Naxos Greece
5
Day Itinerary •
Greece
Five days in Naxos gives you the complete experience of the most extraordinary island in the Cyclades, from the ancient Temple of Apollo and the remarkable Venetian kastro of Naxos Town to the extraordinary marble kouros statues, the hidden mountain villages of the interior, the finest beaches in the Aegean and the remarkable ancient site of Demeter's sanctuary. This route covers the full Naxos: the extraordinary Portara and Naxos Town kastro, the remarkable Venetian tower villages of the Tragea valley, the extraordinary kouros statues at Apollonas and Flerio, the magnificent Temple of Demeter, the finest beaches from Agios Prokopios to Plaka and the hidden villages of the extraordinary Naxian interior.
Best Time To Visit
May to June or September to October
Getting There
Ferry from Piraeus 5 hours or hop from nearby Cycladic islands
Getting Around
Car essential for interior villages and north coast. Bus for beaches.
Budget Per Day
Approx 80 to 160 euros per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate , mountain roads and village walking
DAY 1
NAXOS TOWN
MORNING
THE PORTARA AND TEMPLE OF APOLLO
The Portara is the most extraordinary ancient monument in the Cyclades, the enormous marble gateway of the unfinished Temple of Apollo on the islet of Palatia framing the sunset over Paros in the finest ancient monument view in the Aegean. Built from Naxian marble in 530 BC, the extraordinary doorway stands 6 metres high. The islet is connected by causeway. Free. Drive: Walk into old town
MIDDAY
NAXOS KASTRO AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
The Naxos kastro is the most extraordinary Venetian fortified town in the Cyclades, its remarkable 13th-century walls enclosing the finest collection of Venetian mansions in the Aegean. The Archaeological Museum inside the kastro contains the finest Cycladic figurines in the Aegean outside Athens. Museum entry approx 6 euros. Drive: Walk
AFTERNOON
NAXOS TOWN MARKET AND OLD TOWN
The Naxos Town market street is the finest in the Cyclades, its extraordinary delis filled with Naxian potatoes, local cheeses, kitron liqueur and remarkable local wines. The old town labyrinth below the kastro gives the finest Cycladic townscape outside Mykonos. The Portara at sunset is the finest view in the Cyclades. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Archaeological Museum inside the Naxos kastro contains the finest Cycladic figurines in the Aegean outside Athens, remarkable Early Cycladic marble figures of extraordinary refinement. The museum also holds the Parian Chronicle fragment not in Oxford. Entry approx 6 euros.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe near the Portara Outstanding Greek coffee with the extraordinary Portara framing the morning sky over the Aegean. | Lunch: Taverna in the Naxos kastro Outstanding Naxian lunch with local cheese and wine inside the extraordinary Venetian fortification. | Dinner: Restaurant on the Naxos waterfront Outstanding dinner on the finest waterfront in the Cyclades at sunset.
DAY 2
NORTH NAXOS
MORNING
APOLLONAS KOUROS
The Apollonas Kouros is the most extraordinary ancient sculpture in the Cyclades, its remarkable 10.5-metre unfinished marble figure of Apollo lying in the ancient quarry where it was abandoned 2,600 years ago. The scale of the figure, still attached to the living rock with ancient tool marks still visible, gives the finest insight into Greek sculpture in the Cyclades. Entry approx 4 euros. Drive: 1 hr drive south
MIDDAY
APEIRANTHOS MOUNTAIN VILLAGE
Apeiranthos is the most extraordinary mountain village in the Cyclades, its remarkable marble-paved streets and Venetian tower houses giving the finest traditional village heritage in Naxos. The village has an extraordinary intellectual tradition and the finest local museum in the interior. The views over the Naxian landscape from the village are remarkable. Free. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
FLERIO KOUROS AND MELANES VALLEY
The Flerio Kouros in the Melanes Valley is the finest hidden ancient sculpture in Naxos, its remarkable 6th-century BC marble figure in an extraordinary garden of ancient olive trees. The second smaller kouros nearby gives the most extraordinary open-air ancient sculpture experience in the Cyclades. Entry approx 4 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary village of Koronos on the north mountain road is the finest hidden village on Naxos, its remarkable position above the emery mines giving extraordinary views over the northeast coast. The finest local kitron liqueur on the island is produced here. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Early breakfast before north coast drive Early start for Apollonas. Extraordinary in the morning before tour groups. | Lunch: Taverna in Apeiranthos Outstanding Naxian mountain lunch in the finest village in the Cyclades. Local sausages and herbs. | Dinner: Restaurant in Naxos Town Outstanding Naxian dinner in the extraordinary kastro town. Local wine and fresh fish.
DAY 3
TRAGEA VALLEY
MORNING
HALKI VILLAGE AND THE TRAGEA VALLEY
Halki is the most extraordinary traditional village in the Naxos interior, its remarkable position at the centre of the extraordinary Tragea olive grove valley giving the finest rural landscape in the Cyclades. The remarkable Frankish Grazia-Barozzi tower, the extraordinary 11th-century church of Agios Giorgios Diassoritis and the traditional distillery producing kitron liqueur give the finest heritage in the interior. Free. Drive: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
FILOTI VILLAGE AND MOUNT ZAS
Filoti is the largest village in the Naxos interior, its remarkable position below Mount Zas, the highest peak in the Cyclades at 1001 metres, giving the finest mountain village atmosphere on the island. The extraordinary Venetian tower and the remarkable Church of the Assumption in the village centre give the finest village heritage in the Tragea valley. The walk to the Cave of Zas nearby is extraordinary. Free. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
TEMPLE OF DEMETER AT SANGRI
The Temple of Demeter at Sangri is the most extraordinary ancient site in the Naxos interior, its remarkable 6th-century BC Ionic temple partially reconstructed giving the finest ancient building in the Cyclades outside Athens. The extraordinary museum beside the temple contains remarkable architectural fragments and gives the finest ancient context in the Naxos interior. Entry approx 4 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Pyrgos Belonia tower near Galanado is the finest Venetian tower house in the Naxos interior, its remarkable 17th-century fortified farmhouse giving the finest example of Cycladic Venetian domestic architecture. The adjacent Catholic and Orthodox churches sharing a wall is the finest religious coexistence site in the Cyclades. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Kafeneion in Halki village Outstanding traditional Greek coffee in the most extraordinary village square in the Naxos interior. | Lunch: Taverna in Filoti Outstanding traditional Naxian lunch in the finest mountain village in the Cyclades. | Dinner: Restaurant in Naxos Town Outstanding dinner in the extraordinary kastro town after the remarkable interior day.
