In this article, the Family Travel and Food Guide to Naxos, we have gathered all the useful information we have from our family holidays in Naxos, Greece. We travelled to the Greek island of Naxos as a family of four in early June 2023 for the first time. We spent two weeks slow travelling on this Cycladic Island and we liked it so much that we decided to go back in the summer 2024 to explore more.
Naxos is the biggest island of the Cyclades and it’s known for its stunning beaches, authentic mountain villages, local food and the iconic Portara found at Chora, the main settlement of the island. Naxos is also a mecca for water sports such as windsurfing and kitesurfing – that’s one of the reasons we selected this island among many other options as our two older boys wanted to practice windsurfing.
Our Family Travel and Food Guide to Naxos will help you organise your trip to this destination.
Location
How to get to Naxos
It’s easy to get to Naxos all year round – during summer, it’s even easier. There are flights connecting the island to Athens, the main international airport, and the flight duration is about 30 minutes.
It’s also possible to reach Naxos by ferry from Piraeus port – we usually use Ferryhopper to check options and available ferries to Naxos. The island is well connected with other nearby islands during the summer months, which makes it ideal as a base of an island-hopping itinerary. For example, in 2023 we combined Naxos with Syros; in 2024 we visited Naxos, Syros and Ikaria.
Best Time to Travel to Naxos
Now! Just kidding.
The best time to travel to Naxos depends on what you want to experience as a traveler. The summer months of July and August are the busiest (as in many places in the mediterranean region), therefore if you want to enjoy the sun and the sea without the crowds, a better period would be May – June and September – October.
You could also visit Naxos during the low season and have a completely different experience. Of course, this means that not all restaurants, hotels and shops would be open. And it also means that the locals are more relaxed and open to interact with travelers, there is no traffic, accommodation prices are lower, and you get the beaches all to yourself.
Need I say more?
Where to stay in Naxos Island, Greece
Activities to do in Naxos Island, Greece
How to Get There – Book Your Ferry Tickets Here
The ultimate comfort food in Naxos.
Here are a few ideas on what you can do in Naxos with your family:
Activity no 1 – Visit the Villages
Visit the numerous villages of Naxos like Apiranthos, Filoti, Chalki and others.
Filoti. First time we visited was in the afternoon and most of the shops were closed but we could spot workshops, galleries, kitro production shop and various other shops. We followed a little path outside the village leading to an old Byzantine church which is open only in July and August as it was noted on the info. Then we sat at Greco and enjoyed 2 cocktails with kitro and one salty crepe for the kids (total 28 euros). There were not a lot of people, and we enjoyed our time together as a family.
Apiranthos: we spent an afternoon exploring this lovely village, but it wasn’t enough. The first person we met on this village was Lena from CaptainBook, a lovely bookshop where we got a children’s book about Cyclades islands and a few card postales to send to our friends. Lena had opened her bookshop only a few days ago when we visited. “I was living in Athens but I love Apiranthos and I decided to come live here on a permanent basis in November 2022,” she told us. Captain Book offers books in many languages and as Lena told us, her goal is to have books in every language. I loved seeing numerous editions related to the Greek islands, the Cyclades and many wonderful children’s books as well. The sign of the bookshop is the creation of a local artist who works at Café Sala, in Apiranthos.
This small village has several options for food, shopping, and culture and it’s definitely a must visit.
Read the Insider’s Guide to Naxos by Lena Vlastara
Apiranthos village – Bookshop
Activity no 2 – Meet the Locals
Get to know the island by interacting with the locals through a variety of available workshops and activities.
For example, you could discover marble sculpture led by Maggie Ross: in this workshop you will use Naxian marble and traditional tools, even if you have zero experience.
Or you could participate in a Half-Day Cooking Class at Basiliko Family Tavern located at a traditional village called Potamia.
Highlight for us was our meeting with artist Irini Gonou and her husband Miltos, also an artist, who now live permanently on the island. Their house on a secluded cove, far away from the hustle and bustle of Chora, was like a sanctuary with the most spectacular sunset. They moved here from Athens during Covid and never went back. They both studied for 11 years in Paris and chose to live as artists.
