Apollonas (Naxos)

Apollonas (sometimes referred to as Apollon) is the touristic centre on the north coast. The picturesque village has a few hundred inhabitants. Most of the visitors come here because it is far away from the busy tourist hotspots further down south. There are 4-5 hotels and rent rooms and 8 – 10 restaurants. The little fishing village is pretty quiet and laid back.

Right in the centre is a small sandy beach. Just behind the beach are 5 restaurants and cafes next to each other. A little bit out of town is a second beach. It isn't as nice though. At this stage there are about 50 houses in and around Apollonas. Some of them rent out rooms.

Accommodation in Apollonas

The only bigger hotel is Hotel Adonis. It is well run and has about 30 rooms. It is pretty central; the rooms are 30-40 Euro. If you prefer an apartment I would recommend Flora. It is about 300 metres out of town. Just follow the path to the Kouros of Apollonas. (For more information see further down)

Restaurants and Cafes in Apollonas

The by far biggest restaurant (taverna) is the Apollon. The Greek salad there is excellent but a little overpriced (4.50 Euro). A little cheaper and just as good is Venetico. Highly recommended here are the meat dishes.

A little bit further in the background is the Delfinaki (small dolphin). It has to be my favourite. It is not actually a restaurant but a traditional Kafenion (Café). Still in this Kafenion they also serve food and I can assure you: the owner is a pretty decent chef. Guests are more than welcome to come into the kitchen and check out the dishes before ordering. This is how it used to be in all Greece. Most places didn't even have a menu. In recent years this changed but not in Delfinaki. They not only offer traditional and delicious cuisine but also the best value for money.

Baywatch and Captain Michalis are tow cafes at the main beach. Both have a wide range of coffees, ice cream, crepes, cake and other sweets. Both are rather pricy but that is pretty typical for Greece. Baywatch is particularly popular with the local youngsters.

If you are looking for nightlife you are in the wrong place. There is none. All you can do is enjoying a few glasses of wine or Ouzo in one of the tavernas. Since everyone is in the same boat this could well end up being a pleasant and late night.

Kouros of Apollonas

The main reason why day trippers come to Apollonas is the so called Kouros of Apollonas. It is a massive, about 10 metres long statue from the 6th or 7th century BC. It takes about 10 minutes to get there from the village. The path is signposted. Quite frankly it is not as impressive as I had hoped after visiting the other famous Kouros on Naxos. (Kouros of Melanes) It is unfinished and lies in a quarry. It is massive though. As far as I'm aware it represents Apollo. If that's true or made up by the villagers (of Apollonas) I don't know. Check it out anyways.

Busses to Apollonas

Depending on the season there are 2-3 busses a day coming from Naxos City. Most of the go the rather spectacular route cross country through Chorio, Filoti, Apiranthos, Koronos and Koronida. Twice a week the bus goes along the coast. A single ticket cost 5 Euro.


Bus trips to Apollonas: Apollonas is part of pretty much every single island round trip. These day trips cost about 25 Euro and are a good way to discover the island. They stop in Apollonas for 2 – 3 hours. As result it gets pretty busy during the day especially during high season.


Last updated 04/2008