Visiting Naxos Greece in preseason is the kind of trip that makes you slow down without even trying with quiet village streets, spring wildflowers, empty beaches, and sunsets that are almost too good to be real.

I’ll be honest, before we arrived, I had no idea what to expect visiting the Greek islands that early in the season and definitely wondered how many places would actually be open and what exactly we’d fill our days doing for ten days in Greece.

But wow… we ended up absolutely loving the slower pace of preseason travel: having the island practically to ourselves before the summer rush kicked in ~ quiet stone villages, blooming hillsides, and sunsets that felt like they were just for us.

A few restaurants and beach clubs were waking up for the season, and that slower pace was exactly what made Naxos feel so special.

In a rush?

The Little Details

Maps

HOW TO USE THIS MAP:

Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers of the map and names of places included. You can click the check marks to hide or show the layers. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information from each point of interest.

If you click the little star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. To view the map on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the ‘menu’ button, go to ‘Saved’ on a computer and ‘You’ then ‘Saved’ on phone, click ‘Maps,’ and you will see this map on your list.

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How to Get to Naxos Greece

BY AIR

If coming from Athens, flying is most certainly the easiest and quickest way to get to the Greek Islands initially…

We took a quick (40 minutes tops) Aegean Airlines (also marketed as Olympic Air) early morning flight from Athens, and I still remember looking out the airplane window as the Greek islands first started appearing below us across bright blue water.

The Naxos airport itself is tiny and quite old school.

After landing, we walked down the attached airplane stairs straight onto the runway outside, and checked luggage was simply placed inside a small room in the airport office building for everyone to grab themselves.

No giant terminals, no long airport walks, no complicated process.

It honestly felt like the kind of travel experience that barely exists anymore.

BY FERRY

After several days in Naxos, we left for Santorini aboard the Blue Star Ferry.

There are two main ferry options you’ll likely use while island hopping from Naxos: Seajets and Blue Star Ferries.

Blue Star is known for being the steadier option if the Aegean waters get rough, although the trip takes a bit longer because of the larger style vessel.

Blue Star Ferries uses larger traditional ferries that feel steadier if the Aegean waters get rough (which they often do!!!) and are more spacious, while Seajets operates smaller high-speed catamarans built for faster island hopping but often with a bumpier ride on the frequently windy days.

For those reasons above plus the departure time of Blue Star Ferries working better for us, we took the 1pm ferry to Santorini which arrived at 3:30p after a quick stop in Ios.

If you are taking it in reverse (Santorini to Naxos), there are no stops between the two islands on the Blue Star Ferry and the ride is 2 hours :).

There is a small covered waiting area near Naxos dock where passengers gather and line up according to which ferry they are boarding – don’t worry – the Naxos dock is quite obviously located on the water and there is a 99.999% chance you are in the right place if you see the small white waiting area ;).

This dock waiting area is used by both Blue Star Ferries and Seajet…

Ferry staff members announce arrivals and direct passengers toward the correct boarding ramp once the ship docks.

Vehicles unload first, followed by foot passengers boarding through the large side ramps where tickets are scanned before entering the ferry.

Large suitcases are placed on luggage racks located on the car deck upon entrance before heading upstairs to passenger seating, and while the process felt very safe and routine on both Blue Star Ferries and Seajets, I would still keep valuables, passports, and medications with you in a smaller personal bag.

Left: Blue Star Ferries Luggage Racks | Right: Seajet Luggage Racks

One important thing to know is that the ferries typically only remain docked for a short amount of time, so it is best to arrive early, keep an eye on the harbor for your ferry’s arrival, and be ready to board once passengers begin lining up.

We booked business class seats on Blue Star for our ride to Santorini and found it quite comfortable and not crowded at all in preseason April ~ definitely worth the extra cost :).

The chairs were roomy, quiet, and it felt relaxing instead of hectic.

We also used Seajets for a quick day trip over to Paros on a perfectly clear calm day, and hardly anyone boarded with us in Naxos.

Again – we purchased business class seats because even for short rides – I am all about quiet and comfort!!

Yellow seats in photo below are economy seating and photo on the right is business class…

Returning to Naxos on the Seajet ferry after our few hours in Paros was a different story as far as crowds in economy class though ;0:

Sidenote: we purchased these day trip roundtrip ferry tickets the night before – another perk of visiting the Greek islands in preseason :).

