What to do in Mykonos

Mykonos can be a magical place whether you are 18 or 80. There’s a spell the island seems to cast from the moment you step onto the airport tarmac or slide into their famous Mercedes taxis, winding your way towards those iconic windmills. This guide features tips for what to do in Mykonos from where to stay, eat, explore and play on the infamous Greek island, so you can create your own magical Mykonos itinerary.

Skye Gilkeson

A beautiful quiet morning exploring the Old Port in Mykonos, Greece. Image © Skye Gilkeson

My first visit to Mykonos was as an 18-year-old backpacker. I still remember the visit clearly.

We stayed in a stiflingly hot cabin without air conditioning at Super Paradise Beach, danced in the sand and immersed ourselves in the legendary Mykonos all-night parties.

My most recent visit was very different and the island had become so too.

It’s much more sophisticated these days, but it still has that same vibe; a feeling that makes you want to let your hair down, chat with the locals and introduce yourself to perfect strangers across a bar or restaurant.

You know you are going to have fun when you walk the streets of the island, no matter how much party stamina you have.

A little older and potentially a little wiser, we became acquainted with the island and fell in love with it all over again, in a new way. While well-known for its nightlife scene, when it comes to what to do in Mykonos, it’s totally up to your personal pace.

While it can get wild in the early hours is also a beautiful place to spend long summer days; relaxing by a rooftop pool, road-tripping to its beautiful beach clubs or spending hours people-watching over a glass of wine.

Andrew was proud of his flashy red whip. Parked around the corner from Kiki’s Tavern, Mykonos. Image © Skye Gilkeson

How to Get to Mykonos

Flights to Mykonos connect through Athens from around Europe multiple times daily. The flight time from Athens to Mykonos is about 25 minutes.
Make sure you pre-book a taxi or car before you touch down in Mykonos as the taxis (those Mercedes I mentioned) are limited in number and you will need to line up for a while if you haven’t pre-booked.
Taxis around the island cost upwards of 10 euros (depending on how far you are going).
We booked a car for a couple of days during our stay with Pegasus as it was the most reasonably priced. The company also delivered the car to our hotel which was a really nice touch. Make sure you get insurance as the streets are notoriously narrow with solid brick walls flanking most.
Quad bikes are a popular way to traverse the island. Make sure your travel insurance covers motorbikes and quads, you wear a helmet and don’t drive drunk. There are many serious accidents on the island that you won’t see on anyone’s Instagram feed.

Mykonos Ferries

During the peak summer season (May-September), the Athens to Mykonos ferry leaves from Piraeus port in Athens, travelling to Mykonos town up to six times daily. Fast boats take about 3.5 hours from Athens to Mykonos. Hydrofoils take two hours. Prices range from about 20-70 euros.
The Mykonos to Athens ferry leaves in the early afternoon, as do the faster boats, so you’ll have enough time to enjoy breakfast, check out and get down to the Tourlos area port, 2 kilometres from town.
The Mykonos to Santorini ferry takes anywhere from about 2 hours to 4 hours, depending on which of the Greece ferry companies you book with. Of course, the bigger your budget, the faster you will get there. The same is obviously the case if you are looking to book a private boat from Mykonos to Santorini.
Mykonos to Milos takes about 3 to 5 hours by ferry (depending on whether you catch the fast boat) or a quick 1-hour flight. Here is a quick guide for what to do in Milos.
If you are planning your Mykonos itinerary and your wider Greek Islands itinerary ahead of time, you can plan your multiple-stop trip using the tool here.

The breathtaking view from our room over Ornos Bay at Santa Marina Mykonos. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Where to Stay in Mykonos

Santa Marina Mykonos

Whether you are on your honeymoon, looking to impress your significant other or simply want to splurge, Santa Marina Mykonos is the perfect hotel.

I still dream about our stay at Santa Marina. With the beauty of the resort itself, the personable service and the unrivalled location, it quickly became one of my favourite hotels in the world and remains so today.

During your stay, they will book restaurants, beach club beds, Mykonos day tours, boat transfers, day trips from Mykonos and car hair for you. The list is endless. Read our full experience here.

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Belvedere Mykonos

Belvedere luxury hotel is the perfect choice for those who want to stay in the heart of Mykonos town, which is considered by many to be the best area to stay in Mykonos.

