× Home
Destinations
Stays
Free Lightroom presets
Work with us
Search FARAWAY GETAWAY SEARCH instagram FARAWAY GETAWAY @FARAWAYGETAWAY Pinterest FARAWAY GETAWAY /FARAWAYGETAWAY hello@farawaygetaway.com
Naxos, Greece

Naxos: Greek Island Hopping (Part 4)

Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades and is home to Mount Zas (Zeus) which, according to Greek mythology, is where the Greek God Zeus was born and raised. Just like many other islands in Greece, Naxos is nowadays known to be a popular tourist location because of its many beaches and ruins.

When you arrive by ferry you will be greeted by the ‘Portara’, a huge ruin on top of a hill. This would have been the entrance of a giant temple that was never finished in 530 B.C. but now is the famous landmark of the island. A path over the water will bring you to the ruin and from there you can enjoy a beautiful view of the historic town of Naxos.

We were invited to stay at the beautiful hotel ‘Naxian On The Beach‘. The hotel is perfectly located on Plaka beach on the west side of the island just 20 minutes away by car from the port and only 10 minutes from the airport. The hotel is one of the few properties on this stretch of beach, making it ideal for a relaxing beach holiday.

Plaka Beach is one of the main beaches on the island and because of its location on the south side, it is not really affected by the island’s strong winds. If you like to do something more active there are many other beaches nearby where you can rent windsurfing or kitesurfing gear. The wind on this side of the  island makes it a perfect place to enjoy these sports.

If you like to explore the rest of this large island then renting a car or ATV is a good idea since the island has very rocky and rough landscape. First and foremost you should go to the capital; Naxos town. As mentioned earlier you can walk towards the famous landmark ‘Portara’ from the harbor and enjoy a beautiful view. Wandering around in the narrow streets of the old town right next to the harbor will be worth your time as well.

Another cute location is the town of Chalkio. Since the town is a bit secluded you will barely see any tourists so you will be walking among the locals. It is a bit of drive from the south side of the island but touring around on an ATV or scooter will give you a great sense of the beautiful mountainous landscape of this island.

Travel Tip: If you are looking to get some expansive views of the sea or come across one of the islands many villages, Naxos has some amazing hiking trails. Though we did not have a chance to hike this time around, this website offers a variety of trails to explore.

Naxos is part 4 of our Greece island hopping round trip!
Please take a look at the other locations in our destinations overview.

YOU WILL ALSO LOVE.

Albert Cuypmarkt, Amsterdam - Faraway Getaway
Stout&Co, Amsterdam - Faraway Getaway

24 Hours in Amsterdam

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam is a beautiful city and is great to add as a short stop to your European trip or quickly explore during a lay-over to another destination. We saw the tulips, tried a 'stroopwafel' and enjoyed the canals and cute townhouses in only 24h!

READ ARTICLE

I Scream, Mykonos, Greece - Faraway Getaway
San Giorgio - SOHO ROC House, Mykonos - Faraway Getaway

Mykonos: Greek Island Hopping (Part 5)

Mykonos, Greece

Out of all the islands of Greece, Mykonos is probably the best known for its summer party scene. Every year thousands of tourists and celebrities from all over the world travel to Mykonos to enjoy the vibrant nightlife.

READ ARTICLE

Oia, Santorini, Greece - Faraway Getaway
Oia, Santorini, Greece - Faraway Getaway

Santorini: Greek Island Hopping (Part 2)

Santorini, Greece

Santorini is really impressive when you approach it by water. Many towns and villages are located on top of high cliffs far above the water and because of the white color of the houses they really stand out against the tall dark volcanic rocks.

READ ARTICLE