Mykonos

A world famous and radiant, one of the most beautiful islands of the Cyclades.

A world famous and radiant, one of the most beautiful islands of the Cyclades.
Walk in her town and discover the numerous whitewashed houses with colored doors and windows, countless streets, picturesque windmills that compose the charming face of the settlement>
Visit also Agio Stefanos, Tourlo, Orno, Agio Sosti, Panormo, Ano Mera.
Enjoy your swim at the beached of Elia and Kalo Livadi.
If you have your own boat then you can apporach the island and leave it at Tourlo or Orno.

The town of Mykonos is one of the best examples of Cycladic architecture and is a maze of streets and alleys so that you never know where you will end up. But along the way you will see things that may surprise you, from a branch of your favorite boutique that you assumed only existed in Manhattan or Paris, to expensive restaurants owned by famous international chefs, traditional churches, famous jewelry shops, Greek tavernas, fast food joints and a pelican named Peter who would be in his mid sixties had he not been replaced so often. It is quite easy to get lost here but chances are you will find your way out before morning. My favorite shops, which are incidentally the two most practical are the Fruit Center, which of course sells fruit and the International Press Center where you will probably be able to find your favorite newspaper, magazine or book, no matter where you come from. Coming from Kea where the only newspapers you can find are in Greek or Albanian this was like finding paradise. Check out the Gallery of Yiannis Galati, one of Greece’s most famous designer-artists and a lover of the island. Thousands of celebrities have visited his little shop. Across the street at Lalaounis jewelry museum they give away the best maps of the island and in the evenings have a wine tasting. The best place for people watching is in the cafes on the waterfront and this is where most people go for breakfast and coffee. Much of the action at sunset is below the windmills in the area known as Little Venice where there are some upscale restaurants and bars and a nice view of the sunset.

The best beaches are found by taking the bus to Platyialos, which is more of a family beach, with rooms to rent, restaurants, beach umbrellas, and the small boats that can take you to the other beaches. The first beach you will come to is Agia Ana (and most likely pass without stopping), which is usually quiet and still relatively undeveloped. The next stop is Paraga and then the famous Paradise Beach where there is a campsite, music, water sports and a restaurant or two and several hotels. The next beach is Super Paradise which was a gay nudist beach at one time but has expanded its appeal since they built a road to it. The last beach is Elia which was also a nudist beach and now has a couple luxury hotels. You can now drive or take buses to all of these beaches. There are other beaches scattered around the island but these are the most well known and among the best in Greece. Along with Ornos, Kalo Livadi and Agia Anna these beaches face the south which means they are generally shielded from the Meltemi, the strong northern winds that blow in July and August. The popular beaches have beach bars with music, umbrellas and beach beds and during the summer the kind of events you might associate with Daytona Beach during spring break. If you are looking for a quiet place to be on your own, well you probably should not have come to Mykonos in the first place. But if you don’t mind swimming off the rocks you can find a comfortable place to park yourself and find some degree of solitude on the edges of just about any of these beaches. Any beach that has bus service will probably have crowds. If you rent a car or motorbike, beaches like Ftelia, Panormos-Agios Sostis, Fokos, Mersini, and Kapari and are quiet beaches. Those that face the north are popular with wind-surfers. I like Agios Stefanos which is north of Mykonos town, though it faces south. It is small and unpretentious, and has a couple hotels and a nice little fish taverna overlooking the sea called Taverna Vasoula. There are a couple beaches in town including one that is right in the harbor which is OK as far as swimming in harbors go though you probably would not want to spend every day there. But if you want somewhere to send your kids while you sit in a cafe in the port and drink coffee this will probably do. Also within easy walking distance to town is Megali Ammos which is OK when the wind is not blowing from the north.