Naxos from Mykonos is an easy ferry hop of 35 minutes to 1.5 hours across the Cyclades, with frequent summer sailings making it a great day trip or longer stay to see the largest Cycladic island’s beaches, ancient Portara and mountain villages. This guide covers the ferry options, times, costs, what to see and tips for the trip.
Naxos is one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips in the Mykonos travel guide, complementing the day trips guide. The sections below cover it in full.
How do you get from Mykonos to Naxos?
You get from Mykonos to Naxos by ferry, a short hop of around 35 minutes on a high-speed catamaran up to about 1.5 hours on a conventional ferry, with up to 7 daily summer sailings.
Getting from Mykonos to Naxos is quick and easy, as the two Cycladic islands lie close together and are well connected by ferry. The crossing is a short hop, taking from around 35 minutes on the fastest high-speed catamaran up to about an hour and fifteen minutes to ninety minutes on a slower conventional ferry, depending on the vessel and any stops. The route is busy and frequent in the season, with up to seven daily sailings in summer.
Services are operated by major companies including SeaJets, Blue Star Ferries and Fast Ferries, using a mix of high-speed catamarans and conventional car ferries. The route runs seasonally, roughly from March to November, with the most sailings in the July and August peak. Ticket prices start from around 30 euros one way, with high-speed and premium seats costing more. Ferries depart from the New Port at Tourlos, about 2.5 kilometres north of Mykonos Town, and arrive at the port in Naxos Town. Booking ahead in peak season is wise, as popular sailings sell out, set out alongside the guide to getting to Mykonos.
Can you do Naxos as a day trip from Mykonos?
Yes, Naxos is an easy day trip from Mykonos thanks to the short, frequent ferry. An early morning sailing and a late afternoon return give roughly 7 to 8 hours to explore Naxos Town, the Portara and a beach.
Naxos works very well as a day trip from Mykonos, one of the easiest island-hopping excursions thanks to the short crossing and frequent sailings. Take an early morning ferry, with the earliest often leaving mid-morning and reaching Naxos roughly half an hour to fifty minutes later, then return on a late afternoon or evening sailing. That gives you roughly seven to eight hours on the island, enough to see the main highlights at a relaxed pace.
In a day you can explore the charming Naxos Town, the Chora, with its Venetian Kastro and waterfront, walk out to the iconic Portara, the giant marble doorway of an ancient temple of Apollo on the islet by the harbour, and spend time on a long sandy beach near town such as Agios Prokopios or Agios Georgios, with lunch at a taverna. To make it work, book the early ferry over and a confirmed return, and check the specific day’s return times in advance, as schedules vary. Aim to reach the port early. For a fuller experience of this large, varied island, an overnight stay is rewarding, set out alongside the guide to the Mykonos to Naxos ferry.
What can you see and do in Naxos?
In Naxos you can see the iconic Portara marble gateway, explore Naxos Town’s Venetian Kastro, relax on long sandy beaches like Agios Prokopios and Plaka, and visit mountain villages such as Halki and Apeiranthos.
Naxos, the largest island in the Cyclades, offers a rich variety of sights and a more authentic, less glitzy feel than Mykonos. The unmissable landmark is the Portara, a colossal freestanding marble doorway from an unfinished ancient temple of Apollo, standing on the islet of Palatia by the harbour and especially magical at sunset. Naxos Town, the Chora, charms with its hilltop Venetian Kastro, a maze of whitewashed and Venetian-era lanes, a waterfront of cafes and an old market. Climbing up through the Kastro to the old Catholic quarter rewards you with sweeping views over the harbour and the Portara.
The island is famed for its long, sandy, often uncrowded beaches near town, such as Agios Prokopios, Agios Georgios, Agia Anna and Plaka, among the best in the Cyclades. Inland, Naxos is green, mountainous and fertile, dotted with traditional villages like Halki, with its old distillery and tower, and the marble village of Apeiranthos. Add Byzantine churches, ancient kouros statues lying in the hillsides, and Mount Zas, the highest peak in the Cyclades. This blend of history, beaches, mountains and authentic village life makes Naxos a rich contrast to Mykonos, set out alongside the guide to Mykonos versus Naxos.
