The sandy beaches of Naxos

Most Naxos beaches are sandy. There are only few exceptions to this rule. The best known and most popular sandy beach is Saint George beach on Naxos Town. It has very fine grain sand of dark beize colour. Agia Anna, Plaka, Mikri Vigla, Kastraki, Alyko Pyrgaki and Agiassos are some of the most common sandy beaches of Naxos.



At the southwest of Naxos, most beaches have thin or grain white sand. This is what causes the water to take such wonderfully bright turquoise colours, giving the beaches their distinct exotic character. This is the most touristic part of the island, with many hotels, apartments and rooms to rent.

Should you decide to stay there, it is a good idea to book early enough, if finding a "front seat" is within your requirements. You do need to know that beachfront rooms cost a bit more, but they are most definitely worth it if you spend some time in there. Just make sure that the room has a private balcony also facing the sea, with adequate furniture and some shade.

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Reaching Alyko beach of Naxos

Located at the south part of Naxos, Alyko beach is actually a collection of beaches surrounding the Alyko peninsula. Although far, it is preferred by many, due to its natural variety and the wonderful scenery it offers at the larger part of the route.

 

10 of the best family friendly beaches in Europe

It seems that "The Guardian" has made a list of the top 10 family friendly beaches of Europe. Why? Because, as most parents know, when going on holidays with the kids there is always great concern on how appropriate the beach is for their children.

The most common worries are the following:

- Is the sea water shallow enough to ensure safe swimming for their children?
- Are there umbrellas and sunbeds to protect both parents and children from the sun?
- Will they find other beach amenities such as taverns, cafeterias, mini markets and other kinds of shops to cover the most basic family needs?
- Wil the children have enough space to play around and meet other children to hang out?

Going on holiday as a family is an exciting experience. Parents get to see their children enjoying themselves, having lots of fun and meet new people. They have the opportunity to spend quality time with their offsprings and strengthen the family bond. However, they do need some time to themselves, a few moments to relax and enjoy their holiday too.

 

So, according to "The Guardian", Saint George beach of Naxos Town is the best European beach for families. Why argue with that? Anyone who has been there knows that it is true. You may read the whole article here.

The top 5 beaches of Naxos

One of the most important tourist attractions of Naxos island is its wonderful beaches. Due to the island’s size, shape and geography, they surround it and provide a fantastic variety for everyone. Most of the beaches of Naxos are sandy, while only a few are peebly, found mostly at the island’s eastern side.

The most famous part of Naxos is in the south-west, where the island’s best beaches are gathered, according to the majority of tourists who love the white sand and the turquoise waters. Nearly all of them share common characteristics. The ones closer to Naxos Town are more developed, offering many tourist amenities and a large number of hotels, apartments, studios, rooms and restaurants for their visitors.

The Top 5 list of beaches of Naxos, according to their popularity, forms as follows:

Beach No. 1 - Agios Prokopios beach

Agios Prokopios beach, the white grain sand and the pool-like colour of the sea attracts many visitors each year, making it the most popular beach of Naxos.

 

Accessing the beaches of Naxos

Naxos is the biggest of all Cyclades islands and that gives it a huge advantage. It has well over 30 beaches of unique beauty, ideal even for the most demanding traveller.

The island’s best known beaches are at its southwest side. Most famous are Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka, which gather thousands of tourists each year. Their sand and water quality are unique and they have been characterized as among the best beaches in the Cyclades.

 

Enjoying Naxos beaches

Of all the Cyclades, it is Naxos i love the most. There is always something to see, always something to do. My first visit was in the summer of 2012, while i was island hopping between Paros, Antiparos, Naxos and Amorgos. It was a fantastic experience because, although i only had 10 days available, i got to visit all of them and get a pretty good idea of their main features. Or so i thought.

After some small talk with other tourists in each of my travel destinations, i realised that the 2 days i was spending on Naxos were not even nearly enough for me to enjoy its pleasures. So, next year, i planned a full 15 day holiday, staying on Naxos for 10 whole days. I would choose a different beach to swim every day, i would also visit a different village every day (except for Apeiranthos that i had to see 2 more times). It was more like an exploration rather than a holiday. All the taverns in Naxos Town and the villages of Naxos, all the coffee shops, all these cute souvenir shops, the walkways of the capital and its castle ...

 

My favourite Naxos beaches

When it comes to Naxos beaches, it is hard to choose the best. Most of them are really nice, each for its own reasons. Unless you are very specific on what you like on a beach, then the best way to discover your favourite is by the standard method of exploration.

Now, there are many ways one can explore the beaches of Naxos. The most common one is by car. Hiring a car adds up to your travel costs but it will allow you to see the most of this wonderful and big Cycladic island in the minimum time possible and with the greatest degree of safety. That is, of course, if you follow some basic rules. If you are in for a motorbike rental, then be prepared for long hour driving. It may sound like something you would want to avoid, but trust me, the view of rural Naxos from a motorbike is worth every minute.