Mykonos is Greece’s trendiest island, the place to see and be seen, with irresistible shopping, super beaches and fabulous nightlife.
Since the Sixties it is has been a haven for bohemians, jet-setters and millionaires – but those gorgeous beaches, dazzling white houses and windmills also worked their magic on Shirley Valentine in the hit movie.
Mykonos is exclusive, but it really is one of the best summer destinations in Europe, and somewhere you have to visit.
View my guide to planning an amazing trip to Mykonos, including where to stay, what to do, and budget tips.
When to Visit
The most popular time to travel to Mykonos is during summer, the period from June to August you can expect the best weather, but also prices during this time are high and expect crowds.
Autumn and winter offer a great time for a relaxing stay, expect blue sky, warm weather, deserted beaches, and cheaper flights and hotels.
It is possible to visit during winter especially if you aren’t bothered about the weather, there are still hotels, bars and restaurants open between November and March.
Getting There
By Plane
You can fly directly to Mykonos from the following UK airports: London Gatwick, London City, London Heathrow, London Luton, Bristol and Manchester. Other European cities with direct flights to Mykonos are Amsterdam, Stockholm, Manchester, Zurich, Geneva, Vienna Paris (Orly and Charles de Gaulle), Nice, Lyon, Barcelona, Naples, Venice, Rome, Bologna, Napoli, Florence, Bari, Cologne and Munich, and more!
From Athens (from both western and eastern airports) there are regular flights (lasting 45 minutes) to Mikonos airport, which lies 4 km from Hora. Passenger’s transfer is conducted by Olympic Airways buses, or by local buses and taxis. From Mitilini, Rhodes, Samos, Chios and Herakleion of Crete, there are regular flights to Mykonos airport during the summer.
Browse cheap flights to Mykonos on Skyscanner.
By Boat
From Piraeus, there is daily service to Mikonos port. The distance covered is 94 nm and the trip lasts 7 hours. From Rafina, there is daily service to Mikonos port. The distance covered is 71 nm and the trip lasts 5-6 hours. From Thessaloniki, there is daily service to Mikonos throughout the year. The distance covered is 230 nm and the trip lasts 13 hours. From Herakleion of Crete, there is regular service to Mikonos port.
By Hovercraft
From Rafina there are frequent trips to Mikonos port. The trip lasts 2-4 hours approximately, depending on the sea line.
Where to Stay
These are the most popular areas of Mykonos to consider staying: Agios Ioannis Beach, Agios Stefanos Beach, Agrari Beach, Ano Mera, Choulakia Beach, Elia Beach, Kalafati Beach, Kalo Livadi Beach, Kato Mili, Megali Ammos Beach, Mykonos Town, Ornos Beach, Paradise Beach, Platis Yialos Beach, Tagoo or Troulos Beach.
Best Hotels in Mykonos
There are hundreds of places to stay, from Airbnb to incredible resorts. You can find accommodation for all budgets, these are my top picks.
Luxury Hotels
• Cavo Tagoo
• Kivotos Club
• Myconian Ambassador
• Myconian Imperial
• Mykonos Grand Resort
• Palladium
• Acrogiali
• Andronikos
Mid Range Hotels
• Anatolia
• Alkyon
• Alkistis Hotel
• Anemos Apartments
• Hotel Despotiko
• Ilio Maris
Affordable Budget Hotels
• Aeolos Resort
• Belou Appartments
• Damianos
• Domna Hotel
• Domna Petinaros
• Elena Hotel
I recommend comparing all places to stay on Booking.com.
History of Mykonos
According to mythology, the petrified bodies of the giants that Hercules killed formed Mykonos. Later, the island was named after the hero Mykono.
The first inhabitants of the island were Cares, Phoenicians and Cretans but later Iones came from Athens to Mykonos in the 9th century B.C.
In the beginning, the island had two main towns: Mykonos on the west coast, where the city lies today, and Panormos on the north coast.
Right after the Persian Wars, the island was in a financial decadence, which was evident from the small contribution to the Athenian Coalition in which it belonged.
Following the fate of the rest Cyclades it came under the Spartan domination followed by the Macedonian, the Ptolemeans of Egypt, and finally the Romans. During the Mithredatian Wars the island suffered a major disaster.
The Byzantine era Mykonos belonged in the Aegean Thema and in the Middle Ages it came under Gizi brothers’ domination until their death. Then it passed under Venice control until the looting from Barbarosa and directly after it was ruled from the Turks.
After that the island became a naval power and during the 19th century it was a pirate center. For a small period (1770-1774) the Russians controlled it. During the Greek revolution of 1821 the inhabitants participated actively, and Manto Mavrogenous became a national hero.
Sights & Attractions
Find the best sightseeing tours & attraction tickets on GetYourGuide or Viator. These are some places and things to do you shouldn’t miss.
Mykonos Town
Mykonos Town – just “chora” (the village) to locals – has a perfect natural harbour overlooked by a much-photographed row of windmills. Behind the harbour is a bewildering, kasbah- like maze of cobbled, car-free lanes.
This labyrinth was built to confuse raiders of old, and it does just as good a job with invading tourists. But it’s not a big place, and you can’t stay lost for long. Keep heading more or less downhill and you’ll be back on the harbourfront in a matter of minutes.
Chora’s streets are packed with super boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and some of the best bars and clubs in Mykonos. You’ll need your best shades, and not just to look cool. Those whitewashed walls can be blinding in the sun.
