The name is the one people repeat: Zas is taken as a form of Zeus, and a cave on the mountain is traditionally where he was raised or sheltered. Naxos, not Crete, in this version.
Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
It is a real walk
This is the part to be honest about. Mount Zas is not a viewpoint you drive to. It is a hill walk of roughly two to three hours up and back, on rough limestone paths, largely without shade.
What that means in practice:
- Proper shoes. The surface is loose stone and slabs, not a graded path.
- Water, more than you think. There is none on the mountain.
- Not in the middle of a summer day. Start early. In July and August the sensible window closes by mid-morning.
- Weather. The summit can be in cloud when the coast is clear, and it is markedly windier and colder up there.
It is well within the reach of a reasonably fit walker. It is not a family stroll.
The two routes
From Agia Marina, the chapel reached by road above Filoti, is the shorter and more direct ascent - a steady climb up the western flank, marked, and the usual choice.
Via the Zas Cave is the longer and more interesting line, starting lower and passing the cave mouth on the way up. The cave is a large opening in the hillside rather than a developed attraction: no lighting, no railings, no ticket. Take a torch if you intend to go inside, and do not go far.
Both start from around Filoti, the large village on the mountain’s flank.
What is at the top
A trig marker, a small chapel, a lot of wind, and the view. On a clear morning the islands stack up in every direction and you get the geography of the Cyclades in one turn, which is worth the climb on its own.
There is no shade and nowhere to shelter. Bring what you need.
Where it fits in a Naxos trip
Mount Zas is the centrepiece of the argument that Naxos is not a beach island. The interior - Filoti, Apeiranthos, the old marble quarries, the terraced hillsides - is what separates it from its neighbours, and the mountain is its high point in both senses.
You will want a car to reach the trailhead; the Naxos travel guide and where to stay in Naxos both cover why the interior repays a car.
What to take from this page
Treat it as a hill walk with an early start, not an attraction. Two to three hours, real shoes, plenty of water, and go up before the heat.
Last checked August 2026. Paths and conditions change - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
How high is Mount Zas?
1,004 metres, which makes it the highest peak in the Cyclades.
How long does it take to climb Mount Zas?
Roughly two to three hours up and back from the Agia Marina trailhead, longer if you take the route past the Zas Cave.
Is Mount Zas a difficult hike?
It is a genuine hill walk on rough, largely unshaded limestone paths rather than a stroll. Fine for a reasonably fit walker in good shoes; not suitable for a casual family outing or the middle of a summer afternoon.
What is the Zas Cave?
A large natural cave opening on the mountain, traditionally associated with the young Zeus. It is undeveloped - no lighting or railings - so take a torch and do not go far in.
Where does the Mount Zas walk start?
From above Filoti, either at the Agia Marina chapel for the direct route or lower down for the route past the cave.
Can you see other islands from the summit?
On a clear day, a great many - Paros, Ios and Amorgos among them, and Santorini in the best conditions.
Next
Read things to do in Naxos, Apeiranthos, or choose a base with where to stay in Naxos.