# Naxos

The largest of the Cyclades has long sandy beaches in the west, marble mountain villages inland and Mount Zas, the highest point of the archipelago. A regular bus reaches almost everything and the island is better eaten than photographed.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/south-aegean/naxos · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## How do you get there and how long does the ferry take?

From Spain you fly to Athens and carry on by boat from the port of Piraeus, or from Rafina, closer to the airport. Seajets' fast boats take between 3 h 30 and 4 h 30; Blue Star's conventional ferries, between 5 h 30 and 6 h, and they carry cars. In summer there are about five departures a day from Piraeus; in winter, at least one. The port is in the Chora itself: you step off the boat and you are in the centre.

For island hopping, Naxos is in the middle of everything: to Paros it is between 25 and 50 minutes, and to Santorini a little over an hour by fast boat. Buy your tickets on the ferry company's website or on a comparison site; in July and August, days ahead if you are taking a car.

## Do you need a car?

Not for a first visit. The KTEL bus leaves from the Chora, next to the port entrance, for the west-coast beaches (Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, Plaka) frequently in summer, and for Halki, Filoti and Apiranthos several times a day. The ticket is bought beforehand, at the KTEL ticket office, not on the bus. A car is useful for what the bus doesn't do well: the wild south, the kouros at Apollonas in the north, coves without facilities and getting back late from a dinner inland. A couple of days' hire is usually enough.

## Where to sleep?

In the Chora, if you are travelling without a car: port, bus and dinners on foot. In Agios Prokopios or Agia Anna, if you are coming for the beach with children: sand, apartments and the bus ten minutes from the centre. In Plaka and Maragas are the campsites, on the longest beach on the island.

## Dónde está
- Zonas: Cyclades
- Cerca: Santorini (a 76.4 km), Milos (a 94.9 km)

## Qué hacer
- **The Portara, the gateway of the Temple of Apollo** (30 min · All ages, with a pushchair along the causeway · Free): What it is
The Portara is the marble door frame of a temple that was never finished. It was commissioned by the tyrant Lygdamis around 530 BC on the islet of Palatia, at the entrance to the harbour of the Chora. It was to be a great Ionic temple dedicated to Apollo, about 59 m long and 28 wide, with the entrance to the west. Work stopped a few years later, at the latest in 524 BC, when Lygdamis fell.
Almost all that remains of that project is the door. Its blocks were so heavy that nobody carried them off, while the rest of the temple ended up, in Venetian times, in the walls of the castle of the Chora. In the 5th century the Christians built a church to the Virgin over the ruins, and to do so opened a passage in the marble base. Around the frame you can still see the foundations and part of the floor of the temple.
The islet also has its myth: here, tradition says, Theseus abandoned Ariadne and Dionysus took her away. That is why Palatia is also called the island of Bacchus.
How to get there
You go on foot. From the port area and the KTEL bus station follow the promenade north and take the causeway that joins the islet to the island. That link didn't exist until 1919; before that Palatia was a separate island. The walk takes about ten minutes from the ferry quay and is flat, with a final stretch of gentle climb over the islet, on earth and rock.
If you arrive by car, don't take it into the port: park wherever you can at the entrance to the Chora and walk. If you come by ferry, the Portara is the first thing you see on entering the bay and you can visit it while you wait for your boat, a few minutes from the port.
Hours and price
The site is in the open air, with no ticket office or timetable: free entry at any time. There are no facilities on the islet, no shade, no water; the cafés and tavernas are on the other side of the causeway, on the harbour promenade.
Half an hour is enough to climb up, walk round the frame and look at the coast. If you want to understand what you are seeing, combine it with the Archaeological Museum of Naxos, in the upper part of the Chora, inside the Venetian castle. The Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades lists it with free admission, open from 9:00 to 14:00; in summer (April to October) it closes on Tuesdays.
When to go
At sunset the sun goes down behind the door, and that is when everyone goes up: in June, July and August the islet fills up half an hour before sunset and it is hard to take a photo without people. At dawn, on the other hand, you will be almost alone and the light hits the marble head-on. Out of season, from November to March, the visit is quiet at any hour.
With the meltemi, the July and August north wind, the causeway gets sprayed by waves. It is not dangerous to walk on it, but protect your camera and don't go near the rocks at the edge.
With children and reduced mobility
The causeway is wide and flat, suitable for pushchairs. The last slope of the islet is earth and loose stone, and around the temple there are level changes with no railing: keep the little ones by the hand. In a wheelchair you can see the Portara from the foot of the islet, but getting up to the frame is hard.
After the visit, Agios Georgios beach is a few minutes' walk on the other side of the Chora, and in the old town you have tavernas such as To Spitiko or Metaxi Mas. The marble of the door came from the quarries inland; if you are interested in how it was worked, carry on to the reclining kouros of Flerio.
- **Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka beaches** (6 h · All ages · Free): Three beaches in a row
South of the Chora, the west coast of Naxos is a succession of sand with almost no breaks. First comes Agios Prokopios, then Agia Anna, which is its continuation, and then Plaka, which follows Agia Anna to the south. You can spend the day on just one or walk along the shore from one to another and come back by bus from whichever stop is nearest.

