Discover Naxos Beyond Summer
Winter 2027 · 1 February – 31 March
For the first time, ELaiolithos opens its doors during the winter months, inviting you to discover a side of Naxos that most visitors never see.
Beyond the beaches and summer crowds, Naxos in winter is green, peaceful and deeply connected to its villages, mountains, farms and traditions.
From our hillside estate, high above the fertile Drymalia Valley, you can experience the island at its most authentic — with Mount Zeus rising above the valley, the Aegean stretching into the distance and the villages of central Naxos just minutes away.
This is Naxos in winter. And this is ELaiolithos in a different season.
Experience Naxos Beyond Summer
Come and discover the Naxos that most summer visitors never see.
Naxos is not only a summer island.
During February and March, the landscape changes completely.
The valleys become green. Wildflowers begin appearing. The mountains take on deeper colours. Olive groves and citrus trees come alive, while the villages continue their everyday rhythm away from the summer season.
It is a wonderful time to walk, explore, eat, meet local people and discover the island without rushing.
At ELaiolithos, you are not simply visiting Naxos in winter.
You are experiencing the island when it belongs to the people who live here.
Stay in the Heart of Naxos
ELaiolithos is located in the heart of the island, between Chalkio and Moni, surrounded by the landscape of the Drymalia Valley.
From here, you can easily explore some of the most beautiful villages and cultural sites of Naxos.
Spend the morning walking through Chalkio, visit Moni, continue to Filoti or Apeiranthos, discover ancient paths and Byzantine churches, or simply stay close to the estate and enjoy the landscape.
After a day exploring, return to your suite and watch the changing light over the valley and the Aegean.
Apokries in Naxos — Carnival Traditions Rooted in Local Culture
February and March bring one of the most fascinating times of the year to Naxos: Apokries, the Greek Carnival season, when centuries-old customs, music, dancing and village festivities come alive across the island.
In the villages of central Naxos, traditional ithi kai ethima — local customs and traditions — are still celebrated from generation to generation. Costumes, music, dancing, storytelling, feasting and unique Carnival rituals fill the villages, with traditions that are distinctive to Naxos and, in some cases, found nowhere else in Greece.
The celebrations are not staged for visitors. They belong to the villages and the people who keep these traditions alive.
And from ELaiolithos, you are just minutes away from these authentic celebrations.
It is an opportunity to experience Naxos not as a visitor watching from the outside, but as part of a living community celebrating its traditions — before returning to the quiet of the estate.
Come in winter, and discover a Naxos that summer never reveals.
The View Is Different in Winter
From ELaiolithos, three landscapes meet in one extraordinary view:
Mount Zeus.
The fertile Drymalia Valley.
The Aegean Sea.
In winter, the landscape takes on a completely different character.
The valley can be intensely green after the winter rains. Clouds move across the mountains. The light changes constantly. And on clear days, the Aegean opens towards the distant Cycladic islands.
It is a landscape to experience rather than simply photograph.
Five Distinctive Suites
During Winter 2027, all five ELaiolithos suites are available for intimate stays.
Each suite has its own character, inspired by Naxian history, craftsmanship, art and the surrounding landscape.
Your stay includes our rich local breakfast, prepared with carefully selected ingredients and served with the same attention to quality that defines ELaiolithos throughout the year.
H3: Winter 2027 Rates
| Suite | February | March |
|---|---|---|
| Fanari Suite | €210 | €240 |
| Zeus Cave Suite | €230 | €270 |
| Ariadne Suite | €260 | €305 |
| Emery Suite | €300 | €350 |
| Helen of Troy Suite | €320 | €375 |
Minimum stay: 2 nights.
Additional guest: €50 per night.
Your Winter Morning at ELaiolithos
There is something particularly beautiful about a slow breakfast in winter.
Begin your day with our rich local breakfast, prepared with carefully selected Naxian ingredients.
Fresh breads, local cheeses, eggs, seasonal produce, homemade preparations and other local specialties create a breakfast that reflects the island and the season.
