Where to stay in Mykonos
Mykonos is small, but it is not a place you walk around. One white town, Chora, sits on the west coast, and the beaches are strung along the south and east, each a bus or taxi ride apart. The choice that matters most is whether you stay in Chora, with the lanes, the restaurants and the late nights, or on a beach, with sand at the door and a ride into town. For a first visit, Chora is the practical base. Ornos and Platys Gialos are calmer beach bases, Psarou and Paradise are for the beach clubs, and Ano Mera is for quiet. Whatever you pick, plan how you will get about, because buses stop early and taxis are scarce in July and August.
The short answer
- First trip
- Chora for the lanes, the restaurants and the boat to Delos, or Ornos if you want a beach and a short ride into town.
- Couples
- Chora for evenings out, or Agios Stefanos for a calmer room with sea views.
- Families
- Ornos or Platys Gialos: sheltered, shallow water, and tavernas on the sand.
- Nightlife
- Chora for bars, Psarou and Paradise for beach clubs.
- Quiet
- Ano Mera or Agios Stefanos, with a car or a taxi number to hand.
How we judge an area of Mykonos: the beach, the noise at night, how you get in and out, and the price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Mykonos's areas, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Chora | Delos boats, Old Port | Airport | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mykonos Town (Chora) | Evenings, food, Delos boats | Loud in the center | 5 min | 5 min | 35 min | Buses to all beaches | €€€ |
| Tourlos | Ferries, budgets | Quiet, port noise early | 20 min | 20 min | 50 min | Bus and taxi to Chora | €€ |
| Agios Stefanos | Calm beach, views | Quiet | 45 min | 40 min | 60 min | Bus and taxi to Chora | €€€ |
| Ornos | Families, beach days | Quiet to moderate | 30 min | 30 min | 30 min | Bus to Chora, 10 minutes | €€€ |
| Psarou | Beach clubs, nightlife | Loud in summer | 40 min | 35 min | 15 min | Bus and taxi to Chora | €€€€ |
| Platys Gialos | Beach days, families | Lively in summer | 55 min | 55 min | 30 min | Bus to Chora, 15 minutes | €€€ |
| Paradise and Super Paradise | Party nights, young groups | Loud | over an hour | over an hour | 45 min | Bus to Chora, 20 minutes | €€ |
| Ano Mera | Quiet, drivers | Very quiet | over an hour | over an hour | over an hour | Bus to Chora, few daily | €€ |
The three columns are the straight line from the middle of each area plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes, so they show how far apart things are, not what to do. Between areas you take the bus, a taxi or a car: few people walk from the beaches to town. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it.
Where the areas are
Chora, for the lanes, the food and the evenings
The island's only real town: white lanes, the most restaurants and bars, the boats to Delos, and the loudest nights.
Chora wraps round a small harbor on the west coast, a maze of white lanes, chapels and doors that were laid out to confuse pirates and still confuse visitors. The restaurants, bars and shops are here, the Old Port has the boats to Delos, and the buses to every beach start at the Fabrika terminal or the Old Port. For two or three nights without a car, nowhere makes the logistics easier, and in the evening you walk to dinner and walk back.
It is also the busiest and dearest place on the island. Cruise passengers fill the lanes in the middle of the day, the waterfront at Little Venice is packed at sunset, and bars play music until the early hours, so rooms near the center are loud. There is no beach in town to speak of, and the lanes are steep in places, with steps and cobbles. Ask for a room back from the bars, on a quieter lane, and check how far the nearest road is for luggage.
Good for
- Walking to dinner and the boats to Delos
- Getting about by bus, with no car
- The widest choice of food and bars
Think twice if
- You want a beach at the door
- You want quiet nights: the center is loud late
- You dislike crowds on cruise ship days
Staying in Mykonos Town (Chora): nearby sights, food and getting around
Tourlos, for the ferry port and a quieter, cheaper room
The strip north of Chora by the new port: not pretty, but practical, with lower prices and a short ride into town.
Tourlos is the stretch of coast north of Chora where the large ferries dock. It is mostly plain hotels and apartments, with a few tavernas, a small beach and the fishing and ferry port. The prices are among the lowest within reach of Chora, and the ride into town is a few minutes by bus or taxi.
It has little of the Mykonos look. Port traffic and early ferries make the mornings noisy, the beach is small and the sea is exposed to the north wind in summer. Evenings out mean going to Chora, and the walk back is not one to do late at night. It suits a short stay, an early ferry or a tight budget.
Good for
- An early or late ferry
- Lower prices within reach of Chora
- A short ride into town
Think twice if
- You want the Mykonos look and a good beach
- Port noise in the morning bothers you
- You want to walk to dinner
Agios Stefanos, for a calm beach and sea views
A sandy bay north of Chora with hotels on the slope above it, a short drive from town.
