8Naxos, Greece
Naxos combines beaches, mountains, traditional villages and ancient history in one remarkably varied island.
Chora, the island’s main town, has a picturesque waterfront and a maze of narrow streets leading through Venetian architecture. The Portara, an enormous marble gateway overlooking the sea, has become one of the island’s most recognizable landmarks.
Beyond the coast, the mountainous interior reveals villages such as Apeiranthos, where stone houses and traditional architecture create a completely different atmosphere.
Naxos is beautiful precisely because it offers more than beaches. You can spend one day swimming and the next exploring mountain villages, archaeological sites and local food traditions.
