Mykonos.
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Overview

Mykonos (Greek: Μύκονος) is a popular tourist destination in the Greek islands of the Cyclades group, situated in the middle of the Aegean Sea. Mykonos is located south of Tinos, east of Syros and north of Paros and Naxos.

Understand

Mykonos is famed as a cosmopolitan destination amongst the Greek islands and widely recognised as one of the great travel meccas. It is one of the most visited islands in the Aegean. This means that visitors should be prepared for loud dance clubs, English breakfasts and overpriced merchandise. Mykonos, along with Santorini, is more expensive than other Greek islands.

Mykonos tends to be extremely crowded with visitors in July and August. The best time to visit Mykonos is mid-May through June (early season, when accommodations are much cheaper and it's not too hot), or September through mid-October (post-season). While travelling pre-season, March-April, has its perks in the form of cheaper hotels and easier navigability in the absence of crowds, visitors will likely be disappointed by limited choice of restaurants and shops, most of which close for renovation until May, as well as the dearth of out-of-season public transport and sea routes.

Mykonos is a gay-friendly island, featuring a vibrant gay nightlife, ranking among the most popular holiday destinations in Europe among gay travellers. While there are many other destinations around the Mediterranean that see sizeable gay tourist traffic, Mykonos managed to remain refined and romantic rather than rowdy.

The most popular beaches with gay visitors are Super Paradise and Elia. These are not strictly gay, but they have parts where gay men and women congregate. The only gay beach deserving of the title is the small beach between Elia and Agrari.

Mykonos' main communities are Chora, the island's port town and capital, and Ano Mera.

Mykonos Town (Chora) is a stunningly picturesque Cycladic town with a maze of tiny, whitewashed streets, houses and churches, gathered around its harbour in the middle of a wide bay. It is one of the most cosmopolitan and crowded towns of the Aegean.

Although the streets are lined with little shops, boutiques, art galleries, cafes, stylish bars and restaurants, Mykonos Town has not completely lost its identity. Despite the island's rapid growth and development, the town's traditional Cycladic architectural style and character has remained firmly intact.

Ano Mera is a small village on the middle of the island, and the only inland settlement on the whole of Mykonos, about 7 km east of Mykonos Town. Ano Mera is based around a large central square, which is lined on three sides by a series of Greek tavernas. The monastery of Panagia Tourliani, founded in 1542, is Ano Mera's most significant highlight.

Agios Ioannis is a small settlement with two taverns, one restaurant and one tiny store. Agios Ioannis is famous as the location for the movie "Shirley Valentine". Agios Stefanos with many hotels, good restaurants, taverns and cafes. Platys Gialos is a popular tourist resort where small fishing boats transport tourists to the southern beaches of Mykonos. Ornos with several choices for staying, food and drink, and a well organized food market with a butcher's shop, bakery, supermarket and a pharmacy. Tourlos is where most of the cruise ships dock, private yachts and fishing boats use the marina and the port receives some of the ferries coming from the mainland or other islands.

The climate of Mykonos is characterised by hot, dry summers and mild winters. Like in most of the Aegean islands it hardly ever rains during summer but rain showers can be expected between October and April.

Temperatures in July and August range from 30°C (86°F) during the day to 22°C (72°F) at night. The Cyclades are famous for the constant wind (called meltemi) in July and August that mitigates the heat a bit.

Mid-May through mid-October is usually warm and sunny enough to enjoy the beaches.

Talk

Greek is the official language of Greece, and therefore it's spoken by all the permanent inhabitants of the island and most of its visitors, but the foreign visitor will have no problem at all communicating in foreign languages, mainly in English.

Get in

From the Greek mainland ferries and high speed catamaran services run daily from Piraeus and Rafina.

The journey between the port of Piraeus (Athens) and Mykonos takes between 3 hr 30 min and 5 hr 15 min, depending on the type of ferry you are taking. In Piraeus all the highspeed ferries to Mykonos depart from Port Gate Ε7; the conventional ferries leave from Port Gate Ε1. Most of the ferries connecting Piraeus to Mykonos stop working by end of October and resume by April.

Many travelers probably don't even consider Rafina a possible departure port if they are heading to one of the Cyclades, but if you are arriving at the airport of Athens you are often better off taking a ferry from Rafina than traveling to Athens and get a ferry from Piraeus. The journey between Rafina and Mykonos takes between 2 hr 10 min and 5 hr 30 min, depending on the type of ferry you are taking. Most of the ferries connecting Rafina to Mykonos stop working by end of October and resume by April.

Mykonos can also be reached directly from other islands in the Cyclades. More than once a day there is a boat connection from Syros, Andros, Tinos and Paros. There are daily boat connections from Naxos, Ios, Santorini and Crete. There's a daily overnight ferry, the 'Nissos Mykonos', from Samos (Vathi and Karlovassi) and Ikaria. There are less frequent boat connections from Serifos, Sifnos, Kimolos, Milos, Folegandros, Sikinos, Thirassia and Anafi.

