With high mountains, fertile land, and stunning views of the water, land, and ruins, Naxos is a popular destination for people who are interested in culture, tradition, and history. Naxos was once known as the center of the archaic Cycladic culture and became a vital source of emery rocks. In the area, you will be able to see the marvelous monasteries, old church buildings, Venetian castles, and even people who are still using their traditional clothing. There are a lot of things to do in Naxos, many of them are heavily centered upon appreciating beauty, learning new customs and traditions, exploration, relaxation, and of course a lot of fun and engaging water sports. If you are visiting anytime soon and is unsure of the things you should do, continue reading below for the best things to do in Naxos, Greece.
1. Get a magnificent view from Portara (the Great Door)
A symbol of Naxos, Greece, the Portara is a large marble structure that looks like a gate or a huge doorway that overlooks the beautiful sea. In the past, at the peak of Naxos, people were trying to build this huge 59m (521ft) long and 28m (91ft) wide temple which was supposed to honor the Greek God Apollo. The temple was never completed due to a war that broke out shortly after the start of the project. Today, the unfinished structure is known as the Portara. It is 6m (19ft) high and 3.5m (11ft) in width and is located at a hill that has a great view of the village as well as the sea. The Portara (although an unfinished structure) is a marvel to look at and should be one of the first things that you should visit as it provides a panoramic view of the sea and the village.
Portara
Address: Naxos 843 00, Greece
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
2. Learn about the Kouros of Apollonas
The Karous statue is a massive marble structure that goes well over 10 meters (32.8 feet) in height, undecorated, and was left lying on the ground. These statues can be found at the villages of Apollonas and Melanes and are speculated to have been built for the purpose of being pillars for a temple. The reasons why it was undecorated, unfinished, and was left lying on the ground is a mystery that has made many archeologists come up with many theories on why the statues are what they are today. Like many attraction in Naxos, the Karous statue is a site that you should visit, as not only is it located in a beautiful area near the sea, the mysteries and theories surrounding the statues will surely interest curious minds.
Kouros of Apollonas
Address: Drimalia 843 02, Greece
Website: Kouros of Apollonas
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
3. Go kite surfing at Mikri Vigla
Located 18km (11mi) away from the Capital of Naxos, the Mikri Vigla village is unique as it features two beaches that are separated by a hill. The southern beach is known as the Limanakia and is protected by the Meltemi winds. The northern beach contains gold-like sand and crystal waters. It is also blessed with strong winds ideal for surfing. If you are interested in water sports then visiting the northern part of Mikri Vigla is a great idea. There, you can rent various surfing equipment such as boards and kites. Aside from being a great surfing spot, the sheer beauty of the beach should already be a good reason to visit the area.
Mikri Vigla
Address: 843 Naxos, Greece
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
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4. Visit the Castle Of Naxos
Serving as a fortress, the Castle of Naxos is an impenetrable structure that is round and consists of four floors, and additional pentagonal fortification that holds three gates. After more than a year of restoration, the Castle of Naxos is now being converted into a museum. Even though the castle is still ongoing progress, its history, and marvelous construction is worth the visit for any person who would love to view a piece of preserved history.
Castle Of Naxos
Address: Naxos 843 00, Greece
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
5. Go on a hiking tour with friends at Mount Zas
Being the tallest landscape of Naxos, Mount Zas is a popular hiking spot with beautiful and different level of terrain difficulty that hikers will surely appreciate. In Greek mythology, Mount Zas was the place where Zeus (the sky and thunder god) grew up, thus the name of the mountain. The hike would usually start from the village of Danakos and would pass through Cave Zas, a chapel at Saint Marina, and would go straight to the mountain top. At the top of the mountain, the hikers are then rewarded with the breathtaking view of the Aegean Sea, various birds, as well as the rich flora and fauna located around the mountain.
Mount Zas
Address: Drimalia 843 02, Greece
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
6. Swim in the turquoise blue waters of Agios Prokopios Beach
Agios Prokopios Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Naxos due to its beautiful scenery composing of gold-like sand, crystal-clear water, usual clear skies, and strong winds. If you love to try out some water sport activities, certain areas of the beach hold facilities that let you rent pieces of equipment, as well as other beach items and services. There are also hotels, cafes, bars, and restaurants if you would like to stay at the beach in luxury.
Agios Prokopios Beach
Address: Agios Prokopios 843 00, Greece
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
7. Admire the historic carvings and paintings at Panagia Drosiani Church
Panagia Drosiani Church is the oldest Christian church that you can find at Naxos. The church was built at Drossia, hence the name, which also means ‘Dewy Virgin’ or’ weeping when danger befalls the village’. The church has an altar where you will see Agios Georgios, a horse, and a boy carrying water. The place also has a beautiful courtyard that also acts as a cemetery for the villagers. Upon visiting the church on Good Friday, you might be able to see villagers perform their traditions at the church, wherein they offer alcohol, bread, nuts, and raisins to all visitors that visit that church. Another reason to visit the church would be to appreciate and learn the history of the astonishing carvings displayed all around the church.
