World Travel Guide Online

Mykonooooooooooooooooooooos!!!

Welcome to the “windy” and most popular destination of the Greek Islands. Infamous for its nude beaches, crazy nightlife and gay-friendly hot spots, Mykonos is an island made for everyone! Whether you are a bohemian backpacker or posh after-hours club hopper, you will find every type of character loving life in Mykonos.

Mykonos is a white-washed cubic maze of madness mixed with the tranquillity of the beautiful blue sea. Just think of a Grecian Manhattan during the high seasons (April to Oct.) with every walk of life strolling around the Hora (Mykonos Town). But know that Mykonos has the same nightlife prices as London, New York and Stolkholm! Save up your Euros in Athens before you catch the ferry to the windmills of Mykonos.

“Even though Mykonos is the premiere gay destination of the Mediterranean you don’t have to be gay to go to Mykonos and have a great time. There are tons of heterosexual singles there too. Some may disagree, but I know there are far more straight people than Gay on Mykonos but all co-existing peacefully and with tolerance. Mykonos is a great place for singles of all persuasions to mix, and also a wonderful island in general.” From Greek Islands Schedules

How to Get There

Little Venice

Most travellers start their voyage to Mykonos from Athens either by plane or ferry. There are between 3 and 16 flights per day (duration: 40 minutes) from Athens with domestic airlines ranging in price according to season. Note: flying to Mykonos is a reliable option because ferries often are cancelled due to windy weather! But allow extra time, even when flying, 2 days or possibly more, because of the Meltemi Winds in July and August. If the flight back to your home country or your next destination is able to take off and you miss it, you may just be stuck in Mykonos – which isn’t all that bad.

From Pireaus (Athens), ferries leave 3 per day in the summer and daily in the winter (they also stop in Andros or Tinos. Duration: about 6 hours. Price: 18-28 Euros one way.

There are also Hydrofoil/Catamaran ferries that cost about 40 Euros one way, but have high wind restrictions (don’t take them if you get seasick easily!!)

From Rafina, there are also ferry boats, twice daily in summer, daily in the winter.

From Mykonos you can visit some of the Aegean islands including Crete, Rhodes, Ios, Samos, Mitilini, Santorini, and Iraklio. Also, consider hopping to Turkey from Mykonos via Rhodes or Samos.

How to Get Around

Depending on where you are staying in Mykonos, on the popular beaches or in town, there is a great bus system and enough taxis to take you around. You can also rent cars, 4-wheelers and motoscooters. The roads in Mykonos wind around the rocky terrain and are narrow to many foreigners. Travel time from Paradise Beach to Hora is about 20-25 minutes, so driving a motoscooter into town after the beach day partying and drinking has brought tourist vehicle accident fatalities to unfortunate high numbers. The best way to get around the Hora is by foot. Get lost in the cubic white maze and narrow walkways of town adorned with beautiful balconies and flowers hanging from the top.

Local Services

Along the harbour, there are Alpha, Ergo and many other banks situated near each other. There are also private doctors, a small hospital and medical clinics in the Hora. Tourist offices are found in many of the narrow pathways of town and three major internet cafes, one by the bus station, harbour, and by the windmills.

Local Attractions

Besides the 400 small white-washed chapels that cover Mykonos, there are plenty of local attractions to visit. The most popular destination is the tiny island of Delos, former ancient capital of the Aegean and only a 30 minute water-taxi ride from Hora. The most famous attraction is the four windmills, Kato Myli, situated along the coast of Hora, overlooking Little Venice. This is a great spot for the Mykonos sunsets and captures the essence of the island. Visit the Archaeological museum near Polykandrioti and the white fortress near Little Venice for a classic postcard picture!

Things to Do

Paradise Beach

Mykonos caters to a diverse crowd of people so there is always something to do for everyone. The most common past time is to go to the beaches! The most lively beaches are Paradise and Super Paradise Beach. There is chill lounge music from 10 to 4 p.m. and the whistles and bass kick in when the beach parties and Sasa the MC start at Tropicana Beach Bar-Paradise Beach at 5 p.m. and go on after the sun sets. Psarou Beach is a relaxed spot with great swimming, a taverna, massages under the trees and handmade jewelry vendors. Panoramos beach is great for windsurfing. Platis Gialos Beach has hotels and water sports. Ornos beach has many restaurants/ bars. Elia is lively among Greek tourists and Agios Sostis is the beach for total privacy. These are just some of the 20 beaches that Mykonos has to offer. Visit all of them if you can!

If beaches aren’t your bag, there are wonderful hidden treasures and maze paths to get lost in Hora. Find your favorite sunset spot along Little Venice or sample gyros pitas from the many little pita take-aways. Visit the day/night bar cafes in Little Venice like Katerina’s Bar, Piano Bar and Galleraki. Shopping in Mykonos is wonderful and can take up days of your stay there. Stores range from designer clothes from Michael Stars and Diesel to local store owners with Thai fashion and products or handmade Greek lace.

Places to Eat, Drink, and Stay

Mykonos is a very expensive cosmopolitan island. You can have 2 Euro gyros pita dinners or dine at restaurants that can cost up to 70 Euros or more. The good thing is that you have that option to budget or splurge!

To Eat:

• The best reasonable dinner spot in Hora is Lotus Resturant on Matogianni St. There are about 10 tables set back under an ivy and flower canopy and serves delicious homemade Greek delights.
• Interni is a white beautiful restaurant/bar that has a tranquil pillow and flowing fabric entrance walkway down to the outdoor restaurant.
• Jimmy’s is a popular gyros pita place situated in the center fork of Hora and has under-5 Euro options.
• La Busola is an Italian restaurant with wonderful seafood pasta and pizza in Lakka Square.
• Alefkandra in Little Venice has wonderful seafood and reasonable prices.
• Piccolo is a sandwich/bakery shop with delicious gourmet sandwiches.
• In Belvedere hotel, there is Nobu Matsuhisa, famous for its quality sushi around the world.
• Belli Fratelli near the bus station makes fresh crepes and has wonderful frappes.
• In Little Venice, there are wonderful cafes to snack on appetizers and sip cool drinks.

To Party:

• Most popular among young and singles is Skandanavian Bar in Hora. Cheaper drinks and upstairs dance floor.
• Caprice is a classy bar in Little Venice.
• Mykonos Bar is just across from Caprice that plays mainstream and Greek pop music.
• Remezzo along the harbour is a perfect bar to chill and dance with a diverse crowd.
• Anchor Bar has great eclectic house music and comfy couches.
• Bolero has good hip-hop nights and global house music.
• Pierros is the most popular gay bar with bouncing music, two levels and late night venues.
• Astra is a very sheek bar with outdoor seating and indoor dance floor.
• Cavo Paradiso is the ultimate weekend club where the party starts at 6am located on a cliff of Paradise Beach. Big name DJs like Sasha, Carl Cox and Deep Dish come and spin during June, July and August.
• Space is a popular dance club in Lakka Square.
• Yacht Club is an after hours bar/club situated on the old harbour.

Streets of Hora

To Stay: If you want to wake up in front of the beach and take taxis into town at night, then there are plenty of accommodations at many of the beaches in Mykonos: Platias Gialos, Ornos, Paradise Beach, Super Paradise, Agios Ioannis, etc.

When you enter off the ferry boat there will be a crowd of people recruiting you for their accommodations. It is nice to stay in Mykonos Town and take buses to the beaches when you wake up after a long night of partying. Many of the locals rent out rooms and little apartments and the prices range from 15 Euros to 100 Euros a night.