The property offers a range of rooms and villas looking out to the pool or straight to the sparkling Aegean.

With yoga programs and packages and a beautiful in-house gym, guests can work off all of those cocktails or relax in the stunning Six Senses spa.

Stroll the streets of Mykonos town from the hotel’s front door or relax at the rooftop pool and take in the sunset panorama.

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Complimentary wine waiting for the growing line of guests waiting outside Kiki’s Tavern, Mykonos. Image © Skye Gilkeson

The Best Restaurants in Mykonos

Kiki’s Tavern | Agios Sostis Beach

I was a little sad when people started to catch on to Kiki’s. It’s such a special spot but one that would add a little local flavour to your Mykonos itinerary.

There are no advanced bookings at Kiki’s. Lunch starts at about 12.30 pm but you need to join the line well before 12pm to get into any of the seating (they limit the number of people they serve each day).

Wine is served to customers as they wait and many make their way to the beach below for a quick pre-lunch dip.

The food is simple, fresh, delicious, and very affordable. The Kiki’s experience is one you can’t miss while on the island.

Nice n Easy

We had a delicious long lunch at Nice n Easy. The restaurant really lived up to its name, although tasty or healthy could be added in there as well.

The food is organic, farm-to-fork, and gluten-free and when you sit down to eat you’ll find it obvious your meal was made consciously with care. The restaurant’s location is also ideal, right at the feet of the iconic windmills.

Delicious local, organic, gluten-free food in Mykonos with a view of the windmills at Nice n Easy. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Buddha Beach Bar and Restaurant

Specialising in seafood, in particular beautifully crafted sashimi and sushi, Buddha Beach Bar and Restaurant is a fancy date night spot at Santa Marina Mykonos.

Those who aren’t in-house guests can book a table after 6 pm.

Get there promptly to catch the last of the sunset over a pre-dinner cocktail at the bar. It is one of the most glorious sunsets I have ever seen.

Gyros

Whether you’re on a budget or you just need a quick snack, you have to try gyros (rotisserie meat with tzatziki, salad, and chips on pitta) at least once during your time on the island.

For those partying until the early hours, you’ll find gyros answer that carbohydrate calls your body might be making.

Gyros Corner – O Pondos (Enoplon Dinameon) or Jimmy’s (Lakka) are both popular places.

Wait eagle-eyed for a table or better yet, grab yours to go and hunt down a quiet stoop in the back streets or spot on the water for a picnic.

The trademark red umbrellas at Nammos Beach Club, Mykonos shade a full beach. Image © Skye Gilkeson

The Best Beach Clubs in Mykonos

SantAnna Beach Club

SantAnna really is a choose-you-own-adventure type of venue. Located on Paranga Beach, just up the road from the famed Scorpios, SantAnna but a much more grand affair.

Boasting Europe’s biggest beachfront pool, take a dip in the 22,600-square-foot saltwater pool, book a cabana on the sand, or splurge on a private island experience. SantAnna is the typical Mykonos day club, amplified with no VIP experiential stone left unturned.

Nammos Beach Club

Save your pennies for a day at Nammos Beach Club and make sure you book a restaurant table, beds or cabana before you arrive. This place heaves with people in high summer.

A voyeur’s paradise, it’s definitely a case of less is more when you hit the sand at Nammos and that extends to the wait staff, baring all for their tips at they cart cocktails back and forth from the bar to the beach.

Nammos is the place to be seen in Mykonos with patrons dripping in labels and multi-million dollar boats bobbing just offshore. Settle in for a mid-morning tipple and stay for lunch or longer.

Parking is hard to find around Nammos as the roads are typically narrow, but there are a couple of car parks nearby (for about 10 euros a car).

Those with a generous budget or looking to impress would be better to book a boat through your hotel or Nammos directly.

Scorpios Beach

Located between Paraga and Kavos bays, about 20 minutes south of Mykonos town. Book a table at Scorpios for a beautiful organic, farm-to-table Mediterranean meal accompanied by a fresh cocktail or two at Scorpios.

Communal tables act as the heart of the open-air restaurant. Design elements pop from each of the spaces around Scorpios, from the restaurant to the terrace or the house.

You’ll want to recreate each when you get back home. A small cluster of rustic beach cabanas awaits on the water’s edge so you can sleep or swim off your meal afterwards. Get your hotel to book you in before you drive out. This is a popular spot.

Buddha Bar Beach

The private beach at Santa Marina Mykonos is an idyllic place to spend the day. Join guests of Santa Marina Mykonos at the beach club for the day by requesting a booking.

A chair at the exclusive Buddha Bar Beach Club will set you back about 100 euros per day. Settle into the sand, grab a casual meal or cocktails direct from the bar or reserve a table at the restaurant for dinner.

Wander the Mykonos streets in the early hours of the morning before the tourists wake. Image © Skye Gilkeson

What to Do in Mykonos

1. Wander the Mykonos Town Maze

Navigating the white-washed maze of Mykonos town is one of the highlights of your stay on the island. We found one of the best time to explore was before all of those sore heads rose out of bed.

We ran through the winding streets, carefully treading the cobblestones and taking in the breathtaking cubist shapes of each of the buildings, flushed with the fuchsia bougainvillaea or trimmed in trademark cobalt blue.

Once visitors and locals wake up the streets become chaotic and the face of the buildings change as store owners display their wares.

2. Check out the Mykonos Churches

Whether you are religious or not, the churches dotted around the island are a lovely part of the landscape to see.

We came upon a handful of churches by accident which can sometimes be the best way to find them.

Most are tucked away around the next corner so you’ll only be guided by a bell or a cross reaching above the rooftops towards the blue.

The Church of Panagia Paraportiani, Agios Nikolaos, and the Panachra Church are all a short walk from each other between the old port and Little Venice.

3. Say Hello to Petros the Pelican

The legend says the original Petros the Pelican was rescued by a fisherman back in 1954.

He nursed Petros back to health but Petros decided to hang around the town.

Petros passed away but has since been replaced will several other pelicans who act as mascots for Mykonos. This is definitely a must-do if you are in Mykonos with kids.

4. Find Your Favourite Mykonos Beach

The best beaches in Mykonos are historically considered the busy spots southeast of Mykonos town like Super Paradise and Paradise.

But there are a lot of less crowded beaches to the north like Houlakia and Fokos that would suit anyone hoping for a quiet Mykonos vacation.

Here is a great list of the best Mykonos beaches.

The island is easy to drive around you can visit a lot of beaches during your stay.

5. Visit Ano Mera

When you need a change of scenery or to add a little history to your Mykonos itinerary, jump in the car and head to Ano Mera for a visit.

Ano Mera is the second biggest village on the island after Mykonos town. Known for the Monastery Of Panagia Tourliani, the town square is also worth wandering through.

We ate lunch at one of the restaurants there but found the food to be much better in Mykonos town, so stop in for a coffee and jump back in the car.

6. Visit the Best Instagram Spots in Mykonos

Mykonos knows she’s pretty. It’s almost like she’s showing off as each new bend reveals a new beautiful building, a local’s smile you are dying to capture, or the indescribable hues of blue that shimmer just off the Old Port wall.

The best time to take photos in Mykonos is in the early hours of the morning for the Old Port, the windmills, and the quaint narrow streets of Little Venice.

The rest of the day you’ll find tourists swarming around every corner. You’ll need to get a spot early at one of the restaurants in Little Venice for that quintessential sunset shot too.

Book a Mykonos day tour or hire a boat for an hour and get snapping from the water back to the island will give you a unique perspective.

Also, don’t forget to stop in and join the quad bike riders who pull over on the Epar Od Mikinou road view-point which provides the ultimate panorama from the picturesque white-washed townscape to the horizon.

Pack your GoPro too to get those Instagrammable shots in the water and back to the beach. Take a virtual wander around Mykonos with me through this Mykonos Greece gallery.

Skye Gilkeson

Skye is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Fit Traveller.

She is a journalist, writer, photographer, intrepid traveller and a former personal trainer with a passion for helping others reach optimal health.

As a TV journalist and producer, Skye has worked for household names such as 60 Minutes, Sunrise, TODAY and Nine News. She has also written for Women’s Health, Fodor’s Travel and Yahoo7 Travel, among many others.

Equally comfortable in a 5-star resort or hiking a far-off mountain, Skye loves the unexpected and enriching life experiences that each trip brings and can often be found in a backstreet chatting to locals with her camera in hand.

Skye is based in Sydney, working to master the balance between motherhood and her appetite for adventure.