Cyclades consists of 39 islands, of which 24 are inhabited, and Naxos is the largest of all, and one of the most beautiful Greek islands with its diversity and self sufficiency.
Where is Naxos?
Being centrally located at the heart of Greece, in the center of Aegean archipelago and Cyclades, Naxos provides an easy access to most other Cycladic islands. It’s located very close to the islands of Paros, Ios, Santorini, Mykonos, Delos and Syros. Naxos’ location makes the island a great destination on its own and a perfect stop for those interested in exploring a few Greek islands.
Is Naxos worth visiting?
You bet it is! All Cyclades Islands are magical, but what sets Naxos apart is its greenery and its higlands, its 45 picturesque villages, its 148 Km of crystal clear blue sea waters for swimming, its great variery of local wines, its abundance of organic fruit and vegetable fields, its thousands of goats, and plethora of attractions and monuments.
Naxos is the largest and the most quintessential isle of the Cyclades and it’s offering a great balance of pretty much everything you expect and want to experience in a Greek island.
Naxos is filled with a plethora of things to do and things to see. It’s beset by craggy marble mountains that lurch above the Aegean Sea, and old charming villages that take you back in time. Here you enjoy amazing food gastronomy with the best cheeses, potatoes and meat of Greece, you discover many beautiful hiking paths, many archaelogical sites, Byzantine churches, and you come in contact with the raw way of living. Here you vacate yourself from the everyday life, you relax and enjoy the simplicity of life in a lower pace. These are just a few of the many amazing things Naxos has to offer, and many more waiting for you to be explored. And at the end, you will yourself state that yes, Naxos is worth visiting? I bet it is!
Getting to Naxos island is very easy compared to many other Greek islands, during the summer and even during the winter, as it is well connected with Athens and other Greek islands both by ferry and plane, on a daily basis. Naxos has an airport, and a port with daily connections by boat with Athens, the capital of Greece. Also it has great connections with the other Cycaldic islands, Crete, Rafina and the Lavrio port. Someone visiting Naxos can very easily visit the other islands in a very short time. Naxos has a vast array of accommodation suitable for every kind of traveler, restaurants, taverns, cafe, rental car agencies, good public transportation, and above all and very important is that Naxos has a hospital – a great advantage for a Greek island.
How Long Should I Stay in Naxos?
Naxos is large, Naxos has many things to be explored and discovered, and according to our guests’ opinions, the best thing to do is to book a vacation between 5-7 days long, which allows you to visit most major attractions, and enjoy its beaches and villages. 5-7 days will offer you the opportunity to enjoy the island’s beauty, local life, tradition and culture in the beautiful mainland. What makes Naxos different and unique than the rest of the Cycladic islands is its mainland. The natural geology of the mainland region and its size uncovers a world of fascinating contrasts that will captivate you. Naxos is a very diverse island, full of surprises which is impossible to discover in just 3 days, except if you plan to come back……
We’ll give you Getting There & Around information on which is the easiest way on how to get to Naxos
How to get to Naxos from abroad
- Getting to Naxos from abroad by plane, is via Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, or Thessaloniki airport.
- Or you arrive in Athens by plane, and then you choose a ferry to get to Naxos through Piraeus, Rafina or Lavrio ports.
- Or you flight to Athens, then you fly to Mykonos or Santorini or Paros, and then you take a ferry to come to Naxos.
Ferry or Flight to Naxos?
You can travel to Naxos either by plane or ferry.
- Traveling by plane is faster, from the time the plane gets in the air in Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (more details here) you’re landing in Naxos within 20 minutes, and from Thessaloniki it’s a 40 minute flight. There’re regular flights departing from Athens 1-5 times per day. The airport in Naxos is located only 4km from the port.
There is Bus service to and from the port of Piraeus available from and to Athens airport with about 1 hr transport time. Or there is access to and from Athens airport to the port of Piraeus by the Attiko Metro to Monastiraki station and then make the connection to the ISAP train line (here)to Piraeus.
