Mykonos is an ideal location for beachside parties, luxury resorts and fine dining experiences. Its charming narrow streets and windmills create an idyllic landscape.
Celebrities and their entourages typically visit during peak summer season, filling beaches, clubs and restaurants across the island with their presence. But it has a quieter side that many cherish.
One of the most eye-opening discoveries are small museums, traditional churches and an unusual folk museum hidden away inside an average Mykonos home.
Nightlife
Mykonos is known for being an exciting hedonistic destination with world-class nightclubs and high-end parties lasting well into the early hours. Yet the island offers less touristy alternatives for those looking for more laidback evening experiences; including cocktail bars, beach clubs and movie theaters to choose from.
For an unforgettable night of dancing, Mykonos’ Scandinavian Bar is an essential stop. While its upstairs area can get packed and the music loud, there is also an inviting patio outside where guests can sit back and sip without feeling overrun by strangers.
Negrita Bar provides an intimate setting, set along the water near windmills and offering breathtaking views. Here you can sip cocktails while taking in some sea air while listening to live music in the background.
At 54 Cocktail Bar & Sunset Lounge, partying can also happen! This upscale bar draws in young crowds who come here for drinks while watching the sun go down. Though this establishment may be pricey, its handcrafted signature cocktails make up for any potential cost overruns.
Astra, an eclectic combination of lounge bar and hip club, stands out for its mesmerizing fiberoptic ceiling that gives the impression of night skies pulsing to music’s beat. There’s also an exclusive VIP section to get closer to their DJs.
Cine Manto offers an enjoyable alternative for an evening filled with partying; its open-air cinema located within an entrancing garden setting makes the ideal spot to unwind and watch movies while taking a breather from all the festivities.
If you want a truly memorable Mykonos nightlife experience, make your way over to The Queen of Mykonos street bar for an exceptional and unique nightlife. Enjoy a friendly environment and an array of drinks while making new acquaintances during an enjoyable casual evening at this fun street bar!
Beaches
Mykonos’ rocky beaches provide more than just an opportunity for sunbathing: most are lined with umbrellas and sunbeds for rent, while many hotels and bars have seafront lounges offering music as you unwind. Most offer calm, crystal-clear waters perfect for swimming or water sports such as windsurfing; others are nude-friendly making for great windsurfing spots while on Mykonos’ northern coast they offer more tranquil moments in seclusion.
Kalafatis Beach is one of the finest Mykonos beaches, boasting an idyllic stretch of sand near a tiny village with relatively less tourism. A selection of small restaurants and cafes line its shore, while there’s enough space for personal blankets if sunbeds or umbrellas aren’t your cup of tea. Plus, windsurfing enthusiasts love coming here on windier days!
On the opposite end of Mykonos Island lies Ornos Beach. Once home to an active fishing village, Ornos attracts families. Mykonos is home to one of Mykonos’s largest beaches – its sandy stretches can become quite crowded during high season; but you’re sure to find somewhere quiet enough for sunbathing your towel on this stretch of coastline. Additionally, numerous restaurants and cafes provide food and beverages, and watersport rental outfits provide windsurfing experiences.
Ornos Beach in Mykonos boasts several hip beach clubs, making it easy to spot celebrities. Close to Mykonos city and boasting its own marina, Ornos is often filled with luxury yachts parked along its shores.
If you want to party hard, look no further than Super Paradise Beach with its famous Jackie O Beach Club and famous dancing until dawn scene. From July and August it becomes even livelier with Champagne-sipping crowds and nonstop dance music!
Fokos Beach provides an enjoyable, less hectic beach experience, with several tavernas, camping sites and toes-in-the-sand bars that serve refreshments all day long.
Shopping
Mykonos offers an abundance of shopping opportunities from high-end designer boutiques to local shoe stores. Here, you can find anything from the perfect dress or piece of jewelry – there’s truly something here for everyone on this idyllic island!
Mykonos’ picturesque whitewashed streets are lined with shops offering everything from souvenirs to luxurious designer clothing and shoes, drawing celebrities and VIPs. Matogianni Street is home to several high-end labels; however, don’t be intimidated into exploring other areas in Mykonos to uncover any hidden gems!
Mykonos’ fashion scene is heavily influenced by its Greek heritage, with designers often including elements from Greek tradition into their designs. Scorpios Bazaar offers clothing designed in Mykonos style as well as jewelry and homewares to purchase at great prices.
Lalaounis is another highly acclaimed Mykonos shop. Situated in the old part of Mykonos and offering pieces steeped in history, Lalaounis is run by two sisters who specialize in creating unique pieces using both old and new techniques to craft beautiful masterpieces.
Zouganeli in Mykonos town offers something more unusual: art and furniture sales. Famously known for its wood and rope art as well as Greek-themed interior design elements. You can also purchase local products here such as the well-known Kopanisti cheese or sweet apricot liqueur!
Soho-Soho Boutique in Mykonos offers an exquisite shopping experience. Their collection features brands like Dior, Alexander Wang and Herve Leger. Additionally, there’s friendly staff ready to assist in finding your ideal vacation outfits at this boutique on Matogianni Street at number 81; prices are also reasonably priced so that shopping in Mykonos won’t break your budget!
Hora
Mykonos is an iconic Greek island and a glamorous retreat, boasting luxurious hotels with pools that blend into the blue horizon, designer boutiques, exquisite restaurants serving haute cuisine and sophisticated nightclubs/beach bars that offer dancing till dawn.
Mykono’s main town, known locally as Chora (Greek for “town”), showcases some of the finest examples of Cycladic architecture. Nestled into an intricate maze of narrow lanes designed to disorient raiders are white cube-shaped houses topped by colorful wooden balconies and cascades of bougainvillea that appear around every corner. There are also numerous tiny churches sporting vibrant blue and dark red domes – some locals claim there are over 700 on Mykono alone! There is also plenty of churchs adorned with blue and dark red domes jostling for space with glossy boutiques
Visitors should see the town’s windmills and iconic lighthouse, both situated at the tip of an island. A stop by Aegean Maritime Museum will reveal barnacle-encrusted amphorae, ancient navigation maps and instruments as well as detailed models of famous sailing ships – housed within an 18th-century sea captain’s house this moderately interesting museum also offers furnishings and other artefacts from yesteryear.
Matogianni Street is another highlight. Named for the distinguished family who once owned it, this wide street offers elegant Venetian mansions, brightly-hued bougainvillea blooms and endless picturesque stairways – creating an almost magical ambience.
Before the cruise ships arrive and Hora becomes overwhelmed with tourists, head down to Yialos waterfront for an early morning slice of authentic Mykonos: fishing boats returning with their daily haul and locals greeting one another with smiles and waves as fishmongers sell fresh catch from long marble slabs – this experience won’t soon be forgotten!