Mykonos

Mykonos (Greek: Μύκονος) is a popular tourist destination in the Greek islands of the Cyclades group, situated in the middle of the Aegean Sea. Mykonos is located south of Tinos, east of Syros and north of Paros and Naxos.

Understand
Mykonos is famed as a cosmopolitan destination amongst the Greek islands and widely recognised as one of the great travel meccas. It is one of the most visited islands in the Aegean. This means that visitors should be prepared for loud dance clubs, English breakfasts and overpriced merchandise. Mykonos, along with Santorini, is more expensive than other Greek islands.

Mykonos tends to be extremely crowded with visitors in July and August. The best time to visit Mykonos is mid-May through June (early season, when accommodations are much cheaper and it's not too hot), or September through mid-October (post season).

Mykonos is a gay-friendly island, featuring a vibrant gay nightlife, ranking among the most popular holiday destinations in Europe among gay travellers. While there are many other destinations around the Mediterranean that see sizeable gay tourist traffic, Mykonos managed to remain refined and romantic rather than rowdy.

If you're gay, get yourself an up-to-date map with all the gay venues. The most popular beaches with gay visitors are Super Paradise and Elia. These are not strictly gay, but they have parts where gay men and women congregate. The only gay beach deserving of the title is the small beach between Elia and Agrari.

Orientation
Mykonos' main communities are Chora, the island's port town and capital, and Ano Mera.


 * Mykonos Town (Chora) is a stunningly picturesque Cycladic town with a maze of tiny, whitewashed streets, houses and churches, gathered around its harbour in the middle of a wide bay. It is one of the most cosmopolitan and crowded towns of the Aegean.

Although the streets are lined with little shops, boutiques, art galleries, cafes, stylish bars and restaurants, Mykonos Town has not completely lost its identity. Despite the island's rapid growth and development, its traditional Cycladic architectural style and character has remained firmly intact, thanks to the island's strict building regulations.


 * Ano Mera is a small village on the middle of the island, and the only inland settlement on the whole of Mykonos, about 7 km east of Mykonos Town. Ano Mera is based around a large central square, which is lined on three sides by a series of Greek tavernas. The monastery of Panagia Tourliani, founded in 1542, is Ano Mera's most significant highlight.

Other small communities include:


 * Agios Ioannis is a small settlement with two taverns, one restaurant and one tiny store. Agios Ioannis is famous as the location for the movie "Shirley Valentine".
 * Agios Stefanos with many hotels, good restaurants, taverns and cafes.
 * Platys Gialos is a popular tourist resort where small fishing boats transport tourists to the southern beaches of Mykonos.
 * Ornos with several choices for staying, food and drink, and a well organized food market with a butcher's shop, bakery, supermarket and a pharmacy.
 * Tourlos is where most of the cruise ships dock, private yachts and fishing boats use the marina and the port receives some of the ferries coming from the mainland or other islands.

Climate
The climate of Mykonos is characterised by hot, dry summers and mild winters. Like in most of the Aegean islands it hardly ever rains during summer but rain showers can be expected between October and April.

Temperatures in July and August range from 30°C (86°F) during the day to 22°C (72°F) at night. The Cyclades are famous for the constant wind (called meltemi) in July and August that mitigates the heat a bit.

Mid-May through mid-October is usually warm and sunny enough to enjoy the beaches.

Talk
Greek is the official language of Greece, and therefore it's spoken by all the permanent inhabitants of the island and most of its visitors, but the foreign visitor will have no problem at all communicating in foreign languages, mainly in English.

By boat
From the Greek mainland ferries and high speed catamaran services run daily from Piraeus and Rafina. The highspeeds take half the time but cost twice as much.

The journey between the port of Piraeus (Athens) and Mykonos takes between 3 hr 30 min and 5 hr 15 min, depending on the type of ferry you are taking. On a slow ferry a seat in economy class will cost €32; on a highspeed service expect to pay €54.50. In Piraeus all the highspeed ferries to Mykonos depart from Port Gate Ε7; the conventional ferries leave from Port Gate Ε1. Most of the ferries connecting Piraeus to Mykonos stop working by end of October and resume by April.

Many travelers probably don't even consider Rafina a possible departure port if they are heading to one of the Cyclades, but if you are arriving at the airport of Athens you are often better off taking a ferry from Rafina than traveling to Athens and get a ferry from Piraeus. The journey between Rafina and Mykonos takes between 2 hr 10 min and 5 hr 30 min, depending on the type of ferry you are taking. On a regular ferry expect to pay €23.50 per person for a seat in economy class; on a high speed catamaran service expect to pay €52.50. Most of the ferries connecting Rafina to Mykonos stop working by end of October and resume by April.

