Naxos
Covers 18 European islands, from Crete and the Cyclades to Sicily, Sardinia, Mallorca, the Canaries, Madeira and the Azores, with euro prices converted to dollars on a dated rate.
UpdatedThis page carries dated prices, schedules or seasonal facts checked on the date above, and that window has now passed. Re-check the sources at the foot of the page before you book.
Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades and the most self-sufficient. It grows its own potatoes, makes its own cheese, and has a mountain, Mount Zas, that at 3,284 feet (1,001 m) is the highest peak in the group. For visitors, that adds up to something its neighbors cannot match: a beach holiday with a real island behind it.
The west coast south of Naxos Town is one long run of sandy bays with shallow water. ELSTAT counted 369,178 arrivals in hotels, short-stay rentals and campsites in the Naxos regional unit in 2025, about a quarter of the Thira unit's figure, and it shows on the beaches. Prices are mid-range: the cheapest 3-star room in town on Kayak for July 14, 2027 was $122, below the $198 floor in Mykonos Town but above the $92 we found in Fira on Santorini that night. If you want to compare it with its ferry neighbor, read our Paros page.
At a glance
- Best for
- Families with young children, first-time visitors and anyone who wants beaches plus villages and food
- Skip it if
- You want a caldera view, a party scene or a five-star resort strip
- Getting there
- Fly Athens to Naxos (JNX), or ferry from Piraeus in about 3 to 5 hours 20 minutes
- Hotel, mid-January
- $91 for a 3-star room in Naxos Town on Kayak for January 13, 2027; $122 on July 14, 2027
- Island size
- About 165 square miles (428 km2), the largest of the Cyclades; a car helps for the interior
In this guide
How Naxos scores
Six factors, scored 0 to 10 the same way for all 64 islands. How we score
- WeatherData · 20%8.0
- Beaches & seaEditors · 25%8.5
- Things to doEditors · 25%7.5
- Getting there from the USData · 10%3.6
- ValueData · 10%7.8
- Room to breatheData · 10%6.3
Weather month by month
Best months by our weather score: July, August, September. Daytime highs, rain and sunshine are 2016–2025 averages at Naxos Island National Airport (Open-Meteo historical weather archive); sea temperatures are 2022–2025 averages for the nearest sea area (Open-Meteo marine archive).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 58 | 59 | 62 | 67 | 75 | 83 | 87 | 86 | 81 | 74 | 67 | 60 |
| Sea °F | 62 | 62 | 62 | 63 | 66 | 72 | 76 | 78 | 76 | 73 | 68 | 65 |
| Rain (in) | 3.2 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 3.1 |
| Weather score | 3.3 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 6.6 | 8.9 | 9.5 | 9.9 | 9.6 | 7.4 | 5.0 | 3.4 |
The numbers behind the score
- Gateway airport
- Naxos Island National Airport (JNX)
- US nonstops
- None. No US nonstop to JNX (Naxos Island National Airport); connect via ATH (US nonstops to Athens: JFK, EWR, plus seasonal ATL, BOS, CLT, ORD, DFW, PHL, IAD; Delta DTW from June 8, 2027 and Alaska SEA from May 12, 2027)
- Distance
- 7,005 mi from Los Angeles, 5,027 mi from New York
- Passport
- Needed for US citizens
- Hotel, one night
- $91 on Jan 13, 2027 · $122 on Jul 14, 2027 (Naxos Town (Chora))
- Visitors a year
- 369,178 overnight visitors (2025)
- Bringing a dog
- Possible: EU pet rules: ISO microchip implanted before a rabies shot given at least 21 days before travel, plus a bilingual EU animal health certificate from a USDA-accredited vet, endorsed by APHIS and used within 10 days of arrival; no quarantine.
Hotel prices: Cheapest double in a hotel rated 3 stars or better within about 1 mile of the Naxos Town center, 1 night, 2 adults, total with taxes and fees as Kayak showed it (public rates only; Greece's climate resilience fee may be added at checkout), Kayak, checked 2026-10-20. January: Naxos Philoxenia (3-star, via Booking.com); July: Naxos Holidays (3-star, via Expedia). 143 stays for January 13 vs 309 for July 14.. Visitor figures: ELSTAT, Arrivals in hotels, short-stay accommodation and campsites by regional unit, 2025 final data (Table 3).
