Apollonas Beach

Apollonas Beach is a small pebble cove at the foot of Apollonas village, a fishing settlement on Naxos's remote northeast coast, 36 km from Naxos Town. The water is clear and calm, the shore is mostly stone, and you'll share it with a handful of taverna-goers and locals—not the crowds that pack Agios Prokopios or Plaka.

What to Expect

The beach runs maybe 150 meters along the village waterfront. The shore is coarse pebble and small stones, so the water stays exceptionally clear even when there's a breeze. A few sunbeds appear in summer outside the tavernas, but most of the beach is open. There's no organized facility, no umbrellas for rent in rows—just the natural cove, a low seawall, and fishing boats pulled up on one end. The seabed drops gently, and the bay's orientation keeps the water calm most days. Snorkeling along the rocks at either end sometimes turns up small fish, but the real draw is the transparency and the quiet.

How to Get There

From Naxos Town, drive north on the main island road through Galini, then continue past Engares and Abram. The road winds into the hills and eventually drops down to the coast at Apollonas—the route takes about 50 minutes. Park along the village waterfront or in the small lot near the tavernas. If you're doing the northern loop by scooter, Apollonas sits at the far end; combine it with a stop at the Kouros of Apollonas, a massive unfinished ancient statue lying in a quarry just uphill from the village.

Tips for Visiting

• Bring water shoes or sandals—the pebbles can be sharp underfoot, especially at the tide line
• Arrive before noon if you want one of the few sunbeds; after 2 PM the beach empties and you'll have your pick of spots
• There's no shop on the beach itself, but the village has a mini-market and several fish tavernas a two-minute walk away
• The drive back to Naxos Town at sunset offers dramatic light over the inland valleys; budget extra time
• Skip Apollonas Beach if sand is non-negotiable—this is all pebble and stone

What's Nearby

The Kouros of Apollonas lies in an ancient marble quarry a five-minute walk uphill from the beach. The 10-meter statue has been lying there, unfinished, for 2,600 years—one of two giant kouroi left abandoned on Naxos. The village itself has half a dozen tavernas facing the water, most serving grilled fish and octopus caught that morning. If you're making the northern loop, Abram Beach is 20 minutes back toward Naxos Town—another quiet, mostly local spot with a long pebble shore and a single taverna.

Best Time to Visit

June and September offer the best balance: warm water, fewer visitors, and the tavernas still open. July and August see a modest uptick in day-trippers doing the island circuit, but Apollonas never approaches the density of the southwest beaches. Afternoons from May through September are reliably calm; mornings can carry a light chop if the meltemi is blowing, though the bay's northeast orientation shelters it from the worst. Avoid late October through April—most village businesses close, and the water is cold.