Mykonos can also be reached directly from other islands in the Cyclades. More than once a day there is a boat connection from Syros, Andros, Tinos and Paros. There are daily boat connections from Naxos, Ios, Santorini and Crete. There's a daily overnight ferry, the 'Nissos Mykonos', from Samos (Vathi and Karlovassi) and Ikaria. There are less frequent boat connections from Serifos, Sifnos,  Kimolos,  Milos, Folegandros, Sikinos, Thirassia and Anafi.

Ferry companies: Pre-booking of ferries and highspeeds is only necessary from mid-July to late August or just before or after a Greek holiday. Beware that every year at the 15th of Augustus the island of Tinos is a goal for thousands of orthodox pilgrims. Most ferries and highspeeds from Piraeus and Rafina to Mykonos make a stop at Tinos. This means that around this period it is recommended to buy tickets well in advance. Also expect a lot of Greek tourist to visit Mykonos around the weekend of Pentecost, in late May or early June.
 * Hellenic Seaways provide a fast hydrofoil connection and regular ferries from Piraeus (Highspeed 5 and Highspeed 6) and Rafina (Flying Cat 3).
 * Seajets have a regular schedule in the summer from Piraeus (SuperJet) and Rafina (Seajet 2).
 * Blue Star Ferries have a regular daily schedules from Piraeus throughout the year (Blue Star Ithaki).
 * Aegean Speed Lines have a daily high speed ferry operating from Piraeus (Speedrunner 3).

Keep in mind that if you book your ticket online, you may still need to collect the ticket from a travel agency once you get to Greece.

Boat services can be cancelled due to strong wind. Weather cancellations are very rare, though, only a few days over the course of a summer.

Mykonos has two ports: the old port in Mykonos Town, and the new port at Tourlos, about 2 km north of Mykonos Town. Check before you travel which port your boat will use. Most of the ferries use the new port. The highspeed catamaran services still use the old port in Mykonos Town.

From the port to Mykonos Town
The best option is the SeaBus that will get you into town for €2. It leaves every half hour and the entire journey (2 stops at the new port and 2 stops in Mykonos town) takes 12 min.

During high season there is an infrequent public bus service from the new port in Tourlos to Mykonos Town. It is best to take a taxi. It is possible to walk from the new port into town, but it will take around 45 minutes along a busy main road without a sidewalk.

From the old port it is a short and easy walk along the coast into town.

By cruise ship
Mykonos is a popular stop on cruise ship tours of the Greek Islands. Almost all cruise ships dock at the new port in Tourlos, though some cruise ships use the old port.

If you are arriving at the new port, make use of the cruise shuttle bus to Mykonos Town. You can also take a taxi yourself, but with so many people arriving at the same time it won't be easy to catch one. It is likely that the cruise shuttle bus will drop you off at a parking area not far from the northern bus station in Mykonos Town. It is less than a 10-minute ride. From there everything is within walking distance.

If you are arriving at the old port, you will arrive within a 10-minute walk of the heart of Mykonos Town and no bus ride will be necessary or even available.

It is easy to explore Mykonos independently. There's no real need to book excursions. Also the recommended excursion to Delos can be booked independently (guided or unguided).

By plane
From May through October, charter airlines fly directly to Mykonos from many European airports:
 * TUIfly flies from Amsterdam (AMS);
 * Blue Panorama Airlines flies from Rome Fiumicino (FCO);
 * Borajet flies from Istanbul Sabiha-Gökçen (SAW);
 * EasyJet flies from London Gatwick (LGW), Geneva (GVA), Milan Malpensa (MXP), Paris Orly (ORY) and Rome Fiumicino (FCO);
 * Edelweiss Air flies from Geneva (GVA) and Zürich (ZRH);
 * Ryanair flies to Naples;
 * TUIfly Belgium flies from Brussels (BRU);
 * Thomson Airways flies from London Gatwick (LGW) and Manchester (MAN);
 * Transavia flies from Amsterdam (AMS) and Paris Orly (ORY);
 * Volotea flies from Venice (VCE), Palermo (PMO), Napoli (NAP) and Bari (BRI);
 * Vueling flies from Barcelona (BCN) and Madrid (MAD).

At the arrival area of the airport you may find an ATM, shops, a cafeteria, public phones, a post box, an office of the Mykonos Hoteliers Association, an Olympic Air office, an Aegean Airlines office and many car rental companies.

In the terminal building on the first floor there is a duty-free shop for departing passengers selling tobacco, spirits, perfumes, cosmetics, travel accessories and gift items.

