Islands Near Naxos You Can Visit By Ferry In 2023

Do you want to go Greek island hopping from Naxos to nearby islands? This guide shows which neighboring islands you can visit from Naxos by ferry.

Island-hopping from Naxos, Greece

Naxos is one of the best islands in the Cyclades archipelago to either begin or continue a Greek island hopping adventure. With excellent connections to most of the other islands in the Cyclades chain, you can pretty much get anywhere within a few hours by ferry.

Whether you want to use Naxos as a gateway into the Lesser Cyclades (Schinoussa, Iraklia, Donoussa and Koufonisia), or to continue on to a more well known island such as Paros, Ios or Mykonos, Naxos has ferry connections day and night.

Best Islands To Visit Near Naxos

Here's a quick look at the best Greek islands to go to next after Naxos. The rest of the article will expand on it in more detail:

Small Cyclades Islands: If you love quiet, out of the way islands with fantastic beaches, try Koufonisia, Schinoussa, Iraklia, and Donoussa.

Popular Greek Islands: From Naxos, you have easy access by ferry to Paros, Mykonos, Amorgos, Ios, Folegandros, and Milos

Ferry Schedules: Ferryscanner

Exploring the Lesser Cyclades from Naxos

If you're looking for off the beaten path travels in Greece, the Lesser or Small Cyclades group are a good choice. As the name suggests, these are the small islands close by to Naxos which are Schinoussa, Iraklia, Donoussa and Koufonisia.

Schinoussa

If you're after the perfect island getaway far from the crowds, then tiny Schinoussa is for you. With only 200 residents, this beautiful but relatively unknown destination in the Cycladic islands has amazing food, cool beaches, clear blue waters, and peace and quiet.

During the summer, there is usually one ferry per day sailing from Naxos to Schinoussa. As Schinoussa is close to Naxos, it's only a short ferry ride of 1 hour and 20 minutes.

More here: How to get from Naxos to Schinoussa

Iraklia

There's less than 100 residents on Iraklia, and it's right up there with Schinoussa in terms of offering an authentic Greek island experience.

You won't need to plan an itinerary of what to see and do in Iraklia, as it's a place where it feels times has stood still! Just relax, unwind, and move between the beach and a taverna. An ideal Greek island destination!

Iraklia island is very close to Naxos, and the ferry ride here from Naxos harbor takes just an hour.

More here: How to get from Naxos to Iraklia

Donoussa

Another Cycladic gem in the Aegean Sea! You can work out for yourself how to divide your time between beaches, the occasional hike, and finding where to eat next. Of all the Lesser Cyclades islands, I'd say that Donoussa is my favourite!

Donoussa is near to Naxos, and there are usually 7 ferries per week with the quickest ferry trip taking 1 hour and 10 minutes.

More here: How to get from Naxos to Donoussa

Koufonisia

Known for its fantastic beaches, Koufonisia is perhaps the more visited island of the Lesser Cyclades group. Swimming and sunbathing is the most popular activity here, and most people choose to get around the island by bicycle – there are literally hundreds available to hire!

Like the other nearby islands to Naxos mentioned so far, there are regular ferries and the quickest one takes just 40 minutes.

More here: How to get from Naxos to Koufonisia

How to travel between the island of Naxos and the Small Cyclades

The Lesser Cyclades are perfect for anyone looking to get away from mass tourism and the noisy party scene. Each of these islands has a population of less than 200 people, and life is laid back and quiet.

In fact, I loved Schinoussa and Iraklia so much I helped co-write a book about them! You can find it on Amazon here: Schinoussa and Iraklia in Greece: Greek Islands Travel Guide.

The Lesser Cyclades islands are connected to Naxos by ferry from the ‘big boys' such as SeaJets, but it's the legendary ‘Express Skopelitis‘ ferry you should experience at least once. They also connect Naxos with Amorgos.

Popular islands to visit after Naxos

If the Lesser Cyclades islands around Naxos, don't appeal, then there are other bigger name destinations you can easily reach after Naxos island.

Paros is the obvious choice, along with Ios, Folegandros, Amorgos and Mykonos. Some people also choose to visit Santorini, which while not technically close to Naxos, can still be reached in a couple of hours.

Paros

Paros is the closest island to Naxos, and you could say that the two are rivals. Where Paros is arguably more well known than Naxos and seems to attract more foreign tourists, Naxos retains its authenticity.

Both Paros and Naxos have beautiful beaches and archaeological sites, but I think it's fair to say that Paros always feels much busier.

The ferry journey from Naxos to Paros can take as little as half an hour, and you'll find 5-7 crossings each day during the summer.

More here: Ferries from Naxos to Paros

Ios

Ios has something of a reputation as a party island for 20 and 30 somethings, but there's a lot more to this island than meets the eye. This island has some wonderful beaches, nice hiking paths, beautiful scenery and some of the best sunset spots in the Cyclades islands.

