Where to Stay in Naxos

Greece › Naxos › Best Towns
Updated: October 3, 2026 • By Santorini Dave
Questions? dave@santorinidave.com

Naxos Hotels: My Favorite

• 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 from Agia Anna’s beach restaurants.
• Plaka: Naxian on the Beach – Couples-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. Best for restaurants, buses, easy evenings, ferry connections, and staying 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 bigger beach and more services; Agia Anna is smaller, more charming, and better for beachfront tavernas.
• Best Long Beach: Plaka. Beautiful sand and more space. 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 the beach is your main priority.
• 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

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The Best Areas to Stay in Naxos

Arriving by ferry in Naxos Town. The bus station, Old Town, restaurants, and many hotels are all within walking distance of the port. One reason I recommend staying here for a first visit is how easy everything is from the moment you get off the ferry.

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.

For a beach holiday, I prefer 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 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 much quieter and better as day trips for most first-time visitors.

Naxos is large enough that choosing the right location makes a big difference. 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…

• 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 has more apartment-style hotels and space for larger families. 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, Agia Anna for beachfront tavernas, Plaka for a quieter beach trip, and Stelida for privacy and a pool. Moni and Sangri are my favorite inland choices.
• 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.
• Traditional Villages: Moni, Sangri, or the Mountain Villages
  I prefer Moni and Sangri for an inland stay. 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. The ferry port, main bus station, Old Town, restaurants, shops, and nightlife are all here. It is also the easiest base without a car.

Behind the waterfront, the Old Market and Kastro have stone lanes, tiny chapels, shops, wine bars, restaurants, and Venetian houses built into the hill.

Parking can be difficult, and some Old Town hotels involve stairs, 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: a quiet resort stay or having one of Naxos’s best swimming beaches directly outside the hotel.

The lanes of Naxos Town are filled with boutique shops and 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 – 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. Agios Georgios is good for swimming, 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, 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 hotel a short walk from both the beach and central Naxos Town.
• 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. If swimming and beach time are the priority, that is a good tradeoff.

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 – five-star boutique hotel with pools and a spa, especially good for couples. About a 5-minute walk to the beach.
• Virtu Suites – my favorite upscale choice at Agios Prokopios, directly on the beach with a pool, spa, and restaurant.
• Liana Beach Hotel & Spa – beachfront hotel with a pool, spa, restaurant, beach service, and rooms for couples and families.
• 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

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

Agia Anna is my favorite choice for a smaller 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 is excellent, though smaller than Agios Prokopios. I especially like Agia Anna for couples, but it also works well for families who prefer a compact beach village.

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 directly on Agia Anna 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.

For two or three nights, or if you expect to go into Chora every evening, I would stay farther north. Plaka is better when the beach is the main reason for the trip.

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 – 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 – family-friendly beachfront option with kitchenettes and a pool.
• Naxos Island Escape – small hotel near the beach, best for couples wanting a quiet Plaka stay.

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 convenient for exploring the west coast by car.

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 – excellent adults-only hotel with sunset views and direct 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 mainly for the wind sports or the quiet setting.

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 – upscale suites and villas for a quiet Kastraki stay.
• Faros Villa – pool hotel close to Alyko’s cedar forest and beaches.
• 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 inland, Apeiranthos, Moni, and Sangri are my favorite choices.

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. 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 about a 30-minute drive to the beach.

Best Stay: Petra Home – a four-bedroom holiday home in Apeiranthos, best for families and groups who want to stay right in the village.

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, between Chalki and Moni. Stay here for local food, mountain scenery, and easy access to the inland villages.

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 best for repeat visitors looking for a remote seaside stay. 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. 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 seaside add-on rather than as the base for an entire trip.

Best for: 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 – my favorite east-coast hotel, overlooking Tigani Beach with 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. I strongly recommend one if you stay in Stelida or south of northern Plaka.
• 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; 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.
• Check the actual location: “Near Naxos Town” does not always mean an easy walk in summer heat or with luggage. Look at the route, not just the distance.
• Do not automatically head south for a better beach: Plaka, Mikri Vigla, Kastraki, Alyko, and Pyrgaki are beautiful, but restaurants 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.

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, quieter beach stay.

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.

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