How to Get Around Naxos

We saw Jeep, small car, and ATV rental shops everywhere in Naxos but instead of renting one ourselves, we hired a private driver with Naxos Premium for two days and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

It made everything feel easy and relaxed instead of stressing over tiny roads and parking in villages.

One of our three full days on the island, we didn’t even get in a car at all. We just stayed near our hotel and walked to the beach and dinner, and enjoyed the slower pace of the island in preseason.

Best Time of Year to Visit Naxos

One thing I’ve really come to love about empty nest travel is visiting places in the slower seasons, and that’s exactly why we chose to visit Naxos in preseason April :).

The weather can be a little unpredictable this time of year, so beach days are pretty unlikely, but honestly that ended up being part of the charm for us.

Instead we spent our days wandering through cute villages, exploring historic sites, going for relaxing and cooler beach walks, and enjoying the island at a much slower pace before summer crowds arrive.

May, early June, and late September are also known for being the sweet spot for visiting: warm enough for beach time without the peak summer rush.

Even though Naxos still feels more laid-back than islands like Santorini, Mykonos, and Paros, we noticed a surprising amount of new construction while we were there, and our driver told us the roads can become completely bumper to bumper in July and August ~ even heading up into the mountain villages…

Which definitely made us feel like the secret about this once sleepy island may already be getting out.

How Many Days You Need on Naxos Island

We spent 3 full days (4 nights) on Naxos plus the day we arrived around 9am via our flight from Athens, and for our slower style of travel those 3+ days felt just right.

One of those days we took a day trip over to Paros, but still had plenty of time to settle into the relaxed rhythm of Naxos instead of rushing around trying to see everything.

Visiting in April made it even better for us: quieter streets, slower mornings, and none of the packed summer crowds that can completely change the feel of the island.

Money and Plug Details in Greece

In Greece, the currency is the Euro (€), and while most places accept credit and debit cards, it’s always handy to carry a small amount of cash for smaller establishments or tips.

It is recommended to use a BANK ATM machine once in the country you are traveling to to withdraw money out of your US (presumably) bank account. This is the least expensive way to handle bank fees and foreign exchange rates.

Be sure you are also using a credit card with zero foreign transaction fees as those can add up!!

Don’t forget to pack a Type C or F plug adapter (these are my favorites) for your electronics.

I won’t travel without this travel extension cord or this portable charger because nothing kills the travel vibe faster than a dead phone and no way to charge it!

Best Places to Stay on Naxos Island

18 Grapes Hotel

One thing I learned very quickly in Naxos is that where you stay really changes the vibe of your trip.

This was one of the only 5* hotels on Naxos that we could find open for our April 19th arrival date so it made our choice of where to stay pretty easy :).

We spent four nights at 18 Grapes Hotel and while I’ll admit I was a little surprised at first by how far it was from Naxos Town (I probably could have researched that fact a little better ;0), I ended up loving the quieter feel of Agios Prokopios (the beach village/neighborhood that this hotel is actually in!).

After spending the first 3 nights of this Greece itinerary in busy Athens, it felt nice to slow down a bit and not be in the middle of the crowd at night.

The hotel is just a short walk from one of the prettiest beaches we saw on the island, the restaurant was genuinely good enough that we ate there more than once, and the staff was so accommodating and attentive, we felt like we had the place all to ourselves (we didn’t btw ;0).

Also… if this is your first time visiting the Greek islands, just know you cannot flush toilet paper down the toilet (everything gets put into a trash can next to the toilet ;0).

Nobody warns you ahead of time, so now I’m warning you before you awkwardly learn the hard way like every other tourist does on day one.

Naxos Island Hotel

We stayed near the beaches in Agios Prokopios and kept walking past the Naxos Island Hotel thinking how perfect the location looked :).

It has that clean white Cycladic style and sits just steps from the beach, restaurants, and little shops.

One thing to know if you are visiting Naxos in April like we did: this hotel typically doesn’t open until early May, which honestly shows just how peaceful and slow-paced the island still feels in preseason.

Photos courtesy of Naxos Island Facebook

Nissaki Beach Hotel

If you’re visiting Naxos in mid-April and finding that many hotels are still closed for the season, Nissaki Beach Hotel is another option worth looking into (however their opening date is a tad later than 18 Grapes and seems to be around April 20th every year…).