Here life is simple and the kids had the time of their life, playing at the garden, petting the cat, using the telescope. The place where they live has 9 residents in total. “If we haven’t been to Chora to shop, I get some greens from the garden, eggs from our neighborhood and dinner is ready. Simple,” Irini tells us.
Activity no 3 – Enjoy the sunsets and the starry night
The sunsets in Naxos are one of the highlights. I loved the day we spent at Flisvos , Agios Georgios beach, playing by the beach and waiting for the sun to dip in the sea before going for dinner nearby. I also loved all our leisure evenings at Agia Anna beach where we had dinner by the beach, always at the sunset hour. Pure magic.
Activity no 4 – Go on a cruise
Cruising around Naxos and the nearby islands is a worthy experience and if your kids are happy on board a boat, this is something you should consider experiencing. There are numerous options to choose from like this Catamaran Cruise with Swim Stops, Food, and Drinks.
Activity no 5 – Watch the sunset at Portara
Yes, it’s something that tourists do and it’s still quite an impressive experience. However, I must admit that I enjoyed much more the very quiet early morning I spent journaling at Portara when almost no one was around (10 minutes later I could see the crowds coming in, a sign for me to go).
Activity no 6 – Windsurfing at Laguna
This might not be for everyone but the sporty among your family will welcome the experience. The location at Laguna is perfect for beginners and you can rent equipment, take some classes and see if this water sport is for you.
Where to stay in Naxos Island, Greece
Activities to do in Naxos Island, Greece
How to Get There – Book Your Ferry Tickets Here
Sunset
Chora Naxou as seen from the Portara
Dinner at the beach, Agia Anna
Making new friends in Naxos
Tzimplakis store, Naxos
Tzimplakis store, Naxos
Best Beaches
Naxos is a big island with many wonderful beaches. We only explored a few of them and here is what we liked most:
Agia Anna: lovely sandy beach with many restaurants and cafes right by the sea – possibly too many. The sea is crystal clear, and we enjoyed many days on this location testing our various restaurants – cafés.
We would usually drink a coffee and a fresh orange juice, spend a few hours swimming and playing and then move a few steps up to the restaurant to enjoy a simple lunch with Greek and Naxian specialties feeling the sea salt on our skin and the sand on our toes. (Average cost for drinks and light lunch for four people: 50 euros).
The first year we visited in the beginning of June and in some places, the umbrellas and sun beds were free for the customers of the café/restaurant. However, in 2024 we visited middle June and the umbrellas/sunbeds were charged in most café/restaurants or there was a minimum consumption per person (the amount varies from one restaurant to the other).
What we also found interesting is that in 2024 that we visited in middle June, it was obviously busier and some days you had to reserve in advance for umbrellas/sunbeds to get a spot at the place you wanted.
Plaka beach: we spent one day at Tohu beach bar with very few other people around us. Plaka is more spacious than Agia Anna. There was a minimum of 10euros/consumption per person (this was early June). We liked the vibe at the day we visited (again, there were very few people around), and also enjoyed a light lunch at the restaurant with a pizza, a vegan burger and a ntako salad. (total amount of 65 euros for light lunch and coffee/juice).
Agios Prokopios beach: located about 4km from the island’s main port, this is considered one of the best beaches in Naxos (and also of the entire country). It’s a long, sandy beach with crystal clear waters with many beach bars, umbrellas and sunbeds available. There is also ample space for those who have their own equipment.
Aliko beach: this one is for people who prefer a quiet beach. Lovely setting, no beach beds on sight or cafes so you’d better come organized.
Mikri Vigla beach (Limanakia): this golden and long sand beach is family-friendly, and we enjoyed several days on this spot. There is a traditional restaurant for fresh juice, coffee and lunch.
Best Places to Eat and Drink
Naxos has numerous restaurants and good food to be enjoyed both in Chora and in the villages. In this part of the Family Travel and Food Guide to Naxos, I write only about the ones we tried and consistently liked during our visits.
