Chora (Naxos Town) Travel Guide
Get excited! You are visiting Naxos and exploring Naxos Town, also known as Chora. Chora, Naxos is the main town in the island of Naxos.
Chora, Naxos is the main hub of Naxos with tons of shopping, restaurants, Greek Ruins, and other attractions making it the best place to be in Naxos.
After visiting Chora Naxos we created this guide just for you! All of our favorite places to go, eat, drink, and the must do’s in Chora as well as any tips we have are compiled in this guide! We hope you find it useful as you plan your adventure to Naxos.
Where is Chora, Naxos?
Chora, AKA Naxos Town is the main town on the island of Naxos. Chora is the capital of Naxos Island, located on the west coast of the island. This is where you will want to base yourself while in Naxos. Chora is where you will find a postcard worthy waterfront, great food, drinks, and everything you will want in your Naxos trip.
Where to stay in Chora, Naxos?
You will want to stay walking distance from the main hub of Chora. That way you can walk to most restaurants, waterfront, ruins, and all that Chora has to offer. Another option is to base yourself close to the beaches so you can spend your days sun kissed and soaking in the sun. Depending which you would like to be close to, Chora or the beaches will determine which accommodation is right for you!
When searching for hotels as Ethical Travelers we make it a priority to pick accommodations that are local, sustainably properties, and affordable to help you travel more and do so better!
Accommodations walking distance to Chora:
Hotel Coronis– budget option with basic bed, clean, and walking distance to Chora with harbor views!
Great option for the budget traveler who wants to be close to the action! Hotel Coronis is also a travel sustainability property taking 10/29 sustainability steps.
Rooms start around 50.00 a night.
Accommodations walking distance to beaches:
Argo Boutique Hotel– Argo is a family run hotel that is level 2 sustainability hotel. It is a boutique hotel and is a beautiful hotel with comfy beds. It is located on a quite area of Naxos Town and is close to the beach.
Rooms start at 70-250 a night. So depending on when you are visiting this could be a great option for a budget traveler and in high season will most likely not be an option.
Read our complete Naxos Accommodations Guide for all our recommendations!
How long to stay in Chora, Naxos?
I would recommend staying in Chora for 2-3 Days or more if you have the flexibility. If you are wanting to explore Naxos and go to Chalki (Halki) village and see the beaches I would stay a week to explore the island of Naxos to give you enough time to see the highlights.
How should I get around in Chora, Naxos?
Chora (Naxos Town) is a very walkable area and you can easily get around to most places by foot. If you are planning on staying in Naxos there is not a need to rent a car.
Car rentals are very affordable in Chora as well and are a great option if you are wanting to take day trips or move around the island of Naxos or visit the wonderful beaches Naxos has to offer.
What are the best tours in Chora?
For the Mamma Mias: Explore the teal waters of the Mediterranean from a catamaran complete with a lunch, swim breaks, and of course insta worthy water views. And of course wine. What a perfect way to spend a day in Naxos.
For the Foodies: Go on a food tour in Old Town Naxos and explore some local gems with wonderful Greek food and wine. This is our favorite kind of tour! We love food tours since you get to learn about a culture by eating the cuisine through a local guide.
For the History Buffs and Fast Travelers: See the majestic Demeter temple site, watch the pottery workshop’s demonstration and learn about olive oil production, visit the neoclassical Chalkio, visit art galleries, and try citron liquor, explore Apeiranthos, the marble village, and visit Apollonas, a sea shore village on the northeast edge of the island. This is a great pick for the fast traveler who wants to fit it all in with all these Naxian attractions packed in one tour!
Where to eat in Chora?
Chora, Naxos is an amazing destination for all the foodies. We did not have a bad meal our whole time in Naxos, each day trying a new place. Every place we went to felt authentic, local, and fresh. There weren’t the typical tourist traps with bad food and a hefty price tag. Yes, there are some places that will be more pricey but you can find affordable eats as well. Most places will offer slightly higher prices than other towns in Greece that will be similar to westernized prices you will find in the U.S.
Where to drink in Chora?
There are some great quality places to get craft cocktails in Chora. Our top picks for a great cocktail was Swing and Toro.
Swing is one of our favorites for its very unique “glasses” and very well made drinks that are both delicious and strong. I ordered a drink that came in a volcano glass that was “erupting” with smoke rising from my glass. So cool. I also ordered a drink that came in a mini grocery cart, very unique and so cute. Swing is an experience that can’t be missed while in Chora.
*Sorry Swing Pic is blurry, this just shows just how good the drinks are! 🙂
Toro is a tiki bar and made terrific tiki drinks with a balcony that had a great view of Naxos Town and the waterfront below. The drinks came in fun tiki glasses and were everything you want from your tiki drinks- strong and tropical. The ambiance was very trendy with modern tiki decor and great views.
