Naxian Collection is a small villa retreat on Stelida hill, on the west coast of Naxos and a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. It is the island's most private upscale stay: stone villas and suites with private or semi-private pools, a farm-to-table kitchen fed partly by its own vegetable garden and views across the water to Naxos Town and its Venetian castle.
For a honeymoon, book one of the villas. The Honeymoon Villa category is built for two and the Luxury Villas add more space. You get the feel of a private house with staff on hand, which suits couples who want to spend long afternoons at their own pool.
The location balances quiet and convenience. Some of the west coast beaches, including the long sands of Agios Prokopios, are close enough to reach on foot, while Naxos Town is only a few minutes away by car for dinner and the sunset at the Portara. Naxos itself is larger, greener and less crowded than Mykonos or Santorini, with good food, mountain villages and beaches that stretch for miles. Naxian Collection lets you enjoy all of that from a calm base.
Highlights at a glance
- Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World
- Villas with private or semi-private pools
- Farm-to-table food from an on-site garden
- Views of Naxos Town and the Kastro
- Beaches within walking distance
Why Couples Love Naxian Collection
Privacy is the headline. Instead of a block of rooms around a central pool, the retreat is made up of individual villas and suites spread over the hillside, many with their own pools. You can go a whole afternoon without seeing anyone but each other.
The view is the second draw. From Stelida you look north across the bay to Naxos Town, with the Kastro on its hill and the marble gateway of the Portara on its islet. At dusk, the town lights come on across the water.
Third is the food. The kitchen works with produce from the on-site garden and local farmers and there is a wine cellar and a whisky library for evenings in. On an island known for its cheese, potatoes and citrus, that focus makes sense.
Villas and Suites to Book
The retreat offers five main categories.
- Premium Suites: the entry point, good if you plan to be out exploring most days.
- Grand Suites: more space and better for a longer stay.
- Honeymoon Villa: designed for couples, the obvious choice if it is available for your dates.
- Elegant Villas: a step up in size and privacy.
- Luxury Villas: the largest and most private, with the most outdoor space.
Pools are described as private or semi-private depending on the unit, so confirm exactly what comes with the category you book. For a honeymoon, a fully private pool is worth paying for. Ask about the view as well, since some villas face the town and others face the open sea toward Paros.
Food and Drink
Dining is farm to table, built around the retreat's own vegetable garden and local suppliers. Naxos is one of the most agricultural islands in the Cyclades, famous for graviera cheese, potatoes, meats and citrus, so the raw material is excellent.
Breakfast on your terrace is a pleasant ritual and private dinners can be arranged. The wine cellar includes Greek labels worth exploring and the whisky library is a nice touch on a cool evening in spring or autumn.
For nights out, Naxos Town is a few minutes away. Eat in the lanes below the Kastro, then walk to the Portara for sunset. The beach villages of Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna, just south, have relaxed tavernas on the sand. For a day trip, the mountain village of Halki has cafés and the kitron distillery.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Start with the Portara at sunset, the massive marble doorway of an unfinished temple on an islet linked to Naxos Town by a causeway. Then explore the Kastro's lanes after dark.
The west coast beaches are some of the best in the Cyclades. Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna are close, with clear water and soft sand. Further south, Plaka and Mikri Vigla are longer and quieter and Mikri Vigla is a kitesurfing hub when the wind is up.
Inland, drive the mountain villages: Halki, Filoti and Apeiranthos, with its marble lanes. Fit hikers can climb Mount Zas, the highest peak in the Cyclades. A boat day to the Small Cyclades, especially Koufonisia, is one of the highlights of any Naxos trip.
Getting There
Naxos Island National Airport (JNX) has short flights from Athens and sits just south of town, about 10 minutes from Stelida. Ferries from Piraeus take about three and a half to six hours, docking in Naxos Town. In summer, Naxos is also connected by ferry to Paros, Mykonos, Santorini and the Small Cyclades.
The retreat can arrange transfers. A rental car is worth having for a few days at least, since the mountain villages and southern beaches are hard to reach by bus. Roads on Naxos are generally good.
The season runs roughly from spring to autumn. Late May, June and September are ideal, with warm seas, open restaurants and calmer beaches than in August.
Is It Worth It?
If you want a private pool villa on a Cycladic island without the crowds and inflated prices of Mykonos or Santorini, Naxian Collection is an excellent choice. Expect suites to start around the mid-hundreds of dollars a night in the shoulder season and villas to cost considerably more, especially in peak summer. These figures are approximate.
It is less suited to couples who want to walk out of the door into a village. You will drive or take a taxi to Naxos Town, though it is close. Couples looking for a big spa and a full resort program may also prefer a larger hotel.
For a honeymoon built around privacy, good food and an island with real substance, it is one of the strongest options in the Cyclades.
Insider tips
- Request a villa with a fully private pool and a view toward town.
- Walk down to Agios Prokopios for an early swim.
- Book a boat day to Koufonisia on a calm day.
- Drive to Halki for coffee and kitron tasting.
