There’s an incredible range of things to do in Mykonos, that it is easy to see why it is a travelers’ favorite and why they often including it their Greece itinerary. There is plenty to see, do, and taste, whether one chooses to explore the Island of the Winds by boat, car or even on foot.
Mykonos beaches are among some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean. The scenery of the island is gorgeous and dramatic. There’s many lovely and quaint coastal villages. Top this off with historic sites and it is easy to see why more and more people are booking their holidays in Mykonos.
But there’s more. Youngsters who visit this Cycladic gem will be amazed by its legendary, wild party scene. VIPs from the international jet set cruise around the island to get a good taste of it; to see and be seen. Mykonos is vibrant and has an incredible upbeat feel.
This post highlights all the coolest things to do in Mykonos, with plenty of tips to make the most of it.
Going to the beach is a must when in Mykonos
Seventeen Fun Things To Do In Mykonos
Enjoy Mykonos beaches
Picturesque coves with unspoiled natural beauty, pristine sandy beaches, and crystal clear waters distinguish Mykonos’s coastal landscape. Going to the beach is a must when spending the holidays in Mykonos. I know my beaches – I am from Sardinia! So I guess my opinion can be trusted on this one.
There are more than 30 beaches on the island, so it is easy to find one that will suite anyone’s needs, tastes and likes. There’s party and cosmopolitan beaches; just as well there’s family style and remote ones. Some of the best beaches in Mykonos have luxury sun beds and golden sands; others have sea-side tavernas, restaurants and bars. And on an island with such clear waters and regular wind, watersports are a fun activity.
Here’s a selection of the best beaches in Mykonos
Platis Gialos
This beach is located just 5km southeast of the Chora (or Mykonos Town). What makes this wide beach one of the best beaches in Mykonos is the ease of access (there’s direct buses to and from other beaches, such as Super Paradise) and the fact that there’s a lot of eateries. As I will point out later, food is delicious in Mykonos, so Platis Gialos is a must!
Ornos Beach
There’s many family-friendly Mykonos beaches, and Ornos is one of them. It’s located 3 km south of Mykonos town and there’s plenty of family-run tavernas serving fresh seafood and tsipouro (a pomace brandy). You can even go on a fishing trip on a traditional boat from here.
Psarous Beach
Psarous is the trendiest among Mykonos beaches. It’s located 5 km southeast of Chora, the sand is beautiful and there’s plenty of restaurants for the foodies.
Paraga Beach
What makes Paraga Beach one of the best beaches in Mykonos (and one of the busiest as well) is the combination of alluring waters, fine sand and the plethora of places to enjoy a drink or cocktail, and delicious food. The beach is located on the southeast side of the island (6 km from Mykonos Town).
Elia Beach
Elia is the longest beach in Mykonos, with prepossessing waters inviting surfers and swimmers alike; lots of parking space and frequent buses running from and to Mykonos Town, alongside the scenic villages of Elia and Platis Gialos in close proximity.
Could this be one of the best beaches in Mykonos?
Paradise Beach
At only 6 km south of Chora there’s Paradise Beach, a young and party beach that turns into a partygoers’ hotspot after sunset. Here, there’s more than enough bars spilling out onto the sand. If partying is one of the things to do in Mykonos, this once gay beach is the go-to place for those who want to have the ultimate fun from sunrise until well after midnight. Go in the late afternoon to join the parties with top DJs while dancing on the beach until the early morning hours!
Super Paradise
Super Paradise is supposed to be the most gay-friendly beach in Mykonos with plenty of action and several bars keeping the beat up after the sun goes down or slightly before that! The beach is located 7 km southeast of Mykonos Town. It can be reached by taking a small boat from Paradise Beach and Platis Gialos.
If you’d like to learn more about Mykonos’s LGBTQ-friendly scene, try this guided beach tour.
Agios Ioannis
Mykonos can get crazy busy at times, but you’ll manage to escape the crowds. Agios Ioannis is a superb option for those in search of a beautiful, quiet beach away from the noise and craziness of the most cosmopolitan Super Paradise and Paradise beaches. Situated 5 km south of the Chora, its narrow strip of sand and the peaceful tavernas provide a more laid-back side of Mykonos. The same applies to Agrari Beach (10 km southeast of the Chora) and Fokos Beach (13 km northeast of Mykonos Town). Easy to see why they are considered the best beaches in Mykonos.
