Maragas Beach Naxos

Maragas Beach sits on the southwest coast of Naxos, roughly midway along the stretch that runs from Agia Anna in the north to Plaka in the south. The beach itself has thin white sand and clear shallow water, and it's backed by the green grounds of Maragas Beach Village, a family-run complex offering camping, rooms, and studios directly on the sand.

What to Expect

The beach runs for several hundred meters and merges seamlessly with Agia Anna to the north and Plaka to the south, forming part of the longest continuous beach on the island. The sand is fine and pale, the water stays shallow for a good distance out, and the prevailing northwest wind in summer keeps the surface lightly rippled. The Maragas Beach Village complex occupies much of the backshore, with a supermarket, taverna, and café-bar serving the beach and the lodging guests. Sunbeds and umbrellas are available for rent near the complex, but you can also spread a towel farther down the strand where the beach opens up.

How to Get There

Maragas is about 6 kilometers south of Naxos Town port. Follow the coastal road toward Agia Anna; Maragas is the next stretch south, just past the Agia Anna hotel cluster. If you're driving, look for the signed entrance to Maragas Beach Village on the beach side of the road. There's parking inside the complex and roadside spots nearby. Local buses running between Naxos Town and Agia Anna/Plaka stop within a few hundred meters; ask the driver for Maragas or walk south from the Agia Anna stop.

Tips for Visiting

• Timing: Arrive before 11:00 to claim a sunbed near the water if you're visiting in July or August. Sunset here is popular and the beach faces west.
• Wind: The afternoon meltemi can pick up; the northern end near Agia Anna has slightly more shelter from dunes and tamarisk.
• Facilities: The on-site supermarket stocks basics, snacks, and cold drinks. The taverna serves lunch and dinner; Greek salads and grilled fish are the staples.
• Footwear: The sand is soft and gets hot by midday. Flip-flops are enough; no rocks or sea urchins to worry about in the shallows.
• Camping: If you're staying at the campground, book ahead in high season. Tent sites are shaded by trees and have direct beach access.

What's Nearby

Walk north for 10 minutes and you reach the southern end of Agia Anna, where a few more tavernas and beach bars line the road. Head south and the beach widens into Plaka, a 7-kilometer sweep with scattered beach bars and long empty stretches. The village of Agia Anna, about 1 kilometer north, has ATMs, a bakery, and a couple of minimarkets. Agios Prokopios, the next beach north of Agia Anna, is a 15-minute drive and has more organized facilities and water sports.

Best Time to Visit

June and September offer warm water, lighter crowds, and calmer wind. July and August bring the meltemi, which keeps the air fresh but can make umbrellas flap and the sea choppy in the afternoons. May is quieter still, though the water is cooler and some beach services haven't fully opened. Sunset is prime time year-round; the beach faces almost due west and the light turns the sand pink-gold.