Naxos Greece is such a versatile island that satisfies all types of tourists, from the sightseer and the nature lover to the party-goer and the laid back tourist.
To get a taste of theisland, we suggest taking a stroll in Naxos Town (Chora) through the winding alleyways to admire the whitewashed houses, with their potted flowers, and colourful doors and shutters. It is truly acalming and rejuvenating experience.
Naxos Town (Chora) possesses several of the island's most characteristic sites, such as the "Portara" (the marble gate to the ancient Temple of Apollo), theVenetian Castle, the Mycenean City in the Grotta area, the Archaeological Museum, the 16th century Bazeos Castle, and the Churches of Zoodochou Pigis and Panagia Myrtidiotissa.
While touringNaxos Island , you can visit many other significant archaeological and historical sites. In Apirathos, you should stop to admire the Zevgoli Tower and the Museums. If you are an archaeology buff, thenwe recommend visiting the Kouroi in Apollonas and Flerio, the Ancient Site of Iria and the Sanctuary of Demetra and Apollo near Sagri.
From the Venetian Era, you can admire the Bellonia Tower inGalanado and the towers in Melanes. A splendid natural site is the Cave of Za in Filoti, where visitors can see a collection of impressive stalagmites.
Naxos Greece is an extremely well-developedisland with many entertainment venues, offering visitors a lot of different options. Along the beachfront drive and in the small side streets of Naxos Town (Chora) there are hundreds of cafes, bars,clubs and live music halls, some of the most exciting Naxos nightlife. The seaside resorts of Plaka, Agios Prokopis, Stelida and Agia Anna, located just south of Naxos Town (Chora), also provide awide selection of nightlife venues. Apollonas village, situated on the northeastern side of the island, is a favourite place to enjoy a delicious meal and to relax with a cool drink while gazing atthe small fishing port.
In contrast to the many clubs and music halls, Naxos Greece also hosts plenty of festivals, fairs and events. While in Naxos Town during the summer months, you can takepart in the "Dionysia" Festival, which is a mixture of cultural and athletic events. The summer cultural festival that takes place in the Bazeos Castle is simply wonderful, offering a variety ofactivities to participants. Other Naxos festivals take place on the name day of the patron saints of each village. Some of the popular festivals: Agios Prokopios on July 8 and Agia Anna on July 25 intheir respective villages, the Virgin Mary on August 15 and Agios Ioannis on August 29 in Apiranthos, Agia Marina on July 17th in Koronos and the Virgin Mary 3-day festival in mid-August in Filoti.
Food is a big part of everyday life in Naxos Greece. There are many taverns and restaurants, right on the beach and in the charming alleyways that serve both local delicacies and a variety ofinternational cuisine. In Naxos, we suggest trying the delicious meat and game dishes, fresh seafood and cheeses. Naxos wines are also superb and go beautifully with the island's traditional cuisine.
Naxos Island Greece produces a wide variety of products. The most popular souvenir is a bottle of citron liqueur, which is made from citron leaves. Other Naxos products include hand-made wovenfabrics, pottery, hand-made leather goods and jewelry, specially the "Naxos Eye", which is said to bring luck.
Naxos is the perfect place for water sports. In addition, you can explore theisland's secluded bays and beaches sailing on a yacht, or spend your day water skiing and wind surfing on one of Naxos ' organized beaches. Fishing is also a popular activity on Naxos and is permittedin many areas.