Mykonos: Island Guide, Mykonos Town, Beaches & Hotels

The island of Mykonos

Mykonos combines a beautiful harbour, whitewashed streets and a string of sandy beaches, and it is at its best just outside the busiest weeks of summer. The Ionians settled here around 1100 BC, though excavations show a neolithic tribe lived on the island as early as 3000 BC. Close to the sacred island of Delos, Mykonos passed under Phoenician, Macedonian, Roman, Venetian and Ottoman rule in turn, and today it has grown into one of the best-known tourist islands in Greece for its beaches, its relaxed atmosphere and the closeness of Delos. Good ideas for a day out include a boat to Delos and its ancient excavations, a ferry to Tinos or Syros, and a drive to the quieter northern beaches such as Myrsini, Fokos, Panormos and Agios Sostis.

Mykonos Town (Chora)

Mykonos Town, or Chora, is a maze of churches, small squares, shops and terraces around the harbour, with a surprise behind every corner. In the evening the party breaks loose in the town and at Paradise Beach, and while the bars and clubs try to out-play each other the visitors stroll through the narrow streets and the port; the nightlife runs until the early hours and welcomes everyone. For a central but quiet base, look for a place away from the music and the traffic, as several of the hotels below are. When it is time to eat, the Mykonos restaurants guide points to the town's tavernas and cafes.

The beaches of Mykonos

Mykonos has a run of beautiful sandy beaches, and there is one to everyone's liking. The busiest, served by buses, are Psarou, Platis Gialos, Elia, Ornos, Paranga, Paradise and Super Paradise. Elia is the biggest and, in our view, finer than Paradise, with a textile section and a large naturist part. Quieter and just as pretty are the northern beaches of Panormos, Agios Sostis, Myrsini and Agios Fokos, which have no bus service and stay clean and calm - a car or scooter helps to reach them, or share a taxi. Many beaches have a naturist section; Super Paradise, Agios Fokos and Myrsini are almost entirely naturist, while Platis Gialos, Kalo Livadi, Psarou, Agios Stefanos, Agios Ioannis and Ornos are textile.

Getting to Mykonos & car rental

Ferries reach Mykonos from Rafina and Piraeus on the mainland and from other Cyclades islands, and the island also has an airport. Renting a car opens up the quiet, isolated beaches that most people never see and lets you park on a hilltop for a walk. Car rental on Mykonos costs more than on most other Greek islands, so compare quotes before you go, take full insurance, and note that the traffic can be hectic and the streets narrow. See the Mykonos car rental guide for how to book.

Where to stay on Mykonos

Below is a small selection of places to stay, most of them central but quiet, in Mykonos Town itself. Prices on Mykonos run higher than on other islands, so book ahead in the busy season.

Villa Konstantin, Mykonos Town

Villa Konstantin sits on the northern hillside of Mykonos Town, 700 metres up and a ten-minute walk down into the centre, on a quiet spot overlooking the sea, the sunset and Delos. It is a small complex of self-catering studios and rooms in an older, traditional style rather than a modern hotel, with a feeling of openness you do not get down in the centre. The owner, Sharon, is warmly praised by guests, and the villa earns high ratings across the booking sites.

Hotel Nazos, Mykonos Town

Hotel Nazos is one of the nicest hotels in Mykonos Town, a real family hotel with 14 rooms yet all the facilities you could ask for. It stands close to the harbour and only 100 metres from the main bus station at Fabrika Square, with very nice views. Each room has a bath or shower and toilet, a fridge, a minibar, a TV, air-conditioning, internet access, a hairdryer and a private balcony with a panoramic view, and the hotel has a lounge, a snack bar, parking and 24-hour service.

Sahas Studios, Mykonos Town

Sahas Studios is a budget option 500 metres and a 5-minute walk from Mykonos Town, in the quiet Tagoo area with a spectacular view of the sea. There are rooms for 2, 3 or 4 people, with or without sea view, decorated in the Cycladic tradition. Guests can relax in the garden overlooking the Aegean, and there is a weekly barbecue party.

Aeolos Hotel, Mykonos Town

Aeolos Hotel has 28 elegant, modern double rooms, a comfortable breakfast room and lounges, and a beautiful garden with palm trees, a large pool, a jacuzzi and a bar for cocktails at sunset. Compared with other hotels in Mykonos Town that have the same facilities, such as a swimming pool, it is not expensive.

Rania Apartments, Mykonos Town

Rania Apartments stand in a peaceful garden in the heart of Mykonos Chora, in the Petasos area close to the shops, nightlife and beaches, yet quiet, without traffic or disco noise. Built in the traditional Cycladic style, the complex has 15 rooms, studios and apartments, all with a private bathroom, fridge, microwave, telephone, TV, veranda, air-conditioning and safe, and several add a living room, kitchen and sea-view balcony. It is close to Manto Square in the harbour, up some stairs behind the square, and is run by Bonis and his son Anthony.