Megali Ammos
Winsurfing is a must when in Mykonos. Megali Ammos is one of the best beaches for that, as it often gets quite windy there. It boasts really nice sand, and it is only a short walk from Mykonos town (500 meters away). While there, don’t miss out on the opportunity to grab a bite at Ioanna’s Nikos Taverna on the beach. It’s one of the best restaurants in Mykonos: the food is fantastic!
Make sure to visit the windmills when in Mykonos!
Learn about Mykonos history and traditions in Mykonos Town
If you are a fan of history and culture, you’ll be in for a treat. From the whitewashed houses with the bougainvillea-filled windows and labyrinth-like cobbled streets of Mykonos Town to the impressive chapels with the distinct sea-blue doors perched along the hills of a breath-taking topography, there are so many things to impress visitors.
Make sure to go in search of the traditional Cycladic architectural style, which has remained untouched throughout the years mainly due to the building regulations that apply on the island. The streets are lined with art galleries, boutiques, little shops, stylish bars, and restaurants while 15th century castle ruins safeguard the island and, of course, dazzle with their subtle power.
To learn more about Mykonos’s history, try a guided tour like these:
- Authentic Mykonos Half-Day Tour
- Mykonos Walking Tour
- Highlights of Mykonos Tour
- Mykonos Jeep Safari
- 4-Hour Private Tour of Mykonos
Make sure to spot Peter. He loves posing for photos
Take a stroll around the Old Port
A walk around the Old Port is a must towards the end of the day. There, you’ll find plenty of cafés and restaurants overlooking the sea where you can have dinner or a late night drink, and you’ll be able to board the ferries to Delos island. The harbor is also home to Mykonos’ mascot, Peter the Pelican, who’s often seen around there. He’s very friendly and you can take photos.
One of the nicest things to do in Mykonos is enjoying a sunset drink in Little Venice
Enjoy sunset from Little Venice
Mykonos can be very romantic, especially in Little Venice. This is the most charming neighborhood of Mykonos, with houses built above the waves right up to the edge of the water, and ravishing Venetian wooden balconies overhanging the sea. Little Venice is an awe-inspiring spot on the island that also provides exceptional views of the sun sliding behind the horizon. I am a big fan of sunsets, so I know where to go! And while there, a sunset drink is a must!
Visit the famous Windmills of Chora
The windmills of Chora are probably the most photographed attraction in Mykonos. Once used to mill wheat, they now stand as proud reminders of their history, with some of them being turned into museums and others housing their new residents. Only 7 windmills remain nowadays, and though their sight is gorgeous, the view from there isn’t half bad either. Watching the windmills is one of the must when in Mykonos.
Mykonos is packed with pretty churches
And all the beautiful churches
The whole island of Mykonos is scattered with beautiful churches and while you may not visit them all, make sure to explore at least the most famous ones, such as the Monastery of Panagia Tourliani in Ano Mera; and Panagia Paraportiani and Agios Nikolaos in Mykonos Town.
Visiting Delos is a must when in Mykonos
Visit the archeological site of Delos
I am a massive fan of archaeological sites – the Roman Forum in Rome; Machu Picchu in Peru; the City of David in Jerusalem: I love learning the history and even the legends of the places I am visiting. Thus, a must when visiting Mykonos is going to Delos – the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis (gods of light and the wilderness respectively) according to Greek Mythology.
Today, Delos is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is only a 30-minute ferry boat ride from Mykonos. A visit typically includes entrance to the Doric Temple, Delos synagogue, the Temple of Delians, and Minoan Fountain. It’s incredible how such a small island was once the most significant spiritual centre of ancient Greece: visiting is what to do in Mykonos to learn more about Greek history.
Here are some great tour options from Mykonos to Delos:
- Morning Delos Guided Tour
- Evening Delos Guided Tour
- From Mykonos: Ancient Delos Tour
- 4-Hour Tour from Mykonos to Delos
- 3-Hour Sunset Cruise to Delos
- Delos Day Trip from Mykonos
Go on a boat trip to Delos and Rhenia
Delos, where the beautiful archeological site is located, and Rhenia, famous for its clear waters, are very close to Mykonos. They can be visited on a boat trip that departs daily from Mykonos harbor, and during the trip you have a chance of seeing the archeological site from the boat, and swim in the pristine waters of Rhenia.
These are the best boat tours in Mykonos:
Chora is packed with lovely boutiques
Go shopping
Shopaholics are bound to have a great time in Mykonos, which is packed with designer stores, jewelries, art galleries and souvenir shops. Of course, prices aren’t exactly cheap – but if budget is not an issue, give it a go!
