I’m in Naxos towards the end of the tourist season.  The weather is still fairly pleasant, but not hot and the crowds are for sure gone now.  So, on my first day here I decided I wanted to climb Mount Zeus.  After all, compared to some of the hikes I have done this year, at 1003 metres, it did not seem to be a big deal.

So, from Naxos town I took the bus to Filoti, which is a charming little village about 40 minutes or so outside of Naxos town.  The drive there is very scenic with many hills all around you and farms with cattle and sheep.

From Filoti there is a signpost directing you to the start of the hike with an indication that it will take about 2 hours to the top.  Unfortunately, there seem to be very few trail markings after this (or, I managed to get completely lost).  However, at one point you will find a church with a more official sign and after this is is a fairly simple hike.

By the time I got to the church, the wind had picked up and the clouds were covering the top.  I did not quite manage to reach the peak, since about 300 metres from that point, the wind was so bad that it was difficult to remain standing.

Upon descending, there are several nice cafes in Filoti where you can have lunch while waiting for the bus to go back to Naxos town.

Overall, I would recommend the hike, but I would assess the weather first 🙂