Ferry companies: Hellenic Seaways provide a fast hydrofoil connection and regular ferries from Piraeus (Highspeed 5 and Highspeed 6) and Rafina (Flying Cat 3). Seajets have a regular schedule in the summer from Piraeus (SuperJet) and Rafina (Seajet 2). Blue Star Ferries have a regular daily schedules from Piraeus throughout the year (Blue Star Ithaki). Aegean Speed Lines have a daily high speed ferry operating from Piraeus (Speedrunner 3). Pre-booking of ferries and highspeeds is only necessary from mid-July to late August or just before or after a Greek holiday. Beware that every year at the 15th of August the island of Tinos is a goal for thousands of orthodox pilgrims. Most ferries and highspeeds from Piraeus and Rafina to Mykonos make a stop at Tinos. This means that around this period it is recommended to buy tickets well in advance. Also expect a lot of Greek tourist to visit Mykonos around the weekend of Pentecost, in late May or early June.

Keep in mind that if you book your ticket online, you may still need to collect the ticket from a travel agency once you get to Greece.

Boat services can be cancelled due to strong wind and rough seas during the irregular winter sailings; seasickness sufferers beware, the Cyclades can get notoriously choppy. Weather cancellations are very rare, though, only a few days over the course of a summer.

Mykonos has two ports: the old port in Mykonos Town, and the new port at Tourlos, about 2 km north of Mykonos Town. Check before you travel which port your boat will use. Most of the ferries use the new port. The highspeed catamaran services still use the old port in Mykonos Town.

It leaves every half hour and the entire journey (2 stops at the new port and 2 stops in Mykonos town) takes 12 min.

During high season there is an infrequent public bus service from the new port in Tourlos to Mykonos Town. It is best to take a taxi. It is possible to walk from the new port into town, but it will take around 45 minutes along a busy main road without a sidewalk.

From the old port it is a short and easy walk along the coast into town.

By cruise ship Mykonos is a popular stop on cruise ship tours of the Greek Islands. Almost all cruise ships dock at the new port in Tourlos, though some cruise ships use the old port.

If you are arriving at the new port, make use of the cruise shuttle bus to Mykonos Town. You can also take a taxi yourself, but with so many people arriving at the same time it won't be easy to catch one. It is likely that the cruise shuttle bus will drop you off at a parking area not far from the northern bus station in Mykonos Town. It is less than a 10-minute ride. From there everything is within walking distance.

If you are arriving at the old port, you will arrive within a 10-minute walk of the heart of Mykonos Town and no bus ride will be necessary or even available.

It is easy to explore Mykonos independently. There's no real need to book excursions. Also the recommended excursion to Delos can be booked independently (guided or unguided).

From May through October, charter airlines fly directly to Mykonos from many European airports: TUIfly flies from Amsterdam (AMS); Blue Panorama Airlines flies from Rome Fiumicino (FCO); Borajet flies from Istanbul Sabiha-Gökçen (SAW); EasyJet flies from London Gatwick (LGW), Geneva (GVA), Milan Malpensa (MXP), Paris Orly (ORY) and Rome Fiumicino (FCO); Edelweiss Air flies from Geneva (GVA) and Zürich (ZRH); Ryanair flies to Naples; TUIfly Belgium flies from Brussels (BRU); Thomson Airways flies from London Gatwick (LGW) and Manchester (MAN); Transavia flies from Amsterdam (AMS) and Paris Orly (ORY); Volotea flies from Venice (VCE), Palermo (PMO), Napoli (NAP) and Bari (BRI); Vueling flies from Barcelona (BCN) and Madrid (MAD).

At the arrival area of the airport you may find an ATM, shops, a cafeteria, public phones, a post box, an office of the Mykonos Hoteliers Association, an Olympic Air office, an Aegean Airlines office and many car rental companies.

In the terminal building on the first floor there is a duty-free shop for departing passengers selling tobacco, spirits, perfumes, cosmetics, travel accessories and gift items.

Take a free and useful Mykonos Sky Map from the luggage collecting hall at the airport. This free map is also sold in shops in Mykonos Town.

Best chance for a free transfer is when you book your room directly with the hotel. A transfer by your hotel is the easiest way to get to your hotel, so check with your hotel before arrival.

Taxis are usually waiting at the airport, at the taxi rank opposite the terminal building, but competition for them can be keen. Not worth haggling, everyone pays it.

Buses from and to the airport are frequent from the southern bus terminal, Fabrika, in Mykonos Town. No buses run during the off-season, despite information available online (for the 2025 season, the routes will re-start on April 15).

You can also walk from the airport into town, it's about 2.5km and most of the time there is a pavement to safely walk on. It's mostly uphill going towards the airport.

Get around

With a length of 12 to 15 km and a width of 10 km, Mykonos is one of the smallest of the Cyclades islands. On Mykonos you can get around by bus, taxi, car, scooter, ATV or boat.