We didn’t stay here ourselves, but I liked that it’s much closer to Naxos Town than some of the larger beach resorts: close enough to walk into town for dinner.

It’s a 4-star hotel rather than the other suggestions that are luxury 5-star properties, and I could see it being a little livelier than the quieter beach properties farther out, but the location is really convenient for a spring trip before the island fully wakes up for summer.

Photos courtesy of Nissaki Beach Hotel Instagram

Best Places to Eat on Naxos Island

One thing I’d definitely say about Naxos in April: don’t go expecting every single restaurant and beach club to be open yet.

That’s not really the point of visiting then anyway.

We loved it because it felt peaceful, authentic, and easy ~ more about mountain villages, sunset dinners, and slow mornings than checking off “top ten” lists.

Naxos is especially known for its potatoes, local cheeses, mountain honey, kitron liqueur, and simple farm-to-table Greek dishes like grilled meats and Greek salads made with incredibly fresh ingredients.

Here is a list of the restaurants we ate at plus a list of recommendations we were given but just didn’t have the time to try (see Google map in maps section for location of all of them) :).

Del Mar Cafe on Agios Prokopios

After a long beach walk near our hotel, we loved heading to Del Mar Cafe for an early dinner right on the water, watching the few people enjoying the sun on the beach with the slower pace of preseason Naxos made the whole evening feel wonderfully relaxed and unrushed.

Run by Italian owners and serving authentic Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, this was honestly one of (if not the) best meals we had on the island of Naxos :).

Amorginos in Apeiranthos

One afternoon our Naxos Premium Tour guide dropped us off in the mountain village of Apeiranthos for a late lunch at Amorginos.

Between the relaxed village atmosphere, the beautiful marble streets all around us, and a fantastic meal, it ended up being one of those simple travel moments I still think about long after coming home.

La Paloma

One afternoon we wandered into La Paloma for one of those “late lunch or early dinner depending on who you ask” kind of meals, and even without the sunset timing everyone talks about, the views over the water were still so pretty while we sat there lingering over surprisingly good cocktails and a really tasty meal that ended up being one of our favorite slow moments in Naxos Town.

Other Recommendations

• To Elliniko in Naxos Town
• Rotunda near Apiranthos
• Axiotissa near Alyko Beach
• Apostolis

Top Things to See and Do in Naxos Island

Temple of Apollo

One spot you would be hard pressed to miss in Naxos Town is the Temple of Apollo, better known as the Portara: the massive marble doorway sitting above the harbor that has become the symbol of the island.

Dating back to 530 BC, it was meant to be the entrance to a grand temple dedicated to Apollo before construction was abandoned, and today it’s one of the best sunset spots in Naxos.

It’s about a 10-minute walk from the port with roughly 40–50 easy stone steps up, and the view looking back toward Naxos Town is just as beautiful as the monument itself.

Old Streets of Naxos Town (Chora)

If you enjoy getting lost in little villages when you travel like I do, make time to wander through Old Town Naxos, especially around the Kastro area and the small lanes off Apollonos Street, where every turn seems to lead to whitewashed alleyways, blue doors, and quiet little cafes opening for the season.

Ancient Temple of Demeter

The next seven sights listed for this blog post are sights we saw on the day we spent with our tour guide from Naxos Premium (see Google map above for locations of everything in this section!).

The day was even more beautiful because Naxos was unbelievably green during our April visit, covered in wildflowers from an unusually rainy winter season that locals told us is pretty rare since the hills are normally much more dry and brown this time of year.

Our first stop with Naxos Premium was the ancient Temple of Demeter.

Built in the 6th century BC and dedicated to Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture and harvest, it makes perfect sense that it sits here on fertile Naxos, which has long been known as one of the greenest and most agricultural Cycladic islands.

Entrance was just a few euros when we visited in 2026 and we spent about 45 minutes at this stop…

Chalki

Chalki (also written as Halki) ended up being one of my favorite little surprises in Naxos.

This tiny mountain village was once the island’s main center for marble trade and craftsmanship, and you still see hints of that history everywhere in the elegant old mansions, marble details, and quiet village streets.

Don’t miss wandering the small shops and stopping at the historic Vallindras Distillery for a quick kitron tasting as well as grabbing some tasty gelato from the convenient ice cream shop window :).

