Mykonos
Mykonos Town's windmills and Little Venice, the sacred ruins of Delos, and the real beaches of the south and east coasts.
Mykonos is the most expensive and most hedonistic island in Greece — come for the nightlife, the beach clubs, the fashion and the extraordinary people-watching. But don't overlook the genuinely beautiful Cycladic architecture of Mykonos Town (Chora), the quiet inland village of Ano Mera, and above all don't miss Delos — the uninhabited sacred island 30 minutes away by boat, with some of the finest ancient ruins in the Aegean. The south-coast party beaches get all the press, but the real magic is in quieter spots like Kalo Livadi or the wild, road's-end beach of Fokos. Where to stay: For luxury near Chora, Belvedere Mykonos is a short walk from Little Venice with a pool and Matsuhisa restaurant. For the beach scene, Nomad Mykonos on Kalo Livadi is a Small Luxury Hotels member.
Getting there
International airport with heavy summer traffic — Aegean, Sky Express, EasyJet, Ryanair, charters.
Read full route
Ferries dock at the New Port (Tourlos, 2km north of Chora). Fast ferries from Rafina (~2.5h) are usually faster and cheaper than Piraeus.
Tip: Use Rafina, not Piraeus — same crossing in less time, often cheaper.
When to Visit
July-September is what Mykonos is for — the scene, the beach clubs, the people-watching. June or late September give you peak Mykonos with marginally fewer crowds. May and October still work if you want the atmosphere without the chaos. November through April, most of the island is shuttered — only come then if you specifically want an empty Cycladic island.
3-day itinerary for Mykonos
Day 1: Mykonos Town (Chora)
- 09:00 · Windmills (Kato Mili)
The iconic 16th-century windmills on the hill above Little Venice — the symbol of Mykonos. Go early: by 10:30 the cruise crowds arrive. The morning light from the east actually makes for better photos than the sunset angle everyone shoots. - 10:00 · Little Venice (Alefkandra)
The most photographed neighbourhood in the Cyclades — waterfront houses built directly over the sea, balconies cantilevered over the waves. Have a coffee at Galleraki or a sunset cocktail later at 180° Sunset Bar. - 11:00 · Panagia Paraportiani church
Five churches fused into one white sculptural mass — started in the 15th century, finished in the 17th. One of the most important works of vernacular Cycladic architecture in Greece. Free, always open (exterior only). - 11:30 · Chora alleys & boutiques
The labyrinthine lanes of Chora — deliberately designed to disorient pirates. Whitewashed walls, colourful wooden doors, pelicans (descendants of mascot Petros) wandering. Matoyianni Street for luxury boutiques, Enoplon Dynameon for independent Greek designers. Get deliberately lost for 90 minutes. - 14:00 · Lunch — M-Eating
Excellent, fairly priced Greek cooking by chef Angelos Spyrakis — a rarity in Mykonos. The fish, the fava and the octopus are consistently great. Book ahead. €55-75/person. For Japanese fine dining, Matsuhisa Mykonos at Belvedere Hotel earned a star in the FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 (Fusion & Ethnic). Also from the same list: Beefbar Mykonos (★★) and Yevo at Bill & Coo Suites (★★). - 16:00 · Psarou Beach
A short drive south of Chora — the closest of Mykonos's famous beach clubs (Nammos in particular has defined the island's luxury-beach reputation). Sheltered cove, calm turquoise water, and the perfect "between lunch and sunset" swim before heading back up to Chora for the evening. - 19:00 · Sunset at 180° Sunset Bar
Perched on the hill next to the ruined 15th-century Venetian castle — the highest sunset point above Chora. Book ahead for a sunset table via their website. Much better than fighting for a spot in Little Venice.
Day 2: Delos Sacred Island & Psarou Beach
- 09:00 · Delos boat — Deliana Pier, Old Port
The Delos boat leaves from the Deliana Pier at the Old Port in Chora — a 3-min walk from anywhere in Chora, next to the blue-domed chapel and the Town Hall. Summer departures: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00. Return boats: 12:00, 13:30, 15:00, 19:30 (closed Mondays). Trip: 30-40 min. Tickets: €25 boat-only, or €79 guided tour with ferry+entry+guide via Delos Tours. English guided tours depart daily at 10:00. Archaeological site entry (€20) is separate — buy at the Delos kiosk. - 09:45 · Ancient Delos
One of the most important archaeological sites in Greece — the mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, sacred to the entire ancient world. The Terrace of the Lions, the House of Dionysus mosaics, the Sacred Way. Under a Greek sun with no shade — bring a hat, water and sunscreen. Allow 2-3 hours. - 12:00 · Delos Archaeological Museum
On-site museum with the original Naxian Lions (the Terrace replicas are replacements), Archaic kouroi, and the finest Hellenistic mosaics in Greece. Included in site entry. Mondays closed. - 14:30 · Return to Mykonos & Psarou Beach
Take the 13:30 return. From Chora, 10 min taxi (€15) to Nammos at Psarou Beach — Mykonos's celebrity sunbed scene. Small, sheltered bay, calm water, superyachts anchoring. Sunbeds €100+ per pair but you can walk the beach freely. Worth seeing even if you don't stay. - 20:00 · Dinner — Kiki's Tavern
Legendary no-booking, no-electricity taverna on the north coast near Panormos Bay. Grilled meat and fish, salads, local wine from the barrel. Line up from 19:00. One of the last truly Greek meals on the island. Cash only. If Kiki's is full (it usually is), Alemagou at Ftelia (★ FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026, beach restaurant) is another bohemian beach option on the north coast — sunsets, DJs, and a full menu. - 21:30 · Return to Mykonos Town
Drive back from Kiki's on the rough coast road to Mykonos Town (about 20 minutes). The evening is when Chora truly comes alive — wander the maritime alleys, find a quieter taverna away from the main square.
