The Ultimate Travel Guide to Mykonos, Greece
If you’re planning a trip to Greece, Mykonos is probably going to be a stop on your itinerary! Mykonos is the 2nd most visited island in Greece after Santorini and with good reason!
While Mykonos is known as the party island and most famous for its nightlife, Mykonos is also a great island to visit for it’s luxury hotels, beaches, beach clubs, authentic Greek cuisine, and Cycladic white architecture.
Table Of Contents
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The Best Time to Visit Mykonos
The time of year that you plan to travel to Mykonos can affect many things such as hotel and flight prices & availability, restaurant availability, and crowds. Greece is a very popular European Summer destination making June, July, and August the most popular time for travelers.
Low Season: November through March. During the slow season in Mykonos, most of the island will be closed and ferries between islands will be limited. November through March are also the coldest months in Mykonos and lowest water temperatures.
Shoulder Season: April – May and September – October. I usually prefer to travel in the shoulder season because prices are lower and there are usually much less crowds. Since April is the start of shoulder season in Mykonos, this is when things will start to open back up but some things may still be closed until mid-May. September & October are the best months to travel anywhere in Greece since the summer crowds have cleared out but water temperatures are still warm.
High Season: June – August is the high season in Mykonos (and Greece & Europe in general) and the prices and crowds will be highest during this time. Since Mykonos is already a more expensive island, I recommend avoiding visiting during the high season. Mykonos is also a popular cruise port which can make the island even more crowded during the day when the ships arrive.
How to Get to Mykonos
The best way to travel around the Greek Islands is by ferry. Ferry times can range depending on the company and whether you book a fast or slow ferry. During my trip to Greece, I booked all my ferry transfers on SeaJets which is the most popular ferry company in the Greek Islands. If you are renting a car for your trip, you can even travel between Greek islands with your car on the ferries.
Another way to travel is by plane. Flights between the Greek islands are expensive and really only worth it if you are traveling between Mykonos and Athens. If you are traveling between Mykonos and another Greek island it is best to stick with the ferries. Aegean and Sky Express are two flight options between Athens and Mykonos.
To browse and book flights/ferries for your trip to Mykonos, click here.
Where to Stay in Mykonos
Rochari Hotel in Mykonos Town
Mykonos island is known for its luxury hotels and luxurious beachfront resorts. Because of this, you will have many options of where to stay on your trip to Mykonos and the best option really depends on what you are looking for on your trip.
If you want walkability, it is best to stay at a hotel in Mykonos Town where you’ll have easy access to all the restaurants, shops, bars, and some of the popular churches and windmills. On my trip to Mykonos, I stayed at the Rochari Hotel in Mykonos Town and it was the perfect location for my 2 nights on the island.
Rochari is the cutest boutique hotel in Mykonos Town and has a wide range of room options to cater to every type of traveler. I booked a standard room here for around 190 euros and ended up getting upgraded to a luxury suite with a balcony and views of Mykonos Town and the Aegean Sea. My favorite part of the hotel aside from the location was the rooftop pool and bar with amazing views of Mykonos.
Click Here to book at Rochari!
If you’re looking for a more luxurious resort experience, Myconian is a collection of luxury resorts and villas around the island in Mykonos. Explore the Myconian Collection here!
Click Here to explore all the hotel and resort options for your trip to Mykonos.
What to do in Mykonos
Whether you’re traveling to Mykonos for the nightlife, to relax on the beach, explore the island, or have an authentic Greek culinary experience, there’s plenty to do in Mykonos to keep you entertained for a few days. I spent two nights in Mykonos on my Greek Island vacation and felt like I got to do a good amount of what I wanted to do. I would recommend spending at least 2-3 days in Mykonos to be able to see all the highlights.