Agios Stefanos is a wide bay with a sand beach, a few tavernas and hotels stepped up the hillside. The view looks across the water toward Chora and the windmills, and the beach is calmer in the evening than the southern beaches, with fewer beach clubs. It is about ten minutes from Chora by taxi or bus.
It faces north, so the meltemi wind in July and August can make the beach rough and blow sand. The services are basic, the choice of restaurants is small, and evenings in Chora mean a taxi back. It is a good base for a car, and for guests who want a beach and a view without the south coast's music.
Good for
- A calm beach and views toward Chora
- A short drive into town
- Quieter evenings than the south coast
Think twice if
- You want to walk to restaurants and bars
- Wind bothers you: the bay faces north
- You have no car and want late evenings out
Staying in Agios Stefanos: nearby sights, food and getting around
Ornos, for a sheltered bay a short ride from town
A sheltered bay on the south coast, a few minutes from Chora, with a flat beach, tavernas and hotels.
Ornos is a deep, sheltered bay about 3 km south of Chora, with a sand beach, tavernas along the front and hotels on the slopes above. The water is shallow and calm, the streets are flat, and a frequent bus runs to Chora in around ten minutes. It suits families and anyone who wants a beach with a town close by.
It is a resort, not a village, and it is busy in July and August. The beach fills and the bay holds the heat, so afternoons are hot. The airport is close, so some rooms hear planes. Evenings are quieter than in Chora, with a few bars, and the last bus back from town leaves before the clubs close, so plan the ride home.
Good for
- Families with young children
- A beach and a short bus ride to town
- Flat streets and tavernas on the sand
Think twice if
- You want the old-town lanes at your door
- You want the island's best-known beach clubs
- Aircraft noise bothers you
Psarou, for the beach clubs and the island's glossiest scene
A small bay with the island's best-known beach clubs and the highest prices on the south coast.
Psarou is a short, sandy cove ringed by beach clubs, restaurants and boutique hotels. It is the part of Mykonos known for celebrity spotting and long lunches, and the sand fills with sunbeds from late morning. It is close to Chora and to Platys Gialos by bus or taxi.
It is the most expensive part of the island, and the beach is small. In July and August the music starts at midday and the bay is packed, so quiet is not on offer. Outside the clubs there is little to see, and without a booking you may not get a sunbed. If the scene is not the point, Platys Gialos or Ornos cost less and feel calmer.
Good for
- Beach clubs and a lively scene
- A short ride to Chora
- Anyone who plans to spend the day by the sea
Think twice if
- You want a low price
- You want quiet: music plays all day in summer
- You want a large public beach
Platys Gialos, for a long beach and boats to other beaches
A long sandy beach with a lively strip of hotels and tavernas, and the boat stop for the southern beaches.
Platys Gialos is a wide beach on the south coast with hotels and tavernas along the whole front, and water taxis leave from the jetty for Paradise and Super Paradise. The water is calm and shallow, and a bus links it to Chora in about fifteen minutes. It suits families and groups who want a classic beach holiday.
It is busy and built-up, with sunbeds in rows and a strip of bars and restaurants behind. Evenings can be loud in high season, and the walk up to the hotels on the slope is steep. In winter it nearly shuts. If you want a village feel, look elsewhere.
Good for
- A long beach with calm water
- Boats to other beaches from the jetty
- A bus to Chora
Think twice if
- You want a quiet village
- Rows of sunbeds put you off
- You travel in winter, when it closes
Staying in Platys Gialos: nearby sights, food and getting around
Paradise and Super Paradise, for the party beaches
The island's party coast: beach clubs, camping and bars on the south-east, loud and busy from June to September.
Paradise and Super Paradise are two beaches on the south-east coast with beach clubs, a campsite and small hotels behind. Music runs from the afternoon into the night, and the crowd is young and international. A bus and water taxis link them to Chora and Platys Gialos.
It is not a place to sleep early. Noise carries into the rooms, the sand is hot, and the road down to the beaches is steep. Many places close in the off-season and the area is empty. Choose it only if the party is the point.
Good for
- Beach parties and long days by the sea
- A young, social crowd
- The campsite and cheaper rooms
Think twice if
- You want to sleep: the music carries
- You travel with young children
- You want a quiet room and a view
Staying in Paradise and Super Paradise: nearby sights, food and getting around
Ano Mera, for the inland village and the quiet
The island's second village, in the middle, with a square, a monastery and a few small hotels, far from the clubs.
Ano Mera lies inland, around 8 km east of Chora, with a village square, tavernas and the Tourliani monastery with its carved wooden screen. It is the quietest base on the island, with a few small hotels, and the beaches at Kalafatis and Elia are a short drive away. A bus runs to Chora a few times a day.
It has no beach of its own, the restaurants close early and nights are very quiet. Without a car you depend on the bus and taxis, which do not run late. It suits long stays, drivers and anyone who wants a village instead of a resort.
