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Naxos Greece is the Cyclades in widescreen, a fertile island where marble and granite meet orchards and vines. Largest of the group, it rises to Mount Zas, the highest peak in the archipelago, a mountain that gathers clouds and rain. The island’s rare abundance of water sets it apart: olives, citrus and grapes stretch towards golden beaches, while stone terraces quilt the hillsides.
The coastline alternates between moods. On the western shore, wide arcs of sand such as Agios Georgios, Agios Prokopios and Plaka invite morning walks and, when the meltemi wind rises, windsurfers. Elsewhere, the rocks are raw and chapels balance above surf.
Naxos is also the main ferry hub of the Cyclades, its large port a busy gateway to Koufonisia, Serifos, Athens and Santorini. This constant flow of arrivals ties the island to Athens and its neighbours, making Naxos both accessible and connected, yet never losing its slower rhythm.
Architecture here carries the imprint of centuries. Chora climbs around its Venetian Kastro, a medieval fortress of towers, monasteries and twisting alleys. At the harbour, the Portara, a monumental marble doorway to an unfinished temple of Apollo, frames sea and sky. Inland, Sangri shelters the Temple of Demeter, while in Apollonas a colossal unfinished Kouros still rests in its quarry bed. Early frescoes in village chapels across the Tragea whisper their theology in muted tones.
Villages retain strong character. Apeiranthos is stone-paved and museum-rich. Halki wears neoclassical facades among citrus groves. Filoti gathers under a plane tree on the climb to Zas, while Moutsouna faces the Aegean with the traces of old emery mines. Marble and emery once sustained Naxos, geology turned heritage.
Food is bold and local. Graviera Naxou, PDO-protected, is mellow and buttery, while arseniko and xinomyzithra bring sharper flavours. The famed Naxian potato enjoys near-mythic status, and kitron, a citron-leaf liqueur, pours a true taste of place.
Myth runs deep: Zeus grew here, Ariadne awoke here, and Dionysus made Naxos his vineyard. Legends, like the island’s paths, twist and surprise.
Cool design, contemporary styling and a hug to local island culture make our pick of five easy-to-get-to Cycladic island escapes of Santorini, Tinos, Syros, Sérifos and Koufonisia, all the more irresistible.
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Sat in a secluded spot right on the edge of the famous Caldera, individually-created traditional houses hug the rock formations – these exceptionally sleek designer dens are more than villas, their tonal whitewashed minimalism gradually revealing handcrafted touches and a cool boutique aesthetic.
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Housed within a fabulously restored Venetian-styled mansion house, this design hotel with nine suites and a stunning rooftop bar has put the island of Syros back on the map.
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Forget the crowds. Tinos doesn’t perform for tourists - it just exists, cool and unshaken, carved from marble, kissed by salt and wind. A Cycladic retreat where time bends, and creativity flows.
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Éros Kéros Villas, on the slow-pace Cyclades island of Koufonisia, come drenched in Aegean blue vistas – a sun-kissed boutique retreat of four cubic Cyclades-style merchant houses that lazily gaze onto the island of Keros.
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A tiny dot in the Cyclades Islands, Syros shimmers in the Aegean Sea, surrounded by a circle of Cycladic isles such as Tinos, Serifos, Mykonos, Paros and Sifnos. Like all island adventures, the best way to arrive in Syros is by via classic Greek, sun-drenched ferry into the ancient town of Hermoupolis/ Ermoupoli.
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No crowds, no rush—just sun, sea, and island time. Koufonisia (Koufonisi) is the Cyclades' best-kept secret, where boats outnumber cars and the Aegean calls the shots.
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Get the insider news and lowdown on what we've been up to, where we've been, and who we've met along the way. Be the first to discover new places and get the scoop on our favourites.