Alyko Beach – Naxos’ Coastal Gem
Located in the southwest of Naxos, 18 km from Naxos town and port, Alyko Beach is one of the island’s most captivating coastal landscapes. With white sand, crystal-clear waters, and the Kedrodasos, a dense cedar forest interwoven with striking sand dunes, it offers a rare combination of natural beauty and tranquility. The Kedrodasos forest is a protected Natura 2000 area, recognized for its ecological significance.
Alyko Beach serves as a natural refuge when the meltemi winds sweep across the Aegean, making it ideal for calm swimming. It is perfect for those seeking solitude, though it can become lively during the high season. The beach remains unorganized—there are no umbrellas, sunbeds, shops, or tavernas—so visitors should come prepared.
The route to Alyko offers panoramic views along the coastline, stretching from Mikri Vigla to the Alyko peninsula itself. Nearby, you’ll find a selection of hotels, studios, excellent tavernas, and a few supermarkets. Access is straightforward via an asphalt road, and public transportation runs several times a day.
Alyko Beach is a must-visit while exploring Naxos.
The Juniper Forest “Kedrodasos” of Alyko
The nature of Naxos speaks directly to the heart through its authenticity, diversity, and quiet simplicity. One of the island’s most distinctive landscapes is the Kedrodasos of Alyko, a protected peninsula home to one of Greece’s largest and densest juniper forests.
Covering approximately 200 acres, Kedrodasos is formed by ancient juniper trees, lentisc shrubs, heather, thyme, calycotomes, and a rich variety of wildflowers. Its ecological importance has earned international recognition, and Greece has included the area in the European Natura 2000 network.
Juniper trees dominate the peninsula. These gymnosperm conifers belong to the order Pinales and the Cupressaceae family. Many live between 200–300 years, reaching heights of up to 6 meters with trunk diameters of nearly 1 meter. Their extensive root systems spread outward at least twice their height, forming a dense web that stabilizes sand and preserves the surrounding dune formations.
The Alyko juniper forest supports a rich ecosystem, providing a natural habitat for hares, reptiles, and numerous bird species. Beyond Alyko, Naxos’ Natura 2000 protected areas extend across the island, including Mount Zas (Zeus), the region from Vigla to Mavrovouni, and the coastal zone between the bays of Karades and Moutsouna.
Why Alyko Beach Resonates with Intentional Travelers
Alyko is not a beach designed for convenience. Its beauty lies in what it lacks—no umbrellas, no background noise, no rush. Just wind-shaped dunes, juniper trees holding the sand, and calm waters even when the meltemi blows. This beach is a favorite among locals from the island’s highlands.
Here, the landscape asks for presence. Swimming feels unhurried. Walking slows naturally. The silence becomes part of the experience.
The Street Art That Once Defined Alyko
For decades, Alyko was also known for the striking street art in the ruins of an unfinished hotel complex from the 1960s–1970s. These abandoned buildings became an open-air gallery featuring the renowned artist WD (Wild Drawing) and other contributors. The vibrant murals against the raw coastal backdrop made the site a favorite for visitors and photographers alike.
As of November 2025, local authorities demolished the complex, and the street art no longer exists. While this chapter has ended, Alyko Beach remains captivating for its untouched nature, dramatic dunes, and enduring connection to the island’s landscape.
Where the Sea Meets Protected Land
Alyko is more than a shoreline. Here, the juniper forest of Kedrodasos meets the sea, forming a rare ecosystem protected under the Natura 2000 network. Dunes, ancient trees, wildlife, and the open horizon exist in quiet balance, shaped over centuries rather than seasons.
Even the former street art now survives only in memory—an impermanent layer in a place defined by resilience. Its absence has returned Alyko to its raw, elemental form.
A Natural Continuation of the Journey – ELaiolithos
Just 20 minutes inland, ELaiolithos continues the same conversation—without interruption, traffic, or noise. The drive is easy and unhurried, carrying you from sea light to land stillness.
The values felt at Alyko—simplicity, respect for nature, and space to breathe—take shape at ELaiolithos through local harvest-inspired food, experiences guided by the season rather than a schedule, and time that unfolds naturally.
Experience Naxos Beyond the Shoreline
Alyko is not a destination to collect.
It is a place that resets the pace.
For travelers staying at ELaiolithos, visiting Alyko becomes part of a wider rhythm—sea in the morning, land in the afternoon, silence carried through both.
Some places are meant to be seen.
Others ask to be felt.
This is Naxos for those who move with awareness—choosing depth over speed, nature over noise, and journeys that continue long after the view fades.
