Best Old Town Hotels in Naxos Chora
Old town hotels in Naxos Chora put travelers within the streets that climb from the harbor to the Venetian Kastro, where marble steps, Cycladic archways, and the Catholic cathedral sit above the ferry quay. Hotel Anixis and Burgos Barrio Naxos sit closest to this historic core, both under a kilometer from Naxos Castle, while Naxos Green Village Hotel, Celeste NAXOS Chora, and Mare Naxia Hotel occupy the streets just below, close enough to walk up for dinner without living directly inside the castle walls. The choice comes down to how much old-town noise and elevation a traveler wants to trade for the closest possible walk to the Portara and the Archaeological Museum.
Where to stay
Living Inside the Kastro's Stepped Alleys
Naxos Chora's old town rises steeply from the harbor, so hotels closer to its upper streets get shorter walks to the Kastro's cathedral and museum but longer, steeper ones back down to the beach, while hotels lower on the slope reverse that trade. All five hotels here sit under a kilometer from Naxos Castle, close enough that the real difference between them is less about distance and more about how much of the old town's stepped-alley character each property lets guests wake up inside every morning.
Hotel Anixis sits furthest inside the old town proper, in a Cycladic-style building near the Kastro with dark wood interiors and a rooftop bar looking out over the harbor and, on clear evenings, the Portara. Its position 200 meters from the port and 400 meters from the beach means the old-town character comes without sacrificing beach access, a rarer combination than the geography usually allows in a town built on a steep slope between the water and the castle walls above it, where most trade-offs run the other way entirely.
Burgos Barrio Naxos, an aparthotel with 548 reviews, the largest guest base among this group, sits 300 meters from Naxos Castle with sea-view terraces built into its family rooms, putting old-town proximity and a water view in the same booking rather than forcing a choice between them the way most properties in this part of town otherwise do, since a kitchenette and sofa bed come standard in every family unit as well, alongside free WiFi and daily linen service throughout the stay, a combination few other old-town properties in Naxos Chora match at a similar rate.
Two hotels sit slightly further out: Naxos Green Village Hotel and Mare Naxia Hotel, roughly 600 meters and a short walk respectively from the castle, trading a few extra minutes of walking for pool access: Naxos Green Village's garden pool and yoga classes, and Mare Naxia's rooftop pool over its own garden, both suited to travelers who want old-town evenings without giving up a swim option closer to their own room after a hot afternoon spent walking the stepped alleys above the busy harbor road down toward the ferry quay and back again by evening.
Celeste NAXOS Chora completes the group under a kilometer from the castle with direct beachfront access and city-view balconies looking back toward the Kastro's rooftops, an aparthotel layout with a kitchenette that suits travelers splitting days between the old town's alleys and the beach two minutes below their front door each morning and evening of a longer stay in Naxos Chora, without ever needing a taxi or a rental car to get between the two ends of town on foot alone throughout the entire trip, however many days it lasts.
A traveler's takeStaying at Burgos Barrio Naxos put us three hundred meters from the Kastro's cathedral and close enough to the sea to watch the ferries dock from our own terrace, which made the old town feel like a five-minute evening walk rather than a separate day trip requiring a taxi or a rental car booking.
Hotel Anixis
Dark wood rooms and a rooftop bar over the harbor
Why guests love itOur balcony faced the harbor directly, and watching the evening ferries dock from the rooftop bar became a nightly routine during our stay in the old town. The 200-meter walk to the port made an early departure easy, and the mosquito nets meant we could sleep with the balcony open through the warm summer nights without a single insect getting past the fine mesh.
Burgos Barrio Naxos
Sea-view terraces in every family room
Why guests love itBurgos Barrio Naxos is an aparthotel 300 metres from Naxos Castle, and every family room has its own sea-view terrace. Units come with a kitchenette, a sofa bed and air-conditioning, which suits families who want simple meals at home and space for a third child. Agios Georgios Beach is under a kilometre away, and the Portara and the Archaeological Museum are close by. It is rated 9.2 from 548 reviews.
Naxos Green Village Hotel
A garden pool and yoga classes near the old town
Why guests love itNaxos Green Village Hotel has a kids' pool next to its seasonal outdoor pool, which is the main reason I would point families with young children here. Family rooms come with balconies and private bathrooms, and breakfast includes continental, American and vegetarian options. The garden setting is calm, and parents can book a yoga class or use the spa. Agios Georgios Beach is a twelve-minute walk, close enough for daily beach time. A rating of 9 from 1,696 reviews is reassuring.
Celeste NAXOS Chora
Direct beach access with city-view balconies
Why guests love itWe arrived on a late evening ferry and the express check-in at Celeste meant we were unpacked and at the apartment within minutes, with the kitchenette letting us make a simple dinner rather than searching for an open taverna at that hour. The two-minute walk to Agios Georgios Beach the next morning set the tone for the rest of our stay in Naxos Chora.
Mare Naxia Hotel
A rooftop pool above a lush garden
Why guests love itMare Naxia Hotel is a two-star with an unusual extra for the price bracket: a rooftop pool with garden views. Agios Georgios Beach and Naxos Castle are both a short walk away. Family rooms are soundproofed, with balconies and air-conditioning, which helps children sleep in a lively part of town. Breakfast covers continental, vegan and gluten-free options, useful for families with dietary needs. I would choose it for a walkable Naxos Chora stay with a pool.
Local tips
- 1Book Hotel Anixis if you want to be inside the Kastro itself; book Naxos Green Village Hotel or Mare Naxia if pool access matters more than old-town elevation.
- 2Wear closed shoes for the marble steps inside the Kastro, especially after rain in shoulder season, when the stone gets slippery.
- 3Visit the Kastro's cathedral and Archaeological Museum before midday in summer, since the stepped alleys hold heat with little shade by early afternoon.
- 4Ask your hotel for the shortest walking route to the castle rather than following the main harbor road, which adds unnecessary distance and sun exposure.
- 5Book Burgos Barrio or Celeste if you want a kitchenette alongside old-town proximity, since Hotel Anixis relies on its rooftop bar and nearby tavernas instead.
- 6Reserve well ahead for peak summer weekends, when the old town's smaller hotels fill faster than the beachfront properties further along the coast.