Is Naxos Town (Chora) a good base for the island?

Yes — Naxos Town is the best all-round base. It has the ferry port, the Portara (ancient marble gateway), the Kastro (Venetian castle quarter), the main market street, and easy bus access to most beaches. The old town's narrow streets and Cycladic architecture are genuinely charming, and the sunset view from the Portara promontory is one of the finest in the Cyclades.

How does Naxos compare to Paros for accommodation?

Naxos is larger, with more variety at every price point and generally better value. The beaches are longer and less crowded than Paros in peak season. Naxos also has a strong agricultural interior (mountain villages, olive groves, marble quarries) that Paros lacks. For a longer stay or a first visit to the Cyclades, many visitors find Naxos the more rewarding island.

What are the best beaches in Naxos?

Agios Prokopios and Agios Georgios (Naxos Town beach) are the most accessible. Plaka is a long stretch of fine white sand south of Prokopios — less developed and better for those wanting space. Mikri Vigla is a dual-sided beach excellent for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Alyko in the south has a wilder feel with cedar trees behind the sand.

Is Naxos suitable for families?

Naxos is one of the best Cycladic islands for families. The beaches at Agios Georgios and Agios Prokopios have shallow, calm water. The island has good infrastructure (supermarkets, pharmacies, car hire), and Naxos Town has a genuinely local feel that is not entirely packaged for tourists.

How do I get to Naxos from Athens?

Fast ferries from Piraeus take approximately 3.5–4 hours (from approximately €40–70 as of 2026). Standard ferries take 5.5 hours. There is a small airport with domestic flights from Athens (40 min) and some seasonal European charters. The ferry is by far the most common route and arrives directly at Naxos Town waterfront.

Where to Stay in Naxos | The Greece Guides

Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades and arguably the most self-sufficient — it produces its own potatoes, olives, citrus, marble, and emery (a hard mineral historically used as an abrasive). The result is an island that feels less exclusively resort-oriented than Paros or Mykonos. It has a real working economy behind the tourism, mountain villages that few visitors reach, and beaches that remain uncrowded even in July. Where to stay in Naxos depends largely on whether you want town life, beach life, or a balance of both.

Prices listed are approximate as of 2026 and vary by season and room type.

Naxos Town (Chora)

Naxos Town is the island’s capital and the point where nearly every visitor arrives — the ferry drops you directly at the harbour, with the Portara (the 6th-century BC marble gateway of an unfinished temple to Apollo) visible immediately on the small promontory to the left.

The old town, called the Kastro, sits above the harbour: a Venetian-era hill town with narrow vaulted lanes, the Catholic cathedral, and marble-paved alleys that have barely changed in three centuries. Below the Kastro, the Bourgos quarter and the main market street (Papavasiliou) have restaurants, cafés, and the island’s best shopping.

The town beach (Agios Georgios) is a 10-minute walk south from the harbour — a long sandy beach with gentle waves and plenty of sun loungers.

Budget (€45–90/night): Several guesthouses and small hotels in the Kastro and Bourgos. Hotel Glaros (near the town beach) has good-value rooms from approximately €55/night in shoulder season. Irene Pension is a family-run guesthouse in the old town from approximately €60/night. Despina Studios offers self-catering rooms near the port from approximately €50/night in May.

Mid-range (€95–210/night): A strong mid-range market in Naxos Town. Hotel Grotta (on the hill above the Kastro with sea views) has well-appointed rooms from approximately €120/night in June. Chateau Zevgoli is a fully restored Venetian house in the Kastro with antique furnishings from approximately €150/night. Naxos Palace Hotel (on the hillside above town) has pool and panoramic sea views from approximately €140/night in July.

Luxury (€240–500+/night): Naxos Town’s luxury market is more limited than the beach resorts. 18 Grapes Suites has beautifully designed suites in the old town from approximately €280/night in August. Villa Marandi Luxury Suites offers a curated small-hotel experience with garden and pool from approximately €260/night.

Best for: First-time visitors to Naxos, anyone arriving by ferry, and visitors who want Cycladic town life combined with beach access. The Kastro’s evening atmosphere — locals and tourists sharing the same narrow streets — is one of the island’s genuine pleasures.

Agios Prokopios

Agios Prokopios is the most developed beach resort on Naxos, 7km south of Naxos Town. The beach itself is excellent — fine white sand, clear blue water, a long arc that stays manageable even in peak season because of Naxos’s size relative to tourist numbers. The village has grown around the beach over the past 30 years and now has restaurants, cafés, mini-markets, and a lively beach bar scene.

Budget (€45–85/night): Numerous studios and guesthouses set back from the beach. Prokopios Hotel is a small family-run property from approximately €55/night in June. Flisvos Studios has self-catering units a 5-minute walk from the sand from approximately €50/night.

