From Mountains To Beaches: An Epic Journey – Putting together a Greek island hopping itinerary is a little nerve-wracking because there are so many amazing islands to choose from. Even once you narrow it down to the Cyclades, you’re spoiled for choice. But I’m here to tell you that the island of Naxos – and a trip to Naxos in particular – should be on your itinerary!
From the ruins of ancient temples and Venetian castles that rise above the towns’ delightfully rambling streets, to the sparkling turquoise waters and long sandy beaches, Naxos is a hidden gem that’s less crowded and more accessible than its famous sisters Santorini and Mykonos.
From Mountains To Beaches: An Epic Journey
As it is often overlooked and is also the largest island in the Cyclades, you can plan a super varied Naxos itinerary and feel like you have the island all to yourself. Walk among Byzantine churches, olive groves and goat farms. Cool off on a golden sandy beach surrounded by a cedar forest. Dine on fresh seafood and surprisingly great cocktails in what has become a foodie destination.
Best Beaches In The U.s., From Hawaii To Nantucket
For me, Naxos was a welcome respite from the crowds of Santorini… very chilled, with some of the best beaches in the Cyclades, turquoise waters and whitewashed buildings, as well as remote ancient mountain villages. It ticks a lot of boxes.
I deliberately combined my trip to Naxos with a few days in Santorini, where I stayed in a mind-blowing cave hotel, experienced the beauty and craziness of Oia, and explored the (less crazy) rest of the island.
Back then, I was looking for a very different experience in Naxos – beautiful beaches, diverse architecture and history, delicious and unexpected cuisine, and the chance to feel like I was getting real, quiet glimpses into the local culture, not just a tourist’s idea of Greece.
You’ll find something here for everyone, from solo travelers like me, to couples, families with young children, groups of friends or multi-generational people. So my goal with this post is to do a super deep dive into the island and then show you all the amazing things to do in Naxos during your epic journey!
Two Chinese Retirees Win Hearts On Epic American Road Trip
Let’s unravel some of these things further. Naxos is the most fertile island in the Cyclades, looking quite lush (by Cycladic standards, as the island group is mostly dry and volcanic). You have plains of olive trees, lemon trees and vines, tree covered hills and valleys and quite a bit of agriculture – Naxos provides a lot of dairy products and potatoes to Greece and the island is very proud of both.
If you stay only in Naxos Town and don’t explore further, you’ll miss out on the green, hilly interior and charming ancient mountain villages scattered throughout. Naxos is and always has been a cultural crossroads, with 5,000 years of history layered on top of each other.
A quick snapshot of the island’s impressive history… I’ll skip prehistoric and neolithic times as I don’t have much detail, but there is evidence here. Naxos flourished after 700 BC. among the ancient Greeks. the Romans then ruled the island for about 600 years, beginning in 338 BC. It became part of the Byzantine Empire from 362 to 1204. The Venetians ruled it from 1207 until the island fell to Ottoman rule in 1566 and ruled it until 1831, when it was liberated by the modern Greek state. That is a lot!
Is Naxos safe? Short answer, yes. Obviously things can happen anywhere, but Naxos is a quieter and less touristy island and you really get a sense of community and people who care about each other. The crime rate is very low and the locals are friendly and laid back. The island is a great destination especially for solo female travelers.
The Great Odyssey: Where Does Beach Sand Come From?
In this section I’ll talk about Naxos itinerary planning more generally, including where to base yourself, accommodation, getting around and more. Then we’ll talk more about the different things to see in Naxos in the rest of the post.
The most important thing to know is that you don’t need a specific itinerary – this is not a “plan every minute of the day” type of destination. But it’s good to know that it’s quite a big island, so difficult to really explore in a very short time. If you only have a day or two, you can focus on a few things or consider taking a tour with a local.
It is always extremely important to consider where you are based. Although you can get to most places in Naxos quite easily, you still have to remember that you are driving on winding, hilly, unfamiliar roads and so it is good to stay somewhere fairly close to minimize driving time.
I have stayed at two different hotels in Naxos and I highly recommend both. The first was the Grotta Hotel which was great – overlooking the ocean in Naxos town, with great views, lovely hospitality, good food and a 5 minute walk into town.
