Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades, the group of islands in the center of the Aegean. The island is eighteen miles long and 12 miles wide and oval in shape.

She is also the most fertile, and this makes her one of the most beautiful. But it is the miles of unbroken golden sand beaches that attract most of the thousands of summer tourists who flock to Naxos each year.

For tourists who can tear themselves away from the glorious beaches, Naxos offers a wealth of ancient Greek remains, as well as plenty of Byzantine and Venetian history. The island’s capital, also called Naxos, has a Venetian fortress and an ancient Greek temple dedicated to Apollo.

This temple is often the first thing a tourist sees when visiting Naxos by ferry because it stands proudly on the tip of the island, marking the way to the busy ferry port. The temple dates from the year 522 a. C. but its dilapidated appearance is not due to the fact that much of it has been lost over time, but rather because the ancients never finished building it.

Naxos Town is a very picturesque port with a maze of whitewashed streets and alleys, designed with the frequent invasions of Aegean pirates in mind. Its typically Cycladic architecture mixes with the Venetian and every turn invites the visitor to explore.

With such romantic and mystical allure, it’s no wonder that Naxos has long been popular with writers and artists. Lord Byron visited it in his youth and never forgot the experience, referring to it in his writings as the ‘Island of Dreams’ and often saying that he would love to return one day.

Naxos has 41 villages and most are worth exploring. They are found in the green and fertile valleys that are sandwiched between the rugged and arid mountains. Many of these are over 2,000 feet high and the highest, Mount Zeus, is 3,200 feet.

Naxos enjoys the economic rewards of being a tourist island but does not depend on them for its prosperity. A great deal of agriculture takes place in its rich valleys and the cultivation of lemons is especially successful. In addition to lemons, Naxos produces cherries, pomegranates, and other fresh fruits. It also produces olives, nuts and potatoes, while its grapes produce some of the best Greek wine.

Naxos is deservedly popular with discerning tourists, but unlike nearby Mykonos, it’s in no danger of becoming a mass tourist hub. What has saved it from doing so is the lack of an international airport. However, there is an excellent airport that offers domestic flights and some tourists, mainly Greek tourists, arrive in Naxos this way, flying from Athens. However, most tourists arrive by ferry, and there is no better way to start a Greek island holiday than this. You can sail from Athens, but it will take at least six hours. Or you can fly to Mykonos and hop on a ferry that takes just two hours. Both options have their pros and cons. We flew to Mykonos one year and found that all the ferries were booked. Another travel tip, whichever route you choose, is to be careful to get off on the correct island. The first time we visited Naxos, we misheard a landing announcement and got off the ferry only to see a sign saying ‘Welcome to Paros’. Fortunately, we had enough time to re-board and complete the remaining minutes of the journey to neighboring Naxos.