Where Naxos ranks
Who Naxos suits, and who should skip it
Naxos is the easy answer for families, for couples who like to drive and eat, and for first-time visitors who want one island rather than a hop. The beaches near town are sandy, shallow and calm by Cycladic standards, and the interior has marble villages, Venetian towers and walking paths. Compare it with Paros and Crete in our family ranking.
Skip it if the point is a clifftop sunset over a caldera, or late-night clubs. Naxos nightlife is a few bars on the waterfront and in Agios Prokopios. For the view, go to Santorini, which is reachable by fast ferry in about an hour.
Where to stay: Naxos Town or the beach villages
- Naxos Town (Chora) has the port, the bus station, the Venetian Kastro and Agios Georgios beach on its southern edge. On Kayak, the cheapest room rated 3 stars or better in town was $91 for January 13, 2027 and $122 for July 14, 2027, taxes and fees in.
- Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna, a short bus ride south, are beach villages with studios, tavernas and the best sand near town.
- Plaka and Mikri Vigla are quieter, further south, with dunes and long empty stretches. You will want a car.
In winter, choice is thin. Kayak listed 143 stays for January 13 against 309 for July 14, because many Cycladic hotels close from November to April. Town hotels are the ones that stay open.
Beaches: the long sandy west coast
- Agios Georgios, in town: a shallow, sheltered bay where children can wade far out. The calmest beach on the island.
- Agios Prokopios: golden sand, clear water, sunbeds and tavernas.
- Agia Anna: a smaller, family-friendly continuation with a little harbor.
- Plaka: miles of sand backed by dunes, with quieter stretches at the far end.
- Mikri Vigla: two bays split by a headland; the north side is a kite and windsurf spot, the south side calmer.
- Alyko: cedar trees, small coves and an abandoned hotel shell covered in street art.
Our score is 8.5 out of 10: several excellent, swimmable sandy beaches close to where you stay. The caveat is the summer north wind, which can roughen the more exposed bays.
Things to do inland and around
- The Portara: the huge marble doorway of an unfinished Temple of Apollo on an islet joined to town by a causeway. Sunset is the time.
- The Kastro: the Venetian upper town of Chora, with old mansions and small museums.
- Mount Zas: a steep hike from Filoti or the Aria spring to the highest point in the Cyclades.
- Apeiranthos and Halki: marble-paved mountain villages; Halki has a distillery making kitron liqueur.
- The kouroi: giant unfinished ancient statues lying in the old quarries at Melanes and Apollonas.
- The Temple of Demeter near Sangri, partly restored from its original marble.
- Day trips to the Small Cyclades, such as Koufonisia, and to Paros.
Leave room for the food. Naxos graviera and arseniko cheeses, the island's potatoes and its citron liqueur are sold in village shops and on taverna menus across the island, and the mountain villages serve grilled meat and local wine at prices well below the caldera restaurants of Santorini.
Our things-to-do score is 7.5 out of 10: several good days beyond the beach, if you rent a car.
When to go
June and September are ideal: warm sea, open tavernas and fewer people. July and August are busy and windy, as the meltemi north wind blows across the Aegean from about mid-May to mid-September. The sheltered beaches near town stay usable on most days. Winter is quiet and many hotels close; the mountain villages are at their most authentic but the sea is cold. See the monthly table below, and our May ranking for spring.
Getting there from the US, and what you need
There is no US nonstop to Naxos (JNX). Fly to Athens, which has nonstops from New York JFK and Newark and seasonal service from Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia and Washington Dulles; Detroit and Seattle join in summer 2027. Olympic Air and Sky Express fly Athens to Naxos.
Ferries from Piraeus run daily. Blue Star Ferries takes about 5 hours 20 minutes, and fares on the route start around $47 (€42); Seajets runs a faster boat in about 3 hours 25 minutes from $87 (€77.70), per Ferryhopper. From Naxos, Paros is about 50 minutes away and Santorini about an hour by fast ferry.