By bus There is a bus network that takes you around the island. There are two bus stations in Mykonos Town, each on different sides of Mykonos Town. From the main southern bus station, Fabrica, buses can be taken for departures to Platys Gialos (every half hour), Paraga (every hour), Paradise (every half hour), Ornos and Agios Ioannis. There are also night buses from Mykonos to Platys Gialos and Paradise leaving every hour. From the northern bus station which is not very far from the old port ferry quay, buses can be taken for departures to Ano Mera, Elia (departing at 11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 and 19:00, returning 30 minutes later) and Kalafatis. Departure times are clearly marked at the two bus stations and the end of the bus routes. Bus schedules change a bit about every two weeks. Frequencies of buses are higher in high season.

There is no bus connection between the two bus stations. From one bus station to the other will take about 20 minutes of walking through the streets of Mykonos Town.

It is possible to buy your bus ticket from the bus driver (have exact change ready), but you can also buy your bus tickets before boarding the bus. Bus tickets can be bought in advance from a bus ticket vending machine (euro coins necessary) and can be purchased at kiosks, mini-markets and tourist shops as well. There are no return tickets available; for a return trip you simply need two single tickets. Hand over your ticket to the bus driver and he will "validate" it by simply tearing your ticket. There are ticket stamping machines in the bus, but they simply don't function. Don't be surprised if a man that is already on the bus near the bus driver will check your "validated" ticket a few minutes later. Even though your ticket is just torn and not stamped, he will inspect your ticket thoroughly, looking for counterfeit tickets. Buses in Mykonos are almost always full during the busy parts of the day; the bus driver will squeeze in as many passengers as he can.

By taxi On the entire island there are only about 30 taxis, which means that depending on taxis for transport can be an exercise of great patience. In Mykonos Town the main location for taxis is in Manto Square (also called Town Square or Taxi Square), on the harbour front near the statue. You have to wait in line and sometimes you can wait for hours in the taxi queue. In the evening it can be very difficult to find a taxi.

By boat Various boat services provide a good and fun way of getting to the southern beaches of Mykonos. From Platys Gialos small fishing boats converted into tourist transport leave every hour or less to the beaches of Paranga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia. First departure 10:15 until 16:15 every hour. Last return to Platys Gialos from Elia at 18:00 and from Super Paradise at 20:00. From Ornos boats leave for the beaches of Platys Gialos, Paranga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia. Boats leaves from Ornos at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00. Boat services can be cancelled due to strong wind, but with the exception of Super Paradise all of these beaches can be reached by bus from Mykonos Town as well.

From June to September there are also infrequently boats leaving from the harbour in Mykonos Town to Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia.

By car or by motorbike Mykonos has an extensive public transport system from Mykonos Town. By public transport it is easy to get to all the southern beaches, which happen to be the nicest beaches as well. Renting a motorbike or a car is the way to go if you want to explore the rest of the island, especially the more remote beaches at the north coast. Motorbike and car rentals are readily available around the island. In Mykonos Town the highest concentration of rent a car - motorbike agencies is in and around the area of the southern busstation, where you will find a wide range of choices. The other area of Mykonos Town with rent a car - motorbike agencies is near to the old port, behind the Archaeological Museum.

Cars are not permitted in the town of Mykonos. There are parking areas on the outskirts of town, but during peak season finding a parking space is usually a challenge. You can always try the huge public parking area next to the old port. Considering Mykonos is a very small island, renting a bike might be a better choice, unless you are planning to stay far out of town and from beaches. Bikes are cheap to rent, you can park them almost anywhere, and it is cooler than a car standing in the hot sun all day.

See

Mykonos has a startling lack of Cycladic Bronze Age, Archaic and Classical archaeological sites for an island so crucially close to a cultural centre as historically important as Delos; this is in large part due to decades-long uncontrolled property development all over the island which has frequently meant ancient sites being razed in favour of luxury villas and hotels. This is in stark contrast to mainland Greece, where the state exhibits overall excellent control over the preservation of archaeological sites.

For those wanting to learn more about the island's history through sites, however, a few post-16th century sites remain, primarily Byzantine churches, as well as the 13th century 'Mykonos Castle'.

The Windmills. From as early as the 16th century, the windmills are one of the most recognized landmarks of Mykonos. Once this island was a great producer of wheat and bread. The area of the windmills has a splendid view on Little Venice and is the most popular place in Mykonos to watch the sunset.

Little Venice. A district located at the sea, famous for its picturesque medieval two and three storey houses, which stand like a wall above the sea, and their colourful wooden balconies. Little Venice is one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the whole of Mykonos and offers a fantastic sunset. A favourite activity is drinking a cocktail in one of the many bars and cafes while watching the sunset on the seashore. You will reach Little Venice walking from the windmills down the stairs. It is only a five minute walk from Fabrika bus station and there is a sign for it on the other side of the square.

Panagia Paraportiani. Of all the churches on Mykonos, the most impressive is Panagia Paraportianí, a true Byzantine jewel. This whitewashed church, which building dates back to 1425 and was not completed until the 17th century, is the most popular and most photographed of the 400 churches on the whole island of Mykonos. It is made up of four chapels at ground level with another one above. Only one of the chapels on the ground floor is open to visitors, from early morning until sunset. The church is located in the Kastro district, the oldest section of Mykonos Town.

