Where to Stay in Naxos

Greece › Naxos › Best Towns
Updated: August 17, 2026 • By Santorini Dave
Questions? dave@santorinidave.com

My Favorite Naxos Hotels

• Naxos Town: Hotel Grotta – Excellent value, wonderful views, and an easy walk to the Old Town, restaurants, and port.
• Agios Georgios: Nissaki Beach Hotel – My favorite combination of beach and town, directly on the sand and an easy walk to central Naxos Town.
• Agios Prokopios: Liana Beach Hotel & Spa – Excellent beachfront location with a pool and spa.
• Agia Anna: Iria Beach Art Hotel – My favorite true beach hotel on Naxos, directly on the sand and steps to Agia Anna’s beach restaurants.
• Plaka: Naxian on the Beach – Romantic adults-only suites directly across from one of the island’s best stretches of sand.

Where to Stay in Naxos: Quick Picks

• Best for First-Timers: Naxos Town or Agios Georgios Beach. Stay here for the ferry port, restaurants, buses, easy evenings, and the simplest trip without a car.
• Best Beach + Town: Agios Georgios. Sandy, shallow beach with Naxos Town an easy walk away.
• Best Classic Beach Holiday: Agios Prokopios or Agia Anna. Agios Prokopios has the better beach and more services; Agia Anna is smaller, more charming, and better for beachfront tavernas.
• Best Long Beach: Plaka. Beautiful sand and a quieter feel, but a bit remote. Northern Plaka is much easier without a car.
• Best for Couples with a Car: Stelida. Stylish hotels, pools, privacy, and views, but little to walk to.
• Best Inland Stay: Moni or Sangri. Excellent for couples, food, scenery, and exploring the mountain villages.
• Best Without a Car: Naxos Town or Agios Georgios. Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna also work well in summer if most of your time will be spent at the beach.
• Where I strongly recommend a car: Stelida, southern Plaka, Mikri Vigla, Kastraki, Alyko, Pyrgaki, the mountain villages, Apollonas, and Moutsouna.
• Best months: June and September. July and August are busier and require earlier hotel bookings. May and October are quieter and cheaper, but some beach businesses have reduced hours or are closed.

Best Places to Stay in Naxos

• Best Hotels in Naxos
  Nissaki Beach Hotel • Kavos Boutique Hotel • Ammothines Cycladic Suites • Iria Beach Art Hotel • Ayiopetra Exclusive Getaways • 18 Grapes Hotel • ELaiolithos
• Best Hotels for Families in Naxos
  Nissaki Beach Hotel • Kavos Boutique Hotel • Iria Beach Art Hotel • Melidron Hotel & Suites • Cosmos Hotel • Athina Studios and Suites
• Best Value Hotels in Naxos
  Hotel Grotta • Saint Vlassis • Kalergis Studios • Agios Prokopios Hotel
• Best Hotels for Couples in Naxos
  Ayiopetra Exclusive Getaways • 18 Grapes Hotel • Akre Hotel • Naxian on the Beach • ELaiolithos
• Best Beach Hotels in Naxos
  Nissaki Beach Hotel • Liana Beach Hotel & Spa • Iria Beach Art Hotel • Ammothines Cycladic Suites • Naxian on the Beach
• Hotels Walking Distance from the Ferry Port
  Xenia • Hotel Anixis • Hotel Grotta • Nissaki Beach Hotel • Emery Suites • Anapollo Boutique Hotel

The Best Areas to Stay in Naxos

Beautiful Naxian scenery: mountains, farmland, and the sea.

For most first-time visitors, I recommend staying in Naxos Town or nearby Agios Georgios. Naxos Town has the ferry port, Old Town, restaurants, bars, shopping, and the island’s main bus connections. Agios Georgios is an easy walk from town and adds a sandy, shallow beach. If you’re visiting Naxos without a rental car, these are the two easiest choices.

For more of a beach holiday, head south to Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, or Plaka. Agios Prokopios has the best combination of swimming, restaurants, hotels, and bus service. Agia Anna is smaller and more charming. Plaka has the longest and, in my opinion, best beach, but it gets increasingly quiet and spread out as you go south.

Stelida has some of the island’s best boutique hotels and villas, but it’s not really a village. I like it for a quiet hotel stay with a pool, views, and a rental car. Farther south, Mikri Vigla, Kastraki, Alyko, and Pyrgaki are quieter still and better for travelers who deliberately want to get away from the main towns and beaches.

