Naxos
The Soulful Cycladic Heart
Nestled in the heart of the Aegean Sea, Naxos is an island where mythology, history, and contemporary life weave together into something quietly magnetic.
The largest of the Cyclades, it offers a depth that is felt rather than flaunted—where ancient marble quarries and Byzantine chapels coexist with chic seaside hotels and farm-to-table dining. Whitewashed villages like Apeiranthos and Halki seem untouched by time, while the capital, Chora, hums with local life and cultural flair.
With its fertile valleys, golden beaches, and an authentic pace, Naxos invites you to slow down and connect—to nature, to craftsmanship, to flavors passed down for generations. Unlike the spectacle of Mykonos or the drama of Santorini, Naxos seduces with subtlety. It’s Greece at its most grounded and generous—where beauty is not curated, but lived.
Where to Stay: Boutique Luxury in Naxos
Naxian Collection – Stelida
Perched above Agios Prokopios, Naxian Collection offers a harmonious blend of Cycladic architecture and modern comforts. This boutique hotel features suites and villas with private pools, panoramic sea views, and personalized services. Guests can indulge in organic breakfasts and enjoy proximity to both the beach and Naxos Town.
18 Grapes Boutique Hotel – Agios Prokopios
Just 200 meters from the renowned Agios Prokopios Beach, 18 Grapes Boutique Hotel exudes understated elegance. This family-owned property boasts rooms and suites with sea views, private pools, and outdoor hot tubs. With a focus on personalized service, guests can savor fine dining experiences and unwind at the Grape Sunset Bar.
Laguna Coast Resort – Stelida
Set within a 480-acre protected reserve, Laguna Coast Resort is a sanctuary of eco-luxury. Opened in May 2025, this resort offers suites and villas with private pools or jacuzzis, surrounded by wetlands and a lagoon. Guests can explore the area via horseback or e-bike, dine at the open-air restaurant, and immerse themselves in the resort's commitment to sustainability.
WHERE TO STAY
EXPERIENCES
1. Sunset at the Portara – Private Sunset Walk & Mythology Talk
As the sun begins its descent, join a local guide for a private walk along the ancient causeway leading to Portara, the marble gateway of the Temple of Apollo. While the sky turns to hues of saffron and rose, your guide shares the myths and history tied to this sacred site—its connection to Delian Apollo, its unfinished dreams, and its enduring symbolism. With the Aegean sea shimmering below, this is a sunset steeped in story and silence.
2. Explore the Villages – Half-Day Guided Tour of Naxos' Mountain Heartland
Depart with your private driver-guide into the lush Tragea valley, where time stands still in villages like Halki, Filoti, and Apeiranthos. Visit Byzantine chapels with frescoed walls, meet ceramicists and weavers still working in the old way, and sip homemade liqueurs at a family-run distillery. This tour uncovers the soul of Naxos—deeply rooted, quietly flourishing, and rarely seen by casual visitors.
3. Hike Mount Zas – Guided Trek on the Trail of the Gods
Follow in the footsteps of legend with a guided trek up Mount Zas, the highest peak in the Cyclades and, according to myth, the childhood home of Zeus himself. As your guide leads you through shaded paths, marble outcrops, and cave sanctuaries, you’ll pause for sweeping vistas and stories that connect the mountain to ancient Greek cosmology. At the summit: a 360-degree view over sea, stone, and sky.
4. Visit the Kouros Statues – Archaeology & Marble Heritage Tour
Travel with a knowledgeable local guide to Melanes and Apollonas, where colossal, unfinished statues—known as Kouroi—lie in silent slumber among ancient marble quarries. Learn about the sculpting traditions of Archaic Greece, the island’s once-thriving marble export, and the technical marvels of these works left mysteriously incomplete. A journey into the raw material history that helped build ancient empires.
5. Cooking Class in a Traditional Home – Farm-to-Table Culinary Experience
Step inside a traditional Naxian kitchen nestled in the hills, where a local host welcomes you like family. Begin with a garden stroll to gather herbs, then roll up your sleeves to prepare dishes such as kalogiros, stuffed eggplants, and xynomizithra pies. Learn the rhythms of Naxian cooking passed down through generations, and then sit down to a shared meal over local wine and warm conversation. More than a cooking class—it’s a memory in the making
WHERE TO EAT
1. Axiotissa – Kastraki
A cult favorite for both locals and culinary travelers, Axiotissa is known for its creative, elevated take on traditional Greek cuisine. Dishes are built around organic, seasonal ingredients — many sourced directly from the owners’ farm. Expect imaginative vegetarian options, wild herbs, fresh fish, and a stellar local wine list.
