Naxos

In the Central Cyclades, between Amorgos, Mykonos and Paros.

Almost oval in shape, Naxos has a surface area of 448 km², a coastal perimeter of 148 km, 92 km of beaches and a population of 22,000 inhabitants. Main town and port : Chora.

Well known since ancient times for its resources of water and its quarries of marble and emery, Naxos is the largest island in the archipelago. Very mountainous, with the highest point being Mont Zas (1004m), it is also the most fertile of the Cyclades. In addition to its pastures, the emery and marble quarries allowed the island to maintain a degree of financial independence. Thus, the development of tourism as an industry was neglected for a long time. However for some years now, thanks to its beautiful beaches, there has been a remarkably rapid expansion in tourism, particularly around the port and the beaches in the west and southwest of the island.
The landscape of Naxos makes it different from the other islands in the Cyclades;   impressive rock formations alternate with beautiful green valleys, long beaches of fine sand and above all, numerous inland villages which are so far protected from the effects of tourism.

According to mythology, it was here Zeus spent his childhood and where his son Dyonisis, the God of wine, was born. The legend also states that Ariadne, abandoned there by Theseus, was saved by Dyonisis.
The centre of Cycladic civilisation between 4000 and 1000 BC, Naxos, whose historical past is very rich, was for a long time under the domination of the Venietians.  Conseqently, one can find numerous architecural and archeological traces which reveal the history of the island.

The island of Naxos is very attractive to those who enjoy walking; a place where a detour along a footpath into the olive groves and fields, may reveal a Byzantine church or a fortified monastery. Lovers of the beach and of windsurfing will enjoy the good climatic conditions which prevail and especially, there is the attraction for those who love to seek out authentic Greek villages.

By air : Naxos is well connected with Athens by air.  The company Olympic Airways operates 6 flights daily in season and 2 or 3 flights the rest of the time. The duration of the flight is 35 minutes. Naxos airport is located 9 km from Chora Naxo.

By ferry-boat and by fast ferry (high-speed) : several connections per day according to season departing from the ports of Piraeus and Rafina as well as connections from the islands of Paros, Santorini and Ios.

By ferry : two connections per week according to season departing from  Folegandros and Sikinos ;
two connections per day according to season departing from the islands of  Syros, Tinos, Mykonos, Andros, Amorgos and the 'Small Cyclades'.
Two or three connections per week according to season departing from the port of Herakleion (Crete), Thessaloniki and Volos (in the North of Greece and Samos and Astypalea (in the Dodecanese).

By hydrofoil  : two connections per day according to season departing from the ports of Santorini, Mykonos, Amorgos and the 'Small Cyclades'.

- Walking
- Tour of the Venetian castle
- Mountain bike riding
- Horse riding
- Deep sea diving
- Water sports
- Mini cruises to Santorini, Delos/Mykonos, Amorgos and the Small Cyclades
- Sailing trips to Santorini, Delos/Mykonos, Amorgos and the Small Cyclades

Naxos : Overview - Where to stay ? - Excursions - Photo gallery