What to Pack for a Naxos Retreat: The Definitive September & October List
September and October are two of our favourite months on Naxos. The intense heat of midsummer has softened, the beaches are quieter, the light is beautiful, and the island begins to settle into a gentler rhythm.
But autumn on a Greek island can be surprisingly varied. You may be sitting outside in glorious sunshine at lunchtime and reaching for a cardigan after dinner. September can still feel wonderfully summery, while by October there is a greater chance of a breezy evening or the occasional shower.
The secret is layers.
If you're joining us for a Naxos Creative retreat in September or October, here's our definitive guide to what to bring — and what you can happily leave at home.
Clothes for warm days
September temperatures can still be beautifully warm, and even October often brings plenty of sunshine.
Pack the sort of clothes you would choose for a relaxed summer holiday:
Lightweight dresses
Shorts
Loose trousers or linen trousers
T-shirts and tops
Light skirts
Comfortable sandals
Swimwear
A sunhat
Sunglasses
There is absolutely no need to dress formally. Our retreats are deliberately relaxed, and comfort is far more important than dressing up.
You may, however, want one slightly smarter outfit for an evening meal or a celebratory final night — although on Naxos, "smart" can still involve sandals.
Layers for cooler mornings and evenings
This is the part people sometimes forget.
Once the sun disappears, particularly in October, the temperature can drop quite quickly. If there is a breeze coming off the sea, evenings can feel distinctly cooler than the afternoons.
Bring:
A cardigan
A lightweight jumper or fleece
A light jacket
A scarf or wrap
A couple of long-sleeved tops
Long trousers or jeans
A large scarf or pashmina is particularly useful. It can be a wrap for an evening outside, an extra layer on the ferry or plane, or even something to throw around your shoulders during an early-morning writing session.
Something waterproof
We would love to promise uninterrupted Greek sunshine, but Naxos has its own ideas.
September is generally still very dry, while October can occasionally bring a shower or dramatic burst of rain. Last year, the rain arrived on the very day our retreat ended and stayed for just a couple of days. Naxos desperately needs its autumn rain, so when it comes we do try to be happy about it — even if we'd secretly prefer it to wait until everyone is on the ferry home!
These showers often pass quickly, but a lightweight waterproof jacket is worth slipping into your suitcase.
You don't need heavy winter clothing — just something that will keep you dry if the weather decides to be theatrical.Go up to the Kastro
Before heading down towards the Portara, make time to walk up to the Kastro, Naxos Town’s old Venetian castle. The lanes become quieter as you climb, and there are wonderful views over the rooftops, harbour and sea.
It is also a lovely area for small galleries, independent shops and little corners that feel very different from the busy waterfront. You do not need a plan — just follow the lanes uphill and see where you end up.
October
Shoes: keep them comfortable
Naxos is not the place for an ambitious shoe collection.
You'll probably spend much of the week in sandals, trainers or comfortable flat shoes. Village lanes can be uneven, beaches are sandy, and Greek pavements occasionally require a certain degree of concentration!
We suggest:
Comfortable sandals
Trainers or walking shoes
Flip-flops for the beach
One pair of shoes for evenings, if you'd like them
If you're planning to explore villages or go for longer walks, trainers with a decent sole are useful.
Don't forget your swimming things
Yes, people really do still swim in September and October.
The sea has spent the entire summer warming up and can remain wonderfully pleasant well into autumn.
Pack:
Swimming costume or trunks
Beach cover-up
Flip-flops
Beach bag
Goggles, if you use them
Swimming costumes will usually dry overnight, but it is still worth bringing two — just in case you have a damp one after a late swim or the weather turns a little cooler.
Sun protection is still essential
The calendar might say autumn, but the Naxos sun can still be strong.
Bring a good sunscreen, particularly for your face and shoulders, together with sunglasses and a hat. My personal recommendation is Ultrasun SPF 50 — it lasts well through the day and is a great option if you are in and out of the sea.
For sensitive skin, I have recently discovered Colorescience mineral sunscreen and Avocado Zinc mineral sunscreen. I use these on my face every day and have found them particularly gentle and comfortable to wear.
If you're sitting outside writing or reading, it is surprisingly easy to forget how long you've been in the sun.
Your retreat essentials
For our writing and reading retreats, you don't need to arrive carrying half an office.
A notebook and pen are always useful, even if you normally work entirely on a laptop. There is something about being somewhere new that makes putting pen to paper particularly satisfying.
Writers may want to bring:
Laptop or tablet
Charger
Notebook
Pens
Headphones
Any work-in-progress you'd like to work on
A book or two
Don't feel you need to bring an enormous pile of books. One of the pleasures — and dangers — of a literary retreat is that books have a habit of finding their way into your luggage during the week.
A refillable water bottle
Definitely bring one.
Even outside the height of summer, you'll want water with you when you're walking, travelling or sitting outside in the sunshine.
A small reusable bottle is ideal.
A small day bag
A lightweight bag or backpack is useful for excursions, trips into town and visits to the beach.
Something large enough for your water bottle, book, sunscreen, phone and perhaps a cardigan is perfect.
Medication and toiletries
Bring enough of any regular medication for the whole trip, plus a few extra days in case your travel plans change.
Naxos has excellent pharmacies, so don't panic if you forget shampoo or toothpaste. You are not travelling to the wilderness.
It can, however, be useful to bring:
Any prescription medication
Preferred painkillers or remedies
Insect repellent
After-sun
Sunscreen (it is not cheap here)
Any specialist toiletries you particularly like
Mosquitoes are usually less enthusiastic by autumn than they are in midsummer, but repellent is still worth packing.
Travel bits that are easily forgotten
A few small things make travelling considerably easier:
Phone charger
Portable power bank
Travel adaptor if required
Passport
Travel insurance details
Bank cards
A little cash
Earphones
Reading glasses, if you use them
If you're travelling from the UK, Greece uses the standard European two-pin plug.
What about the weather?
As a very general guide, September often still feels like summer, with warm days, sunshine and lovely sea temperatures.
By October, days can still be warm enough for swimming and sitting outside, but mornings and evenings are noticeably cooler and the chance of rain increases.
Naxos can also be windy. The breeze is one of the things that makes the island so pleasant, but it can make an evening feel several degrees cooler.
So rather than trying to predict the weather perfectly, pack things that work together.
A T-shirt + cardigan + light jacket will take you surprisingly far.
What you really don't need
Try not to overpack.
You probably don't need:
Formal clothes
High heels
Heavy winter coats
Lots of jewellery
Several enormous hardback books
An outfit for every possible eventuality
Life on Naxos is wonderfully informal.
And remember: there are shops.
If the weather does something completely unexpected, Chora is full of places where you can buy an extra jumper, hat, pair of sandals or almost anything else you suddenly decide you cannot possibly live without.
And finally...
Don't worry too much about getting the packing exactly right.
Our September and October retreats are about slowing down, having time to think, read, write and talk, discovering Naxos, sharing meals and enjoying being part of a small creative community.
Bring comfortable clothes, something warm for the evenings, your swimming costume, a notebook and your curiosity.
Naxos will provide the rest.