Exploring Naxos' Villages: The Island Behind the Beach

Apeiranthos – The Marble Village

Can a place be both noble and rustic?
Apeiranthos, perched on the slopes of Mount Fanari, is famed for its marble-paved lanes, medieval towers, and proud residents. It has four small museums, but the village itself feels like a museum — alive with dialect, poetry, and strong coffee.

📍 Don’t Miss: The Women’s Cooperative selling handmade textiles and sweets.

Chalki – Heritage & Citrus

What if time slowed down just for you?
Chalki was once the commercial center of Naxos. Today it’s a graceful blend of Venetian architecture, olive groves, and neoclassical mansions. It’s also the home of the Vallindras Kitron Distillery — still operating since the 1800s.

🍸 Local Experience: Visit the distillery and taste the green, clear, and yellow varieties of kitron liqueur.

Koronos – Hidden in the Hills

Isolated or preserved?
Built amphitheatrically on steep terrain, Koronos is a quiet, cool village with narrow stairways, vaulted paths, and a deep mining history. It’s one of the few places where locals still use the old Naxian dialect in everyday speech.

🍞 Pause For: A rustic snack and conversation with a local shop owner — they always have time.

Melanes – Where the Past Whispers

Can a village guard a sleeping giant?
Melanes is a leafy village near ancient aqueduct ruins and one of the island’s most curious attractions: a 6th-century BC unfinished Kouros statue lying in an open field. The village itself is shaded, calm, and full of fig trees.

🗿 Just Outside: Walk to the Flerio site to meet the reclining Kouros — he’s over 6 meters long.

Filoti – A Village with a View

Is this the center of it all?
Sprawled on the slopes of Mount Zas, Filoti is one of the largest villages on Naxos. It offers beautiful views, delicious tavernas, and the nearby hike to the Cave of Zeus — a spot that adds a mythological layer to the scenery.

🥙 Hungry? Try roasted goat or homemade cheese pies from a family-run kitchen.