The unspoilt Greek island of Naxos is the largest and one of the most beautiful islands in the Cyclades. Offering sandy beaches, clear blue water, vibrant green valleys and an amazing mountainous interior, Naxos attracts a vast array of visitors. Families, couples of all ages, beach lovers, culture vultures, walkers, cyclists and windsurfers are all attracted to Naxos, many staying in the capital Naxos Town which is ideal as a base for exploring the island.

Plaka Beach

Naxos has 90 miles of coastline with some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean. These golden sandy beaches are often backed by sand dunes and bamboo with crystal clear blue waters. Many of the beaches have tavernas on the beach. The whole of the south-east coast consists of uncrowded beaches that become quieter and unspoilt the further south you go. The beaches on the east coast are much more secluded than the islands other beaches. There are far too many beaches to mention but those you must visit whilst on Naxos are Agios Georgios (Naxos Town), Agios Prokopis (just 3 miles from the capital) and the quiet pale sandy beach of Plaka. Naxos is very popular with windsurfers who flock to beaches like Agios Georgios, Plaka and Mikri Vigla where they can enjoy the shallow

Mikri Vigla

 warm water, breezes and wonderful surroundings. Naxos has many contained bays and lagoons and offshore flat reefs which are great for windsurfing. Other watersports available include snorkelling, fishing, kite-surfing, wake-boarding, water-skiing and canoeing.

Naxos isn’t just about the beach. The island has traditional villages with whitewashed houses, fishing villages like Apollonas in the north, ancient ruins and hundreds of Byzantine churches waiting to be explored. Spend a day exploring the narrow lanes of Naxos Town with its Venetian houses and castle, churches and tavernas. Take a trip inland and explore the unspoilt villages, mountains and countryside. Naxos has many paths and trails that criss-cross the island. Walkers and hikers can wander through olive grove and orchards whilst discovering the islands ancient monasteries, churches and castles. Visitors with plenty of energy will love the many cycle routes which take them over the mountainous terrain and along the scenic coastal routes. Discover the off-the-beaten-track routes and take in the glorious coastal routes on horseback. A great way to spend an evening on your family holidays to Naxos is by taking a sunset ride along the beautiful beaches. For perfect relaxation try an island-hopping boat trip. View Naxos from the sea and visit other Cyclades Islands including Mykonos, Paros and Andros.

Naxos Town

Naxos enjoys a typically Mediterranean climate, with bright sunny days in the summer and mild winters. Naxos enjoys cooler summers than the rest of the Greek islands due to the strong breezes from the Meltemi winds that blow from the north. These winds help keep temperatures down and provide welcome relief from the heat during the hot summer months. June sees temperatures around 23C with July and August often seeing temperatures reaching 28C. Summer months enjoy 11 hours of sunshine a day with winter months still seeing 3 hours of sunshine a day making Naxos a perfect choice for your last minute holidays at any time of the year.

Mykonos is a Greek island, about 41 square miles in area and is made mainly from granite. Part of the Cyclades islands group, Mykonos is the best known and most popular of the Greek islands.

Mykonos

The beautiful, cosmopolitan Mykonos Town (known locally as Chora) is the islands capital and is full of traditional buildings and lots of lively nightlife. Perched on a hillside are the windmills of Chora and there is also the quaint quarter Little Venice, both of which are landmarks of the town. When visiting the restored traditional windmills you can take in the wonderful panoramic view of the village and port. The Little Venice quarter of the town is full of brightly coloured houses, cafes and plenty of nightlife.
The working lighthouse of Armenistis stands 62ft high and offers magnificent views across the Aegean.
The assymetrical, white chapel of Panagia Paraportiani in Chora is the most photographed church on the island and worthy of a visit.
A short boat ride from Chora is the tiny island of Delos where you can see the ruins of an ancient sanctuary and a theatre. In ancient Greek times Delos was a sacred island where, according to mythology, the god Apollo was born.

Mykonos beach

The island is a favourite tourist destination, known mainly for its fantastic sandy beaches and its great lively nightlife.

The most popular beaches are those on the south coast of the island including Paradise, Super Paradise, Elia, Platis Gialos, Psarou, Agios Ioannis, Agrari, Paranga, Kalo Livadi and Ftelia. These beaches are regarded as some of the best in Greece with beautiful pristine sands and crystal clear blue waters.

The nightlife here is famous throughout the world and attracts huge numbers of revellers to its clubs, bars and beach bars. Partying at these clubs and bars lasts all night long. Mykonos is also regarded as one of the best gay and lesbian vacation destinations in Europe.

The climate here is typically mediterranean with dry, hot summers and mild winters, with very little rainfall. The best time to holiday here is between April and August when the weather is at its best.

Summer holidays spent on this wonderful island can be as lively or as relaxing as you wish.

Why not check out the internet for some great last minute holidays to Mykonos.