Naxos, the largest of the Cycladic islands, is a unique travel destination because it incorporates the communities of four additional smaller isles – Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonissia and Donoussa — that belong to the Municipality of Naxos and Small Cyclades, hence the term “Naxos and the Small Cyclades. Five Islands. One Destination.”
Shaped like a rhombus, Naxos may be referred to as a diamond on the Aegean, with 4 colorful gems alongside, giving it an added sparkle unlike any other in the region. Our logo makes reference to this characteristic – four colorful dots encircling the larger “mother” island
What does this mean for the traveller?
Variety, choice and the opportunity to experience the best of both worlds: that of a larger island with access to the more remote.
Naxos, in itself, is a destination that could take weeks to explore, while the smaller isles – Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonissia and Donoussa — offer a more condensed holiday experience.
Naxos with its many beaches, buzzing downtown and historic Old Town takes the Cycladic island experience a bit further.
With a vast landscape of green valleys, mountains, and pristine coastline, it offers a lot to the traveller, from a quiet and relaxing holiday with swimming, good food and sightseeing, to a more recreational fun type of adventure vacation with water sports and all-level hiking trails.
With a long history that dates back to prehistoric times, each island keeps it exciting with local gastronomic specialties, fantastic myths, captivating legends and a telling history and landscape that are worth discovering.
The added value of the nearby Small Cyclades is the chance to hop on over to a smaller island to experience untouched, romantic and, in some cases, soft rugged beauty. The beaches are crystal clear and there is an aura of calm that surrounds.
Whichever one you pick to visit, each one offers a different type of luxury – the luxury of peace, quiet, serenity and a return to the wholesome, with just enough sightseeing, adventure and culinary heritage to offset the long lazy days at the beach.
Things to know:
When is the best time to visit Naxos?
Naxos is an all-year destination. The island’s varied landscape and topography of mountains, valleys and seacoast, offers a wide variety of things to do depending on interest, taste and level and appetite for adventure! Of course, the high season for summer fun is late spring to early fall (May-September). Sport enthusiasts can indulge in hiking, mountain biking off-season, while culinary aficionados might want to explore the culinary harvests unique to each season.
Access to Naxos*:
Naxos is accessible via ferry and hydrofoil from the ports of Piraeus, Rafina, the islands of the Cyclades and others, including Crete, depending on the season (see below). Additionally, there is a direct flight (s) from Athens.
[Please note: schedules/timetables are subject to change. Please contact your travel agent and/or the airline/sea transport line for the latest schedule information.]
[Please note: Peak season usually begins from the Greek Orthodox Easter holiday, late Spring and continues to early Fall – mid October ?]
From Athens:
Peak Season:
By air:
• Daily flight (s) from Athens International Airport, Eleftherios Venizelos (time travel: 35 minutes)
By sea:
• Daily ferry/ferries from the port of Piraeus (approximately 5.5 hours)
• Daily ferry from the port of Rafina (approximately 5 hours)
• Daily catamaran (s) from the port of Piraeus (approximately 3,5 hours)
• Daily catamaran (s) from the port of Rafina (approximately 3-3.5 hours)
Off-peak season:
By air:
• Daily flight from Athens International Airport, Eleftherios Venizelos
By sea:
• Daily ferry/ferries from the port of Piraeus approximately 5.5 hours
From Santorini
Peak Season:
• Daily ferry/ferries (approximately 2-2.5 hours)
• Daily catamaran (approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes)
Off-peak
• Daily ferry year round (approximately 2.5 hours)
From Mykonos
Peak season:
• Daily ferries (approximately 1-2 hours)
• Daily catamaran(s) (approximately 20 minutes)
From Crete
Peak season:
• Daily catamaran(s)-3-4xper week (approximately 3.5 hours)
When is the best time to visit the isles of the Small Cyclades?
Late May, early June until end of September.
Access to the isles of the Small Cyclades:
[Please note: schedules/timetables are subject to change. Please contact your travel agent and/or the airline/sea transport line for the latest schedule information.]
[Please note: Peak season usually begins from the Greek Orthodox Easter holiday, late Spring and continues to early Fall – mid October ?]
Naxos to Iraklia
Year round
• Daily local ferry (approximately 1 hour), except Sundays
• Ferry line 4x per week (approximately 45 minutes)
Naxos to Schinoussa
Year round
• Daily local ferry (approximately 1hr 45 min.), except Sundays
• Ferry line 4x per week (approximately 1 hr and 15 min)
Naxos to Koufonissia
Year round
• Daily local ferry (approximately 2 hrs 30 min.), except Sundays
• Ferry line 4x per week (approximately 2 hrs)
• In the peak season: there is a catamaran 6x per week
(approximately 35 minutes)
Naxos to Donoussa
Year round
• Daily local ferry – 3x per week (approximately 4.5 hours)
• Ferry line 2x per week (approximately 2 hours)
