Naxos accommodations mid-May

Up by Kastro is tempting for views... but constant cliimbing will wear you down -- you get to seafront & realize you forgot sunglasses... you have hefty dinner then realize you must walkk up equivalent of 9 stories, etc. I stayed at Panorama on my first visits, but the climb got to me -- ater a long day of hikes & beaches I dreaded the cllimb to my hotel.

Ag. Giorgios is actually the BEST beach locale for mid-may. I always visit Naxos then and after May 12 or so, can swim happily (the 1st moment is brisk but then fine)... and Ag G is shallow going in (about 100 yards its knee-high then drops off, so it warms quicker. A bonus also is that in May its beloved by Scandinavian families with pre-schoolers, so you can watch toddlers waddling at waters edge w sandpails, adorable.

You don't say age of daughters -- if teens, you can book side by side rooms. OR better still, many of the hotels/pensions on or near beach have 1 BR Studio Units -- a br w twins or double bed & large main room w daybeds, table/chairs & kitchenette plus balcony w table. Are you OK with this? having the kids sleep in Livingroom? If not, there are also some smaller hotels that have 2 bedrooms PLUS main room.
Use this lilnk -- https://www.booking.com/district/gr/naxos/agiosgeorgiosbeach.html - to browse (use pvt or incognito mode so agency won't "cookie" you). When u put in dates, a list will pop up. Instead, click icon "Show on Map" and it will show all availables in EXACT locations, w price beside. Places that may have units to suit you & your budget include Studios Thomais, Studios Kalergis, Hotel Akrogiali, Diogenis Studios, Hotel Palatia, Sun Beach, STudios Panos, Lefkes Studios. Just a few blocks off the beach Galazia Studios is a budget find. And remember -- if you can't make up your mind, by booking at the "free cancellation" rate, you could book more than 1, and then cancel the one you decide not to take.

Thanks Janet!! I ended up cancelling the Airbnb up the hill and booked a 2 bedroom suite at Studios Panos. I think it’s a better location- thank you!

Also, we will be spending 4 nights on Panos - if there is an area in Parikia that you would recommend please let me know!

Thanks so much!

In Paros (I assume that's what you meant), Parikia is like Naxos Town in Naxos, just a very small part of the island that's convenient if you don't have a car, since it's the bus hub, and if you want to go shopping and eat at restaurants within a 10-minute walk. But what makes each island attractive and unique is everything else outside of these areas.

In Parikia, it's best, in my opinion, to stay in the area I've tried to represent very roughly here:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/bppDpcSFVEtf7ubJ9

But obviously, this is just a general area; there might be some not-so-great places within it, just as there might be some excellent ones a little outside of it.

Congrats on finding a handy place right on Naxos' Ag. Giorgio beach; your kids will thank you. As for PAROS, I've stayed there a number of times, and while Parikia is far preferable to the "fancyville" version of Naoussa, the beach walkable from Parikia is just tolerable, and boat-shuttlles to better ones are just in high season.

After those visits, I found a MUCH better sollution, stay only a "hop" away, but wonderful in May --ANTIPAROS. Ther are 2 shuttles, one goes every 40 mins, another takes just 10 mins, and runs from early am to midnight or later... and yu arrive at Antiparos' cute little pier in a charming small port/village, walkable to several good beaches. Its winding agora (market lane) is lantern-lit n evening and is enchanting. If u act promptly, lots of places suitable for you... my fave would be THALASEA, a family-run small apt/studio accommodation http://www.thalasea.gr/ -- overlooking a stunning beach https://antiparos.com/explore/psaraliki-beach/ if it's booked, other suitable places nearby. As before, I recommend using pvt window to browse via Booking dot come - https://www.booking.com/region/gr/antiparos.html - because it will show you exact locations.

Staying in Antiparos doesn't mean neglecting PAROS -- you can zip over there by day to see its highlights. This great photo sequence shows how - https://agreekoddity.com/monday-24th-june-2013-a-day-trip-to-paros/ If y9u feel like a full day on a boat, Captain Ben's Lazy Day is perfect. Another converted Antiparos fan is RS Top contributor & photo ace, Stanbr - Here are his pix: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632126687570/ There's a mid-morning ferry From NAXOS to PAROS that takes an hour tops. And after your PAROS or ANTIPAROS stay, you can get to the Paros Airport quickly for a 40-min Fllight to ATH>

Thanks JoLui and Janet!

I have been deliberating over Paros vs Antiparos after asking a few questions in this forum and reading various responses. We will be in Greece from May 5-24, but there's a possibility that one of my daughters will have to fly home on Friday, May 15. Consequently, I need to be on an island with an airport that day.

My current itinerary:
May 5-8: Santorini (3 nts) - Airbnb in Imerovigli
May 8-13: Naxos (5 nts) - Hotel in Agios Georgios (Studios Panos)
May 13-17: Paros (4 nts) - Airbnb in Parikia (waterfront in town centre)
May 17-21: Nafplio (4 nts) - Airbnb
May 21-24: Athens (3 nts) - Airbnb in Koukaki

However, my gut feeling is that after Naxos, Paros will be a little bit of a let down. I am considering adjusting the itinerary to the following:
May 5-8: Santorini (3 nts)
May 8-11: Antiparos (3 nts). One day will be Captain Ben Lazy Day cruise, and one day visiting Paros.
May 11-17: Naxos (6 nts)
May 17-21: Nafplio
May 17-24: Athens

Any thoughts about this, including logistics of ferrying from Santorini to Antiparos? I am open to any suggestions regarding my itinerary, but we need to be somewhere with an airport on Friday, May 15.

Thank you so much for your time and advice!!

To get to Antiparos from Santorini, you must first go to Paros (Parikia) and take a transfer (taxi or bus) to the port of Punda. That's where the boats to Antiparos depart from.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fd6KnczDjQddPGT17

There is a boat service from Parikia, but it only starts in late May.

There's no need to book in advance; you pay on the boat (€1.50, in cash only) . Boats leave every 30 minutes.

Paros is different from Naxos, so you'll have plenty to do with 4 days. Of course, like Naxos, it depends on how much you want to explore the island. It took me almost a month to really get to know Paros and its lesser-known parts.

Note that Antiparos is just a small village with 1200 inhabitants, while Paros is the second largest island in the Cyclades with about fifteen villages and 12,000 inhabitants. Logically, if you're doing a day trip, it should be from Paros to Antiparos, not the other way around.

That said, given that Naxos also deserves the 6 nights you're considering in your second option, I don't know what else to say.
With 12 nights in the islands, both options are doable.

You'll have to come back to Greece to do what you didn't have time to do/see in 2026 :)