Top Things To Do in Naxos and Where to Eat!
Naxos, Greece is one Greek island you need to add to your bucket list. This stunning island is home to white-sand beaches, the Temple of Apollo, and charming white stone narrow streets. The port city and capital of Naxos is Chora, this small touristy town is where the ferry meets the island dropping off visitors from around the world. Keeping with the traditional Greek cuisine Naxos has some amazing restaurants, including one of my favorites in all of Europe!
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1. Temple of Apollo (Portara)
The Temple of Apollo is a top attraction on Naxos island. This beautiful landmark is the remains of the unfinished Temple of Apollo. The marble structure can be accessed via the paved footpath from the main island. The optimal time to visit this landmark is during sunset, (it was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen), with an orange glow cascading over the white painted city and the temple standing tall. The hill looks over the ocean which emphasizes the true beauty of a Greek sunset.
2. Naxos White Sand Beaches
Agios Georgios beach is the closest sandy beach near the city of Chora. This family-friendly beach is quite large with multiple beach clubs and an open public area for lounging. Being so close to town this beach is a great spot for a morning swim to wake you up and get you ready for your day! The beach is lined with restaurants allowing for a full day of fun in the sun. Two famous beaches that are absolutely stunning with white sand are Plaka beach and Agios Prokopios beach. You will need to drive to both of these, but there are worth the trip!
3. Scirocco Cafe Restaurant
The Best Meal During Our Two-Month Europe Trip! Scirocco Restaurant & Cafe is a must-visit restaurant when visiting Naxos. The cafe was established in 1995 by the Roussos family. This is a family ran restaurant by Nikos, Michalis, and of course their mother Katerina. Each dish screamed flavor and was perfectly made. We will definitely be back!
Menu | Location | What to Order: “Saganaki” with Naxos Hard Cheese + Orzo
4. Stay at Naxos Evilion
We had a wonderful stay at the Naxos Evilion Luxury Apartments. This hidden gem is just a few blocks from the city center with a small coffee shop and a grocery store next door. The apartments are stunning with rock walls, classic greek white arches, and luxury decor. We had a small kitchen in ours which we loved making breakfast and enjoying a cup of coffee on the patio. Nektarios was an amazing host, he picked us up and dropped us off at the ferry port upon arrival and departure. He also brought us a small tray of his family’s homemade cherry liquor! I highly recommend this place and hope to be back again soon!
5. Walk the White Stone Streets of Naxos
Chora is a small city but the charm will blow you away with the white and grey stones weaving through the narrow streets. Shops line the alleys with their products, along with small restaurants and bars. This was one of my favorite things to do in Naxos, we spent a whole day wandering aimlessly through the streets and window shopping. It is very easy to get lost, so if you are headed to a certain place you may want to type it into your Apple Maps.
Tip: Bring your reusable water bottle and refill it at the many FREE clean water drinking stations located throughout the town.
6. Dinner at Nostimon Hellas
Nostimon Hellas is an adorable traditional Greek restaurant in the center of town. Their charming outdoor seating makes for the perfect place to enjoy a candle-lit dinner under the Greek stars. Nostimon Hellas resembles the meaning of authentic and tasty Greek food. This adorable restaurant is everything you could ask for on Greek island. The menu at Nostimon Hellas is quite large with a variety of tasty Greek specialties. We had some amazing lamb meatballs and a citron liquor to finish off our three-course dinner. Citron liquor is a Greek aperitif, and home to Naxos!
Menu | Location | What to Order: Lamb Meatballs
7. Naxos Marina + Ice Cream
One of my favorite nights in Naxos was a simple date night strolling through the streets of town and enjoying the stunning yachts resting in the marina. First, we stopped at Waffle House for some homemade ice cream. Waffle House is a major tourist attraction with raving reviews on their delectable sweet treats. Next, we headed towards the sea, along the marina are benches for people to sit and enjoy the water. There were some stunning yachts and catamarans stationed here!
Tip: Time this perfectly with the sunset to have even better views.
8. Grotta Beach
Grotta is a rocky beach located on the North end of Naxos city. This is not the best beach for sunbathing, instead, this is a great beach to find some stunning sea glass! Looking for sea glass is a nice and relaxing thing to do on a warm summer day, plus you get to enjoy the sound of the water washing up on the small rocks and retreating making a fun sound.
9. Gyro
You cannot visit Greece without ordering their most famous dish, the gyro! Yasouvlaki is located in the middle of Naxos town center serving up delicious and hot takeaways. A classic Greek gyro has a good portion of shaved meat, lettuce, tomato, red onion, tzatziki sauce, and french fries all wrapped into warm pita bread. This is a very cheap bite at just $3.00 – $5.00 per gyro.
10. Hike Mount Zeus (Zas)
Mount Zas is the largest mountain in the Aegean Islands and home to where Zeus grew up. Located next to the town of Filóti, you will have to rent a car for the day to reach the start of the hike. If you are staying in Chora it takes about 30 minutes. The hike is 5.2 miles out and back with an elevation change of nearly 2,000 feet. The 360° views are absolutely stunning allowing for you to take in the full beauty of this Greek island.
Naxos Travel Guide Map
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