You’ve decided to visit Naxos and experience all the island has to offer. Located in the centre of the Cycladic islands, Naxos is easy to get to from various points, by air and by sea, year round. Here is a quick guide on how to get to Naxos.
[Please note: Always contact your travel agent and/or the airline/sea transport line for the latest schedule information as schedules/timetables are subject to change. Peak season usually begins from the Greek Orthodox Easter holiday, late Spring and continues to early Fall – mid October ]
Getting to Naxos by air:
If you are flying into Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, you can catch a flight directly to Naxos with Aegean Airlines-Olympic Air (www.aegeanair.com) and Sky Express (www.skyexpress.gr). In the peak season there are additional flights. Keep in mind, that it is a good idea to book in advance as space is limited. The travel time to Naxos by airplane is about 1 hour.
Getting to Naxos by boat:
Connection to Naxos from Athens by boat: Another option from Athens — a route that most Greeks prefer due to the space availability and timetable frequency — is to travel to Naxos and the isles of the Small Cyclades by ferry or high-speed catamaran. The trip by boat is all part of the island experience. Most of the reservations may be booked directly online, or through your travel agent/service.
Travel time to Naxos from the port of Pireaus by ferry ranges from 5.5 – 6 hours, depending on the timetable and from Pireaus via high speed hydrofoil from 3.5 to 4 hours depending on the company/timetable.
Bus service to the port of Piraeus is available from Athens airport. 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 Athens International Airport is available by taking the Attiko Metro to the Monastiraki station and then making the connection to the ISAP train line to Piraeus.
Please Note: In the summer months, a second port, the port at Rafina, about 30-45 minutes by car from Athens International Airport, also has boats departing to the Cyclades. (Please note there is no direct Express bus to Rafina from the airport).
The ferry and catamaran companies that provide boat service to Naxos are:
All year:
Blue Star Ferries – www.bluestarferries.gr (peak season: 2 timetables per day, everyday and in the off-season: 2 timetables per day except Saturday, from the port of Pireaus).
Peak season
Hellenic Seaways – www.hellenicseaways.gr
Sea Jets – www.seajets.gr
Cyclades Fast Ferries — www.fastferries.com.gr
From Mykonos to Naxos and from Santorini to Naxos:
The international airports closest Naxos are the airports at the nearby islands Mykonos and Santorini. If you are flying into these airports, connection to Naxos is then by sea. Frequent service by ferry and catamaran is available from both Santorini and Mykonos. In the off-season ferry service is available only from Santorini.
Access from Crete to Naxos:
Another popular destination, Crete, also has boat service to Naxos in the peak season.
Also, new this year! Access to Naxos by boat from Patmos, Ikaria, Samos, Chios, Mytilini, Limno, Kavala1x per week.
You can rely on experienced local travel agents to help you arrange your trip to Naxos and choose the best services and unique activities.