Domestic airlines:
For Skyscanner flights you can check here
For Olympicair flights you can check here
- Travelling by ferry from Piraeus port is 3.5-4 hrs by the Seajets high speed ferries, or 5.5-6 hrs with the Blue Star boats, depending on weather, the season and the ports of call on the way. Blue Star boats usually live from the Piraeus port in Athens at 7am or 7:20am and then at 5:30pm or 6pm, depending the day. High speed ferries leave from Piraeus port in Athens, around 7am most of the days, and about 5:30pm.
Both, Blue Star and Fast ferries route is from Piraeus to Naxos with a stop to Paros.
Even though the flight by plane is shorter, traveling by ferry is for most people more fun and less expensive. Both, Blue Star Ferries and Seajets travel with both conventional and high-speed vessels.
How to get to Naxos from Athens by ferry:
Athens is the main getaway to travel to Naxos as all its ports and its airport is well connected to the island. There are multiple ferry routes from the 3 ports of Athens: Piraeus, Lavrio and Rafina, as well as frequent flights from the Athens Eleutherios Venizelos International Airport.
Rafina to Naxos: The port of Rafina is closer to Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (more details here) and travel to Naxos from here is much shorter. From the airport to Rafina is 30 minutes driving distance with a taxi or a car. There’re 3 daily departures from Rafina to Naxos. The ferries that operate on this route are Seajets and Golden Star Ferries with conventional vessels and speedboats. The distance between the two ports is 85 nautical miles, the travel time is 3.5-4.5 hrs, and the price for a single ferry ticket starts at 30 €/person.
Lavrio to Naxos: There is 1 weekly ferry from the port of Lavrio to Naxos, usually on Saturdays. The ferry company that operates this route is the Blue Star Ferries with the conventional vessel Artemis. The trip is about 8.5 hrs and the ferry ticket price is about 25 €/person.
The way you will choose to arrive to Naxos depends on how much time you have for your travels. If you want to save time, then you will prefer to fly to Naxos. But if you don’t care about the time, and you would love to stroll around the boat, breath fresh sea air, and view the island’s capital and the Portara gate upon approaching the port of Naxos, then you will choose the ferry. Also money if money is an issue, know that generally speaking, the faster the ferry the more expensive it is.
One thing is true though: traveling by ferry is more environmentally friendly compared to traveling by airplane. If you are a green traveler and you care about the environment, then you’ll prefer to travel by ferry because it’s eco friendly and sustainable traveling.
- The Blue Star ferries move with a speed of approximately 20-25 knots and in most cases carry from 1500-2500 passengers and a large number of vehicles. Usually the Blue Star’s ticket costs around 42 €/person
- The high speed ferries, Seajets and Catamarans, move with a speed that may reach up to 40 knots and usually carry up to 1000 passengers. Not all of them carry vehicles. Depending though on the weather, if there’re high winds, their itineraries get canceled. The Seajets High Speed costs between 55-60 €/person
Further information about ferries can be found here:
Check ferry tickets to Greece here
Naxos Island Hopping Tips
How can we get to other Greek islands in the Cyclades from Naxos? Can I fly from Naxos to other Greek islands in the Cyclades?
Although Naxos has an airport, it is not possible to fly to other Greek islands. Currently, the airport in Naxos only connects with the main airport in Athens. The only way to travel to other islands from Naxos in Greece is by ferry. There are dozens of Greek ferry companies, with the most commonly used ones from Naxos are the Blue Star Ferries, SeaJets, Minoan Lines, Express Skopelitis.
What island to combine with Naxos?
Most visitors love island hopping and want to visit Mykonos, Santorini and Naxos. These islands are a must visit, and they’re very well connected with each other on a daily basis. Your staying also in Naxos, offers you the opportunity to go to a day-itinerary in the adjacent Paros island. Santorini is spectacular, Mykonos is trendy and cool, Paros is cosmopolitan, and Naxos is a complete different experience of all, with a laid back atmosphere, and a lower pace where you can really savor your holiday moments . A different world awaits you here in a unique and one of a kind spot on Naxos island that offers an abundant variety of choices and unique experiences.
How to get from Santorini to Naxos
Naxos Santorini: this connection is super convenient on a daily basis! Santorini and Naxos are two popular destinations that most visitors travel. The islands are very well connected by ferry throughout the whole year every day, morning, noon, afternoon and night. During the summer there’re at least 4-6 ferries per day by the Blue Star Ferries, Seajets, and Golden Star Ferries.
