On Naxos, Chora offers several different sides of the destination to discover: its distinctive townscape, archaeological attractions and the coast. Portara, the surviving monumental gateway of the Temple of Delian Apollo, is connected to Chora’s harbor. Grotta Beach lies on the northern coast, a small cove with pebbles and a little sand. When choosing Naxos, you can first consider whether architecture, archaeological sites or coastal scenery should be your main focus.

Chora’s townscape: houses, lanes and arches

Whitewashed Aegean-style houses, old stone mansions, narrow lanes and arches shape Chora. These different elements give the town more than one defining architectural feature: the white houses and stone mansions represent different building styles, while the lanes and arches also help shape the character of the streetscape. If you are interested in built heritage, you will find several details here to focus on, rather than just one building. A description of Chora can therefore also help you decide what interests you most in a town: individual buildings, the interplay of different forms or the layout of its lanes.

Portara and archaeological sites

Portara is the surviving monumental gateway of the Temple of Delian Apollo on Naxos. Its significance can be described precisely: it is the gateway to the temple, not a name for the entire temple. As an archaeological landmark, it adds a distinct monument to a townscape shaped by houses, mansions and lanes. The archaeological site of Grotta is also among the attractions visitors can see in Chora. If you are interested in the town’s history, you can consider this site and Portara as separate archaeological points of interest, rather than grouping them together as a single attraction.

Grotta: two different things to explore

The name Grotta is associated with two different interests: the archaeological site in Chora and Grotta Beach on Chora’s northern coast. The beach is a small cove with pebbles and a little sand. This brief description helps you get a concrete sense of the coastal landscape without confusing it with the archaeological site. The distinction is useful when planning your trip: the site is of archaeological interest, while the beach is about the shape of the cove and its seabed. Both are among the things you can explore in Chora, but they answer different questions about what you would like to see on Naxos.

Archaeological finds at the museum

The Archaeological Museum is located in Mitropoleos Square in Chora. It allows visitors to see archaeological finds close to the places where they were found. This brings the findspots themselves into focus alongside a surviving monument or archaeological site. Check the current opening days and times before planning a museum visit. This quick check will help you fit the visit into your plans without assuming that access is available at all times.

Find hotels on Naxos based on what matters to you

When looking for hotels on Naxos, first decide whether you are especially interested in Chora’s architecture, archaeological sites or the coastal scenery of Grotta Beach. This way, you can start your search with the travel experience that matters to you, rather than with a generic list of attractions. Chora’s townscape and archaeological sites appeal to different interests than the small cove with its pebbly and sandy seabed.

Discover more destinations: Koufonisia, Plaka, Moutsouna, Agia Anna, Melanes, Arkesini, Stelida, Donousa

For the overall travel guide: Naxos.