Plaka beach in Naxos with straw umbrellas and turquoise sea

Plaka, Agios Prokopios or Mikri Vigla: where to stay, Naxos

If you want a lively, fully organised beach a short hop from Naxos Town, stay in Agios Prokopios or Agia Anna. If you want a long, spacious beach with sunbeds in some parts and wild sand in others, stay in Plaka. If you want quiet, sea views, shallow calm water for children and a world class kitesurf spot 100 metres away, stay in Mikri Vigla.

Key takeaways

Agios Prokopios is 1.5 km long, fully organised, sheltered from the wind and about 6 km from Naxos Town.
Plaka runs for about 4 km, organised with sunbeds in the north and pristine, secluded sand in the south.
Mikri Vigla has a calm shallow north bay for families and the open Sahara beach for kitesurfers and windsurfers.
Agia Anna is the liveliest choice for nightlife, while Mikri Vigla is the quietest and best enjoyed with a car.

In this article

The west coast of Naxos in one minute
Agios Prokopios: the organised all rounder
Agia Anna: the lively neighbour
Plaka: long, golden and half wild
Mikri Vigla: two beaches, one quiet headland
Side by side: crowds, wind, distance, evenings
A simple way to decide
If you choose Mikri Vigla
Sources

This guide comes from a family that has lived and worked on the Mikri Vigla headland since 1986. Below: how each area feels, how crowded it gets, how the wind behaves, distances from Chora and the airport, and a simple framework to choose.

The west coast of Naxos in one minute

Leaving Naxos Town (Chora) and heading south along the coast, the beaches come in this order: Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, Plaka, Orkos, Mikri Vigla, then Kastraki and Alyko. Agios Prokopios is about 6 km from Chora and 3.5 km from the airport. Agia Anna is around 6 km from Chora and 4 km from the airport. Plaka is 8 km from Chora and 6.5 km from the airport. Mikri Vigla is 12 km from Chora by the coastal road and 8.5 km from the airport, and Studios Kontos itself is 10 km from Chora, 8.6 km from the airport and 12.2 km from the port.

The closer to Chora, the more hotels, bars and people. The further south, the more space, wind and nature. That gradient explains almost every difference below.

Agios Prokopios: the organised all rounder

Agios Prokopios is a 1.5 km beach of thick golden sand with crystalline water, a multiple Blue Flag winner and listed among the best beaches in Greece and Europe. Most of it is organised with sunbeds and umbrellas. The section near the small chapel on the northern edge is left natural, and the southern end has lively beach bars and watersport rentals. Behind the dunes there is a proper village with hotels, restaurants, cafes, mini markets and bars.

Wind: the beach is protected from the strong winds, especially the northern part, where the water stays calm even on meltemi days.
Crowds: high in July and August. It is one of the most popular beaches on the island and the main stop of bus Line 1.
Who it suits: first time visitors, people without a car, families who want everything within walking distance, anyone who wants calm water without driving far.
Trade off: the least quiet of the four.

Agia Anna: the lively neighbour

Agia Anna is the natural continuation of Agios Prokopios, around 6 km from Chora, and the two are within walking distance of each other. It is one of the liveliest shores on the island, with a small fishing port, beachfront fish tavernas, cafes, bars and nightclubs. The sand is soft, the water calm and turquoise, and it is one of the top fully organised beaches on Naxos, though you can still find a few free spots to lay a towel. Buses on Lines 1 and 10 reach it, and a water taxi runs from here.

If nightlife within walking distance matters, pick this area. If you want silence at night, look further south.

Plaka: long, golden and half wild

Plaka runs for about 4 km south of Agia Anna, 8 km from Chora. It started as a nudist friendly bay in the 60s and 70s and is now visited by families, couples and young people alike. It is counted among the most beautiful beaches in Greece: golden sand, clear water, dunes, flat rocks and some vegetation. Large parts of the northern section are organised with sunbeds and umbrellas, while the southern parts stay pristine and secluded, and nudists still have their quiet corners there.

Facilities: restaurants, tavernas, mini markets, bars and cafes sit behind the dunes, and there are watersport facilities along the shore.
Parking: there is no organised car park. People leave cars on the coastal road or in fields behind it, and some restaurants have parking for customers.
Getting there: Plaka is the terminal of bus Line 1 from Naxos Town and is on the road that continues to Mikri Vigla.
Wind: it is more open than Agios Prokopios, so afternoons can be breezy when the meltemi blows, but it has no reputation as a wind sports beach.
Who it suits: couples and families who want a quieter, more natural beach but still want a sunbed, a taverna and a bus stop close by.
Trade off: the beach sits close to the road, and the busier northern end can feel crowded in peak season.

Mikri Vigla: two beaches, one quiet headland

Mikri Vigla is a small cape that juts into the sea 12 km south of Chora, with two completely different beaches on either side of a rocky hill. The north bay, right below Studios Kontos, is sheltered, shallow and calm, with fine sand and water that stays friendly for small children. On the south side lies Sahara, a roughly 4 km stretch of white sand that is open to the meltemi, which is exactly why kitesurfers and windsurfers treat it as an internationally known spot with clubs for equipment and lessons. The launch area is about 100 metres from us. More in our kitesurfing and windsurfing guide.

