iCyclades - Cyclades Discovery Guide

These recommendations are selected according to our experience or to verified opinions of other travelers. You can trust them!

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The most remote beach on the west coast that can can be reached by road. There is a restaurant and some studios for rent. It's far from everything so it's a good destination to escape the crowds!

Agia Anna, south of Agios Prokopios, is one of the golden beaches on the west coast of Naxos. All these beaches are quite crowded in summer, except the ones that are much further south.

To discover the east coast of Naxos and its wild beaches, you have to go through the mountains and, in Apiranthos, take the winding road to Moutsouna. Widened a few years ago, the road is now very well maintained and you can stop to admire the view here, next to the chapel of Agia Kyriaki.

Agios Prokopios is the first of the long series of golden beaches on the west coast of Naxos. These are obviously quite crowded in summer. If you like quiet beaches, you will have to go much further south!

Near Cape Kouroupia you'll find some of the most beautiful beaches of Naxos and the cedar forest of Alyko. It's a wild place but easily accessible, a real paradise when there are not too many people. You'll see also a ghost hotel that has become a street art hotspot.

A tiny village close to the Temple of Demeter. The road leading to the temple goes through the village, it's a good point of reference and the landscape all around is beautiful.

One of the picturesque villages of the Naxos mountains, built on the slopes of Mount Fanari, about 600 m above sea level. It's the birthplace of Manolis Glezos, hero of the resistance against the Nazis during the Second World War.

A small seaside destination with a nice beach, northeast of the island. It's above Apollonas that you can see one of the curios of Naxos, an unfinished "kouros". This monumental statue remained lying where it was partly carved during the archaic period (650 to 500 years BC).

A shady oasis at the foot of Mount Zas. A perfect place to meditate a bit while listening to the gurgling of the source and the song of the birds.

This beautiful 17th century Venetian tower stands at the foot of Mount Profitis Ilias on the road to Aghiassos. It's an important cultural center for art exhibitions, concerts and conferences.

Capital and port of Naxos, with a picturesque old Venetian town, a lively seafront and the famous "Portara", monumental pediment of an unfinished temple. Urban atmosphere, but the beaches of the bay of Aghios Georgios are nearby.

Nestled at the foot of Mount Zas, it's the largest village in Naxos and the starting point for walks to the summit, a hike without much difficulty. If you prefer a less tiring excursion, you can also go to the source of Aria at the foot of the mountain.

The charming village of "kitron", the iconic liqueur from Naxos, distilled from citron, a kind of big lemon. You can visit a distillery and taste this delicious liqueur. Halki is also a perfect starting point for many beautiful hikes.

A tiny village nestled at the foot of Mavro Vouni, second highest mountain of Naxos (Koronos Massif, alt. 3,277 ft). Reachable by a paved dead-end road starting from the crossing of the roads from Halki, Apiranthos and Koronos.

One of the picturesque villages of the Naxos mountains, built amphitheatrically in a beautiful landscape. It is from there that a road goes down to Lionas along the old emery mines.

A little known and fascinating place, at the end of a vertiginous road starting from Koronos and meandering along disused mines of emery. A few welcoming taverns, a beautiful pebble beach. We feel at the end of the world and it feels good!

Some roads in the hinterland offer impressive views of gigantic marble quarries which are still in operation. We bet your life insurance will not pay if you try and go too close...

A village in the heart of a beautiful and fertile area, perfect for hiking. Unfinished kouros, ruins of a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess of fertility, lush gardens, old aqueduct... many things to discover! The photos displayed on this page were shot in the Flerio area, just beside Melanes.

A small seaside destination which is an internationally known kitesurfing spot. Go there even if you don't practice, there are beautiful beaches and the show is guaranteed!

The weavers' village, where all women have their own workshop. The perfect place to find a nice souvenir to bring back from your vacation! Authenticity is guaranteed, it's been the traditional activity of the village for decades.

Mount Zas is the highest peak of the Cyclades (alt. 3,284 ft). It's rather easily accessible and offers an amazing panoramic view from its summit. According to legend, the ancient god Zeus grew up in a cave opening in its slopes.

The port from where the emery extracted in the mountains was embarked, at the bottom of a vertiginous road starting in Apiranthos. Nowadays, it's a nice seaside destination and the access point to the wild beaches of the east coast.

Naxos Airport is served from Athens by Olympic Air and Sky Express. It's one of the smallest airports in Greece, book your tickets well in advance!

The last beach accessible by the east coast road starting in Moutsouna. A beautiful beach lined with palm trees, a small bar during the high season, wild landscapes all around. Heavenly!

A few kilometres from Halki, after the fertile region of Kato, Meso and Ano Potamia, the road passes through a rocky landscape, especially when it has been burnt by the summer sun. We took the time to shoot a few panoramas of this splendid desolation...

The Stavros Keramotis Church (the "Cross of Keramoti") stands in the mountains at the crossroads of Keramoti, Apiranthos, Moni and Koronos. When you pass by, don't miss the view!

Lost in the sumptuous landscapes of the hinterland, the Temple of Demeter has been partially restored but the site seems more or less abandoned, while remaining a fascinating stroll.

A superb panoramic view of the mountain village of Koronos, with Skado a little further on, from the road coming from the crossroads of Stavros Keramotis.

Collision between the Greece of the past and modern Greece on the road leading to Koronos and Apollonas through the mountains, shortly after the crossroads of Stavros Keramotis.