Naxian On The Beach

With just 10 couples only suites barely ten metres from the sand, Naxian On The Beach turns a wonderfully unspoilt stretch of Plaka Beach into an intimate hideaway built around barefoot days, long lunches and the clear blue Aegean.

The scale is tiny and that is very much the point. Whitewashed suites sit immediately behind the beach, their softly bohemian interiors combining natural textures, pale woods and Cycladic simplicity with terraces and balconies designed for spending as much time outside as in. There is an appealing informality to the whole place, polished enough to feel special but completely in tune with the easy rhythm of a Greek island summer.

Plaka is one of Naxos's great beaches, a long sweep of pale sand and beautifully clear water, and here it becomes part of the hotel rather than somewhere you need to visit. Reserved sunbeds wait in front of the suites, Tortuga spills onto the sand and the sea is close enough for an early swim before breakfast or one last dip as the afternoon begins to cool.

Rooms & Suites

There are only two suite categories, both created specifically for couples and both with their own jet tub. Premium Suites occupy the lower floor, putting the beach almost immediately outside, while Deluxe Suites sit above them with an elevated perspective across the Aegean.

Inside, the mood remains relaxed and tactile, with uncluttered spaces, natural materials and comfortable places to retreat from the midday sun. The private outdoor areas are every bit as important as the interiors, giving each suite somewhere of its own for a quiet coffee in the morning or a glass of wine before heading down to dinner.

Dining

Tortuga is woven into the personality of Naxian On The Beach. Part restaurant, part bar and part beachside living room, it stretches from shaded tables to cabanas on the sand and provides the natural backdrop to the day from breakfast through to evening drinks.

The kitchen draws on Greek and Mediterranean flavours with fresh local ingredients at its heart, while cocktails and wines keep things convivial as the afternoon slips into evening. Dinner with your feet almost in the sand is exactly right for this setting, particularly when the light begins to soften across Plaka and there is absolutely no reason to hurry anywhere else.

Experience

The beach provides all the entertainment most days need. Plaka's long shoreline is ideal for swimming and walking, while the clear Aegean water invites snorkelling and diving and the island's famous Meltemi winds create excellent conditions for windsurfing and other watersports.

Naxos deserves exploring beyond the coast too. A car opens up mountain villages, ancient sites, little churches and the island's wonderfully fertile interior, while Naxos Town combines the maze of the old Kastro with waterfront restaurants and the monumental Portara standing above the harbour.

Wellness

Relaxation here belongs outdoors rather than behind spa doors. Massages can be arranged, each suite has its own jet tub and the beach is effectively the hotel's principal wellness space, with the sea only a handful of steps from your room.

There is something wonderfully restorative about the simplicity of it. Swim before breakfast, settle beneath a parasol with a book, disappear back to your suite during the hottest part of the afternoon and return to the sand when the sun begins to drop.

Where

Plaka places you on one of the finest stretches of coastline in Naxos while keeping Naxos Town within easy reach for an evening out. It is a particularly good combination for couples who want the freedom to discover the island but also want somewhere intimate enough that staying barefoot beside the sea all day feels like an equally good plan.

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