Find the prettiest beaches, ancient ruins, and seaside villages in this guide full of things to do on Naxos, Greece.

Things to do in Naxos Greece include a visit to Naxos Town, pictured here with white cube buildings rising up a hill with the ocean in front and a narrow strip of land running down the middle.

Temples ruins, whitewashed villages, sandy beach coves bathed by turquoise seas — these are just a few of the best things to do in Naxos, Greece.

The largest island in the Greek Cyclades, Naxos holds the tallest mountain and miles of rolling farmlands, pastures and olive groves. Equally amazing as the elevated interior with its old hillside towns is the west coast, where resorts and villas line the most popular soft-sand beaches, but pockets of hidden coves still remain.

If you’re wondering what to do in Naxos Greece, these 10 incredible sights and activities are a great place to start. Below you’ll find well-known towns with local boutiques and mouthwatering bakeries, hikes with breathtaking panoramas, and storied markers to Greek history and mythology.

For more help planning out your Naxos itinerary, scroll to the bottom for some tips for visiting the island and ideas for where to stay.

Greek Island Hopping? This 10-Day Greece Itinerary will help you plan your vacation.

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10 of the Best Things to Do in Naxos Greece

These are the top things to do on Naxos in the Greek islands, including the best Naxos beaches and historic sites.

Naxos Town

Naxos Town and its harbor sit on the northwestern coast of the island. It’s also called Chora, a name given to principal Greek towns that share a moniker with their island.

A commercial district runs along the waterfront, with open-air restaurant dining rooms lining the sidewalk and allowing the sea breezes to blow through. Fresh seafood is offered in abundance, along with traditional Greek dishes and some tourist staples. Eating here is definitely on the best things to do in Naxos!

The town winds uphill from the port, its narrow alleys and the remaining walls of a former fortress mingling with little boutiques stuffed with linens and leather, private homes painted in white and blue, and a small museum or gallery here and there.

It’s easy to get lost wandering around, but it’s also easy to stumble upon all sorts of hidden gems — courtyards splashed in greenery, micro-markets with fresh produce on the stone-covered sidewalks, covered passageways with original castle stone.

Naxos things to do include visiting the Temple of Apollo, pictured here is the ancient stone gate ruins on the left with a hillside white town to the right in the background.

Apollo Temple

Perhaps the most famous landmark of Naxos, the ruins of the Apollo Temple sit on a small islet that connects to the larger island via a narrow strip of land. All that remains of the 500s BC marble temple is a single gate that looks like an oversized doorway or window open in the middle.

Though the main attraction is roped off, you can still capture stunning images of the gate framing the city skyline of Chora. Watching the sunset from the peninsula is one of the top things to do on Naxos.

Naxos Greece things to do include visiting beaches like this one, where a woman in a sunhat and dress stands on a small patch of sand with the turquoise ocean washing up toward her and a large boulder to the right.

Naxos Beaches

Going to the beach is one of the top things to do in Naxos Greece and you won’t be short on stunning sandy seaside. The west coast is packed with picturesque spots and many are just a short drive from the Chora.

Among the more developed zones, Agios Prokopios is quite popular and less than 5 miles outside Naxos town. The soft sands here are lined with loungers and shady umbrellas to rent, while restaurants and beach bars sit a few feet back. On the same small bay, Agios Anna offers similar amenities.

For a more rustic and private seaside, try Aliko beach, full of sand dunes and micro coves that provide hidden spots to tan. You’ll find a few more amenities at neighboring Pyrgaki (like small cafes), but it’s still less crowded than other options further north on the coast since it’s some 30 miles from Chora.

Active beach-hoppers should head to Mikri Vigla — the conditions here set the stage for kiteboarding, windsurfing and other water sports. There’s also a big stretch of sand with plenty of room to lounge and some rocks and coves to explore.

Mount Zas

More than 3,000-feet high, Mount Zas is the tallest peak in the Cyclades. Legend also says Zeus was born in a cave on the slopes. The trail to the top is also one of the best things to do in Naxos.

