If you are flying to the Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, you can catch a flight directly to Naxos with the national carriers Aegean Airlines and Olympic Airline These local flights from Athens to Naxos are from the same Venizelos airport. There are flights two or three times a day (45 min.).
In the peak season there are additional flights as well as charter flights from many European airports.
The Apollon National Airport in Naxos is located 3 km from Chora and is connected by taxi and regional buses (KTEL).
Connection to Naxos from Athens by ferry boat:
Another option from Athens - a route that most Greeks prefer due to the space availability and timetable frequency – is to travel by ferry [5-5.5 hours] or high-speed catamaran [3-3.5 hours]. The trip by a ferry boat is all part of the island experience and is considered pleasant by most people during the summer months. The fares are usually cheaper than for airplane tickets, and there are also reduced prices for students, specific dates and other groups of people. [More information is available from the ferry companies in early spring, and we will keep you posted about that. Most of the reservations may be booked directly online, or through your travel agent/service.
Bus service to the port of Piraeus is available from the airport [express line X96]. The transport time from the airport to the port of Piraeus is about 1 hr 45 minutes. In addition, access to the port of Piraeus from the airport is available by subway: take line 3 (the blue line) from the Airport to Pireaus or Dimotiko Theatro station, depending on the gate for the ferry boat (40 min) see map.
Please Note: In summer months, a second port, the port at Rafina, about 30-45 minutes by car from Athens International Airport, has also ferry boats departing to the Cyclades. (Please note there is no direct Express bus to Rafina from the airport).
If you are flying to the Mykonos or Santorini airports:
The international airports closest to Naxos are the airports at the nearby islands Mykonos and Santorini. If you are flying to these airports, connection to Naxos is then by sea. Frequent service by ferry and catamaran is available from both Santorini [1.5-2.5 hours] and Mykonos [30 min.-2 hours].
Access from Crete:
Another popular destination, Crete, has also a ferry boat service to Naxos in the peak season [2-3.5 hours].
See also: How to Get to Naxos
Getting around Naxos
By taxi
Taxis are available throughout the island. There are taxis always waiting outside the airport’s gateway or at the Chora port. Rates are fixed every year and different from low to high season.
The island of Naxos is served by quite an organised network of buses. Even though the routes and the timings differ from winter to summer months, when there are more tourists, there are schedules posted at the bus stations. In the high season there are frequent itineraries from Chora to Tripodes/Vivlos, Agios Prokopios & Agia Anna, Apollonas, Apiranthos, Chalki, Filoti, Mikri Vigla, Moutsouna, Agios Arsenios & Plaka, Pyrgaki, Sagri and other villages. Ticket values depend on the destination but they are generally very cheap, especially compared to taxi fares, and rarely surpass 3 euros (for certain long distances).
Useful Links:
Airlines
Ferries
- http://www.bluestarferries.com/en/
- https://www.hellenicseaways.gr/en-gb
- https://www.ferries.gr/gaferries/
- https://www.ferries.gr/nel/default.htm
Useful Telephone numbers*:
- Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos: 2103530000
- Coast Guard Piraeus: 2104226000
- Naxos Island National Airport: 2285023969
- Bus Station Naxos Town: 2285022291
- Taxi-Naxos Town: 2285022444
- Police Station-Naxos Town: 2285022100
- Municipality of Naxos – Chora: 2285022717, 22712
- Coast Guard Naxos: 2285022300
*When calling from abroad, please dial the international country code 0030.