Another very Naxian stop is Kitron Cocktail Bar located in the heart of Chora Town on the main street. There serve cocktails made with kitron which is a Naxian delicacy and one of the main goods Naxos is famous for next to it’s Naxian cheese. You can try wonderfully crafted kitron cocktails.
It has a unique taste and while it may not be for everyone it is a must in Naxos to try out the famous Naxion liquor. The drinks are made so well so that helps as well.
Be sure to try it on it’s own as well so you know what it tastes like. They also offer a cheese plate, yes with Naxian cheese as well as other great food options for any meal of the day. And the best part? If you set on the quaint patio you have the best seat in the house to watch the vibrant Naxos town and just soak it all in.
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- Swing Cocktails
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- Toro Tiki Bar
What to do in Chora?
There is a ton to do in bustling Chora with phenomenal food, drinks, shopping, Greek ruins, beautiful waterfront, and lots of other must do’s to fill your time in Chora.
We made a complete itinerary after traveling to Naxos, Greece with all of our top picks for what to do in Chora that made our trip unforgettable!
Day 1 in Chora, Naxos
First, Hit the ground running! Drop off your bags at your accommodation and head to Old Town for some exploring and great food!
Old Town, Naxos
Old Town Naxos is Chora. You will see Old Town referred to as Chora, Old Town, and sometimes Naxos Town. This is the main area of Naxos Town where you will want to walk in and out of shops, restaurants, and experience all the hustle and bustle of this vibrant island town. There are so many charming little shops selling local goods that make the best souvenir for you to take home or give to a loved one. Take the time to wander around and really explore this area. You will find it to be such a fun area to visit.
Venetian Castle of Naxos
Next, up is the Venetian Castle! You will most likely happen upon the Venetian Castle of Naxos in Old Town as you are out and about exploring, it is woven into the spiraling streets of Chora. You will be able to walk around the castle, it is a bit hilly but still very manageable. It is worth going to visit but is not life changing either.
It is hard to see the entirety of the castle while in it but you can see a partial view when you are standing on the outside looking at it from the waterfront in Naxos with the Portara behind you and the Castle in front of you. This is a great spot for a pic of the castle and also a far away shot of the Portara and the water.
Eat in Old Town, Naxos
Next, let’s get some food! In Old Town, Naxos you will find a huge variety of food options from Italian food, fresh seafood, and of course Greek food and great cocktail options too! There are not many tourist traps in Naxos, we found most of the food to be exceptional but be wary of a place that offers a menu in multiple different languages or that have large photos of the food.
There were many great food options with a view of the water and Greek ruins (The Portara) that make for the perfect postcard-esque moment.
Head to Toro or Swing for a nice cocktail to end your night with a nice buzz with an artfully crafted drink you will just love!
Day 2 in Chora, Naxos
Your second day in Naxos is the perfect time to explore the best beaches in Naxos and head to the top attraction in Naxos, the Portara.
Hop in your rental car to head to the beaches! This will come in handy for your day trip tomorrow too. The rental cars are very affordable in Naxos and will make getting around to the beaches and other day trips super easy!
If you don’t have a car don’t fret! You can hop in a taxi or catch a bus. The buses tend to be somewhat unreliable so I would recommend a taxi over the bus if your budget allows for it. You can have your hotel call for a taxi and be sure to get their whats app number (this is an app to use for all international numbers to easily communicate) to message them when you are ready for a ride back or prearrange for a time for them to come back to pick you up. Be sure to decide on a pickup point as well to avoid any confusion.
Best Beaches in Naxos- Plaka Beach and Agios Georgios Beach
Now, head to the best beaches in Naxos! Our favorite beaches to head to in Naxos were Plaka Beach and Agios Georgios Beach. Plaka was our favorite because it was far less crowded and easy to enjoy a calm beach with beautiful white sand and teal waters.
Agios Georgios Beach is another great pick if you are looking for a more upbeat atmosphere complete with seating, music, and cocktail and food service.
You will pay a small fee for the chair you sit in but hey you get food and drinks brought right to you- can’t beat that!
When you arrive simply grab a chair and the staff will come to you for payment of chair and ask if you would like anything to eat or drink, it’s super easy!
Portara, The Temple of Apollo
The Portara, also known as the Temple of Apollo or The Great Door is a Greek ruins that is one of, if not the top things to do in Naxos. Lucky for you this is a short walk from the main Chora town. It is a lovely walk up a pathway that goes slightly uphill to Portara.
