Your first full exploration day showcasing Naxos’s authentic charm and natural beauty

After settling in and spending a perfect arrival day relaxing at Medusa Suites’ gorgeous beach – where Daisy had her first taste of the crystal-clear Aegean waters and we both soaked up that Mediterranean sun – followed by dinner at Gongona Greek Tavern, your first full exploration day sets the tone for everything that follows. This carefully curated itinerary balances cultural exploration, natural beauty, and culinary discoveries while ensuring your four-legged travel companion enjoys every moment. From flower-filled mountain villages to legendary sunsets, this first full exploration day showcases why Naxos captures hearts so effortlessly.

Morning: Ready for Your First Full Adventure

8:00 AM – Breakfast at Your Hotel

Start with a leisurely breakfast – this is vacation, after all, and today marks your first full exploration day. If you’re staying at a place like Medusa Suites, take advantage of their excellent table service and Mediterranean setting. Your dog will appreciate the relaxed pace, and you’ll need the energy for the mountain village adventures ahead.

10:00 AM – Car Rental Pickup

Essential Stop: Secure your rental car if you haven’t already. We used Hertz at the port (€210 for three days total), but arrive with your passport – some local companies require it even for EU licenses.

Pro Tip: The rental car comes with a full tank, so you’re ready to hit the road immediately. Just remember you’ll need to return it with a full tank at the end of your stay.

Mid-Morning Adventure: Aliko Beach

10:30 AM – Aliko Beach Experience

Drive Time: 45 minutes from Naxos port What to Expect: Turquoise waters that rival the Caribbean, but accessing requires a challenging hike down cliffsides.

Important Safety Warning: This beach access is genuinely challenging and potentially dangerous. Anyone with mobility issues, stability concerns, or balance problems should absolutely skip this location. The path down involves steep, uneven terrain that requires good physical fitness and sure footing. It’s a proper workout just getting to the beach.

Pet Considerations:

• Hot sand alert! Carry your dog if they have sensitive paws (Daisy needed full royal treatment)
• Bring an umbrella for shade if you’re planning to spend longer at the beach – sunstroke in dogs is real and you do not want to be looking for a vet on a Greek island
• Pack plenty of water for both of you
• The challenging cliff access means you’re carrying everything down, so pack light but smart
• Consider the physical demands on yourself if you need to carry your dog during the climb

Photography Gold: The contrast between rugged cliffs and crystal-clear water creates Instagram magic, but prioritize safety over the perfect shot.

Time Investment: 2 hours (including drive time and beach relaxation)

Afternoon: Mountain Village Magic

1:00 PM – Halki Village Lunch

Drive Time: 25 minutes from Aliko Beach through spectacular mountain scenery 

The Setting: Flower-adorned streets that look like a Mediterranean fairytale

Miltos Alternative Bar – The Food Revelation of Our Entire Trip

Important Navigation Note: There are two restaurants in this side alleyway. Make sure you go to the back restaurant if you’re coming from the main street – that’s where the magic happens.

This isn’t just lunch – it’s a food experience that will completely change how you think about pizza. I’m not exaggerating when I say we craved this pizza for the entire rest of our trip. Days later, we were still talking about it, dreaming about it, and genuinely considering planning our next vacation around coming back to this exact spot.

What Makes It Absolutely Extraordinary:

• Fresh dough made daily with turmeric (you can taste the difference)
• No cornflour used, making it incredibly light and digestible
• Ingredients sourced with obvious pride and passion
• The black pizza with tomatoes, arugula, cheese, prosciutto, and balsamic glaze is pure perfection
• We weren’t even hungry when we ordered, but ended up completely demolishing it
• Super affordable – we’re talking about €15-20 for a pizza that could easily feed two people

The Real Talk: I’ve eaten pizza in Italy, New York, and everywhere in between. This was hands-down the best pizza any of us had ever tasted. Daisy loved her cheese and crust portions, and we loved watching her enjoy what became the undisputed food highlight of our entire Naxos adventure.

Dog-Friendly Details:

• Outdoor seating welcomes pets with genuine enthusiasm
• Staff immediately provided water bowls without being asked
• Perfect cheese and crust for sharing with your furry companion
• The kind of place where your dog becomes part of the family atmosphere

Cost: Around €15-20 for an extraordinary pizza experience that will haunt your dreams in the best possible way.

2:30 PM – Halki Village Exploration & Shopping

Must-See Elements:

• Cherry blossom trees (seasonal, but stunning)
• Traditional architecture perfect for photography
• Local shops selling olive oil and regional specialties
• Friendly locals who genuinely love meeting visiting dogs

The Shopping Experience

After that incredible pizza, we wandered through the village and discovered some amazing shopping opportunities. We ended up purchasing olive oil for both cooking and hair treatments – the quality here is exceptional and the prices are so much better than what you’d pay for similar products back home.

Instagram and TikTok Paradise

This village is absolute content creator heaven. We spent ages filming TikToks and taking photos – literally every corner offers a new backdrop. The cherry blossoms, cobblestone streets, traditional architecture, and mountain views create endless opportunities for that perfect shot. Daisy, naturally, was the star of most of our content.

Gorgeous Local Crafts

The handmade bags we saw were absolutely stunning – traditional Greek craftsmanship that you simply can’t find elsewhere. If you’re looking for authentic souvenirs that aren’t mass-produced tourist items, this is your spot.

Time Investment

Originally planned for 1 hour, but we easily spent 1.5-2 hours here between the shopping, photography, and just soaking in the authentic village atmosphere.