Petros the Pelican, the island's mascot, can sometimes be found at the waterfront or even up in town. The pelican was found wounded off the coast of Paranga shore after a storm back in the 1950s by a local fisherman. The pelican was nursed to health and remained on the island supported by locals. It soon adopted the name “Petros”. To great disappointment by locals and tourists alike, Petros was hit by a car on 2 December 1985 and failed to recover. After Petros died in 1986 he was so popular that a new pelican was introduced as a successor. Now there are three pelicans inhabiting the island. This means that the Petros you meet, can be a Petra. Well, this is Mykonos.

Museums All museums are open from April to October, except the Archaeological Museum which is open year-round. Most people keep the museums for a rainy day, but the Archaeological Museum is worth a visit.

Archaeological Museum of Mykonos. The exhibition of the museum includes a large number of vases, ranging from the prehistoric to the late Hellenistic period (25th-1st century BC), grave statues, stelae and funerary urns from the nearby island of Rheneia (Delos' necropolis). There are very few finds from Mykonos.

Folklore Museum. The Folklore Museum, housed in an 18th-century sea captain's house, brings together a number of collections of furniture, icons, pieces of sculpture, folk musical instruments, costumes and textiles.

Lena's House Museum. Lena's House Museum, a branch of the Folklore Museum, is an authentic 19th-century middle class Mykonian house, completely restored with furnishings.

Aegean Maritime Museum. Housed in a traditional Cycladic 19th century building, it has been in continuous operation since 1985. The mission of the Museum is the research and promotion of the maritime history of the Greeks and their engagement with the sea, from antiquity to the present day.

Agricultural Museum. A collection of traditional agricultural tools.

The Boni Mill. A 16th century windmill, overlooking the town. The mill has been maintained and is fully functional featuring its customary wood-burning stone oven.

Beaches Most of the beaches have tavernas and restaurants and are well equipped with deck chairs and parasols. The best beaches are on the south side of the island and sheltered from the prevailing northern wind. On the more popular beaches, it is not uncommon for people to walk down the beach selling probably illegal goods such as DVDs, fake bags, clothes, jewellery and watches. They come right up to you and it can be somewhat annoying but they are easily pushed away with a simple 'No, thank you'. Also, many beaches, even the more family-orientated, are often populated with the 'European' style of sunbathing - i.e. topless.

Psarou. This upmarket beach is popular amongst Greeks. Lots of hotels, apartments and restaurants. Psarou is easily accessible by bus from Mykonos Town. Get off the bus one stop before the last stop, Platys Gialos.

Platys Gialos. Busy family and tourist beach. Lots of hotels, apartments, restaurants and beach bars, lining the long sandy beach. Jet ski rentals are available. Bus service from Mykonos Town is very frequent and takes about 15 minutes. Platys Gialos is the starting point for regular boat services to the other southern Mykonos beaches.

Paranga. Sandy beach. There are some rocks in water, but many places where you can enter over sand. There is a camping, some hotels and some nice beach bars and restaurants. Also popular with gays. Nudity is quite common, especially on the right end (facing the sea). At about 5PM the beach gets really noisy with several beach bars. On the right side Paranga also has a large, more quiet stretch of sandy beach without deck chairs and parasols and without restaurants and bars.Paranga is easily accessible by bus from Mykonos Town or with a regular boat service from Platys Gialos (first stop). It is also an easy walk from Platys Gialos (15 minutes) or Paradise (10 minutes).On your way walking from Platys Galios you will pass by the beach of Aghia Anna, an enchanting little cove nearby Paranga Beach with only a handful of rental umbrellas and lounge chairs. At this golden sand beach there are two lovely restaurants nearby, a more modern Greek restaurant (Santanna) and a traditional-style Greek tavern (Nikolas).

Paradise. Probably the most popular beaches known for its parties. At about 16:00 the music will get really loud. Paradise is easily reached by bus from Mykonos Town or with a regular boat service from Platys Gialos (second stop).

Super Paradise. Restaurants, beach bars and some hotels. The right side of the beach is mostly nude and gay. At about 16:00 the music will get really loud and there will be music from both the left side (Super Paradise Beach Bar Club) and the right side (Coco Club); for some time to leave, for others time to party. There is no bus service to Super Paradise, but it is easily accessible with a regular boat service from Platys Gialos (third stop). You can also take the bus to Paradise from Mykonos Town and then continue walking for 20 minutes over the hill to Super paradise. From June to September there is a boat from the harbour in Mykonos Town to Super Paradise, leaving in the morning and returning around 16:30 in the afternoon. With your own transport it is a difficult winding road from Mykonos Town.

Agrari. Agrari Beach is less popular than its neighbour Elia and much calmer. Well organized with sunbeds and umbrellas, with many watersports. If there are enough passengers, the boats from Platys Gialos will make a stop at Agrari. Otherwise, it is an easy 5-minute walk over the rocks from Elia Beach. With you own transport it is a quite difficult road from Mykonos Town.