Naxos is a big island, and hotel location matters more here than it does on Mykonos or Santorini. Buses make the main west-coast beaches fairly easy without a car in summer, but they are less useful for late dinners, remote beaches, and exploring the interior. My preference for most trips is to stay in Naxos Town or along the main west-coast beach strip, then rent a car for a day or two to explore the mountain villages and quieter parts of the island.

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The Best Place in Naxos for…

• First-Timers: Naxos Town or Agios Georgios Beach
  Naxos Town is the easiest first-timer base because it gives you the port, Old Town, bus station, restaurants, shops, and evening atmosphere in one place. Choose neighboring Agios Georgios if you want a sandy beach outside the hotel but still want to walk into town. For a two-night stay, late ferry arrival, or early departure, I prefer Naxos Town.
• Best Beach Holiday: Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, or Plaka
  Choose Agios Prokopios for the best combination of swimming, beach facilities, restaurants, and transport. Choose Agia Anna for a smaller, more charming beach village with tavernas on the sand. Choose Plaka for more space and a quieter, longer beach stay.
• Families: Agios Georgios, Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, or Northern Plaka
  Agios Georgios is easiest with young kids because the water is shallow and Naxos Town is walkable. Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna have better swimming and more of a beach-holiday feel. Northern Plaka gives families more space and plenty of apartment-style hotels. For tweens and teens, I prefer Agios Georgios or Naxos Town because there is more to do independently.
• Couples: Naxos Town, Agia Anna, Plaka, Stelida, Moni, or Sangri
  Stay in Naxos Town for restaurants and evenings out. Choose Agia Anna for beachfront atmosphere, Plaka for a quieter beach trip, and Stelida for a stylish hotel with privacy and a pool. Moni and Sangri are special choices for couples who want food, countryside, and a car-based trip.
• Without a Car: Naxos Town or Agios Georgios
  Naxos Town is the easiest no-car base because the port, bus station, restaurants, shops, and Old Town are all walkable. Agios Georgios is nearly as convenient and gives you a proper beach. Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna also work well without a car in summer if the beach is your main priority.
• Restaurants & Nightlife: Naxos Town
  This one is easy. Naxos Town has the island’s largest selection of restaurants, cocktail bars, cafés, shops, and places open late. If you expect to spend most evenings in Chora, stay there or at Agios Georgios rather than commuting in from the southern beaches.
• Wind Sports: Mikri Vigla and Orkos
  Mikri Vigla is the main windsurfing and kitesurfing base. The northern beach gets the strongest wind, while the southern bay is far more sheltered. If wind sports are not part of the plan, I would stay farther north.
• Quiet: Southern Plaka, Kastraki, Alyko, Pyrgaki, Apollonas, or Moutsouna
  These areas are for travelers who value space and quiet more than restaurant choice and easy transportation. Rent a car.
• Traditional Villages: Moni, Sangri, or the Mountain Villages
  I prefer Moni and Sangri if you want to stay inland. Halki, Filoti, Apeiranthos, Melanes, Koronos, and Vivlos are better for most travelers as stops on a day of village exploring.

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Staying in Naxos Town

Naxos Town is the best place to stay for most visitors. It is the ferry port, bus hub, restaurant hub, shopping hub, and evening hub. It is also the easiest place to stay without a car.

The waterfront is busy and practical. The Old Market and Kastro behind it are charming, with stone lanes, tiny chapels, shops, wine bars, restaurants, and Venetian houses built into the hill.

The downside is parking and luggage. Some Old Town hotels involve stairs, awkward pedestrian lanes, and no elevator. If you are arriving with heavy bags, have mobility issues, or plan to keep a rental car for your entire stay, check the exact hotel location before booking.

Best for: first-time visitors, short stays, ferry convenience, no-car trips, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, buses, and evening walks.
Not ideal for: travelers whose top priority is a quiet resort or the island’s best swimming directly outside the hotel.

The lanes of Naxos Town are filled with boutique shops and charming restaurants.

The Best Hotels in Naxos Town

• Hotel Grotta – my favorite traditional hotel in town for service, breakfast, views, value, and easy port access.
• Emery Hotel – stylish rooms and apartments close to the Old Town, with very personal service.
• Anapollo Boutique Hotel – excellent adults-only boutique hotel with a small pool in a quieter part of town.
• Legato Spa Suites – romantic suites with private spa, best for couples who care more about the room than full hotel facilities.

Staying at Agios Georgios Beach

Agios Georgios is the easiest beach base on Naxos. There is no hard line between the beach neighborhood and Naxos Town, which is exactly why I like it. You get sand, shallow water, tavernas, and small hotels while remaining close enough to walk into Chora for dinner.

The beach is shallow for a long way out, making it excellent for young kids and cautious swimmers. The southern end has watersports, while the northern end puts you closest to town.

