Naxos For the first time

Plan your first trip to the idyllic isle of Naxos, Greece - the largest island in the Cyclades and a true hidden gem. It certainly won’t be your last.

Nomad Naxos

Spend your first day in Naxos, Greece at Nomad Naxos, a perfectly picturesque beach club and restaurant on Plaka Beach. Featuring bohemian straw-fringed umbrellas, a wall of earthy cacti, and a gorgeous view of the Aegean Sea, Nomad Naxos captures the tranquil essence of the isle of Naxos.

We spent the day lounging, reading, and swimming in the stunningly clear and warm Aegean Sea. Throughout the afternoon we ordered fresh watermelon salad with mint + Naxian tsimiskaki cheese, freshly caught Naxian sashimi, and of course multiple spritzes.

Email ahead of time to book your reservation (info@nomadnaxos.com) - the cost for a set of lounge chairs was a 100€ minimum food and drink order. To get to Plaka Beach, we took a taxi out of Chora and ensured we got a business card so we could call when we were ready to return.

dal professore Naxos

After a relaxing day on Plaka Beach, soak in the sunset while enjoying fresh mediterranean fare at Dal Professore Naxos in Chora. The view truly speaks for itself.

We ordered Red Snapper Carpaccio, Del Proffessore Paccheri, and Naxian Mountain Goat Gnocchi, which was particularly delectable.

citron tasting at promponas distillery

Spend your second day in Naxos tasting kitron at the century-old, family owned Promponas Distillery, just outside of Chora. Kitron is a liqueur produced from the leaves of the citron tree, exclusively distilled on Naxos. It comes in three varieties - clear, green, and orange, varying in sweetness.

Our tour guide Sofia shared her family history and charming anecdotes of her childhood, growing up around the kitron distillation process. Following our tour, we sampled each kitron variety along with homemade bruschetta, pepper jelly, and cheese. We booked our tour through AirBnb Experiences.

the temple of apollo - Portara

Ensure you carve out time to watch the sunset from Naxos’ unforgettable Temple of Apollo - Portara, built in 6th Century B.C. It’s about a fifteen minute walk from Chora - make sure you arrive with ample time as it does get a bit crowded.

naxos’ mountain towns

If you only take one thing from this guide to Naxos, let it be this - rent a car for an afternoon and explore the charming mountain towns. Naxos features the highest point in the Cyclades, Mount Zas, where Zeus was rumored to have been born.

Our first stop was Naxos’ most ancient settlement, Melanes. It was too early (around 10AM) and far too hot for much to be open, so we wandered the quiet, quaint streets and took in the lush scenery.

Our second stop was Chalkio, a sleepy centuries-old mountain village surrounded by neoclassical houses and olive groves.

We ordered lunch at Yanni’s, a traditional tavern in the town square enveloped by a canopy of grape vines. While on Naxos you must order saganaki, a fried cheese served with lemon. It is to die for.

Our final stop on our Naxian mountain trek was Apeiranthos, “the marble village” with only 1,100 inhabitants. The architecture - built up the mountain in an amphitheatric fashion - has remained nearly untouched since the time of the Venetian empire. Here we wandered through the ancient streets, snacked on honey-drenched Greek yogurt, and purchased handmade pottery.

DOUkATO

Loved by locals - Doukato is a traditional Greek restaurant in the heart of Chora. We enjoyed more saganaki paired with a strawberry sauce, pork chops covered in fresh naxian cheese, and steamed mussels. Make a reservation or you’ll be hard pressed to find a table.

I hope this glimpse into my first trip to Naxos, Greece helps inspire you to travel to this hidden gem.