Table with a view: one of the nicest things to do in Mykonos is enjoying a lovely dinner
Eat all the amazing food
I absolutely love Greek food. At some point, years ago when I had a Greek boyfriend, I cooked Greek food every day. He was quite pleased with it, so I take it that I was doing a good job. Anyways, enjoying local food is a must when in Mykonos. And I think one of the best ways to learn about a place and its culture is via its food (hence why I ate all the food in Cuba, for example!).
The good news is that Mykonos is literally covered in restaurants offering divine dishes, excellent service, and amazing sea views. Here’s a selection of the best restaurants in Mykonos for those who want to have a culinary adventure (or just feed their hunger with great food).
The best restaurants in Mykonos
Funky Kitchen well deserves a mention among the best restaurants in Mykonos. It serves Mediterranean dishes with a funky twist on an isolated outdoor terrace in Mykonos town. Undoubtedly one of the most creative fusion restaurants on the island. Their signature dishes? Octopus Carpaccio with pink peppercorns; cumin fava beans with a rack of lamb; seared tuna with eggplant mousse; and chocolate nirvana (dessert). Just the name is enough to make my mouth water.
Pepper is one of the best restaurants in Mykonos for a quick snack or lunch in Little Venice. Everything is nice and clean, and prepared with high-quality ingredients in the open kitchen right in front of customers’ eyes. Recommendations? The gourmet burgers and gyros (pita bread with grilled lamb or chicken, onions, tomatoes, tzatziki) rock!
Trying local specialties is one of the things to do in Mykonos
Uno Con Carne is an elegant restaurant with a spacious outdoor terrace and a steak-focused menu in Mykonos Town. Filet mignon, NY strip steak, and T-bone are some of the flavours to which customers can treat their taste buds. There’s an impressive oyster bar and wine list too – hence why it is one of the best restaurants in Mykonos.
Hippie Fish is the place to go for fish and seafood. This is a large, casual, beachfront restaurant located on Agios Ioannis Beach, with plenty of seafood dishes and traditional Greek tastes. Customers can sit under the thatched roof and enjoy the catch of the day, along with Mykonos sausages (louza), Aegean paella, and stuffed squid (kalamari): quite easily one of the best restaurants in Mykonos.
Last but not least, among the best restaurants in Mykonos there are Nikolas Taverna (Agia Anna Beach), La Cucina di Daniele (Ano Mera), Buddha Bar (Ornos), Kiki’s Taverna (Agios Sostis Beach), Avli tou Thodori (Platis Gialos Beach), and Nammos (Psarou Beach), which has gorgeous views of the Aegean sea.
Here are some great food-related tours or activities in Mykonos:
- Traditional Lunch or Dinner at the Mykonian Spiti
- Mykonos Cooking Class
- Mykonos Catamaran Sailing with Food and Drinks
Try Greek wine
A proper meal of Greek food is going to taste much better if you accompany it with Greek wine. Wine tasting around the island is fairly inexpensive. You can definitely have your share at a good bar or restaurant, and even visit a vineyard!
Learn a few words of Greek
Greek isn’t exactly an easy language to learn. I studied classical Greek for a whopping 5 years in high school, and had a long relationship with a Greek man, so I have learned a few things here and there. Make sure to know at least the basics:
Kalimera – Good morning
Kalispera – Good evening
Kalinichta – Good night
Efharisto – Thank you
Parakalo – Please
Nerò – Water (Ena potiri nero, parakalo: a glass of water, please)
Pos pas sto… – How do I get to…
Party till you drop
Going to Mykonos and not going to at least one party is like ordering a pizza without mozzarella cheese! Quite simply, one of the top things to do in Mykonos is partying. Those looking for some fun, great cocktails, lots of champagne to shower with or drink, and dance floors open from the wee hours of the morning until well after dawn, have an incredible choice. Among the best clubs there are Cavo Paradiso (Paradise Beach); Super Paradise Beach Club (Super Paradise Beach); Babylon (Mykonos Town); Kalua Beach Bar (Paraga Beach) and Paradise Beach Club (Paradise Beach).
