12.10.2023
Naxos is one of the Cycladic islands, just 100 nautical miles from Athens’s port. The Cycladic islands are some of the best islands for vacationing in Greece because they are in the middle of the Aegean Sea. Naxos island is the largest in the Cyclades group.
Naxos’s main town is famous for its big Portara. It is the remains of an ancient temple to Apollo that was not finished. In Naxos Town, it is not just traces of the ancient Greeks you can see. It is also the impact of the Venetians and the Franks who took over the Greek islands at different times. In the alleys of the old town, you will feel like you are in the Middle Ages.
The Portara of Naxos (also called the Great Door) is a giant marble doorway next to the port, on the tiny island of Palatia. It was constructed in the 6th century BC by the ruler of Naxos, Lygdamis. He wanted to build the highest and most incredible building in Naxos, but when war came with Samos, the construction of the temple stopped. Experts don’t know exactly what the temple of the Portara was designed for, but some people say it was a temple to Apollo, the Greek god of music. Today, the Portara is the ideal place in Naxos to enjoy the sunset and to go for a walk after a delicious taverna meal.
Naxos island is known for its impressive sculptures. The archaic kouros are massive, half-complete statues of young men that have been in the same spot for hundreds of years. The other kouros are in a garden at Melanes, and at the coast at Apollona.
Apiranthos Village is the ideal village to visit on Naxos Island. Apiranthos is called the “marble village” because of its beautiful stonework. It has a large population of Cretans and a surrounding area which looks a lot like the mountains of Crete. The architecture, however, is definitely from Naxos, featuring Venetian arches.
Apiranthos is the birthplace of Manolis Glezos, a Greek wartime hero who was the first person to act against Germany when they occupied Greece. He was known best for climbing up the east side of the Acropolis to take down the Nazi flag. This act made him a symbol for the Greek struggle against the occupation. For his courage, he was sentenced to death more than once and spent 16 years of his life in prison. Glezos later became the mayor of Apiranthos, creating four museums and the Aperathou Women's Traditional Crafts Cooperative. A fun fact about Glezos: In his late years, he loved to talk about the benefits of the afternoon nap - a common habit of Greeks. With a nap, "I get two days out of one. I start at 7 am, stop at 3 pm, start again at 5 pm and go all the way to midnight. I get a tremendous amount done."
Naxos is not an expensive destination compared to some other islands in the Cyclades like Santorini and Mykonos. There are plenty of options for hotels and restaurants on Naxos that are reasonably priced. Especially in some of Naxos’s smaller villages, you can find great value for the quality of accommodations.
It’s inevitable that this question comes up when taking a trip to the Cycladic islands. It’s hard to pick between the two Greek islands because they are so close together. The best solution is to plan a trip to both Cycladic islands. Both Naxos and Paros have beautiful beaches, incredible food, and charming fishing villages. Paros has a bit more nightlife, and because it is smaller, Paros feels more romantic. Naxos has long, uncrowded beaches; it is more traditional, and it is greener than Paros. So Naxos is slightly better if you are traveling with your family.
Plaka Beach is one of the best beaches in Greece. The golden sand stretches for 4 kilometers on the west coast of Naxos island, so it’s the longest beach on the island. At the north end of Plaka Beach is Maragas Beach, where you will find restaurants and beach clubs. The south area of Plaka Beach is more remote.
Agios Giorgos Beach is the most family-friendly on Naxos island. It is a quick walk from Naxos Town and some of the best hotels in Naxos. The beach has tavernas and beach clubs and a watersports area on the south end.
Alyko Beach is Naxos’s most unusual beach because it is at the edge of a cedar forest. The forest has cedar, heathers, thyme, and wildflowers along a rocky coastline that has a series of sandy beaches. All the beaches are called Alyko generally, but they also have specific names. From northwest to southeast, they are called Alyko Naturist, Hawaii Beach, and Mikrolímano.
Naxos island is a heaven for food lovers in Greece. Naxos has many local products, especially its cheese. Graviera and Kefalotiri are the best options. In some areas, the Kefalotiri will be called “arseniko”, which translates to “masculine. Order some potatoes as well, which are grown locally. End your meal with a glass of kitro, which is a liquor made in Naxos and comes in three versions: green, yellow, and clear.
During the peak season, Olympic Airlines has 5 flights per day to Naxos from Athens. This will reduce in the wintertime. The flight time is about 40 minutes and is reasonably priced when booked far in advance. As a general rule, the earlier you book with Aegean and Olympic Airlines, the better prices you will get.
The journey to Naxos takes just over 3 hours on the Golden Star Ferries SuperExpress from Rafina. With slower boats, it can take up to 6 hours.
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