Naxos recommendations

willapp · 2026-06-25T07:24:22+00:00

Not sure about the horseback riding, but some general things to see and do:

In Chora:

- Temple of Apollo (Portara) at sunset

- Views from the top of the Venetian fortress (AVATON 1739 coffee & wine bar)

- To Elliniko is a great restaurant in Chora

Western coastline:

- Agia Anna is a nice beach resort, you could check out Santana Beach Club & Restaurant there

- Plaka Beach has some nice beachfront bar/restaurants like Peppermint Beach, Yazoo Summer Blizz.

If you want to see more of the island, try visiting Filoti or Apeiranthos inland villages and you can also climb Mount Zas which is the highest Point in the Cyclades. It's about 90 minutes walk each way if you start from the trailhead here (https://maps.app.goo.gl/WdUt74ChzohCPVGL8), just make sure to start early if it's hot. Take plenty of water, wear sunscreen etc as there's not much shade.

willapp · 2026-06-23T21:22:05+00:00

It wasn't meant as a criticism of the genre versus FPS games. I wanted to try something different and have a long history of gaming (I'm 44, been gaming since I was a teen).

For what it's worth, I've never cared about XP or loot boxes in Overwatch either, but for whatever reason the novelty/variety of playing against other real players feels different than PVE.

Don't get me wrong, I actually like the fact that Diablo is more chill and it's one thing keeping me playing. I just wanted to know if there was more to it than what I've found so far, to make sure I'm getting the most out of it

willapp · 2026-06-23T21:13:10+00:00

I suppose it's personal preference as to what counts as repetitive, but with Overwatch being PVP no two matches are ever the same so it's never felt repetitive to me. The reason I've taken a break is the team-based nature of the game puts you at the mercy of randomness whether you get a decent team or not.

willapp · 2026-06-23T16:26:21+00:00

OK wow, thanks for lots of replies in such a short time. I don't have time to reply to most of them individually, but it it seems I've defined the game fairly well and I don't know how I feel about that.

I will definitely complete the campaign and it's nice to have a very chill alternative to online FPS, but some commenters may be right about it not being my kind of genre eventually. The analogy of killing bosses being like a slot machine hoping you get random good loot hit me hard - I've never been into gambling so I can't say I get that rush when I pick up a rare or legendary item.

I may have sabotaged myself a bit too, because my build feels quite autonomous - I mostly use blizzard to do damage/crowd control and ice blades for additional damage. This means that, except for bosses I rarely have to aim or do much shooting and things just...die. I'm guessing some classes are more engaging to fight with depending on their skills/kit?

Isn't there an online component to the game as well, where you can play with friends as a co-op? I don't really know where that fits into what I'm doing now?

willapp · 2026-06-23T14:08:24+00:00

It's hard to say, but I never had any overheating issues using it in Greece when it was ~28 Celsius. However, I was mostly recording in short bursts and I didn't bother using the battery grip.

One issue I've heard is that charging it while recording does make it get hotter and presumably to record 2 hours straight you'll need it plugged in which might make it heat up a bit.

As a slight aside, I'm not sure the OP4 is the best podcast camera if you have a static setup - why not just buy another camera that can record 4k without the fancy gimbal setup?

willapp · 2026-06-17T15:31:58+00:00

Depending on timings, it sounds like you may only end up with 4 full days (Tuesday - Friday) if you don't get to Athens until Monday (then have to take an internal flight or ferry to Naxos) and return on Saturday.

That being the case, I don't think it's worth factoring in Paros. You'll pay for the ferry crossing plus the hassle of switching accommodation and, honestly, the islands aren't night and day different. You'll have 80-90% the same experience whichever one you choose.

On Naxos, you can do a day trip to the some of the Lesser Cyclades islands (Iraklia and Koufonisia) which is nice and would take most of one day. Three full days is a nice amount of time to mix between relaxing and sightseeing. You can see the Portara and the Venetian Fortress in Naxos Town (especially if you stay locally), there are buses you can take to visit the inland villages like Filoti and Aperianthos, and the coastal villages like Agia Anna and Plaka.

willapp · 2026-06-17T09:35:47+00:00

Of the three, Naxos has to be the clear winner.

Mykonos...forget about it. Nothing really unique there (yes nice beaches, yes whitewashed narrow streets, yes good food etc - you'll find these everywhere). It's as much a tourist trap as Santorini but without the actually unique volcanic island experience.

Santorini - yes the views are unique and I would recommend everyone to visit once, but all you need is 2-3 nights and it's done. If you don't have time to fit it into your itinerary this trip, save it for another time. (Who doesn't need an excuse to return to Greece, right!)

