Mykonos is the most cosmopolitan island in Greece, a place with a long history of being a top choice of royals, politicians, sportists, business-people, super-models, actors and celebrities for fancy summer holidays on the Aegean Sea.
No wonder this island has the largest concentration of 5-star hotels, superyachts, gourmet restaurants, haute-couture boutiques, luxury beach lounges, beach bars, and elegant cocktail bars in all of Greece.
The party island is the best known summer party scene in the whole of the Mediterranean.
All of this, together with amazing beaches and beautiful villages make Mykonos Island very popular with local and overseas visitors who flock in thousands to experience this Aegean natural and lifestyle gem. Follow my Mykonos travel guide to make the most of your visit – find out what to see, where to stay, what to eat, and how to get around.
Introducing Mykonos
Mykonos lies in the northern Cyclades, just 90 miles away south of Athens and close to Tinos, Andros, Naxos, Paros, and Syros.
Although it is not a big island, it is the most developed one in Greece in terms of infrastructure and amenities. With only 33 square miles of land and around 10,000 locals, it is also known as “The Island of the Winds.”
The island is a place where a famous mythical battle between Hercules and the Giants occurred.
It is named after Mykonos, son of the Delos’ King Anios, who was an offspring of the god Apollo and of the nymph Roious.
In recorded history, the island was ruled by Carians and Phoenicians, Roman and Byzantine Empires, Venetians, Ottomans, and since the 19th century – Greeks.
Mykonos was one of Greece’s first islands designated for tourist development in the first half of the 20th century.
This was mostly for its natural beauty that encapsulates the essential Cycladic features – barren landscape with villages consisting of whitewashed houses in maze-like layouts, sandy beaches, spectacular sunsets, and lively island life.
Since then, the island developed into a party destination attracting the world’s socialites, but never failing to deliver on the side of its natural beauty as well.
Nowadays, Mykonos boasts beautiful sites to visit including Mykonos town (Chora) with the well-known promenade of Little Venice, Ano Mera inland village, beaches of Paradise, Super Paradise, Psarrou, Plati Gialos and Paraga, and above all – the neighboring islet of Delos, a center of ancient spirituality and a major archeological site in Greece.
Mykonos Map
How to Get to Mykonos by Air
Mykonos is one of the easiest Cycladic islands to reach due to its international airport with connections to Athens, Thessaloniki and European cities.
Multiple daily flights from Athens are no longer than 30 minutes long.
As a luxury destination, Mykonos has private jet or helicopter connections to Athens and other Greek islands readily available.
How to Get to Mykonos by Ferry
Being so close to Athens, you as well might arrive to Mykonos the proper way – on one of many high-speed or conventional ferries.
More than 10 daily departures from Piraeus or Rafina ports of Athens take anything between 2 and a half to 6 hours to reach Mykonos (€38-90 one way).
⛴️ Mykonos to Santorini Ferry and Flights: Best Options
⛴️ Mykonos to Tinos Ferry – Routes, Schedules, Tips, How to Plan and Book
Island Hopping
The location of Mykonos makes it a perfect island to include in a Greek island hopping itinerary, or even to visit while being based elsewhere.
Paros, Naxos, Syros, Tinos, and Andros are under an hour away and Mykonos itself is connected with Santorini and Crete as well as the western Cyclades islands of Sifnos, Serifos, Milos, and Kimolos.
My ideal plan would include a low-key island for relaxation like Naxos or Andros, followed by a couple of days in Mykonos before leaving Greece for the summer.
Getting Around Mykonos: Local Transportation
Hiring a Car, Quad/ATV, or Scooter
You can hire anything you can think of in Mykonos – from a humble scooter to a Humvee limousine.
This does not mean you need to go big only to explore the island; most of the visitors are actually regular travelers looking for stylish fun under the Greek sun.
All major worldwide car rentals are available, together with local ones, offering cars from €40 a day.