The faster way to get to Naxos from Santorini is by highspeed boat as the duration of the trip is just 1 hour. Cost of the ticket is between €20 to €80, depending on the ferry you choose. Some highspeed ferries do not cary vehicles. While staying in Naxos, many people choose to go daily trip, a 1-day itinerary to Santorini because there is a ferry that leaves very early in the morning and comes back late at night.
The same thing applies if you want to get from Naxos to Santorini
There’re no direct flights from Santorini to Naxos. You have to travel by plane to Athens and then take the ferry or plane to Naxos.
How to get from Mykonos to Naxos
You can get to Naxos from Mykonos by ferry, there’re about 2-5 ferries that connect the two islands all year long. Conventional ferries and speedboats by Seajets, Minoan Lines, Blue Star Ferries, Fast Ferries, and Golden Star Ferries usually serve this route. Sailing time is between 1-3 hrs, depending on the kind of the ferry you choose, fast or regular, and cost of the ticket is around 30 €/person.
The same thing applies if you want to get from Naxos to Mykonos
There’re no direct flights from Mykonos to Naxos. You have to travel domestically by plane to Athens and then take the ferry or plane to Naxos.
How to get to Naxos from Paros
Naxos and Paros are like sister islands. There is a great connection between Paros and Naxos on a daily basis with 2-7 ferries, and a sailing time for just 40 minutes. From Naxos you clearly see with naked eye Paros island and its villages. Paros is located just 30 Km from Naxos and it’s a great way to either continue your travels to the island of Paros and Antiparos, or visit them for a daily trip. Blue Star Ferries, Seajets and Golden Star Ferries normally operate on this route with conventional and high-speed vessels. Price of the ticket is between 6-43 €/person.
The same thing applies if you want to get from Naxos to Paros
There’re no direct flights from Paros to Naxos. You have to travel by plane to Athens and then take the ferry or plane to Naxos.
How do I get from Crete to Naxos
- During the summer months there’re 4-5 ferries that cover the route Naxos-Heraklion (the capital of Crete), from June-end of September, and
- 2 weekly ferries cover the route Naxos to Rethymnon.
Both with sailing time about 3.5-4 hrs and cost of the ticket about 80 €/person
There’re no direct flights from Naxos to Crete. You have to travel domestically by plane to Athens and then take the ferry or plane to Naxos.
Sometimes there’s a fairy from Chania to Naxos, only during high season.
The same thing applies if you want to get from Naxos to Crete
You can check dates and itineraries of Minoan Lines here
How to get to Naxos from Amorgos
Amorgos through its port of Katapola is another Cycaldic island that is daily connected with Naxos. Amorgos belongs to the Small Cycladic islands, and it’s 29 miles away from Naxos. The duration of the ferry ride though varies from 1.5-4 hrs depending on the type of vessel and its scheduled itinerary.
There’re several ferries that connect the two islands, conventional and high speed, and choosing the right ferry will get you there faster. Right ferry means choosing the ferry with the less stops on other islands
The same thing applies if you want to get from Naxos to Amorgos
How to get to Naxos from Syros
Syros is located 29 miles from Naxos and it will take you 3 hrs to get there by the ferry, while it will cost you approximately 10 € per person. There is no daily connection between the two islands, so if you want to visit them both, plan in advance. Usually there’s a connection 2-3 times a week.
How to get to Naxos from other islands
Naxos been in the center of the Cyclades, is an ideal base and starting point in case you want to visit some other islands also. Many visitors go daily trips to the adjacent islands called Small Cyclades, such as Koufonisia, Donoussa, Iraklia and Schinoussa, that are pretty close to Naxos. The Blue Star Ferries and Small Cyclades Lines with the Express Skopelitis will take you to these islands. During summertime, these islands are connected on a daily basis, which makes them ideal for island hopping.
DAILY CONNECTIONS:
Naxos-Ano Koufonisi: there’re 1-2 boats/day, 2.5 hrs sailing time.
