Marina Naxos in Naxos Town: arrival, harbour information and trip destinations

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Marina Naxos is located in the harbour of Naxos Town, called Chora in Greek, on the west coast of the Cycladic island of Naxos. Here you can read how to get to Naxos by plane or ferry, where the marina is in the harbour, what you should know about shopping and parking, what wind to expect, which sailing destinations lie between Paros, Mykonos and the Lesser Cyclades, and what skippers should know about approach and sea weather.

Where is Marina Naxos?

Marina Naxos is located in Naxos Town harbour in its own basin behind a breakwater, directly in front of the town's waterfront promenade. At the north end of the harbour lies the small island of Palatia with the large marble gateway of the Temple of Apollo, the Portara, the symbol of Naxos. A paved path connects Palatia to the town; from the harbour the gateway is unmistakable.

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Behind the waterfront promenade the old town climbs the hill; at the top sits the Venetian castle, the Kastro. In the marina yachts lie in the midst of the town's life, as ferries and fishing boats use the same harbour. For crew this is practical, because ferry terminal, bus station and old town are close together.

Arriving for trip start at Marina Naxos

You can get to Naxos by plane or by ferry. Both routes end close to the marina: the airport is on the edge of town, the ferry terminal within walking distance.

From Naxos airport to the marina

Naxos airport, internationally designated JNX, is a small state airport about three kilometres south of the town. It is served by domestic flights, mainly from Athens. The flight from Athens takes about 45 minutes, from Thessaloniki about one hour and 15 minutes. In high season there are additional flights, but seats are limited because only smaller aircraft can land.

From the airport you take a taxi to the harbour in just a few minutes — simply tell the driver the port of Naxos Town.

By ferry or bus

Many crews arrive by ferry. From Piraeus, the main port of Athens, ferries run to Naxos all year round, and in the season further shipping companies and fast boats are added. As things stand (November 2026), the conventional ferry takes roughly five hours 15 minutes to seven hours, depending on the vessel, and fast boats roughly three hours 15 minutes to just under four and a half hours. A bus runs from Athens airport to Piraeus; alternatively, take the metro to Monastiraki and change there for the train to Piraeus.

From April to October, ferries to Naxos also leave from Rafina on the east coast of Attica; as things stand (November 2026), the fastest connection takes roughly four hours 15 minutes. Rafina is closer to Athens airport, about 30 to 45 minutes by car. There is no direct express bus from the airport to Rafina. Timetables change with the season; the shipping companies publish the current times.

The island bus station is only a few metres from the harbour; buses depart opposite the ticket office just before the harbour entrance. From there you can travel in summer to Agia Anna, Plaka, Filoti and Apiranthos, among other places. Buy tickets in advance at the ticket office.

Parking

If you arrive by car on the ferry, you drive straight off onto the waterfront road of Naxos Town, where the marina is also located. Parking is along the streets on the edge of town, around 500 metres from the marina — for example on Michail Margariti Street.

Shopping for the trip

Naxos Town is the island's main town; the marina lies directly on its waterfront promenade. For provisions, walk from the marina into town: Kritikos supermarket is just under 400 metres from the marina, Masoutis around 450 metres.

Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services

There are several pharmacies in town, the nearest around 150 metres from the marina. The General Hospital with Naxos Health Centre is around 600 metres from the marina in the town. In urgent cases the Greek emergency numbers apply:

• 112: European emergency number for police, ambulance and fire brigade
• 166: Emergency services, 100: Police, 199: Fire brigade
• 108: Coast Guard, also for emergencies at sea; at sea also VHF channel 16

What does Marina Naxos offer?

Marina Naxos is a town harbour: what you need ashore you will find in the town directly behind the promenade. The key details at a glance:

Feature	Details
Location	Port of Naxos Town (Chora), west coast of Naxos, Cyclades
Position	37° 06,3′ N, 025° 22,5′ E
Operator	Municipality of Naxos and the Lesser Cyclades
Boat length	8 to 24.9 m
Berths	49
berthing	stern-to the quay with your own bow anchor, alongside also possible
Electricity and water	included in berthing fee
Shelter	Marina basin behind a mole, northern breakwater with red light at the head
Airport	just under 3 km south of the town
Ferries	same harbour, year-round from Piraeus
Bus station	a few metres from the harbour
Port authority	Port authority Naxos (Greek coastguard)
Marina telephone	+30 694 611 3923

Equipment

Marina Naxos has 49 berths, divided by boat length from 8 to 18 metres, and the fee schedule goes up to just under 25 metres. You can stay from a single day up to a whole year. The berths have electricity (16 A) and water, both included in the berthing fee. You can also take on fuel at the marina. As things stand (October 2026), the marina is operated by the municipality of Naxos and Small Cyclades, which took over the duties of the former port fund in September 2026.