Take a free and useful Mykonos Sky Map from the luggage collecting hall at the airport. This free map is also sold in shops in Mykonos Town.

From the airport to Mykonos Town
Many Mykonos hotels offer airport transfers, at rates that can be anything from free to more than a taxi. Best chance for a free transfer is when you book your room directly with the hotel. A transfer by your hotel is the easiest way to get to your hotel, so check with your hotel before arrival.

Taxis are usually waiting at the airport, at the taxi rank opposite the terminal building, but competition for them can be keen. If there is no taxi waiting you can see the sign with the phone numbers of the taxi radio office so you may call. A taxi from Mykonos airport to town costs about €8, a few euros more if you are carrying luggage.

Buses from and to the airport are frequent from the southern bus terminal, Fabrika, in Mykonos Town.

You can also walk from the airport into town, it's about 2.5km and most of the time there is a pavement to safely walk on. It's mostly uphill going towards the airport.

Get around
With a length of 12 to 15 km and a width of 10 km, Mykonos is one of the smallest of the Cyclades islands. On Mykonos you can get around by bus, taxi, car, scooter, ATV or boat.

By bus
There is a bus network that takes you around the island. There are two bus stations in Mykonos Town, each on different sides of Mykonos Town. From the main southern bus station, Fabrica, buses can be taken for departures to Platys Gialos (every half hour), Paraga (every hour), Paradise (every half hour), Ornos and Agios Ioannis. There are also night buses from Mykonos to Platys Gialos and Paradise leaving every hour. From the northern bus station which is not very far from the old port ferry quay, buses can be taken for departures to Ano Mera, Elia (departing at 11AM, noon, 2PM, 4PM, 6PM and 7PM, returning 30 minutes later) and Kalafatis. Departure times are clearly marked at the two bus stations and the end of the bus routes. Bus schedules change a bit about every two weeks. Frequencies of buses are higher in high season.

There is no bus connection between the two bus stations. From one bus station to the other will take about 20 minutes of walking through the streets of Mykonos Town.

It is possible to buy your bus ticket from the bus driver (have exact change ready), but you can also buy your bus tickets before boarding the bus. Bus tickets can be bought in advance from a bus ticket vending machine (euro coins necessary) and can be purchased at kiosks, mini-markets and tourist shops as well. There are no return tickets available; for a return trip you simply need two single tickets. Hand over your ticket to the bus driver and he will "validate" it by simply tearing your ticket. There are ticket stamping machines in the bus, but they simply don't function. Don't be surprised if a man that is already on the bus near the bus driver will check your "validated" ticket a few minutes later. Even though your ticket is just teared and not stamped, he will inspect your ticket thoroughly, looking for counterfeited tickets. Bus tickets are €1.60, except for the further destinations of Elia and Kalafatis which cost €1.70. Tickets for night buses are €2. Buses in Mykonos are almost always full during the busy parts of the day; the bus driver will squeeze in as many passengers as he can.

By taxi
On the entire island there are only about 30 taxis, which means that depending on taxis for transport can be an exercise of great patience. In Mykonos Town the main location for taxis is in Manto Square (also called Town Square or Taxi Square), on the harbour front near the statue. You have to wait in line and sometimes you can wait for hours in the taxi queue. In the evening it can be very difficult to find a taxi. Taxis do not use meters, but there's a notice board giving rates for each destination. Fares are quite reasonable. Calling for a radio taxi costs €1.30 extra, and an appointment €5 in addition to the fare. Contact telephone numbers are 22400 and 23700.

By boat
Various boat services provide a good and fun way of getting to the southern beaches of Mykonos. Price for a return ticket is €5 for Paranga and Paradise, €6 for Super Paradise and €7 for Agrari and Elia. Boat services can be cancelled due to strong wind, but with the exception of Super Paradise all of these beaches can be reached by bus from Mykonos Town as well.
 * From Platys Gialos small fishing boats converted into tourist transport leave every hour or less to the beaches of Paranga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia. First departure 10:15 until 16:15 every hour. Last return to Platys Gialos from Elia at 18:00 and from Super Paradise at 20:00.
 * From Ornos boats leave for the beaches of Platys Gialos, Paranga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia. Boats leaves from Ornos at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00.

From June to September there are also infrequently boats leaving from the harbour in Mykonos Town to Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia.

