Naxos is thought to be the home of Dionysus – a god much loved by the ancient Greeks as he was the god of wine, celebration, and fun. Dionysus still has a lot of influence over Naxos! And when it comes to value-for-money, Naxos is perhaps the best Cycladic island.
In Naxos, Dionysus was believed to live in dense forests and to be always drunken by wine. As Naxos was famous in antiquity for its wine production that was traded all over Greece and the Mediterranean, people believed that the god Dionysus resided permanently in the lush forests of Naxos.
According to the legend, when Theseus abandoned Ariadne on Naxos, Dionysus saw her and fell in love with the young, beautiful lady. At first, Ariadne didn’t like him and tried to hide in the island’s greenery but Dionysus found her, they got married, and Ariadne became a goddess. To honour their god, the residents of Naxos built a large temple in the 6th Century. Part of this temple still survives today, close to Glinado Village, around 5km from Chora. For more mythical islands, consider our Crete holidays and Rhodes holidays.
Geographically, Naxos is the largest Greek island of the Cycladic complex and she is highly underrated as a top-tier tourist destination. Or is she? If you ask one of the locals they will respond, “this is just how we like it”; which pretty much sums up the vibe of the island. When it comes to value-for-money, Naxos is the best Cycladic island.
Naxos seems to have been left out of the incredible tourist boom of the Cyclades during the last decade. Naxos is truly a self-sustainable island, with its own agriculture and livestock farming – so do not be surprised to see cows and sheep 5 minutes from the port! Prices are low while the quality of food, fun, accommodation, and adventure is at an all-time high. Please get in touch if you have any further questions about our Naxos holidays!
This huge marble gate is the island’s emblem. Dating from the 6th Century B.C., this remnant of an Archaic temple is described in some guidebooks as the Temple of Apollo, while others call it Ariadne’s Arch (historians and archaeologists can’t conclusively establish the Greek god in whose honour the structure was originally built!). Though its origins might still be a mystery, the Portara is an excellent place to watch the sunset and to enjoy superb views of Naxos Town, its harbour, and its nearby coastline.
Naxos has an abundance of wind. It has one of the few wind parks in the Cyclades generating self-sustainable energy, as well as offering super spots for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The shallow crystal blue waters, strong winds and protected coves create the perfect conditions for all levels of wind sports enthusiasts.
Chora is the capital of Naxos and expands all the way from the port to Kastro. It really is the perfect example of Cycladic architecture. Whitewashed, sugar cube houses with painted blue doors and windows, small chapels, arches and endless narrow paved alleys, make this labyrinth so charming. This citadel is the center of life on the island. It is lively, with many restaurants, taverns, cafes, bars and shops.
Swing bar, near the port serves up molecular mixology combining seasonal ingredients with dramatic presentation (think dry ice smoke and colourful bubbles!). As well as the delicious cocktails, Swing is also famed for its great music. We recommend arriving early in the evening to bag a seat on either the small sunset terrace or the back terrace facing the castle ruins.
After you’ve spent the day soaking up the sun in the golden-sand beaches and coves of Agia Anna, Plaka and Mikrh Vigla along the west coast, finish off your day with a cocktail at Panorama restaurant which offers the best sunset view on the whole island.
It would be wise to leave a day free for a sailing trip from Naxos, to the nearby islands and islets coined the ‘’Small Cyclades’’. A couple of stops further is the popular sailing destination of Koufonisa which is famous for white beaches and green-blue waters.
Monodendri Beach is the only ‘organised’ beach on the island – meaning there are free sunbeds and watersports. Monodendri is also home to the famous Ben’s Bar. Ben’s bar is a whole day destination with sunbeds, a DJ, excellent swimming, massages and cracking food served all day. If you’re there brunch time, definitely try the delicious pancakes!
For a very unusual experience, check out the abandoned hotel of Alko on the south-west coast. The hotel complex in Alyko was being built in the 60s/70s but they seemed to run out of money o and they never finished building it. Now it’s been turned into an open-air exhibition for street artist Wild Drawing, who is Balinese but based in Athens, and the decaying and eerie buildings provide an excellent backdrop to his work. It’s also right on a beach, backed by a cedar forest – so lovely for a stroll!
In Naxos, you will find many options of local home-produced wine, but there are no major wineries, apart from the Kitron distillery; which produces the Kitron liqueur – a speciality of the island. Varieties often mentioned as options in Naxos are: Aspromantilaria, Potamisi, Karambraimis, Kouforrogo, Flaska and Mavridano. For anyone really into wine, pay a visit to Oinohoros Wine Bar and Shop – it’s akin to a wine library!
Would you like to find out more about this destination or speak with one of our Epicureans about the best options in Greece? Reach out to one of our experts who can tailor an unforgettable experience that will be the envy of your friends.