Ios is very close to the island of Naxos, and there are normally one or two ferries every day.

More here: How to get from Naxos to Ios

Folegandros

Over the last 10 years or so, Folegandros has become one of the more popular destinations for people who visit Greece wanting a laid back atmosphere in pretty surroundings. Like many other beautiful islands near Naxos, it has nice beaches, many restaurants serving great food, and boutique hotels to really treat yourself.

There is one ferry every day going from Naxos to Folegandros island, and the trip takes around 4 hours as it is a little further than other islands close to Naxos.

More here: How to get from Naxos to Folegandros

Mykonos

You'd need to have been hiding in a cave to not have heard of the Greek island of Mykonos! Geographically, Mykonos is one of the closest islands to Naxos, but in nature, they couldn't be more different.

Mykonos is famed for its nightclub scene, gourmet restaurants, golden sand beaches, and Cycladic chic. While it might not exactly offer the most authentic experience you'll have when you visit Greece, Mykonos will certainly be an island you remember for a long time!

There are between 6 and 8 ferries a day going from Naxos to the island of Mykonos which is very close by. The quickest journey takes around 30 minutes.

More here: Ferries from Naxos to Mykonos

Santorini

I've heard many people say that Santorini is the Greek island they've always dreamed about visiting. With its picturesque white washed buildings, blue domed churches and stunning scenery it's easy to understand why so many people love this island!

While Santorini is not close to Naxos, it is still a popular island for people to go to after they visit Naxos. Ships from Naxos to Santorini take around 1-3 hours in normal conditions, and there are 5 or more ferries per day.

More here: Ferry Naxos to Santorini

Ferries from Naxos Island

When it comes to booking Greek ferry tickets, there are two choices. The first, is to book ferries online at a site such as Ferryhopper. This is the site I use myself when I book ferry tickets to the Greek islands, and it's a super-simple site to navigate and put together trips on.

The second option, is to wait until you are in Greece, and use a local travel or ticket agency. This might appeal if you prefer the flexibility of making your mind up which island to visit next just a day or two in advance.

Keep in mind that tickets on popular routes can sell out in the peak travel month of August. Don't leave getting hold of your tickets until the last minute!

How to get from Naxos to other Greek islands

Here's my dedicated travel guides on getting from Naxos to other destinations in the Cyclades:

Note: As might perhaps be expected, the faster ferry crossings are also normally more expensive. The easiest way to book ferry tickets online is by using Ferryhopper.

Naxos Island Hopping Tips

Naxos is an ideal places to begin or end a Cyclades island hopping adventure! A few travel tips when taking ferries from Naxos:

Naxos boats to other nearby Cyclades islands depart from the port of Naxos which is just below Chora, the island's capital. One of the easiest ways to book ferry tickets in Greece is to use Ferryhopper, but you can also find ticket agencies in Chora and the port area.

For other travel tips about other Greek islands in the Cyclades, Naxos and more destinations in Greece, sign up for my newsletter.

Related post suggestion: Greek island hopping guides

For where to stay in Greece, I recommend looking at Booking. They have a great choice of hotels in other Greek islands in the Cyclades and an easy to use site. If you are traveling to the Greek islands in the height of summer, I advise reserving accommodation in your desired destination a month or so in advance.

Island Hopping From Naxos to islands nearby FAQ

A few common question about traveling to other Greek islands in the Cyclades from Naxos include:

How can we get to other Greek islands in the Cyclades from Naxos?

The only way to travel to other islands from Naxos in Greece is by ferry. There are dozens of Greek ferry companies, but the most commonly used ones from Naxos are Express Skopelitis, Blue Star Ferries, SeaJets, and Zante Ferries.

Can I fly from Naxos to other Greek islands in the Cyclades?

Although Naxos has an airport, it is not possible to fly to other Greek islands. Currently, the airport in Naxos only connects with the main airport in Athens.

How can I buy tickets for the ferry to other Greek islands in the Cyclades?

Ferryhopper is perhaps the easiest site to use when it comes to booking Ferry tickets online. Although I think it's better to book your Naxos to other Greek islands in the Cyclades ferry tickets in advance, you could also use a local travel agency in Greece.

Which islands can you visit from Naxos?

Some of the closest islands to Naxos you can visit either on day trips or as part of an island hopping adventure include Mykonos, Paros, Ios, Koufonisia, and Santorini.

Where is the ferry port in Naxos Town?

Naxos Port is on the edge of Naxos Town, a short walk away from its center. All ferries to and from nearby islands in the Cyclades as well as to and from Athens ferry ports arrive and depart here.

Want to know how to get to Naxos? Check out my guide here: Athens to Naxos

Dave Briggs visiting an island in Greece

– Dave Briggs
Dave is a travel writer from the UK but living in Greece since 2015. As well as creating this guide to ferries from Naxos to other Greek islands in the Cyclades, he's created many other Greek island travel guides. Follow Dave on social media for travel inspiration from Greece and beyond: