My main focus during my holiday on Naxos was finding a new beach every day. That turned out to be remarkably easy, as the island boasts some of the most beautiful sandy beaches I have seen on a Greek island so far. Maybe that is not entirely fair to the other Greek isles I have visited, but I was genuinely impressed.
On my first day I was lazy and ventured no further than the city beach. Even there, the crowded stretch of sand seemed to go on forever. As it was the weekend, locals and tourists alike populated the shore, and in the afternoon I could not find a free lounger. That alone made Agios George Beach not my favourite. In any case, here is a list of all the beaches I visited during my stay on Naxos. Yours, Pollybert
Agios George beach: This is the main beach in Naxos Town. It is a long stretch of sand with plenty of organised lounger areas mixed with free sections where you can put down your towel. There is basically no natural shade. Sunbeds cost 30 Euro per set. When it is windy, and it often is in the Cyclades, it can get very uncomfortable, with sand blowing everywhere. Public toilets and showers are available.
Agios George beach @Naxos
my view on the sea from Agios George @Naxos
Agios Prokopios beach: This beach is only 15 minutes by bus from Naxos Town. Sunbed sets start at 15 Euro for the first two rows and 10 Euro further back. The beach is long and gradually merges into Agios Anna. At my chosen spot there was no music, but also no showers or toilets. Restaurants line the road behind the beach, so facilities are never far away. The sand here is slightly coarser and heavier. While it was still windy, it was far more bearable than on the city beach.
Agios Prokopios beach @Naxos
the water is just amazing @Naxos
Maragas beach: There are several bus stops called Plaka Beach. When I got off at the second one with that name, it turned out not to be Plaka Beach at all, at least not according to the map. What I found instead was an endless strip of sandy beach that was not too wide, with numerous restaurants lining the street behind it. Traffic was minimal, so noise was not an issue. The sea was stormy during my visit, with waves crashing onto the shore all day long. Each restaurant rents out the loungers in front, usually included with a minimum consumption. This was easily covered with lunch and a few drinks for a single traveler as myself. There was no shower nearby, but I could use the restaurant bathroom throughout the day.
Maragas beach @Naxos
view on Maragas beach from my restaurant of the day @PsaRaki Meze
Plaka Beach: On my last day I took the bus all the way to the end of the line to Plaka Beach and, surprisingly, it was a bit of a disappointment. Not because it is not beautiful. The beach is sandy, wide and seemingly endless. There were only a handful of people around, but also fewer restaurants to choose from and more nudist friendly sections in between. As elsewhere, there is no natural shade. It was still very nice to see, but in the end I walked back towards Maragas Beach, as I wanted to read in a lounger and needed some shade to do so.
Plaka beach @Naxos
lots of empty stretches in the early season @Plaka beach