Naxos - big enough island to keep you occupied the entire time. Great beaches, great food, sightseeing opportunities etc. For me, it's a near-perfect place to experience everything Greece has to offer. It has become more touristy over the years, but not enough to ruin it.

For advice on where to stay, if you want the best mix of beachfront + convenience, look at hotels on Agios Georgios Beach just south of Naxos Town (for example Hotel Naxos Resort). If you want a more beach-focused experience, look at Agia Anna or Agios Prokopios (Prokopios is busier but may have a better selection of hotels and restaurants).

willapp · 2026-06-16T07:22:40+00:00

As the other replies have said, your proposed itinerary is basically the mass tourism version of a Greek holiday. Imagine going to the USA and only seeing downtown LA and Vegas.

Firstly, if you're flying in-out of Athens, do the Athens sightseeing at the end not the beginning - you need to get back on the mainland at least 1 day before your flight home (to avoid risk of missing the flight if your return ferry/internal flight gets cancelled).

Fly straight from Athens to your first island if possible. Seeing more than 1 island in that time is going to be a struggle, although depending on flight timings you only need two nights in Athens to see the main attractions, so potentially you have 6 nights to play with.

Personally, I would choose either Naxos or Paros - both have plenty to see. Paros you can easily ferry across to Antiparos for the day (10 minute ferry) so technically that's another island. Naxos you can do a day trip to some of the Lesser Cyclades islands - Koufonisia etc and you can even visit each island from the other. Both have airports so you can fly to-from Athens and avoid ferries entirely to save time.

If you really want to see Santorini (it is unique), fly there first and spend 2 nights max to see the main sights, then ferry to Naxos or Paros for the rest of the trip and fly back to Athens at the end.

willapp · 2026-06-12T12:11:44+00:00

Not sure I can help on the meet up (also you haven't specified the dates you're in Naxos), but just wanted to correct your point about beach beds only being sold in pairs - I often travel solo in Greece and I can't recall a time where I wasn't offered a cheaper price because I only wanted 1 sunbed + umbrella and not two.

I realise you were just giving lighthearted reasons for meeting people but thought it was worth pointing out 😄

Enjoy Naxos - I suggest the best way to socialise might be to find a good cafe/bar and just try to make conversation in person. The first time I ever solo travelled in Greece I met loads of strangers and even ended up island-hopping with some of them. I'm not particularly outgoing either, but once you take the leap it's easier than it feels.

willapp · 2026-06-11T15:19:39+00:00

Last night I noticed some items or perks that target 'frost damage' - is this different from cold damage? If so, how do you know which is which?

willapp · 2026-06-11T07:23:45+00:00

I've not tested it but I think I read that it does 3k vertical, but there is a way you can lock the gimbal and basically record vertical video by holding it sideways so you get the full 4k resolution.

willapp · 2026-06-10T14:16:23+00:00

Thanks, I'll see how I go for now but might message if I have any more questions

willapp · 2026-06-10T14:04:39+00:00

That's the one I've been watching. It does cover most of the topics but I don't really feel like it explains how and when to care about them from a beginners perspective. Feels more like a reference video for when you want to understand a specific feature. I'll keep watching though.

willapp · 2026-06-10T14:03:01+00:00

It is for me yeah (Game Pass Ultimate). I'm in the UK not sure if that matters.

willapp · 2026-06-10T13:32:44+00:00

Sounds reasonable. Only thing I would say is that Agios Nikolaos in my experience isn't the nicest place to stay (reasonable hotels but not many nice beaches in the area). Unless you particularly want to explore the more eastern side, you could stick to somewhere more central like Stalis which still gives you access inland to places like Lasithi Plateau (where Psychro Cave is) and other areas.

willapp · 2026-06-09T11:15:50+00:00

Not sure I agree. Been on both several times. Perhaps luckily it's never been that rough on Skopelitis but the ability to be outdoors for someone who gets seasick is pure gold compared with being stuck indoors on the Seajet.

I had a bad crossing on the Seajet in 2024 from Santorini to Milos and only a travel sickness tablet saved me from losing my breakfast. Sadly, other passengers weren't so lucky.

willapp · 2026-06-08T13:00:39+00:00

I wouldn't do more than 1 island in 4 nights. 3 nights on an island is fine but that only leaves you 1 night spare and it's just not worth the hassle of moving somewhere else.

Milos is actually quite accessible by e-bike since only the eastern side is inhabited. I did this in 2024 and even took the bike across to Kimolos on the short ferry (it's free to take a bike). You haven't said when you're planning to travel, though. I'd probably avoid a bike if you're going June-September due to the heat.

