Greece is one of the most beautiful countries on earth, and it’s a great place to spend a few days or weeks this summer. If you’re hoping for a Mamma Mia vibe on your next European Summer trip, Naxos is the place to be! From exquisite beaches to ATVing through rugged mountains, Naxos has it all. Here’s your ultimate guide to Naxos, Greece.
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How To Get To Naxos
After working remotely in Athens for a week, I headed to the islands and spent a few magical days on Naxos. The Greek Islands are accessible by ferry from the Athens port in Piraeus. Some of the islands, including Naxos, can be reached by plane, but the ferry allows you to see the jaw-dropping views of the Aegean. I booked my ferry through Omio and took the ferry from Athens to Santorini. This ferry made stops in Paros and Naxos as it made its way south.
Know before you go:
We made the mistake of not verifying our tickets before arriving at the port. You must check in no less than two hours before your departure time to receive a ticket barcode on your phone. A receipt of your ferry booking will not do. You must have the verified ticket. We were lucky enough to be able to verify our ticket in person at the kiosk, but if you’re traveling during high season, don’t risk it! Check in online the night before your departure.
Where to Stay
Ippokampos beachfront hotel
This hotel is in a prime location on St. George Beach which is a little bit south of the main port and town. We walked here from the port and had beachfront access all weekend. Breakfast was included in our room price and hotel guests received 50% off of the beach chairs every day.
We loved being off of the main port and town so that we could avoid the buzz and crowds. This beach is beyond stunning and it is lined with local restaurants, allowing you to enjoy authentic gyros while watching the sunset over the water. It’s an easy walk to the main town, too, making it a perfect home base.
Once you arrive at the port, depending on where you’re staying, you can walk to your hotel or find a driver. There are not many options for Uber or Taxis on Naxos. In fact, you will see most people taking scooters and ATVs around the island (more on that later!). If your accommodation is further than St. George Beach, see if they can arrange a port pickup for you.
Relax on the Beach
If you’re heading to Naxos, chances are you’re hoping to unwind and enjoy some sun. There is plenty of that on this island! Since we stayed at Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel, we spent more of our beach time at St. George Beach. I seriously could have spent weeks on this beach.
The beaches in Greece blew me away. The water was the perfect temperature, and there wasn’t much sea life to be worried about while swimming. The water in the French Riviera is filled with little minnows who are constantly rubbing up against your legs and feet (though the locals don’t seem to mind) and the water in the Italian Riviera has jellyfish that you have to keep an eye out for. The water in Naxos was serene and I found myself floating out there more than I typically would in other destinations.
Other Beaches to Explore on Naxos
This island is lined with insanely beautiful beaches. Try Plaka Beach, Mirki Vigla Beach, Pyrgaki Beach, and Agia Anna Beach. All of these beaches can be reached by ATV or car.
Explore Naxos by ATV
This was the highlight of our trip! Naxos has so many local towns scattered throughout the island that can only be reached by ATV.
We rented our ATV from Escape in Naxos, which we were able to walk to from our hotel. The ATV was about 50 Euros for the entire day. We were also responsible for filling the gas after our excursion, which was probably another 30 Euros.
We took the ATV from Naxos town to Filoti (shown below) and made a few stops along the way. It’s my understanding that most Greek islands can be explored by ATV, so if you have the chance, do it! It’s amazing to see the local towns high in the mountains and to see how the people really live.
First Stop: Damalas
We stopped in Damalas before ending up in Filoti. If you’re into pottery, Damalas is a must! We parked our ATV for free at the parking lot on the edge of town and walked around the hilly neighborhood. The white buildings and bright colored doors and window shutters painted the perfect picture of what you imagine these small Greek towns to be like.
We stumbled into an old olive press. A local showed us where to find it. Even though he didn’t speak English, we were able to communicate and I was so grateful to find this historic olive press tucked in the hills of Naxos.
After wandering around the olive press, we walked over to the main pottery shop. This is an absolute must-see if you’re planning to ATV around Naxos. This pottery shop is called Limpertas Manolis Pottery and it’s hard to miss as you exit Damalas. If you see a bunch of pottery lined up on the street, you’re in the right place. Manolis is a fourth generation pottery maker and his shop is truly something to see. He showed me how he makes certain pottery pieces and his daughter, who is fluent in English, explained the different pieces in the shop. I didn’t feel pressured to purchase anything (which is always nice) but I did end up buying a few items. They offer free international shipping if you spend a certain amount. I spent about 150 Euros on pottery and they shipped it to my home in Santa Monica, California for free!
Second Stop: Filoti
After spending about an hour in Damalas, we drove to Filoti. Filoti is high in the center of Naxos and is said to be one of the most authentic towns on the island. Most locals that we spoke to recommended that we see Filoti during our stay.
We parked our ATV again for free in a parking lot on the outskirts of the town and started walking up into the heart of Filoti. This town was incredible! There were so many colorful streets, local shops, and delicious restaurants.
We did see a number of tourists in Filoti but we still were able to have an authentic experience. We ate at Ambriosa and had the best tzatziki I’ve ever had in my life. This restaurant is located under a big tree in the middle of town. You can’t miss it!
After exploring Filoti, we drove the ATV back to Naxos to return it. We filled it up with gas at one of the stations before town. It was super easy!
Naxos Town
Be sure to set aside some time to explore the town of Naxos while you’re exploring the island. The walk from Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel to the main town is about 10 minutes.
Catching the sunset at the Temple of Apollo is a must. We watched the sun go down from the Temple and then walked to dinner in town at Metaxi Mas. I highly recommend this spot for lunch or dinner if you’re looking. We visited at the end of August and didn’t have too much trouble finding a table for two without a reservation.
After Naxos
Naxos is a great jumping-off point for exploring other nearby islands. Take the ferry to Paros, which is extremely close to Naxos, or take the ferry to Santorini, Milos, Mykonos, or even Crete.
When you’re ready to leave, the Naxos airport is about a 10-minute drive from the heart of town. There is one gate and barely any security. There is no need to get there more than 30 minutes before your flight. I know that sounds crazy, but trust me! My hotel organized a pickup for me and I made it to the airport with plenty of time to make my flight to Milan. There are many flights leaving Naxos each day to popular destinations in Europe
I hope this travel guide to Naxos, Greece was helpful! Enjoy your trip and comment and recommendations below. I can’t wait to go back to this beautiful island.