US citizens need a passport valid three months beyond departure from the Schengen area, and can stay 90 days without a visa. Expect fingerprints and a photo under the EU Entry/Exit System; ETIAS is not yet in force. Our passport guide has the detail.
What a trip costs
Kayak's floor for Naxos Town was $91 in January and $122 in July. Beach studios in Agios Prokopios and Plaka are an alternative to town hotels. Hotels also collect Greece's climate resilience fee at checkout: $5.60 (€5) per room per night at a 3-star from April to October and $1.70 (€1.50) from November to March. A rental car is worth the money here, because the villages and southern beaches are where Naxos beats its neighbors.
Tickets and tours you can book
Naxos Highlights Bus Tour with Free Time for Lunch at Apeiranthos
Only the bus and an English-speaking escort are included; Demeter's Temple (5 EUR cash) and meals are extra. At about $34 it is cheaper than renting a car for one day.
Rating as shown on Viator
Naxos: 4-Hour Naxian Cooking Class at Basiliko Family Tavern
The class, wine, starters and meal are included; transfers are not, so you need a car or taxi to reach the village. Run by the family that owns the tavern.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Naxos: Rina Cave & Koufonisia Full-Day Cruise with BBQ
Barbecue, wine, soft drinks and snorkel gear are included; beer and snacks cost extra. A long day (9.5 hours) on a traditional boat run by Jason Daily Cruises.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Booking through these links supports this site at no cost to you. Prices move by date, so we do not print them here; the official prices we checked are in the page above.
Frequently asked questions
Is Naxos good for families?
Yes. Agios Georgios in town is shallow and sheltered, and Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna have gentle sandy entries. Apartments with kitchens are common in the beach villages.
Is Naxos better than Santorini?
For beaches, food and space, yes. For the caldera view and the cliff villages, no. They are about an hour apart by fast ferry, so a few days on each works.
Do you need a car on Naxos?
Not for town and the west coast beaches, which buses serve. For Apeiranthos, Halki, the kouroi and the southern beaches, a car makes the trip.
How do you get from Athens to Naxos?
Take a ferry from Piraeus, from about $47 (€42) and 3 to 5 hours 20 minutes depending on the boat, or a short flight from Athens with Olympic Air or Sky Express.
When is the best time to visit Naxos?
June and September for swimming without the August crowds. May and October work for hiking and villages, with cooler sea and fewer open hotels.
Which Naxos beach is best for young children?
Agios Georgios, at the southern edge of Naxos Town. It is shallow far out, sheltered from the north wind, and a short walk from cafes, the bus station and the port.
Further reading
Official sources
- ELSTAT, Arrivals in hotels, short-stay accommodation and campsites by regional unit, 2025 (final data, Table 3) – Naxos regional unit (Naxos, Amorgos and the Small Cyclades) 2025: 153,262 hotel + 207,049 short-stay + 8,867 campsite arrivals; checked October 20, 2026
- Kayak hotel search, Naxos Town – Cheapest 3-star-or-better: $91 (January 13, 2027) and $122 (July 14, 2027); 143 vs 309 stays; checked October 20, 2026
- Ferryhopper, Piraeus to Naxos, Naxos to Paros, Naxos to Santorini – Piraeus from $47 (€42), Blue Star 5 h 20 min, Seajets 3 h 25 min from $87 (€77.70); Santorini from 1 h; checked October 20, 2026
- Wikipedia, Naxos – Mount Zas 1,001 m, highest peak in the Cyclades
- Wikipedia, Naxos Island National Airport and Athens International Airport – Olympic Air and Sky Express to Athens; no US routes; US nonstops to Athens; checked October 20, 2026
- Greek Law 5177/2025, Article 44 (climate crisis resilience fee), via Taxheaven – Per room per night by class and season; checked October 20, 2026
- US Department of State, Greece travel information; European Commission ETIAS and EES pages – Passport validity, 90-day stay; ETIAS not operating; EES fully operational April 10, 2026; checked October 20, 2026
- European Central Bank reference rate – One euro = $1.1225 on October 19, 2026