Elia. Elia is one of the larger beaches on Mykonos. It is a well organized beach with sunbeds and umbrellas (40 euro in 2020), and various water sports (ski and jet-ski). Three restaurants and taverns. Also popular with gays, especially the small rocky beach between Elia and Agari. Nudity is permitted but not as common as at Paradise, Super Paradise and Paranga. Nudity is concentrated at the right and nicest part of the beach (towards Agrari). Elia is most easily reached by a direct local bus from Mykonos Town’s northern bus terminal, but also with a regular boat service from Platys Gialos beach (fourth and last stop). Last boat back is at 18:00, but after that time two buses are still running (leaving at 18:30 and 19:30).

Kalo Livadi. A quiet, long stretch of sandy beach. It offers some taverns with good food, and a few small hotels and villas. Best reached with your own transport, but you can get there by bus. Take the bus to Elia and get off the bus at the top of the hill where it turns to go to Elia Beach and walk for about ten minutes downhill to your left.

Kalafati. A very large, beautiful and less developed beach and a favourite with windsurfers due to the offshore breeze. A variety of water sports are available here, including jet ski, water ski, wakeboard and tube rides. Kalafati can be reached by bus from Mykonos Town, but this bus only runs a few times a day. Immediately next to Kalafatis are the sandy beaches of Draoumia and Tafarnis.

Lia. An uncrowded, sandy beach. Deck chairs and umbrellas are available to rent. Some tiny houses of fishermen from a little settlement, with two taverns and a beach bar. To get there you need your own transport or you can walk from Kalafati.

Fokos. A small beach with coarse sand, not known by many people. This beach has no facilities like sunbeds and umbrellas, but it offers a very good tavern. To get to Fokos you need your own transport. Follow the signs for Fokos from Ano Mera.

Ftelia. This beach faces the north and thus it is affected by the strong summer northern winds, which make it ideal for wind surfing, but not for swimming or sunbathing. Ftelia is an isolated, very tranquil place and even during July and August not very crowded, because it is often quite windy and dusty. To get there you need your own transport. From Ano Mera follow a weaving road down to the beach.

Panormos. On the north side of the island and facing east onto Panormos Bay is the long and beautiful Panormos Beach. Two restaurants, one hotel and a trendy beach club serve this otherwise remote area. Panormos Beach is nudist beach mostly in the right side. To get to Panormos you need your own transport.

Agios Sostis. This beach faces the east of Panormos Bay. Agios Sostis is one of the more remote beaches on the island, without rental lounge chairs and umbrellas. Void of accommodation and crowds this beautiful beach offers not only peace and quiet, but also a very good small restaurant. Nude bathing tolerant. To get there you need your own transport. Take the road beyond Panormos beach.

Agios Stefanos. A well developed, sandy beach next to the new harbor. Agios Stefanos is very popular and gets very crowded during summer time. This beach is about the length of a soccer pitch. Agios Stefanos is reachable by bus from Mykonos town.

Tourlos. A small beach near the new port of Mykonos. The actual beach of Tourlos is not used much anymore since the construction of the new port and marina, but is still a busy area.

Mykonos town beach. There's a small beach at the harbour front (Aghia Anna, one of several by that name on the island). Unless you are waiting for a boat leaving from the old port, there is no reason staying there. Much better beaches are within easy reach.

Megali Ammos. The nearest beach to Mykonos Town, a 10-minute walk from Mykonos Town along the coast into the direction of Ornos (or hop on the bus to Ornos). The beach is next to the central road. There is a huge slab in the sea which makes it a little difficult to swim. The beach has no umbrellas and sunbeds due to the strong northerly winds. There are a few hotels and apartments and a wonderful tavern, Joanna's Niko's Place.

Ornos. Busy family and tourist beach. It gathers many for its sunbeds and umbrellas, and bars and restaurants. The sandy beach slopes gently into the sea. There are schools for sea-skiing and surfing.Ornos is easily accessible by bus from Mykonos Town (or walk along the coast road for about 30 minutes).2 km north of Ornos is the beach of Korfos, suitable for wind surfing, but not for swimming or sunbathing.

Agios Ioannis. Agios Ioannis is a small beach with snorkeling opportunities. The beach never gets over crowded and deck chairs are available to rent. Great tavern and cocktail bar very close. The beach offers a beautiful view towards the nearby islands of Delos and Rheneia. Agios Ioannis is easily accessible by bus from Mykonos Town.Next to Agios Ioannis is the small beach of Kapari, with a small nude section. This hidden beach is located north of Agios Ioannis, behind Agios Ioannis chapel, and then a steep walk downhill.

Do

Delos, a small uninhabited island close to Mykonos, is a UNESCO world heritage area known for its important archaeological sites. There are daily excursions from Mykonos Town except Monday, when the archaeological site is closed. During high season, boats leave at 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00 from the pier at the west side of the harbour, right behind the little church of Agios Nikolaos. The boat trip takes about 30 minutes. Boats return at 12:15, 13:30 and 15:00. In the off-season, boats leave only once a day, at either 09:30 or 10:30; check in-person at the kiosk as online information is often unreliable. The excavations are open from 08:30 to 15:00, so have an early start if you really want to see it all. Boat trips to Delos are also organized from Platys Gialos and Paranga Beach. Delos is a must for all visitors. From Platys Gialos you can take a cruise on a GlassBottom Discover Boat, a boat with a glass floor at the bottom through which you can view underwater life. Check the ferry schedules well, but it is possible to make daytrips to the islands of Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos.

