Where to go in Mykonos
Mykonos is famous for its beautiful beaches with soft, powdery white sands, world-class dining, buzzing nightlife, high-end shopping, and luxurious resorts that draw an affluent crowd, but outdoor adventurers and history enthusiasts will enjoy it too. In fact, there are few that wouldn’t enjoy a visit to this spectacular island. It even boasts picturesque, whitewashed architecture with blue doors and balconies draped with bougainvillea.
Enjoy everything from swimming, sunbathing, and kitesurfing to hiking, biking, and off-road tours. While summer is the time to come for a lively party atmosphere with parties on the beaches and in the clubs where you can dance ‘til dawn, if you visit in late spring or early fall you can look forward to a more tranquil experience and pleasant weather.
While you’re here, be sure to visit these top spots on Mykonos.
Little Venice
One of the most romantic places in Mykonos, you can see how much influence Venetian culture had on the island by visiting Little Venice where wealthy merchants constructed Venetian-style buildings with colorful facades and sweeping arches, set right along the waterfront. While it was once an important part of Venetian trade routes, today the neighborhood is more often frequented by tourists than sailors, although there are still plenty of yachters who come to enjoy its many delights.
Little Venice is also known as one of the top spots for a sunset, while its famous historic windmills, built in the early 16th-century, are one of the many favorite photo-ops. Originally used for producing barley and wheat, they’re no longer in use, but they’ve become an iconic symbol on the island’s skyline and important historical landmarks. Inside one you’ll even find an agricultural museum.
Chora/Mykonos Town
Chora, also known as Mykonos Town, is the main town on Mykonos, its largest and busiest settlement. It’s essentially a traditional Cycladic village with the typical jumble of whitewashed buildings, with pops of color thanks to the balconies, doors, and windows. The maze of narrow, winding pedestrianized lanes are fun to get lost in, with the main street Matogianni, lined with bars, restaurants, and boutiques.
It’s impossible to actually get “lost” as no matter which way you go you’ll eventually reach the waterfront. If you explore early in the morning, you’ll get a better sense of local life and the opportunity to buy fresh fish and seafood and bargain prices at the fish market near the Old Port. During the day most of the restaurants will have plenty of seats available for sipping a glass of wine and enjoying the local appetizers with a sea view.
Ornos
This picturesque neighborhood in the heart of the city is famous for its ancient sites, neoclassical homes, and a famous open-air market. You can find just about anything here with the market and the entire neighborhood known for offering some of the best bargains in the city. There are rare antique dealers right alongside souvenir shops selling the usual tourist wares like t-shirts, along with fashionable clothing and jewelry.
It’s also a hotspot for people-watching, worth visiting just to experience the atmosphere. Enjoy a glass of wine or another beverage in one of the hip cafes while sipping a drink at one of the cafes overlooking the ancient agora as you take in the scene with all the shoppers coming and going. There’s almost always street musicians to complete the experience too.
Delos
Delos is a popular day trip from Mykonos, just a few miles away, with boat tours departing from Ornos. The island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a famous archaeological site as well as being the birthplace of Apollo. The myth of the god Apollo, god of light, and goddess Artemis birthed here rendered Delos sacred.
No mortal would ever be allowed to be born or even die here. While it was a powerful economic and religious center, even during the peak of the Delian Alliance, women nearing childbirth and those close to dying would be carried to the neighboring island of Rineia. Today visitors can witness some of the most extensive ruins dating from around the 5th- to 4th-century BC. You’ll be able to marvel at beautifully preserved Venetian and Byzantine architecture, along with mosaics, temples, a theater and statues.
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