A selections of tours in Naxos Greece. Includes boat trips around Naxos and nearby islands, bus tours, food tours and cultural experiences in Naxos.
Best Tours, Day Trips And Activities In Naxos Greece
If you are looking for activities and tours in Naxos, you are at the right place! In this article, you will find a selection of the best trips, boat tours and experiences in Naxos Greece.
Naxos is the largest island of the Cyclades group. It’s located in the Aegean Sea, to the east of mainland Greece.
Islands close to Naxos include the better known Santorini, Mykonos and Paros, as well as the quiet Small Cyclades: Koufonisia, Schinoussa, Iraklia and Donoussa.
A large network of ferries connects Naxos to these and many more islands, as well as Piraeus and Rafina ports. which are both located close to Athens.
Naxos is well-known for its pretty sandy beaches, numerous traditional mountain villages, and delicious Greek food.
Here are some of the best day tours you can take in Naxos in 2024.
Guided bus tour of Naxos
This affordable bus tour allows you to see some of the highlights of Naxos in a day. The tour stops at the following places of interest:
- The marble temple of the Goddess Demeter, one of the most important ancient monuments on Naxos, and the small archaeological museum
- The tiny village of Damalas, with a stop at a restored olive press museum and a traditional pottery workshop
- Chalki, a beautiful village with beautiful Venetian architecture, where you can visit ceramic art galleries, shops and the local Vallindras distillery that produces a very unique liqueur from citrus fruits known as kitron
- Apiranthos, the famous traditional village with marbled alleys, where you can have lunch
- Koronos village and the famous emery mines
- Apollonas village, where you will can enjoy a swim, coffee or snack
- The unfinished Kouros statue in Apollonas
If you prefer not to drive in Naxos, this is the best way to see many of the top spots and nicest villages of Naxos. Buses depart from Naxos Town.
Book your tour here > Guided bus tour of Naxos
Walking tour of Naxos Castle and sunset at Portara
If you want to find out more about Naxos and its long history, you can take a relaxed evening walking tour of the Venetian Castle in Naxos Old Town, with a local guide.
You will learn a lot about Naxos island in ancient and Byzantine times, but also find out more about contemporary local life and culture year-round.
The tour ends at the famous “Portara” Gate, where you will enjoy the fabulous sunset.
Book your tour here: Historical walking tour of Naxos Castle
Countryside hike through Byzantine churches
In this hiking tour, you will hike on ancient paths through the beautiful Naxian landscape. You will visit several villages, namely Chalki, Moni, Kaloxylos and Akadimoi.
The tour includes visits to the local kitron citrus liqueur distillery, an old olive press factory and the small Folklore museum in Chalki.
The trail passes through beautiful landscapes and a few Byzantine churches, focusing on nature, tradition and architecture.
At the end of the hike, you can join the hiking group for a traditional Naxian meal!
Book your hiking tour here: Countryside hike in Naxos
Cultural activities and workshops in Naxos
If you are looking for something a little more unusual, Naxos offers many interesting culinary and cultural activities, such as the following:
- Greek food tasting tour at Naxos town
- Fantastic half-day cooking class at Potamia village
- Marble carving or mosaic techniques at Grimantis Marble Art Garden, located outside Eggares village
- Workshop Fusing Glass at Yalomorfon Fusing Glass Art Studio, located in Galanado village.
Any of these tours will give you unique insights into Greek culture!
Explore the coastline of Naxos in a catamaran
This is a relaxed sailing trip on a catamaran, where you’ll see much of the coastline of Naxos.
You will visit several beaches and hidden spots on the island, and you will make stops for swimming and snorkelling along the way. The route passes by Rina cave, at the south of Naxos.
Meals, snacks and drinks are included, so all you need to do is enjoy the day!
Book your catamaran trip here: Naxos sailing trip
Full-day cruise to Koufonisia
Close to Naxos, you will find two tiny islands known as Koufonisia, which you can visit on a boat trip from Naxos.
The biggest of the two, Ano Koufonisi, is famous for its untouched sandy beaches with crystal clear waters, and its small, pretty main town.
The smallest one, Kato Koufonisi, is uninhabited, and is a lovely unspoiled paradise!
This boat trip stops at both islands, and also passes by Rina Cave, at the south of Naxos.
Book your boat tour here: Naxos to Koufonisia boat trip
Full-day boat trip to Schinoussa and Iraklia
Schinoussa and Iraklia are two more of the Small Cyclades islands. They both have some amazing beaches, and are amazing to spend a few hours (or a few days) on.
The full-day boat trip includes a few different stops for swimming on both islands, and there is also a beach barbecue on one of the beaches in Schinoussa.
This boat trip from Naxos is an excellent option if you want to visit both islands in the same day, and enjoy some of the lesser known beaches in the Cyclades.
Book your boat trip here: Boat trip to Schinoussa and Iraklia
Full-day boat trip to Mykonos and Delos
During this full-day cruise, you will visit the fabulous UNESCO site of Ancient Delos, and spend a few hours exploring the famous Mykonos Town.
This tour is an excellent option for people who want to visit Ancient Delos from Naxos, without spending a night in Mykonos.
Here’s some practical advice before you book this trip:
- There is very little shade in Ancient Delos, so make sure you have a wide-brimmed hat and sunblock, and consider covering your shoulders and arms. Bring plenty of water and maybe a snack with you, as there are no vending facilities on the island.
- Take into account that the seas in the area can get very rough due to the meltemi winds. As long as it’s safe to sail, the tour will go on as planned even with high winds, so if you are prone to sea sickness make sure you check the weather forecast on the day before your trip.
- The tour makes a quick stop on Paros to pick up passengers, and drops them off on the way back. If you are also staying in Paros before or after Naxos, it’s better to take the full day tour from Paros to Mykonos and Delos.
Book your tour here: Full-day boat trip from Naxos to Mykonos and Delos
More boat tours from Naxos
Apart from the above tours that you can pre-book online, there are also numerous boat tours departing from the port at Naxos Town, or the quay in Agia Anna. For example, Kerras cruises organizes day trips from Naxos to Koufonisia.
You can go for a stroll when you are in Naxos Town, and ask the various travel agencies for itineraries and prices.
Hi! I’m Vanessa from Athens, and I’ve been to about 65 of the Greek islands! Follow me on my social media for more Greece-related news and inspiration:
