Hiking Mount Zas, Naxos | Everything you need to know

Hiking Mount Zas in Naxos was always a staple of our honeymoon itinerary.

While we’d planned plenty of beach days, village lunches and slow mornings, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to climb the highest mountain in the Cyclades. And, standing at the summit with the island stretching out in every direction, it ended up being one of the most memorable experiences of our time in Naxos – as well as something that set it apart from the other Cyclades islands.

If you’re considering hiking Mount Zas and wondering whether it’s manageable or worthwhile, this guide covers everything you need to know for planning your trip – routes, difficulty, timings and a few honest lessons from our own hike.

Where is Mount Zas and why is it special?

Mount Zas (or Mount Zeus) sits just outside the village of Filoti in the mountains of Naxos. At 1,004 metres, it’s the highest peak in the Cyclades and seemingly a world away from the island’s long stretches of sandy shores.

According to Greek mythology, Mount Zas is the birthplace of Zeus and while I’m not usually one to dwell on legends, my husband very much is. Therefore, it was an essential part of our visit to Naxos!

Hiking Mount Zas will also give you a fresh perspective on Naxos and the rest of the Cyclades; one that’s wilder, greener and less visited than the coast alone.

When is the best time for hiking Mount Zas?

Honestly, there is no bad time of year for hiking Mount Zas – only a bad time of day.

I’d strongly recommend avoiding midday entirely in the summer: even if the summit is windy, the majority of the hike is fairly sheltered from the breeze but very exposed. Start early for max comfort between June and August.

In the winter months, you can start at any time as you won’t need to worry about the heat intensity – you may just need to contend with some rain or windier weather.

How to get to the Mount Zas trailhead

By car (recommended)

We hired a car for the duration of our stay in Naxos and I’d highly recommend doing the same, not just for the Mount Zas hike. The two trailheads are both easy to reach by road and parking is available near the main routes.

We stayed at Galazia Boutique Apartments in Naxos town and it took us around 15 – 20 minutes to drive to the start.

Having a car also meant we could start early, adjust plans when we needed to (spoiler alert: we did!) and head straight to nearby Filoti for a rewarding brunch afterwards.

Without a car

It’s possible to walk from Filoti (accessible by bus) to the trailhead, but it will add a fair bit of extra distance to your hike. Plus, with limited shade, timing becomes even more important in the summer months.

You absolutely don’t need a guide for hiking Mount Zas as the trail is clearly marked, but that’s also a good option if you want guaranteed transport.

Mount Zas hiking routes explained

There are two main routes up Mount Zas and understanding the difference makes a huge difference to your experience.

Aria Spring route

The more challenging route takes you past Zas Cave, a small stop said to be the birthplace of Zeus. However, once you’ve reached the cave, the route is said to get much more challenging with some scrambling and loose scree involved.

If you have good shoes and you’re fairly experienced on steep hikes, this would probably be manageable. However, this is where my mistake came in.

We started early on this route and reached the cave around 8am. However, I was nervous about my footwear: packing light for our honeymoon meant my most appropriate shoes were a pair of Stan Smiths. Not great for a slippery surface!

We could have carried on and perhaps it would have been okay but instead, I listened to my instincts, turned back and drove to the easier route. I’d rather have guaranteed we reach the summit early, than spend more time trying and it becoming uncomfortably hot.

What I will say though is that this route looks incredibly scenic, due to the steeper ascent!

Agia Marina route

The less technical and better defined trail begins at Agia Marina Church. The bus also stops close to the starting point too, with easy parking available if you’re there early.

This is the route we ended up taking to the summit, so I’ll go into it in more detail below.

The circular trek

If you’re coming to the Cyclades for walking and adventure, chances are you’ll have your eye on the long, circular route. Usually this starts and ends in Filoti, heading up the steer Aria Spring and back down the gentle Agia Marina path.

I usually use AllTrails for the best routes on longer hikes, as the reviews give a reasonable idea of what to expect!

How difficult is hiking Mount Zas?

While I can’t rank the difficulty of the full Aria Spring path, what I will say is that the section leading up to the cave was tougher than the entire Agia Marina route with a small amount of scrambling needed.

The Agia Marina route is rated as ‘moderate’ for hiking Mount Zas but honestly, if you’re used to any kind of walking, it’s pretty easy. It’s not technically difficult, but there’s consistent uphill walking.

The most challenging part is undoubtedly the heat in the summer months as it’s exposed for the vast majority of the hike.

Footwear always matters. As someone with a penchant for slipping over, even in hiking boots, trainers are fine for the Agia Marina route but I’d opt for proper hiking shoes to be safe on the steeper Aria Spring route beyond Zas Cave.

How long does the Agia Marina route take?

Timings will vary depending on your level of fitness and number of stops, but we took around an hour hiking Mount Zas from the church to summit.

We spent a while enjoying the summit (and an all-important breakfast!), so made it back down to the car in what would have been a three hour round-trip.

An important thing to note is that the trail was super quiet going up, but on the way down it was significantly busier and the heat was already building. Starting early made a huge difference to both our comfort and the atmosphere at the top, so it’s something I’d really recommend if you’re considering hiking Mount Zas.

What is the summit of Mount Zas like?

While Mount Zas is a small and accessible mountain, the summit is simple with no cafe or dramatic signage. Aside from a simple trig point, it’s how nature best intended it: open space and expansive 360 views across Naxos.

That’s exactly what makes it special.

While hiking Mount Zas honestly won’t set the world on fire, it felt calm and quiet in a way the Naxos coast rarely does. You can see how mountainous the island really is, and how much of it most visitors never experience. It’s said there are many great hiking trails across Naxos and this was the first time I could really see that it was likely true.

What to pack for hiking Mount Zas

Don’t overthink it: your hiking basics will do just fine, especially for the Agia Marina trail:

What to do after hiking Mount Zas?

One of the best parts about hiking Mount Zas is how it fits into a typical Naxos day.

You can easily be done and dusted by midday, ready to spend the afternoon exploring the nearby villages of Filoti, Chalki and Apeiranthos. If you don’t have your own car, again there are tours available that can help you tick these sights off easily.

Chalki was my favourite of the three, boasting classic Cycladic beauty paired with some great gyros spots.

Apeiranthos had a feeling of Berat in Albania about it, with whitewashed window-filled buildings stacked up the hillside. It was busy with tourists when we arrived, but there wasn’t a huge amount to do except get lost in the streets.

After that, you’ll be in perfect time to head back to Naxos Chora (or your base of choice) for a hearty dinner.

Is hiking Mount Zas worth it?

Hiking Mount Zas is absolutely worth it, if you approach it with the right expectations.

It’s not about pushing yourself to a limit or ticking off an impressive challenge on Strava. It’s about seeing a different side of Naxos and the Cyclades, enjoying the quieter interior of the island and giving yourself space and grace to change plans when needed.

While it wasn’t the most standout moment of our trip, it was well worth our time to do something different.

If you’re planning the Mount Zas hike as part of a wider trip to the Cyclades, you may find my two week Cyclades island hopping guide or my 4 day Santorini itinerary helpful.

As always, if you have any questions, drop them in the comments and I’ll do my best to get back to you!

Laura x