Agios Prokopios, about 5 km from the Chora. Sand slightly coarse at the water's edge and fine in the water. It has stretches of sun loungers and parasols, and a quieter western end next to a chapel. On the east side are concentrated minimarkets, tavernas, cafés and car and motorbike hire. There is windsurfing, beach volleyball and pedalos. The dive centre for the try dive is also here.
Agia Anna, about 6 km away. Golden sand, beach bars and tavernas with sun loungers along almost the whole beach, natural shade from a juniper wood and a small fishing-boat harbour at the end. A wooden ramp leads to the chapel.
Plaka, the longest and least built-up. Golden sand, coarse in places, with dunes behind and sea lilies that flower from August. There are organised stretches with sun loungers and others that are free, juniper shade by the water and cafés and tavernas spread along it. You can park along its whole length.

How to get there
The KTEL bus on the beach line leaves from the Chora station, next to the port. In summer it runs every half hour, from morning to night. To Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna it takes about 15 minutes and the ticket costs €1.80; to Plaka, about 25 minutes and €2. Buy the ticket before boarding. Out of season the departures drop a lot: check the timetable at the station.
By hire car or quad, there is parking at many points by the sea. In August, at midday, it is hard to find a space at Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna; at Plaka it is easier.
Swimming and wind
The water is clear and the bottom is sand, with some small stones at Plaka. The entry into the water is gradual, comfortable for children. These beaches face west and get the north wind: with a strong meltemi, in July and August, there can be swell and flying sand. On those days, Agios Georgios beach, in the Chora, is the alternative at hand. Always check whether there are flags or notices at the beach bars.
When to go
From June to September everything is open and the water is warm. July and August bring more people and more wind; in June and September the beaches are quieter. From November to April many beach bars and beach hotels close, and the bus runs infrequently. The sun sets over the sea: stay to see it and come back on one of the last buses.
With children and accessibility
For a day with children, Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna have facilities at hand and a gentle entry into the water. The Naxos tourism website states that both are wheelchair accessible; Plaka is not.
Eating and sleeping nearby
There are tavernas and bars all along the coast. If you want to stay by the sea, in this area are Plaka Camping and Maragas Beach Village. Further south comes Mikri Vigla, the kitesurfing spot.
- **Climbing Mount Zas from the Aria spring** (3 h · Teenagers and adults with mountain footwear · Free): The mountain
Zas, to the south-east of Filoti, is 1,003 m high and is the highest point of the Cyclades. Tradition says Zeus spent his childhood here, hence the name. On its west slope, at about 630 m, opens the Zas cave, with chambers up to 11 m and stalactites; it was inhabited from the Neolithic and its finds are in the Archaeological Museum in the Chora. Near the Levgasa spring there is an ancient inscription on the rock dedicated to Zeus as protector of flocks.
Up top there is nothing built: rocks, scrub and a view that, in clear air, takes in half the island and the surrounding Cyclades.
The routes
There are two ways up, and both can be joined in a circuit.

From the Aria spring (the most used). You set off from the spring, at the edge of the road from Filoti to the south, where there is room to leave the car. A paved path climbs in about 20 minutes to the cave. From there the path becomes rough and steep to the summit: a little over an hour's climb from the cave, about 2.5 km in all from the spring. Allow 2 h 30 to 3 h there and back by the same way.
From the chapel of Agia Marina. It is the gentler side, the one described as easier. The path climbs past the Levgasa spring to the summit.
The circuit from Filoti (path 2). Official path number 2 leaves from the east of Filoti, climbs via Agia Marina and Levgasa to the summit, descends via the Zas cave and the Aria spring and returns to the village; the last stretch goes along the Kalantos road. It is about 9.2 km and about 4 hours, according to Discover Greece; other sources say 10 km and up to 5 hours.

