Belief me, 20+ Greek islands in, I did not want Condé Nast Traveller to inform me this, but it surely’s good to get a stamp of approval from the highest journey tastemakers within the sport, nonetheless:
Europe’s prime island getaway proper now, in keeping with the distinguished journey publication run by among the business’s main editors, is the laid-back, nonetheless partially-secret, postcard-ready Naxos, a Santorini dupe I really feel most Individuals are nonetheless sleeping on.
Fear not, we’re right here to repair that.
In a rating of Europe’s Finest Islands for 2025 by CN Traveller, the Cycladic gem positioned first with a rating of 95.71, forward of Mediterranean powerhouses Ibiza, Capri, Hvar, and sure, even Mallorca.
Should you’re taking a look at this wall of textual content barely befuddled, as you’ve got possibly by no means heard of Naxos earlier than, enable me to introduce you to certainly one of Greece’s dreamiest summer season escapes:
5x The Measurement Of Santorini, 5x The Enjoyable
The very first thing that can stand out to you as you pull as much as Naxos with the ferry, both from party-heavy Mykonos or Instagrammer-colonized Santorini, is how lush and inexperienced it’s.
It’s the largest island within the Cyclades island group, which incorporates the well-known duo, and in contrast to its smaller—however far more well-liked—counterparts, it packs fairly the various panorama, paradisiacal seashores, and mountainside choriá that successfully look frozen in time.
That is simply Greek for ‘villages’. Sorry, needed to flex my little-to-nonexistent data of Greek whereas we’re at it.
Again to Naxos, chances are high your first cease on the sun-drenched island is Naxos City, or how locals name it, Chora. Should you love Santorini for the whitewashed alleys, the Venetian fort, the lovable harborside promenades, and the plethora of boutiques and tavernas, you may love it right here.
Significantly as a result of it is far more lowkey, and never almost as chaotic as Oia, though these hilltop viewpoints atop Kastro, the native fortress courting again to the thirteenth century, are simply as epic.
After all, in the event you’re in Chora, you may’t miss out on sundown by Portara, the iconic large marble doorway sitting on a tiny islet linked to the harbor by a causeway. It is the last-surviving little bit of what was once a a lot bigger temple, and the image of Naxos.
Earlier than you go forward and seize these flight tickets, be sure you run just a little vacation spot verify on the Entry Necessities Checker web page, particularly if it is Europe you are headed to. This contains Greece.
Whether or not it is obligatory fingerprinting or pending journey permits that can change how Individuals view journey to Europe endlessly, there is a lot it’s good to compensate for and put together for forward of flying.
Why Naxos Is Europe’s Prime Island Getaway
No pun supposed, Chora and its Portara are merely the gateway to Naxos, the island.
Which by the best way, is the biggest by far within the Cyclades, being 27 miles north to south, and roughly 15 miles east-to-west. In different phrases, it’s about 5.5 occasions bigger than an island like Santorini, so do not go on pondering you are able to do it justice as a day journey or over a protracted weekend.
Condé Nast Traveller known as it first, and I can vouch for them.
Naxos’ best-kept secrets and techniques are inland, like Aspeiranthos, an exquisite mountain village with marble-paved streets, stone homes, and mountain views for days, or Halki, a chorio dotted with neoclassical townhouses, finest recognized for its native liqueur.
Talking of that liquid braveness, Vallindras Kitron Distillery, proper within the coronary heart of the village, has free entry, and you will get a guided take a look at the outdated copper stills, and if the proprietor’s feeling significantly beneficiant that day—a yassou and efcharisto go a good distance right here—even style all 3 kitron varieties.
Chora is the “capital on the coast”, but when the mountainous inland of Naxos had a major hub, that may be Filoti, the biggest hinterland village. Nice environment, taverna-backed major sq., and a maze of chalk-white alleys surrounded by verdant valleys.
Filoti additionally sits on the foot of Mount Zas, the best mountain within the Cyclades, and in the event you’ve packed your mountaineering sneakers, the uphill path affords some really spectacular views over the entire of Naxos, and even onto neighboring islands like Paros and Antiparos.
Etched onto the slopes of the mountain, the Cave of Zas is a must-see for Greek mythology lovers: the Historic Greeks believed Zeus grew up there to cover from his personal father Cronus.
Questioning how protected Greece is to go to for the time being? The nation scores 90 out of 100 on the Traveler Security Index, a instrument primarily based on self-reports by vacationers who’ve truly been, as an alternative of some obscure authorities recommendation that is too broad or generic.
Test it out under:
Greece’s Finest-Stored Secrets and techniques Are Right here?
Earlier than we get to Naxos’ paradisiacal seashores, I simply must inform you about my favourite cultural pit cease on the island, solely a 9-minute drive from Mount Zas: the Temple of Demeter, maybe the best-preserved historical website within the Cyclades…?
It’s a lovely Hellenic sanctuary, with greater than only a handful of columns scattered hither and thither, and the seen skeleton of a marble temple. And the countryside surrounding it? Mamma Mia. Simply stupidly beautiful.
Seeing you’ve got pushed all the best way again to the southwest–central a part of Naxos, the place the entire finest seashores are, you may as effectively go for that afternoon dip after all of the action-packed sightseeing.
From the most effective, it is solely 4 miles to Agia Anna, a lengthy, gentle golden sand stretch backed by tavernas and boutique lodges, and a barely additional 5 miles to Plaka Seaside, yet one more sandy strip with some growth, not a lot, and just-enough infrastructure to not really feel fully overrun, however not too crowded.
For one thing a bit extra rugged and distant, and arguably extra scenic than the primary resort seashores, Alyko is ready on a protected pure space on the south-western aspect of the island, framed by dunes, cedar forests, and a mainly one rocky cove for each few souls that enterprise out this fashion.
Naxos is CN Traveller’s prime choose for summer season 2026, however in the event you’ve acquired a number of extra days to spare in your Greek island-hopping journey, possibly you may need to go even extra area of interest, even wilder and correct distant, and hit up the tiny, volcanic outcrop that’s Folegandros as an alternative.
I known as all of it the best way again in March 2025 already: it really is paradise… with out the Santorini crowds.