How to Get to Mikri Vigla: Bus, Taxi, Car and Airport

The simplest way to get to Mikri Vigla is by public bus from the KTEL station at Naxos port: Line 1 runs along the coast via Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka, Line 3 goes inland through the villages, both take about 35 minutes and a ticket costs €2.60. Taxis, pre-booked transfers and rental cars cover the same 10 to 12 km in roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Once you are here, almost everything is on foot.

This guide is written from the cape itself. Studios Kontos sits 10 km from Naxos Town (Chora), 8.6 km from the airport and 12.2 km from the port, so we have watched guests arrive every possible way since 1986. Below is what actually works, what to avoid, and what to do on your first afternoon. For the area itself, start with our introduction to Mikri Vigla.

Where Mikri Vigla is and how far it really is

Mikri Vigla is on the south west coast of Naxos, a small cape that splits the shoreline in two. The north bay is sheltered, shallow and calm. The south side, known as Sahara, is a long open beach with wind and kitesurfers. Our location page has the map; the distances that matter for planning are these:

• Naxos Town (Chora): 10 km from Studios Kontos, about 15 to 20 minutes by car.
• Naxos airport: 8.6 km, roughly a 10-minute drive.
• Naxos port: 12.2 km. The ferry port and the bus station are in the same place.
• By road via Plaka: about 11.2 km from Naxos Town on the asphalt road that passes beside the airport runway.
• By road via the villages: about 16.8 km through Galanado and Vivlos (Tripodes), fully asphalted, with panoramic views over Plaka, Orkos and Mikri Vigla.

By public bus from Naxos port and Naxos Town

KTEL buses are the only public transport on Naxos and the cheapest way to reach us. The central bus station is opposite the ferry port in Naxos Town and all routes start there. Two lines reach Mikri Vigla:

• Line 1, the coastal road (about 35 minutes): Naxos Town, Elli’s Park, Cinema, Naxos Camping (800 m from the airport), Stelida, Agios Prokopios (about 17 minutes), Agia Anna (20 minutes), Maraggas and Plaka (25 minutes), Orkos, then Mikri Vigla. Most Line 1 buses terminate at Plaka; the ones that continue show Mikri Vigla on the front, so read the sign before boarding.
• Line 3, the inland road (35 to 40 minutes): Naxos Town, Elli’s Park, Glinado, Agios Arsenios, Vivlos (Tripodes), Camp, then Mikri Vigla and on to Kastraki, Glyfada, Alyko and Pyrgaki. Greeka lists five departures a day for this line, so check the board.

Which stop to get off at. Mikri Vigla has more than one stop. Parthena (with Orkos) is the north part, by the long windsurf beach. The final Mikri Vigla stop is the south part, protected from the north wind. Line 3 also stops at Stratouris Market before Parthena. Greeka’s list names a stop called Mikri Vigla (Kontos): that is the one by our taverna and the closest to Studios Kontos. Drivers do not always stop at the less busy stops, so tell the driver your destination when you board.

Tickets and fares. Adults pay €2.60 to Mikri Vigla, children up to 6 travel free and students get 25% off with ID. You cannot buy a ticket on the bus. Get it at the station office by the port (and in some village shops) before you board, or you will be waiting for the next one. Buses are air conditioned and suitcases go in the hold for free. They are not suitable for wheelchair users.

Frequency. In high season, roughly May to September, Line 1 runs about every 30 minutes from 07:30 until 01:00, with a final run at 02:00, but only some of those continue past Plaka. Off season the service shrinks and mainly serves the villages. Timetables change, so confirm at the station on arrival.

From Naxos airport

The airport is the closest arrival point to us, but there is no bus station inside it. You have three realistic options:

• Taxi or pre-booked transfer: the sensible choice with luggage. The drive is 8.6 km, about 10 minutes. If you want a pickup waiting, book before you fly or ask us and we will point you to a local driver.
• Rental car collected at the airport: the most flexible. Rental agencies deliver to the airport, the port or your accommodation.
• Bus, if you are travelling light: leave the terminal, follow the road to the left for about 700 m to the Naxos Camping stop on the main road. Line 1 passes here. A bus heading south towards Plaka and Mikri Vigla saves you the detour into town, otherwise ride to the port station and change. Remember that you need a ticket before boarding, and there is no ticket office at that stop.

Taxi and private transfer

Taxis wait at the port and the airport and local drivers also take bookings by phone. For a group of three or four with bags, a taxi from the port to Mikri Vigla often works out comparable to bus tickets once you count the wait and the walk from the stop. The trip is 12.2 km from the port or 10 km from Chora, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Pre-booked transfer services offer taxis, minibuses and private cars with pickup from the port, airport or hotel, and the driver is waiting with your name when you land or dock. Our published sources do not list fixed fares, so ask for the price when you book rather than relying on figures you read online.

Driving to Mikri Vigla and parking

A rental car is the right call if you plan to explore the island rather than stay on the cape. There are two routes from Naxos Town:

• The coast road via Plaka, about 11.2 km. It runs past the airport runway and the beaches of Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka. Shorter, busier and the one your phone will suggest.
• The village road via Galanado and Vivlos, about 16.8 km, all asphalt. Longer but quieter, with the best view of the whole coastline as you descend. If you have time on arrival day, take this one.

The last stretch to some parts of the beach is compacted earth road in good condition. Any small rental car handles it. Driving on Naxos is straightforward by Cycladic standards: the main roads are paved, traffic outside Chora is light, and the hardest part is usually the narrow lanes in the old town, which you should not enter by car anyway.

Parking. Along the coastal road at Mikri Vigla, parking is free and informal, on the verge by the beach. At Studios Kontos every unit comes with free parking on the property, so the car stays put until you want a day trip. See our facilities for the full list.

Do you need a car once you are here?

For the beach, the water and meals, no. Studios Kontos is on the cape between the two beaches, so the distances are measured in metres, not kilometres:

• Kitesurf and windsurf spot: 100 m.
• Restaurants and cafés: 200 m.
• Kontos Restaurant: 300 m, run by our family since 1986.
• Mini markets, bike and motorbike rental, cash machines: in the village, a few minutes on foot.

Where you stay makes the difference. Our guide to how far from the beach you should stay explains why a few hundred metres matters in August heat. For the full week, plan a car for two or three days of island trips and leave it parked the rest of the time. Bus Line 3 also links Mikri Vigla with Kastraki, Glyfada and Alyko for a beach day further south without driving. If you are coming for the wind, see the kitesurf trip planning guide for what to bring.

What to do on arrival day

Most guests arrive between noon and late afternoon. A realistic first day looks like this:

• Check in and open the veranda doors. Every unit has a sea view and a private terrace. Unpack later.
• Walk to the north bay. Sheltered, shallow and calm, it is the easiest first swim, especially with children.
• Buy the basics. The mini markets in the village cover water, fruit, coffee and breakfast for the kitchen in your studio or apartment.
• Dinner 300 m away. Kontos Restaurant is our family table. No need to drive anywhere on the first night.
• Check the bus board at the village stop if you are car free, so tomorrow’s plan is based on this week’s timetable, not last year’s.

If you have not booked yet, the accommodation page shows the four unit types, from the Superior Double Studio to the Sea Front Bungalow, which is the only one right on the sand.

Frequently asked questions about getting to Mikri Vigla

Sources

• Naxos Public Buses, Mikri Vigla route
• Naxos Public Buses, South West Naxos
• Greeka, KTEL buses in Naxos
• Greeka, Mikri Vigla beach
• Naxos.net, Mikri Vigla

By the team at Studios Kontos, Mikri Vigla, Naxos. We write about what we live every day on the island.