Difficulty and waymarking
It is a moderate route. The stretch from the spring to the cave is easy. From the cave to the summit the path is stony, steep and, according to the Naxos tourism website, in places it gets lost: follow the stone cairns and red marks, and have the route downloaded on your phone. The descent from the summit by the other side is also steep. Wear mountain boots or trainers with a good sole; not sandals.
Water, shade and season
Along the whole route there is no shade except beside the springs. The reliable water is at the Aria spring, in the shade of an old plane tree; on the circuit there are also springs at Levgasa and Katafygi, but in summer they can be scarce. Carry at least a litre and a half per person.
The best time is from March to June and from September to November. In July and August set out at dawn or don't climb: the sun is fierce and the meltemi blows very strongly on the summit. In winter there can be fog and rain; if the summit is covered, stay at the cave and turn back.
With children or a dog
With older children who walk well, the climb to the cave is a good short excursion: about 20 minutes, with a reward at the end. We recommend the summit for teenagers and adults. Bring a torch to peer into the cave. You can go with a dog, but there are loose goats on the slope: keep it on a lead.
How to get to Filoti
Filoti is 19 km from the Chora. The KTEL bus takes about 35 minutes and the ticket costs €2.60; ask at the Chora station whether it stops near the Aria spring or you will have to walk from the village. With a hire car it is easier to start early. On the way back, Halki is a few kilometres away, with its galaktoboureko kafeneio.
- **Halki, the kitron distillery and Apiranthos** (5 h · All ages · Desde 5 € Apiranthos collection): The plan
These are two inland villages of Naxos on the same road, the one that crosses the island from the Chora eastwards through the Tragaia valley. Halki is half an hour away and Apiranthos an hour by bus. Together they fill half a day: Halki for the kitron liqueur and the sweet, Apiranthos for strolling through a marble village and seeing its museums. If you go by car, you can add Filoti, which lies between the two, or the climb of Mount Zas.
Halki and the Vallindras distillery
Halki is a village of grand houses and lanes in the middle of the valley. In one of those houses is the Vallindras distillery. It was founded by Grigorios Vallindras in the second half of the 19th century, and in 1896 his son Markos came up with the recipe for the citron liqueur that is still made. Today it is run by the fifth generation of the family.
Kitron is made from citron-tree leaves, picked from September and macerated in alcohol in a traditional still. It is one of three Greek aperitifs with protected designation of origin. There are three versions: the white, at 33 degrees; the green, at 30; and the yellow, at 36. On the visit you see the stills, some from 1862, the brand's old posters, and finish by tasting the liqueur. There is a shop.
The Naxos tourism website gives no opening hours and guides don't agree: they speak of mornings and early afternoon, with longer hours in summer. Confirm it in the village or on the distillery's social media, especially out of season.
Next door is the kafeneio To Spitiko Galaktoboureko, known for its home-made semolina and syrup pastry.
Apiranthos, the marble village
Apiranthos is further east and higher up, and it is another world: marble-paved streets, arches, stairs and unwhitewashed stone houses. It is explored on foot. A main street runs through it from end to end, with the square, the Platsa, in the middle.
It has five small museums:

Michalis Bardanis Archaeological Collection, on the main street: more than 1,200 pieces, mostly from the Cycladic period. According to the Ephorate of Antiquities, it opens from 8:30 to 15:30, closes on Tuesdays and admission costs €5 (€3 reduced). The Naxos tourism website gives a different timetable; if you are going specially, call +30 22850 61725 first.
Folklore Museum, on the Platsa, with instruments, farm tools, costumes and textiles donated by the villagers. Free admission.
Geological Museum, with more than 2,000 samples of rocks, minerals and fossils from Naxos. Free.
Natural History Museum, with two aquariums and skeletons of a dolphin, sea turtle, monk seal and whale. €3, which includes the Visual Arts Museum, opened in 2008 with work by artists from the village.

These last four open in summer in the afternoon: from 10:30 to 19:30 in July and until 21:00 in August. For the rest of the year the tourism website gives no hours: ask in the village.
How to get there
By KTEL bus from the Chora station: to Halki it is about 30 minutes and €2.30; to Apiranthos, an hour and €3.50. The same line stops in both villages, so you can get off at Halki, carry on on the next bus to Apiranthos and come back. Check the timetables at the station, because outside summer there are few departures. By car, the road is good but winding; in Halki and Apiranthos look for parking on the outskirts, because the centre is pedestrian and narrow.
Time and who it suits
Allow about five hours with the journeys: a good hour in Halki and two in Apiranthos, with lunch. It is an outing for all ages. The streets of Apiranthos have steps: with a baby, bring a carrier. In summer, in the morning the interior is cooler than the coast, but at midday it is just as hot.
- **Agios Georgios beach** (3 h · With small children, no car · Free): What it is
Agios Georgios is the beach of the Chora of Naxos itself. It begins where the Agios Georgios district ends, south of the old town, a few minutes' walk from the centre and about 1 km from the port. Fine sand, clear shallow water, and a line of hotels, tavernas and cafés behind. It has a Blue Flag.
It is not the wildest beach on the island, and doesn't try to be. Its advantage is convenience: you need no bus or car, you can go back to the apartment at nap time and you are a stroll from the shops and restaurants of the Chora.
How to get there
From the port, walk south along the seafront and carry on through the streets of the Agios Georgios district; in about 10 or 15 minutes you are on the sand. If you sleep in the Chora, you are most likely even closer. By car it isn't worth it: the district has narrow streets and parking is scarce in summer.
What there is

Sun loungers and parasols, mostly in front of the hotels, tavernas and cafés. There are also stretches of free sand to put down your towel.
Water sports centre, with equipment hire. The south end of the beach is a well-known spot for windsurfing.
Shops and supermarkets a few steps away, in the district.