The shopping is impossible to resist. Look out for cool cotton clothes for the beach, and light stripey sweaters and knits for cooler evenings, well-made leather sandals, shoes and bags, and a huge choice of jewellery, from cheap and cheerful bangles to far from cheap silver bracelets and necklaces.
Morning and afternoon, these streets are crammed with cruise ship visitors. It’s a marvel that some of the more generously- proportioned Americans don’t get stuck like corks in some of the narrower alleys.
After dark Mykonos becomes the Ibiza of the Aegean, with clubs, cafes and bars to suit all tastes and age groups from gay bars and a vibrant club scene to quieter, more mature music cafes along with some of Greece’s best restaurants.
For those tired of moussaka and fried squid there are smart Thai and Chinese restaurants, Mexican chilli spots, Italian trattorias
Little Venice
If you’ve seen photos of Mykonos online, you’ve probably seen Little Venice. Considered one of the hidden surprises of Mykonos, the settlement of Alefkantra (or Little Venice) is located to the east side of the harbor. It stretches from the beach of Alefkantra to the old Castle (Kastro) District.
This is a really scenic location with houses, bars, cafes and restaurants with balconies, windows and doors right on the ocean. Little Venice a unique place and perfect for Instagram photos, people watching and seeing sunset.
The buildings here date back to the middle of the 18th century and the sea waves breaking under the wooden terraces create a unique atmosphere. Many artists have painted the houses built over the sea and the area is one of the most popular locations for tourists. The narrow streets designed once designed to confuse pirates, are now a miriad of shops, cafes and places to eat and drink. Some of the houses are still private residences.
Though a bit windy, nothing is compared to an evening spent on one of the terraces, watching the sunset and enjoying the tasty Greek cuisine. If you are on a budget please beware that prices here are super high.
Most Beautiful Beaches
Beaches are one of the main reasons to visit the Greek Islands, and on Mykonos the best beaches on the south coast- the north is less crowded but very windswept.
In high season, sun loungers and parasols cram every inch of Ormos (nearest to Chora, but tiny), Platis Gialos (larger, but equally busy) and those two nudist beaches nicknamed “Paradise” and “Super Paradise”.
On the plus side there are heaps of beach restaurants and bars, and for water sports fans everything from para-scending to banana boats. Further east Agia Anna and Kalafati beaches are less crowded.
Anyone can sunbathe on the best sandy beaches in the Aegean – but those who prefer to keep their togs on may feel a bit self-conscious at bare it all Paradise Beach or the nude – and ever so gay – Super Paradise.
Super Paradise is not the greatest swathe of soft yellow sand on Mykonos; but it is the best party beach in the Cyclades.
Located on a small, deep bay full of magnificently blue Aegean water, protected from the wind, Super Paradise is on the southern coast next to the relatively unassuming Paradise Beach. It used to be a mainly gay beach; now it’s mixed, with nudity acceptable. The beach gets packed, but with the right crowd for a party.
Super Paradise is often described as the most famous of the many well-known beaches in Greece, this was also the first nude beach of the island, and is situated on the beautiful south coast of Mykonos, easily accessible by bus and by caique.
Expect a beautiful sandy crescent, with a few shady trees, it is usually quite crowded and noisy, with beach bars blasting a variety of modern pop and techno music day and night.
It’s become quite a nightspot, as the revelry continues well into dawn, attracting quite a crowd after the bars close in Mykonos Town. It’s a great place for the young crowd to connect, and the sea is clean and protected from the wind.
Museums
There is more to Mykonos than just parties and beaches, and for anyone with an interest in culture or history, there are lots of interesting places to check out.
The Archaeological Museum in the NE side of Hora contains finds from the nearby island of Rhenea, sculptures, pots and statuettes. It is very interesting to look for the big vase of clay from the Trojan war (670 BC) which was found in the city and it is one of the best samples of ancient art.
The Folk Museum, founded in 1959, at the Castle, contains collections of furniture, ceramics, pictures, post-Byzantine sculptures and traditional musical instruments.
There is also an extremely interesting Nautical Museum where you can see subjects from the naval tradition of the island.
At the Public Library except books you can see a collection of coins from the Hellenistic Period founded on the island and seals of 18th and 19th century, and lots of other historical artefacts and information.
Architecture
The first thing to strike you when you arrive on Mykonos is the architecture. The style is known as the Mykonos or Cycladic Cube and it is just that, a cube with rounded corners and, by law, all construction must follow this pattern.
It is amazing the variety of buildings which can be achieved by piling cubes on top of each other or joining them side by side. Individuality is created by the generous application of gleaming white paint on the exterior walls and bright primary colours on balcony rails, doors and window frames.
The architecture is very Instagrammable so do take time to enjoy it. You will be amazed by the variety and ingenuity which the Mykonians put into individualising their property.
Petros the Pelican – The star of Mykonos
The star of Mykonos, Petros has been the island’s mascot for some time. He was one the pelicans in the flock which flew to Mykonos from the mainland back in the 1950s. After a storm, the pelican gave up migrating to become a local resident.
He became so popular after his death, when a successor had to be found to replace him. Today, another pelican (one of Petros’ successors) can still be found at the waterfront of Chora. He even has a girlfriend and they walk together along the waterfront all day. When they stop, crowds gather to take pictures. People like to pet and feed him and he is so nice to allow them all to enjoy spoiling him.
But he is not the only “feathered” inhabitant of the island: there are also ducks and another pelican (a mean looking one, living in a deserted lot).
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