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Basic information on the island of Naxos, including getting there and around the island, and where to stay.
I immediately felt at home on Naxos. Although I only had a short two-day trip, I was able to see a lot. I also found the people to be among the friendliest I’ve encountered in Greece.
Naxos Airport
There are two ways to get to Naxos. The first way is to fly. To get in, we took a short flight from Athens. The airport is tiny and has one of the smallest baggage claim areas I’ve ever seen. It’s only a few kilometers from Naxos Town.
Ferry
The other way is by ferry, which connects Naxos to Athens and other nearby islands such as Paros, Mykonos, Crete, and Santorini, among others. The port is in Naxos Town.
When leaving the island, we took a ferry to Heraklion, Crete. We got to the ferry terminal about an hour early and saw a huge crowd of people lined up at three different doors. There were no signs indicating which door was for which destination, so we asked one of the crew members who pointed us to the correct door. The ferry showed up a little late, but thankfully we were able to get inside to stay out of the heat.
Getting Around Naxos
Naxos has a good bus system with nice comfortable, air conditioned coach-style buses. They’re the best way to get around if you’re on a budget. The main bus terminal is in town and follows routes throughout the island. If you’re staying outside the town at one of the beach resorts or in a village, your hotel can tell you the nearest bus stop and places to buy tickets. Buses don’t serve the airport, unfortunately.
If you want to save some time and cover more ground, it’s best to rent a car. We rented a car for a day with Motopower. They made pickup and drop off very easy, meeting me at the port both times. Prices were a little high because of high season, but it was still reasonable. Driving is fairly relaxed and we didn’t have any incidents or close calls.
Plaza Beach
As far as accommodation, I stayed at an apartment in Naxos Town while my group stayed at Plaza Beach Hotel, a resort on Plaka Beach.
Although I didn’t stay there personally, my group highly recommends staying there. Rooms are big and comfortable, breakfast is excellent, and it’s a relaxing place to stay. It’s a very short walk to the beach where you can rent sun chairs, and there’s also a pool.