Explore Mykonos Town
If you only have time for one thing on your trip to Mykonos, you need to make it to Mykonos Town. Mykonos Town was probably the main highlight on my whole trip to Greece! I loved walking around the quaint streets exploring the shops, restaurants, churches, and white buildings. Mykonos Town is exactly what you imagine when you think of the Greek Islands, it is very picturesque and the best spot to get the perfect Instagram photos. I recommend going early to take photos before the cruise ships arrive to beat the crowds!
While in Mykonos Town, be sure to check out Little Venice, Kastro’s, Negrita, & Jimmy’s Gyros!
Paraga Beach & Paradise Beach
Mykonos has amazing beaches with crystal clear blue water! If you want to spend the day at the beach without having pay an expensive minimum spend at one of the beach clubs, I recommend heading over to Paraga Beach.
Paraga Beach is a free public beach in Mykonos that is lined with a few bars and restaurants. At Paraga Beach, you can lay down some towels and bring your own snacks and drinks for a free beach day or rent some of the beach chairs and an umbrella. The famous beach club Scorpios is also located close by.
From Paraga Beach, you can hike over to Paradise Beach on a short trail. The trail offers beautiful views of Paradise Beach and the Aegean Sea where you’ll see the bluest water!
Paradise Beach is a little less relaxing than Paraga Beach where you’ll find Paradise Beach Club, Tropicana Beach Bar, and the Tropicana Beach Hotel.
Paraga Beach & Paradise Beach are both accessible by taxi or bus. I recommend taking a taxi to Paraga Beach to start and ending at Paradise Beach where the bus stop is or the beach club can call you a taxi back to your hotel or Mykonos Town.
Sunset in Little Venice
Little Venice is located in Mykonos Town and is a must visit spot for sunset on your trip. Every night in Mykonos the island gathers in Little Venice to watch the sunset before dinner. There are several bars where you can stop for a drink or even have dinner at one of the restaurants here for the ultimate sunset experience! Kastro’s and Negrita are 2 popular bars/restaurants for sunset in Little Venice and it is recommended to have a reservation, especially during the high season.
Where to Eat in Mykonos
Mykonos is an island in Greece that is known for having an amazing food scene. Since I was only in Mykonos for 2 nights, I didn’t get to try too many of the restaurants on the island however, the ones I did try I would highly recommend!
Before traveling to Greece, I had not tried too much Greek food and now Greece is at the top of my list for countries with the best cuisine. All of the restaurants I ate at on my trip to Mykonos were in Mykonos Town and easy to walk to from hotel.
Here are my top 3 recommendations for where to eat in Mykonos:
Kastro’s
Kastro’s is a restaurant in Mykonos Town and might be the most picturesque restaurant in all of Mykonos! This restaurant is a MUST visit on a trip to Mykonos. Although the food here was amazing, this is a place you go not just for the food, but for the experience as well!
What makes Kastro’s unique is the tables in the alley and the balconies overlooking the Aegean Sea, Little Venice and Mykonos Windmills. This is a popular restaurant to go to during sunset and in order to sit on the balconies or at the end table of the alley you will need a reservation. I recommend a reservation either way since this is such a popular restaurant in Mykonos!
In order to sit at the end table in the alley or one of the balconies there is a minimum spend required. We sat at the 3rd table in the alley and still had great views so I don’t think the minimum spend to get a better table is too necessary unless you just really want the experience!
Click Here to book your table at Kastro’s for your trip to Mykonos!
Appaloosa
Appaloosa is a Greek Mexican food restaurant in Mykonos Town that was highly recommended. I tried to eat as much Greek food as possible on this trip however, it was a different experience to try a Greek take on Mexican cuisine. They also have great margaritas!
Jimmy’s Gyros
Lastly, a trip to Mykonos is not complete without stopping at Jimmy’s for one of their famous gyros. Jimmy’s is an iconic gyro spot in Mykonos Town and is a must visit for anyone traveling to Mykonos. Jimmy’s even stays open late to cater to busy nightlife in Mykonos so don’t forget to stop by on your walk back to your hotel!
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