For swimming
The bottom is sand and the water is shallow for many metres. It is one of the reasons families with small children choose it: they can splash around without the adult having to be in water up to the neck. With the meltemi, the July and August north wind, the south part fills with windsurf sails: swim in the north part, closer to the village, and keep an eye on the children if there are boards nearby.
When to go
From June to September everything is open. In July and August it is very busy, especially in mid-afternoon, when those coming back from excursions arrive. Early in the morning there is more room. The sun sets over the sea; if you want to see it from the Portara, it is a stroll along the port. Out of season many beach bars close, but the beach is still a step from the centre.
With children or without a car
If you are travelling with small children or without a car, here you sort out your beach days without bus timetables. For a different day, the beaches of Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka are 15–25 minutes by bus from the Chora station.
To sleep on the beach or near the district, see Glaros Petit Hotel, Naxos City Hostel or A1 Soula Hotel & Hostel. To eat, the Chora has tavernas such as Maro's, a stroll away.
- **The reclining kouros of Flerio, at Melanes** (1 h · All ages, with a baby carrier · Free): What you will see
In the Flerio valley, next to Melanes, there are two giant marble statues that never reached their destination. They are two kouroi, figures of a naked youth from the first half of the 6th century BC, carved in the quarries where Naxos marble was extracted. They broke while being brought down the slope and stayed where they fell. They have been there for more than 2,500 years.
The first, the Flerio kouros, is the easiest to see: it lies on its back at the foot of the quarry, near the Flerio springs. Locals call it "the Greek". Standing, it would have measured about 5.55 m. Its left leg is missing from the ankle and the right is broken at the knee. Underneath you can still see the layer of clay used to slide it.
The second, the Farangi kouros, is further up, on the hillside. It survives from head to knee, at 3.83 m, and complete it would have reached about 5.50 m. Its face is missing. Its legs broke when the ground gave way in front of a rock. It was covered in undergrowth until a fire in 1990 left it exposed.
The two statues explain better than a museum how sculptors worked: they roughed out the piece at the quarry to make it lighter and finished it at its destination. In the same area there was a sanctuary next to the springs, dedicated to the twin giants Otus and Ephialtes. The other great unfinished kouros on the island, of 10.45 m, is at the Apollonas quarry, in the north.
How to get there and park
Flerio is inland, on the road that climbs from the Chora to Melanes and Myli. There is a signposted parking area. From there a short, marked path leads to the first kouros in a few minutes.
Without a car, the KTEL bus on the Chora – Myli line stops a few hundred metres from the site. Check the timetables at the Chora bus station: outside summer there are few departures.
To go up to the Farangi kouros, follow the signposted path that leaves from the first. It is about 500 m away, uphill, on earth and stone: wear closed shoes. Several old paths also link the area with the villages of Kourounochori and Myli, if you want to lengthen the walk.
Hours, price and time
It is an open-air site: always open and free. In an hour you have time for the car park, the first kouros and a while in the shade; if you go up to the Farangi one, allow an hour and a half or two. There is no ticket office or fixed guides.
With children and reduced mobility
Children like seeing a statue "half-made", so big that you can compare it with an adult lying beside it. As far as the first kouros the path is short, but it isn't suitable for wheelchairs, according to the Naxos tourism website. With a baby, a carrier is better than a pushchair. Don't climb on it or let children climb on the statue: it is an archaeological piece.
How to combine it
Flerio is on the way to the centre of the island. You can link it on the same day with Halki and Apiranthos, or leave it for the morning before an afternoon at the beach on the west coast. If you want to see where the worked marble ended up, the Portara is the most famous example.
- **A day on a catamaran to Paros and Mikri Vigla** (6 h 30 · Families and groups): What it involves
It is a whole day under sail on a catamaran, in a small group, from the harbour of the Chora. It is run by Naxos Catamaran, a local company based in the port of Naxos. The boat crosses to the south of Paros, stops at a beach best reached by sea and heads back to the west coast of Naxos to anchor off Mikri Vigla, known for its turquoise water and golden sand. In all there are two or three swimming stops.
The crew prepare a traditional Greek lunch on board and serve coffee, aperitifs and snacks during the day, with local wine or beer with the meal (in limited quantity). There are diving masks for looking at the seabed at the stops, and wifi on board.
Timetable and duration

Meeting: at 9:30 at the Chora marina.
Departure: at 10:00.
Duration: about 6 h 30. You return in the early afternoon, with time to rest before dinner.

The website presents it as a daily departure, but doesn't publish the dates when the season starts and ends. Check the calendar in its booking system, especially if you travel in spring or autumn.
Price and booking
The company's website doesn't show the price on its pages: you see it when you choose a date in its online booking system, on the Book Today buttons on the trip page. You can also book by phone or WhatsApp (+30 698 373 8419) or by email. The company has an office at the port of Naxos, open in the mornings from 8:00 to 12:00 every day, where you can ask in person.
In July and August the small groups fill up: book a few days ahead.
Other departures from the same company

Private boat: a day tailored for your group, to Paros and Antiparos, Mykonos or the Small Cyclades (Koufonisi, Iraklia, Schinoussa, Donousa or Keros). Price on request.
Private sunset: an evening sail with cold wine and fruit.
Multi-day charter, with crew, from two to seven days around the Cyclades.