Buy

You can go shopping or window shopping in the fabulous little boutiques which carry exclusive name brands, among them outstanding Greek jewelers, souvenirs as well as works of art. Bring money and credit cards. Most shops are open seven days a week, but will be closed from 14:00 to 17:00. Many tourist shops will remain open late into the evening. In case you are looking for department stores, as some cruise tourists do, there aren't any.

Mykonos is home to a large artists' colony, so there are a number of fine galleries offering original works.

Of course, you will also find the shops you need to fill all your basic needs and comforts. There are mini-markets, green grocers, butchers, kiosks, bakeries, liquor stores, a few small supermarkets (and bigger supermarkets out of town), many pharmacies, a dry goods shop, bookstores, photo and electronics shops.

ATMs are available throughout town. There's a concentration of ATMs near the southern bus station.

Eat

In Mykonos Town you will find most of the restaurants and eateries. All over town there are various gyros and souvlaki shops and creperies where you can eat quite well for just a few euros. Mykonos offers dining options catering to a range of tastes and budgets. You can have good Greek food at reasonable prices, but it also easy to spend a fortune. Almost all restaurants (and many bars) post their prices on menus at the entrance, so as you walk around you can take a look to see which places offer appealing food in your budget range. Restaurants facing the harbour or the sea (especially in Little Venice) tend to have significantly higher prices, because you are also paying for the location and the view. Restaurants in the streets deeper in the heart of town tend to be more reasonably priced.

Appaloosa Bar & Restaurant. Mexican-European food, relaxed atmosphere and also a great place for cocktails. As of April 2025, closed temporarily, moving to a pop-up at 'El burro'.

Artisti Prozymi. Advertised as a bakery -- there is a bakery with very good pastries in the front but also a broad menu priced very reasonably for Mykonos, as well as a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available. Well-situated

Bakalo. Moderately priced Greek eatery.

Eva's Garden. Home cooked Greek and international dishes in a beautiful garden and roof setting. Dining room inside for windy nights. Excellent service and good atmosphere. }}

Kounelas Fish Tavern. A small fish tavern in a garden setting. You can select your dish from the limited menu or choose your seafood from the catch of the day. Often full.

La Maison de Katrin Restaurant. One of the most famous and oldest restaurants on the island, with classic French and Greek cuisine and excellent service. Stylish and expensive.

Lotus. Small, romantic spot, seating under a canopy of vines. Good food and full bar. Check prices and bill carefully since they are known for overcharging unwary tourists.

Niko's Taverna. A very popular restaurant which is always packed. An extensive menu of good, authentic Greek food at very reasonable prices, albeit lower quality than average for the town.

Oregano Cook & Grill. Traditional Mykonian food, offers stamnagatha (a local wild vegetable) when in season, many other meze and a variety of meat stews, gyros etc. Food as cheap as anywhere on the Western side of the island, and better quality than most. Always full, mostly of Greeks; servers speak a little English but there is no menu, so some basic knowledge of Greek food is needed.

To Ma'ereio. A small reasonably-priced tavern serving excellent traditional Greek dishes and Mykonian specialties. Almost always full.

Ano Mera The town square offers several traditional restaurants.

Vangelis Taverna. Excellent bistro and though not cheap value for money.

Kostantis Restaurant. An elegant beach restaurant serving fresh fish.

Avli tou Thodori. Excellent restaurant. Great variety of international and Greek dishes, all served on a seaside terrace.

Yialo Yialo Restaurant Mykonos. Some different food options at reasonable prices, right on the beach.

Nammos. A beautiful, all white restaurant for the "rich and famous" and known for its celebrity spottings. Mediterranean cuisine. Very expensive, but some say you get what you pay for.

Fokos Taverna. Meat, grilled fish, cooked dishes (one per day, and good) and a large variety of salads. A bit remote, but the tavern itself is worth the trip.

Kiki's Taverna. A hidden gem. There is seating for perhaps two dozen people at most, and because there’s no electricity, the restaurant closes just before dusk. Everything is really tasty and fresh, cooked on an outdoor grill, served with fresh homemade salads

Lia Fish Tavern. Traditional fish tavern. Fisherman owner serves his day’s catch.

Nikolas. A family-run beach tavern with traditional Greek dishes at affordable prices. They have been there since 1967!

Liasti. This remote Italian bistro is worth the drive, for the sea and the cuisine.

Tasos Taverna. A very popular, moderately-upscale fish tavern.

Drink

Mykonos is famous for its intense nightlife as evidenced by a vast number of bars and nightclubs. Drinking can be quite expensive in Mykonos.

Argo Bar. Friendly club with loud dance music.

Caprice. Located on the edge of the sea wall in Little Venice, with entrances at the front and back, Caprice Bar can be packed wall to wall. Here you can enjoy the music, cocktails and a trendy party atmosphere.