The tradeoff is swimming quality. Agios Georgios is good, but Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, and Plaka have clearer, deeper, more beautiful water.

Best for: families, first-timers, shallow swimming, no-car stays, ferry convenience, and combining beach with town.
Not ideal for: travelers who want a remote beach, polished resort atmosphere, or the island’s best swimming.

The Best Hotels at Agios Georgios Beach

• Nissaki Beach Hotel – my favorite hotel for most Naxos travelers, directly on the beach with a pool and restaurant while still an easy walk into town.
• Naxian Secret – excellent all-suite hotel with a pool in a quieter location about ten minutes from the beach.
• Naxos Resort – best for families who want a large resort-style pool close to both beach and town.
• Korali Boutique Hotel – small, comfortable, friendly hotel in excellent location.
• Kalergis Studios – one of my favorite value choices, directly by the beach and just a few minutes from town.
• Saint Vlassis – excellent value and service, though it sits inland rather than near the beach.

Staying at Agios Prokopios Beach

Agios Prokopios is my favorite Naxos base for a classic beach holiday. The swimming is excellent, the beach is long enough to have both lively and quieter stretches, and there are plenty of restaurants, cafés, sunbeds, shops, and buses to Naxos Town.

It is more developed than Agia Anna and less atmospheric than Naxos Town, but that is not really a drawback if your main goal is swimming and beach time. Families do especially well here.

Best for: swimming, families, beach holidays, sunbeds, restaurants, and summer bus access.
Not ideal for: travelers who expect to spend every evening in Naxos Town or want a quiet remote beach.

The Best Hotels at Agios Prokopios Beach

• 18 Grapes Hotel – polished five-star boutique hotel with pools and spa, especially good for couples. 5-minute walk to the beach.
• Virtu Suites – my favorite upscale choice at Agios Prokopios, with a prime position for the beach and village.
• Liana Beach Hotel & Spa – beachfront hotel with a pool, spa, restaurant, beach service, and rooms for couples and families. One of the best choices in Agios Prokopios if you want to be right by the sand.
• Melidron Hotel & Suites – excellent family hotel with a pool and larger suites a short walk from the beach.
• Iliada Villas – good for families and groups who want kitchens, space, and a pool.

Staying at Agia Anna Beach

Idyllic Agia Anna Beach and the Iria Beach Art Hotel just up the beach path.

Agia Anna is my favorite choice for travelers who want a smaller, more atmospheric beach village. Tavernas sit beside the sand, the little fishing pier gives the village more character than Agios Prokopios, and both Agios Prokopios and Plaka are easy to reach on foot.

The beach itself is excellent, though smaller than Agios Prokopios. Couples do well here, but it also works for families who prefer a compact village to a larger resort area.

Best for: couples, families, beachfront tavernas, swimming, and a smaller beach-village atmosphere.
Not ideal for: travelers who want the most beach space or a large resort scene.

The Best Hotels at Agia Anna Beach

• Iria Beach Art Hotel – one of my favorite beach hotels in Greece, directly on the sand with excellent food and easy walks to both Agios Prokopios and Plaka.
• Avgoustos Suites – romantic suites on the beach.

Staying at Plaka Beach

Plaka is the best beach on Naxos, but not always the best base. The sand is long and beautiful, swimming is excellent, and there is far more space than at Agios Georgios or Agia Anna.

Stay in northern Plaka if you want restaurants, buses, beach clubs, and the ability to walk toward Agia Anna. Stay farther south if quiet and space matter more than convenience. I strongly prefer having a car in southern Plaka.

Plaka works best for stays of four nights or longer, families wanting space, and couples who are happy letting the beach dominate the trip. For two or three nights, or if you expect to go into Chora every evening, I would stay farther north.

Best for: longer beach stays, sand, swimming, quiet, families, and couples.
Not ideal for: short stays, frequent evenings in Naxos Town, and southern-Plaka stays without a car.

The Best Hotels at Plaka Beach

• Ammothines Cycladic Suites – my favorite luxury resort on Plaka, with a pool, restaurant, and excellent family accommodations.
• Naxian on the Beach – my favorite Plaka choice for couples, directly by the sand and more intimate than a full resort.
• Sundunes Hotel – stylish beachfront luxury hotel with a large pool, spa, restaurant, and suites with private pools.
• Cosmos Hotel – one of the best family choices, particularly for larger groups wanting kitchens and a pool.
• Athina Studios and Suites – good family-friendly beachfront option with kitchenettes and a pool.
• Naxos Island Escape – intimate and romantic, best for couples seeking quiet close to the beach.