Panagia Drosiani Church
Address: Epar.Od. Chalkiou-Keramotis, Drimalia 843 02, Greece
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
8. Go paddleboarding and windsurfing at Plaka Beach
Considered as one of the most beautiful beaches in Naxos, Plaka beach is a white sand beach, with turquoise waters, stony areas, and overall calm. Places such as restaurants, hotels, pubs, and cafes have been places outside and around the beach to maintain its natural beauty for locals and visitors to enjoy. There are also certain facilities near the beach that you can rent items for water sporting activities such as paddleboarding.
Plaka Beach
Address: Naxos 843 00, Greece
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
9. Check out interesting exhibits at the Naxos Archaeological Museum
Located at the central square top of Kastro, the Naxos Archaeological Museum was once a 17th-century Venetian structure composed of five floors and was used as a school. With the curiosity ramping up at Naxos, large excavations were conducted to learn more about the past of the area. This museum was chosen to house all the items that the excavation was able to retrieve. Certain items are now displayed for the eyes of the public. Some of the most interesting collections of the museum are the clay rhyton, vases from the Early Cycladic period, a Cycladic period marble found at the keros cemetery, Mycenaean jar, Myceneaen jug, four golden plaques from a child burial, and golden jewelry from tombs of Tsikalario and Chora.
Naxos Archaeological Museum
Address: Naxos and Lesser Cyclades 843 00, Greece
Website: Archaelogical Museum of Naxos
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
10. Relax and unwind at Alykó
Posted by Hawai beach-Alyko Naxos on Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Located 17km (10m) southwestern of Naxos, Alykó is a wonderful beach of white sand, turquoise crystal-clear water, and tamarisk trees. On a sunny day, Alykó is a great place to relax and unwind with the beach’s calming breeze and soft sands. Near the beach area is also a protected natural cedar forest with dunes of sand carved like landscape. It is a perfect spot for Instagrammable pictures.
Alyko
Address: Naxos 843 02, Greece
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
11. Walk past the traditional white houses at Chora Naxos
Known to be one of the most beautiful villages in Naxos, Chora Naxos (Naxos Town) is a place filled with marvelous Venetian and Cycladic architectural buildings. The town is the center of almost every tourist attraction in Naxos. There you have access to the mountains, the beaches, ports, bays, statues, a castle, and several ruins. The place has been preserved to keep its traditional look and character and enhanced with bright local colors. If you are visiting Naxos, then Chora Naxos should be the first thing you should visit as you’ll be able to access many of Naxos’ attractions and facilities.
Chora Naxos
Address: Saint-George-Beach, Naxos 843 00, Greece
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
12. Take pictures in front of the Kouroi of Flerio
If you love creating good memories, then one of the places you should be taking your pictures at is here at Melanes Kouroi of Flerio. A Kourus is a free-standing sculpture depicting the ideal male body in a nude format. Although there are other Kourus in Naxos, this one is one of the most impressive Kourus due to its sheer size and awkward lying position. Research has been able to track the date of this specific Kourus’ creation and found out that it was sculpted around 570 BC. As many of the Kourus are in Naxos, it is still a mystery on why they have never been finished or erected to a free-standing position as they should be. Enjoy the unique sculpture as well as the near-beautiful hillside landscapes.
Kouroi of Flerio
Address: Naxos 843 00, Greece
Website: Kouroi of Flerio
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
13. Learn about olives at the Eggares Olive Press Museum
The olive tree is one of the most prominent symbols of Greek culture. In Greek mythology, the olive tree was installed by Athena to win domain over Athens against Poseidon. The olive tree is a plant that is capable of surviving for many years, has healing properties, and produces fruits that can be extracted to make olive oil and certain beverages. If you would like to learn more about the importance of the olive tree, how certain products are made, and press techniques used, then the Egares Olive Press Museum is the place you should visit.
Eggares Olive Press Museum
Address: Eggares 843 00, Greece
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)
14. Have a look inside the Cave of Zeus
Located at the west side of Mount Zas, the Cave of Zas is 10 - 115m (32 - 377ft) in height and 2.5 - 75m (8 - 246ft) in width. In Greek mythology, the Cave of Zas was the cave that Zeus was able to find shelter in when he was being prosecuted. This cave is also the cave that Zeus was able to attain his might lightning. In the olden times, the cave was used as a refuge site and even had its chapel. If you are a person who loves to trek and explore while learning about Greek history and mythology, then hiking to this cave will surely satisfy your adventure-seeking soul.
Cave of Zeus
Address: Psychro Cave 720 52, Greece
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
15. Take a tour of the Distillery M. G. Vallindras Eirini Frangoudaki
Located at the center of Halki village, the Vallindras Distillery is a small place being utilized more like a museum rather than a distillery. It was established in the year 1896 by the Vallindras family and made production level liqueur that was popular in all of Greece. The distillery still has the machinery and traditional tools used in distilling liqueur. If you are interested in learning how liqueur is made and packaged, the Vallindras Distillery is the place you should visit during your stay at Naxos.
