Mykonos

Voted the top summer holiday destination time and again for good reason: exceptional beaches, award-winning restaurants, legendary parties, expensive yachts, dreamy villas, luxury hotels, beautiful people, 5 star service. Mykonos will seduce you. Awash in its iridescent Aegean light, which it shares with neighbouring Delos, you will be transformed. Put your finger on its pulse and you’ll fall hopelessly in love.

The Rich and Famous choose Mykonos
It’s hard to imagine a time when Mykonos was a humble little island, without electricity, just a layover on the way to famous Delos. Things changed in the 1950s, with the arrival of the likes of Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas, Jackie O, Marlon Brando, Grace Kelly, Princess Soraya, Elizabeth Taylor, Nureyev, Pierre Cardin, Stavros Niarchos… Legendary names of the international jet set became associated with Mykonos and the island quickly became the favoured holiday destination in Greece for the super-rich, artists and movie stars.
And the list of celebrities continues to grow: Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, Shakira, Lady Gaga, Steven Spielberg, Monica Bellucci, Liam Neeson, Hugh Jackman, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones, Clive Owen, Jean Paul Gaultier, Giorgio Armani, Russell Crowe…

The Magic of Hora
Sparkling white with a blue Aegean backdrop, the island’s architecture is one of a kind. It extends into the little neighbourhoods of the island’s main town, Hora, with captains’ homes and old churches and wells. Mazes of white walkways are everywhere. In Gialos you’ll find the famous pelicans, as well as Agios Nikolaos Tis Kadenas, the Town Hall of 1780, and the imposing Mavrou school. Through Barkias you will reach the Church of Panagia Paraportiani, a complex of five churches, completed in the 17th century.

Little Venice and the Windmills
Perhaps one of the most photographed spots on the island, Little Venice is made up of homes that were built in the 18th century and have their foundations in the sea. It has been said that behind these doors above the waterline, pirates would store their loot. Today they have been converted to bars and restaurants and the view of the sparkling Aegean Sea from their balconies is dazzling. Mykonos’ other main attraction are The Windmills, which stand facing the sea and at night are beautifully lit up. Powered by the north wind, these windmills used to ground grain into flour until the early 20th century.

A Happy Atmosphere
Look who’s dancing barefoot around you: your favourite TV stars, supermodels, in-vogue fashion designers, pop stars. In Mykonos anything’s possible. From Little Venice to Super Paradise, from Matogiannia to Psarou, Orno, Paradise… the party is pumping all summer long. Day and night, spontaneous and organised, with guest DJs from all over the world. Holidays in Mykonos mean fun, fun, and more fun – champagne on the beach, cocktails on balconies, dancing and flirting until the sun comes up.

5 star luxury holidays
During your holidays in Mykonos, dreams can become reality. This island is a luxury destination that has it all. Elegant villas and suites with private pools that merge with the blue horizon. Award-winning designs. Five-star service. Gourmet gastronomy served to you on dreamy balconies, on a yacht or on a private pier. Mykonos can surprise even those who are accustomed to a life of luxury. Here hospitality has reached a standard all its own.

High-fashion shopping in Hora, Mykonos
Shopping in Hora is a high-fashion experience, where you can find the latest collections from top design houses. Sitting along Matogiannia makes for some great people-watching: the colourful crowd comes and goes, snaking in and out of brightly lit stores, whether they’re just window shopping or holding bagfuls of clothes. Could there be a more beautiful catwalk than the cobblestone streets of Mykonos’ Hora?

Gastronomy in Mykonos
In Mykonos you will find some of the best restaurants in the Mediterranean. Award-winning chefs bring you a medley of local and International cuisines. Fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, elegant and refined dishes inspired by international culinary trends, all paired with wines that would satisfy even the most selective oenophile.

