Well we have reached the end of our week-long honeymoon in Greece. Our last few days in Greece we ended up on the lovely island of Naxos. I do have to say, we didn’t think that our time in Milos could be topped, but we ended up loving our time in Naxos!
The thing I loved most about Naxos was just how cute the town was. It was exactly what I had pictured in my mind whenever I would think of Greece. The gray and white cobblestones lining the town and shops that would zig zag up and down the area were magical.
With Naxos being the largest island of the Cyclades there is so much to explore as well! There are hiking options, mountain towns to explore, SO many beaches to relax on and endless shops, restaurants and cocktail bars to enjoy.
I’d definitely recommend giving both Milos and Naxos a visit if you’re traveling to the Greek islands.
How Long to Stay
We only ended up staying here for 2 nights, but I would definitely recommend staying at least 4 nights. The island is definitely larger than most so there were SO many places we wanted to go but just didn’t have the time to fit it all in. I guess we’ll just have to go back 🙂
How to Get There
We took the Ferry from Milos to Naxos. It was about 4 hours long. We left at 8am so we were able to get to Naxos at noon. So I feel it was still a good way to get to the island and not lose too much time. Just remember – book your ferries early as they do book up, especially in peak season!
Where to Stay
Grotta – Perfect for First Timers
This is a great place to stay for first timers (take it from the first timers here!). It was still close to town and located up on a hill which allowed us to see the town, Harbor, the iconic Portara and the Grotta Beach. Plus it was a short distance to walk into town as well which was nice during the evenings going out to dinners and just wandering back home.
Naxos Town (Chora) – Perfect for Foodies
This is the capital of the town and it’s perfect if you’re looking to explore all the island cuisine! There are many restaurants, tavernas, food markets and street food to enjoy. You’ll also be able to walk along the backstreets of Naxos Town which has an endless amount of family owned shops selling things from clothes to sweet treats. The downfall is that it can get quite noisy during prime season.
Naxos Port & Waterfront – Nightlife Action
If you’re looking for a lively time – especially late into the evening – this is the place to be. Plus, you’re still close to Naxos Town so you can head there for dinner before hitting the club scene late into the night.
East Coast – Great for Quiet and Calm Vibes
If you’re looking for some peace and quiet, this side of the island is the place to be. Most tourists are going to go to the main areas listed above but if you’re looking for a tranquil getaway this is the place
While there aren’t as many restaurants and bars this way, you’ll still be able to find quite a few family owned Tavernas to enjoy. Plus, there are many beaches in this area that most people won’t go to so you may even find yourself having a whole beach to yourself!
Be sure to rent a car though if you’re staying out this way!
Plaka – Great for Families
Traveling with younger children – this is the place to be! There are many kid friendly restaurants and a lot of the beaches have activities that kids can stay entertained with.
Have older kids? The beaches here are still a great bet since they offer kayaking, windsurfing and kitesurfing. You’ll also find white sand and crystal clear waters that are perfect to take a dip in.
Where We Stayed
We stayed in Grotta in a hotel called Hotel Grotta. I honestly have to say we read about this place from many other blogs and just had to book it. All of the ratings lived up to the hype and the hotel was above and beyond our expectations. The staff was so warm and welcoming and we loved getting picked up from the ferry and taken to our hotel with a glass of crisp Greek wine awaiting for us upon arrival! The hotel had the most amazing inclusive breakfast buffet, a spa and a wonderful rooftop terrace to watch the sunset. You guys, if you come to Naxos you HAVE to stay here.
How to Get Around
Since the island is so large with lots to explore, I’d definitely recommend getting a car to have. We rented a car through Europcar and had a great experience. Something to note, the streets can be narrow and steep as you’re exploring the island so just be mindful of that!
Beaches to Explore
The beaches in Naxos were absolutely stunning! So many to choose from and many that just seemed to go on and on!
Agios Prokopios
This is going to be the most popular and touristy beach. It is a super long beach filled with umbrellas and lounge furniture but we felt it was a little too packed for our liking. Still a nice beach to walk along and dip your feet into the water.
Hawaii Beach
This was our favorite beach to go to! We actually ended up coming here both days because it was so nice. It was a little harder to get to as you had to climb down the rocks so I feel not as many people were there. The water was great to swim in as well.
