A plan for Mykonos

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.

Orientation

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.

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'.

Attractions in Mykonos Town

1 The Windmills, Mykonos Town (western part of town). 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 (Alefkandra), Mykonos Town (most western part of town). 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.

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. Cost is €25 return as of April 2025. 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. The cost is €17 for the boat trip plus €5 for entrance (though free for students and €3 for those over 65). A guided tour, departing at 10:00 from the pier in Mykonos, will cost €40 (including boat trip and entrance fee). 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. There are beach-to-beach cruises (€35), sunset cruises (€25) and cruises to Delos and Rhenia (€35).

Check the ferry schedules well, but it is possible to make daytrips to the islands of Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos.

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.

Mykonos Town

Appaloosa Bar & Restaurant, 11 Mavrogenous, Plateia Goumenio, Mykonos Town (centre of town), ☏ +30 22890 27086, appaloosamykonos@yahoo.gr. 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, Ano Mera Country Road (in the main square), ☏ +30 22890 71007. 05:00-22:00 daily. 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 (updated Apr 2025)

Bakalo, 84 Lakka, Mykonos Town (150m down from the southern bus station), ☏ +30 22890 78121, info@bakalo.gr. Moderately priced Greek eatery.

Eva's Garden, Plateia Goumenio, Mykonos Town (centre of town), ☏ +30 22890 22160, fax: +30 22890 27060, evas.myconos@yahoo.gr. Daily 18:00-01:00. 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, Svoronou, Mykonos Town (near the harbour, next to Porta Bar), ☏ +30 22890 28220. Open from 20:00. A small fish tavern in a garden setting. Fresh fish accompanied by Greek salads at a reasonable price. You can select your dish from the limited menu or choose your seafood from the catch of the day. Often full.

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

Bars in Mykonos Town

Argo Bar, Manto Square (1st floor), Mykonos Town ('taxi square', above Camares restaurant), ☏ +30 22890 28766, argobarmykonos@gmail.com. Open from 22:00 till late. Friendly club with loud dance music.

Astra Bar, Tria Pigadia, Mykonos Town (heart of town), ☏ +30 22890 24767, info@astra.org.gr.

Caprice, Agion Anargyron Street, Mykonos Town (Little Venice), ☏ +30 22890 23541. 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, Agion Anargyron Street, Mykonos Town (Little Venice), ☏ +30 22890 23804. Open from 22:00 to 03:30. 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, Agion Ioannis Barkia, Mykonos Town (near Nikos Taverna), ☏ +30 22890 22669, info@skandinavianbar.com. 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. Friendly atmosphere, excellent service and - not unimportant - drinks at the best prices (large beer €5).

Thalami, Mykonos Town (old port, under Mykonos' Town Hall and next to Nikos tavern). Open from 22:00 till late. Popular bar with Greek music.

Gay bars and nightclubs

Babylon, Paraportiani waterfront, Mykonos Town (old harbour, next to Jacky O'), ☏ +30 22890 25152. Open from 10:00 till late. 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'. Beer €6.

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. Bus tickets are between €1 and €3. Tickets for night buses are €2. 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.

Mykonos is generally a safe island, with the only problem of dangerous and drunk driving. Be aware in case you want to rent a motorbike or quadbike, because its roads are sometimes narrow with sudden twists that need driving experience and extra care.

Police, ☏ +30 22890 22235.

Mykonos Hospital, Mykonos Town (uphill from town, about 1km along the road to Ano Mera), ☏ +30 22890 23998. The public hospital in Mykonos has a 24-hour emergency service with pathologists, surgeons, pediatricians, dentists, and X-ray technicians.

Sea Dialysis Mykonos, Aggelika, 84 600 (outside the town centre on the road towards Ornos Beach), ☏ +30 22890 27350, fax: +30 22890 28580, info@seadialysis.com. Mon-Sat 07:30-17:00. Clinic for dialysis patients with private and semi-private stations for both HD and HDF dialysis. European Health Insurance Cards (EEIC) accepted. (updated May 2023)

Mykonian Health Private Medical Centre, Dexamenes, Mykonos Town (outside the town centre), ☏ +30 22890 27407, +30 22890 27464, +30 22890 24211, fax: +30 22890 27407, enquiry@mykonos-health.com. Daily 08:00-23:30.

Sea Medical Private Health Clinic, Aggelika, 84 600 (outside the town centre on the road towards Ornos Beach), ☏ +30 22890 27350, fax: +30 22890 28580, info@seamedical.gr. Mon-Sat 08:00-20:00. Private health clinic offering outpatient therapeutic and diagnostic services including PCR tests. (updated Jun 2021)