Exclusive, cosmopolitan, and alternative, Mykonos will capture your soul and conquer you with its traditional Cycladic landscape and a dreamy coastline dotted with beaches of unparalleled beauty.
Among the most visited European destinations, Mykonos Island is a unique place to visit for those wanting to experience the highlights of Greek summer.
If you’re visiting Greece this upcoming season and want to know what the Mykonos fuss is all about, read on to get a real insight on the island right before you get there.
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Mykonos Basic Information
Mykonos is a Greek island belonging to the Cyclades, in the center of the Aegean Sea.
It is located close to Delos Island, one of the most important archaeological places in the whole country.
The island is among the most popular Greek destinations, receiving over two million tourists every summer.
Mykonos or Santorini? Key Differences
How to Get to Mykonos
Located in the center of the island, Mykonos International Airport gets daily flights from Athens and Thessaloniki.
It is also possible to fly from Mykonos from different European countries during the summer with companies such as Ryan Air and EasyJet.
If you’re reaching Mykonos from the US, you will first need to fly to Athens International Airport and take a domestic flight to Mykonos.
It is also possible to get to Mykonos by ferry, this is the most cost-efficient way to get to Mykonos from Athens or other Cycladic Islands.
The trip from the port of Piraeus (Athens) to Mykonos is about 5 hours (depending on the type of ferry).
There is also a connection from the port of Rafina, also in Athens, with a shorter travel time, about 3.5 hours.
All ferry tickets must be purchased in advance, especially during summer.
Where to Stay in Mykonos
If you’re not planning to rent a car, the best area to stay in Mykonos is the Chora, Mykonos Town.
This will allow you to have easy access to public transport to reach all the areas of the island you may want to visit, including some of the most beautiful beaches.
Instead, if you plan to rent a car, the best areas to stay in Mykonos include Platys Gialos, the exclusive Psarrou, and the small village of Ornos.
Generally speaking, Mykonos is an exclusive island, meaning that prices tend to be on the higher side, even if you book early.
However, booking beforehand will allow you to find a wider accommodation choice as well as those hotels and resorts with better fees.
The more convenient the prices, the more likely they are to sell fast.
Mykonos Town
Nothing compares to the traditional Greek atmosphere that you will experience in the Chora of Mykonos, with its narrow pebbled alleys, cubic white-washed houses, and a myriad of gorgeous shops, art galleries, and restaurants.
It offers easy access to the port, the Mykonos windmills, and the seafront bars and pubs.
A stay in Mykonos Town is probably the best idea for solo travelers.
Ilio Maris: This is a 4-star hotel on the edge of Mykonos Chora, only a 2-minute walk from the beach and near the main station and the taxi terminal.
The place boasts elegant guest rooms, town and sea views, and quick access to the beaches by bus.
There is also a swimming pool and a pool bar serving delicious cocktails.
The hotel also offers on-site free private parking.
Check rates for Ilio Maris hotel
Platys Gialos
If you’re looking for a hotel that lets you start the day by setting foot on the sand, then this is the area where you want to stay.
Most of the beachfront hotels in this long sandy bay will open directly to the sea, allowing you to begin the day with a breakfast served right by the sand.
Besides, Platys Gialos is about 10 minutes away from Mykonos Town by bus or taxi, and from the small port in Platys Gialos you can easily sail to some of Mykonos’ most popular beaches, including Paradise, Super Paradise, and Elia.
Platys Gialos is an excellent choice for groups of friends, solo travelers, mature travelers, and families.
Hotel Anna: This is a traditional hotel built in authentic Mykonian style, standing right on the sandy beach of Platys Gialos, only steps from restaurants and bars.
It offers rooms with balconies overlooking the sea, while there is free private parking available on-site.
Check rates and read reviews for Hotel Anna
Psarrou
Perfect if you want to (and can) splurge, this is one of the most exclusive and therefore expensive areas to stay in Mykonos.
Psarrou Beach is a perfect shore, with pristine blue waters and coarse sand mixed with pebbles. Psarrou is also known for hosting some of the most refined hotels and restaurants on the island.
