Belief me, 20+ Greek islands in, I did not want Condé Nast Traveller to inform me this, nevertheless it’s good to get a stamp of approval from the highest journey tastemakers within the recreation, nonetheless:
Europe’s prime island getaway proper now, in keeping with the distinguished journey publication run by a few of the trade’s main editors, is the laid-back, nonetheless partially-secret, postcard-ready Naxos, a Santorini dupe I really feel most People are nonetheless sleeping on.
Fear not, we’re right here to repair that.
In a rating of Europe’s Greatest Islands for 2025 by CN Traveller, the Cycladic gem positioned first with a rating of 95.71, forward of Mediterranean powerhouses Ibiza, Capri, Hvar, and sure, even Mallorca.
Should you’re this wall of textual content barely befuddled, as you have perhaps by no means heard of Naxos earlier than, permit me to introduce you to one among Greece’s dreamiest summer season escapes:
5x The Dimension Of Santorini, 5x The Enjoyable
The very first thing that can stand out to you as you pull as much as Naxos with the ferry, both from party-heavy Mykonos or Instagrammer-colonized Santorini, is how lush and inexperienced it’s.
It’s the largest island within the Cyclades island group, which incorporates the well-known duo, and in contrast to its smaller—however far more fashionable—counterparts, it packs fairly the varied panorama, paradisiacal seashores, and mountainside choriá that successfully look frozen in time.
That is simply Greek for ‘villages’. Sorry, needed to flex my little-to-nonexistent data of Greek whereas we’re at it.
Again to Naxos, chances are high your first cease on the sun-drenched island is Naxos City, or how locals name it, Chora. Should you love Santorini for the whitewashed alleys, the Venetian fort, the lovable harborside promenades, and the plethora of boutiques and tavernas, you may love it right here.
Significantly as a result of it is far more lowkey, and never practically as chaotic as Oia, though these hilltop viewpoints atop Kastro, the native fortress courting again to the thirteenth century, are simply as epic.
In fact, when you’re in Chora, you possibly can’t miss out on sundown by Portara, the iconic big marble doorway sitting on a tiny islet related to the harbor by a causeway. It is the last-surviving little bit of what was once a a lot bigger temple, and the image of Naxos.
Earlier than you go forward and seize these flight tickets, ensure you run slightly vacation spot test on the Entry Requirements Checker page, particularly if it is Europe you are headed to. This contains Greece.
Whether or not it is necessary fingerprinting or pending journey permits that can change how People view journey to Europe without end, there is a lot that you must compensate for and put together for forward of flying.
Why Naxos Is Europe’s High Island Getaway
No pun supposed, Chora and its Portara are merely the gateway to Naxos, the island.
Which by the best way, is the most important by far within the Cyclades, being 27 miles north to south, and roughly 15 miles east-to-west. In different phrases, it’s about 5.5 instances bigger than an island like Santorini, so do not go on considering you are able to do it justice as a day journey or over an extended weekend.
Condé Nast Traveller known as it first, and I can vouch for them.
Naxos’ best-kept secrets and techniques are inland, like Aspeiranthos, an exquisite mountain village with marble-paved streets, stone homes, and mountain views for days, or Halki, a chorio dotted with neoclassical townhouses, greatest recognized for its native liqueur.
Talking of that liquid braveness, Vallindras Kitron Distillery, proper within the coronary heart of the village, has free entry, and you will get a guided have a look at the outdated copper stills, and if the proprietor’s feeling significantly beneficiant that day—a yassou and efcharisto go a great distance right here—even style all 3 kitron sorts.
Chora is the “capital on the coast”, but when the mountainous inland of Naxos had a essential hub, that might be Filoti, the most important hinterland village. Nice ambiance, taverna-backed essential sq., and a maze of chalk-white alleys surrounded by verdant valleys.
Filoti additionally sits on the foot of Mount Zas, the best mountain within the Cyclades, and when you’ve packed your mountaineering footwear, the uphill path gives some actually spectacular views over the entire of Naxos, and even onto neighboring islands like Paros and Antiparos.
Etched onto the slopes of the mountain, the Cave of Zas is a must-see for Greek mythology fanatics: the Historical Greeks believed Zeus grew up there to cover from his personal father Cronus.
Questioning how protected Greece is to go to in the meanwhile? The nation scores 90 out of 100 on the Traveler Safety Index, a device primarily based on self-reports by vacationers who’ve really been, as a substitute of some imprecise authorities recommendation that is too broad or generic.
Test it out beneath:
Greece’s Greatest-Stored Secrets and techniques Are Right here?
Earlier than we get to Naxos’ paradisiacal seashores, I simply should inform you about my favourite cultural pit cease on the island, solely a 9-minute drive from Mount Zas: the Temple of Demeter, maybe the best-preserved historic web site within the Cyclades…?
It’s a lovely Hellenic sanctuary, with greater than only a handful of columns scattered hither and thither, and the seen skeleton of a marble temple. And the countryside surrounding it? Mamma Mia. Simply stupidly attractive.
Seeing you have pushed all the best way again to the southwest–central a part of Naxos, the place the entire greatest seashores are, you would possibly as nicely go for that afternoon dip after all of the action-packed sightseeing.
From the most effective, it is solely 4 miles to Agia Anna, a lengthy, tender golden sand stretch backed by tavernas and boutique accommodations, and a barely additional 5 miles to Plaka Seashore, yet one more sandy strip with some improvement, not a lot, and just-enough infrastructure to not really feel fully overrun, however not too crowded.
For one thing a bit extra rugged and distant, and arguably extra scenic than the primary resort seashores, Alyko is ready on a protected pure space on the south-western facet of the island, framed by dunes, cedar forests, and a principally one rocky cove for each few souls that enterprise out this fashion.
Naxos is CN Traveller’s prime choose for summer season 2026, however when you’ve bought a couple of extra days to spare in your Greek island-hopping journey, perhaps you may wish to go even extra area of interest, even wilder and correct distant, and hit up the tiny, volcanic outcrop that’s Folegandros as a substitute.
I known as all of it the best way again in March 2025 already: it actually is paradise… with out the Santorini crowds.
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