The wind
In July and August the meltemi blows, the Aegean's north wind, sometimes very hard. A catamaran is stable, but the channel between Naxos and Paros can get choppy. In strong wind the skipper decides whether to sail, change the route to more sheltered waters or postpone. The website doesn't publish its bad-weather cancellation policy: ask when you book and confirm the departure the day before.
If you get seasick easily, take a tablet before boarding and stay on deck, in the air.
Who it suits
It is an outing for families, couples and groups of friends. Children enjoy the swimming stops, but they have to cope with six hours on a boat. With children who can't swim, ask for life jackets in their size when you book.
What to bring
The company warns that it doesn't provide towels. Bring a towel, swimwear, sun cream, hat, sunglasses, a light layer for the wind and a dry bag for your phone. If you have your own diving mask that fits you well, bring it.
How to get to the harbour
The marina is on the Chora waterfront, a few minutes' walk from the KTEL bus station and the ferry quay. If you sleep in the Chora, walk; if you are staying on the southern beaches, the first bus gets you there in time. On the way back, the Portara is ten minutes' walk away to watch the sunset.
- **Kitesurfing course at Mikri Vigla** (2 h · Teenagers and adults who swim well · Desde 170 € per person): Why Mikri Vigla
Mikri Vigla is a granite cape south of Plaka, on the west coast of Naxos, with a sandy bay on each side. The wind is the reason to come: the north meltemi speeds up in the channel between Naxos and Paros through the Venturi effect and blows almost daily from morning to sunset. The school that gives the lessons reckons more than 80% of days with wind in season. The meltemi that in July and August delays ferries and kicks up sand on other beaches is exactly what you are looking for here.
Lessons are given on Orkos beach, the bay on the south side, long and sandy. The launch area is protected by the beach itself, and anyone who hasn't yet got control of the kite drifts downwind to the sand and walks back, without ending up out at sea. There is a lifeguard and a rescue boat.
Who gives the lessons
Flisvos Kite Center, on Orkos beach, teaches to the IKO standard with qualified instructors, in English, Italian, French, German and Greek. Lessons are radio-assisted: the instructor gives you directions while you are in the water. Next door it has a restaurant and bar, open from 9:00 until night, and new equipment hire.
Courses and prices
All prices include equipment, insurance and rescue assistance:

Discover Kiteboarding: 2 h private, €170. It is the class to try it out.
IKO level 1: 6 h semi-private (two students), €285 per person.
IKO level 1 + 2: 6 h private, €510.
IKO level 2: 4 h semi-private, €190 per person, with a vest and helmet.
IKO level 1 + 2 + 3: 11 h private, €850; or levels 1 and 2 plus one free hour semi-private, €475 per person.
Single private lesson or foil: 2 h, €170.

For every 10 hours of lessons you get one more free. For a semi-private course you have to book already with your lesson partner: the school doesn't form groups from individual students.
How many days you need
With the Discover you will know if you like it. To start sailing on your own, the usual route is levels 1 and 2, which add up to about 10 hours and are spread over several days depending on the wind. Leave a few days' margin in your stay in case one day blows too much or too little.
Season and age
Count on a season from May to October; July and August are the meltemi months. The school doesn't publish opening dates on its website: confirm them when you book if you go at the start or end of the season. The school doesn't publish a minimum age: it is a sport for teenagers and adults who swim well; with minors, ask beforehand.
Booking and how to get there
You book on the Book Now page of its website, by WhatsApp (+30 694 545 7407), by phone (+30 2285 075490) or by email. In August it is best to book ahead.
Mikri Vigla is about 35 minutes from the Chora on the KTEL beach bus, for €2.60; check the timetables at the station. With a car or quad you arrive by the west-coast road. If you are going to do several days, you can sleep nearby: the school has the Hotel Orkos Beach next door, and Plaka Camping is a few kilometres to the north.
What to bring
Swimwear, a rash vest or long-sleeved T-shirt, waterproof sun cream, sunglasses with a strap and water. The wetsuit and the rest of the equipment are provided by the school.
- **Try dive at Agios Prokopios** (3 h · From age 10; children aged 8 to 9 with PADI's Bubblemaker programme · Desde 70 € per person): What it involves
A try dive is your first scuba dive, with no certificate or previous experience. On Naxos it is run by Blue Fin Divers, a PADI 5-star centre on Agios Prokopios beach, about 5 km from the port of the Chora. The programme they follow is PADI's Discover Scuba Diving.
It starts at the centre with about 45 minutes of simple theory and paperwork: how to breathe with the regulator, how to equalise your ears, the signals with the instructor. Then you put on the equipment, get used to it at the surface, practise a couple of exercises in shallow water and go down with the instructor for about 45 minutes, to a maximum of 7 m. Underwater you will see the sand and rock seabed of the west coast, with rock fish and meadows.
It is not a certificate. If you like it, the dive can count towards the PADI Scuba Diver or Open Water course, which the centre also teaches.
For children: Bubblemaker
For the little ones there is Bubblemaker, PADI's children's programme, which lets them breathe with a tank in less than 2 m of water, under the direct supervision of the instructor. According to the PADI site, it is for children from age 8. The adult Discover Scuba Diving asks for a minimum of 10, according to the centre itself.
Price, duration and what is included