Vibe: Authentic, earthy, and quietly elegant
2. Barozzi – Naxos Town
One of the island’s most sophisticated dining spots, Barozzi offers fine dining in a beautifully restored 1930s building. The cuisine is modern Mediterranean with Cycladic influences — think tuna tartare, lobster orzo, and artisanal desserts — all paired with expertly selected Greek wines.
Vibe: Chic, refined, and ideal for a special evening
3. To Elliniko – Naxos Town
Set in a quiet courtyard, To Elliniko is a love letter to traditional Naxian cooking. With a warm, family-run atmosphere and a menu of rich stews, baked cheeses, and grilled meats, it’s a deeply satisfying experience that feels like eating at a friend’s summer home.
Vibe: Classic, cozy, and welcoming
4. Typografio – Naxos Town
Housed in a former print shop, Typografio strikes a balance between historical charm and culinary creativity. The open-air terrace, elegant plating, and thoughtful service elevate dishes like pork tenderloin with Naxian potatoes and homemade pastas with local cheese.
Vibe: Sophisticated yet relaxed; ideal for date night
5. Rotonda – Apeiranthos
With panoramic views over the mountains and sea, Rotonda combines traditional recipes with a setting that’s hard to beat. Located above the charming village of Apeiranthos, it’s the perfect lunch or dinner stop after a day exploring the island’s interior.
Vibe: Scenic, serene, and ideal for golden hour dining
6. Yucca – Plaka Beach
Contemporary and design-forward, Yucca delivers fresh seafood, Mediterranean fusion, and standout cocktails — all steps from the water. Whether you’re coming from a day at the beach or dressing up for a sunset dinner, it’s one of the island’s trendiest coastal dining options.
Vibe: Modern Cycladic cool with toes-in-the-sand charmide carafes of ouzo. Unpretentious and deeply satisfying.
A SENSORY GUIDE OF THE DESTINATION
We’re here to book the best accommodation for your trip, the best guides and drivers, and to make sure you receive top-quality service every step of the way. But there’s one thing we can’t do for you — and that’s to truly feel and sense the destination by being present in the moment.
To help you get a real feel for the place and take home a fully sensory travel memory, we’re sending you a few suggestions on how to experience the heartbeat of the destination.Find a moment to fit them into your trip, and you’ll enjoy a more holistic experience — one you’ll never forget.
👁️ See
Marble ruins glowing gold at dusk. Valleys lush with olive trees and citrus groves. The dramatic silhouette of Mount Zas against a cerulean sky. Stone alleys winding through villages like Halki and Apeiranthos, where time seems paused. Fishing boats bobbing lazily in the harbor at Chora. Endless beaches — from wind-rippled dunes in Plaka to sun-bleached coves at Alyko.
👃 Smell
Wild thyme crushed underfoot on a mountain path. The earthiness of freshly tilled fields in the heartland. Beeswax in the air of ancient chapels. Woodsmoke curling from chimneys in mountain homes. Sea spray mingling with grilled octopus by the shore. The sweet citrus of blooming lemon trees in spring.
👂 Hear
Church bells echoing through hilltop villages. The soft rustle of leaves in the olive groves. Goat bells clinking in the early morning as herds move through terraced hillsides. Waves folding gently onto Agios Prokopios beach. The hum of conversation over clinking glasses in a shaded taverna. The faint breeze whispering through marble ruins.
👅 Taste
Fresh goat cheese with a drizzle of mountain honey. Slow-cooked lamb with lemon and oregano. Tart Naxian citron liqueur sipped in a shaded courtyard. Tomatoes warm from the vine, eaten with thick slabs of local bread. Creamy arseniko cheese, pungent and bold. Sun-ripened figs bursting with sweetness. A spoonful of olive oil so rich and green it tastes of the land itself.
✋ Touch
Smooth white marble still warm from the sun. Cool spring water flowing from stone fountains in Filoti. Handwoven textiles sold in village shops. The flake of warm pastry between your fingers at breakfast. Salt drying on your skin after a dip in turquoise water. The curved edge of a hand-shaped ceramic dish in a family-run workshop.
🧠 Feel
Feel the stillness. The authenticity. The grounding weight of heritage that isn’t for show but lived — in the kitchen, in the vineyard, in the glance of a grandmother sweeping her front step. Feel your pace shift. Your breath slow. The kind of calm that stays with you long after you leave.
In Naxos, you don’t just visit. You return to yourself.