Mykonos

Everyone has heard of Mykonos, the most famous island in the Aegean and the most iconic destination in Greece. Satisfy your appetite for luxury and adventure in equal measure in this cosmopolitan island that provides whatever you desire! 

It has been attracting an international crowd like a magnet since the 1960s and voted a top summer holiday destination time and again for good reason: exceptional beaches, award-winning restaurants, legendary parties, expensive yachts, dreamy villas, luxury hotels and 5-star service. Mykonos will seduce you. Awash in its iridescent Aegean light, which it shares with neighbouring Delos, you will be transformed. Put your finger on its pulse and you’ll fall hopelessly in love.

What to do in Mykonos

Star power

It’s hard to imagine a time when Mykonos was a humble little island, without electricity, just a layover on the way to famous Delos. Things changed in the 1950s, with the arrival of the likes of Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas, Jackie O, Marlon Brando, Grace Kelly, Princess Soraya, Elizabeth Taylor, Nureyev, Pierre Cardin, Stavros Niarchos… legendary names of the international jet set that became associated with Mykonos. The island quickly became the favoured holiday destination in Greece for the super-rich, artists and movie stars.

And the list of celebrities continues to grow: Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, Shakira, Lady Gaga, Steven Spielberg, Monica Bellucci, Liam Neeson, Hugh Jackman, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Clive Owen, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Giorgio Armani, Russell Crowe…

Hip hip Hora!

Sparkling white with a blue Aegean backdrop, the island’s architecture is one of a kind. It extends into the little neighbourhoods of the island’s main town, Hora, with captains’ homes, old churches and wells. Everywhere you look, there’s a maze of whitewashed alleyways. In Gialos, you’ll find the famous pelicans, as well as Agios Nikolaos tis Kadenas, the Town Hall of 1780, and the imposing Mavrou School. Through Barkias, you will reach the Church of Panagia Paraportiani, a complex of five churches, completed in the 17th century.

Little Venice and the windmills

One of the most photographed spots on the island, Little Venice is made up of homes that were built in the 18th century and have their foundations in the sea. It has been said that pirates would store their loot here. Today they have been converted to bars and restaurants and the view of the sparkling Aegean Sea from their balconies is dazzling. Mykonos’ other main attraction is its windmills, which stand facing the sea and at night are beautifully lit up. Powered by the north wind, these windmills used to grind the island’s grain into flour until the early 20th century.

24-hour party people

In Mykonos anything’s possible. From Little Venice to Super Paradise, from Matogiannia to Psarou, Orno, Paradise… the party’s swinging all summer long. Day and night, spontaneous and organised, with guest DJs from all over the world. Holidays in Mykonos mean fun, fun, and more fun – champagne on the beach, cocktails on balconies, dancing and flirting until the sun comes up. 

Five-star luxury 

Mykonos is a luxury destination that has it all: elegant villas and suites with private pools that merge with the blue horizon, award-winning design, five-star service, gourmet gastronomy served to you on dreamy balconies, on a yacht or on a private pier. Hospitality here has reached a standard all of its own.

Street chic

Shopping in Hora is a high-fashion experience, during which you can find the latest collections from top design houses. Sitting in Matogiannia makes for some great people-watching. The colourful crowd comes and goes, streaming in and out of brightly lit stores, whether they’re just window-shopping or holding bags full of clothes. Could there be a more beautiful catwalk than the cobblestone streets of Mykonos’ Hora?

A feast fit for a king, with all the flavours of the Cyclades

In Mykonos, you will find some of the best restaurants in the Mediterranean. Award-winning chefs bring you a medley of local and international cuisines. Fresh, local ingredients, elegant and refined dishes inspired by the latest culinary trends, all paired with wines that would satisfy even the most selective palate.

Beautiful beaches

Green, blue and turquoise water, pebbly sand… some of the best beaches of the Aegean are found here. Agios Sostis, Kalafatis, Lia, Ornos, Paraga, Super Paradise, Ftelia, Psarou. By boat, car or on foot, you can get to cosmopolitan beaches or secluded coves. You’ll find all sorts of water sports: tubes, water-skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, parasailing, windsurfing… The choices of how to spend your day are endless.

Out, loud and proud: Gay-friendly Mykonos

In the 1970s, Jackie Onassis introduced Mykonos to her gay American friends. Being particularly open-minded, locals welcomed the gay community and Mykonos became known throughout the world as the most gay-friendly destination in Greece. 

Hidden gems of Mykonos

The other side to Mykonos

The Gyzi Castle in the hills of Paleokastro, the Neolithic settlement at Ftelia, the Myconian grave in Angelika, the ancient wells and ruins … all witness to the island’s great history and worth a visit.

The surrounding islets

Three small islands next to Mykonos that will enrich your holidays in Greece: Rineia, Tragonisi, Ktapodia. Full of tiny bays with emerald water and caves inhabited by the protected and rare Mediterranean monk seal.

Armenistis lighthouse

Dating back to 1891, this is one of the most interesting lighthouses in the Cyclades. It is worth making the trip on foot and seeing the old mechanism in the garden of the Aegean Maritime Museum in Hora. Spend an evening there and watch the sunset, one of the most beautiful in Greece.