Mykonos

Among the most Greek islands, Mykonos island is located almost in the centre of the Cyclades complex. It is particularly famous for the cosmopolitan atmosphere, the exciting nightlife, the picturesque Cycladic architecture and the magnificent beaches that makes holidays in Mykonos a magnificent experience. 

There are many things to do in Mykonos Greece, an island perfect for people of all ages: walk along the narrow streets of Chora, see the sunset from Little Venice, stay in luxurious hotels and swim in exotic beaches.

 A place with archeological, natural, recreational and traditional facets, Mykonos Greece constitutes a thrilling destination marrying jet set venues with nature’s rich heritage and eternal Cycladic beauty.

How to get in Mykonos

By air

Mykonos National Airport (JMK) is located at 4 km from Mykonos town (Chora) and it can take about 15 min. by car to cover that distance.

By boat

Mykonos Island features two ports; the old Mykonos Harbor, where arrive all the ferroes and there is also the New Port of Tourlos, mostly used for Cruise Ships.

There are boats, ferries and high speed ferries to Mykonos departing from Athens (Piraeus Port and Rafina Port), Thessaloniki, as well as other Cyclades Islands, Dodecanese Islands and Crete.

Capital town(Chora)

In contrast to other Cycladic capitals, the capital town (Chora) of the island is not built in the shape of an amphitheatre but instead spreads out over a wide area. It is one of the best examples of Cycladic architecture and a spellbinding attraction for visitors. Stroll around its narrow marble streets and admire whitewashed houses with colourful doors and window frames, bougainvillea trees in purple bloom and hidden churches.

Beaches

Using the Chora as your base, set out on a trip to discover the beauties of the island, in particularly its sun-kissed beaches. Along the southern coast you will find a great selection of the most cosmopolitan ones. 

Here, wild parties keep the crowds rocking day and night. Paradise and Super Paradise may already be familiar to you. Órnos and Psaroú are favorite spots for families. 

Try a visit too to Platis Yalós, with a well-organized beach where you can soak up the sun lazing on a sun lounge. However, if you are looking for a serene beach to unwind with a book, pick a less organized one on the northern coast of the island, like Ayia Ánna, Houlákia, Kápari, Agrári and Ayios Stéfanos.

Accommodation

Without a doubt, the best places to stay in Mykonos Greece are nestled in and near the areas of Psarou, Mykonos Town and Ornos. 

The visitor has the opportunity to find  the most beautiful, charming, luxury and authentic hotels offering rooms or suites for every type of holidays for every taste and needs  in Mykonos Island.

There is a number of choices whether you are looking for a luxury Mykonos Town hotel overviewing the Aegean Sea, a romantic hideaway with honeymoon suites to share with your beloved or an authentic Cycladic design hotel in Mykonos providing unique rooms near a sandy beach.

Mykonos Sightseeing

*Mykonos town -or Chora- is the capital town of Mykonos island where one can find the most important sightseeing spots, the most commercial streets and shops, the most popular bars and restaurants. 

Chora’s architecture is typical of Cyclades, all white-washed cubic houses with blue windows, charming narrow streets with pebble-stoned pavements and little white chapels with sky-blue cupolas.

*Mykonos Windmills, with their distinctive form and white figure, have been a landmark of the island since the 16th century. Due to the strong winds that have always been present in the region, as well as the privileged geographic position of the island as a trade crossroad, Mykonos used to be a major supplier of refined grain and flour. What used to be a main part of the island’s activity and a force of the local economy, became a sightseeing attraction after the mills stopped working around the middle of the 20th century, courtesy of the industrialization.

There used to be a total of 20 windmills on the island, most of them built in or around the main port, the town Chora and Alefkantra neighbourhood. Around half of those were still in good function during the first decades of the 20th century and today only 7 still stand as proud reminiscent of their past. Geronimos Windmill (of private property) remained in operation until 1960’s and is still today in very good shape with a great part of its machinery intact.

*One of the “animate” attractions of the island, and a total celebrity in Greece and abroad, Petros has been the official mascot of Mykonos since 1954, when a storm obliged this pelican to leave behind its migrating plans and settle on the island. A favourite amongst locals and tourists, Petros was deeply mourned after its death around 1985, and soon was replaced by a proud successor. In the meantime, Jackie Kennedy had donated a female pelican named “Irini” to the island, for Petros to have companionship and in later years another young pelican by the name of “Nikolas” fell on the island and made it its home. Nowadays, there are 3 pelicans running around the island, posing for tourists’ snapshots only when they feel like it!

*The Archaeological museum of Mykonos is located in Mykonos town next to the harbour and is home to marble sculptures, ceramics, jewels and utensils, all findings from the excavations in Delos, Rhinia and Mykonos itself. Built in 1900, the museum was initially destined to house the findings from the excavation of the “purification pit” in Delos dating from the 5th century and the necropolis of Rhinia. In the winter of 426/425 b.c, the Athenias decided to “purify” the island of Delos.

