The capital, Naxos Town (or Hora) is a busy working harbour. Its famous landmark - the Portara, is all that remains of an ancient temple of Apollo, dramatically set on a tiny islet connected to the mainland by a causeway. Behind the bustling waterfront the town's narrow whitewashed streets and alleyways climb up to a 13th-century Venetian Castle. Beneath the castle walls and down at the harbour, good restaurants serve local specialities, including the island's famous cheese and wines. You'll find smart, friendly bars and discos too, many in converted old island houses. Ten minutes easy stroll south of the harbour brings you to Aghios Georgios, a lively little resort area with a wide, tree-shaded crescent of soft sand, offering safe swimming, watersports and a choice of beachside tavernas. The further south you go along this coastline by boat or hire car, the more spectacular the beaches - long stretches of fine pale sand backed by rolling dunes.
Island-hopping day trips visit small nearby islands, as well as the better-known Delos, Mykonos and Paros. Walkers will love exploring the interior's fertile river valleys with fine Byzantine churches, picturesque medieval towers, deserted monasteries, and most intriguing of all, large abandoned sculptures of prone male figures known as Kouri, relics of the island's golden age.
The unspoilt village of Ag Anna is only 10 minutes away by bus from Naxos Town. With a beautiful long, soft white sandy beach, this is the perfect place to spend a lazy holiday. In the attractive harbour, you can try the local fish or greek specialities in the variety of tavernas and restaurants or enjoy a cocktail in one of the bars on the beach and listen to the chilled-out music while the suns sets on another day in this newly discovered greek secret!