Discover Scuba Diving: €70 per person.
Bubblemaker: €70 per child.
Allow half a day for arrival, theory, equipment, the dive and a shower.
It includes all the equipment: mask, snorkel, fins, jacket with tank, regulator, pressure gauge and a 5 mm wetsuit.

If you are already certified, the centre goes out by boat to wrecks and reefs on the west coast, such as the freighter Marianna, the Beaufighter aircraft or the Express Samina ferry. A single dive costs €70, with multi-dive packages and a supplement for some, such as the Express Samina (€120). Prices from the tariff published on its website, with no year given: confirm them when you book.
Season and how to book
The website gives two different seasons: from 15 April to 5 November in the header and from May to October in the contact section. If you are going in April or November, confirm beforehand that it is open.
You book by phone (+30 22850 42629), by WhatsApp (+30 6937 161226), by email or from the form on its website. In July and August book a few days ahead. The meeting is at the centre, on Agios Prokopios beach.
How to get there
Agios Prokopios is about 15 minutes by the beach bus from the KTEL station in the Chora; in summer it runs every half hour and the ticket costs €1.80. By car there is parking at several points along the beach. Afterwards you can stay on the sand: it is the first of the west-coast beaches.
What to bring and requirements
Bring swimwear, a towel, sun cream and something warm for afterwards. You will have to fill in a medical questionnaire: if you have heart, lung or ear problems or are pregnant, a medical certificate may be needed. Don't dive if you have to fly within the next 24 hours: tell the instructor if you are flying out of Naxos airport the next day.

## Dónde comer
- **Maro's Taverna** (Restaurant, Naxos (Chora), €). Qué pedir: lamb kleftiko, roast pork, fried courgette and keftedes.
- **Metaxi Mas** (Restaurant, Naxos (Chora), €€). Qué pedir: several mezedes to share and Naxos cheese.
- **Axiotissa** (Restaurant, Kastraki, €€€). Qué pedir: lamb in paper with garlic and kefalotyri, the local rooster with makarounes or the grilled fish of the day.
- **To Spitiko Galaktoboureko (Kafeneio Galani)** (Café, Halki, €). Qué pedir: galaktoboureko, the custard and filo pastry in syrup.
- **To Spitiko** (Takeaway, Naxos (Chora), €). Qué pedir: a gyros pita or some souvlaki skewers.

## By car: A west-coast base and two days on the road
Naxos is big for a Cyclades island and a car opens up what the bus doesn't reach: the hotel-free south, Apollonas in the north and dinner inland. If you bring it from Athens, travel on Blue Star and book the space well ahead in summer.
Presupuesto orientativo: 90–140 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Hotel Grotta** (Small hotel): On the slope of Grotta, above the sea and facing the Portara, on foot from the port. Next door are studios and two-bedroom apartments at Casabella, from the same owners, which suit families.
- **Birikos Studios & Apartments** (Apartment): Studios and apartments with a seasonal pool less than ten minutes' walk from Agios Prokopios beach. With a car you park free; without one, the beach bus passes nearby.
- **Maragas Beach Village** (Campsite): On the beach, between Agia Anna and Plaka, about 6 km from the port. It combines a camping area with rooms, studios and apartments: it serves a group where some sleep in tents and others don't.
### Servicios
- **Port of Naxos and ferry companies**: In the Chora · Blue Star (with cars) and Seajets (fast) to Piraeus, Rafina, Paros, Santorini and Koufonisia
- **Naxos Airport**: Short flights from Athens · taxi to the Chora
- **Car, scooter and quad hire**: For the south and north of the island · book in August · a couple of days is enough

