Getting to the island, choosing how to get around and enjoying family meals: our tips for a holiday with children.
Getting to Naxos
By ferry: the holiday starts on board
From Athens, you can take a ferry to Naxos from Piraeus, or from Rafina depending on the season and available services. There are also connections from other islands, including Paros, Mykonos and Santorini: useful for combining several stops in the Cyclades.
Conventional ferry or fast boat? Journey times depend on the vessel and stops. With children, look at departure times and the space on board too: being able to get up and walk around on a large ferry can make the journey more enjoyable. You arrive directly at Chora harbour.
By plane: a tiny, family-friendly airport
You can also fly to Naxos from Athens. Its tiny airport makes both arrival and departure much simpler with children: short distances and no huge terminal to navigate.
What we liked: children can play outside while waiting, before heading in for security and boarding. Inside, a small snack bar has drinks and things to eat. An airport on a child-friendly scale, which makes waiting much more pleasant.
Car or bus: it depends on your holiday
To explore the island: hire a car
If you want to visit villages, try different beaches or reach more remote places, I recommend hiring a car. It gives you more flexibility with children, beach bags and nap times. Reserve suitable child seats when booking.
For beaches and Chora: the bus may be enough
If your plans are mainly a nearby beach and wandering around Chora, you may not need a car. Buses connect Chora with Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka. Staying near the beach or a bus stop makes things much easier; check timetables, which change with the season.
Meals: wonderfully kid friendly
One of the pleasures of Naxos with children is feeling welcome in restaurants. Everywhere we ate, we found high chairs. Some places have a children’s menu, but you do not need one to enjoy a family meal.
Many dishes come as small plates to share, so you can order just a few things for the children rather than a full main course each. It is easy to adapt to their appetites and can cost less too.
Playgrounds: time to let off steam
After exploring Chora or visiting a museum, a playground can make all the difference with young children. These suggestions come from local research; we have not yet tried them as a family.
Agios Minas, Chora
A municipal playground is documented in the Agios Minas neighbourhood. Look for it during a walk in Chora, but check that it is open and inspect the equipment on arrival. A local article from March 2025 reported incidents in the area; that older report does not establish the current situation.
Our impressions from family visits in October 2026. Useful places to replace something forgotten or choose a book or game for your stay.
Baby equipment
Seistron Naxos — Σείστρον
A very good address for larger baby equipment: a wide choice of pushchairs, baby seats, cots and high chairs, as well as clothing. If the shop is closed, do not hesitate to call.
Very conveniently located on the harbour: children’s books in many languages, stationery, souvenirs and a few small toys, such as cars. We found the welcome rather average during our visit.
A large second-hand bookshop on the harbour, with books in German, Swedish, Italian, Spanish, Norwegian, English and French. There is something for every age, including a large young-adult selection. During our visit, prices were around half the new-book price and the shop offered to buy books back at 50% of its selling price: useful for reading and reselling during your stay. Confirm these terms in the shop.
A beach in the morning, a proper break and a short walk: Naxos works well in small doses with a baby. Choosing accommodation that makes everyday life easier often matters most.
Pushchair or baby carrier?
A lightweight pushchair can be useful around the harbour and near your accommodation. For the stepped lanes of the Kastro or footpaths, a baby carrier saves lifting a pushchair over every obstacle. Our Walks & hikes entries describe the terrain.
What to ask your accommodation
Ask what is actually available: a cot, high chair, how many steps lead to the room and space for the pushchair. A fridge and kitchenette make meals easier; a separate space helps preserve quiet time while older children play.
The small bag that goes everywhere
Keep nappies, changing supplies, a change of clothes, a muslin, the baby’s usual feeds and an easy-to-find toy close at hand. Pack this bag before boarding the ferry rather than relying on access to your main luggage.
If you use a particular formula or product, bring enough for the start of your stay and check availability before running out. For larger equipment left behind, see our shop suggestions.
Everyday shopping
Plan for the first two days
On arrival, make a short list: breakfast, fruit, easy meals, changing supplies and picnic food. If staying far from Chora, ask your host where to shop and when the nearest store opens.
Brands, nappy sizes and stock vary between shops. For an essential product, call before travelling there. Keep snacks for the journey back from the beach too.
Books and games for your stay
A book for quiet time, a notebook and a few pencils can be enough to vary the day. Zoom and Papyrus are our harbour bookshop suggestions; Sunray Toys and Toys and Gifts also have ideas for older children.