Hikers on a mission to find the best views on the island should head straight for the peak of this mountain. Two paths wind up, but the more strenuous one passes by the famous Zeus cave, which you can enter. It’s a 3-mile round-trip trek, but it only takes about 30 minutes to reach the cave — even from there the panoramas of rolling hills fading into the sea will take your breath away.

Get an early start if you visit in summer, as hiking midday under the beating sun of the Greek Islands is miserable. The trailhead at Fontaine d’Aria (an old stone spring-water fountain) is about 30 minutes or so from Naxos town. The other hike up starts at the Agia Marina church a couple of miles past Filoti and about 15 from Chora.

Temple of Demeter

If visiting ruins is at the top of your Naxos bucket list, you don’t want to miss the Temple of Demeter. Built for the goddess of the harvest and grain, the Temple of Demeter likely dates to the 6th century BC. The marble ruins have been partially restored to display a few columns, doorways and walls. There’s also a small chapel that was later added on the site.

There’s a small fee to visit the temple, which is near the village of Sangri about 10 miles south of Naxos town. If you’re into ancient Greek history, this is definitely a can’t-miss thing to do on Naxos.

What to do in Naxos Greece includes hiking to Apano Castro, pictured here on a rocky hill to the left, with a stone church in the center foreground and trail surrounded by greenery on the right.

Apano Kastro

Hilltop ruins of an old fortress share the limelight with incredible views of rolling, pastoral lands at Apano Kastro. This was one of my favorite hikes and things to do in Naxos! The path here starts near the little village of Ano Potamia and runs alongside farmlands and up a rocky mount.

The easy-to-miss trailhead is along the main road from Naxos to Chalkio just past Ano Potamia, about 7 miles from Naxos. There’s no parking lot, so you’ll likely have to leave your car in the village and walk.

The route mostly follows a road and then fence lines until you reach a small stone church at the foot of the hill. From there it’s mostly a guessing game as to the best route up the rocks to the castle. Be wary of goats in the area — they guard the ruins and don’t always look friendly.

Panagia Drosiani

With dozens of picturesque churches around the island, you shouldn’t have trouble finding some hidden gems wherever you wander. If you take a road trip through the center of the island, though, be sure to stop by this ancient stone one adorned with three bells.

It dates to the 6th century, and you can sometimes walk into the cave-like chapel to see the Byzantine murals inside. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Naxos town, some 2 miles northeast of the village of Chalkio.

Inland Villages

Some of the prettiest villages on Naxos are nestled in the inland hills, so a road trip through the island from Chora to the northern tip is one of the best things to do on Naxos.

Chalkio, or Chalki or Halki, once was the capital of the island. Along with wandering the narrow stone alleys, browsing galleries and pausing at little coffee shops, you can check out the village’s old tower and even older churches (one from the 9th century). It’s 10 miles from Chora just about in the center of the island.

Nearby Filoti makes a pretty picture as you approach — the white of the old town surrounded by green countryside along the slopes of Mount Zas. Similar to Chalki, it has a Venetian tower and Byzantine-era churches. There are also a few trailheads nearby leading to secluded churches and up Mount Zas.

At nearly 2,000-foot elevation, Apiranthos offers fantastic views of the pastoral countryside from the slopes of Fanari mountain. It’s easy to get lost along the quiet and weaving stone alleys here, where you might stumble upon a local donkey hauling goods or a local human embroidering fabric to sell. Aside from dining at tavern patios with sweeping vistas, there are a few museums to visit as well. The village is about 15 miles from Naxos town.

The steep web of steps and sloping alleys in Koronos will both give your legs a good workout and quickly make you lose your sense of direction. This untouched village is one of the oldest in the area and one of the highest on the island, located on the northeast end, some 20 miles from Naxos and about 8 from Apollonos. It prospered during the heyday of the local emery mines, but today it’s mostly a spot to do a little sightseeing, grab lunch from a small cafe, and experience a taste of local culture.

