Naxos is the largest and greenest island in the Cyclades, and it rewards travellers with far more variety than a single beach holiday. On one island you can wander a Venetian old town, swim off long golden shores, taste local cheese and citrus liqueur, and climb the highest mountain in the archipelago. The landscape shifts from whitewashed harbour lanes to olive groves, marble villages and rugged summits within a short drive. Whether you love history, hiking, watersports or slow food, Naxos gives you room to build the trip you want. For a smooth introduction to the island’s highlights, consider a guided tour with My Greece Tours.
This guide gathers the island’s best experiences in one place, drawing on our wider Naxos travel guide so you can plan with confidence. The sections below cover the top things to do across the island, exploring Naxos Town and the Portara, the beaches and watersports of the west coast, the mountain villages and interior, and hiking Mount Zas and the island’s wild nature.
What are the top things to do in Naxos?
The top things to do in Naxos are exploring Naxos Town and the Portara, swimming the long west-coast beaches, driving to the marble mountain villages, hiking Mount Zas, visiting the kouros statues and temples, and tasting local food.
Naxos packs remarkable variety into one island, which is why so a wealth of visitors extend their stay. The obvious starting point is the capital, where the medieval Kastro rises above a working harbour and the marble Portara gateway frames the sunset. From there the island fans out in every direction. The west coast holds a run of broad sandy beaches ideal for swimming and windsurfing, while the mountainous interior hides stone villages, terraced vineyards and Byzantine chapels. Ancient sculptors left giant unfinished kouros statues in the hills, and farmers still produce cheese, potatoes and the citrus liqueur kitron. This mix of sea, history and mountain means you can happily fill a week here without ever repeating yourself.
Dozens of people rent a car or join organised excursions to see the best of the island efficiently because the attractions are spread out. A typical trip blends a couple of relaxed beach days with a mountain-village drive, a hike, and an evening or two in the old town. Families appreciate the shallow, sheltered bays; walkers head for the trails around Mount Zas; food lovers chase local tavernas in Halki and Apeiranthos. The key is to balance coast and interior rather than staying glued to one resort. It also helps to think in themes, giving one day to the town and its monuments, another to the beaches.
A third to the mountains and a hike, so that each part of the island gets its due. We begin where most visitors do, in Naxos Town and at the Portara.
How do you explore Naxos Town and the Portara?
Explore Naxos Town by climbing through the old-town lanes to the Venetian Kastro, browsing the harbour and museums, then walking the causeway to the Portara for sunset. Allow a full afternoon and evening to enjoy the capital slowly.
The best way to experience Naxos Town, known locally as Chora, is on foot, letting the maze of whitewashed alleys pull you gently uphill. Start along the busy waterfront, then slip into the old town where flower-draped stairways, small boutiques and family tavernas line the shade. At the top sits the Kastro, the fortified Venetian quarter with its towers, carved coats of arms and the Archaeological Museum housed in a former college. Nearby churches and the marble-paved squares reward slow wandering. Everyone drifts toward the Portara of Naxos, the colossal marble doorway on the islet of Palatia just north of the port as the light softens.
The Portara is the surviving gateway of an unfinished temple to Apollo, and it has become the island’s signature image. A short causeway links it to the harbour, so you can walk out over the sea and stand within the giant marble frame as the sun drops behind the horizon. Arrive early to claim a spot on the rocks, and bring a camera for the golden view back toward the Kastro. Around the harbour you will also find the small church quarter, waterfront cafes and boats bound for nearby islets. It is an easy, atmospheric introduction to Naxos before you swap stone lanes for sand and head to the beaches on the west coast.
Slot these into a plan with our Naxos 3-day itinerary.
What can you do on the beaches and in the water?
On the Naxos coast you can swim, sunbathe and paddle along a long chain of west-coast beaches, then try windsurfing or kitesurfing at Mikri Vigla, where steady summer winds and shallow water make the island a favourite for watersports.
The beaches of Naxos stretch almost continuously down the sheltered western shore, offering certain of the finest sand in the Cyclades. Just south of the capital, Agios Prokopios beach is a long, blond curve of soft sand with clear, shallow water and a lively strip of tavernas and sunbed hire. Beyond it, Agia Anna keeps a similar mood at a gentler pace, while Plaka rolls on for kilometres of dunes and quieter stretches where you can spread out. Sunsets over the water are dramatic, and the calm, warm shallows make these beaches especially good for families and confident first-time swimmers because the coast faces west.
Further south the character changes and the wind picks up, which is exactly what watersports fans want. Mikri Vigla, split by a rocky headland, has become the island’s hub for windsurfing and kitesurfing, with schools renting gear and running lessons for all levels in the reliable summer breeze. Neighbouring beaches such as Kastraki and Alyko add cedar forests, secluded coves and turquoise water for snorkelling and paddleboarding. Whether you want an adrenaline session on the water or a lazy day under an umbrella, the west coast covers both. Rental centres on the sand make it easy to swap between the two moods.
Once you have had your fill of sand and sea, the cool green interior and its stone villages are calling. Couples can shape a romantic version around a Naxos honeymoon. Short-stay visitors can compress these highlights into a focused Naxos 2-day itinerary.
