Which area(s) should you stay in when visiting Naxos? It depends on what you’re looking for.
90% of the tourists visiting Naxos will want to stay in one of the settlements discussed on the next pages, because they are well-connected to Naxos Chora, and have all the necessary facilities.
Please take into account that when you are staying close to a beach in Naxos, 90% of the beach bars ask money for a set of loungers and an umbrella. Also, there unfortunately aren’t many hotels that have their own free loungers on the beach for guests.
Naxos Chora
This is the capital of the island and one of the best places to stay at for those who are making a short stop while island hopping, or those who are visiting in very low season, when the rest of the island is closed. In Naxos Chora, there is always life. It is also the place where all the buses to other parts of the island and lots of excursions leave, making it easy to explore quickly.
Agios Georgios
This beach is attached to Naxos Chora. It is just a couple of minutes’ walking distance from the center of the town. For this reason, it is one of the busiest tourist resorts on the island. Obviously, because you can have a beach and town holiday all in one. The beach is filled with beach bars and sunbeds. It is, however, not the most spectacular beach on the island.
Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna
These are two neighboring settlements about 5km from Naxos Chora. They are kind of glued together, where one stops, the other starts. Both are very lively in summer and have all the facilities you might need: a bakery, supermarket, beach bars (with and without nightlife), et cetera. The difference with Agios Georgios is that Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna both have a way nicer beach. Agios Prokopios has a 1.5km long, golden sandy beach with heavenly blue waters. One part is heavily developed and full of sunbeds, whereas the other side is a bit more chill. Agia Anna is a smaller bay with a smaller beach. This beach is filled with sunbeds as well, and it has a small boat dock from which day trips to nearby islands leave. One of these is the place to go if you prefer a gorgeous beach over being able to walk into town, but still want all the facilities and liveliness. The bus from these settlements to Naxos town goes every 30 minutes till after midnight.
Maragas / Plaka
This is a beach that is a whopping 4-5km long. It has the same golden sand and blue waters as Agios Prokopios. But it is more quiet and relaxed than both Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna. There are many (beach) bars and amazing restaurants, but there is no real nightlife. Apart from one mini market on the Maragas side, and a bakery a couple of hundred meters behind the beach on the Plaka side, there are no self-catering facilities. The Maragas side of this beach starts right where Agia Anna ends, so if you decide to stay on this side you are still within walking distance of the facilities in Agia Anna and even Agios Prokopios. It is an ideal place for families and couples that do not like the hustle and bustle. You can still be in Naxos town within 20 minutes with the bus that leaves every 30 minutes till after midnight.
Mikri Vigla
If you are coming to Naxos for (kite)surfing, this is the place to be. Mikri Vigla starts where Plaka ends. It consists of 2 gorgeous bays that are separated by a big rock formation. The ‘Orkos’ beach is mostly very windy. Therefore most wind- and kitesurfing schools of Naxos are located here. The southern bay, also called ‘Kastraki’, sees lots of the wind actually blocked by the rock formation and is an ideal place for a swim, snorkel, and low-key rock climbing expedition. There are several restaurants to choose from, as well as a bakery and some mini-markets. The bus to Naxos Chora goes about 10 times per day, which means Mikri Vigla is still well connected to the capital of the island.
Apollonas
If you want a beachfront stay in a tiny village far away from the hustle and bustle of town and the popular tourist resorts, choose Apollonas. Situated in the far north it has a small boulevard with some restaurants and shops and a lovely small beach with very blue waters. So the basic facilities are there. It is about a 50-minute drive from Naxos town and connected by bus as well.
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