Small & Boutique Hotels in Naxos Island

Imagine an island that has everything you are looking for. Maybe you come with your family, maybe your loved one holds your hand, maybe you come with a group of friends.  No matter what, you will find yourself feeling the sun on the warm sand, meeting the cool sea or watching the sunset. Laze around if you want, or go down to the beach at first light, take the wind behind you and sail out into the blue. Naxos is just such a place. Neither too fancy nor too pretentious, but with its nature, history, cuisine and unique atmosphere, it knows how to offer something to everyone. And in the most sincere way. The largest of the Cyclades, but the humblest. The first thing that greets you when you dock at the harbor is a giant gate from ancient times: Portara. It is actually the entrance to an unfinished temple. But it is a completed symbol for today's Naxos.

Hora, the center of Naxos, is very special with its white houses typical of the Cyclades and its Venetian texture bearing the traces of the past. As you walk uphill, you suddenly find yourself in the Middle Ages. Old stone gates, towers and cool alleyways. It is a pleasure to breathe in history while passing through the Trani Gate, to hear the smell of soap from the souvenir shops and to have a coffee in the cafes in the narrow streets.

If you really want to get to know Naxos, you have to go to its villages. Apiranthos, for example, famous for its stone houses, is so beautiful and tranquil that time flows slowly here. In Filoti, there is nothing like having a coffee in the shade of a big plane tree and smelling the smell of freshly baked pastries amidst laughter. Wander through the neoclassical buildings of Halki and get lost in the white-painted streets of Sangri. If you go a little further north, the fishing village of Apollonas and the giant statue of Kouros await you.

Don't forget the sea. The beaches of Naxos are not only for lounging and sunbathing, but also for living with the sea. Windsurfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, scuba diving, whatever you like. Plaka, Mikri Vigla and Agios Georgios are especially great for this. If you come with kids, then Agia Anna or Agios Prokopios are ideal. There's even a diving center.

If you want to spend a quiet day, there are plenty of places on the island for that too. Aliko is nestled in the forest, Hawaii is as colorful as its name, Kastraki is long and peaceful. Agiassos is one of the shallowest and safest places to visit with children. Psili Ammos awaits you on the east coast with its shady trees and Panormos in the south with its small cafe and palm trees. If you want to be even more secluded, you can choose Kalado.

Eating in Naxos is not just about filling up. Everything here is fresh and local. Everything you eat in a tavern by the sea or in a square in a mountain village has a story. Be sure to try their famous cheeses: graviera, arseniko, xinomizythra. Saladouri made with fresh seafood or roast beef cooked in wine with lots of garlic are among the favorites. The potatoes are really something else. At the end of the meal, the local citron liqueur comes to the table, this is what this island is like.

If you lift another stone on the island, history is underneath. For example, the Temple of Demeter looks like an expression of respect for the goddess and the earth. Near Sangri. Made of Naxos marble, it is one of the most beautiful examples of Ionian architecture.
And the towers... Once built to protect against pirates but today they bear witness to the history of the island: Bazeos Tower (in Sangri), Barozzi Tower (in Filoti), Zevgolis Tower (in Apiranthos) and the monastery in the middle of lush nature near Danakos.