Naxos Half Day History and Culture Guided Tour

This half day bus tour was an absolute highlight of our trip, and far exceeded our expectations. The itinerary was perfectly curated with really interesting stops that gave us a taste of the culture and history of Naxos. Even the drive was breathtaking. Our guide Roula was so friendly and knowledgeable, bringing every location to life with fascinating stories and local insights. Thanks to our brilliant driver George, who made the journey smooth, safe, and completely stress-free. *Tip for future travellers: Make sure to bring some cash with you, one of the best stops is a traditional, family-run pottery studio, and you may want to buy something though there is no pressure or expectation to make a purchase. Also a small donation (coins) may be required in the ancient church.

We booked our half day excursion in July. This was straight forward. The company promptly responded to an email I sent asking where our pickup point would be. The location was a local supermarket at 8.10 with the tour starting at 8.30. On the day we arrived at the given location at 8.10, there was a bus there but this was picking up people from a hotel to take them to the airport. We waited at the location until 8.50, assuming that the bus was delayed as the road was very busy. At that point I contacted the company saying that the bus hadn’t arrived for the tour starting at 8.30. Just before 9am a bus from the company arrived, this was for an all day tour. The guide was very helpful and also contacted the company who said we had missed the pick up. She kindly offered that we could join the all day tour but unfortunately we were unable to do that. I asked about rearranging the half day tour and she advised we contact the company. I contacted the company who said that because I put 8.30 in my initial contact (which was the starting time for the tour) I had misunderstood the instructions and not arrived in time. I was fully aware of the information in the email we had received in July and followed the instructions. I emailed back saying we were at the pick up point and asked to reschedule or for a refund. I then received an email saying that the bus was at the pick up point from 8.08 to 8.20 and that according to their policy we couldn’t reschedule or have a refund. I explained we were there however their response was that they rely on the facts available to them which clearly doesn’t include any information from the client. This email then made it clear the company were not prepared to do anything and ended with ‘and we will leave the matter there’ . This left me with the feeling that this company aren’t prepared to listen to, or value what their customers are telling them. I feel that they shouldn’t have insisted that we were a ‘no show’ when we explained that we were there. If the company were not prepared to give us a refund or reschedule I feel the least they could have done was offered a discount. It feels to me that profits are more important than customer satisfaction. Overall, the whole situation was very upsetting and disappointing.

Great and punctual condensed tour of Naxos with guide, Roula, and bus driver, Stavros. Friendly Stavros drove steadily and safely. Guide Roula spoke clearly and was very informative and willing to answer any questions. Definitely recommend.

Tour guide was very knowledgeable and was willing to answer all questions. Driver was amazing with tight curves roads. Highly recommend this tour.

This is the tour you want. Ancient pagan temple ruins, ancient church, incredible citron distillery in a cute town, traditional pottery demonstration, and - most importantly - Roula and George are the best! I love ancient history, so Roula and I had great conversations about greek mythology, the temple ruins, and other greek archaeology. It’s clear she loves what she does. And George is an adept driver; the mountain roads were easy for him. Favorite part of Naxos, including the beaches! And not expensive at all compared to other tours. Definitely recommend 🙂

A tour of Naxos… just to be able to say that we did it 😅 It was my husband who absolutely wanted to do this excursion because he likes to sightsee. My daughter and I, much less so! But at least now we can say that we took a little tour of the island of Naxos. Regarding organization, nothing to complain about: the bus was on time, the schedule was respected, and the guide gives a huge amount of information. For those who like history and very cultural visits, this can therefore be interesting. First stop: the Temple of Demeter. You have to add 5 € per person to enter. Personally, I didn't find anything particularly extraordinary to see. It is mainly a visit for those who like to listen to historical explanations and imagine what was there in the past based on a few ruins. Next, a stop at a pottery workshop. A gentleman makes a vase in front of the group, everyone watches and applauds… then obviously, a trip through the pottery for sale. The workshop is quite rustic, with walls covered in messages left by travelers. You even find political inscriptions there which, in my opinion, have no place there. As for the items sold, I was not thrilled: some glasses at €5 made me think of what you find at IKEA, but less pretty. After that, a short stop in a village, then discovery of a Kouros, a huge statue about 2,500 years old that remained unfinished because it was reportedly damaged before its transport. It is interesting for the history of marble and the ancient quarries of Naxos, but here again, do not expect anything spectacular. The trip nevertheless allows you to discover the interior of the island, much greener and more humid than the coastal areas, and to see another side of Naxos. In the end, this excursion has at least one advantage: it avoids renting a car and allows you to get an overview of the island in half a day. My husband would have regretted not doing it, because he would probably have imagined that there were plenty of magnificent things to discover. Now, at least, he knows! 😂 For my daughter and me, clearly, it was not the excursion of the century. At €30 per person, to which you must add €5 for the temple visit, I find the value for money quite average for what there is actually to see. If you like history, explanations, and wish to be able to say that you discovered a bit of the interior of Naxos: why not. But above all, do not expect spectacular monuments or sites like those you can see in Athens. Here, it is much more modest.

Naxos tour with a visit to the Portara (viewed in the morning and in the evening), to the village of Apeiranthos at the foot of Mount Fanari at about 700m altitude with all the streets paved in white marble, one of the three Kouros statues, and the Temple of Demeter. As interesting as the visit to the Kouros and the Temple of Demeter was, I found the visit to the Portara with a view of the town of Chora very evocative and, in its own way, the visit to Apeiranthos, immersed in the routine of a Sunday morning of its community, just as fascinating.

I enjoyed the half-day tour very much. Four hours was the perfect length of time to see several interesting places. Makis and Roula are wonderful!! I highly recommend booking a tour with them!! Makis is a very safe driver. I felt comfortable the entire trip. Roula is extremely knowledgeable. She explains everything clearly and her voice is calming and relaxing. She is personable and easy to talk to. Sidenote: Cold water is provided upon request, so there is no need to take your own.

Roula, our knowledgeable guide & Makis, our very safe driver were fantastic. Complimentary water was a plus. We had clear directions for meeting times, and a headcount was taken each time. I enjoyed seeing the marble quarry, a ceramic pottery demonstration, beautiful churches, a distillery tasting experience, an abandoned stature from 570BC, & the lovely scenic views along the way.

Great way to spend the afternoon! Loved all the stops! Beautiful views!! Great info about the island.