• Naxos Town, port

    visit naxos

    the largest of the cycladic islands

  • Naxos Town, Portara gate

    explore its history

    dating back to prehistoric times

  • Naxos, Agia Anna beach

    enjoy its beaches

    of turquoise colour

    and let the meditarranean sun caress your skin

  • Chalki village

    discover

    its traditional villages

  • Restaurants on Naxos island

    taste

    its glorious cuisine

    full of rich flavours and aromas

Tour 1 - Naxos Town

Approaching the island by boat, the visitor will see two small islands to the left and right of the harbor, one with the little church of Panagia Myrtidiotissa and the other called Palatia which is linked to Naxos Town.

The imposing gate, Portara as it is known by the local people, rises in splendid isolation above the town, the last relic of the ancient marble temple dedicated to Apollo which the Naxian tyrant Ligdamis ordered to be built in the god's honor in the 6th century B.C. For two and a half centuries now it has stood looking out towards the sacred island of Delos.

Archaeologists believe that the building of the temple was never completed because work on it had to stop when war broke out between Naxos and Samos, and thereafter it remained unfinished.

Below the hill in Aplomata lies Grotta, where the sea eats deeply into the land. There can be no doubt that earthquakes, landslides and, of course, the rise of the sea level have meant that the appearance is considerably different from that it was in antiquity.

At dusk, as the sun slowly sinks like a ball of fire into the sea and disappears, the "Portara" is bathed in a glorious twilight glow. Sunset is a shear delight on this island; despite the proximity of the noisy harbor and the crowded Chora there is a sense of tranquility which transports one back in time, creating a delightful feeling of being far away from it all. In the distance the island of Paros can be clearly discerned on the horizon.

At the northern end of Chora, at Grotta beach, traces of a Minoan settlement have been found. The area took its name from the cave at Aplomata (grotta being the Italian word for cave).

Distant view of Portara from the statue of Ariadne

The tours of Naxos
Tour 1
the medieval castle and the churches of naxos town
Ruins of a huge ancient temple, traces of a Monian settlement and inumerous archaeological finds. Approaching the island by boat, the visitor will see two small islands to the left and right of the harbor, one with the little church of Myrtidiotissa, and the other called Palatia which is linked to Naxos Town ...
naxos town, the port, portara, grotta
Tour 2
military and religious naxos town
An impressive medieval castle, several old and more recent churches, traditional chapels, monasteries and fountains. The impressive medieval castle of Naxos Town has protected it for decades against pirate invasions. Today, the castle includes lovely shops and taverns and hosts concerts and art events ...
crispi - glezos tower, churches, catholic cathedral
Tour 3
the scenic and lush countryside of naxos
High mountains that form lush valleys of olive groves and vineyards in between. The scenery in the countryside outside Naxos town is very beautiful; there are picturesque little villages scattered high up in the mountains or down in the valleys, with an abundant supply of water and lush vegetation ...
countryside, villages, secluded beaches, towers
Tour 4
the central villages of naxos
At the point where the road forks away to the southern part of the island lies Tripodes or Vivlos, with the windmills that are so characteristic of the Cyclades. The next village is Ano Sagri, situated on a hillside and commanding a splendid view ...
tripodes, sagri, filoti, apeiranthos
Tour 5
from apeiranthos to the emery mines of moutsouna
Amongst the area's sights the Church of the Apeirathitissa Panagia, with its sculpted marble screen, and the Churches of Theoskepasti, Ag. Ioannis Theologos and the oldest of all, Ag. Paraskevi, located a little outside the village, are all worthy of mention ...
apeiranthos, zevgoli's tower, moutsouna, kouros of melanes
Tour 6
exploring the northern side of naxos
The next place along the way is Kinidaros, a village with plentiful supply of water and renowned for its excellent singers, its feasts and festivals. To the south lies Moni, with the monastery from which it takes its name lying just outside the village ...
kinidaros, koronos, koronida, apollonas, kouros of apollonas
Tour 7
the most magnificent beaches of naxos
From the nearby village of Gallini a road leads up to the Monastery of the Sublime Virgin, which is known as the Angelakopoulos Tower after the name of its last owner. One of the most notable buildings on the island, it lies not far from the sea in the valley of Engares. Originally, as the marble plaque at the entrance tells us ...
monasteries, lush valleys, amazing beaches
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How to get to Naxos

Travel to Naxos by ferry or plane
Travel to Naxos
Find out how you can travel to Naxos by ferry or airplane, depending on the season.

The highlights of Naxos

The beaches of Naxos

The secluding beaches of Naxos

More than 30 beaches !!!

Yes, it is true. The island of Naxos offers the greatest variety of beaches you could ever hope to find & endless opportunities for explorations.

The villages of Naxos

The traditional villages of Naxos

Traditional or modern Naxos villages, inhabited or abandoned, one thing is for sure, you won't ever get bored.

The various activities

Naxos activities

A wide variety of activities during your holiday

Taste new experiences during your holiday on Naxos. You may enjoy surfing, walking, snorkelling, sailing, horseback riding, cooking and so many more ...

Family holidays on Naxos

Naxos holidays

Naxos is mostly a family destination. It is ideal for families with small children.

Top Naxos Beaches Photos

The best beaches of Naxos
Naxos.net friends have selected the most wonderful photos of Naxos beaches. Have fun ...

the best of naxos

What's new (or old) on Naxos, from our blog articles.