Beaches of Paradise
Green, blue and turquoise water, coarse sand: some of the best beaches of the Aegean are found here. Open your eyes underwater and you’ll see the deep in all its technicolour glory. Agios Sostis, Kalafatis, Lia, Ornos, Paraga, Super Paradise, Ftelia, Psarou. By boat, car or on foot you can arrive at cosmopolitan beaches or secluded coves. You’ll find all sorts of water sports: tubes, banana, water-ski, wakeboard, jet ski, parasailing, windsurf… The choices of how you’ll spend your day are endless.

Gay-friendly Mykonos
In the 70s Jackie Onassis introduced Mykonos to her gay American friends. Being particularly open minded, locals welcomed the gay community and Mykonos became known throughout the world as the most gay-friendly destination in Greece. More and more hotels, bars, beach-restaurants and clubs each year cater to gays.

The other side to Mykonos
These important sights and attractions are well worth a visit: The Gyzi Castle in the hills of Paleokastro, the Neolithic settlement at Ftelia, the Myconian grave in Angelika, the ancient wells and ruins … all witness to the island’s great history.

The surrounding islets
Three small islands next to Mykonos will enrich your holidays in Greece. Rineia, Tragonisi, Ktapodia. Little bays with emerald water and caves inhabited by the protected Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus).

Armenistis Lighthouse
Dating back to 1891, this is one of the most interesting lighthouses in the Cyclades. It is worth making the trip on foot, and to see the old mechanism in the garden of the Aegean Maritime Museum in Hora. Spend an evening there and watch the sunset, one of the most beautiful in Greece. Take a dip in the Aegean as the sun disappears into the sea - it will be a moment you’ll never forget!

The beaches on the south shore of the island have the best sand, view and are protected from the Meltemi, the local Cycladic wind. Keep in mind that most people begin to arrive in the early afternoon, and you can avoid the worst of the crowds by going in the morning. The north coast beaches are less developed but just as beautiful. They are less organized and crowded and most suitable for those in search of a bit of calm.

Psarou: The most famous and cosmopolitan beach of Mykonos. Situated within walking distance and just to the right of the Plati Gialos bus terminus. Fully organised beach offering water sports (including a diving school) attracting all vip visitors of the island.

Platis Gialos: About 4 km from the center of Mykonos town, a very popular beach on the south side of the island. It is also one of the longest beaches on Mykonos.
From here one may hire a small boat to visit other beaches like Paradise, Super Paradise etc. There is a very good connection by bus with Mykonos town, till very late at night.

Paranga: One of the island’s smallest beaches, it is a combination of two sandy beaches separated by a headland. Although organised, it has a new-age feel about it, with fine sand and huge rocks juxtaposed with blue water. The beach can be reached by bus or by a 15 minute walk from Platis Gialos.

Paradise (Kalamopodi): One of the most famous beaches of Mykonos, nudist friendly, attracting mostly a young crowd by its 24 hour music and its day and night beach parties. Water sports, diving centre and beach bars are available. It is located on the south, between Paranga Beach and Super Paradise Beach, and is reachable by a footpath from Plati Gialo, by bus or by small boat.

Super Paradise (Plintri): Just as famous as Paradise, it lies on the south side of Mykonos, next to Paradise beach. The setting truly is paradisiacal but don’t come here for a peaceful family picnic – music blares from huge loud speakers and during high season the beach partying often continues all day long. Full nudity is permitted.
Is reachable by local bus and small boat.

Agrari: Located right next to Elia beach, they form together a huge sandy beach. Agrari is less popular than its neighbour and much calmer. It can be reached by local bus and taxi-boat.

Elia: Elia is in a distance of about 3 km away from Ano Mera. The largest of the southern beaches, it has good restaurants, hotels, bungalows.
In the area just before Elia beach, there is “Watermania”, a 60,000 square metre water park with dare devil chutes, a host of water-based activities, music and dancing.
The beach is accessible by bus service from Mykonos Town and boat service from Platis Gialos.

Kalo Livadi: Kalo Livadi lies 2 km from Ano Mera. It is the perfect place for those who look for a peaceful environment. If you like to stay overnight, there is one hotel and a few rooms to let. Buses run frequently from Mykonos Town to Kalo Livadi.