Lunch or Dinner
Boulamatsis – traditional Greek food, Chora
A family-owned restaurant with good food, fair prices and nice view over the port. It can get busy, and I don’t think they take any reservations but if you come before or after the peak hours, you will probably find a table. One day we were there at 21.00 (normal dinner time for the Greeks) and most of the international travelers had already finished so we found a place easily. We loved ordering atherina (small fish), bamies (orca) with rice, traditional Greek pie with greens, sarmadakia, ntako salad with ksinomizithra cheese, and house wine. (average price paid here was 45-50 euros for a dinner for 4 people). The dessert was on the house, orange pie for the kids and liquer mastic for adults. Service is friendly and welcoming, to our kids as well.
The food was so good that we ordered for take away a few times as well.
Su e Giu – Pizza and Pasta, Chora
This is a restaurant recommended to us by local friends, and we really enjoyed the pizza and also the colourful salad we had. It’s by the main street at Chora, and you can also enjoy a lovely sunset from here. This place is owned by an Italian woman.
Yasouvlaki, Chora
For souvlaki, quick service, good souvlaki, large selection of food options and they also offer vegan souvlaki (21 euros for a dinner for 4).
Liatero at Agia Anna: with great location, this beach bar – restaurant is an all-day spot. In the morning you can enjoy breakfast and hours of swimming, followed by laid back lunch and an impressive dinner, impressive both because of the food but also the sunset views.
Akrogiali, Agia Anna beach: we spent several days at Akrogiali where we had coffee, juices and usually lunch. Every time we would choose different dishes, and we were very satisfied with all our meals and the friendly service. Ntakos, potato salad, zucchini balls, 2 half pasta for the kids, beer, coffees, fresh orange juice: 50 euros.
To Ellinikon, Naxos Chora: we tried this restaurant two days before leaving Naxos and were very happy with what they offer. The ambiance at their big yard with the lounge music is lovely and the food is delicious as well. It was obvious that they had returning customers (and we became one of them as well as we surely chose this place for our last dinner on the island). The first evening we tried octopus stifado, moussaka, beetroot salad, zucchini balls, and two kids’ menus with pasta plus ½ kilo wine for a total of 62 euros. The orange pie as a dessert was on the house and very tasty. They also serve lunch but because of its location, I believe it’s better for dinner.
Rotonda: this gourmet restaurant offers magnificent views. It’s also a great spot just for drinks during sunset. We tried their truffle and mushrooms risotto, quinoa-cous cous salad, meatballs with potatoes, pie with greens which was so delicious we got a second round, 2 glasses of Sauvignon wine and bottled water for a total of 72 euros.
For dessert kids got ice cream and us, adults raki psimeni, both on the house. We loved our dinner at Rotonda restaurant, and the service was very friendly and welcoming. It’s about 45-minutes’ drive from Chora and well worth the effort to come up to here. Reservation is recommended.
Aksiotissa, Kastraki: this was one of the must-visit places in Naxos for me as they have a great reputation. It’s popular so you should reserve a table on time. We ordered the aksiotissa Salad (we took half portion, and I loved that we had the option to do so), eggplants, falafel, slow cooked lamb with potatoes, sfakiani pita and wine for a total of 70 euros. Portions were huge so we took the falafel dish for take away. For dessert we tried the delicious orange pie (again!). It’s a 30-minutes’ drive from Chora.
Ambrosia (Platanos), Chalki village: lovely location with many cats running around the square and our kids running behind the cats. We tried ntakos salad with ksinomizithra, risotto with truffle and mushrooms, fava spread, juicy meat balls, and wine for the adults. Total amount for dinner for 4 people: 40 euros (from 43 euros, the owner decided to gift us 3 euros, can u believe that?)
Coffee and Sweet
Naxos apothecary: Great location for a coffee, a smoothie and breakfast as well while watching Portara. They have candles and other items on sale from the brand.
Aktaion pastry shop: this is an exquisite pastry shop and we loved everything we tasted during our multiple visits. Their macarons are a delight, and so is every single pastry the create.
Waffle house: for ice cream and waffles at Chora.