Staying in Stelida

Stelida is best for stylish hotels, villas, pools, views, and privacy. It is the peninsula between Naxos Town and Agios Prokopios, close to the airport and well positioned for driving around the west coast.

What Stelida does not have is a real village. Independent restaurants are scarce, nightlife is nonexistent, and walking is limited by roads, distance, and summer heat. If you want to walk out for dinner every night, stay in Naxos Town, Agios Georgios, Agios Prokopios, or Agia Anna instead.

I strongly recommend having a rental car here.

Best for: couples, families with a car, private villas, boutique hotels, pools, views, and quiet.
Not ideal for: no-car trips, restaurant-hopping on foot, or a beach-village atmosphere.

The Best Hotels in Stelida

• Kavos Boutique Hotel – one of my favorite hotels on Naxos, with excellent food, views, suites, villas, and a relaxed atmosphere.
• Akre Hotel – serene and luxurious, with sunset views and access to a secluded beach cove.
• Villa Marandi Luxury Suites – intimate upscale hotel with spacious suites, a pool, and a quiet seaside setting between Naxos Town and Agios Prokopios.
• Naxos Cave Suites – small, quiet property with individually decorated suites; much better for drivers than walkers.

Staying at Mikri Vigla Beach

Mikri Vigla is the best place to stay on Naxos for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The northern beach gets strong wind and attracts serious wind-sports travelers. The southern bay is more sheltered and better for swimming. The area is quiet, with a handful of hotels, studios, and tavernas. I would stay here only if the wind sports or secluded setting are part of the appeal.

Best for: kitesurfing, windsurfing, active travelers, quiet, and rental-car trips.
Not ideal for: first-timers wanting restaurants, nightlife, frequent buses, or easy access to Naxos Town.

The Best Hotels at Mikri Vigla Beach

• Oasis Studios – simple and practical near the beach, especially good for wind-sports travelers.
• Victoria Studios & Apartments – good-value apartments for a quiet stay near Mikri Vigla.

Staying at Kastraki, Alyko & Pyrgaki

These southern beaches are for travelers who want quiet more than convenience. Kastraki and Glyfada have long sandy stretches, dunes, a few tavernas, and lots of open space. Alyko is wilder, with cedar forest, little coves, clear water, and the abandoned hotel ruins covered in street art. Pyrgaki is farther south and one of my preferred remote beaches for families because its south-facing setting is relatively sheltered.

I like all of them, but for most travelers they work better as day trips than as your base on Naxos. If you stay here, rent a car.

Best for: quiet, beaches, nature, space, repeat visitors, and rental-car trips.
Not ideal for: first-time no-car stays, nightlife, restaurant variety, shopping, or quick trips to Naxos Town.

The Best Hotels in the Southern Beach Areas

• Phoenicia Naxos – polished choice for a quiet Kastraki stay.
• Faros Villa – relaxing hotel near Alyko’s beaches and cedar forest.
• Finikas Beach Hotel – my favorite remote beach resort on Naxos, with a pool, restaurant, and good family facilities near Pyrgaki.

Staying in the Mountain Villages

I love the mountain villages, but I would not make them my sole base for a first Naxos trip.

Halki is one of the prettiest and easiest villages for wandering, Filoti is the best base for hiking Mt Zas, Melanes is surrounded by farmland and ancient kouroi, Koronos is dramatic and steep, and Vivlos is a traditional farming village closer to the west coast. For an overnight stay in the mountains, Apeiranthos, Moni, and Sangri are my favorite choices, and each offers a very different experience.

Best for: couples, hiking, food, scenery, traditional villages, and repeat visitors.
Not ideal for: beach-first trips, nightlife, easy ferry logistics, or travelers without a car.

Apeiranthos

Apeiranthos is the most beautiful mountain village on Naxos. Known as the marble village, it has marble lanes, old stone houses, archways, Venetian-era architecture, museums, craft shops, and tavernas along a shaded main street. It is one of the best places on the island for a slow lunch and a wander. As a base, Apeiranthos is better for repeat visitors than first-timers. The village is mostly pedestrian, with parking outside the center, and it’s a 30-minute drive to the beach. Stay here if you want atmosphere and quiet more than logistics.

Best Hotel: Petra Home – a character-filled heritage stay that fits the atmosphere of Apeiranthos beautifully.

Moni

Moni is a tiny mountain village near Panagia Drosiani, one of the oldest Byzantine churches in Greece. The surrounding area has olive groves, mountain views, traditional villages, and excellent hiking.