## Car-free: The Chora as a base and the bus for everything
You get off the ferry in the centre and never need a car again: Agios Georgios beach is on foot and the KTEL bus takes you to the west-coast beaches and the mountain villages.
Presupuesto orientativo: 70–120 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir without a car
- **Naxos City Hostel** (Hostel): A hostel in the Chora, about 400 m from Agios Georgios beach and a stroll from the port and the KTEL stop. Shared rooms with shared bathroom and some private ones.
- **A1 Soula Hotel & Hostel** (Hostel): A family-run hotel and hostel about 30 m from Agios Georgios beach, with single beds for those travelling with a rucksack and rooms for those who aren't. On foot from the centre.
- **Hotel Grotta** (Small hotel): On the slope of Grotta, above the sea and facing the Portara, on foot from the port. Next door are studios and two-bedroom apartments at Casabella, from the same owners, which suit families.
- **Glaros Petit Hotel** (Small hotel): Ten rooms about 20 m from Agios Georgios beach and 350 m from the centre. Adults only: for a couple who want a beach and dinner on foot without a car.
### Servicios
- **Port of Naxos and ferry companies**: In the Chora · Blue Star (with cars) and Seajets (fast) to Piraeus, Rafina, Paros, Santorini and Koufonisia
- **KTEL Naxos bus station**: Opposite the ticket office, next to the port entrance · ticket before boarding · +30 22850 22291
- **Naxos Airport**: Short flights from Athens · taxi to the Chora

## Backpacking: Hostel, bus and free beaches
Naxos is one of the easiest Cyclades on a tight budget: there are hostels in the Chora, a campsite that picks you up at the port and the best of the island costs nothing.
Presupuesto orientativo: 40–60 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're backpacking
- **Naxos City Hostel** (Hostel): A hostel in the Chora, about 400 m from Agios Georgios beach and a stroll from the port and the KTEL stop. Shared rooms with shared bathroom and some private ones.
- **A1 Soula Hotel & Hostel** (Hostel): A family-run hotel and hostel about 30 m from Agios Georgios beach, with single beds for those travelling with a rucksack and rooms for those who aren't. On foot from the centre.
- **Plaka Camping** (Campsite): Almost on the sand of Plaka. They pick you up free at the port in their minibus if you let them know before the ferry's arrival time: with a rucksack and a tent you need nothing else.
### Servicios
- **Port of Naxos and ferry companies**: In the Chora · Blue Star (with cars) and Seajets (fast) to Piraeus, Rafina, Paros, Santorini and Koufonisia
- **KTEL Naxos bus station**: Opposite the ticket office, next to the port entrance · ticket before boarding · +30 22850 22291
- **Car, scooter and quad hire**: For the south and north of the island · book in August · a couple of days is enough

## Camping: A tent on the island's longest beach
The campsites are on the west coast, between Agia Anna and Plaka, about 6 km from the port. Wild camping is not allowed in Greece: sleep at a campsite.
Presupuesto orientativo: 30–50 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're camping
- **Plaka Camping** (Campsite): Almost on the sand of Plaka. They pick you up free at the port in their minibus if you let them know before the ferry's arrival time: with a rucksack and a tent you need nothing else.
- **Maragas Beach Village** (Campsite): On the beach, between Agia Anna and Plaka, about 6 km from the port. It combines a camping area with rooms, studios and apartments: it serves a group where some sleep in tents and others don't.
### Servicios
- **Port of Naxos and ferry companies**: In the Chora · Blue Star (with cars) and Seajets (fast) to Piraeus, Rafina, Paros, Santorini and Koufonisia
- **KTEL Naxos bus station**: Opposite the ticket office, next to the port entrance · ticket before boarding · +30 22850 22291

## By plane: Fly to Athens and Ferry or Short Flight to Naxos
You reach Naxos with a stopover: a direct flight from Spain to Athens and, from there, a ferry from Piraeus or Rafina, or a short flight to the island's small airport. The port is in Chora itself and the airport a few kilometres away, with a taxi to the centre. On the island you get around by KTEL bus along the west coast and the villages, and a car for a couple of days opens up the south and the north.
### Dónde dormir if you're flying
- **Naxos City Hostel** (Hostel): A hostel in the Chora, about 400 m from Agios Georgios beach and a stroll from the port and the KTEL stop. Shared rooms with shared bathroom and some private ones.
- **A1 Soula Hotel & Hostel** (Hostel): A family-run hotel and hostel about 30 m from Agios Georgios beach, with single beds for those travelling with a rucksack and rooms for those who aren't. On foot from the centre.
- **Hotel Grotta** (Small hotel): On the slope of Grotta, above the sea and facing the Portara, on foot from the port. Next door are studios and two-bedroom apartments at Casabella, from the same owners, which suit families.
- **Glaros Petit Hotel** (Small hotel): Ten rooms about 20 m from Agios Georgios beach and 350 m from the centre. Adults only: for a couple who want a beach and dinner on foot without a car.
- **Birikos Studios & Apartments** (Apartment): Studios and apartments with a seasonal pool less than ten minutes' walk from Agios Prokopios beach. With a car you park free; without one, the beach bus passes nearby.
### Servicios
- **Naxos Airport**: Short flights from Athens · taxi to the Chora
- **Car, scooter and quad hire**: For the south and north of the island · book in August · a couple of days is enough

## With young children: Sand, little driving and nap time to hand

With small children Naxos works better than the cliff islands: the west-coast beaches are sand, Agios Georgios is on foot from the Chora and almost everything is less than half an hour away.

