Apollonas Beach

Apollonas Beach sits at the edge of a small fishing village on Naxos's northeastern coast, 36 kilometers from Naxos Town. The beach itself is a modest pebble-and-coarse-sand cove tucked between rocky outcrops, with clear water and a handful of colorful fishing boats pulled up on the shore. It's the end-of-the-road feel that draws visitors—most come for the quiet, the tavernas serving fresh fish, and the nearby ancient kouros statue, not for loungers or beach bars.

What to Expect

The beach runs roughly 150 meters along the village waterfront. The shore is mostly rounded pebbles with patches of coarse sand; the water is clean and calm except when north winds pick up. There's no organized setup—no sunbeds, no umbrellas for rent, just a few shaded spots under the tamarisk trees at the back of the beach. The seabed is rocky in places, so water shoes help. The cove is shallow for the first few meters, then drops off gently. Locals fish off the rocks at either end, and you'll often see octopuses hung out to dry on lines strung between taverna terraces and the quay.

How to Get There

Apollonas is a 50-minute drive from Naxos Town via the main road that cuts north through Koronos and Skado. The route climbs into the mountains before dropping back down to the coast. There's one daily KTEL bus from Naxos Town in summer (check schedules at the port station); the journey takes about an hour and fifteen minutes. If you're driving, the road narrows as you descend into the village—park along the waterfront or in the small gravel lot near the tavernas. From the parking area, the beach is a 30-second walk.

Tips for Visiting

• Bring water shoes. The pebbles and rocky seabed make barefoot entry uncomfortable.
• Go early or late. Tour buses stop in Apollonas around midday to see the kouros; the beach and tavernas get briefly crowded between noon and 2 PM.
• Pack shade. There's limited natural shade and no umbrella rentals, so bring a beach umbrella or plan to leave by early afternoon.
• Combine with the kouros. The 10-meter unfinished marble kouros is a 5-minute walk uphill from the village center—worth the detour.
• Cash only. The tavernas accept cards, but bring cash for drinks or small purchases; there's no ATM in the village.

What's Nearby

The ancient kouros statue lies in an abandoned marble quarry just above the village—it's been lying there since the 7th century BC, cracked and never moved. The walk takes you past old stone houses and goat pens. Back in the village, three or four traditional tavernas line the waterfront, all serving grilled octopus, fresh kakavia (fish soup), and whatever the boats brought in that morning. Psaropoula and Apollonas Taverna are the long-standing names. The village itself has fewer than 200 permanent residents; there's a mini-market, a bakery that opens early, and not much else. If you're staying overnight, a handful of small family-run studios and apartments sit on the hillside above the beach.

Best Time to Visit

June and September are ideal—warm water, fewer day-trippers, and the tavernas still open. July and August bring the tour-bus crowd and the meltemi wind, which can churn up the water and make swimming less pleasant. In May and October, the village is nearly empty and some tavernas close, but the beach is yours. Avoid windy days; Apollonas faces north and catches the full force of the meltemi. Sunset here is unremarkable (the sun sets behind the mountains to the west), but late afternoon light on the water and the old houses is worth the drive.