Ornos: Only two kilometres from town, located on the south west. Perfect family beach with all amenities. Access to and from town is easily made by frequent bus service. Daily boat services to other beaches as well as excursions to the island of Delos are available from this bay which also provides a good anchorage for yachts.

Korfos: Only two kilometres from town. Attracts mainly wind surfing enthusiasts, due to the frequency of good on-shore winds. Not suitable for swimming or sunbathing.

Agios Ioannis: Situated on the south-west coast of the island, 5 km from Mykonos Town, Agios Ioannis is fully organised, wind-protected beach, ideal for families. You can enjoy a wonderful view over the island of Delos.

Agios Sostis: On the north part of the island. Suitable for those who want to avoid crowds and enjoy calmness. One of the most secluded beaches on the island, since access is limited to private vehicle and taxi.

Ftelia: North facing beach, most suitable to windsurfers, since it is exposed to strong northern winds. There is a restaurant to serve the needs of those who visit and access to this beach can only be made by taxi or private vehicles.

By Airplane: You can arrive from Athens in approx. 30 minutes. There are several daily flights operated by Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air, especially during the summer period. You can get to Mykonos from other major Greek airports, such as Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Crete and Santorini. There are also several direct flights from major European Cities that can get you directly to Mykonos. For accurate information, please check with your airline.

By Boat: Mykonos Island has daily high speed and regular ferry connections to/from Athens from both ports of Piraeus and Rafina; also from neighboring islands of the Cyclades such as Santorini, Naxos and even from the Island Crete.

There are two ports serving Mykonos, the old port and the new port of Tourlos which is also used by cruise ships. Our Staff are happy to assist you with transfer services to Petinaros Mykonos and assist in renting a car for you from our sister company First Car Rental

From Piraeus Port
Piraeus port is located about 45km from Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) and 12km from Athens city centre. It is the largest port in Greece.
There are several ways to get to Piraeus Port from Athens Airport:

By Bus
Take the x96 bus. It’s only €5.00 per person, clean, air conditioned and just as fast as taking a taxi. The bus from Athens to the port of Piraeus takes about 1 hour to 1.5 hours depending on traffic. The bus leaves every 20 minutes during the day and every 40 minutes at night (22:30 – 05:00). You need to buy a ticket before boarding the bus from the kMykonosk outside arrivals, and remember to validate your ticket in the yellow box when you get on the bus.

By Metro
The train station is connected to the airport. Take the Blue line (M3) from Athens Airport to Monastiraki, then change onto the Green line (M1) to Piraeus which is the last stop and right in front of the port. There are discounts available for additional people e.g. for 1 person to travel the cost is €8.00, for 2 people it is only €14 and for 3 it is €20. Trains run every 30 minutes (on the hour and half hour) from 05:30 – 00:15 (02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays). The journey takes about 1 hour. Enlarge the Athens Metro Map by clicking on the image to the right for more information.

By Taxi
There is no flat rate for travel by taxi from the airport to Piraeus Port. The journey is about 40-60 minutes and it should cost about €50 during the day and about €65 at night.

From Rafina Port
Rafina Port is 10km away from Athens International Airport and 30km from Athens city centre. It is the second largest port in Athens.

By Bus
Take the direct orange KTEL bus from Athens Airport to Rafina port. It departs from the Arrivals level between exits 2 and 3. The bus departs every hour and takes approximately 30 minutes. The bus costs €3 per person and operates from 04:50 until 22:15.

By Taxi
A taxi takes about 20 minutes from Athens Airport to Rafina port, and costs about €35 during the day and €50 at night.

Shopping
Mykonos is an inexhaustible shopper’s paradise, with Matoyiannia being one the most expensive streets in Europe, both in terms of prices as well as rents! Shops in Mykonos sell handmade mosaics, textiles and jewellery, while the world’s grandest brands are on sale in the boutiques of Chora. Mykonos should not be exclusively associated with luxury restaurants and pretentious cuisine. Taste the island’s rich local flavours and recipes. The book “Mykonos cuisine - A Mosaic of Culture” (ed. Indiktos) by Dimitris Rousounelos deserves a look. If not in the mood for reading, queue for a seat in “Maereio” for traditional dishes. Do not leave Mykonos without trying traditional almond sweets and soumada (refreshingly made from almond milk) at “Efthimiou” in Steno in Chora. Get some Myconos “louza” (traditional sausage from locally grown pork) and the spicy cheese “kopanisti”, the perfect accompaniment to ouzo.

