Sunsets at the harbour in Old Town
This Naxos blog post is way overdue but since 2020 decided to put a pause on vacations, I wanted to share some of my favorite destinations.
When I started researching my trip to the Greek isles, of course the usual suspects showed up. Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Crete and oh did I mention Santorini? Yes, it is all about Santorini. But I need to upset the status quo a little and talk about Naxos.
Where is Naxos?
Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades islands. It is approximately a 3 hour ferry ride from Athens on one of the superb Greek Ferries.
How did I get there?
At the time I was based in the Middle East and flew Qatar Airways to Athens. They were my pick at the time for affordable flights. Even though you had a stop over in Doha, it was often a short one and you barely spent an hour in Doha before boarding your connecting flight.
I spent 3 nights in Athens to wander around before departing to my first stop in the islands- Naxos.
I recommend taking the Blue Star Ferry from Piraeus port in Athens to Naxos. The trip is roughly 3-4 hours. Make sure to book your ticket ahead. If you have a little cash to splash, upgrade to first class. The seating here is more of a lounge and if you get on board early, you can snag one of the tables that face the front windows. It is a view of the the Greek isles, you don’t want to miss. Worth every Euro. But if you don’t like ferries, you can always fly.
When I went, I took the early ferry so that I arrived with a full day ahead of me. This is just me but I love taking the first flight, train or ferry because I hate feeling like I missed out on something. Plus you can always grab a nap while enroute.
Where did I stay?
I stayed in Chania in the old town Naxos. It is a small town that is easily walkable. If you have a car, you can venture to the other areas. I don’t like renting a car on vacation only because it means, I can’t have a cocktail or a class wine whenever I want because as much as I love having a great time, I don’t care to drink and drive. I’ve watched too any episodes of Locked Up Abroad and I try to mind my P’s and Q’s while travelling.
I stayed at the Ippokampus hotel and it was wonderful. It is a cute boutique hotel that is family friendly right on the beach. It is a 10 minute walk to the heart of the old town with lots of eats on the way.
I chose Ippokampus because of the location of course but also because I love the white exteriors and listening to the waves at night. Sitting outside for breakfast was wonderful. I had the American breakfast because it had a bit of everything. It kept me full until my mid morning snack of Loukomades- delicious doughnuts and coffee.
Check out the Ippokampus here: https://www.ippokampos-naxos.com/
Why Naxos?
I loved Naxos because of the small town vibe on a big island. There is something for everyone there. If you want to chill on the beach all day- check! Like driving ATVs all over the place and heading into the mountains? Check! Love Greek temples and mythology? Check. Love talking to the locals? Check and Check!
The Locals
The highlights of my trip was spending time with a local donkey farmer called Stelios. We spent the day arguing about politics and laughing at him cursing at his donkeys. He loved the donkeys and lovingly called them “malakas” when they didn’t move. As a solo female traveller, I love places where you can melt into the community and Naxos was definitely welcoming.
I spent a magical night on a small beach the local teens frequented and got the impression that it was the island make out spot and my presence was intruding on their hideaway. The name of the beach is long forgotten but it was dark and we went off road. During the sunset the beach was nice but it became an enchanted beach after the moon rose and its rays danced on the waves creating diamonds on the water. It was really a moment to say OMG! I was dumbstruck and all I could do was sip my Prosecco and watch. Yes, I know I took Prosecco to the Greek islands. I just need my sip of bubbly as often as possible.
Splurge on a private tour by car or boat
I like a private tour because I can spend my time how I best enjoy it. On my tour, I saw ancient giant statues, visited a local ceramic potter and ate at a taverna that had an amazing view over the valley. One moment I could never recreate was private day trip to The Temple of Demeter. The Goddess of grain. There is something so special about how the ancient Greeks chose their temple sites. All I can say was the Goddess was alive and well and her energy was felt at this archaeological site.
Bask in the energy on Delphi
If you have time for a day trip, do take a tour boat to Delphi. The energy there is so powerful and I was in awe. Since I spent most of my time in Naxos, I only spent a couple of hours in Mykonos. I met some great people, partied like a rock star for 2 hours, ate some cheap souvlaki and then ran to catch my return trip back to Naxos. I am secretly glad I left because Mykonos could be quite pricey!
So if you don’t have Naxos on your travel radar, I hope you do now because it is worth it.