Day 3: Ano Mera, Kalo Livadi & Fokos
- 09:30 · Ano Mera village & Panagia Tourliani Monastery
The only other real village on Mykonos — quiet, local, in the green interior. The 16th-century Panagia Tourliani monastery has an elaborate carved marble fountain in a cool courtyard and a small museum of Byzantine icons. Free entry. Pair with a Greek coffee on the village square. - 11:00 · Kalo Livadi Beach
The longest sandy beach on Mykonos and far more civilised than Paradise or Super Paradise — wide golden sand, shallow turquoise water, families welcome. Two well-known beach clubs: Nice N Easy (healthy food, calmer vibe) and Solymar (livelier, lunch DJs). - 13:30 · Lunch at Nice N Easy — Kalo Livadi
Excellent organic Greek-Mediterranean food on the sand at Kalo Livadi. Smaller crowds than Nammos, prices sensible (€40-60/person), sunbeds included with a meal. Book via their website. FNL Best Restaurant Awards 2026 beach restaurants nearby on the south coast: Nammos at Psarou (★★, the see-and-be-seen choice) and Scorpios at Paraga (★★, sunset DJ sets). Both are full-day commitments. - 15:30 · Fokos Beach
End-of-the-road wild beach on the north coast, 25 min from Ano Mera on a rough but passable road (any car does it in summer). Unorganised fine sand, dark blue meltemi-whipped sea, one single taverna (Fokos Taverna) serving grilled lamb and fish. The Mykonos nobody talks about. No sunbeds, no DJs, no crowds. - 18:30 · Return to Mykonos Old Port
The Old Port (Chora) handles most foot-passenger ferries. Larger ferries (Blue Star, Fast Ferries from Piraeus/Rafina) use the New Port at Tourlos, 2 km north — allow 20 min by taxi.
Top beaches of Mykonos
Kalo Livadi
The longest sandy beach on Mykonos — and the one that works for everyone. Wide, calm turquoise water, space to spread out, and beach clubs (Nice N Easy, Solymar) that are less pretentious than the Nammos scene further west. Perfect base for the east coast.
- Type
- Fine golden sand
- Length
- 800 m
- Depth
- Shallow — gradual, family-friendly
- Wind protection
- South-facing — sheltered from the meltemi (the summer N/NE wind); calm in summer, exposed only to rare southern winds
- Facilities
- Full: two major beach clubs, sunbeds, water sports, good tavernas
Fokos Beach
The Mykonos the beach-club scene forgot. End-of-the-road wild bay on the north coast, reached on a rough dirt track. Strong meltemi winds some days (the dry northerly winds that blow across the Aegean from May to September), but the clearest water and emptiest sand on the island. Fokos Taverna grills lamb and fresh catch over charcoal.
- Type
- Fine sand & pebbles
- Length
- 250 m
- Depth
- Medium — some pebbles, crystal water
- Wind protection
- North-facing — fully exposed to the meltemi (the dominant summer N/NE wind); often choppy June–September
- Facilities
- Minimal — one taverna, no sunbeds, no music
Psarou Beach
Mykonos's celebrity beach — small, sheltered, exclusive. Nammos sunbeds start at €100 per pair and run into four figures for front-row. Come for the spectacle rather than the swim. Public walkways cross the sand so you can see it all without spending.
- Type
- Fine sand
- Length
- 150 m
- Depth
- Shallow — calm, sheltered bay
- Wind protection
- South-facing — sheltered from the meltemi (the summer N/NE wind); calm in summer, exposed only to rare southern winds
- Facilities
- Premium: the celebrity Nammos club anchors the beach. Superyachts in the bay.
Kalafati Beach
The Blue Flag beach on the east coast, 2 km from Ano Mera — the windsurf-and-kitesurf capital of Mykonos. 550 m of white sand with natural tree shade, a family atmosphere at the quieter end, and the reliable afternoon meltemi making it the island's top spot for wind sports. Much calmer than the south-coast party beaches.
- Type
- Fine white sand
- Length
- 550 m
- Depth
- Shallow to medium — some rocks at entry, sandy further out
- Wind protection
- East-facing — mostly sheltered from the meltemi (the summer N/NE wind); can be choppy on the strongest NE days
- Facilities
- Good: Blue Flag, tavernas, water sports centre, natural shade from tamarisk trees