Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ACCOMMODATION
BEACHES
Finikas
Pyrgáki
T
22850 75230,
W
hotelfinikas.gr.
At
the end of the coastal dirt road and away from it all, this is
a fully self-sufficient hotel, offering everything from a
restaurant and free wi-fi to a sauna and a gym. It also
organizes
wate
rsports activities. Breakfast included.
May-Sept.
€165
Marágas
Ayía Anna
T
22850 24552,
W
maragas
camping.gr.
A suitably laidback shaded campsite with a
taverna, beach bar and watersports facilities. There i
s a
regula
r bu
s service to Náxos. April-Oct. Camping
€7
,
cabins
€45
Naxos Imperial Resort and Spa
Stelídha
T
22850
26620,
W
naxosimperial.com.
The best deluxe hotel of
many on the Stelídha peninsula, it is also close to the best
section of Áyios Prokópios beach. There's volleyball, gym,
spa,
restau
rant, bar and a pool. Breakfast included. May-
Nov.
€160
Orkos Beach
Orkós
T
22850 75194,
W
orkosbeach.gr.
Next to the Flisvos Kite Center (see p.413), with a cool pool
and even cooler customers. Its garden alone is perfect to
laze in. I
ntern
et, wi-fi, parking and breakfast included.
May-Oct.
€70
Plaka
Pláka
T
22850 42700,
W
plakacamping.gr.
Near
the beginning of the Cyclades' longest beach, this is the
newest camping on Náxos with a swimming pool, restaurant
and café. It is flanked by its imaginatively named Plaka I and
Plaka II sister hotels
(€
45-60). Bus service to Náxos Town
available. April-Oct.
€9
Stella
Ayía Anna
T
22850 42526,
W
stella-apartments
-naxos.gr.
Clean and close to the sea but not far from the
village itself, these studios with kitchenette and
bougainvillea-bursting balconies are possibly the best
option so
uth o
f Náxos Town. Wi-fi in the reception only.
May-Oct.
€50
6
EATING AND DRINKING
Gorgóna
Ayía Anna
T
22850 41007.
Cool, large, shaded,
family-run beach bar that becomes a fish restaurant with
reasonable prices (€10) in the evening and continues
functioning as a late-night bar until the morning. Known
locally for its delicious home-made
rizógalo
, a spiced rice
pudding.
Daily 8am-3am.
Mólos
Áyios Prokópios
T
22850 26980.
Fish taverna
offering only fresh fish caught on the day and assorted
seafood - which tends to be fried, however, rather than
grilled. Occupying the best spot on the beach, it is
unsurprisingly popular. Two deckchairs plus one umbrella
€10.
May-Oct daily 9am-1am.
Central Náxos
After its beaches,
Central Náxos
is the island's second unique selling point with lush
green valleys, mountains, painfully picturesque villages, historic churches, old forts and
Classical sites. Because of the sheer size of the island these are best enjoyed via two
day-long drives: one short and one much longer. The short drive is Náxos-Galanádho-
Sangrí-Halkí-Moní-Kinídharos-Flério-Náxos, while the longer drive is Náxos-
Galanádho-Sangrí-Halkí-Filóti-Aperáthou-Apóllonas-Náxos via the northern coastal
road.
Galanádho and Sangrí
From Náxos Town, head for the market village of
Galanádho
to reach the twin villages
of
Sangrí
, on a vast plateau at the head of a long valley. On the way have a look at the
domed eighth-century church of
Áyios Mámas
, neglected since the Ottoman conquest.
Káto Sangrí has the ruins of a Venetian castle, while Áno Sangrí is an attractive little
place, all cobbled streets and fragrant courtyards. It's also only about ninety minutes'
walk to the Byzantine castle of
Apalírou
, at 474m, which held out for two months
against the besieging Marco Sanudo. Its fortifications are relatively intact and the views
magnificent. Thirty minutes' stroll away, on a path leading south out of the village, or
3km by surfaced lane, are the partially rebuilt remains of a
Classical temple of Demeter
(Tues-Sun 8.30am-3pm; free) from 530 BC, over which was constructed an early
Christian basilica.
The Tragéa and Halkí
From Sangrí, the road twists northeast into the
Tragéa
region, scattered with olive trees
and occupying a vast highland valley. The area is the only part of the Cyclades to have a
regular winter snowfall, and the only part with traditional songs about snow. It's a good
