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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.
Mykonos is famed as a cosmopolitan destination amongst the Greek islands and widely recognized 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... Read more
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.
Mykonos is famed as a cosmopolitan destination amongst the Greek islands and widely recognized 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 travelers. 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.
Mykonos' main communities are Chora, the island's port town and capital, and Ano Mera.
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.
Other small communities include:
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.
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 11 AM, noon, 2 PM, 4 PM, 6 PM and 7 PM, 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 torn and not stamped, he will inspect your ticket thoroughly, looking for counterfeited tickets.
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 harbor 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. Contact telephone numbers are 22400 and 23700.
The Plati Yalos Boat Service provides a good and fun way of getting to the southern beaches of Mykonos.
Boat services can be canceled 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 June to September there are also infrequently boats leaving from the harbor in Mykonos Town to Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia.
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 on 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 bus station, 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.
If you rent a car be aware that 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.
Panagia Paraportianí, a true Byzantine jewel. This whitewashed church, which building dates back to 1425 and was not completed until the 17th century, is the most popular and most photographed of the 400 churches on the whole island of Mykonos. It is made up of four chapels at ground level with another one above. Only one of the chapels on the ground floor is open to visitors, from early morning until sunset. The church is located in the Kastro district, the oldest section of Mykonos Town.
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.
Most of the beaches have tavernas and restaurants and are well equipped with deck chairs and parasols. 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, jewelry, 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.
Psarou is easily accessible by bus from Mykonos Town. Get off the bus one stop before the last stop, Platys Gialos.
Bus service from Mykonos Town is very frequent and takes about 15 minutes. Platys Gialos is the starting point for regular boat services to the other southern Mykonos beaches.
Paranga is easily accessible by bus from Mykonos Town or with a regular boat service from Platys Gialos (first stop). It is also an easy walk from Platys Gialos (15 minutes) or Paradise (10 minutes). On your way walking from Platys Galios you will pass by the beach of Aghia Anna, an enchanting little cove nearby Paranga Beach with only a handful of rental umbrellas and lounge chairs. At this golden sand beach, there are two lovely restaurants nearby, a more modern Greek restaurant (Santanna) and a traditional-style Greek tavern (Nikolas).
Paradise is easily reached by bus from Mykonos Town or with a regular boat service from Platys Gialos (second stop).
There is no bus service to Super Paradise, but it is easily accessible with a regular boat service from Platys Gialos (third stop). You can also take the bus to Paradise from Mykonos Town and then continue walking for 20 minutes over the hill to Superparadise. From June to September there is a boat from the Superparadise. From June to September there is a boat from the harbor in Mykonos Town to Super Paradise, leaving in the morning and returning around 4:30 PM in the afternoon. With your own transport, it is a difficult winding road from Mykonos Town.
If there are enough passengers, the boats from Platys Gialos will make a stop at Agrari. Otherwise, it is an easy 5-minute walk over the rocks from Elia Beach. With your own transport, it is a quite difficult road from Mykonos Town.
Elia is most easily reached by a direct local bus from Mykonos Town’s northern bus terminal, but also with a regular boat service from Platys Gialos beach (fourth and last stop). Last boat back is at 6 PM, but after that time two buses are still running (leaving at 6:30 PM and 7:30 PM).
Best reached with your own transport, but you can get there by bus. Take the bus to Elia and get off the bus at the top of the hill where it turns to go to Elia Beach and walk for about ten minutes downhill to your left.
Kalafati can be reached by bus from Mykonos Town, but this bus only runs a few times a day. Immediately next to Kalafatis are the sandy beaches of Draoumia and Tafarnis.
To get there you need your own transport or you can walk from Kalafati.
To get there you need your own transport. From Ano Mera follow a weaving road down to the beach.
Ornos is easily accessible by bus from Mykonos Town (or walk along the coast road for about 30 minutes). 2km north of Ornos is the beach of Korfos, suitable for windsurfing, but not for swimming or sunbathing.
Next to Agios Ioannis is the small beach of Kapari, with a small nude section. This hidden beach is located north of Agios Ioannis, behind Agios Ioannis chapel, and then steep walk downhill.
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 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 harbor 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.
The town square offers several traditional restaurants.
Mykonos is famous for its intense nightlife as evidenced by a vast number of bars and nightclubs. Drinking can be quite expensive in Mykonos.
Although Mykonos´ 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.
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 2 PM to 5 PM. 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, greengrocers, 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.
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.
LOCAL TIME
8:33 pm
April 15, 2021
Europe/Athens
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Mykonos was another island that we wanted to visit during a cruise. There was no sense staying there for a week, as the island is tiny and there are only few interesting sights to see. Mykonos is famous mainly for Ibiza – all night booze ups and discos . . . and the pelican Petros... |
Mykonos
is a Greek island that I fell in love with at first sight. Let me show some photos of this impressive island.
Author: Nikolkaya
Source: nikolkaya.livejournal.com
Translated by: Zoozi
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Let me warn you - this review is not for everyone. The guide says that this is "the most beautiful beach on
Mykonos
island, which has become a place of rest for nudists, gays and lesbians from around the world". The same guide stated that "family vacation is certainly not advised,"... |
Our ship had anchored not far from a berth of the Greek island of
Mykonos
.
The town is located on the shore of a cozy bay.
There were a lot of restaurants and cafes,
and shops.
The streets were so narrow that it was best to move by foot or by a small vehicle.
We met ancient residents... |
This was the most ambiguous, most expensive, and the most useful cruise.
Here is our cruise report:
We were leaving
Venice
on a sunny day. I've already taken pictures of the coast from the board of a ship several times, and now I am jealous of people standing on the... |
The fifth day. Continuation.
The symbol of
Mykonos
island is the pelican:
We walked around
Mykonos
in the evening, so the photos are dark.
Doesn't it look like Venice? :)
Here are the city streets:
This is the view of the streets of
Mykonos island
:
Behind... |
The fifth day.
We sailed from
Santorini
island to
Mykonos
island. It was interesting to sail along Greece. Different islands could be seen constantly. All you do is sit on the balcony and admire the views :) A holiday is a good thing! :)
And here, our plane was getting... |