This is the cost of a taxi pretty much anywhere on the island, so if you’re comfortable doing so, it will save you money.
⛽ ATV Rental in Mykonos – Everything You Need to Know [2024]
Riding a Bicycle
Mykonos traffic is more forgiving towards cyclists than on some other islands, but it’s still better to book a cycling tour to discover the island’s attractions on the way, too.
Check out Yummy Pedals for rentals and the best advice from locals on cycling around Mykonos.
Walking and Hiking
With such a complex history, Mykonos is full of pathways crisscrossing the island and back in the olden times, serving as the main commercial connections between its coasts and villages.
Nowadays these paths are transformed into well-marked hiking trails.
My all-time favorite walking tour is Chora – Little Venice – Windmills. A short one (2 miles 30 minutes), but a Mykonos in a nutshell.
It is possible to walk between the New Port and Mykonos Chora, so long as your luggage is not too heavy. There is a part of the walk that is on the main road.
It is certainly a lot cheaper than a taxi (40 Euros).
The Sea Bus
Possibly the only thing that is good value on Mykonos is the Sea Bus.
For 2 Euros per trip, you can travel between the new Port (Tourlos), to the old harbor (Mykonos Chora), as well as other trips to the beaches around the island.
Buy your tickets at the kiosks in front of the boat.
Public Bus System
Public buses on Mykonos are frequent and connect all the major beaches and villages, the port, and the airport from 3 main departure points – Old port, OTE, and Fabrika.
Single fare is between €1-3.
These buses can be extremely crowded coming to and from the airport and port during summer. You can buy tickets online and check the bus timetables here: KTEL Mykonos.
UBER Boat
Yes, it’s thing. It started operations in 2023 and can take up to 8 people per boat. You book it the same way you order an UBER taxi!
Best Time of Year to Visit Mykonos
Although Mykonos is an island rich in amenities, infrastructure, and island life, it is not a year-round destination. Winters are rainy with strong northern winds.
High Season (June – August)
Your best chances of rubbing shoulders with Elon Musk, Mike Tyson, or Kim Kardashian is during the high season.
That is also when the parties and swimming time are best, but also when the crowds are thickest.
Unless staying on a private yacht and having yourself whisked to restaurants by water taxis, I would avoid the High Season for its notoriously high prices, large crowds, heat, and winds.
Shoulder Season (April – May, September – October)
Jun is probably the best time if you couldn’t care less for the buzz of Mykonian summer and look forward to exploring this beautiful island, its nature, culture, gastronomy, Cycladic architecture, and luxury hotels, but being able to swim every day until 21:30 if need be.
April, on the other hand, is the best for experiencing spring blooming around Cyclades.
Low Season (November – March)
Definitely not a party time on Mykonos, the low months are when the island gets back to its natural rhythms and prepares itself for High Season. Expect rain, winds, a limited inter-island ferry schedule and in general – a quiet holiday.
The table below shows the minimum, maximum, and average temperatures for each month in Mykonos, as well as the average number of days of rainfall to expect each month:
| Month | Avg. Temp. (°C) | Avg. Temp. (°F) | Min. Temp. (°C) | Min. Temp. (°F) | Max. Temp. (°C) | Max. Temp. (°F) | Rainy Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11 | 51.8 | 9 | 48.2 | 14 | 57.2 | 8.4 |
| February | 11 | 51.8 | 9 | 48.2 | 14 | 57.2 | 7.7 |
| March | 13 | 55.4 | 10 | 50 | 15 | 59 | 5.7 |
| April | 15 | 59 | 12 | 53.6 | 19 | 66.2 | 3.5 |
| May | 19 | 66.2 | 16 | 60.8 | 23 | 73.4 | 2.2 |
| June | 24 | 75.2 | 20 | 68 | 27 | 80.6 | 0.7 |
| July | 26 | 78.8 | 22 | 71.6 | 29 | 84.2 | 0.3 |
| August | 26 | 78.8 | 23 | 73.4 | 29 | 84.2 | 0.2 |
| September | 23 | 73.4 | 21 | 69.8 | 26 | 78.8 | 1.3 |
| October | 19 | 66.2 | 17 | 62.6 | 22 | 71.6 | 4.1 |
| November | 16 | 60.8 | 13 | 55.4 | 18 | 64.4 | 7.2 |
| December | 13 | 55.4 | 10 | 50 | 16 | 60.8 | 9.2 |
How long to stay in Mykonos?