Ano Mera
Explore the traditional farmsteads and village architecture in Ano Mera. An ideal spot for a relaxing stroll, the village offers its ancient settlement of Palaiokastro for a visit. A short distance away, the Panagia Tourliani monastery –founded in 1542- is worth the walk to marvel at its decorations, episcopal throne and Florentine woodworks.

Daily Trips to Delos
A short distance from Mykonos stands the tiny island of Delos. The island –one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites- has been inhabited since the 3rd millennium BC and was considered one of Antiquity’s holiest sites. In the island’s North you’ll come across the Gallery, the Agora, the theatre and the ruins of three temples.
Boats leaving Chora every day except Monday will bring you to Delos in a mere 20 minutes. Departures from the pier of Palio Limani from 09:00 to 12:50. Return trips from Delos are at 12:15, 13:30 and 15:00.

Art & Culture
In the town of Mykonos you will find many art galleries and exhibitions hosted in the Municipal Gallery. In the summer, performances and concerts are held at the Grypareion Cultural Center, 1 km from Chora or at the “Theatraki tis Lakkas” or even watch a film at the open air cinema “Cine Manto” in the Meletopoulos Garden.

Windsurfing and Kitesurfing
As many of the islands of the Cyclades, Mykonos Greece is blessed by the strong northern winds called meltemia.
Windsurfing lovers and experienced will find their paradises in the beaches of Ftelia and Kalafati, which are offering the ideal conditions for windsurfing.
For the beginners, most of the organized beaches of Mykonos Island propose windsurfing courses, protected from the violent winds.

Diving
Mykonos diving is a very developed activity on the island. Due to the large number of tourists who visit Mykonos every summer and the interesting diving sites that are found around the island, many Mykonos diving centers have opened offering courses and trips in the open sea. Most diving centers in Mykonos are found in the beaches on the southern side of the island, which are the most popular, such as the beaches of Paradise, Super Paradise, Agios Ioannis and Kalafatis.
Interesting diving sites for novice or experienced divers are found all around Mykonos island. Very popular is the Paradise Reef, a reef with wide diversity of marine life, such as sponges, barracuda, starfish and octopus. Another diving site is Dragonisi, an uninhabited islet with spectacular rock formations. A challenging Mykonos diving spot is the Anna II shipwreck as it is found at a depth of 18-35 metres.

Horseback Riding
Horse riding in Mykonos is not a particularly popular sports but it could be a nice experience if you are interested to do something very special on the island. Riding tours in Mykonos lead to secluded beaches, old sightseeing, small chapels and spots with breathtaking view. In particular, Mykonos riding tours can be sunset tours, family tours or even tours for therapeutic riding.

Little Venice
Little Venice is one of the most romantic places in the whole of Mykonos. This neighborhood is replete with elegant and gorgeous old houses that are situated precariously on the edge of the sea. Many discerning travelers in the past have fallen in love with this charming quarter to its magnetic appeal. Quite amazing are the sunset views from Little Venice.

Windmills
The windmills are the quintessential features of Mykonos landscape. There are plenty of them that have become a part and parcel of Mykonos. Visitors to Mykonos can see the windmills irrespective of the locale. From a distance one can easily figure out the windmills, courtesy of their silhouette.

Panagia Paraportiani
The lovely church of Panagia (Virgin Mary) Paraportiani is among the most photographed churches not only in Mykonos, but in the whole world. It is located at the entrance of Kastro neighbourhood, right by the sea. Its name (Paraportiani) actually means standing next to the entrance door, meaning that the church was next to the Castle door.
The special thing about this church is that it actually consists of five small churches that were built one on top or next to the other.