subject: Naxos Beaches [print this page] Naxos Beaches Naxos Beaches
Naxos boasts some of the best beaches in Cyclades. Long stretches of beautiful sandy beaches with sparkling blue waters, where one can find a secluded spot even in peak season, dot the coastline of the island. Fringed with sand dunes and cedar trees, most beaches are lined with taverns that offer delicious Greek food and some great views over the Aegean Sea.
Most of the beaches offer facilities for a variety of sports, including windsurfing, water skiing, snorkeling and diving. Shops providing equipment rentals and accessories for swimming and water sports line the promenade of most beaches. Agios Georgios, a beach at the tip of Naxos Town, is the island's busiest holiday beach. The shallow waters of the bay make it a safe spot for families and children. Towards the northern end of the beach, it gets quite windy and it is a popular spot for windsurfers. A windsurfing school is located there.
From Agios Georgios to south, visitors will also meet a lot of amazing beaches, including Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, Orkos, Marangas and Plaka. All these beaches are organized with tourist facilities but fortunately they have kept their authenticity and pure environment. Although they get popular in summer, however they are not swallowed by mass tourism.
An outstandingly beach in Naxos is also Mikri Vigla, located on the southwest part of the island, at a distance of 16 km from Naxos Town. Amazingly white sands that show up the clear waters creating a plethora of azure shades, the bay of Mikri Vigla has one of the strongest wind systems in the Cyclades, created by the low pressure area formed as a result of being wedged by Naxos and its neighbor, Paros. A popular school for kitesurfing and windsurfing is located right on the beach of Mikra Vigla.
On the eastern side of the island, there are less popular and windier beaches. Moutsouna has wind speeds touching 7 on the Beaufort Wind Scale and it is a favorite haunt for lonely experienced windsurfers. These Naxos beaches are not as touristy as beaches on the western coast, due to the strong winds that blow there and make the atmosphere uncomfortable sometimes, still they are gorgeous places to enjoy Naxos away from busy crowds and see the rural side of the island.
Therefore, the western and northwestern side of Naxos hosts the best and organized beaches, while the eastern and southeastern side is ideal for total privacy and relaxing.