Katerina's Bar. Katerina's Cocktail Bar is built on two levels and each level has a balcony that hangs over the sea in Little Venice, making it good spot to view the sunset over a cocktail.

Skandinavian Bars-Disco. Skandinavian Bar is one of the 'landmark' party places on Mykonos since 1978. Comprised of an outdoor square with seating all around, two smaller downstairs bars and the upstairs disco overseeing it all.

Thalami. Popular bar with Greek music.

Babylon. A new gay dance club, opened in 2009. There's a dance floor and drag shows. Babylon is less crowded than its neighbour Jacky O'.

Jacky O'. The most popular gay dance club, opened in 2009. The party goes wild at about 02:00 till sometimes 07:00. Inside there's a really crowded dance floor and shows by drag queens. During peak summer nights, hundreds of people are hanging out outside at the waterfront. Recommended.

Kastro Bar. Kastro offers a magnificent sunset view in a relaxed and romantic atmosphere with classical music. It is a cocktail bar, but their most notorious drink is the Kastro Coffee (secret recipe, but you will taste some Metaxa). The arrangement of tables and benches is such that it’s almost impossible not to get engaged in conversation with strangers. Only busy early in the evening, till about 22:00. Recommended.

Lola. A very cabaret, theatrical feel.

Porta Bar. Porta Bar in Mykonos is in one of the backstreets of Mykonos Town, so you may have to ask around to locate it. Otherwise use the back entrance, easy to find between Nikos Taverna and Skandinavian Bar.

Jackie O’ Beach Club & Restaurant. A beach bar overlooking the beach. Attracts a gay crowd.

Kalua Beach Bar. By day, this bleached-white beach bar serves good local cuisine at decent prices. Come 18:00 though, the DJ strikes up and the dancing begins. By midnight until the early hours it’s a wild scene.

Panormos Beach Bar & Restaurant. A trendy beach bar and tavern, that changed Panormos Beach into a more cosmopolitan beach.

Super Paradise Beach Club. The party starts in the afternoon and continues until late at night, with the peak in July and August.

Although Mykonos's nightlife focuses mainly on bars, there are a number of notable dance clubs to be found on the island, some of them attracting world-famous DJs.

Cavo Paradiso. Cavo Paradiso, an Ibiza-style open-air mega club, has a fantastic view of the sea and a huge swimming pool in the middle of the club, where you can party and dance till well after the sun comes up. The party doesn't start until at least 02:00. Clubbers from all around the world voted for Cavo Paradiso as one of the 10 best clubs of the world. Famous DJs, like Roger Sanchez, David Morales, Paul Oakenfold, Sander van Doorn and Tiësto, play here every summer and various music events are hosted frequently. Very expensive!

Paradise Club Mykonos. The biggest nightclub on the island and voted for as one of the 100 best clubs of the world. With three stages and a swimming pool. Famous DJs, like Moby, Bob Sincar, Fedde Legrand, David Guetta and Armin van Buuren, play here every summer. The party starts every day around 16:30, with the peak in July and August. The daily party can run into the night.

Sleep

Mykonos has well developed tourist infrastructure with countless hotels, studios, apartments and rooms for rent. Accommodation can be found in and around Mykonos Town and nearby the beaches. Compared to other Greek islands, accommodation in Mykonos is expensive. Mentioned from-prices are for low season. Expect prices to double in high season. Mykonos becomes overcrowded from mid July to the end of August, so be sure you have a room waiting if you go during that period. Every year a lot of Greek tourists visit Mykonos around the weekend of Pentecost (usually late May or early June).

Most of the hotels will close at the end of October and will open again at the end of April or the beginning of May.

A lot of the locals rent rooms and they will be waiting for you when you arrive at the port or the airport, waving pictures of their rooms. They will be there in peak season as well. Most of them are from small establishments that aren't listed on the internet. If approached to let a room, make sure you don't end up in an isolated apartment up on the hills around the town. Outside high season it is also easy enough to look around in Mykonos Town for yourself. There are 'rooms' signs everywhere. Wandering around with a suitcase or backpack you will be approached.

Mykonos Hoteliers Association. At the Mykonos Hoteliers Association you can book a room on the spot (no bookings in advance). The association also operates a Tourist Information and Accommodation Desk at the airport.

Mykonos Association of Rooms, Studios & Apartments. Booking of a room on the spot (no bookings in advance).

Mykonos Accommodation Center. Helps visitors finding mid-range and top-end accommodation and also functions as a tourist information center. Gay friendly.

Mykonos Villas Greece. Villas and apartment rentals in Mykonos Greece, all locations in Mykonos, and various beach locations.

For the young and most budget conscious travelers, there are two campgrounds, both at popular beaches:

Mykonos Camping. Mykonos Camping extends out on a headland overlooking the sea. A camping with a self-service restaurant, cafe-bar, swimming pool, mini market and bike rental. Paraga Beach Hostel is part of this camping (or it might just be rebranding). A good choice if you want a more relaxed camping, though not quiet.