What tips help for the trip to Naxos?
Book ferry tickets ahead in summer, take an early sailing for a full day, check the return times, and arrive at the Mykonos port early. Consider an overnight stay, and hire a car in Naxos to reach the beaches.
A few practical tips ensure a smooth and rewarding trip from Mykonos to Naxos. Book your ferry tickets in advance for the busy summer season, as popular sailings in July and August sell out, and reserve both the outbound and return legs. For a day trip, take an early morning sailing to maximise your time, and check the specific day’s return ferry times carefully, building in a buffer rather than relying on the very last boat.
Arrive at the New Port at Tourlos in good time, at least 45 minutes before departure, as it gets busy in summer with queues. To see more of the large island, consider staying overnight or longer, which lets you explore beyond Naxos Town. On Naxos, hiring a car, quad or scooter, or using taxis and local buses, helps you reach the best beaches, the mountain villages and the inland sights, as the island is big. Bring beach essentials, sun protection and water, and wear comfortable shoes for the town and Portara. Keep some cash for tavernas and buses, and note that the walk out to the Portara can be windy, so a light layer is handy, set out alongside the guides to the New Port and island hopping.
What are the best beaches in Naxos?
The best beaches in Naxos are the long, sandy stretches south of Naxos Town: Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and the vast Plaka, plus the quieter Mikri Vigla and remote Alyko. They are calmer and sandier than many Mykonos beaches.
Naxos is famous for some of the best beaches in the Cyclades, a major reason to visit from Mykonos, with long sweeps of soft golden sand and shallow, calm, turquoise water. The headline beaches lie along the west coast south of Naxos Town and are easily reached. Agios Prokopios, a long, organised, blue-flag beach with fine sand and clear shallow water, is consistently rated among Greece’s best. Neighbouring Agia Anna is a sandy, family-friendly beach with tavernas and rooms.
Beyond them stretches the vast Plaka beach, a long ribbon of pale sand and dunes that stays relatively uncrowded and natural, with both organised and free sections. Further south, Mikri Vigla is a beautiful double bay popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers thanks to the wind, while remote Alyko is known for its unspoilt cove and a rare cedar forest behind the sand.
Compared with Mykonos, Naxos beaches are generally sandier, calmer, cheaper and far less crowded. On a day trip you can easily reach Agios Prokopios or Agia Anna near town by bus, taxi or a short hire-car ride, while a longer stay opens up the wilder southern beaches. The gentle, shallow water at the town beaches suits families and less confident swimmers, set out alongside the guide to Mykonos beaches.
What is the food and local produce like in Naxos?
Naxos is one of the most fertile Cycladic islands, known for its cheeses, potatoes, citrus liqueur and local wine. Tavernas in Naxos Town and the villages serve hearty, farm-based Greek cooking, making lunch a highlight.
Where Mykonos leans towards glamorous dining, Naxos is a farming island with a proud food tradition. Its green interior produces the graviera cheese for which the island is famous, along with potatoes, olives, honey and citrus. The local kitron, a fragrant liqueur distilled from citron leaves, is a Naxian speciality worth tasting, and the island bottles its own wine from local vineyards.
For a day-tripper, this means a rewarding lunch. Waterfront tavernas in Naxos Town serve fresh fish, grilled meats and cheese-rich dishes, while village kitchens inland cook heartier, traditional fare. Look for local specialities such as the island’s graviera cheese, hearty stews and fresh vegetables grown in the fertile valleys, and browse small shops selling cheese, honey and kitron to take home. A plate of local cheese, a Naxian salad and a glass of island wine turn a beach-and-Portara day into a fuller taste of Cycladic life, set out alongside the guide to Mykonos food.
Can you visit Naxos on an organised tour from Mykonos?
Independent ferry travel is the usual way to reach Naxos from Mykonos, as regular guided day tours are limited. Most visitors buy ferry tickets and explore on their own, though guides can be arranged on Naxos.
