Getting Around Naxos: KTEL Bus Lines (#1 Beaches & #2 Villages) and Car Rental Tips

For a large island, Naxos has a wonderfully logical and inexpensive public bus network operated by KTEL Naxou. Every bus on the island departs from a single hub: the Central Bus Terminal located right at the landward end of the Ferry Pier in Naxos Town (Chora).

1. Crucial Rule on Naxos KTEL Buses: Buy Your Ticket BEFORE Boarding.

Note one important local rule: drivers on Naxos KTEL buses do not sell tickets on board. Before stepping onto the bus, buy your printed paper ticket either at the main ticket kiosk at the Chora Port Bus Station, or at the designated mini-market / bakery right beside each beach bus stop:

• Bus Line #1 (The Beach Express: Chora → Agios Prokopios → Agia Anna → Maragas → Plaka): runs every 15 to 30 minutes throughout the day in summer. It takes just 12 minutes to Agios Prokopios, 15 minutes to Agia Anna and 20 minutes to Plaka.
• Bus Line #3 (Southern Beaches: Chora → Mikri Vigla → Kastraki → Glyfada → Alyko / Pyrgaki): runs 4 to 7 times daily down to the kitesurfing bay of Mikri Vigla and the cedar forest of Alyko.
• Bus Line #2 (The Mountain Village Route: Chora → Galanado → Sangri → Halki → Filoti → Apeiranthos → Apollonas): departs Chora 5 to 7 times daily, letting you visit Halki, Filoti and Apeiranthos without a car. (They also run a convenient all-day guided KTEL Island Bus Tour at current official rates that stops at Demeter's Temple, Halki, Apeiranthos and the Apollonas Kouros).

2. Renting a Car for 1 or 2 Days (Free Parking Lots in Chora)

Renting a small hatchback in Chora or Agios Prokopios for 1 or 2 days is the best way to link the Temple of Demeter, Bazeos Tower, Halki, Panagia Drosiani, Filoti, Apeiranthos, the Kouros of Flerio and Alyko Cedar Forest at your own pace. Best of all, Naxos Municipality provides three huge, 100% free public municipal car parks around the perimeter of Chora (next to the Town Hall / Agios Georgios and behind the Bus Station) so parking in town is completely free.