Psarrou is right next to Platys Gialos, and public transport is not an issue to reach the main town.
Mykonos Drops: Located only 100 meters from both Psarrou Beach and Platys Gialos, this venue offers beautiful rooms with patios and sea views, an on-site restaurant, free private parking, a bar, and a garden.
Boasting family rooms, this property also provides guests with a terrace.
Find the latest deals for Mykonos Drops hotel
Ornos
This quaint little village in Mykonos has a small port as well as a wide beach area with exclusive beach clubs.
Over here, it is possible to find both affordable and luxurious accommodation.
The port of Ornos is another departing point to explore different beaches on the island, and there’s also a small bus station from where you can board a bus that takes you to the center of town.
Casa Bianca: Located only 2 km from the town of Mykonos and a few meters from the beach of Ornos, this traditionally built home is in the heart of the fishing village, and it offers rooms and apartments with kitchen facilities, a swimming pool featuring hydromassage facilities, and an on-site bar.
The hotel is near a bus stop with frequent connections to Mykonos Town.
Get prices and reserve Casa Bianca!
Best Places to See and Things to Do in Mykonos
Mykonos Town
The best way to start your Mykonos experience is to head to the old town of Mykonos to start taking in the vibe of the island.
Walk along the quaint little alleys adorned with colorful Bougainvillea and pots with fragrant herbs.
You will have the chance to spot the many whitewashed churches with colorful cupolas, explore small artisan shops, and buy gorgeous pieces of jewelry.
In Mykonos Chora, you will also find some of the best designer shops, but also souvenirs, leather goods, and gastronomic products.
After a walk, take a break in one of the many restaurants or cafeterias, order a refreshing homemade lemonade, and spend some time simply watching the colorful atmosphere, the people, and the surroundings.
Archaeological Museum of Mykonos
When you visit Mykonos Town, reach the old port area and devote at least an hour to visit Mykonos’ Archaeological Museum.
The island is not just one more party destination, or not just that.
On the contrary, Mykonos has a very rich history, and much of it is displayed in the museum’s different exhibitions in the form of sculptures, columns, ceramics, and jewelry found in excavations throughout the island but also in the Rhenia and Delos islands.
The different objects date back to different historic eras. There’s also a section containing vases discovered on the islands of Paros and Naxos.
The museum is open from 8.30 am to 3 pm from Tuesdays to Sundays, and it is closed on Mondays.
The Windmills by the Sea
As you approach Mykonos on the ferry, the first thing you will probably spot is the silhouette of five cylindrical windmills with pointed roofs right by the sea.
The structures, which date back to the fourteenth century, are commonly known as Kato Miloi, that is, the mills standing in the lower part of town.
The island, which has often been called the land of winds, is particularly hit by the strong Meltemi winds, which the locals used to their advantage grinding grain in these huge mills, not only for the local population but for trade and commerce with other civilizations.
Although the Kato Miloi are the most famous ones and the place where everybody goes to witness the sunset, there are about 10 more surviving windmills scattered on the island, often standing on higher terrain.
The most famous of all is the sixteenth-century Bonis Windmill, which has been transformed into an interesting museum, allowing visitors to understand how grain was transformed into flour.
Bonis Mill is located high above the old port and is open to the public from July to September in the afternoons.
Little Venice
Boasting a central position on the Mykonos seafront, right next to the old town and directly facing the Windmills, this little collection of whitewashed two-story houses with colorful balconies, doors, and shutters is known as Alefkandra, or more commonly, Little Venice.
Like most of Greece, the island was conquered by the Venice Republic during the thirteenth century, and the Venetians left a distinctive trademark in Mykonos as well as in many other islands, such as Naxos, with its Venetian Castle, and Crete, with two fantastic Venetian towns, countless fortresses, and buildings.
In Mykonos, though, Little Venice is a tad more sophisticated than in the rest of Greece.
The area is home to trendy restaurants and bars where most people gather at sunset for a drink with a view.