Naxos-Donoussa: 3-5 boats/day, about 1 hr sailing time
Naxos-Iraklia:1-2 boats/day, 1.5 hrs sailing time
Naxos-Skinoussa:1-2 boats/day, 2 hrs sailing time
How to get to Naxos from Northern/Northeastern Greece
Usually beginning of June, the Hellenic Seaways announce the name of the ferry, the days and the times that will connect Paros and Naxos with the islands of Patmos, Ikaria, Samos, Chios, Lesvos, Lemnos and Kavala.
You can check their web site here
If you want to get detailed information about the ferries in Greece, you can read this interesting article here
How to get around Naxos
Naxos is a big island, and even if you stay in Naxos town, the capital, or the surrounding area, you need a car to get around. Naxos has a good public transportation and there’re also a lot of taxis that can take you to basic places. True freedom though and versatility, as well as time saving, and the ability to get to off the beaten path places, is only granted with a car. You can rent a car in Naxos, but make sure you book yours in advance as there’re many tourists during high season on the island, and there is great demand.
Rent a Car: Renting a car is the best way since you have the freedom of getting around at your own flexibility, it’s relatively more affordable overall, and the main attractions and major villages are quite spread out and away from the town and its surroundings. There are many car rental agencies in Naxos town, by the port and the airport. Having your own car to get around is ideal, time saving and more convenient.
Motorbike: Similar to car rental, there are many kiosks you can find in Naxos town that rent motorbikes, scooters, and ATVs. It’s a great way to road trip throughout the island without breaking the bank.
Bus: During summertime, there’re frequent bus services linking the town Chora to villages around the island, and to some major Naxos beaches everyday. The bus service (K.T.E.L as it is referred to in Greece), is the cheapest way to get around the island, with major stops to include: Chalki, Filoti, Apiranthos and Koronos. Price: 2-4 €/one way.
Naxos Bus times and itineraries can be found here
Taxi: No need to look for Uber on Naxos. You wont find them because Uber is illegal in Greece. There’re plenty of taxis though on the island, especially around the port, the airport, and near the town, Chora. Though far more expensive than buses, this is the only practical way if you’re short on time. You can also book taxis online. Price: 15 € from port to Plaka beach/one way. For the rest of the routes, ask ahead for the price, even though prices differ a little bit, and everything depends on the availability of the moment
If you need a taxi, you can book it by calling on any of the following numbers:
0030 22850 25835 or 0030 22850 24829 or
To find a Naxos Airport Taxi look here
Taxi-boats: They’re available for day trips to Koufonisia, and or other Small Cycladic islands, but they can only be reserved ahead of time. For price ask the concierge of your hotel/accommodation.
Naxos Useful Telephone Numbers
To make you feel safe and comfortable, help you organize your trip better, or act quickly in case of emergency.
- Telephone Area Code: +30 22850
- Police : +30 22850 22100
- Tourist Police: +30 22850 22100
- Police Station of Filoti : +30 22850 31224
- Police Station of Komiaki +30 22850 52247
- Health center, Hospital: +30 22850 23333, 23550, 23676, +30 22853 60500
- Pharmacies : +30 22850 23183, 25400
- Naxos Airport : +30 22850 23292
- Fire Department: +30 22850 32199
- Tourist information office : +30 22850 24570
- OTE – Telecom center : +30 22850 22599
- Municipality of Naxos, Town hall : +30 22850 22717
- Post office : +30 22850 22211
- Bus Terminal (KTEL) : +30 22850 22291
- Radio taxi : +30 22850 24331
- Taxi Terminal : +30 22850 22444
- Port Authority : +30 22850 22300, 23939
- Olympic Airways : +30 22850 23292, 23043
- National Bank (Chora) +30 22850 23053
- Agrotiki Bank (Chora) +30 22850 22718
- Alpha Bank (Chora) +30 22850 26101
- Piraeus Bank (Chora) +30 22850 29411
Museums
- Archaeological Museum +30 22850 22725
- Venetian Museum (Chora) +30 22850 22387
- Folklore Museum (Apiranthos) +30 22850 61629
- Geological Museum (Apiranthos) +30 22850 61725
- Natural History Museum (Apiranthos) +30 22850 61622 We want to make sure you’ve got all information on how to get to Naxos for a hassle-free vacation by offering you a detailed guidance on how to get to Naxos.