Distillery M. G. Vallindras Eirini Frangoudaki
Address: Epar.Od. Naxou-Apiranthou 100, Chalkio 843 02, Greece
Opening hours: 9:30am - 11pm (daily)
16. Check out amazing collections at the Fish Olive Gallery
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Fish & Olive would like to thank all our customers, friends, and supporters for helping us to get through 2020. We look...
Posted by Fish & Olive Gallery on Sunday, October 11, 2020
The Fish and Olive Art store is a popular pottery shop founded by Katharina Bolesch and her husband. At the shop are potteries that are heavily influenced by Greek culture and literature. The potteries would usually showcase olive patterns, lizards, bees, octopus, and other popular greek symbols. Although the shop’s bread and butter is pottery, they also sell jugs, jewelry, and candies. If you love to bring home some Greek memorabilia upon your return, the Fish and Olive Art Gallery is the place that ensures quality handmade products.
Fish Olive Gallery
Address: Platia, Chalkio 843 02, Greece
Website: Fish Olive Gallery
17. Marvel at rock formations in the Geological Museum of Apeiranthos
Located at the Apiranthos square, the geological museum is a place that exhibits a large collection of vibrant stones, fossils, and minerals that has been excavated throughout Naxos, Greece, and all over the world. Some of the popular pieces at the museum are the Manolis Glezos collection and the Petros Protopapadakis Geological collection. There are even several fossils at the museum, some being as old as 70,000 years. If you are interested in rare stones, minerals, and fossils, the Geological Museum at Apiranthos is the best place to view in Naxos.
Geological Museum of Apeiranthos
Address: Apeiranthos 843 02, Greece
18. Catch a live musical performance at Bazeos Tower
One of the prominent structures in Naxos, the Bazeos Tower is a part of a castle built in the 17th century to protect its residence in case of pirate attacks and certain invasions. This tower once functioned as a monastery until it was abandoned around two hundred years later. Today the Bazeos Towers is mainly used as a venue that showcases contemporary artworks and live musical performances. The place gives you a great view of the city and areas, perfect for taking pictures and sightseeing. The place is great for people who appreciate beautiful sights and music as well as other visual artworks.
Bazeos Tower
Address: Naxos - Agiassos Road, 12th Km, Greece
Website: Bazeos Tower
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
19. Relish Greek delicacies at Scirocco
Located at Dikastirion Square, Scirocco restaurant is a popular place that both locals and visitors seem to enjoy. They mainly serve Greek cuisine, usually grilled seafood, and other homemade dishes. Some of their popular dishes would be the lemon baked lamb and Naxian graviera cheese saganaki. If you are looking for some authentic Greek dishes, the Scirocco is a well-reviewed popular option that you should try out.
Scirocco
Address: Platia Protodikiou Chora, Naxos 843 00, Greece
Website: Scirocco
Opening hours:12pm - 12am (daily)
20. Drink cocktails at The Ocean Club
The Ocean Club is an excellent place for you and your friends to chill, eat good food and drinks while being accompanied by good music. The place exudes a feeling of relaxation and being laid back. If you’ve done some traveling around Naxos during the day and would like to have your fill and unwind to the music, the Ocean Club is a great place that will certainly help you achieve that state.
The Ocean Club
Address: Naxos 843 00, Greece
Website: The Ocean Club
Opening hours: 7pm - 9pm (daily)
21. Go dancing at DAY NIGHT
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Day Night Bar naxos on Saturday, July 11, 2015
DAY NIGHT club is a place where Greek food, drinks, and music are served. If you are interested in learning more about Greek culture, the DayNight bar is a great place you can do so. Here you’ll be served with greek cuisine and liqueur while being accompanied by upbeat dance music that will surely make you want to dance and have a good time.
DAY NIGHT
Address: Naxos 843 00, Greece
Website: DAY NIGHT
22. Get a relaxing massage at Naxos Spa - Fitness center
If you’ve been trying to explore Naxos, you may have noticed that it can be physically taxing, especially if you’ve done some trekking and sports. While you explore by the day, why not enjoy the night relaxing and helping your body recover. This spa has facilities where you can get a massage, get manicured, pedicured, and a place to chill.
Naxos Spa - Fitness center
Address: Agios Prokopios 843 00, Greece
Website: Naxos Spa - Fitness center
23. Shop till your feet hurt at Bazzar Naxos
If you are looking for some great memorabilia to bring back home or just want to save money purchasing items, then Bazzar Naxos is a place you should visit. Here you’ll find antique items, furniture, ceramics, old jewelry, fine china, and various valuable items. There are more than a dozen kiosks at the bazaar with vendors from places such as Patras, Pyrgos, and Athens. This place will suit you if you love haggling, saving money, or looking for some rare find to add to your collection.
Bazzar Naxos
Website: Bazzar Naxos
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
A place of exploration and learning
Naxos is a great place where culture and tradition have been well preserved. The is naturally gifted with beautiful fertile landscapes and water formations. There are a lot of things you can do at Naxos upon your visit. Many of them will be centered upon explorations, appreciating the natural beauty of the place, learning Greek history and mythology, as well as some fun and engaging activities such as watersports and trekking.
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