Panagia Paraportiani
Right in the backstreet alleys of Little Venice, a small series of winding streets take you directly to one of the most iconic views of the island, Panagia Paraportiani.
This unique white church is made of five different churches, four close together, and the fifth standing on top of the complex.
The churches were built between the thirteenth and the fifteenth centuries and the building has been classified as a national monument since it stands as a perfect example of Cycladic architecture.
Panagia Paraportiani faces the sea, right by the ancient entrance of the town; its name means Our Lady of the Side Gate because it stood next to the gate of Mykonos Chora.
Archaeological Island of Delos
No visit to Mykonos is complete without a small side trip to the uninhabited island of Delos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Greece’s most important archaeological sites.
According to Greek mythology, the island is the place where gods Apollo and Artemis were born.
Here, you can explore the ruins of ancient statues and sanctuaries scattered around the island and on display in the Delos Museum.
You can visit Delos either by joining a guided tour or taking the ferry that leaves every morning from the old port in Mykonos Town.
The ferries take from 20 to 30 minutes to reach the archaeological island, and the return ticket is €20. The tour is €12, and it is worth it.
Beaches in Mykonos
It’s no secret that the best feature of Mykonos is the outstanding beaches scattered along the coast. All of them boast spectacular golden sand and crystal emerald waters.
Let’s look at the best Mykonos beaches in detail:
Platys Gialos
A fantastic beach with organized facilities, with a wide sandy shore and protected from strong winds.
There is a small port on the beach from where it is possible to catch a boat and discover other nearby shores.
In the area, there are many hotels and restaurants directly facing the sea.
Gialos Beach has a familiar, low-key atmosphere, perfect for solo travelers, families, and couples who are not after the party vibe that other Mykonos beaches do have.
Super Paradise
Often crowded, especially in the afternoon, this is a small beach but well organized with inviting crystal-clear waters.
Super Paradise is one of the most famous party beaches on Mykonos, not exactly a gay beach, but certainly gay friendly, although it attracts all kinds of visitors who are ok with loud music and spectacular views of the island.
Elia Beach
Probably the best beach on the island, Elia is the longest sandy shore you will find on Mykonos. It is a gay-friendly beach, with a section devoted to naturist visitors but also great for families, couples, and solo travelers.
Elia Beach is wide and allows you to find both a party-like atmosphere as well as an isolated place to sunbathe in peace.
No matter what you’re looking for, Elia certainly has it.
Paradise Beach
Another legendary beach on the island, Paradise Beach, is the most famous party beach in Mykonos. There are tons of beach bars playing loud music all day long and attracting teens and young adults.
A beach that combines fun and perfect crystal clear seas, this is the place to go for those who want to sunbathe, party, drink, and dance until sunrise.
Psarrou
Probably the most exclusive beach on the island, with high price tags for absolutely everything (from a cold drink to a set of sunbeds and umbrella), this is a place where it won’t be odd to spot luxurious yachts and Jet Set celebrities during the whole summer season.
The small bay has deep turquoise waters, clear, coarse sand, and unique views of the Aegean.
And when visiting Mykonos beaches, do not forget the world-famous beach clubs scattered all over the coastline, where it is customary to dance on the sand, listen to music by the sea, and sip sophisticated cocktails from midday until the day after.
The most famous ones are Jackie O’ Beach Club in Super Paradise Beach and Scorpios in Paraga Beach.
Remember to bookmark this page for future reference when you’re planning your trip to Mykonos Greece.
Learn more about traveling to Greece
16 Best Beaches to Visit in Greece
When is the Best Time to Visit Greece?
10 Best Islands to Visit in Greece
Mini Guide to Athens (including where to stay)
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About the Author
Gabi Ancarola is a translator and travel journalist living in Crete. She regularly writes about Europe for several magazines about travel, gastronomy, and hospitality. She has published several travel guides about Greece and plans customized trips to the Greek islands. She loves cooking local dishes, taking photos, and driving on the mountain roads of Crete.