Agiassos Beach
Our host at the hotel suggested we travel down here to get somewhere more secluded. It was definitely more secluded so if you want some peace and quiet this is the place to go. There wasn’t much around there though so we decided to venture back out.
Alyko Beach
This beach is near Hawaii Beach. It was a smaller beach but still a beautiful place to start the day. It was also near the Hotel Ruins which was cool to walk through and check out.
Agios Georgios Beach
This beach is close to Naxos Town. We decided to run here on our last day and check it out. A cute little beach right at the edge of town. Perfect if you want to go for a quick swim and then head up into town to grab some food.
Grotta Beach
We walked by this beach quite a few times while staying in Naxos. It was a beach that wasn’t as popular as some of the other options but I do feel it was a bit wavy. Still a nice spot to head to if you’re staying in Grotta and don’t have a car.
Where to Eat
One meal we never had to worry about was breakfast. Our hotel served the most spectacular breakfast each morning. If you left hungry from there you clearly had done something wrong! So, now onto lunch and dinner options
We stumbled upon this place before heading out to walk along the Agios Prokopios Beach. It received amazing reviews on google and was still packed even at 2:30 when we arrived. A family owned Taverna that was serving up authentic Greek dishes. The waiter was extremely kind as well. We ended up ordering Zucchini Balls, a Greek Salad and they brought us a complimentary appetizer and dessert!
FBI Food Truck
This was located right near the Hawaii Beach. While we love our Greek cuisine, sometimes it’s nice to get a little street food action. I enjoyed the Vegan Taco Wrap that was filled with cooked veggies and guacamole. Of course I paired this with a refreshing margarita. We took our food to go and decided to have a little picnic overlooking the Hawaii beach. It was perfect.
We had dinner here our last night on the island. It was a little more tucked away but the vibe in the cozy outdoor area was just what we wanted.
We ate here the first night in Naxos and we were not disappointed! We had a lovely appetizer and main course to split and of course a Liter of delicious Greek white wine. At first my husband thought it could be a tourist trap since it was located right on the water in the main part of town but we were pleasantly surprised by the quality and portions of food.
We didn’t make it to this restaurant but the vibe and atmosphere here looked amazing. It was more tucked away as well in the back streets but would definitely give this a try if we were here for longer.
Another restaurant we unfortunately didn’t make it to but looked like it had great reviews as well. They are known for cooking homemade Greek food with fresh and local products.
Cocktail Bars
While we actually never ended up going to a cocktail bar I had researched a couple!
I mean let’s be real, when the view from your rooftop terrace overlooks the beautiful sea with a stunning sunset it’s hard to start your evening(or basically anytime) anywhere but there!
520 Premium – Rooftop cocktail bar in the main Town in Naxos. Great cocktails with great views especially during sunset time.
Toro Cocktail Bar – Bar with boho vibes and cool jungle -chill – house music. A lovely trendy rooftop bar with great views in Naxos Town.
Sites to Explore
There are a few mountain villages that are said to be known for great spots to wander around and explore. Unfortunately during our trip we didn’t make it to any of them. However, these were the ones that were on our list! Another reason why I recommend 4 nights at least in Naxos, now we know!
Apeiranthos – Overlooking the mountains with shops and cafes to explore.
Filoti – Another small mountain town that is filled with shops and cafes.
Chalkio – Lots of shops and cafes with cute streets to explore.
Venetian Castle of Naxos – This is still in Naxos Town and we were able to see this! It’s just about a 7 minute walk up from the main area. We enjoyed seeing more of the gray and white cobblestones next to the white buildings. A quick thing to do while in town.
Temple of Apollo Portara – located just past the Port it’s a must see. We ended up taking a nice run to it our last morning and were actually able to see this everyday from our hotel. It’s a door-like ruin of an ancient temple standing on a scenic point overlooking the sea and city. This is also a very popular spot people go to catch the sunset. We were definitely thankful to have our own perfect terrace at the hotel to watch the sunset from instead.
In Conclusion
Naxos was an amazing Island to explore and I’d highly recommend adding it for you trip to Greece! There was so much to see and do if you wanted to stay busy. But, with all of the beaches to choose from you could totally make it a trip to completely relax and recharge.