DAY 4
NAXOS BEACHES
MORNING
AGIOS PROKOPIOS BEACH
Agios Prokopios is the finest beach on Naxos, its remarkable stretch of extraordinary fine white sand and vivid turquoise water giving the best swimming beach in the Cyclades. Consistently awarded the Blue Flag for water quality. The extraordinary fine sand and the clarity of the water give the finest beach experience in the Aegean. Free beach. Drive: Walk south
MIDDAY
AGIOS GEORGIOS BEACH
Agios Georgios immediately south of Naxos Town gives the finest easy beach access in the Cyclades. The extraordinary long shallow bay gives ideal conditions for windsurfing and families. The remarkable views back over Naxos Town and the Portara from the beach are the finest from any beach in the Cyclades. Free. Drive: 20 min drive south
AFTERNOON
PLAKA BEACH
Plaka is the most extraordinary long beach in Naxos, its remarkable 3km of fine white sand almost entirely undeveloped giving the finest wild beach in the Cyclades. The extraordinary dunes behind the beach, the most remarkable natural dune system in the Cyclades, give the finest natural beach landscape in the Aegean. Free beach.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Naxian marble quarries above Apollonas contain the finest collection of unfinished ancient marble blocks in the Cyclades, the quarry faces still showing marks of iron wedges used to split the marble 2,500 years ago. Free. Visible from the road above the kouros site.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before beach day Early start for Agios Prokopios. The finest beach in the Cyclades fills by 11am in July and August. | Lunch: Beach taverna at Agios Prokopios Outstanding fresh fish lunch at the finest beach taverna on the best beach in the Cyclades. | Dinner: Restaurant in Naxos Town Outstanding Naxian dinner after the beach day. Local wine, cheese and fresh seafood.
DAY 5
SOUTH NAXOS
MORNING
AGIA ANNA AND SOUTH COAST BEACHES
Agia Anna is the most extraordinary small beach village on the south Naxos coast, its remarkable fishing harbour and the extraordinary beach of fine white sand giving the finest small beach resort atmosphere in the Cyclades. The remarkable south coast road from Agia Anna towards Pyrgaki passes through the finest beach landscape in southern Naxos with extraordinary views over the Aegean. Free. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
PYRGAKI AND KASTRAKI BEACHES
Pyrgaki and Kastraki are the finest hidden beaches in south Naxos, their remarkable position at the end of the south coast road giving the most undeveloped and extraordinary beach experience on the island. The extraordinary combination of fine sand, crystal-clear water and complete absence of development gives the finest wild beach experience in the Cyclades. Both free beaches. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
AGIASSOS AND THE RETURN TO NAXOS TOWN
The extraordinary return drive from the south coast through the Vivlos and Glinado villages gives the finest rural landscape in south Naxos, passing through remarkable olive groves and extraordinary marble quarry landscapes. The remarkable Grotta archaeological site just north of Naxos Town, containing extraordinary Mycenaean ruins, gives the finest farewell ancient heritage on the island. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Grotta archaeological site immediately north of Naxos Town contains the finest Mycenaean ruins in the Cyclades, its remarkable Bronze Age remains visible at the edge of the sea giving extraordinary evidence of the prehistoric city that preceded the Venetian kastro. Almost entirely unvisited. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Agia Anna Outstanding Greek coffee in the finest small beach village on the south Naxos coast. | Lunch: Taverna near Pyrgaki Outstanding fresh fish lunch at the finest and most remote beach on the south Naxos coast. | Dinner: Farewell dinner in Naxos Town Outstanding final dinner in the extraordinary Venetian kastro. The finest Naxian cuisine and wine.
Where To Stay
Naxos Town, Nights 1 to 4 Best overall base. Hotels from 70 to 180 euros. Central for all destinations on the island. Halki, alternative Night 3 Stay in the most extraordinary interior village. Boutique hotels from 80 to 160 euros. Budget option Guesthouses in Naxos Town from 40 euros. The compact old town is walkable from most accommodation.
Top Tips
1. The Portara sunset is the finest in the Cyclades. Arrive 30 minutes before and sit on the Palatia islet with the gateway framing the sky over Paros.
2. The Apollonas Kouros is most extraordinary before 10am. The morning light reveals the ancient tool marks in the marble most clearly.
3. The Tragea olive grove valley between Halki and Filoti is the finest rural landscape in the Cyclades. Drive slowly and stop at every village.
4. The Temple of Demeter at Sangri is the finest ancient site in the Naxos interior and almost entirely unvisited. Go in the late afternoon light.
5. Agios Prokopios beach fills by 11am in peak summer. The finest experience is before 9am when the beach is almost empty and the water is extraordinary.
6. Naxian products: buy local graviera cheese, kitron liqueur, Naxian potatoes and local wine from the market street. The finest Cycladic produce in the islands.
Total Budget
80 to 160 euros/day