Naxos Town

Old Town of Naxos

Breakfast at Maya Pastry Lounge

Naxos Town at sunset

Temple of Apollo

Many people find it hard to top Santorini, especially if it was your first stop in Greece. However, Naxos brought some fierce competition to the Greek islands contest, scoring points for altogether different reasons. Naxos is a much bigger island, the central town (Chora) had much more character, and you got the feeling that people actually lived on the island. Luckily, Naxos is the largest agricultural island in the Cyclades, meaning an abundance of food choices. This island was the second stop in Greek food heaven. 

Naxos was easy to navigate- from the old center, perched atop a hill, to the new shops and restaurants alongside the harbour, it was a pleasant town to explore. The old center was my personal favourite, with its small winding streets, old homes, churches and beautiful flowers. One especially hot afternoon in the old town, I sat on a bench in the shade to rest. After taking photos of a group of stray cats, an elderly woman came downstairs from her balcony, pinched my cheek with a big smile and gestured to me with a glass of water, topped with a spoonful of some sticky substance. I recognized it as spoon sweets, a vanilla flavoured, toffee-like candy that becomes hard when submerged in cold water and is served as a sign of hospitality. I had been meaning to try it in Greece, and what better an opportunity than this! We had as much of a conversation as we could with very limited knowledge of each others' languages, finding out that she had grandchildren, and had been living in her home for the past forty years. Her warm smile and kind gesture is something I will always remember. It's interactions like these that are my favourite moments in travel. 

As I mentioned before, Naxos was Greek food heaven. For anyone traveling to Naxos, please do yourself a favor and visit Maya Pastry Lounge. I'm a fan of dessert, but I may be an even bigger fan of great breakfasts, and this small café provided both. Grab a table at their patio and enjoy a quiet harbourfront view during breakfast, or come late in the evening for dessert when the city is buzzing. My suggestion? Any of the breakfast combos. Try the apple  and cinnamon pancakes or the Greek yogurt with walnuts, honey and fruit, paired with fresh squeezed orange juice and a cappuccino. You will not be disappointed. 

If you're planning a trip to Greece and are considering an island in the Cyclades, do not hesitate to visit Naxos. It doesn't offer stunning cliffside views like Santorini, nor does it come close to competing with the party scene in Mykonos, but the charm and character of Naxos is something to be experienced. You may find yourself wishing you stayed longer.