Exploring Naxos Old Town
Posted by A Girl and Her Passport on 15th Jan 2024
Exploring the winding streets of the Naxos Old Town is a wonderful way to spend a day in Naxos, Greece, especially after spending the day at the beach. It is the classic white village of Greece, and many locals still live in the Old Town, making for an authentic Greek experience.
When you first enter the Naxos Old Town, also known as Chora, you enter the Bourgos area. The Bourgos area is where the Old Market is located. The Old Market is the place to shop and eat in the Chora, Naxos, the village. You will find a variety of shops and restaurants here.
You will enter the Kastro area as you go further into the Chora. The Kastro is the area that is still occupied by much of the 13th-century Venetian Castle. As you get closer to one of the three entrances, look for signs on the ground or walls that say Kastro.
Things to do in Naxos Old Town
Besides getting lost and finding hidden gems, there is a lot to explore inside the Old Town of Naxos Island. Here are all the things to do in Chora Naxos.
Shop till You Drop
Shopping is easy to do in Naxos Old Town, and there is something for everyone. There are the typical tourist shops with souvenirs such as magnets and t-shirts, and then there are clothing stores, jewelry stores, craft stores and more.
– Tereza’s Greek Concept Store – is a cute store located right near the old town and has a fabulous collection of clothes for your Naxos vacation photos. They also carry some small Greek art pieces that would make a great addition to any art collection or a gift for someone back home.
Explore the History of Naxos
Naxos Old Town is full of history, and you can easily see most of the historic sites in this area in a day.
– Of course, the Kastro should be your first stop. You can take the elevator if you want to avoid all the climbing. Finding the elevator can be tricky, so here is a link to Google Maps. There is a small fee to take it, but in the heat of the summer, you would pay anything not to climb the stairs. I recommend catching the sunset from the Kastro!
– The Archeological Museum of Naxos is located in the Kastro area. It is housed in a 17th-century Venetian building and has five floors of artifacts. As of Fall 2021, this museum is currently closed.
– Right at the edge of the Old Town is the Mitropolis Museum. This museum is the ancient site of Naxos town. It is an open-air museum, but you must go down some stairs to get to it as it is below street level.
Eat All the Food
As mentioned earlier, some of the best restaurants can be found in Naxos Old Town. Most of these places serve Greek food at reasonable prices. However, you cannot get the atmosphere of eating at a table in the alley with people passing you by other than in the Chora.
– Metaxi Mas is a beautiful restaurant spread between two buildings with tables in the alleyways. The food is traditional Greek food, and everything I have eaten here has been excellent. If you have a large party, make a reservation, and you might want to eat earlier than the traditional Greek dinner here as I went at nine the other night and much of what I wanted was already finished.
– Apostolis is located right next to Metaxi Mas. The charm of this restaurant will make you want to sit down, and the flavors will make you want to eat there every day!
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