Plaka Beach

Plaka Beach is a 4-kilometer sweep of white sand on the southwest coast of Naxos, starting just south of Agia Anna and running toward Orkos. The water is shallow and clear, the shore is wide, and even in August you can walk a few hundred meters from the access points and claim space. It's the longest undeveloped beach on the island.

What to Expect

The sand is fine and pale, the kind that doesn't scorch your feet at noon. The seabed slopes gently — you can wade out 20 meters and still be waist-deep, which makes Plaka popular with families. Afternoons bring a light meltemi breeze from the northwest, enough to cool you down but rarely enough to churn the water.

The beach has no single center. A few dirt tracks off the Naxos Town–Pyrgaki road lead down through low dunes to different sections. Some have a sunbed concession and a seasonal beach bar; others are completely bare. The southern end, past the main taverna cluster, is the quietest.

How to Get There

Plaka is 8 km south of Naxos Town. Drive or ride the coastal road through Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna, then continue south. You'll see handpainted signs and dusty turnoffs on your right. The most popular access is near Plaka Camping, roughly midway along the beach, where a small taverna lot accommodates a dozen cars. Public buses from Naxos Town stop at Agia Anna in summer; from there it's a 20-minute walk along the shore or the inland road.

Tips for Visiting

• Go early or late. The beach faces west-southwest, so afternoon sun is strong. Arrive before 11:00 or after 16:00 for softer light and smaller crowds.
• Bring shade. Natural shade is scarce. If you skip the sunbed zones, pack an umbrella.
• Footwear optional. The sand is soft and the seabed is sand, no rocks or urchins.
• Rent where you stop. Sunbed setups are scattered, not continuous. If you want a lounger, claim one when you see it — the next cluster may be 300 meters away.
• Water and snacks. A couple of family-run tavernas operate near the central access (one since 1974), but the southern stretches have nothing. Bring supplies if you're walking far.

Best Time to Visit

June and September offer warm water, light winds, and half the visitor count of July–August. Weekday mornings in these shoulder months, you may share a 200-meter section with a handful of people. July and August are busiest but still manageable if you walk south from the main access. October is possible if you don't mind cooler water (around 21°C) and the chance of a closed taverna.

What's Nearby

North along the coast: Agia Anna (1.5 km), a more compact beach with more infrastructure, and Agios Prokopios (3 km), which has watersports and a row of hotels. South: Mikri Vigla (4 km), the island's kitesurfing hub, and beyond that the long, wind-scrubbed strands of Kastraki and Pyrgaki. Inland, the road passes through Vivlos and Tripodes, small farming villages with a bakery, a minimarket, and roadside produce stands in summer.