Organisation: there are umbrellas and sunbeds for rent but not many, so in high season bring your own shade. There is no lifeguard. Parking is along the coastal road.
Food and drink: several reasonably priced tavernas with good local produce and sea views, and a few cafes. Restaurants and cafes are about 200 metres from us and Kontos Restaurant is 300 metres away.
Nightlife: essentially none. Beach bars and clubs are a short drive north.
Getting there: asphalt road all the way, the last stretch to some parts of the beach is good earth road. Bus Lines 1 and 3 reach Mikri Vigla, about 35 minutes from Naxos Town, but the service is less frequent than to Agios Prokopios, so a car or scooter is recommended.
Who it suits: families with young children, couples who want quiet and a sea view, kitesurfers and windsurfers, and anyone who plans to spend the whole day on one beach with lunch in between.
Trade off: you will want your own wheels, and the wind on the south side is real.

Side by side: crowds, wind, distance, evenings

Quietest to busiest: Mikri Vigla, then the south end of Plaka, then the north end of Plaka, then Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna.
Calmest water on a windy day: the northern part of Agios Prokopios and the north bay of Mikri Vigla. Plaka and Sahara are more exposed.
Best for wind sports: Mikri Vigla by a wide margin. The others have watersport rentals but are not kite spots.
Closest to Chora and the airport: Agios Prokopios (6 km and 3.5 km), then Agia Anna, then Plaka, then Mikri Vigla (12 km and 8.5 km).
Evenings out without driving: Agia Anna first, Agios Prokopios second, Plaka third, Mikri Vigla last.
Without a car: Agios Prokopios or Agia Anna. Plaka works with Line 1. Mikri Vigla is possible by bus but easier with a vehicle.

A simple way to decide

Three questions settle it. Do you want to walk to bars at night? Agia Anna or Agios Prokopios. Will you rent a car or scooter? If not, stay between Agios Prokopios and Plaka and use Line 1. Is the beach the point of the trip? Then the further south, the happier you will be. In practice:

Families with small children: Mikri Vigla north bay or the northern part of Agios Prokopios. Shallow, calm water matters more than anything else.
Couples who want quiet: Mikri Vigla or southern Plaka. Both give you sunsets, space and a sea view for the evening drink on the veranda. See our couples getaway guide.
Kitesurfers and windsurfers: Mikri Vigla, no contest. Planning details are in the kitesurf trip planning guide.
Nightlife and a social beach: Agia Anna, then Agios Prokopios.
First visit, no car, short stay: Agios Prokopios.
Long stays and slow days: Mikri Vigla. A kitchen, a private veranda and a sea view change how two weeks feel, as our slow living in Naxos piece explains.

If you choose Mikri Vigla

Studios Kontos sits on the headland itself, with the north bay below and the kite spot 100 metres away. Every unit has a sea view, a private veranda, a kitchen, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and parking. The Sea Front Bungalow is the only one directly on the beach, the Family Apartment has two bedrooms for up to four people, and the Superior Double Studio and Deluxe One Bedroom Apartment suit couples and small families. Check dates and details on the accommodation page.

Whatever you choose, the beaches are close enough to base yourself in one and visit the others in an afternoon. Pick the atmosphere you want to wake up to and treat the rest as day trips.

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Frequently asked questions about where to stay in Naxos

Which beach in Naxos is better, Agios Prokopios or Plaka?

Neither is better, they serve different needs. Agios Prokopios is 1.5 km long, fully organised, protected from the wind and only 6 km from Chora, so it suits visitors without a car. Plaka is about 4 km long, 8 km from Chora, organised in the north and wild in the south, so it suits people who want more space and nature.

Which beach area in Naxos is the best to stay in?

It depends on your priorities. Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna offer the most facilities and nightlife close to Chora. Plaka gives a long golden beach with a mix of sunbeds and free sand. Mikri Vigla, 12 km south of Chora, is the quietest of the four and the best base for families with young children and for kitesurfers and windsurfers.

Is Agios Prokopios worth visiting?

Yes. Agios Prokopios is one of the most popular beaches on Naxos, a multiple Blue Flag winner with thick golden sand and crystalline water, and it is listed among the best beaches in Greece and Europe. Its northern part stays calm even on windy days. Expect crowds in July and August, and visit the section by the chapel for a more natural feel.

Is Plaka Beach worth visiting?

Yes. Plaka is about 4 km of golden sand with dunes, flat rocks and clear water, and it is counted among the most beautiful beaches in Greece. The northern part has sunbeds, tavernas and cafes behind the dunes, while the southern part is pristine and secluded. It is the terminal of bus Line 1, 8 km from Naxos Town.

What is the nicest beach in Naxos?

There is no single answer because the west coast beaches share the same clear water and golden sand. Agios Prokopios is the most awarded and the calmest on windy days. Plaka is the longest and most natural. Mikri Vigla has two beaches on one headland, a calm shallow bay and the open Sahara beach loved by kitesurfers and windsurfers.

Is Naxos a quiet island?

Naxos can be both. Naxos Town, Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna are busy in summer, with bars, nightclubs and full beaches. Drive 12 km south to Mikri Vigla, Kastraki or Alyko and the atmosphere changes completely: few sunbeds, no nightlife, long empty stretches of sand and tavernas instead of clubs. Where you stay decides how quiet your holiday is.

Is Plaka Beach Naxos nudist?

Partly. Plaka started as a nudist friendly bay in the 60s and 70s. Today the northern and central sections are organised, family oriented beach with sunbeds and umbrellas. Nudists still use quiet corners in the southern, less developed part of the beach, so families who prefer to avoid that simply stay in the organised northern section.

Sources

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

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