Epic Journey Train Hi Res Stock Photography And Images
The other was the unique luxury ELaiolithos, the only hotel located up on the mountain. The location and views were amazing and the hotel uses only local materials, food and drinks. You get such an interesting experience here, including the hospitality of the owner Helen, it’s absolutely worth staying.
I visited Naxos at the end of September and it still definitely felt like summer, although it was a bit chilly at night with the wind. My first two days on the island (when I was in Naxos Town) were SO WINDY (made it hard to wear dresses). But once I was further inland, the wind died down.
I wore a good mix of light, breathable, stretchy pants and tops. Personally, I would skip the jeans (too heavy and take up space in the pack).
I’m definitely wearing a sundress after the wind dies down. I’ve had great luck with StitchFix over the past few years, although I prefer to pick out myself rather than use the personal shopper option.
Willy’s Wacky Adventure: Baby’s First Road Trip — Wayward
I’m not really a sun hat person and it would be less useful in the windy town of Naxos, but if you do a lot of walking/hiking inland it’s a good idea. Even though I didn’t feel that hot (due to the wind), I had to be more careful with the sun… good sunscreen was a must, as were polarized sunglasses!
You’ll want comfortable and stable shoes for walking up and down the slippery and often uneven rocks of Naxos Chora. My constant companions are these Rockport ones that balance comfort/softness and cuteness (party in the front, business in the back).
Don’t forget a good bathing suit, a headband (a clutch to keep your windy hair out of your lipstick), a good facial moisturizer and I always have my favorite clean makeup (which does great in sweaty weather)!
There are two main ways to get to Naxos – by ferry or by plane. I arrived by ferry and left by plane, so I’ll talk to both briefly below.
Road Trip: California’s Pacific Coast Highway National Geographic
Naxos is connected to Paros, Ios and Santorini by ferry routes all year round, with much more sailing time during the high season. I recommend a fast ferry, the travel time between them will vary between 45 minutes (Paros to Naxos) and 2 hours. Naxos also has regular ferry connections to Amorgos and Mykonos.
I took a ferry from Santorini which takes about an hour and a half. I took a Sea Jets PowerJet ferry which cost €55 and booked with FerryHopper which was super easy (and then I could access my ticket on their app). I would book in advance during peak season to be safe.
It’s a huge clean boat with plenty of seating, dining options and more. You’ll collect your luggage upon boarding the boat (a few people with small carry-ons chose not to), then hang out at your assigned seat or walk around (or find an available seat elsewhere). I don’t find this type of boat to have many issues with traffic/rough seas, but I’m sure it can at times.
You can also reach Naxos by ferry from Athens, which will take between 2.5 hours and 6 hours depending on the port and the ship.
Nico Aubert’s Epic Journey From Estaca De Bares To Tarifa, 1000 Km By Paramotor.
Alternatively, you can fly. I believe all flights will connect through Athens (don’t quote me on that though) which certainly adds time and steps to your trip if you’re island hopping, but if you’re moving between island groups it can definitely be the most good bet.
There are several daily flights to and from Athens and Naxos airport is super small. It’s very informal, there are two ticket counters and the line is out the door when a flight arrives. I didn’t have to take anything out of my bag going through security.
They weigh bags (or at least check them, not sure if they would cause a problem). After going through security, you go to sit in a small waiting room and then go out to the plan. Unfortunately they left my suitcase in Naxos (I had wine in it so I couldn’t continue)… it was my first trip with my AirTags and boy am I glad I had them!
Short answer, yes! The question of how to get around Naxos is quite simple … if you are planning a trip to Naxos, you definitely need a car. If you’re only going to spend time in Naxos Town, then you don’t need one.
Pelopennese, Greece: An Epic Sun Baked Road Trip Across The Peloponnese: ‘one Of The Last Wild Parts Of Europe’
This post was already getting great
Epic pass east coast mountains, epic journey, epic ski mountains, the hobbit an unexpected journey misty mountains, epic pass mountains map, an epic journey, the river an epic journey to the sea, epic local mountains, epic ski pass mountains, epic local pass mountains, epic pass mountains, mountains epic cycling climbs