NAXOS – THE EPITOME OF THE CYCLADES
So named because they more or less complete a circle around the sacred island of Delos, claimed birthplace of Artemis and Apollo, there are some 2,200 islands and rocks in the Cyclades. Only 33 are inhabited of which Naxos is the largest by area at around 430km². It’s relatively sparsely populated however with somewhere around 20,000 locals, known as Naxiots. In touristic terms it’s relatively unknown compared to other islands in this stunning archipelago like Santorini and Mykonos. That means it’s old school authentic and very much the epitome of what the Cyclades used to be back in the days of island-hopping backpacking travel. It’s very much the sort of place we like – one of those islands where there is still space to explore!
In fact most visitors still arrive by ferry. Naxos has its own small airport, but it only handles traffic to and from Athens which is part of the reason it is still off the beaten track. Despite that the island’s size means it has a good range of hotels. The combination of the two tends to lower the prices giving you real Greece at realistic rates. All in all we think it’s an island ‘gem’ – let us help plan your voyage of exploration.
BEACHES
ORGANISED OR DESERTED…
Naxos has an amazing number of beaches which left us wondering what the collective noun for such a spectacular display might be. An Amazement of Beaches? A Preponderance of Coves? Perhaps simply A Gobsmack of Sands. Whatever, there are certainly 33 main beaches, and any number of secluded smaller places you can picnic on besides the warm blue waters of the Aegean.
STAY
A STAR CHOICE FOR ACCOMMODATION
As a big island Naxos has an excellent range of hotels in all categories. Most are around Naxos Town (also known as Chora) within easy walking distance of the beaches and tavernas that line the waterfront and the tiny street running back from the harbour. It’s all very authentic and given the supply of rooms and the relatively undiscovered nature of the island prices are reasonable across the board. We work with a wide range of hotels in all categories from 2 star up to 4 star.
EAT & DRINK
AUTHENTIC GREEK FOOD AT ITS BEST
Ask anybody to name their quintessential Greek experience and we reckon more than half the people questioned would tell you it is eating a Greek salad with fat tomatoes and feta laced with extra virgin olive oil and topped with oregano in a waterfront taverna with the sun glistening off the ocean. We appreciate we’ve just written the longest and lingering-most sentence on this website – but hey, a Greek salad is a long and lingering experience. Especially when you have a creamy garlicy Greek yoghurt tzatziki on the side.
VISIT
ALL THINGS ANCIENT AND MODERN
Mankind’s history on Naxos dates back to the palaeolithic period and finds from Stelida quarry to the southwest of Chora indicate neanderthal activity spanning 200,000 years. The Cycladic civilisation was strong here and there are a range of artifacts dating back to the Neolithic era on show in the archaeological museum. You can’t help but feel deep roots here underlying the lapping of the waves along the shore.
Getting There
FLIGHTS & FERRIES
We’ve told you it’s rather off the beaten track. But we know lots of ways to get there.