Best Hotel: ELaiolithos Luxury Villa Suites – adults-only and one of my favorite hotels on Naxos. Stay here for local food, mountains, villages, and a completely different experience from the beach resorts.

Sangri

Sangri sits amid farmland near the Temple of Demeter and works particularly well for couples who want privacy, countryside, and a car-based trip.

Best Hotel: Ayiopetra Exclusive Getaways – small, romantic, adults-only, and beautifully positioned in the countryside.

Remote Naxos: Apollonas & Moutsouna

Apollonas and Moutsouna are for repeat visitors and travelers who deliberately want to slow the trip down. Both are far from Naxos Town and the main west-coast beaches, and both work best with a rental car.

Apollonas is a north-coast fishing village with a small beach and the huge unfinished kouros statue in the ancient marble quarry above town. It is scenic but quiet, and the north coast gets more wind than the main southwest-facing beach areas.

Moutsouna is even more isolated, on the east coast beyond the mountain villages. It has a small harbor, beaches, tavernas, and remnants of Naxos’s old emery-export industry. I prefer Moutsouna for a one- or two-night remote seaside add-on rather than as the base for an entire trip.

Best for: solitude, slow travel, quiet seaside meals, scenery, and repeat visitors.
Not ideal for: first-time itineraries, no-car trips, nightlife, or frequent trips around the island.

The Best Hotel in Moutsouna

• Ostria Inn – the standout east-coast hotel, with a peaceful seaside setting and rooms for couples and families.

Getting Around Naxos

• Bus: Best for Naxos Town, Agios Georgios, Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, northern Plaka, and some inland villages. It is cheap and useful but limits late dinners, remote beaches, and spontaneous exploring.
• Taxi: Taxis are limited, especially in July and August. Pre-book important port, airport, and late-night transfers.
• Rental car: The best way to explore inland villages and remote beaches, and strongly recommended if you stay in Stelida, southern Plaka, Mikri Vigla, Kastraki, Alyko, Pyrgaki, or the mountains.
• Walking: Naxos Town and Agios Georgios are the best walking bases. Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna are easy within their own beach areas. Northern Plaka is reasonably walkable, while southern Plaka is not.

Naxos Hotel Booking Advice

• Book early for July and August: The best beachfront hotels, family rooms, and boutique suites sell out. If location matters, I would book 4 to 8 months ahead for peak summer.
• Do not underestimate distance: “Near Naxos Town” does not always mean an easy walk in summer heat or with luggage. Look at the actual route, not just the distance.
• Farther south is not always better: Plaka, Mikri Vigla, Kastraki, Alyko, and Pyrgaki are beautiful, but restaurant choice and transportation decrease as you move away from town. Stay there because you want quiet, not just because the beach photograph looks better.
• Parking matters: Naxos Town is easiest without a car. If you plan to rent one for your whole stay, confirm parking before booking. Beach and rural hotels are generally easier for drivers.

Where to Stay in Naxos: FAQs

Should I stay in Naxos Town or at the beach?

Stay in Naxos Town if restaurants, nightlife, ferry convenience, buses, and easy evenings matter most. Stay at the beach if swimming is the priority. Agios Georgios gives you the best combination of both. Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna are better for a true beach holiday, while Plaka is best for a longer and quieter beach stay.

Is Naxos good without a car?

Yes, if you stay in Naxos Town or Agios Georgios. Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna also work well without a car during the main summer season. Northern Plaka is possible but less convenient. For Stelida, southern Plaka, remote beaches, and inland hotels, rent a car.

Where should families stay in Naxos?

Agios Georgios is my first choice for families with young children. The water is shallow and Naxos Town is walkable. Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna are better if prettier swimming water matters more than town access. Northern Plaka is excellent for families wanting more space and apartment-style accommodation.

Where should couples stay in Naxos?

For restaurants and evening atmosphere, stay in Naxos Town. For a romantic beach stay, choose Agia Anna or Plaka. For a stylish hotel with privacy and a rental car, choose Stelida. For something completely different, spend a few nights in Moni or Sangri.

Is it better to stay in Agios Prokopios or Agia Anna?

I prefer Agios Prokopios for swimming and a classic beach holiday, and Agia Anna for charm and beachfront tavernas. Agios Prokopios is larger and has more beach space and services. Agia Anna is smaller and more atmospheric. They are close enough to walk easily from one to the other.

Read More

• Best Hotels in Naxos
• Best Hotels for Families in Naxos
• Best Beach Hotels in Naxos
• Best Hotels at Agios Georgios Beach
• Best Hotels at Agios Prokopios Beach
• Best Hotels at Agia Anna Beach
• Best Hotels at Plaka Beach