The first time I went to Mykonos I stayed for 2 nights and it felt insufficient to cover everything I wanted. A perfect stay would be anywhere from 3-5 days.
It depends upon how much time you want to spend in the beach clubs, beach bars, and swimming and sunbathing.
2 and a half days is enough to cover the main attractions of Mykonos (including Delos Island), but that is without venturing to the beautiful beaches.
Mykonos’ Top Tourist Attractions
Most of the island’s cultural attractions are located in Mykonos town. The beaches are all around the island, while multiple daily ferries allow for a relaxed Delos island visit.
The Best Beaches in Mykonos
The best beach for you depends on why you came to Mykonos – are you looking for a party scene, a quiet family beach, a nudist or gay-friendly beach? Mykonos has them all.
1. Paradise Beach: No. 1 superstar beach in Mykonos
Probably the best-known beach of Mykonos, this is the place where the (young) crowds come for all-day-long beach parties.
It is 4 miles away from Chora and houses well-known beach clubs like Tropicana, Guapaloca and Paradise.
2. Super Paradise Beach: No.2 superstar beach in Mykonos
A nudist gay beach back in the day, Super Paradise grew to become one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece due to its cove location, soft powder sands, and thatched parasols.
Some pristine sections are still available and there are some very famous beach clubs here as well.
3. Psarou Beach: the most famous beach bar in Greece
The celebrity beach with a humble name (meaning “the fisherman’s one”) is naturally beautiful with soft sand and turquoise waters.
You may have heard of Nammos – the Psarou Beach bar that is the most famous beach club in Greece.
4. Platis Gialos Beach: great for families
Platis Gialos Beach is a beautiful south-facing golden sand beach with rooms to let, restaurants, bars, umbrellas, and sun loungers.
Generally a nice family-atmosphere beach that also serves as departing point for small boats taking you to other nearby beaches.
5. Paraga Beach: perfect for swimming
Beach perfect for swimming and sunbathing in a deep south-facing cove. Soft sands with rare pebbles plus a delicious restaurant perched above the beach called Scorpios.
6. Elia Beach: Nudist friendly
There’s a lot of good accommodation at Elia Beach and although there are nudist-friendly areas, there are also beach bar areas and quiet, private areas along this long soft sand beach.
7. Quiet beaches
Mykonos is not all about nightlife, parties, and showing off on a beach. It has many low-key beaches with a quiet vibe. My favorites are Agios Stefanos, Kapari, Kalafatis, Lia, and Agios Sostis.
Major Historical Sites and Museums
Mykonos Town (Chora) is one of the very prettiest Chora in Greece. The windmills of Mykonos are perhaps its most famous site, but Little Venice, its folklore museums, and the wonderful Paraportiani, make a fun day of sightseeing.
1. Mykonos Chora (Mykonos Town)
The very reason to come to this Greek island is its picturesque central town – Chora – built around a bay and for most of the day vehicle-free, making it a perfect place to roam the labyrinth streets of whitewashed houses, neoclassical mansions, and the waterfront.
The little shopping streets fanning out beyond the old harbor are lined with white-washed homes painted predominantly with red trim.
The main shopping street is Matogianni Street. If you’ve forgotten your lime green sequinned off-the-shoulder thong bikini, this is where you’ll find another.
There are a very large number of photogenic little churches for you to find.