Late Afternoon: Marble Streets and Mountain Views – Apiranthos Village

3:30 PM – Apiranthos Village

Drive Time

25 minutes through mountain countryside with spectacular sea-to-mountain views Important Stop: Plan to pull over for photos during this drive – there are proper, safe stopping areas with incredible viewpoints.

The Scenic Drive Experience

The journey to Apiranthos is honestly as spectacular as the destination itself. We pulled in twice at safe roadside stopping points to capture the incredible views from the mountains to the sea. This is exactly how Greece is portrayed by locals – that perfect combination of rugged mountain landscapes with the sparkling Aegean stretching to the horizon. Bring out your camera (we used our Insta360) because these panoramic shots will be some of your favorites from the entire trip.

The Experience

Movie-set perfection with marble streets throughout the entire village

Pure Picturesque Perfection

Apiranthos is hands down one of the most photogenic villages we’ve ever visited. Every single street is paved with marble, creating this incredible contrast with the traditional Cycladic architecture. The village is built into the mountainside, which means every viewpoint offers dramatic, sweeping vistas that look like they belong in a luxury travel magazine.

The Restaurant Regret

Here’s our biggest mistake of the day – we weren’t hungry enough to eat at any of the restaurants, and we’re still kicking ourselves about it. These places have the most spectacular mountainside views we’ve ever seen. Imagine dining while looking out over valleys that stretch to the sea – it would have been the meal with a view of a lifetime. Next time, we’re definitely planning our lunch timing better to experience this.

Social Media Gold Mine

The social content we captured here was absolutely next level. Every corner, every angle, every street offered something Instagram-worthy. The marble streets reflecting the afternoon light, the traditional architecture against the mountain backdrop, the panoramic valley views – we could have spent hours just creating content. Daisy was in her element, posing like the natural model she is.

What You’ll Find…

• Marble floors that create a unique walking experience throughout the village
• Restaurants with stunning mountainside views (learn from our mistake – come hungry!)
• Photo opportunities around literally every corner
• Built into the mountainside for dramatic scenery
• Easy parking compared to coastal areas
• Less crowded in late afternoon, perfect for photography

Time Investment

1 hour for exploration and endless photos, but factor in extra time for those incredible roadside photo stops on the way there.

Evening: Sunset Spectacular

6:00 PM – Drive to Naxos Town

Route Strategy: Take coastal roads for stunning views Parking Reality: €7 for first hour, then €3 per subsequent hour. Leave your windows cracked and keys accessible – they may need to move your car.

7:00 PM – Pre-Sunset Refreshments

Find a marina-front café for a glass of wine and people-watching. The South of France vibes are real here, and it’s the perfect way to transition from day exploration to evening magic.

Warning: We encountered one outdoor establishment that surprisingly wasn’t pet-friendly, but this was the only exception in our entire trip.

8:00 PM – Temple of Apollo for Sunset

The Reality: Everyone on Instagram told you to come here, and everyone on Instagram will be here with you. The Magic: Despite crowds, watching the sun set between ancient temple pillars is genuinely spectacular.

Survival Guide:

• Arrive 30 minutes before sunset for positioning
• Bring water for your dog – it gets crowded and warm
• Embrace the Instagram vs. Reality moment
• Entry is completely free
• Expect to meet fellow dog lovers from around the world

Pro Tip: The violin player who often performs here adds genuine magic to the experience.

Evening: Naxos Town Exploration

9:00 PM – Town Wandering

The back streets of Naxos town transform into evening magic. Narrow alleys reveal boutique shops, local crafts, and that effortless Greek charm that makes every corner photo-worthy.

Shopping Highlights:

• Local jewelry (ask for Nick the Greek – he’s a Shih Tzu enthusiast!)
• Traditional crafts and ceramics
• Contemporary boutiques mixing Greek and international styles

9:30 PM – Dinner at LikeHome Rooftop

The Sweet Surprise: After asking if Daisy was welcome (given our previous disappointment), we were greeted with an enthusiastic “of course!” and led up to their rooftop terrace. 

The Experience: We felt like we had secured the best table in the house – stunning harbor views while the sunset was still painting the sky gold and glistening across the water. This unexpected culinary twist on our Greek adventure turned out to be absolutely magical. 

What We Enjoyed:

– Fresh dumplings that were perfectly prepared 

– Excellent sushi rolls with quality ingredients 

– Delicious fried rice as a satisfying base 

– Mocktails & Rosé that paired perfectly with the harbour sunset views

Day 1 Logistics Summary

Total Driving: Approximately 2-2.5 hours Estimated Costs:

• Car rental (per day): €70
• Fuel: €8-10
• Lunch at Miltos: €15-20
• Parking: €10-15
• Miscellaneous shopping: €20-30
• Dinner at LikeHome: €40-50 per person Total Day 1: €175-225 for two people

Essential Packing for Your First Full Day:

• Plenty of water for you and your pet
• Comfortable walking shoes for marble streets
• Camera or phone with extra battery
• Cash for parking and small vendors
• Dog waste bags and treats
• Light jacket for evening (Greek islands can cool down)

What You’ll Accomplish on Your First Full Day

This first full exploration day perfectly introduces Naxos’s incredible diversity – from pristine beaches to mountain villages, ancient history to modern culinary scenes. Your dog will experience new sights, sounds, and Greek hospitality, while you’ll understand why this island captures hearts so completely.

The Magic Moment: Standing at the Temple of Apollo as the sun sets, surrounded by fellow travelers from around the world, with your beloved pet by your side, you’ll understand that this isn’t just tourism – it’s the kind of travel that creates lasting memories and deeper connections.

Ready for Day 2? Even more spectacular beaches and cultural treasures await…

Want to learn more about dog friendly Naxos? Check out our full review here.