Taste local flavours with our house-made marmalades and hand-picked mountainous aromatic teas.
And there is no need to rush.
Take your time.
Look across the valley.
Watch the light change over Mount Zeus.
Let Naxos set the pace for the day.
Discover the Winter Landscape
February and March are particularly beautiful for discovering the countryside of Naxos.
The island’s extensive network of paths offers opportunities for walking and hiking through landscapes that are very different from those of summer.
Explore ancient paths between villages, walk through olive groves and valleys, discover springs and churches, or simply take a drive through the mountains and stop whenever a landscape catches your attention.
From ELaiolithos, the Drymalia Valley and the surrounding countryside are right outside your door.
The Villages Are Alive
Winter gives you the opportunity to experience the villages of Naxos differently.
In summer, the island is full of visitors.
In winter, village life becomes more visible.
Cafés are filled with local people. Traditional bakeries continue their daily rhythm. Farmers work the land. Cheesemakers continue producing. Families gather around their tables.
This is the Naxos that exists beyond tourism.
And because ELaiolithos is in the centre of the island, you can experience it naturally.
A Taste of Naxos
During the early winter season, our restaurant is closed, but the culinary traditions of our family remain very much part of your stay.
Our breakfast introduces you to local flavors and products, while our family connection to Naxian cheesemaking and winemaking gives you another way to understand the island.
A Special Exception During Winter
Our Goat Milking & Traditional Cheesemaking Experience remains available during the early season by prior arrangement.
This is a genuine family experience connected to a fourth-generation Naxian cheesemaking tradition.
From 10 May 2027 onwards, our restaurant and regular experiences reopen and the full ELaiolithos experience gradually returns.
Winter Is for Slower Days
There is no pressure to fill every hour.
Perhaps your day begins with breakfast overlooking the valley.
Then a walk through a nearby village.
A long lunch somewhere local.
An afternoon exploring an old path.
A glass of wine as the sun disappears behind the mountains.
And back at ELaiolithos, the quiet of your suite.
Winter gives you something summer cannot always offer: time.
Why Come to Naxos in Winter?
Come for the green valleys.
Stay for the villages.
Walk through the countryside.
Experience Apokries and centuries-old local traditions.
Taste the island.
Experience the life of the people who call Naxos home all year.
Watch the winter light move across Mount Zeus and the Aegean.
And discover a side of Naxos that most summer visitors never see.
At ELaiolithos, winter is not the off-season. It is another season of the island’s story.
A More Intimate Naxos
With only five suites, ELaiolithos is naturally intimate.
There are no large groups and no crowds around you.
Just your suite, the landscape, your breakfast and the island beyond the estate.
Adults Only 16+.
Your Winter Stay at ELaiolithos
1 February – 31 March 2027
During the winter months, ELaiolithos offers a warm and intimate base from which to experience Naxos at its quietest and most authentic.
Stay in one of our five distinctive suites, individually heated for your comfort, and begin each morning with our rich local breakfast. Take your time, explore the villages and countryside, experience the island’s winter traditions, and return to the tranquility of the estate at the end of the day.
Our Goat Milking & Traditional Cheesemaking Experience remains available by prior arrangement during these months.
We are also here to help you discover winter Naxos — from Apokries celebrations and traditional village customs to walking routes, local places to eat and the lesser-known corners of the island.
Come slowly. Explore deeply. Experience Naxos differently.
Important Information for Winter 2027
From 1 February until 10 May 2027, ELaiolithos offers accommodation with our rich local breakfast included.
During this early season, our restaurant and regular experiences are closed.
The exception is our Goat Milking & Traditional Cheesemaking Experience, which remains available by prior arrangement.
From 10 May 2027 onwards, our restaurant will reopen and our regular experiences will gradually become available.
Come Discover a Different Naxos
The beaches can wait.
The island has another story to tell.
Come in winter and discover the Naxos of villages, mountains, olive groves, local food, walking paths and everyday island life.
Stay at ELaiolithos.
Experience Naxos beyond summer.
