Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EATING AND DRINKING
CENTRAL NÁXOS
Leftéris
Aperáthou
T
22850 61333.
A restaurant with
an unmatched reputation on Náxos and, as a bonus, not as
full as others closer to the main road, which are always
busy. At the end of your meal (mains €13) try the home-
made
glyká koutalioú
, stewed syrupy fruit which are so
sweet that a few teaspoonfuls constitute a serving.
April-
Oct daily 10am-1am.
Panorama
Moní
T
22850 31070.
Small family
restaurant with exceptional views. Whatever the dish of
the day is (€6), order it; it will most likely involve some kind
of meat, as this part of Náxos is famous for its tender beef
and veal.
Daily 11am-11pm.
Plátanos
Aperáthou
T
22850 61192.
Rare mountain
decor, good balcony views and food standards to rival
Leftéris
(see above). This is one of those old-fashioned
Greek restaurants where you can go in the kitchen to check
what's available (mains €9) and whether you like the look
of it.
April-Oct daily 9am-11pm.
Yannis
Halkí
T
22850 31214.
A traditional grill, under a
vine-covered roof, which is always busy with customers
stopping at the nearby Vallindras distillery. Try the local
mountain sausage in tomato sauce (€7) or order the locally
sourced beefburger.
Daily noon-midnight.
6
Northern Náxos
he route to
Northern Náxos
through the mountains from Aperáthou to Apóllonas is
very scenic, and the road surface is in reasonable condition all the way. Jagged ranges
and hairpin bends confront you after
Kóronos
, past
Skadhó
, to the remote emery-
miners' village of
Koronídha
- the highest village on the island.
Apóllonas
is a small resort with two good beaches: a tiny and crowded stretch of
sand backed by a line of cafés and restaurants, and a longer and quieter stretch of
shingle, where
Kouros Hotel
lies. The major attraction in Apóllonas is a 12m-long
koúros
, approached by a path from the main road just above the village. Lying
in situ
at a former marble quarry, this is the largest of Náxos's abandoned stone figures, but
less detailed than those at Flério. The return to Náxos Town is via the northern coastal
road which is spectacularly beautiful, set high above the sea for most of the way.
ACCOMMODATION
NORTHERN NÁXOS
Kouros Apóllonas
T
22850 67000,
W
hotelkouros
.blogspot.com.
Relaxing, dreamy hotel standing alone
in the middle of the shingle beach with spacious, quiet
rooms and a well-stocked beach bar. Despite it being out
of the wa
y, it
attracts a surprisingly young clientele.
May-Sept.
€60
Lesser Cyclades
Four of the six small islands in the patch of the Aegean between Náxos and Amorgós
have slid from obscurity into fashion in recent years. Inhabited since prehistoric times,
the group is known commonly as the
Lesser Cyclades
and includes
Irakliá, Skhinoússa
,
Áno Koufoníssi
and
Dhonoússa
. The islands' popularity has hastened the development
of better facilities and higher prices, but, with only limited ferry services, they've
managed to avoid mass tourism.
GETTING THERE
LESSER CYCLADES
By ferry
Apart from slower direct connections to Pireás,
the fast Blue Star ferries call at Náxos linking up with the
smaller
Express Skopelitis
which serves the Lesser Cyclades
and Amorgós.
Day-trip from Náxos
A boat trip from Náxos takes in
Irakliá and Áno Koufonísi. If you stay in the latter, you can
travel by boat for a swim to the uninhabited Káto Koufonísi,
but not to Kéros which is out of bounds; the whole island is
an archeological area (much like Delos) which is still being
excavated.
INFORMATION
Health
Note that there are no pharmacies on any island,
but some drugs are dispensed from the rural GP practices.
In case of emergency there are speedboats on call 24/7, so
make sure you have good travel insurance.