If you want to photograph Chora (and you will want to photograph Chora!), you need to do it around sunrise because of the number of people who crowd these tiny streets during the day and evening.
2. Mykonos Windmills
The Mykonos Windmills are to the east of Mykonos Town, and are a must-see attraction.
Some are privately owned, and they offer a great viewpoint for Mykonos Chora, the old harbor, and Little Venice.
3. Little Venice
Off-season, there’s no one sitting down in Little Venice outside meal times and you can lean over the edge and take some great shots, including of the windmills.
However, it is a small and narrow covered promenade with bars, restaurants, and gelato shops that cannot support the vast number of people who try to cram in here during peak summer.
If you can get a spot by the water for an aperitif in the early evening, it is perfect. Several boat tours anchor off Little Venice to watch the sunset – much easier than being crammed into Little Venice at that time of day.
If you do plan on having a meal in Little Venice, book ahead.
4. Paraportiani Orthodox Church
The single most famous church in Mykonos, the Panagia (Virgin Mary) Paraportiani church is actually made of 5 separate churches built one next or on top of another.
Paraportiani meaning “the one by the door” indicates its position next to the Castle entrance back in the day.
Its light-blue interior, whitewashed exterior, and proximity to the Aegean Sea make it one of the most Greek sights you will ever see.
Normally covered in Instagrammers, it’s not easy to photograph!
5. Delos island
The main reason for visiting Mykonos until the party scene surpassed it was as a base to travel to the nearby Sacred Island of Delos, an island dedicated in antiquity to Apollo and Artemis. This island played a crucial role in the political, economic, and spiritual affairs of the ancient world.
It is among Greece’s top 10 archaeological sites and the location of the famous Delos lion statues.
The Delos ferry docks in the Old Harbour (the end nearest the Windmills), and a kiosk beside the boat selling tickets to Delos.
The number of visitors who can arrive by ferry is limited and you can only stay on the island for 3 hours unless you choose to go to Delos in the morning and then return on the late afternoon ferry.
I am delighted to spend the whole day on Delos, but unless you’re an ancient history geek like me, 3 hours is enough.
Bring your own food and water and make sure you buy a ticket in advance because you will otherwise join an enormous queue at the ticket office.
You can also hire a private charter and there are day trips that take in Delos as well as Rina and nearby islets/
6. Folklore Museum of Mykonos
This Folklore Museum of Chora consists of 3 venues:
- Kastro House (a 16th-century captain’s house in Kastro),
- Lena’s House (a 19th-century neoclassical townhouse in Tria Pigadia), and
- Milos tou Boni (outdoor museum around the windmill)
and narrates stories of Mykonos’ people throughout the history
7. Archaeological Museum of Mykonos
Housed in a 1905 neoclassical mansion, this museum showcases important findings from the excavations on Mykonos and its nearby island Rineia.
8. Ano Mera
Ano Mera is the island’s second biggest and its only inland village.
Visit it for the Mykonian lifestyle far from the haste of the tourist world and the nearby monastery of Panagia Tourliani, whose construction began in 16th century and houses important frescos and the altar screen.
Mykonos Cuisine: What to Eat in Mykonos
🥣 Louza – a refined pork sausage usually served as an ouzo meze/appetizer.
🥣 Kremidopita – a delicious savoury pie made from sweet onions, local aromatic herbs, and a local cheese called Trivolia.
🥣 Kalathaki – a gentle-tasting almond pie.
Where to Stay in Mykonos
Mykonos Town is super busy and noisy as drunken revelers try to find their accommodation in the small streets in the early hours of the morning!
Emergency and Useful Numbers for Mykonos Greece
Any Emergency: 112
Police: 100
Fire Department: 199
Ambulance: 166
Tourist Police: 171
Mykonian Hygeia Medical Center (Private Hospital): +30 2289 024211
Mykonos Health Center: +30 2289 360000
Mykonos Airport: +30 2289 079000
Mykonos Port: +30 2289 028934
