confusedtraveller

We are 2 couples in our late 20's travelling to Greece in June/July. We have planned to stay in Ios for 3 nights, Santorini for 4 nights and want to end our trip in Naxos for 2 nights but we are unsure of what area to stay in. We would like a non-touristy beach which I imagine would be away from town, but they we would also like the option of getting into town when we want to so I'd think we would need to be near a bus stop or close enough that a cab ride is inexpensive. We don't need to go clubbing but we would like to be able to go into town to look around and maybe get some dinner. Any suggestions? Also, I have heard that the beaches in Naxos get quite windy - are there any that are more protected than others?

Thanks so much!

stanbr

Based on your wants I would recommend you consider the Plaka beach area. This is a very good beach and has regular bus service to Naxos Town until late in the evening. It has several tavernas and hotels but not overdeveloped.
You could also consider Aggia Procopious. It is part of the same long string of beaches along the west coast of Naxos. It is located directly beside a village so there is more infrastructure nearby. But that non touristy comment would lead me to believe you probably would prefer Plaka.
Here are pictures of the Plaka area.
http://travel.webshots.com/album/577941251SkgZfC
Have fun

Heimdall

I would recommend staying in Agios Prokopios or Agia Anna, which is at the northern end of Plaka Beach. Both have bus stops for quick access into Naxos Town, although from the middle of June the buses are often full by the time they get to Agios Prokopios. Passengers getting on at Plaka have first dibs for the seats.

Note for Bruce: Agios is the masculine gender for saint, and Agia the feminine. Georgios and Prokopios are male names, so are preceded by Agios. Anna, a female name, is preceded by Agia.
;-)

stanbr

Hey Don it is all Greek to me so I will probably get it wrong next time too. I guess I should just say Saint.

confusedtraveller

Great! Thanks for the useful advice. I'm going to try and find a place near Plaka beach, hopefully closer to the North end so that we can walk to Agia Anna but still manage to get a good spot on the bus from Plaka!

confusedtraveller

Ok, one more question - Naxos vs Paros???

toni

We stayed at Plaka Beach at Studios Athina right opposite the beach. There was a supermarket a couple of doors down to get anything we needed, the bus to town was out the front so we could easily go to town for dinner. The beach was great with nice sand and there was a good choice of tavernas within walking distance, great if you have a couple of wines. We had a wonderful time, the rooms were simple but clean with the front room having a view of the swimming pool and beach. Athina is the nicest person who will help you in any way she can. We loved Naxos so our vote would go there even though we also liked Paros.

Heimdall

Naxos vs Paros? You can't go wrong either way. Between the two, i would say Naxos, but when you add Antiparos into the equation, Paros has my vote. Naxos is the perfect first-timers island, because it has a good mixture of town, beaches, and picturesque mountain villages. Most of the tourist infrastucture is centered near Naxos Town, with a string of long sandy beaches nearby.

You write "We don't need to go clubbing...", yet have picked Ios as one of your islands. I'm not sure why, because Ios is noted for its club scene during high season. It has some good beaches, but clubbing is what it's all about. Perhaps you should solve the Naxos vis Paros question by going to those two islands instead.

Paros has many of the same things as Naxos, with long sandy beaches on the east coast, and smaller sheltered beaches on other parts of the island. It has a lively night scene in Parikia and Naoussa. You can visit Antiparos to see the stalactite cave, or go on a round-island boat trip. I don't normally recommend Antiparos as a place to stay for first-timers, but it has all the things you were asking about in your original post. A combination of Naxos and Antiparos would give you a nice contrast. Parikia, the Paros port, is only 30 minutes away, so you can do day trips to Paros from Antiparos.

confusedtraveller

Thanks! Now I'm even more confused than before! The reason I added in that we don't need to 'go clubbing' on Naxos is because we would have had our fill of it on Ios - so basically we didn't just want more fo the same. Going to check out Antiparos now! Thanks! So many decisions to make!

Heimdall

Okay, if you are going to Ios for the clubbing, then maybe Naxos would be your best choice. It has great beaches, lots to see, and a low-key nightlife. Antiparos would be a good island to chill out on, with lots of good beaches near town, and a pedestrian-only main street with shops, cafes, and restaurants. It has a dive/snorkelling company, round-island boat trips (deserted beaches and bbq with wine/ouzo), but not a lot of sightseeing. There is a lively after midnight club scene on the square. It's easy to get caught up in the rhythm of the island and not want to leave.

parosblue

confusedtraveler,
I have high respect for Heimdall's advice, but jump over Paros for the Naxos/Antiparos combo? I like both of those islands very much, but your stay is too short to do day trips between Paros and Antiparos. It also means traveling right through the port of Parikia to get the ferry to Antiparos - fine for an experienced traveler to the islands, but for a first timer, I think you will find everything you might desire right on Paros. And, are you allowing any time in Athens? Don't miss the important ancient sites in the city and be sure to consider your transitions between the ferry and airport.

Heimdall

Parosblue is correct that two nights isn't much time for Naxos or Paros, and if you do decide on Paros it would be easiest to stay in Parikia, the main port for the island. But "travelling right through the port of Parikia" is just what people do who stay in Naoussa, Piso Livadi, Aliki, Drios, and other parts of Paros. Antiparos is actually easier and quicker to reach from Parikia than most of those places I've just mentioned. In fact, Antiparos high school students commute every day to the school in Parikia, and most of the teachers in the Antiparos elementary school live on Paros. ;-)

3840sivoron

I would suggest st.anna right between plaka beach and st prokopios beach. and not far from hora (downtown). It doesn't get windy as much here either. My cousin has rooms there called Marusas. My other cousin has hotel aeolis it is in hora after platia protodikiou on the otherside of the port going towards st annas beaches. My parents and wifes parents are from gallini and engares the first villages after the port facing mykonos. We have homes and lots of relatives there so we know where to go but we arrive there in august.

Chania

You say June/July. That is night and day to me. If you are talking June then I would say Naxos is the best choice and stay right in town because the town beach is great and the accomodation endless and restaurants and shops are all there. Good access to everything but probably very crowded in July. Your choice of location would be different in July and Aug. I have been to Antiparos and would not choose it over Naxos. You talk about Naxos being windy. I have been to Naxos in May and June several times and have not experienced wind? I would recommend a max 3 nights in Santorini. It is a much smaller island than Naxos.

JeffSanders

My wife's parents started visiting Naxos 15 years ago and have gone again and again every year for the entire time. It has become their favorite island and now it is ours as well. My wife and 2 kids and I go every second year now for three weeks. We stay at Antonia Studios ( http://www.antoniastudios.com ) which is in a perfect location between st. Georges Beach and the main town. The website has the nicest collection of pictures of Naxos so you will really get a feeling for the place. Everything is in walking distance. I love naxos!

Heimdall

This thread is from 2011!