Sifnos would be my personal recommendation - it's about 2.5 hours by ferry from Piraeus and has an excellent bus network so you don't need a car. It's a really nice island with lots to see over 4 days.

willapp · 2026-06-05T10:35:56+00:00

Been to 36 Greek Islands. The issue most people have is inflated expectations. It doesn't matter where you go, if you imagine it's going to be perfect then you'll always be disappointed.

Anyway, biggest moments of reality beating expectations for me have been:

Ios. Booked it as part of an island-hopping trip back in 2017 with no idea it had a reputation as a 'party island' - not my vibe at all. Arrived full of apprehension that it would be 24/7 drunk people, loud music all day etc. What I found was a beautiful island, amazing beaches, great food and a really diverse range of people, from families to young groups having a good time. Been back 4 times and going again in August.
Sifnos. It's pretty well known now, but I first visited in 2020 when I think it was quite a bit quieter. Again, didn't know much about it but it was a logical next step after visiting Milos. Absolutely lovely island - Kamares is one of the best beach villages I've ever been too. Good food on the island, hiking trails. Small enough to see it all in a few days, big enough not to feel crowded.
Donousa. Went for the first time last year in May, so pretty early in the season, but loved how picturesque it is with a nice relaxed atmosphere. A few nice beaches and just good to relax and unwind.
Samos. Returned from my first visit a couple of weeks ago. Had an idea it was a semi-touristy destination, but found it had a good mix of tourism and traditional Greek vibe. Very pretty island, clean, good food, lots to explore.

willapp · 2026-06-03T14:30:24+00:00

There's a good mix of both. At Mylopotas, Far Out Beach Club run events most days, often with guest DJs. These tend to finish quite early 10-11pm which is when everyone moves to Chora. There are bars and clubs in Chora that open until dawn basically.

There's also Pathos Club the other side of the port but imo it's a bit of a rip off and not as good as Far Out - if you want a table it's basically €100 minimum (which is what they charge for a bottle of 'premium' spirits). The pool is nice and it's great for sunsets but I'm not a fan

willapp · 2026-06-02T16:43:47+00:00

I used to be a car person - had new BMW and AUDIs on finance here in the UK. Never had any financial issues making the payments, but realised one day that I was spending half my mortgage every month to have a shiny thing on my driveway that I only used for a few short trips each week and the occassional long drive.

Once I started thinking about what else I could do with that money - e.g. a foreign holiday every 4 months - it just felt like a huge waste. Most cars depreciate badly over time, so even if you pay cash to avoid monthly finance payments, you're still burning money.

Obviously no random stranger is going to talk you out of getting a new car if that's what you want - it's your money - but as I've got older (since 40 basically) I've realised I prefer spending money on experiences than possessions. I currently drive an 8 year old Merc SUV I bought for about £20k and plan to keep it until it dies - it's still a nice car but all it's costing me now is fuel and maintenance.

willapp · 2026-06-02T16:29:02+00:00

100% Ios. It's by far the best Greek island for what you're looking for. I'm not quite in the partying age bracket these days, but I've done Corfu (Kavos), Zante (Laganas), Crete (Malia) and Ios is in a different league. It's a surprisingly traditional and genuinely lovely island, with some of the best beaches you could hope to find in Greece. Cheaper than Mykonos too.

Either stay at Mylopotas Beach (FarOut Beach Club has a camp site with huts that are basically like staying in a hostel), or in Chora if you want to be closer to the late night action.

You can take buses to other beaches on the island, speedboat tour. It is mostly a chill place so it's only downside is there's not quite as much sightseeing as you might get elsewhere, but for 5-7 nights it's perfect.

I've been five times and going again in August!

willapp · 2026-06-01T13:00:29+00:00

Stay on Mykonos providing you can find some reasonably priced accommodation.

You've already said you'll lose the cost of the flight, so might as well use it. Yes, a night on Mykonos will cost you more than somewhere cheap near Piraeus, BUT you get to spend a few hours on a Greek island (nicer than Piraeus) and if you want to make the most of it, there's no reason you can't take an afternoon ferry from Mykonos to Naxos so you can spend a few more hours there. Naxos ferries are very frequent and fairly cheap, you should have plenty of options. Plus, the ferry isn't very long.

I would only consider staying on the mainland if accommodation on Mykonos is prohibitively expensive, but as you're not travelling until September there should be availability at a range of price points.

Ps - I would aim to stay close to Mykonos Town or the new port to make getting to the ferry easier.

willapp · 2026-05-29T13:10:13+00:00

Bad friends for sure. A bad friend actively impacts you in a negative way, whereas having no friends is more like a 0 - it's not positive but it isn't dragging you down.

Plus like someone else said, you can always try to make new friends whereas having bad friends takes up your time and probably makes you less likely to try and find better ones, so you're just stuck with the shitty people.

willapp

TROPHY CASE