Looking towards Chora you have an epic view of Chora while if you look the other way you have breathtaking ocean views. It is a 360 degree view that is simply stunning from every angle. I would highly recommend going at sunset for an even better view. The Portara seems to glow at this time making the ruins even more beautiful. This was my favorite thing I did in Chora.
This is a great photo op! You will find tons of people walking around to ask to take your picture.
If you are like us and may want to take more than one I highly recommend using a portable tripod to prop up and take a pic. We have one that is a bendable tripod which can wrap around trees or anything for the perfect shot. Another favorite we have is one that is both a selfie stick and a tripod. Either of these are amazing!
Address:
Naxos 843 00, Greece
Hours:
Open 24 hours
Kitron Cafe, Chora Naxos
After taking a sunset stroll to the Temple of Apollo (the Portara) head to the Kitron Cafe Cocktail Bar for a kitron cocktail. Kitron is a Naxian spirit that Naxos is known for. Although it is a bit funky tasting liquor the drinks and very well made. The staff is great at explaining the different types of kitron and allows for you to do a free tasting! This is a great way to cap your fist official day in Naxos.
Day 3 in Chora, Naxos
We will be going on a day trip to Chalkio, also known as Halki! It is the best day trips from Chora. It is about 30 minutes from Chora (Naxos Town). Chalki is the cutest little Greek village with walking trails, great local restaurants with the best Greek food, adorable little shops, and an all around picturesque village. It is a photo op at every turn.
Check out our full Chalki Guide here for a complete guide on how to get there, what to do, eat, drink and so much more!
You can easily rent a car when you get to Naxos, there are a ton of rental cars. If you would like to rent the car before you arrive, check out Discover Cars for rental cars.
If you want to make your visit to Chalki even easier, consider booking a village tour to provide transportation to Halki and Apeiranthos, the marble village, with a guide to teach you about the historic villages in Naxos.
We stayed in Naxos for 3 days and found this to be a great amount of time to see everything we wanted to see and also take some time to relax. If you want to take more tours or day trips you can easily stay 5-7 days and not get bored and take things at a more leisurely pace which is always nice!
If you are a slow travel fan, Naxos is a great place to base yourself and stay even longer.
If you are a budget traveler or digital nomad like us I would highly recommend basing yourself in Crete due to its affordability, beauty, and a TON of stuff to do! Read more about Why Crete is Our Favorite and our Crete Guide.
For those traveling around Greece check out our Ultimate 2 Week Greece Guide, Santorini Guide, Oia Santorini Guide, Should you stay in Fira or Oia Santorini Guide, 3 Day Naxos Guide, Halki Naxos Day trip Guide, Athens Travel Guide, and more Greece Guides to plan the perfect trip!
After traveling around Greece for our month-long budget honeymoon we are so excited to give lots of recommendations, itineraries, and tips to make your Greece trip an unforgettable one!
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Want to have this guide on your phone to take with you while on the go? Find this Naxos Guide here via an app. Check out the Ultimate Greece Guide too! The Ultimate Greece Guide includes Athens, Santorini, Crete, Mykonos, Naxos, and everything from this Halki guide. It includes map locations, hours, important key information all created by me!
Our love list of Travel Resources:
Here are our favorite places to search and purchase all things travel from flights, rentals, accommodations, tours, and so much more!
Accommodations:
Booking– our favorite way to search for hotels, rentals, and hostels. When you book enough through booking you will earn a discount on all bookings which adds up quickly!
Hostelworld– our go to when searching for hostels
Vrbo– our favorite place to search for apartment and home rentals, it is usually cheaper than airbnb and has less hidden fees
Agoda– My new favorite for searching for accommodations, they have huge discounts making it a great place to search!
Tours and Activities:
Viator– book great tours and activities for your next trip, my favorite place for booking tours or travel activities. I love that they have such an easy app to keep all my tickets after booking.
Tripadvisor– Great place to buy and search for travel activities and tours
Get Your Guide– another great resource for searching for a huge variety of tours and attractions for your next trip
Tripadvisor– Great place to buy and search for travel activities and tours
We go Trip– Self guided tours you can access from your phone and explore on your own! A game changer. You can explore at your own pace but still have an informational learning experience of the places you visit, all at your fingertips.
Thatch– search for your own personalized and premade itineraries, with map locations, information for each activity, and your trip all planned for you that you can access through their app and take with you! Check out our thatch guides! There are tons of other great travel creators to explore too!
Rental Cars:
Discover Cars– Worldwide car rentals that allows you to compare different rental car companies to get the best price!
Flights:
WayAway– membership offering 10 % back on tickets, tours, and even hotels! Great way to find cheap flights.
Promo Code for 10% off membership costs: Seek Out Travel
CheapOair– great search engine for flights, hotels, and rental cars
Avisales– Cheap airfare through reliable agencies.
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