Apollonas

Visiting the bayfront Apollonas is one of the best things to do in Naxos on the northern tip of the island. It’s is separated from the bustling Chora by miles of mountains and an hour of driving, giving it a bit of a secluded feel. It’s still a beachy resort town, though, with a small sandy spot on the bay, open-air restaurants lining the waterfront, and a few hotels and guest rooms in white-painted buildings.

If you’re visiting on a road trip, be sure to stop at the nearby Kouros of Apollonas, a 35-foot marble statue lying in an unfinished state at an old quarry. Just around the northern bend from Apollonas heading back toward Naxos, you can also see the ruins of the Tower of Arya and a neighboring stone monastery.

A Naxos catamaran floats on turquoise sea with sandy shore and mountains to the left in the distance.

Boat Excursion

Whether its a catamaran cruise to hidden coves or a ferry ride over to Paros for some sightseeing, a Naxos boat trip is a must-do activity while visiting the island.

Tours often venture out to the Small Cyclades, a collection of islets and rocks to the southeast of Naxos. Here you’ll be able to swim at uncrowded beaches, snorkel in clear water, and perhaps catch sight of some wild dolphins. Full-day outings last about 8 to 10 hours and typically include a Greek lunch and snacks.

Another option is to island-hop over to neighboring Paros. The ferry from Naxos takes just 30 to 45 minutes, so you can easily make it a day trip. Paros town, or Parikia, has the harbor, castle ruins and classic white and blue architecture. The village of Naoussa, about 6 miles away, sits on a big bay surrounded by stunning sandy and rocky beaches.

These catamaran boat trips include sailing around Naxos and day trips to nearby Amorgos or Paros, plus activities like snorkeling.

The stone ruins of Apano Kastro Naxos with an old entry gate framing a small stone building and mountains in the background.

Tips for Visiting Naxos

How to Get to Naxos

You can get from Athens to Naxos by air and sea — flights between the two run less than an hour and direct ferries from Piraeus to Naxos can be under 4 hours. It’s less than an hour by ferry from Mykonos to Naxos and a little more than an hour from Santorini to Naxos.

Where to Stay in Naxos

Naxos town is perhaps the most convenient option since ferries come and go from here. It’s easy to walk to shops and restaurants, and even some of the nearby beaches.

We stayed at the Sun Beach Hotel, a traditional white and blue property just paces from Agios Georgios Beach and a short stroll into Chora.

If you’re after a beach getaway, look for spots up and down the west coast around places like Agios Prokopios or Mikri Vigla.

For a quieter and less touristy experience, try one of the inland villages mentioned above, like Koronos or Chalki, which have a handful of vacation homes and villas in the hills.

How Many Days in Naxos is Enough

I visited Naxos for three days, but you could easily stay for a whole week if you wanted to have some downtime. With three days, I spent one beach hopping along the coast and hiking, one driving through the middle of the island to see a few little villages, and another exploring downtown.

Do I Need to Rent a Vehicle in Naxos Greece?

Naxos is quite a large island, and unless you plan to laze around all day every day at your beach resort, I recommend renting a car to get out and explore. To save on fees, you could rent one for just part of your stay to road trip around the island and walk or ride the bus the rest of the time.

What to Pack for Naxos

While there are many Naxos things to do beyond the beach, you’ll definitely want to set aside some time for splashing in the waves and enjoying the bright sun. When you’re packing for Greece, make sure to include your swimsuit, some sunscreen, and a travel towel (unless your hotel provides them or you don’t mind renting). Some of the resort towns will have beach gear shops for anything you forget at home.

Should I Take a Boat Tour of Naxos?

One of the best parts of visiting the Greek islands is getting out on the sea — sailing under sunny skies, swimming in crystal clear water, and exploring untouched landscapes. The Lesser Cyclades islands around Naxos make the perfect setting to do just that.

These Naxos boat tours include snorkeling, traditional Greek lunches, and day trips to nearby islands like Paros and Amorgos.

Is it Worth Going to Naxos?

Naxos is an absolutely stunning island and I highly recommend it on your Greek Island hopping itinerary. It’s pretty large, so there’s plenty to see and things to do in Naxos, but it’s not as popular as spots like Santorini or Mykonos so you don’t have to deal with as many crowds.

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