The Cyclades, Greece-Naxos
A tour around the island of Naxos in the Cyclades island, Greece. After arrival in the main port of Chora, visitor to one of the Cyclades largest island can connect easily by the regular service bus to the beach resort of Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, Maragos and the quieter beach of Plaka. Rental cars and scooters offer further exploration of the island with attractions such as the restored Temple of Dimitras, the un-finished stone statue at Kouros and the former Emery mining port of Moutsouna.
Naxos town-The Temple and the Old Town
Most travellers arriving into Naxos will arrive at the town’s main port, located in Chora, the main town of the island.
One of the first sights you will see when arriving by boat is the Portara. This is an one of the doorways to the unfinished temple dedicated to Apollo, located on the peninsular of Palatia, on the left as you arrive.
The Portera can be reached by walking along the causeway. If you fancy a swim you will find steps leading down to the sea.
At the entrance to the port, you will find the bus station office and the Taxi rank.
Heading south, the promenade features a few lawned gardens and fountains on the left and traditional fishing moored along the water’s edge.
The entrance to the old can can be found close to the harbour entrance, around 50 meters on the left along the harbour front and close to the port authority building..
Also known as the Bourgos, the old town leads up to the Kastro and is a Labyrinth of narrow streets where you will find tourist shops, cafes and the off museum amongst the whitewashed streets.
Wander a little further and the streets are quieter and cooler. This is a more residential area but still an interesting place to explore.
Back on the main promenade, you will find a good selection of tavernas and ticket agencies, set behind the harbour.
Naxos town is a good place to base your-self for a few days. Connections are good to the West coast beach areas such as Agia Anna and Agia Prekopios and the classical attractions such as the Temple of Demeter.
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Naxos, Greece. Agios Prokopios & Agia Anna
Away from the mainstream destinations which feature on the websites of package holiday operators, Naxos can be reached by air and sea from either Athens or the neighbouring islands. Two of the most well known villages are Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna, both located next door to each other south of the islands capitol. In this two minute tour (shot mainly by drone) we take a look at the beach areas of both the villages from the more organised beach of Agios Prokopios to the rocky outcrops and sandy coves of its neighbour.
Agia Anna, Naxos, Greece Full Visitor Guide
Although tourism is well established in Agia Anna, visitors with find it much more relaxed than its busier neighbour, Agios Prekopios. The beach is split into two main areas, the North beach with runs from Agios Prekopios down to the harbour where you will be able to see the traditional fishing boats moored. The fishermen can usually be seen attending to the nets during the day. The South beach, which is usually much quieter, then curves around to a rocky outcrop and the small church of Saint Nikolas, which sits on the headland and overlooks the bay. Here, you will find some interesting rock formations which are accessible from the beach and are a popular place for sunbathing. The church is also a popular place to view the sunset over the neighbouring island of Paros. There’s no actual coast road in the centre of the village with Tavernas fronting right onto the beach. The sand shelves gently, making the beach safe for families, with life guards in attendance. It’s possible to visit other beaches on the island in addition to the neighbouring islands of Koufanisia and Mykonos. Excursion boats depart in the morning from the main jetty. There’s a selection of different companies to choose from and the boats return around sunset. It’s also possible to hire a small boat from here if you wish to explore independently, with instruction being provided before you depart. Car hire can also be booked and collected from several car rental agencies in the village centre. The main road continues around the back of the village where one of the main supermarkets is located. The main bus stop is located at the harbour entrance and from here, the road continues south along the coast. Agia Anna has a good selection of hotels, many of which are located close to the village centre and providing easy access to the beach.