Mid-range (€95–200/night): Good mid-range concentration here. Kavos Naxos Boutique Hotel is one of the island’s best mid-range properties — pool, tasteful design, close to the beach, from approximately €150/night in July. Hotel Lianos Village (family-friendly, multiple pools) from approximately €120/night in June. Iria Beach Art Hotel has rooms with beach views from approximately €140/night.

Luxury (€250–550/night): Naxos Magic Village (hillside above Agios Prokopios) has individual Cycladic-style cottages with sea views and pool from approximately €280/night in August. St George Hotel (larger resort near the beach) has renovated sea-view rooms from approximately €230/night in peak season.

Best for: Beach-focused visitors, couples, and families who want direct beach access and a resort atmosphere without being far from Naxos Town. A hired scooter or car makes the town accessible in 10 minutes.

Plaka

Plaka is a quieter stretch of beach immediately south of Agios Prokopios, reached by continuing along the coastal road. The beach is long (nearly 4km), narrower in development, and backed by dunes and tamarisk trees in sections. It feels less resort-like than Agios Prokopios and is favoured by visitors who want space and a more natural setting. Basic facilities — a few tavernas and a beach bar — exist at the northern end.

Budget (€40–80/night): Plaka has a good selection of budget-conscious family studios. Plaka Camping is the island’s main campsite with bungalows from approximately €40/night and tent pitches from approximately €15. Villa Glykeria has simple self-catering rooms from approximately €55/night.

Mid-range (€90–190/night): Plaka Beach Hotel Naxos is the main mid-range option directly on the beach, from approximately €120/night in July. Orkos Beach Hotel (slightly south, near Orkos beach) has clean rooms and pool from approximately €100/night.

Luxury (€220–450/night): Naxos Kalimera (a boutique complex of suites near Plaka) has sea-view rooms from approximately €280/night in peak season. Several premium villa rentals with pools are available through agencies for weekly rental.

Best for: Campers, budget travellers, and those who prefer a quieter beach setting over resort facilities. The dune-backed sections of Plaka are some of the least developed beach landscape in the central Cyclades.

Mikri Vigla

Mikri Vigla is a headland on the southwest coast of Naxos, 18km from Naxos Town. The headland has two sides: the sheltered southern side (Parthena beach, calm and good for swimming) and the windward northern side, which catches the Meltemi reliably and is one of the best windsurfing and kitesurfing spots in Greece. Mikri Vigla Surf Club has operated here for years, offering equipment rental and instruction.

The area is smaller and quieter than the main north beaches, with fewer accommodation options but a distinct character.

Budget (€50–85/night): Mikri Vigla Hotel is the long-established mid-budget option with pool, beach access, and its own watersports setup from approximately €70/night in June. Naxaki Beach Studios has simple self-catering from approximately €55/night.

Mid-range (€100–200/night): Orkos Beach Hotel (nearby at Orkos) serves as the mid-range option for this part of the coast from approximately €110/night. Summer Memories Hotel has pool and garden from approximately €130/night in July.

Best for: Windsurfers and kitesurfers — the reliable strong winds are the reason to be here. Also suited to visitors who want a quieter alternative to the main beach strip with the feeling of a more rugged, natural Naxos.

Getting between areas

Naxos has a reliable bus network (KTEL Naxos) with buses departing from the terminal beside the ferry port in Naxos Town. Services cover Agios Prokopios/Plaka (€1.80, 15–20 min), Agios Georgios (walkable or €1.20), and the main mountain villages. Mikri Vigla is served less frequently. Renting a car (from approximately €30–50/day) or scooter (from approximately €20–30/day) is the best way to reach the interior villages (Halki, Filoti, Apeiranthos) and the more remote beaches.

Where to eat near your accommodation

In Naxos Town: Apostolis Restaurant (near the port) serves solid traditional Greek at good value — approximately €15–25 per person. Scirocco Restaurant, close to the Portara promontory, is a romantic dinner setting with a Mediterranean menu from approximately €35–50 per person. For local mezes and wine, To Elliniko near the main square is a dependable choice.

In Agios Prokopios and Plaka: Kavos Restaurant at Kavos Hotel does some of the best cooking on the island’s beach strip. Piperia in Agios Prokopios is popular for grilled meats and local sausages from approximately €12–20 per person. Gorgona Taverna in Plaka is a classic fish taverna on the beach from approximately €15–25 per person.

In Naxos Town (breakfast/pastry): Café Picasso near the harbour has good coffee and local cheese pies. Bikinis pastry shop does fresh spanakopita and galaktoboureko worth the queue.

Where to Stay in Naxos: Best Areas and Hotels