Good for
- Quiet nights and a village feel
- A car for beaches in the east
- Lower prices than the south coast
Think twice if
- You have no car and want to go out in the evenings
- You want the beach at your door
- You want a choice of restaurants and bars
Where not to stay in Mykonos, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Mykonos. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- A room in the middle of Chora's bar lanes
Music and crowds run until the early hours, and shutters do not stop it. Ask for a room on a quieter lane, or stay a few minutes from the center.
- A room 'near Chora' that is a taxi ride away
Taxis are scarce in July and August, and a short distance on the map can mean a long wait. Check the bus stop and the last bus before you book.
- Paradise or Psarou for a quiet holiday
Both are built around beach clubs, and the music carries. Stay at Ornos, Agios Stefanos or Ano Mera and visit for the day.
- A hotel with no step-free access, if stairs are hard
Many hotels climb the hillside, and lanes in Chora have steps. Ask for the number of steps before you book.
- Mykonos out of season, without checking what is open
From November many hotels, restaurants and boats close. Check that your hotel and the ferries run before you book.
Which area suits you
First time on Mykonos
Stay in Chora for the lanes and the boats, or Ornos for a beach and a short bus ride.
Couples and honeymoons
Chora for evenings, or Agios Stefanos for a view and a calmer room.
Families with children
Ornos or Platys Gialos, with shallow water and flat streets.
With a car
Ano Mera or Agios Stefanos, with the whole island within half an hour.
Quiet
Ano Mera, Agios Stefanos or Tourlos after the ferries.
Before you book a room on Mykonos
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Mykonos makes a good stay.
- The climate resilience feeGreece charges a fee per room per night, not per guest, usually paid at the hotel and not in the online price. From April to October it is €2 at a one or two-star hotel, €5 at three stars, €10 at four and €15 at five; from November to March it is €0.50, €1.50, €3 and €4. Holiday rentals pay a flat rate, which is higher in the summer months, and the rate is the same on every island. Cruise passengers pay a separate Mykonos fee.
- From the airportThe airport is about 4 km from Chora. The KTEL bus to the Fabrika terminal in town takes about 15 minutes and costs around €2.50, paid in cash. A taxi to Chora is usually about €17 to €25, plus a small airport surcharge, and queues for taxis can run to 30 minutes or more in summer.
- From the ferry portLarge ferries dock at Tourlos, a few kilometers north of Chora, and small boats to Delos leave from the Old Port in town. Buses and taxis link Tourlos to Chora, and many hotels send a driver. Check the time of your boat, because the wind can delay sailings.
- The busKTEL buses run from Chora to Ornos, Platys Gialos, Paradise, Elia and Ano Mera, with fares of about €2 to €3, cash on board. Services stop late in the evening, and fares and times change by season, so check the timetable before you plan a late night.
- Cars and scootersA car or scooter makes the quieter beaches and Ano Mera easy. Parking in Chora is limited and roads are narrow and busy in summer. Drive carefully in the wind, and ask your hotel where to leave the car.
- Steps and luggageMany hotels are reached by steps or steep lanes with no lift, and porters are not guaranteed. If stairs are hard for you, ask for the number of steps and the floor before you book.
- SeasonJuly and August are the busiest and dearest, with strong wind in the north. From November many hotels and restaurants close, and ferries run less often, so check before you book out of season.
Where to stay in Mykonos: questions people ask
What is the best area to stay in Mykonos for a first visit?
Chora, for most people: it has the lanes, the restaurants, the buses and the boats to Delos. Ornos suits you better if you want a beach and a quieter evening, and it is a short ride from town.
Is it better to stay in Chora or by the beach?
In Chora if you want to walk to dinner and enjoy the evenings, and by the beach, at Ornos or Platys Gialos, if you want to swim every day and have calmer nights. You cannot walk between them, so choose one and take the bus to the other.
Where should I stay in Mykonos with kids?
Ornos or Platys Gialos, where the water is calm and shallow, the streets are flat and there are tavernas on the sand.
Where should I stay in Mykonos for nightlife?
Chora for bars and clubs within walking distance, and Psarou or Paradise for beach clubs. Expect noise and ask for a room away from the music.
Do I need a car in Mykonos?
No, if you stay in Chora or on a bus route. Yes, or a scooter, if you stay in Ano Mera or want the quieter beaches in the north and east.
Is Mykonos expensive?
Yes, especially in July and August and at the beach clubs. Rooms in Tourlos, Ano Mera and Paradise cost less than in Chora, Psarou or Agios Stefanos.
How much is the climate fee in Mykonos?
It is charged per room per night, not per person: from April to October €2 at one and two-star hotels, €5 at three stars, €10 at four and €15 at five. It is paid at the hotel, usually on top of the price shown online.
How do I get from the airport to Chora?
By KTEL bus for about €2.50, around 15 minutes, or by taxi for roughly €17 to €25 plus a small surcharge. Taxis queue in summer.