Church of St George Diasoritis

Tucked away in the hills outside of Chalki, the Church of St. George Diasoritis almost feels like something you would never find on your own.

Our guide from Naxos Premium Tours led us down a tiny road to this hidden little Byzantine church that dates all the way back to the 11th century and is considered one of the island’s most important historic churches because of its incredibly well-preserved frescoes and connection to Naxos’ Byzantine past.

We weren’t able to go inside during our visit, which honestly made it feel even more mysterious standing there quietly surrounded by olive trees and countryside with almost nobody else around.

Plus we ran into some goats on the roof of another church on our walk to this church – which added an extra element of fun to this stop :).

Pottery Limpertas Manolis

One little stop we enjoyed on Naxos was Pottery Limpertas Manolis, a family-run pottery shop tucked into the village of Damalas where they’ve been making pottery for generations.

Watching the pieces being made by hand felt like stepping into old-school island life for a few minutes.

And of course I couldn’t leave empty handed… I brought home a few small vases that somehow survived the trip back in my check in bag thanks to the magic of credit cards and bubble wrap ;0

Monastery of Fotodoti

One of the most memorable stops we made in the mountains of Naxos was the Monastery of Fotodoti, an old Greek Orthodox monastery sitting high above the island with incredible views out to the Aegean.

We visited with Naxos Premium Tours, who have special permission from the monks to drive clients up the normally locked dirt road right to the monastery gates and after seeing the steep climb, I was very happy we did it that way.

Services are still held here each year on August 6th for the Feast of the Transfiguration, and the monastery is generally open to visitors during Sunday afternoons, although preseason hours in April can be a little unpredictable.

If you visit on your own, plan for about a ¾-mile uphill walk from the main road with roughly 450 feet of elevation gain and definitely bring water because there is very little shade on the climb ;0.

Naxos Hills Viewpoint

One thing I loved about our Naxos Premium tour was that our driver pulled over at a couple of scenic viewpoints between Filoti and Apeiranthos so we could take in the mountain and sea views for a few minutes.

At one stop, he pointed out two church domes sitting on completely different mountain peaks in the distance :0.

Apeiranthos

Apeiranthos is one of the most historic villages on Naxos and feels completely different from the beach towns along the coast, with its marble streets, mountain setting, and winding hillside alleys.

We stopped here for a late lunch (restaurant listed above) before heading back to Naxos Town, and I really enjoyed slowing down for a couple hours to wander the hilly village and see a quieter, more traditional side of the island.

Zeus Cave on Mt Zas

One thing we skipped, mostly because we had already packed our Naxos days pretty full with long lunches and slow drives through the mountain villages, was the hike to Zeus Cave.

The trailhead is actually right across the road from the pull-off for the monastery mentioned above, so it’s very easy to find if you want to add it into your day.

The hike is about 3 miles roundtrip with roughly 1,000 feet of elevation gain, and from everything I read it’s considered moderately challenging but very doable if you’re reasonably active and wearing decent shoes.

Agios Prokopios

One of my favorite little rituals in Naxos ended up being the simplest one: walking from 18 Grapes to Agios Prokopios beach and beyond with the sea breeze blowing and hardly another person around in April.

It was the very first thing we did after arriving on the island and somehow it became the perfect way to say goodbye on our last day too, which honestly felt very fitting for the slower pace of Naxos.

Chapel of St Nicholas

Finding the tiny Chapel of St. Nicholas during our first beach walk along Agios Prokopios felt like such a fun introduction to the Greek islands before we turned around and headed back to dinner at 18 Grapes as the sun started going down.

Plaka Beach

We took a walk along Plaka Beach one afternoon, and while it was definitely too cold for me to be a beach person during our April visit, the weather was perfect for walking along the water with hardly anyone else around.

Day Trip to Paros Island

One thing we really loved about staying on Naxos was how easy it was to sneak in a quick little island-hopping adventure.

We booked business class seats on the 30 minute Seajets ferry over to Paros and spent about three hours exploring before heading back to Naxos for the evening (see the ‘how to get to Naxos’ section above for details on this experience).

After arriving at the port, we grabbed a taxi over to Naoussa where we had a long, relaxed brunch and then wandered through the winding whitewashed walkways of the village.