By car or by motorbike
Mykonos has an extensive public transport system from Mykonos Town. By public transport it is easy to get to all the southern beaches, which happen to be the nicest beaches as well. Renting a motorbike or a car is the way to go if you want to explore the rest of the island, especially the more remote beaches at the north coast. Motorbike and car rentals are readily available around the island. In Mykonos Town the highest concentration of rent a car - motorbike agencies is in and around the area of the southern busstation, where you will find a wide range of choices. The other area of Mykonos Town with rent a car - motorbike agencies is near to the old port, behind the Archaeological Museum.

Cars are not permitted in the town of Mykonos. There are parking areas on the outskirts of town, but during peak season finding a parking space is usually a challenge. You can always try the huge public parking area next to the old port. Considering Mykonos is a very small island, renting a bike might be a better choice, unless you are planning to stay far out of town and from beaches. Bikes are cheap to rent, you can park them almost anywhere, and it is cooler than a car standing in the hot sun all day.

Attractions in Mykonos Town

 * Petros the Pelican, the island's mascot, can sometimes be found at the waterfront or even up in town. The pelican was found wounded off the coast of Paranga shore after a storm back in the 1950s by a local fisherman. The pelican was nursed to health and remained on the island supported by locals. It soon adopted the name “Petros”. To great disappointment by locals and tourists alike, Petros was hit by a car on 2 December 1985 and failed to recover. After Petros died in 1986 he was so popular that a new pelican was introduced as a successor. Now there are three pelicans inhabiting the island. This means that the Petros you meet, can be a Petra. Well, this is Mykonos.
 * Petros the Pelican, the island's mascot, can sometimes be found at the waterfront or even up in town. The pelican was found wounded off the coast of Paranga shore after a storm back in the 1950s by a local fisherman. The pelican was nursed to health and remained on the island supported by locals. It soon adopted the name “Petros”. To great disappointment by locals and tourists alike, Petros was hit by a car on 2 December 1985 and failed to recover. After Petros died in 1986 he was so popular that a new pelican was introduced as a successor. Now there are three pelicans inhabiting the island. This means that the Petros you meet, can be a Petra. Well, this is Mykonos.
 * Petros the Pelican, the island's mascot, can sometimes be found at the waterfront or even up in town. The pelican was found wounded off the coast of Paranga shore after a storm back in the 1950s by a local fisherman. The pelican was nursed to health and remained on the island supported by locals. It soon adopted the name “Petros”. To great disappointment by locals and tourists alike, Petros was hit by a car on 2 December 1985 and failed to recover. After Petros died in 1986 he was so popular that a new pelican was introduced as a successor. Now there are three pelicans inhabiting the island. This means that the Petros you meet, can be a Petra. Well, this is Mykonos.
 * Petros the Pelican, the island's mascot, can sometimes be found at the waterfront or even up in town. The pelican was found wounded off the coast of Paranga shore after a storm back in the 1950s by a local fisherman. The pelican was nursed to health and remained on the island supported by locals. It soon adopted the name “Petros”. To great disappointment by locals and tourists alike, Petros was hit by a car on 2 December 1985 and failed to recover. After Petros died in 1986 he was so popular that a new pelican was introduced as a successor. Now there are three pelicans inhabiting the island. This means that the Petros you meet, can be a Petra. Well, this is Mykonos.

Museums
All museums are open from April to October, except the Archaeological Museum which is open year-round. Most people keep the museums for a rainy day, but the Archaeological Museum is worth a visit.



Beaches
Most of the beaches have tavernas and restaurants and are well equipped with deck chairs and parasols. Most common price is €12 for a set of two deck chairs and an umbrella. The best beaches are on the south side of the island and sheltered from the prevailing northern wind. On the more popular beaches, it is not uncommon for people to walk down the beach selling probably illegal goods such as DVDs, fake bags, clothes, jewellery and watches. They come right up to you and it can be somewhat annoying but they are easily pushed away with a simple 'No, thank you'. Also, many beaches, even the more family-orientated, are often populated with the 'European' style of sunbathing - i.e. topless.

Do



 * Delos, a small uninhabited island close to Mykonos, is a UNESCO world heritage area known for its important archaeological sites. There are daily excursions from Mykonos Town except Monday, when the archaeological site is closed. Boats leave at 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00 from the pier at the west side of the harbour, right behind the little church of Agios Nikolaos. The boat trip takes about 30 minutes. Boats return at 12:15, 13:30 and 15:00. Boat trips to Delos are also organized from Platys Gialos and Paranga Beach. The excavations are open from 08:30 to 15:00, so have an early start if you really want to see it all. The cost is €17 for the boat trip plus €5 for entrance (though free for students and €3 for those over 65). A guided tour, departing at 10:00 from the pier in Mykonos, will cost €40 (including boat trip and entrance fee). Delos is a must for all visitors.
 * From Platys Gialos you can take a cruise on a GlassBottom Discover Boat, a boat with a glass floor at the bottom through which you can view underwater life. There are beach-to-beach cruises (€35), sunset cruises (€25) and cruises to Delos and Rhenia (€35).
 * Check the ferry schedules well, but it is possible to make daytrips to the islands of Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos.

