The port car park - free but fills fast
The largest free parking area in Chora is the open-air lot adjacent to the ferry terminal. No time limit, no cost, no machine. Walk from the lot to the old town's central square takes 5–8 minutes. In July and August the lot is typically full by 10:30–11:00 am - locals and visitors alike know it and arrive early. The lot has no shade, so a car left there all day in August gets very hot; consider leaving windows cracked. We always point guests toward this lot when they collect their vehicle from the port - it's the most convenient drop-off and pick-up point.
Pay-and-display in central Chora
Blue-marked parking spaces in central Chora cost €1 per hour, payable at a roadside kiosk or via a parking app available in Greek app stores. Hours are typically 08:00–20:00 in summer; free after 20:00. White-line parking spaces are reserved for registered island residents and are enforced - tourist vehicles left in white spaces receive tickets and, if left overnight, are towed. The tow yard is inconveniently located and the release fee is around €150 plus the fine. When in doubt: if it's not blue-lined or a signed public lot, don't park there.
Parking at villages and beaches
Good news: outside Chora, parking on Naxos is almost entirely free and informal. Village squares have unpainted spots around the perimeter - pull up, check you're not blocking a doorway or fire hydrant, and leave it. Beach parking areas (Prokopios, Plaka, Mikri Vigla) are unpaved lots next to the beach access path with no charge and no time limit. The exception is the main beach road at Agios Prokopios in August, where a private operator occasionally charges €2–3 for a marked spot closest to the sand. Drive 200 m further and park free. Mountain villages like Apeiranthos have very limited space - there's a small lot at the entry to the village and parking on the main road outside. Never drive or park inside the marble-paved lanes; they're pedestrian-only.