Naxos: Where To Go In The Largest Island Of Cyclades

Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades and a unique travel destination that you will definitely love. It is the island of the Aegean that combines everything. It combines the mountain with the sea, ancient temples with traditional settlements, towers with castles, and traditional music and dance with intense nightlife. In Naxos, you will enjoy wonderful beaches with crystal clear waters. You will taste the famous Naxian cheeses such as graviera, kefalotyri, and xinotyro. Also, do not forget to try its traditional dishes such as rabbit with lemon, a rooster with wine, homemade sausages, and goat in the oven. So get ready to travel to the famous Cycladic island with its award-winning beaches.

1. Travel Information
   Once you ae in Greece, you will either go to Naxos from Athens or Thessaloniki. You can go from Athens by air or by ferry from Piraeus and Rafina, by boat or by high-speed catamaran. You can also go from Thessaloniki by direct flight to Paros and then by boat.

2. Beaches of Naxos
   Naxos is famous for its beautiful beaches with its blue waters. Agios Prokopios is the best beach in Naxos, awarded with a Blue Flag. Agia Anna is one of the best-organized beaches with tourist infrastructure. Mikri Vigla is for lovers of windsurfing and kite surfing, while Alyko has a wonderful cedar forest. Another beach is Plaka which has terrific golden sand. Close to Naxos Town is Agios Georgios and below Portara is the small beach of Vinci. In the northeast of the island, there are the beaches Apollonas, Liona, Moutsouna, Psili Ammos, and Panermos that are also worth a visit.

3. Villages of Naxos
   While you enjoy the beaches of Naxos, you can tour the villages of Naxos, such as Filoti, which is the largest village on the island and has a museum of the collection of Greek coins. Also, do not miss the village of Apollon, where you can enjoy traditional food in its taverns. Halki is where you will see the temple of Panagia Protothroni, and Apeiranthos is the most authentic village on the whole island. There are also countless other villages for your walks, such as Biblos, Damarion, Glinado, Damalas, Galini, Komiaki, Galanado, and Egares.

4. Sights and Historical Monuments of Naxos
   In Chora, you will see the monument of Naxos Portara, a huge marble gate of a temple built in the 6th century BC. in honor of the god Apollo and is located on the northern edge of the Port of Naxos. In the seaside village of Apollo, you will find one of the most important archaeological finds of Naxos and the whole of Greece, the Kouros of Apollonas. In the village of Sagri, you will see the Temple of Demeter. At a distance of 12 km. from Naxos Town is the Bazeos Tower which is one of the historical monuments of the island and one of the many Venetian towers that the island has. Also, the island has many monasteries. Do not forget to visit Panagia Drosiani in the village of Moni, which is one of the most important early Christian temples of Naxos.

5. Museums of Naxos
   Naxos has many museums, where it is recommended to spend a few hours of your trip. In the Archaeological Museum of Naxos, you will admire objects and works of art which came to light after the continuous excavations carried out since the Second World War. The finds date from the Late Neolithic to early Christian times. Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic times are represented by characteristic samples of pottery and clay figures. In addition, ceramics and a collection of glass vases from the Roman era are exhibited in the museum.
   The Geological Museum of Apeiranthos exhibits rocks from all over the island, dominated by Emery, the famous dark marble of Naxos. In addition, the museum exhibits rocks from other Cycladic islands such as Milos and Santorini. So you can admire sharp obsidian blades from Milos and volcanic rocks from Thera, as well as from the region of Etna and Vesuvius. Also, do not forget to visit the Archaeological Museum and Folklore Museum of Apeiranthos, where the exhibits will amaze you.

6. Activities in Naxos
   Apart from the attractions that Naxos has, there are many activities that you can do to have fun with your friends or family. The island of Naxos provides the ideal conditions to enjoy kitesurfing and windsurfing. You can also go cycling, horse riding, hiking, and diving in the wonderful seabed. Whatever you choose to do, you will have a great time!