They opened up all the tombs on the island and transferred all remains of the deceased and all offerings buried with them to a large pit in Rhinia. Then they declared Delos a sacred island and said that no one was allowed to be born or die on Delos. Pregnant women, citizens struck by serious illness or injury and old people were to be moved to Rhinia also. The “Purification Pit” was discovered and excavated by Dimitris Stavropoulos in 1898-1900 and all findings are exhibited in the museum.

The museum is also famous for the great collection of vases, representative of the distinctive Cycladic ceramic art, some of which date back to the Geometric period back to the 6th century b.c. A special reference has to be made to the “Pithos of Mykonos”, a 7th century vessel with relieved decorations representing scenes from the Trojan wars.

*Paraportiani Church is one of the most interesting architectural structures in Greece, located near Mykonos harbour entrance. This peculiar construction is actually a complex of 5 churches. The first 4 were built between the 14th and the 17th century, forming a base on top of which the 5th one, Panagia Paraportiani (dedicated to Virgin Mary) was then built. 

The name Paraportiani means “the side door” and refers to the fact that the original church was next to the north-west side door of the medieval walls that used to surround and protect the “Kastro” ( the castle area), the old town. 

An emblematic monument of Mykonos, the Cyclades and Greece, Paraportiani church is responsible for some of the most idyllic pictures ever taken on the island!

*The small island of Delos, birthplace of the god Apollo and a sacred land according to the Ancient Greeks, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. Situated at only 2 km from Mykonos (less than half an hour by boat), Delos remains under the jurisdiction of Mykonos for administrative matters and has been declared a monument of World Heritage by UNESCO since 1990.

Delos can only be accessed from the main harbour of Mykonos, with little boats “kaikia” that make daily excursions. However, no one is allowed t stay on the island after the sunset without a written permission. The guided excursions on the island and around the archaeological sites usually last 3 hours and the last boat from Delos back to Mykonos leaves at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Make sure you catch it!

*Between Kastro and Skarpa, on the east side of Mykonos harbour, there lies one of the most picturesque places in Greece. Alefkantra, also known as Little Venice, was built around the mid 18th century as a neighbourhood for rich merchants, sailing captains and boat owners. During pirate raids, very popular at the time, Little Venice was used for sailors to quickly load and unload goods onto the boats, and the narrow streets were made with a maze-logic in order to confuse the pirates that managed to set foot on the island!

With a very characteristic architecture, wooden balconies that hang over the waves, colourful walls and a very privileged view of the sun setting on the sea, Little Venice has inspired over the years countless romances and works of art, as no soul can resist the beauty of this scenery. Some of the old houses are now bars, tavernas and clubs, where visitors can enjoy the sunset sipping on their favourite cocktail, and a few remain as private residences.

The Island of Mykonos features amongst the best places to eat in the Cyclades Islands and Greece where lucky travelers can taste great dishes prepared by renowned chefs in magnificent settings and turn their dining in Mykonos into a magical culinary feast.

What about food?

Mykonos Island was amongst the first places to offer a more sophisticated and contemporary version of the Traditional Greek Cuisine, to propose the Island’s visitors a refined cuisine that will suit their cosmopolitan tastes. Anyhow, one thing is certain; in Mykonos you are really spoilt for choice!

Don’t miss the opportunity to treat yourself to some local Aegean specialties! Pepper flavoured kopanistí, a soft cheese seasoned with pepper, is the island’s gastronomic trademark. Try it as a topping on a round rusk spread with grated tomato, a favourite local mezés (appetiser). 

Meat eaters can sample “loúzes” (cooked pork filet with spices) and tasty local sausages sprinkled with pepper, and local oregano that has been caressed by the sun and dried in the north wind. To finish off your meal you can sample two exceptionally good local pastries, “amigdalotá” (small round cakes with ground almond, rosewater and caster sugar) and honey pie.

Mykonos Nightlife

No wonder why some people call Mykonos the "Ibiza" of Greece; during summertime, Mykonos nightlife is the most vibrant in Greece and is famous worldwide for its extravagant parties and events organized in all the clubs, bars and beach bars of Mykonos Island.

The party atmosphere is felt all day and all night long in Mykonos beach bars, bar restaurants and clubs with famous DJ sets from all over the world.

Local products

Among the most famous products of Mykonos are the homemade sausages, flavoured with spice, oregano, pepper and olives, dried in the open air, onion pie made with the tasty local tyrovolia cheese, excellent seafood, tasty piece of pork preserved in fat called siglino, the excellent louzes consisting in pork shoulder blade seasoned for National with spices, pepper, oregano and olives. Then it is put in piglet's intestine and dried in open air for half a month. It is served in thin slices with a snack and the famous kopanisti which is a kind of soft spicy cheese made of a mixture of goat's and cow's milk.

 The well-known amigdalota, which can be found in all Cyclades, are sweats made of almond.

 Very popular are also the handmade jewellery in the gift shops of Mykonos and the traditional textile made of the local women. The textile tradition dates from the Medieval times and continue till today.