### What works best
Agios Georgios beach, five minutes' walk from the centre

The Portara first thing, along a flat causeway where the pushchair can go

The Melanes kouros, a short walk and a giant reclining statue

### Sleep
Apartments at Agios Prokopios, with a pool and the beach nearby

In the Chora, next to Agios Georgios, if you are without a car

### Eat
Beach tavernas with a table in the shade

Halki's galaktoboureko for a snack

### Bear in mind
In July and August, beach in the morning and last thing: at midday, shade

The meltemi kicks up sand and swell in the west: on those days look for sheltered coves

The fast ferries bounce: with children who get seasick, the big ferry is better

Mount Zas is not for pushchairs or baby carriers in summer

### Qué hacer with young children
- The Portara, the gateway of the Temple of Apollo
- Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka beaches
- Agios Georgios beach
- The reclining kouros of Flerio, at Melanes

## As a family: An island for all ages

There is a long beach for the little ones, mountain villages for a different day and boat trips or diving for the older ones. And you can get around without a car if your base is the Chora or Agios Prokopios.

### What works best
The beaches from Agios Prokopios to Plaka, with a bus from the Chora

A day on a catamaran with swims and lunch on board

Halki and Apiranthos, with the kitron distillery and the village sweets

Try dive for the older ones and Bubblemaker for those aged 8 and over

### Sleep
Apartments and studios at Agios Prokopios

Studios in the Chora, next to the Portara

Camping at Plaka if you like tents

### Eat
Maro's, portions to share

Gyros at the port on ferry day

### Bear in mind
The ferry from Athens takes 3 h 30–6 h: with children, the big ferry lets you move around the deck

Book your apartment months ahead for August

Museums and sites close in mid-afternoon: better in the morning

### Qué hacer as a family
- The Portara, the gateway of the Temple of Apollo
- Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka beaches
- Halki, the kitron distillery and Apiranthos
- Agios Georgios beach
- The reclining kouros of Flerio, at Melanes
- A day on a catamaran to Paros and Mikri Vigla
- Try dive at Agios Prokopios

## With teenagers: Wind, seabed and a summit

What hooks a teenager on Naxos is in the water and in the mountains: a kitesurfing lesson at Mikri Vigla, a first dive and climbing to the highest point of the Cyclades.

### What works best
Kitesurfing at Mikri Vigla, with a private lesson to start

Try dive at Agios Prokopios

The climb of Zas, early, with the cave of Zeus halfway

A day on a catamaran, jumping into the water from the boat

### Sleep
Camping at Plaka, with a bit of independence

A hostel in the Chora if older ones go with friends

### Eat
Gyros at the port and in the Chora

Big portions at Maro's

### Bear in mind
Kitesurfing needs good swimming and the July and August wind is strong

With the beach bus they can get around alone between the Chora and the coast

On Zas there is no shade or spring at the top

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka beaches
- Climbing Mount Zas from the Aria spring
- A day on a catamaran to Paros and Mikri Vigla
- Kitesurfing course at Mikri Vigla
- Try dive at Agios Prokopios

## Consejos

### See the Portara at sunrise, not sunset
At sunset the islet fills up. First thing you almost have it to yourself and the light comes through the doorway just the same.

### Take the morning bus inland
Halki and Apiranthos are better seen before the heat and before the excursion groups.

### Ask for the island's cheese
Naxos graviera and arseniko, in any taverna. It is the Cyclades' livestock island.

### Climb Zas early
There is no shade on the upper part. Start at the Aria spring before nine.

### Buy your return ferry ticket when you arrive
In August the boats back to Athens fill up.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How many days do I need on Naxos?
Four or five. Two for the beach, one for the mountain villages, one for Zas or a boat trip, and one in reserve in case the wind changes the ferries.

### Can you see Naxos without a car?
Yes. The KTEL bus links the Chora with the west-coast beaches and the mountain villages. Without a car you miss the south and north of the island, which can be seen on one day's hire.

### Which beach should I choose with small children?
Agios Georgios, five minutes' walk from the Chora, with tavernas and parasols behind it. If you stay in Agios Prokopios or Plaka, you have long sand in front of the apartment.

### Are there direct flights from Spain to Naxos?
The usual way is to fly to Athens, with direct flights from Madrid and Barcelona, and carry on by ferry. Naxos has a small airport with short flights from Athens, useful if you don't want to spend the day on a boat.

### What happens if the meltemi blows?
The fast boats are the first to be suspended; the big ferries cope with more wind, although they roll. On the island, look for the south and east beaches, which are more sheltered than the west ones.

### What is open in winter?
The Chora, its tavernas and the daily ferry to Athens. Beach hotels, campsites and the diving and kitesurfing schools close between November and April.

### How much do the museums and sites cost?
The Archaeological Museum in the Chora is free and opens from 9:00 to 14:00. The Temple of Demeter at Sangri and the Apiranthos collection cost €5 and close on Tuesdays. The Portara and the kouroi are free and always open.