Naxos Island - Some questions
 

Hi all

Can anyone tell me which is the best area to stay in Naxos? Where I can have a nice beach but also be next to some nice tavernas, shopping, etc?

Also, is the island large? Is it advisable to rent a car?

Thanks in advance

You can stay near St. George beach and have a lovely time and walk easily in and around town. It's not the best beach on this lovely isle but it's good for the taverna/shopping mix.

The great thing about Naxos is that whatever your priority is, there's something that's a close fit.

Yes, it's a fairly large island and a car is highly recommended for exploring its many sites, little towns and out of the way beaches -- at least for a day or two of your stay. On a number of levels, Naxos is kind of a "Greece in miniature."

We stayed at Kavos, a hotel very near a great beach and a short ride from a nice section of tavernas right on the beach. It is about a fifteen minute ride from the town/port. You can check Kavos on tripadvisor.com . Also, check Hotel Grotta which is within walking distance of town.

A small car can be rented for approx 25euros per day and is well worth it. Your hotel can arrange it. We enjoyed exploring the island.

By the way, we were there in May. At that time, the sunsets were fantastic. Have your camera batteries charged up.

Thank you both very much for the helpful replies. I am going to check the hotels you recommend. Naxos looks like a great island and after reading about Greek islands here in the forum I think this one is waht I am looking for. Thanks again:)

Teresa

Naxos is an excellent choice for a Greek Island. As the economy is based on agriculture it is not Dependant on tourism as a result you will get the feel for a real Greek island where the Greeks you meet live there all year long.

We have been to Naxos 6 times and after staying at in Naxos town and on the beaches on the west coast at Prokopios we have decided we really prefer to stay in town.
For sure the beaches on the west coast are superior and if all you are looking for is a laid back time of beaching then by all means stay there,
Our preference is to stay near the town where there is lots to do and see with plenty of antiquities, shopping and tavernas. The town has a good beach called St George beach. You have to understand it is our preference to explore the town in the morning and spend an hour or two on the beach in the afternoon. St Gerorge is ideal for this.
When we want to spend a day beaching we take the local bus out to the west coast to Prokipous or even better Plaka beach. We do not like to stay out on the beaches because we love the experience of walking into Naxos town at sunset, watch life pass by, have a great dinner and then walk home late at night. If you choose to stay out at the beaches there are far fewer taverna options. From there you probably do not want to drive yourself into town and a taxi ride home just doesn't compare to the lovely stroll back to your hotel hand in hand with your lover.

Is there a specific hotel you recommend by the St. George beach? My family is going in October. We like really nice hotels and good food.

I agree with everything stanbr said. I prefer staying in St George and busing to the western beaches by day.

W351, it's hard to recommend a hotel without knowing your budget. In October you will have much more scope, because even the most expensive hotels have reduced rates that time of year.

Last month I stayed at the Argo Hotel in St George, which is inexpensive, but very clean and well furnished. That was the third time I have stayed there, and like it because it is run by a friendly Swedish-Greek couple who go out of their way to be helpful. It is only a five minute walk to the nearest bus stop for the Prokopios and Plaka beaches, and ten minute walk into town.

Next to Argo Hotel is the new Naxos Royal, which is just off the beach, and very luxurious. There are many other choices, including some on the beach itself.

http://www.argo-hotel.com/
http://tinyurl.com/ynq4x4 (Naxos Royal)

For evening meals, recommend you walk into town rather than eat at the hotel. There are many choices, especially when you walk back into the old town beneath the kastro. The harbor area is lined with restaurants as well, but none of them looked very appealing to me. You may want to have breakfast at the hotel, though. Argo Hotel serves breakfast but no other meals.

Heimdall and stanbr, I've been through some of the other questions you guys have posted on. Due to work schedules my family was planning on going Oct 13-23, but I've read some posts on it being windy during that time and ferries closing and restaurants closing their patios, and possibly being too cold to swim. What are your thoughts on this? Should we wait and do these islands at another time of year?

W351, the further away from high season, either spring or autumn, the more undependable the weather will be. Water temperatures should still be warm enough for swimming, and days will be mild but not hot.

To show you the actual weather over the last several years I have created a Weather Underground Trip planner for Naxos during the time you plan to be there: http://tinyurl.com/226xgx.

If your plans are for a beach holiday, then perhaps you should go a little earlier in the year. But if you want to visit Naxos when most of the tourists are gone, take trips to the moutain villages, eat in uncrowded restaurants, and perhaps get to meet some of the locals when they are relaxing after a busy holiday season, that would be a good time to visit.

There are always restaurants and hotels open on an island of that size. The ferries continue to run throughout the winter - islanders depend upon them. Frequency of sailings is reduced, but you should have no trouble getting to Naxos and back on the Blue Star ferries.

Regarding ferry cancellations during windy weather, that is mostly a problem with smaller conventional ferries and catamarans. The big car ferries, eg Blue Star, sail in all but the worst weather. Blue Star Paros sails daily during October: http://tinyurl.com/y4gsfk. Click on the banner at the top of the page for the Oct timetable. Its sister ship, Blue Star Naxos, also stops daily at Naxos: http://tinyurl.com/cj2lc.