Agía Ánna Beach

Agia Anna is a white-sand beach on the southwest coast of Naxos, 6.5 km south of Naxos Town and immediately south of the larger Agios Prokopios Beach. The sand is fine and pale, the water exceptionally clear and shallow for the first 20 meters, and steady afternoon winds make it a magnet for windsurfers and learners.

What to Expect

The beach runs about 500 meters along a gently curving bay. Most of the shoreline is organized with rows of sunbeds and umbrellas, supplied by beach bars and tavernas that sit just back from the sand. The seabed is sandy with no rocks, and the shore slopes gently — waist-deep water extends well offshore, which suits families with small children and makes it easy to launch a windsurfing board. A handful of water-sports operators at the northern end rent boards, offer lessons, and cater to the steady meltemi that picks up most afternoons from June through September. You'll see a mix of confident intermediates and first-timers rigging on the sand.

The southern third of the beach, near the small chapel of Agia Anna, is quieter and has patches of free sand between the sunbed zones. The water stays just as clear, and you'll share it with fewer boards.

How to Get There

From Naxos Town, drive or take a bus south on the main coastal road toward Agios Prokopios. After passing through Agios Prokopios village, continue 1.5 km; the road runs parallel to the coast, and you'll see signs for Agia Anna. Park in one of the small dirt lots behind the beach bars (free in the shoulder months, sometimes a small fee in July and August). Public buses from Naxos Town to Agia Anna run roughly every hour in summer, less frequently in spring and fall; check the schedule at the port bus station or ask your hotel.

If you're walking from Agios Prokopios Beach, it's a 15-minute stroll south along the sand — no road walking required.

Tips for Visiting

• Arrive before 11 a.m. in high season to claim a sunbed in the front rows; the beach fills by midday in July and August.
• Bring reef-safe sunscreen — the shallow, clear water means any product you wear will be visible in the bay within minutes.
• Windsurfers should check the forecast: the meltemi blows most reliably from early afternoon onward, typically 15–25 knots. Mornings are often flat.
• The free-sand zones are at the far southern end near the chapel and in small pockets between beach-bar concessions.
• Most beach bars serve lunch — grilled fish, Greek salads, club sandwiches — so you don't need to leave for food. Quality is hit-or-miss; ask locals which spot has the better kitchen that season.

Best Time to Visit

Late May through early October offers warm water and long beach days. July and August bring crowds, full sunbed rows, and the strongest afternoon winds — perfect for windsurfing, less ideal if you want a quiet swim. June and September offer a better balance: fewer people, still-warm water (20–24°C), and enough wind on most afternoons to sail. October sees lighter winds and cooler water but near-empty sand.

If you're chasing windsurfing conditions, mid-July to late August is peak season; the meltemi is most consistent, and water-sports centers are fully staffed.

What's Nearby

Agios Prokopios Beach is a 10-minute walk north — longer, more developed, and with a slightly broader stretch of sand. Plaka Beach begins where Agia Anna ends to the south; it's less organized, sandier, and stretches nearly 4 km with long free-access zones. The village of Agia Anna itself is tiny — a handful of hotels, studios, and minimarkets strung along the road just inland. For a proper taverna dinner or a supermarket run, head back to Agios Prokopios or into Naxos Town.