ChouChouro, Castle of Naxos: We spotted this new place created by pastry chef Dimitris Chronopoulos (IG profile) on our last day visiting Chora and although we were full, I regret not having tasted their profiterole. Check their IG page and you will understand easily why.
Best places to Shop
Gousto mou – kapelo tou: Shopping and Drinks, a lovely space where you can buy women’s clothes and accessories while the boys can have a coffee, a cocktail or a homemade sweet treat at the bar. The place made me feel happy and the colourful summer dress I took as a souvenir, will always remind me of our family vacations spent in Naxos. Website
Tzimplakis store: this place has everything. We bought capper, loose tea, handmade soaps to gift to our friends and two lovely card postals depicting the shop (the owner informed me that these card postales were created by his daughter, who was studying in Athens).
Location: Papavasiliou Street, Chora Naxou
Promponas: traditional shop where you can buy local delicacies such as citron, loukoumi and liquer. They also offer tasting tours. Website
Where to stay in Naxos Island, Greece
Activities to do in Naxos Island, Greece
How to Get There – Book Your Ferry Tickets Here
Where to Stay in Naxos – For Families
Cavo Ventus Apartment
Our first time in Naxos we booked this lovely apartment which is just a few minutes away from the port. Best part about it was the panoramic views of its spacious balcony over the deep blue of the Aegean Sea – we spent many hours chilling on our balcony and the boys loved watching the ferries come and go.
The host, Mrs Evaggelia was very kind and brought us all kind of goodies such as homemane apple pie, marmelades, fruits from their orchard and even little gifts for our kids when we were leaving.
The apartment was spacious, very clean and had everything we needed for our two weeks stay. If I could add anything, it would be a bit more space in the kitchen, a bigger kitchen table and a better quality bed mattress to fit the overall quality of this great apartment.
There was also parking available and nearby you can find a supermarket and Aktaion patisserie, a great spot for those with a sweet tooth (like us).
Other places I have spotted in Naxos based on their location, reviews and amenities for families (though haven’t had a personal experience so far), are the following ones:
Argo Boutique hotel, Old Town Naxos
Iliada Villas, Stelida Agios Prokopios
Naxian Utopia Luxury Villas & Suites, Agios Prokopios
Naxos Finest Hotel and Villas, Naxos Town
Melidron Hotel and Suites, Agios Prokopios
Kedros Villas, Agios Prokopios
Did we enjoy our family travels in Naxos, Cyclades islands in Greece? Absolutely! Were two weeks too long to stay on one island? Absolutely not. If we could, we would choose to stay longer. There is still so much to explore and that’s why we are planning to return.
However, if I had a choice I would avoid visiting the island from 15th June – 01st September or I would select to stay on a mountain village instead of the seaside.
Reasons I would return to Naxos with our family:
- For the amazing sea ( I cannot get over how inviting the sea is in Naxos)
- For the delicious local food
- To climb mount Zeus
- To have a private dinner at a secluded place with Depy from Naxos Cozy Nest
- To have an afternoon coffee at Apiranthos village
- To buy books from Captain Book bookstore at the traditional village of Apiranthos and discuss more with Lena Vlastara, the owner
- To spend more time with locally-based artist Irini Gonou and her husband
- To meet more local people, producers and artists
- To have an evening drink by the beach, listening to the sea waves
- For all the sweet treats at Aktaion pattiserie
- To taste the profiterole at ChouChouro
- To taste a smoothie an Naxian Apothecary while journaling with the view of Portara nearby
- For a sunset drink at Rotonda restaurant followed by an epic dinner
- To explore Chalki village
- For a cruise at Koufonisia and the southern part of Naxos
- For shopping at Tzimplakis store and at “Gousto mou Kapelo tou” (clothes and accessories)
- To enjoy one more sunset at Portara – despite the crowds
- To explore more villages on the island
- For yoga sessions by the sea
- To keep watching my boys shouting with enthusiasm at the sight of yet another ferry
- To learn more secrets from the locals
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I hope this Family Travel and Food Guide to Naxos will help you organise your family trips.
Have you visited Naxos with your family? Are there any other places you would recommend visiting? Any other activities worth experiencing? Leave a comment down below!
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