Naxos Town is also the seat of the Municipality of Naxos and the Lesser Cyclades, which also includes Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonisia and Donoussa. For a sailing trip to these small islands, the marina is the obvious starting point.

What wind can you expect around Naxos?

In summer the Meltemi dominates sailing in the Cyclades. This strong, dry wind blows periodically from about mid-May to mid-September and comes from the northwest to northeast depending on location. On many days it reaches its greatest strength around midday and eases at night.

In between there are phases when the Meltemi blows through for one to seven days without this diurnal pattern. Only then does it become stormy, in some locations up to storm force. For planning this means: legs south to the Lesser Cyclades or to Ios go with the wind; the return to Naxos can be a long beat to windward. Warnings for Greek sea areas are issued by the Greek weather service EMY.

Which sailing destinations can you reach from Marina Naxos?

From Naxos three directions are close: Paros immediately to the west, Mykonos to the north and the Lesser Cyclades to the south, with Ios and Amorgos beyond. The distances given are rounded over-water distances on the usual course; for precise planning refer to the chart.

Destination	over water from Marina Naxos	Direction
Naoussa (Paros)	about 9 nm	Northwest, into the bay on the north coast of Paros
Parikia (Paros)	around 16 nm	northwards around Paros to the west coast
Iraklia	about 18 nm	south along the west coast of Naxos
Schinoussa	about 19 nm	South, east of Iraklia
Mykonos	about 21 nm	North, past Delos
Koufonisia	around 23 nm	eastwards around the southern tip of Naxos
Ios	about 24 nm	South-southwest, harbour on the west side of Ios
Katapola (Amorgos)	around 36 nm	Southeast, past the Small Cyclades

Paros lies opposite Naxos, separated only by a narrow strait. Naoussa on the north coast is a short hop that can easily be managed on the departure day after briefing and provisioning. Parikia, the main town with the large ferry harbour, lies on the west side of the island; you sail there by heading north around Paros.

The Small Cyclades lie between Naxos and Amorgos. Iraklia is the largest and at the same time the quietest of these islands, Schinoussa has around 18 beaches and many sheltered bays, and Koufonisia is the smallest and most popular, with a main town full of tavernas. Because the islands lie close together, the legs between them easily combine into a circuit.

Mykonos lies north of Naxos. The course leads past the small island of Delos, with the entire passage over open water. In a Meltemi this is a beat to windward; with the wind behind you the return is straightforward.

Ios and Amorgos are the longer destinations. The harbour of Ios lies on the west side of the island, Katapola on the west coast of Amorgos. Anyone heading for Amorgos can make a stopover in the Small Cyclades along the way.

Trips to the Cyclades also depart from Athens. We present the largest departure harbour there in our profile of the Marina Alimos , and a harbour further southeast in the Aegean in our profile of the Kos Marina.

What can you do on a harbour day in Naxos Town?

The main sights in Naxos Town are within walking distance of the marina: the temple gate on Palatia, the old town with its castle, and the town beach of Agios Georgios.

• Portara on Palatia: The marble gate is the only surviving part of a temple to Apollo whose construction was begun by the ruler Lygdamis around 530 BC. After his overthrow the temple remained unfinished. Each of the four components of the door frame is about six metres long and weighs around 20 tonnes. The walk from the harbour to the small island is short, and Palatia is regarded as one of the most beautiful places in Greece for watching the sunset.
• Old town and Kastro: Above the town lies the Venetian castle with narrow lanes, arches and houses bearing coats of arms. The Kastro houses the Archaeological Museum in a building where a Jesuit school was founded in the 17th century and where the writer Nikos Kazantzakis later attended school. The museum is noted for its collection of Early Cycladic art.
• Exhibition at the Agia Ursula Cultural Centre: Because construction work is being carried out in the museum building, a large part of the collection is currently (October 2026) on display in an exhibition at the nearby Agia Ursula Cultural Centre, a former Ursuline convent. Admission there is free.
• Agios Georgios beach: The town beach is about one kilometre from the harbour. It has fine sand and shallow, clear water; at the southern end many windsurfers are out on the water.

