Trust me, 20+ Greek islands in, I did not want Condé Nast Traveller to inform me this, but it surely’s good to get a stamp of approval from the highest journey tastemakers within the recreation, nonetheless:
Europe’s high island getaway proper now, based on the celebrated journey publication run by a few of the business’s main editors, is the laid-back, nonetheless partially-secret, postcard-ready Naxos, a Santorini dupe I really feel most Americans are nonetheless sleeping on.
Worry not, we’re right here to repair that.
In a rating of Europe’s Best 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.
If you are taking a look at this wall of textual content barely befuddled, as you’ve got possibly by no means heard of Naxos earlier than, enable me to introduce you to one among Greece’s dreamiest summer season escapes:
5x The Size Of Santorini, 5x The Fun
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 is the most important island within the Cyclades island group, which incorporates the well-known duo, and in contrast to its smaller—however far more common—counterparts, it packs fairly the varied panorama, paradisiacal seashores, and mountainside choriá that successfully look frozen in time.
That’s simply Greek for ‘villages’. Sorry, needed to flex my little-to-nonexistent information of Greek whereas we’re at it.
Back to Naxos, likelihood is your first cease on the sun-drenched island is Naxos Town, or how locals name it, Chora. If you’re keen on 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.
Particularly as a result of it is far more lowkey, and never almost as chaotic as Oia, though these hilltop viewpoints atop Kastro, the native citadel courting again to the thirteenth century, are simply as epic.
Of course, in the event you’re in Chora, you may’t miss out on sundown by Portara, the iconic large marble doorway sitting on a tiny islet related to the harbor by a causeway. It’s the last-surviving little bit of what was once a a lot bigger temple, and the image of Naxos.
Before you go forward and seize these flight tickets, be sure you run a little bit vacation spot test on the Entry Requirements Checker page, particularly if it is Europe you are headed to. This consists of Greece.
Whether it is obligatory fingerprinting or pending journey permits that can change how Americans view journey to Europe perpetually, there is a lot you have to compensate for and put together for forward of flying.
Why Naxos Is Europe’s Top Island Getaway
No pun meant, Chora and its Portara are merely the gateway to Naxos, the island.
Which by the way in which, 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 a protracted weekend.
Condé Nast Traveller referred to as it first, and I can vouch for them.
Naxos’ best-kept secrets and techniques are inland, like Aspeiranthos, a wonderful 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.
Speaking of that liquid braveness, Vallindras Kitron Distillery, proper within the coronary heart of the village, has free entry, and you will get a guided take a look at the previous 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 fundamental hub, that might be Filoti, the most important hinterland village. Great environment, taverna-backed fundamental sq., and a maze of chalk-white alleys surrounded by verdant valleys.
Filoti additionally sits on the foot of Mount Zas, the very best mountain within the Cyclades, and in the event you’ve packed your mountaineering sneakers, the uphill path presents 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 lovers: the Ancient Greeks believed Zeus grew up there to cover from his personal father Cronus.
Wondering how secure Greece is to go to for the time being? The nation scores 90 out of 100 on the Traveler Safety Index, a device primarily based on self-reports by vacationers who’ve truly been, as an alternative of some imprecise authorities recommendation that is too broad or generic.
Check it out under:
Greece’s Best-Kept Secrets Are Here?
Before we get to Naxos’ paradisiacal seashores, I simply need to 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 historical website within the Cyclades…?
It’s a stunning 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. Just stupidly beautiful.
Seeing you’ve got pushed all the way in which again to the southwest–central a part of Naxos, the place the entire greatest seashores are, you may as nicely go for that afternoon dip after all of the action-packed sightseeing.
From one of the best, it is solely 4 miles to Agia Anna, a lengthy, delicate golden sand stretch backed by tavernas and boutique accommodations, and a barely additional 5 miles to Plaka Beach, yet one more sandy strip with some growth, 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 about on a protected pure space on the south-western aspect of the island, framed by dunes, cedar forests, and a mainly one rocky cove for each few souls that enterprise out this fashion.
Naxos is CN Traveller’s high decide for summer season 2026, however in the event you’ve received a couple of extra days to spare in your Greek island-hopping journey, possibly 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 an alternative.
I referred to as all of it the way in which again in March 2025 already: it actually is paradise… with out the Santorini crowds.