Several people on Naxos told us they didn’t think it would be worth the effort for only three plus hours on Paros island, but I completely disagree.

Sometimes it’s just fun to get a little glimpse of somewhere new, and we loved finally seeing the island our daughters had been raving about after their trip there the summer before.

Plus, because my husband had an evening work call back at our hotel that night, it ended up being the perfect easy little side trip without turning the whole day into an exhausting travel marathon.

What to Wear in Greece in April

One thing I really loved about visiting Greece in April was that the weather felt comfortable enough to enjoy being outside all day without the intense summer heat.

During our trip, highs were mostly in the low to mid 60’s, which honestly ended up being perfect for sightseeing, wandering little village streets, and even hiking without melting by lunchtime.

I mainly lived in sundresses layered with a sweater, or light pants with simple tops :).

I always wear my favorite cooling shorties underneath the dresses to stay comfy while walking around all day ~ no chafing, no fuss.

We did run into a few chillier days and a couple stretches of rain, so I was glad I packed a light jacket instead of assuming Greece would automatically be hot and sunny every day.

April weather in Greece definitely feels more “spring in Europe” than full-on beach vacation weather, and honestly, that’s part of what made the trip so enjoyable for us.

Our Greece 10 Day Itinerary Overview

DAY 1 | Fly San Diego to Athens on British Airways via London

DAY 2 | Arrive in Athens 12am | Stay 3 nights at Hotel Grande Bretagne

DAY 3 | Athens: Acropolis, Walk around Plaka and Monastiraki, Dinner at Dopios Athens

DAY 4 | Athens: Monument to the Unknown Soldier, National Garden, Panathenaic Stadium, Dinner at Ergon House

DAY 5 | Fly Athens to Naxos via Olympic Airlines (8:50a-9:35a) | Stay 4 nights at 18 Grapes Hotel | Walk around Agia Prokopios | Dinner at 18 Grapes Hotel

DAY 6 | Naxos: Tour with Naxos Premium: Temple of Demeter, Pottery Limpertas Manolis, Monastery of Fotodoti, Chalki, Aperianthos then walk around Old Town Naxos and Temple of Apollo | Dinner at Paloma in Naxos Town

DAY 7 | Day trip from Naxos to Paros via SeaJet Ferry

DAY 8 | Naxos: Walk around Agios Prokopios | Dinner at Del Mar

DAY 9 | Blue Star Ferry from Naxos to Santorini 1p-3:30p | Stay 3 nights at Grace Hotel

DAY 10 | Santorini: Flytographer photo shoot in Oia 6:30am, walk around Oia, return to Grace Hotel in Imerovigli via taxi and walk to Imerovigli viewpoint, then dinner at Surupo.

DAY 11 | Santorini: Hike Fira to Oia Cliff Trail, dinner at Ammoudi’s Fish Market

DAY 12 | Santorini: Hike to Skaros Rock | PM: fly Santorini to London on British Airways 5p-7:20p | Stay 2 nights at Claridge’s Hotel

DAY 13 | London: Lunch at Mercato Mayfair, Walk to Bond Street and then Denmark Street/Goodwin’s Court, Dinner at Devonshire Pub

DAY 14 | Fly London to San Diego via British Airways 11:30a-2:50p

I hope you found this post about visiting Naxos Greece in preseason helpful in planning your own Greek island adventure :).

After spending time in Naxos in April, I honestly think preseason might be one of the best ways to experience the island.

The slower pace made everything feel more relaxed and authentic, and because we travel now without school schedules dictating our lives, we could enjoy Greece in a completely different way than we would have years ago.

We weren’t spending our days fighting for beach chairs or squeezing through crowded alleys packed with cruise passengers.

Instead, we wandered quiet stone streets in the late afternoon, had long dinners without rushing anywhere, and watched locals getting the island ready for summer season.

A few restaurants and beach clubs were still closed for the season, but for us that actually added to the charm because it felt more like we were experiencing real everyday life in Naxos instead of a polished tourist version of it.

Add in the easy direct flight from Athens, beautiful mountain villages, historic sights, and some of the prettiest sunsets we saw in Greece, and Naxos ended up being exactly the kind of slow travel destination we love most right now.

Naxos in April is proof that sometimes the best trips happen when you stop chasing the busiest season and simply enjoy a place exactly as it is.

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~Mamma Mia

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