Paradise Beach Resort and Camping. A pretty much self contained camping with a self-service restaurant, snackbar, beach bar, mini market, boutique, internet and bike rental. A good choice if you want a more developed camping and are looking to meet other young backpackers and party all night long.

Both are reachable by public bus from Mykonos Town or by boat from Platys Gialos. Both offer shuttle bus transportation to and from the airport and ferry boat ports.

Nazos Hotel. A small, family-run hotel with 14 rooms.

Paradise View Hotel. Offers double and triple hotel rooms.

Stavroula's Studios. Self catering studios and rooms.

Vouniotis Pension. In a quiet area, but a bit of a trek up the hill (15 minutes). The Vouniotis Pension complex constists of 15 rooms, comprised of a fridge, a TV, a private bathroom and a veranda.

Vista Apartments. Fully-appointed, spacious apartments for 2 to 5 persons, close to the old port in Mykonos Town, and Nikos Apartments located in Megali Ammos.

Zorzis Hotel. A charming 16th-century stone building in the heart of town.

Adonis Hotel. A family-run hotel with comfortable rooms, many of which have a view. The owners and staff will make you feel at home. Value for money.

Apsenti Boutique Hotel. Apsenti is dedicated to couples and honeymooners only. Traditional design Mykonos boutique hotel with great service and intimate atmosphere.

Carbonaki Hotel. Family-run Carbonaki offers 21 modern and comfortable rooms at a superb location in the middle of town. Open the whole year around.

Fresh Hotel. This is a beloved gay friendly hotel, offering spacious, well-designed rooms.

Geranium Hotel. A luxury gay hotel (exclusively male) with views to the sea, city and sunset. Provides services category, large garden and swimming pool with breakfast bar and appetizers. The hotel has rooms, studios, apartments and a villa.

Harmony Boutique Hotel. An exclusive luxurious boutique hotel.

La Veranda of Mykonos. A charming pension, Mykonian style, with 10 rooms surrounded by a garden with a small swimming pool and terraces with beautiful views.

Mina Studios Mykonos. Offer studios and apartments with sea views. Open the whole year around.

Mykonos Star Hotel. This luxury hotel overlooking Panormos Bay offers comfortable and modern accommodation.

Omiros Hotel. This family-run hotel has 10 renovated rooms with their own private terrace, offering a view of the picturesque port and the sunset.

Panormos Village Hotel. Hotel Panormos Village is a family-owned Mykonos resort, on the seafront on the north coast of Mykonos island. The whitewashed stone studios and apartments with private verandas are surrounded by gardens built on different levels.

Pelican Hotel. A 3-star hotel 200 m (a 10-minute walk) from Mykonos town center. Located on a steep hill, so it is bit of a climb. It has an amazing panoramic view of Mykonos Town and port.

Pelican Bay Art Hotel. A 4-star art luxury boutique hotel.

Poseidon Hotel. A 3-star hotel with 17 deluxe rooms and suites and 41 standard and superior rooms.

Rochari Hotel. A family run 3-star hotel with comfortable rooms, most of which have a view. Serves breakfast till 13:00. With a swimming pool and pool bar. Rochari has a baby sister hotel, Little Rochari, in the School of Fine Arts district.

San Marco Hotel. The San Marco Hotel is built in authentic Cycladic style with traditional whitewashed walls and deep blue wooden shutters.

Tagoo Hotel. Wonderful place to stay near town, and an excellent value. It has a pool with a great view and a bar with a relaxed atmosphere. The owners are incredibly hospitable.

Elia Mykonos Resort by the Sea. There are many facilities available like bbq, free wifi and a large a pool with sea view.

Belvedere Hotel. A 5-star hotel. One of the most popular boutique hotels. The Belvedere has wonderful sea views but the rooms at the rear of the hotel have traffic noise.

Elysium Hotel. A popular gay 4-star hotel. The Elysium promotes itself as a 'luxury' hotel, but the rooms have small beds and minimal amenities. An attractive pool area. Friendly staff. The hotel is on a steep hill, with views of the sea, city and sunset. Like everything else that is "exclusively" gay, this hotel is very pricey, especially the food and drinks in the hotel.

Kouros Boutique Hotel. A beautiful boutique hotel. All rooms offer great views of Mykonos Town and the Aegean Sea.

Myconian Imperial Resort & Thalasso Center. A 5-star luxury hotel with many different room and suite types. All rooms and suites feature views of Elia Beach and the Aegean Sea.

Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort. A 5-star beach front hotel offering 100 deluxe rooms and suites.

Mykonos Theoxenia Hotel. A 4-star seafront hotel with 52 rooms offering either sea view or garden view. Just a 5-minute walk to the shops, bars and restaurants in the centre of town.

Saint Johns Hotel Villas & Spa. A beautiful 5-star hotel with 136 deluxe rooms. Most rooms offer either sea view or a partial sea view.

Cova Suites. A new boutique hotel sitting on an unspoiled cliff almost 150 meters from Elia beach.

Greco Philia Hotel Boutique. At the edge of the cliffs with traditional architecture, this boutique hotel with views of the Aegean Sea has Deluxe Suites and villas featuring main pool, restaurant, pool bar, gym and spa.