Best Places To Stay In Naxos, Greece (Expert Advice)

Island hopping in Greece and wondering about the best places to stay in Naxos?

When we first visited Naxos, we quickly realized that the Island was way bigger than we expected! Still, we explored the island from corner to corner, and it’s surprising how different each town is in Naxos.

Chora is certainly the most exciting place in the villages and an excellent area to stay if you love being right where the action is, but if you want to be close to all the best beaches in Naxos, then you’d probably rather base yourself in Plaka or Agios Prokoios!

You could also stay in Chalki for a remote mountain village experience.

Whether you’re a traveler visiting, we’re in the mood for vibrant town life, tranquil beach vibes, or a step back into history. We can help you find the perfect place to stay!

Quick Guide: Best Areas To Stay In Naxos

Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades islands in Greece, and there are a few different places you can stay on the island, depending on what you’re looking for:

Chora – Hotel Grotta – Chora is at the center of everything in Naxos, offering a vibrant mix of beaches and historical landmarks. We loved exploring this area, and it’s the best place to stay your first time in Naxos.

Agios Georgios Beach – Nissaki Beach Hotel –  Technically, this is Naxos’ town beach, but it feels like a totally different neighborhood. The area has a sandy, family-friendly beach with calm waters. It’s a place to stay by the beach, but also be walking distance from town.

Agios Prokopios – Lianos Beach – This section of the Naxos coast is the closest thing to a resort town. It’s got a long, sandy beach with sunbeds, beach cafes, luxury resorts, and spas. This is the best spot to stay in Naxos if you’re on a honeymoon or romantic holiday in Naxos.

Agia Anna – Summer Dream II – Ag. Anna is a small port area with a beach, but offers a more relaxed vibe compared to Agios Georgios. It’s also a popular place for boat tours, diving, and other adventure activities.

Maragas/Plaka – Annio Studios – A quiet spot known for its beautiful beach and relaxed atmosphere. This area is fantastic for people who want a laid-back beach away from crowded tourist areas.

Chalki –  Monitsia Traditional House – This mountain village sits at the center of Naxos Island. It’s a relatively quiet village for most of the year and is particularly great for travelers looking to stay off the beaten path in a local village.

Chora (Naxos Town)

Chora is the main town in Naxos. The ferry port docks here, and it’s the center of life in Naxos. You’ll find numerous shops, cafes, and the best restaurants on the island.

Sometimes just called ‘Naxos Town,’ this area also has some of the coolest historical sites and landmarks in the Cyclades. Standing at the edge of town is the iconic Temple of Apollo (Portara), and in the center of Chora is an ancient Venetian Castle that dates back nearly 1000 years.

This is where we stayed our first time visiting Greece, and we still say that was the right decision! It’s probably the best place to stay in Naxos for first-timers.

The winding streets of Chora are easily the most developed area of Naoxs, so you’ll be close to anything you could need. There are so many restaurants around town, cafes, bakeries, shops, and small pubs. There are also plenty of places to rent a car in Naxos, ATMs, pharmacies, and a small hospital (which we had to use once)!

If you end up staying in Chora, Naxos, be sure to check out The Rebel Project Coffee Shop. It has our favorite coffee on the island and is a great place to hang out or work!

What To Do in Chora

• Visit the Temple of Apollo (Portara).
• Get Coffee with a View at Avaton 1739.
• Go Shopping – there are used bookstores, handmade jewelry, vintage clothing shops, and art galleries all throughout town.
• Get the best gyro in Naxos at To Spitiko Naxos.

Agios Georgios

Agios Georgios is considered Naxos’ Town Beach and another one of the most popular places to stay in Naxos.

But it’s not really IN TOWN like you would expect. Instead, the beach is about a 10-15 minute walk south from the heart of Chora, which is pretty close, and you’ll have a slightly quiet, peaceful neighborhood.

This is actually where we prefer to stay in Naxos because even though we always rent a car, parking in Chora can be a nightmare. So, we like having the option to walk into town while still being slightly quiet and peaceful.

That said, it’s definitely not the most beautiful beach in Naxos. It is super long, and the water is shallow, but it’s kind of rocky and doesn’t have the clearest water.

We always say that Agios Georgios is the best area of Naxos for people looking to stay here for an extended stay of a month or two. Eventually, you’ll want a break from the main town, but it’s nice to have access to it whenever you want!

What To Do in Agios Georgios

• Have Lunch on the Beach at Trata Restaurant
• Go Scuba Diving in Naxos – Flisvos Dive Center is at the end of Agios Georgios Beach.
• Learn how to Windsurf

Agios Prokopios

Agios Prokopios is a classic beach holiday destination in the Mediterranean. Lining the shore, you’ll see tons of sunbeds, pavilions, beach vendors, luxury resorts, and chic cafes.

Sometimes called ‘Stelida,’ this is honestly the best beach resort town on the island, and we would say that it’s the best place to be in Naxos if you’re here for a honeymoon or romantic holiday.

The golden sand, azure water, and colorful sunbeds with thatched roof umbrellas make it feel like paradise. It’s also far enough away from Chora that everything stays peaceful, even during the summer high season.

There’s not a lot going on in the town, but you will have enough local tavernas and small grocery stores to keep you full while staying in Agios Prokopios. The rest of the time will be spent relaxing on the beach and swimming in crystal-clear water with a view of its neighbor, Paros, across the ocean!