For skippers: Berthing and weather in Marina Naxos

The port of Naxos is under the authority of the Naxos Port Authority of the Greek Coast Guard. Channel 16 is the distress and calling channel, monitored by the Coast Guard around the clock.

berthing

At Marina Naxos, yachts moor stern-to the quay and, as things stand (November 2026), use their own bow anchor to do so. Mooring alongside is also provided for. The marina staff assign you a berth; you may not choose it freely. On your first arrival, you enter your yacht's details on a form, and a copy goes to the harbour authority. As things stand (November 2026), you can reach the marina by telephone on +30 694 611 3923.

Harbour rules

You pay the berthing fee in advance, for a minimum of one day, and no refund is given. You may only leave once the harbour fees have been paid. Within the marina area the speed limit is 5 knots, and swimming and fishing are prohibited in the basin. Noisy maintenance work on board is only permitted between 8.30 am and 2.30 pm. You may not anchor within 150 metres of the centre of the harbour. These rules from the former port fund remain in force until the municipality adopts new operating regulations.

Approach

The harbour lies on the west coast of Naxos, looking towards Paros. When approaching, the island of Palatia with the Portara at the northern end of the harbour serves as a distinctive landmark. A red light stands at the head of the northern breakwater.

Several ferries enter and leave the harbour daily, along with hydrofoils in season. Keep clear of their manoeuvres when entering. On Meltemi days, try not to plan your yacht's arrival for midday when the wind is strongest.

Formalities in Greece

For sports boats over seven metres in Greek waters, the monthly yacht charge TEPAI (Greek ΤΕΠΑΗ) is payable. For commercial yachts the owner or operator pays, for private boats the owner, keeper or user. Rates are €16 to €33 per month for boats up to 12 metres, above that €8 per metre length per month. Payment is made in advance via the Greek tax authority AADE platform (as of October 2026). Details can be found in the AADE FAQ on TEPAI (in Greek).

Which marine weather forecast applies around Naxos?

The authoritative sea weather forecast is issued by the Greek Meteorological Service EMY (English HNMS). You can receive it via Greek coastal radio on VHF, via NAVTEX and on the Meteorological Service website.

The coast radio stations broadcast weather reports for shipping in Greek and English, announcing them beforehand on Channel 16. For NAVTEX, the automatic reception of weather and warning messages on board, Greece operates transmitters on Limnos, Crete and Corfu; gale warnings go out immediately upon issue. Especially on Meltemi days, it's worth checking the report before every leg northwards.

Trips from Naxos on Törnfinder

You can find an overview of offers in the island world at Sailing in the Aegean, trips throughout the country under Sailing in Greece and all offers under Trips.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Naxos airport to the marina?

By taxi. The airport is about three kilometres south of the town; the journey to the harbour takes only a few minutes.

How long does the ferry from Piraeus to Naxos take?

As things stand (November 2026), roughly five hours 15 minutes to seven hours by conventional ferry, and roughly three hours 15 minutes to just under four and a half hours by fast boat. Ferries from Piraeus run all year round, and from April to October there are additional connections from Rafina.

Are the ferry port and marina in Naxos at the same place?

Yes. Ferries and yachts use the same harbour in Naxos town; the marina lies in front of the waterfront promenade. From the ferry berth you walk to your boat.

Where do I shop in Naxos for the trip?

In the town, on foot from the marina. Kritikos supermarket is just under 400 metres away, Masoutis around 450 metres.

Are there buses from Naxos harbour around the island?

Yes. The island bus station is just a few metres from the harbour; in summer buses run among other places to Agia Anna beach and to the mountain villages of Filoti and Apiranthos.

When does the Meltemi blow on Naxos?

Periodically from about mid-May to mid-September. The northerly wind is usually strongest around midday and dies down at night; during certain phases it blows for several days without a break.

How far is it from Naxos to Paros?

To Naoussa on the north coast of Paros it's about 9 nautical miles; to Parikia on the west coast about 16 nautical miles, because you sail north around the island.