Naxos in May

The 4-wheelers look fun, are they safe?

The way you say "The 4-wheelers look fun", I presume you're not used to driving this type of vehicle.

Four-wheelers (Quads) aren't known for being safe. Mainly because some unfamiliar novice drivers think they'll be safe and drive too fast. A quad can rollover more easily than you might imagine.

This is the cause of quite a few accidents every year in Greece (sometimes fatal). So you know what you're getting into by renting a quad.

If you're used to driving quads and drive carefully, it can be fun. Try it for a day if you're up for it.

Personally, I think it's completely unnecessary on Naxos if you're just visiting the island and its villages. You'll be driving on roads in good condition, often winding and semi-mountainous, and probably with quite a bit of wind. Not an ideal environment for a quad. Even the dirt roads that run along the beaches are easily accessible by a conventional car.

It's up to you...

Off-season do we need to pre-book boat trips, or can we do that after
we get to Naxos?

Ask the local tour operators once you will get to Naxos. There are plenty in town, and you'll see signs saying "day trips to this," "excursions to that," etc.

As for boat trips, it mainly depends on the weather.

Are the busses easy to navigate?

There are 10 bus lines, all departing from Naxos Town.
The bus network in Naxos is quite good but insufficient for efficiently exploring the island. What you can see in a day by car will take you more than three days by bus, and you'll waste a lot of time waiting at bus stops.

I've created this map with some information that might interest you:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1d7GZMjFODUlB8lf7EPSXQRwu-YXaKxw&usp=sharing
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Thanks for the great insight. The map is perfect. Thanks again!!

We rented a car for a day to explore mountain villages and fishing villages. Our first stop was the Temple of Demeter, then the mountain village of Chalki, and from there we drove to the fishing village of Moutsouna, a highlight of our trip. We had an awesome lunch at the Fish Net, sitting right on the water, and had delicious fresh fish. From there we visited the mountain village of Apeiranthos, and then stopped in the fishing village of Apollonas for iced coffee at a cafe on the beach. It was an awesome day!

Definitely rent a car. The bus system is good but a car gives you way more flexability to go where you want to go when you want to go.
Here is what a driving tour of Naxos is like.
Trip around Naxos https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157634605629689

Sounds like a perfect day!! Thanks!!

We are here now and I would recommend a car and getting out to explore. We did the Olive Oil Museum (great tour and tastings), the two kouros near Melanes (lovely short walk to get to them), and the Temple of Demeter, which also comes with a nice museum. We had fun at the Manolis pottery shop (bring cash, no cards) and adjacent olive oil press.

We swung by the beaches today and they are lovely. The mountain villages are all nice (somewhat closed up now but should be fully open in May). One thing we did not get to do was the walk between Halki and Moni, which was recommended in a book I found as well as by our hotel. It’s called Hike #4. These numbered walks are paths connecting those mountain villages. I think the idea to go to Moutsona sounds good. We did the drive all the way around to Appollonas and not sure I would recommend it or the far north as a destination, esp on a short itinerary. We can recommend To Eliniko and Axiotossa as good places for dinner. The latter could be combined with a visit to Alyko or other nearby beaches.

I second Amy's recommendation to dine at To Elleniko! We also enjoyed Meltemi Restaurant.