the town. Closest is Agios Georgios, right by Naxos Town and good for families. Just south are Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna, two of the most popular beaches on the island, followed by the long sweep of Plaka.
Further south the beaches grow wilder and quieter, with Mikri Vigla, a windsurfing spot, then Orkos, Alyko and Hawaii with its cedar forest, Pyrgaki and Glyfada. On the north coast, Panormos is a remote sandy bay. See them all, with how to reach each one, on the full Naxos beaches guide.
Things to do on the map
The landmark that greets every visitor is the Portara, the great marble gate by the harbour, best at sunset. Inland, the mountains offer real walking, with trails up Mount Zas, the highest peak in the Cyclades, and ancient sites near Sangri and Melanes. Naxos is also a farming island, so the food is excellent, with local wineries and wine tastings, cheese tasting and making experiences, and a set of caves including the Zas Cave. For the best light and viewpoints, see the Naxos photography guide, and check conditions on the Naxos weather page.
Getting around Naxos
Once you can see how big and varied the island is, it is clear why transport matters here. A bus network links Naxos Town with the west coast beaches and the main mountain villages like Filoti and Apeiranthos, but services thin out away from the busy routes. Because the island is large and the mountain villages are spread out, most visitors hire a car to explore the interior at their own pace. For full details see our guides to getting around Naxos, the Naxos bus timetable and Naxos taxi.
Explore more of Naxos
Now that you can see how the island fits together, open the full guides for the places that catch your eye. Start with the main Naxos guide, browse the beaches and villages, or plan how you will reach the island on our ferry page. To see how Naxos connects to the rest of the group, use the full Greek islands map.
Which port will my ferry arrive at on Naxos?
Naxos has one main port, right at Naxos Town on the west coast. Every ferry arrives here, and the Portara marble gate stands on the islet beside the harbour, so it is the first thing you see as you sail in.
Where is the Portara on the map?
The Portara sits on a small islet joined to Naxos Town by a causeway, right next to the port. On the map you will see it at the very edge of the town by the water, a five minute walk from the harbour and the best sunset spot on that side of the island.
Where are the best beaches on the Naxos map?
The main beaches run down the west coast south of Naxos Town. The nearest and busiest are Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna, while the beaches further south like Mikri Vigla and Alyko are quieter. The map shows how they line up along the coast.
How far are the mountain villages from the port?
The mountain villages sit inland to the east, reached by winding roads that climb up from the coast. Halki is around a twenty minute drive from the port, with Filoti and Apeiranthos further on. On the map you can see them strung along the road into the mountains.
Do you need a car on Naxos?
For the beaches near town, no, the bus is fine. But Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades and its best villages, ancient sites and quiet southern beaches are spread across a big interior, so a car makes a real difference. Looking at how far apart the mountain villages sit on the map shows why most visitors hire one.
