On the islet of Palatia, joined to the harbour by a causeway, the monumental marble gate of the unfinished Temple of Apollo has stood since the 6th century BC. The temple itself was never completed, but its gate, almost six metres high, became the emblem of Naxos.
Go in the late afternoon: walk the causeway, find a spot on the rocks and stay until the sun drops through the marble and the lights of Chora come on across the water. Entry is free.
Crowning Chora is the medieval citadel founded by the Venetian Marco Sanudo in the 13th century, inhabited without interruption ever since. Pass through its gates and lose yourself in lanes lined with coats of arms, old mansions and courtyards full of bougainvillea.
Inside the walls you'll find the Archaeological Museum with its Cycladic figurines, the Catholic cathedral and small galleries. The light is best late in the afternoon, when the stone turns gold.
Below the Castle spreads the old market: a maze of whitewashed lanes with little shops, workshops and meze tavernas, where it's worth simply getting lost. Look out for PDO graviera cheese, local cured meats and Naxos' famous kitron liqueur.
The waterfront, with its cafés and fish tavernas, is the perfect way to end the stroll, with views of the ships mooring beneath the Portara. Everything is within walking distance of everything else.
Start on the waterfront with its cafés and fish tavernas, get lost in the lanes of the old market, climb up to the Venetian Castle with the Archaeological Museum, and end the day with sunset at the Portara. Everything is within walking distance of everything else.
The monumental marble gate of the unfinished Temple of Apollo, from the 6th century BC, on the islet of Palatia beside the harbour. It's the emblem of Naxos and the island's most famous sunset spot. Entry is free.
Yes. The medieval citadel founded by Marco Sanudo in the 13th century has been inhabited without interruption ever since: coats of arms, old mansions, the Catholic cathedral and the Archaeological Museum with its Cycladic figurines. Best late in the afternoon, before sunset at the Portara.
Chora is about 6.3 km from Coast of Dreams. The local KTEL bus links Agia Anna with Chora with frequent services in the summer season, and there are taxis and car or bicycle rental from the property. See also our Getting Here page.
On the waterfront you'll find fish tavernas and cafés overlooking the harbour, while the lanes of the old town hide small eateries and meze tavernas with Naxian flavours: PDO graviera cheese, local meats and kitron to finish.