We also always tell people that it’s really close to the airport, which means that it’s really easy to get to your hotel if you’re flying to Naxos.

What To Do in Agios Prokopios

• Rent a Sunbed and spend all day at the beach!
• Get Greek Coffee at a Beach Cafe – Kahlua Beach Cafe Bar and O Fotis are great options!
• Treat Yourself to a Spa Day at Liana Hotel Spa

Agia Anna

If you want to be close to the best beaches in Naxos but prefer more of a local vibe, then Agia Anna is the perfect place to book your hotel in Naxos. This area is only about a few minutes down the coast from Agios Prokopios, but it feels more like a small port city with a town center and lots of boats docked along the pier.

Here, you’ll find a few more studios and guesthouses rather than chic beach resorts. The nice part is that you have more options for restaurants and shops, plus you can enjoy Agia Anna Beach, or walk to another beach.

As you would expect, it’s also quite an organized beach. There are places to grab a drink along the water, and most of the shoreline is full of sunbeds during summer.

Ostria is an excellent traditional Greek Tavern right on the water, and Agia Anna has one of the only beach clubs in Naxos, Santana Beach Club. So it’s safe to say you shouldn’t come here expecting peace and quiet.

However, the other nice thing about Agia Anna is that you really have access to everything in Naxos.

Agios Prokopios Beach and Maragkas Beach are just a 5-10 minute walk away (or just 2 minutes if you’ve rented a scooter in Naxos), and similar to Agios Prokopios, it’s super close to the Naxos airport and just 10 minutes from the Chora.

What To Do in Agia Anna

• Spend the day at Santana Beach Club.
• Take a Boat Tour. You can visit Koufonisi, Rina Cave, and other secluded spots on the south coast of Naxos.
• Rent a SUP and get out on the water.

Maragkas/Plaka Beach

It’s hard to know where Maragkas Beach ends and Plake Beach begins, so we’ve kind of lumped them into one area.

It’s roughly 6-7 kilometers of near-perfect sand between Agia Anna and Mikri Vigla Beach.

This area is a lot less developed at the moment, but it’s growing quickly as people look for the most secluded beach area in Naxos.

Most of Maragkas Beach has a bar, cafe, resort, or living space on the beach, but unlike other beach destinations in Naxos, it doesn’t feel like everything is on top of each other. Instead, each property has its own garden and plenty of space to find your own spot on the beach.

The perfect sand, limited traffic, and shallow water make Maragkas Beach the best place to stay in Naxos for families (just be aware that the further towards Plaka you go, the more ‘naturist’ the beach gets.

But you can find small villas and apartments right on the water that give your family plenty of space.

Plaka Beach is the same stretch of sand but a few kilometers south on the coast. This part feels way less organized. You won’t find many sunbeds here, and all of the small taverns and places to stay in Plaka are about 100 meters off the beach.

So you can’t really stay right on the water, but this has kept the shore cleaner, and we’ve literally spent hours here without seeing another tourist.

Want to go camping in Naxos? Maragkas Beach has tent rentals for up to 6 people!

What To Do in Maragkas/Plaka Beach

• Relax on an empty beach – Bring your own beach blanket/towels because there may not be sunbeds to rent.
• Go Camping
• Get Coffee & Work Remotely at Nomad Naxos.

Chalki

If you prefer the mountains to the ocean, then Chalki (Halki/Chalkio) is the best mountain town in Naxos.

You might also hear people talk about Koronos or Sifones, but these are way more remote, and we have found taking day trips to these other mountain villages is a lot better than staying there.

Chalki, on the other hand, has an active local population yet feels remote enough for a relaxing holiday in the mountains of Naxos. There’s a charming town center with a school, post office, and neo-classical buildings from back when it was the capital of Naxos.

Here we also loved the boutique shops, distilleries, coffee/ice cream shops, and small taverns with outdoor seating. Everything feels old and rustic.

Chalki can get crowded in the summer, but it’s usually people visiting from Chora or one of the beach towns, so it doesn’t last long. You might find things feel crowded or touristy between 11 AM and 4 PM, but the morning and evenings in Chalki are so peaceful.

The other downside – although it might be exactly what you’re looking for – is that it’s about 30 minutes to Naxos Town, the Airport, and any of the beaches in Naxos.

So despite being at the center of Naxos, Chalki is very inconvenient for exploring the rest of the island.

Note: Many guesthouses, villas, and other places to stay in Chalki require a minimum stay of 2-5 nights.

What To Do in Chalki

• Wander through the streets of the ancient Greek Capital
• Get Samples at Vallindras Kitron Distillery (the Oldest Distillery in Naxos)
• Hike to the summit of Mount Zas.
• Check Out the Fish & Olive Gallary

How to Decide Where to Stay in Naxos

Once you know your options, it’s easy to decide where to stay in Naxos. Each neighborhood on the island offers something slightly different.

If it’s your first time traveling to Naxos and you only have a few days to explore the island, we’d highly encourage you to stay in Naxos Chora. There’s a lot of life in the city, you can easily find transportation, and it’s easy to get to any of the beaches, historical sights, and mountain villages in Naxos. The Hotel Grotta is great value for your euro!

But if you’re looking to spend a week on the beach, then Annio Studios in Maragkas or Naxos Petite Studios in Agios Prokopios are wonderful villas near the ocean!