One of the most fun things to do in Mykonos is befriend all the local kitties
Pet the cats
Like in the rest of Greece, many cats live in Mykonos. I am a cat lady proper, and it’s pretty much inevitable that I end up befriending, feeding and cuddling the cats wherever I go, Mykonos included. I don’t recommend sharing your food with the cats – human food is packed with salt which is actually bad for these lovely felines. But you can definitely buy some cat food in one of the shops. And if you really want to do your share for the cats and dogs of Mykonos, you can even make a donation to the Mykonos Animal Welfare.
Do water sports…and not only!
I am obsessed with swimming and I love water sports. One of the greatest things to do in Mykonos is practicing water sports. But there’s more! Swimming, snorkeling, and windsurfing are obviously incredible activities, but other things to do in Mykonos are the super family-friendly, fun and informative cooking classes, where wine flows abundantly. I find that learning how to cook traditional Greek food is a great way to get to know the culture of the country.
Other things to do in Mykonos include yacht/catamaran cruises to nearby islands of Delos, Ios, Naxos, Paxos and Rhenia, which may easily turn into an after-dark party with BBQs and lots of music; horse riding through the most beguiling areas of the islands, and even enjoying the views from above with a private helicopter tour. There are so many surprising ways to explore this lovely island.
Here are some fun, aquatic adventures to try:
Go on a bike tour
One of the nicest things to do in Mykonos is going on a bike tour. There are various ones that depart daily and that are suitable for various levels of fitness – what you pick is ultimately up to you and to the heat of the season: if it is summer, you will want to avoid the longest or toughest tours, but on the other hand you may also end up at the beach and cool off with a swim. Try this bike tour.
Enjoying a bit of luxury is one of the nicest things to do in Mykonos
Experience luxury at its finest
One of the perks of holidays in Mykonos is the possibility of staying at a fantastic property. This means having the opportunity to make reservations on practically everything one may want to do (i.e. get VIP access to private parties or get beach-front loungers) and enjoying the life of Hollywood stars and celebs that also maintain elite holiday properties in Mykonos.
Make sure to stay at a luxury villa when in Mykonos. There are many exclusive, spacious villas that overlook the Aegean, and that offer incredible views of the sea and the raw beauty of the island. They obviously have all amenities to make the stay comfortable – infinity pools; fully equipped kitchens; roomy bedrooms; and private pergolas. Everything is designed with grandeur, following the Cycladic architecture and keeping in mind that the ultimate aim is making guests comfortable.
Here are some of the best villas in Mykonos:
- Amallini Complex – a gorgeous villa with an outdoor swimming pool, hot tub and terrace overlooking the sea.
- Mermaid Luxury Villas Alana – overlooking the Aegean sea, it’s built in Cycladic style.
- O Lofos Luxury Boutique Suites – there are 3 apartments in the complex: from small and basic, though fully equipped; to large and even more comfortable.
Other Useful Information
When to visit Mykonos
Any time is a good time to visit Mykonos. If you are a beach bum, the summer months are definitely the best, but keep in mind it may get crowded. To enjoy a bit of everything, May and September, and depending on the season even October, are perfect: it won’t be too hot so you can easily explore, but there will be less crowds. And it will be significantly cheaper to get there and to stay there!
How to get to Mykonos
By plane
Mykonos is well connected to the rest of Greece, with direct flights from Athens and Thessaloniki. During the summer months, budget airlines usually have flights from many European cities. You can book an airport transfer here.
By ferry
Ferries depart regularly from Athens ports Piraeus and Rafina. The trip lasts around 3 hours on the high speed ferry, or 5 on the regular one. There are also ferries to and from other Cycladic islands.
To book your high speed ferry from Athens, click here.
To book your high speed ferry from Santorini, click here.
How to get around Mykonos
Once in Mykonos, shuttles, a few taxis, boat taxis and buses will help you move around the island. You can also rent a scooter or a car. Check out the prices of car rental here.
Have you ever been to Mykonos? What did you like the most about it?
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Beautiful place. So calm and relaxing. Mykonos looks like a perfect refuge for retrospection.
I totally agree!
Hi Claudia, Could you pls help how we can visit these places? is there any taxi service? or boat?
Hi Ravi! Getting around Mykonos is fairly easy. There is a network of buses going around the island. There are taxis that have meters but there aren’t many. Platis Gialos boat service goes around the island to take you to some of the best beaches. Alternatively – if you want to be completely independent – you can rent a car or a scooter. Hope this helps!
Mykonos is a beautiful island but unfortunately gets loads of tourists during summer. Pretty much like Santorini actually. I guess traveling off-season is a much better option. Thank you for sharing your experience 🙂
Let’s go to Skopelos instead!!