Buy
You can go shopping or window shopping in the fabulous little boutiques which carry exclusive name brands, among them outstanding Greek jewelers, souvenirs as well as works of art. Bring money and credit cards. Most shops are open seven days a week, but will be closed from 14:00 to 17:00. Many tourist shops will remain open late into the evening. In case you are looking for department stores, as some cruise tourists do, there aren't any.

Mykonos is home to a large artists' colony, so there are a number of fine galleries offering original works.

Of course, you will also find the shops you need to fill all your basic needs and comforts. There are mini-markets, green grocers, butchers, kiosks, bakeries, liquor stores, a few small supermarkets (and bigger supermarkets out of town), many pharmacies, a dry goods shop, bookstores, photo and electronics shops.

ATM's are available throughout town. There's a concentration of ATM's near the southern bus station.

Eat
In Mykonos Town you will find most of the restaurants and eateries. All over town there are various gyros and souvlaki shops and creperies where you can eat quite well for just a few euros. Mykonos offers dining options catering to a range of tastes and budgets. You can have good Greek food at reasonable prices, but it also easy to spend a fortune. Almost all restaurants (and many bars) post their prices on menus at the entrance, so as you walk around you can take a look to see which places offer appealing food in your budget range. Restaurants facing the harbour or the sea (especially in Little Venice) tend to have significantly higher prices, because you are also paying for the location and the view. Restaurants in the streets deeper in the heart of town tend to be more reasonably priced.

Ano Mera
The town square offers several traditional restaurants.

Drink
Mykonos is famous for its intense nightlife as evidenced by a vast number of bars and nightclubs. Drinking can be quite expensive in Mykonos.

Nightclubs
Although Mykonos's nightlife focuses mainly on bars, there are a number of notable dance clubs to be found on the island, some of them attracting world-famous DJs.



Sleep
Mykonos has a well developed tourist infrastructure with countless hotels, studios, apartments and rooms for rent. Accommodation can be found in and around Mykonos Town and nearby the beaches. Compared to other Greek islands accommodation in Mykonos is expensive. The price of accommodation varies greatly according to season. Mentioned from-prices are for low season. Expect prices to double in high season. Mykonos becomes overcrowded from mid July to the end of August, so be sure you have a room waiting if you go during that period. Every year a lot of Greek tourist visit Mykonos around the weekend of Pentecost (usually late May or early June).

Most of the hotels will close at the end of October and will open again at the end of April or the beginning of May.

A lot of the locals rent rooms and they will be waiting for you when you arrive at the port or the airport, waving pictures of their rooms. They will be there in peak season as well. Most of them are from small establishments that aren't listed on the internet. If approached to let a room, make sure you don't end up in an isolated apartment up on the hills around the town. Outside high season it is also easy enough to look around in Mykonos Town for yourself. There are 'rooms' signs everywhere. Wandering around with a suitcase or backpack you will be approached.





Camping
For the young and most budget conscious travelers, there are two campgrounds, both at popular beaches:



Both are reachable by public bus from Mykonos Town or by boat from Platys Gialos. Both offer shuttle bus transportation to and from the airport and ferry boat ports.

Telephone
Truly the cheapest way to call abroad is to use a pre-paid calling card and call from a land line anywhere (also from your hotel room). Pre-paid calling cards are sold in many shops and kiosks in Mykonos Town. The calling card is not much more than a phone number and a PIN code, which you dial prior to dialling the usual phone number. If you want to call internationally, ask for an international calling card. For €1 you can call for about 45 minutes, so buy a card in the cheapest value (which is about €3). Calling someone for half an hour is cheaper than sending one email from an Internet café. Cards expire usually 90 days after first use. You can use this pre-paid calling card also at public phone boxes, which are widely available in Mykonos Town, though there are a lot of broken phone boxes as well.

Stay safe
Mykonos is generally a safe island, with the only problem of dangerous and drunk driving. Be aware in case you want to rent a motorbike or quadbike, because its roads are sometimes narrow with sudden twists that need driving experience and extra care.

Go next
Return to Athens or move on by boat to Paros, Naxos, Ios or Santorini.

The nearby islands of Syros and Paros can be used as transport hubs to other Greek Islands.

Day trips are possible to Delos and Tinos.