What is there to do in the mountain villages and interior?
In the interior you can tour the marble village of Apeiranthos, taste kitron liqueur in Halki, the old capital, wander Filoti beneath Mount Zas, and visit the ancient kouros statues at Melanes and Apollonas plus the Temple of Demeter.
The mountainous heart of Naxos is where the island feels most timeless, and a driving loop through the villages is a highlight for a host of visitors. Halki, the former capital in the fertile Tragaea valley, is famous for the historic Vallindras kitron distillery. You can taste the citrus liqueur made from the leaves of the citron tree, alongside Byzantine churches and a graceful main street. Higher up, Apeiranthos is built almost entirely of grey marble, its stepped lanes, small museums and stone archways rewarding an unhurried stroll. Nearby Filoti spreads across the slopes beneath Mount Zas, with plane-shaded squares and tavernas serving hearty local cooking made from mountain produce.
Scattered through the same landscape are part of the island’s most intriguing ancient sites. The giant reclining kouros statues, unfinished marble youths abandoned by their sculptors, lie in the quarries near Melanes and at Apollonas in the north. A huge figure rests on the hillside. The elegant Temple of Demeter near Sangri, built of local marble, honours the goddess of the harvest amid open fields. Add in Byzantine chapels, roadside shrines, mountain honey and the island’s celebrated graviera cheese. You have days of gentle exploring ahead, pausing at a shaded taverna whenever the mood takes you. The natural next step is to lace up your boots for the island’s highest peak after the villages.
How do you hike Mount Zas and explore nature?
Hike Mount Zas from the trailhead near Filoti, following a marked path past the cave of Zeus to the summit, the highest peak in the Cyclades, for sweeping island views. Bring water, sun protection and sturdy shoes, and start early.
Mount Zas, or Zas, is the roof of the Cyclades and its ascent is the island’s classic walk. The most popular route starts near the chapel of Agia Marina above Filoti, climbing a well-marked stony trail through low scrub and rock. Along the way you can detour to the cave of Zeus, a large cavern linked in myth to the god who, legend says, was raised on the mountain. From the trail the views open steadily over the Tragaea valley, distant villages and the surrounding sea. Reaching the summit takes most walkers a couple of hours round trip, and the panorama across the Aegean to neighbouring islands is the reward for the effort.
Beyond the main summit, the interior offers gentler walks through olive groves, old footpaths between villages and quiet valleys rich in wildflowers in spring. Come prepared with a wealth of water, a hat, sunscreen and proper footwear, as there is little shade and the rock can be slippery; setting off in the cooler morning hours is wise. Guided hiking and island tours take the guesswork out of the trailheads, sort out transport to the start of the walk, and add helpful context about the myths, geology and plant life along the way if you prefer company and local knowledge. Whichever route you choose, the mountain distils the wilder, quieter side of Naxos into a single memorable day.
Plan your visit and tours through our Naxos travel guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Naxos?
Most travellers find that four to five days is the sweet spot for Naxos, giving you time to enjoy both the coast and the mountains without rushing. A shorter stay of two or three days is enough to see Naxos Town and the Portara, relax on a couple of the west-coast beaches. Perhaps take one drive into the interior. With a full week you can add a hike up Mount Zas, a slow village loop through Halki, Apeiranthos and Filoti, visits to the kouros statues and the Temple of Demeter. A day trip by ferry to a neighbouring island such as Paros or the Small Cyclades.
Having a little extra time lets you alternate active days with lazy beach afternoons and settle into the relaxed island rhythm rather than treating your trip as a checklist to tick off because attractions are spread across a large island.
Do you need a car to get around Naxos?
You do not strictly need a car, but having one greatly expands what you can do, especially in the mountainous interior. Naxos Town and the closest beaches such as Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna are easy to reach on foot or by the frequent local buses. Also run to popular villages and southern beaches in the high season. The marble villages, remote coves, kouros statues and the Mount Zas trailhead are far more convenient with your own wheels, letting you set your own pace and reach spots the buses skip. Renting a car or scooter for even a day or two opens up a scenic driving loop through the Tragaea valley and up into the hills.
Organised excursions and guided tours are an excellent alternative, combining a series of highlights into a single well-planned day with transport and local insight included if you prefer not to drive.
When is the best time to visit Naxos?
The best time to visit Naxos is generally late spring through early autumn, when the weather is warm, the sea is inviting and the island is fully open for visitors. Late spring brings green hillsides, wildflowers and comfortable temperatures that are ideal for hiking Mount Zas and exploring the villages before the peak heat arrives. Midsummer is the liveliest season, with hot sunny days, the strong meltemi wind that thrills windsurfers at Mikri Vigla, and the busiest beaches and tavernas. Early autumn is a favourite among a wealth of travellers, offering sea that is still warm from summer, softer light, thinner crowds and pleasant days for both swimming and walking.
Outside these months a portion of tavernas and services wind down, though the island stays beautifully quiet and authentic. For a balance of good weather, open attractions and a relaxed atmosphere, aim for the shoulder seasons of late spring or early autumn.