Unlike the popular guided boat trip to nearby Delos, Naxos is generally visited independently rather than on a packaged day tour from Mykonos. The frequent ferry makes self-guided travel simple, and it gives you the freedom to set your own pace between the Portara, the old town and a beach. Buy your ferry tickets online or through a local agency, and plan the day around the confirmed sailing times.
On arrival in Naxos, you can add structure if you prefer. Local guides, taxi drivers and small operators offer town walks, village tours and beach transfers that you can book on the island or in advance. A hired car, quad or scooter is the most flexible option for a self-drive day, letting you combine the coast with the mountain villages. Public buses also link Naxos Town with the main beaches and larger villages, a cheap option for those without a car, set out alongside the guides to Mykonos day trips and a Delos tour.
Where should you stay if you visit Naxos overnight?
For an overnight visit, Naxos Town is the most convenient base, close to the port, the Portara and the beaches. Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna suit beach lovers, while inland villages offer a quiet, traditional stay.
Naxos is large and varied, so an overnight or longer stay lets you see far more than a day trip allows. Naxos Town, the Chora, is the natural base for a short stay, as it sits beside the port and the Portara and within easy reach of the town beaches, with the widest choice of hotels, rooms and tavernas. Staying here keeps you close to the ferry for an easy return to Mykonos.
Beach lovers often prefer the resort strips of Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna, a short ride south of town, where hotels sit steps from the sand. Travellers with a hire car can choose a quiet inland village such as Halki or Filoti for a calmer, more traditional stay among the mountains and orchards. Whichever you pick, book ahead in peak summer, set out alongside the guide to where to stay in Mykonos.
When is the best time to visit Naxos from Mykonos?
The best time to visit Naxos from Mykonos is May to September, when the ferries run most frequently and the sea is warm. June and September offer warm days and fewer crowds, while July and August are busiest.
Timing matters for a trip from Mykonos to Naxos, both for the ferry schedule and for enjoying the island. The ferry route runs seasonally, roughly March to November, with the most frequent sailings, up to seven a day, in summer, so May to September is the prime window when getting there and back is easiest. Within that, June and September are arguably the sweet spot, with hot, sunny weather, a warm sea, the islands in full swing and fewer crowds than the absolute peak.
July and August bring the hottest weather and the most sailings but also the biggest crowds, the highest prices and the strongest meltemi winds, which can occasionally disrupt ferries, so book everything well ahead. The shoulder edges of spring and autumn are quieter and milder, pleasant for sightseeing if cooler for swimming, with fewer sailings to plan around. For a day trip, take an early morning ferry to maximise your time on Naxos and a confirmed late-afternoon or evening return, set out alongside the guide to when to visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Mykonos to Naxos ferry take?
The ferry from Mykonos to Naxos takes around 35 minutes on the fastest high-speed catamaran, up to about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1.5 hours on a conventional ferry, depending on the vessel and stops. Up to 7 daily sailings run in summer, operated by SeaJets, Blue Star Ferries and Fast Ferries.
Is Naxos worth a day trip from Mykonos?
Yes, Naxos is well worth a day trip from Mykonos thanks to the short, frequent ferry. An early sailing and a late return give around 7 to 8 hours to see the Portara, explore Naxos Town and enjoy a beach. For its many beaches, villages and mountains, an overnight stay is even more rewarding.
What does the Mykonos to Naxos ferry cost?
Ferry tickets from Mykonos to Naxos start from around 30 euros one way, with high-speed catamarans and premium seats costing more than conventional ferries. Prices rise in the July and August peak and closer to departure, so booking ahead in summer secures the best fares and availability on this popular route.
Is Naxos or Mykonos better for beaches?
Naxos and Mykonos both have excellent beaches, but they differ in feel. Naxos offers long, sandy, calm and less crowded stretches such as Plaka and Agios Prokopios, while Mykonos is famous for its lively, organised beach clubs. Naxos suits families and quiet swimming; Mykonos suits a livelier scene.