Discover Naxos: A Comprehensive Travel Guide for First Timers

Naxos, Greece

You cannot visit the Greek islands without exploring Naxos. This beautiful island is situated at the center of the Cyclades group and is the perfect destination for budget travelers, allowing a much cheaper and less crowded alternative than staying in Mykonos or Santorini. The island offers incredible cuisine options, keep reading for my top restaurant recommendations. If you are visiting Naxos for the first time, this guide will help you plan and navigate your stay!

When to Visit

While Naxos is a year-round destination, the ideal time to visit is between June and September. If swimming in the sea is a priority, July is the best month, offering the warmest temperatures for an enjoyable swim. If you are planning to visit early or later in the season, the sea temperatures tend to be much cooler.

Where I Stayed in Naxos

I stayed at Emery Naxos Hotel, located in Chora (the main town) and I highly recommend it. With a variety of room options, and freshly cooked daily breakfast, it's a fantastic choice. The owners are incredibly kind, and I'll definitely book my stay with them again when I return! Reserve your room here.

Cost of a trip to Naxos

If you're seeking an affordable trip to Greece, Naxos is a must-consider destination. Unlike Santorini and Mykonos, where hotel rooms can range from $500 to $1000 or more per night, Naxos offers fantastic hotels for under $200 per night without compromising on quality.

Not only are the accommodations more budget-friendly, but the food is also reasonably priced. During my visit, Naxos provided my favorite meals in Greece. My boyfriend and I enjoyed dinners with drinks for no more than EUR 80 together. Plus, you can find drinks for $6 each, compared to $20+ in Santorini. The prices in Naxos are truly a relief, allowing your coins to go much further.

How to Get Around in Naxos

Naxos is a relatively large island, over five times the size of Santorini and Mykonos according to Google. Upon arrival by boat or ferry, the best way to explore is by renting a buggy (pictured below) or a car. There are a ton of places you can rent from, but we went with Mike's Bikes Cars - also incredibly affordable. To give you an idea of the island's size, I’ve included a map below. Keep reading to my "Explore Naxos" section, where I highlight the top must-see sites.

Explore Naxos

• Walk around Chora (aka Naxos Town) - the islands main port

• Visit Temple of Apollo (Portara) - this is the island's main landmark, the best time to visit is at sunrise or sunset

• Explore Naxos Old Market

• All-Inclusive Catamaran Day Cruise

• Spend a Day at the beach

  • Hawaii Beach

  • Agios Prokopios Beach- Located fairly close to Naxos Town

  • Agia Anna Beach - Check out Liatero Restaurant for drinks / snacks while on the beach

• Go on a road trip around Naxos - This is what my boyfriend and I did.. and boy did we have a time!

• Enjoy a Sunset Dinner by the beach at Agios Prokopios

• Island hop (You can consider Paros, Santorini, Mykonos, Milos)

• Naxos Wine Tour

Restaurants / Bars to Check Out

• Sottovento Naxos Restaurant - Pizza restaurant located on the beach

• Naxian Capriccio Restauarnt

• Ayaka Sushi and Asian

• 520 Cocktail Bar

• Taverna - Authentic Greek Cuisine

• Like Home Bar - The vibe and drinks were 10/10

• Marsali Cafe Dal

Nightlife

To be honest, we didn't go out as much at night, aside from having drinks at a few bars in Chora. Our visit was also during the start of the week (Monday - Wednesday). I’ll definitely return to explore more and will update this nightlife section with my findings then.

If you are interested in seeing my travels turned to reels, be sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok (I am very new to TikTok and would love your support!)

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