Day 15: From Naxos to Manchester: A Final Day of Ferries, Food and Farewells

A Relaxed Start in Naxos

I’d set my alarm for 7:15 to allow plenty of time to shower, pack up, and squeeze in one last breakfast by the sea. The morning was warm and bright—perfect conditions for a farewell stroll along Naxos Town’s lively waterfront. After wandering up and down the promenade scoping out options, I settled on Cafe Lotto near the northern end. Their €10.90 breakfast menu seemed too good to pass up, with creamy Greek yoghurt topped with fresh fruit, crusty bread with jam, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and my much-needed coffee. I asked for a bit of honey with my yoghurt too, which they happily provided.

It was a peaceful, slow breakfast—the kind you can only enjoy when you’re not rushing for work or a train—and it gave me a moment to reflect on how much I’d seen and done over the past couple of weeks.

One Last Beachside Escape

Back at Aotes (my accommodation), I’d already arranged a late checkout, but in the end I decided not to waste such a beautiful morning indoors. I packed up my things and checked out just before 11am, deciding to make the most of my final hours in Naxos down by the beach.

With my laptop in tow, I headed to St George Beach and found a shaded table at Asteria Beach Cafe Bar, ordering a cold draft Mythos and diving back into editing the Iraklia YouTube video. It felt surreal doing something so normal—working on a laptop—while looking out at the glittering Aegean Sea. Eventually, I treated myself to a waffle with chocolate sauce. It was nothing to write home about (just a thin, reheated pre-made one), but it gave me the energy boost I needed to prepare for a long day of travel.

By early afternoon, I knew it was time to head for the ferry. I paid the bill, threw on my backpacks one last time, and took a leisurely stroll along the beach and back through the winding alleys of Naxos Town to the port.

Ferry Chaos and Scenic Sailing

At the port, I recorded my final Naxos vlog segment while waiting for the Fast Ferries boat to arrive. As luck would have it, the Seajets Worldchampion Jet turned up at the same time, unleashing a sea of tourists onto the quayside. The resulting chaos was prime B-roll material—definitely going into my next ferry travel video!

Boarding the ferry was straightforward once the crowds cleared, and soon I was standing on the upper deck, camera in hand, capturing our slow glide out of Naxos.

The ferry to Mykonos was smooth sailing—literally. The large vessel barely flinched in the breeze and rolling waves, and I had my pick of empty seats inside. I plugged my phone into a power socket and used the quiet ride to do a bit more editing while watching the horizon drift by. It felt almost luxurious compared to the more rustic ferry rides earlier in my trip.

A Lazy Afternoon in Mykonos

Arriving in Mykonos, I had ambitious plans to walk to Agios Stefanos, find a seaside café, and chill there until it was time to head to the airport. But just as I left the port, I noticed Mathios Tavern right across the road, and the idea of trekking along the coastal road instantly lost its appeal. Convenience won, and I was glad it did.

Despite the €12 price tag on the Aperol Spritz, I was happy to pay for the view and the comfort of a shaded table where I could relax for a few hours. I ordered a few snacks—olives, bread with dip—and eventually treated myself to a rich and creamy chicken penne pasta with mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes. Yes, it was a €33 lunch, but after two weeks of budgeting, it felt like a worthy final splurge.

I stayed at Mathios Tavern until 6:15, watching ferries come and go from the busy port, before catching the €2.50 SeaBus to Mykonos Old Port.

Sunset in Little Venice and Airport Adventures

Once in Mykonos Town, I wandered over to Little Venice and sat with a view of the pretty waterfront buildings, watching the sun sink behind a veil of cloud. It wasn’t the golden, Instagram-perfect sunset I’d hoped for, but the moment still had its own quiet magic.

Knowing my flight had been delayed by 60–90 minutes, I decided to skip the 7pm bus to the airport and opt for the 8pm instead. A little risky for me—I’m usually that annoyingly early airport person—but with no luggage to check and plenty of time to spare, I figured I’d earned a bit of chill.

At 7:40 I walked up to Fabrika, bought my €2.50 bus ticket, and waited on a quiet bench until boarding. The ride to the airport was an adventure of its own—tight roads, mopeds weaving through traffic, and a bus driver being supervised by what looked like a trainer. Pure Mykonos chaos.

Flying Home

At Mykonos Airport, I swapped my beachwear for something slightly more flight-appropriate, breezed through security, and found a seat near a power outlet. The delay had settled at 50 minutes, and boarding began smoothly. Somehow, I even had a spare seat next to me on the plane—luxury!

I drifted in and out of sleep on the flight home. Manchester greeted me with a grey sky and a light drizzle (welcome home!), but everything moved quickly at the airport, and I was back at my car by 2am.

The final stretch was a 2.5-hour drive through the early morning stillness. I pulled into my driveway at 4:30am, tired, a little dishevelled, but overwhelmingly happy.

And just like that—my Aegean island-hopping adventure was over.

Naxos YouTube Video

If you enjoyed the Naxos content, watch it unfold in my video vlog below: