Recently, I took a Cyclades catamaran cruise to several islands, but it did not include Mykonos. I couldn’t fathom spending time in this fabulous part of Greece without exploring the best things to do – Mykonos!
Second only to Santorini in popularity, Mykonos is famous in its own right. Sitting on the brilliant turquoise Aegean Sea, the small island is part of the Cyclades archipelago. It’s popularly known for its summer party atmosphere and has iconic landmarks including a row of 16th-century windmills which overlook Little Venice.
Mykonos is known as one of the best party islands in Greece – indeed, the clubs in Mykonos are known to be the best in Greece. But the island isn’t just for nightlife-seeking millennials; there’s something for everyone on the stunning island. Idyllic whitewashed blue-roofed homes with colorful doors. The villages across this Cycladic Island offer a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways, which were constructed as a way to confuse pirates.
Since we only had one day and one night and had to cram a lot in, we chose to stay and explore the area around Mykonos Old Town a.k.a. Chora. We had such a great time, and even with so little time, it’s one of my favorite Greek Islands!
Mykonos at a Glance
- Area: 33.01 mi²
- Language: Greek
- Postal codes: 846 00
- Region: South Aegean
- Population: 10,134
According to Greek mythology, the island is named after Mykonos, the grandson of Apollo, and was formed when Hercules defeated the Giants whose petrified bodies became the rocks that formed Mykonos Island.
Mykonos is called “The Island of the Winds,” since it tends to be breezy. It was downright windy when we were there.
Getting Around
There are frequent buses that cover the island, or you could rent a car, scooter, or ATV. Do NOT try to get a taxi…they are hard to find and very expensive.
We chose to explore Mykonos Town on foot.
Here are our favorite things to do – Mykonos:
Eat Greek Food
I’d been in Greece for three weeks and had yet to tuck into one of my very favorite foods – baklava. This rich, sticky Mediterranean/Middle Eastern pastry is made from layers of thin filo dough filled with a paste of nuts, sugar, and honey. I found a great big piece in the labyrinth of Old Town, found some empty stairs…and ate the whole thing! Yum.
We also ate octopus, spanakopita, and lots of feta.
If you can, and it’s not that hard, try to find a restaurant that fuses local cuisine with gorgeous views over the Aegean.
Note: food was a little more expensive in Mykonos than in some of the less touristy islands we’d visited, like Paros, Ios, and Koufonisia.
Find the Windmills
It wasn’t hard for us to find the windmills – we could see them from the window of our hotel room.
Throughout history, Mykonos was known across Greece for its wheat production. Six Kato Myli grain windmills overlook Little Venice dating back to the 16th century when they were essential to the island’s economy.
The white windmills are round and have thatched wooden roofs. They sit on a hill on the coastline where it is almost always windy. It’s a great spot to watch the sunset.
Stay at Dimele
We loved this boutique hotel overlooking Old Town! Our room had a nice view of the city and the sea, which was just a short walk.
Dimele Hotel had been recently renovated, and as a former interior designer, I was impressed with the simple, modern, but inviting décor.
And the owner could not have been nicer and more accommodating. She personally drove us to the airport in the wee hours of the morning…and had hot pastries waiting for us in the car! It just doesn’t get any better than that!
I highly recommend this hotel!
Explore the Old Harbor
There’s a semi-circle coast of Mykonos Town between the Old Port and Little Venice that is just delightful (see header photo). Attractive whitewashed buildings and alfresco restaurants hug the shore and there’s a small beach Agia Anna. We ate lunch here and spent a bit of time strolling and taking photos.
Now the old port is only reserved for fishermen and small boats. It’s a great place to people-watch if that’s your thing.
Toast the Sunset
The best place to watch the sunset is from a balcony hanging over the sea at one of the restaurants or bars in Little Venice. Be prepared…you have to make a reservation and there is a minimum charge at most of these to watch the sun disappear. It’s also a little more expensive in this area, but it’s worth it because you can order food and your favorite cocktail and enjoy the changing sky.
Old Town
Mykonos Town is also called the Chora, which is Greek for the town. The town is small and easy to explore in one day. It’s a veritable jumble of whitewashed buildings and narrow alleys so don’t be surprised if you get turned around. Apparently, both the extremely narrow streets and perplexing pattern were done to confuse pirates who were intent on raiding the town.
Little Venice
Little Venice was my favorite spot on Mykonos. Picturesque 18th-century fishing houses are cantilevered over the sea. While these houses were originally used by sea merchants, most are now occupied by restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops. This place is a bustling array of tourists as night falls.
As mentioned above, be sure to book a table in advance if you want to dine on authentic Greek cuisine while enjoying the bright-hued colors of the sunset.
Mykonos has its own Little Venice in the town itself.
Little Venice is the best place for your Instagram moment!
Beaches
Mykonos is legendary for its beautiful beaches. Because of time limitations, and because it was far too windy to swim, we chose to walk to Megali Ammos beach in Mykonos Town, close to our hotel and about a 15-minute walk south of the windmills. It was pretty, of course, but some of the beaches that are farther away, like Paradise Beach, Psarou Beach, Ornos Beach, and Elia Beach are said to be more beautiful and can be easily reached by bus.
Conclusion
While Mykonos is a small island, you really need a minimum of two days to thoroughly enjoy all that it has to offer. I do hope to go back and see what I missed.
All photos ©Kary Kern unless otherwise indicated.
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About the Author
Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.
Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.
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