Mykonos travel guide: Chora, beaches and a day on Delos
Mykonos is a small, dry Cycladic island with one main town, Chora, a ring of sandy beaches and a reputation for nightlife and high prices. Three days cover the town, a boat trip to Delos and two or three beaches. The one thing to know is that the island is a place to rent or share a ride, because buses stop early and taxis are scarce in summer.
The short answer
- First trip
- Stay in or near Chora, walk the lanes early in the morning, take a half-day trip to Delos and spend a day on a beach.
- Where to stay
- Chora for walking and evenings, Ornos or Platys Gialos for a calmer beach base, Ano Mera for quiet.
- How many days
- Three days for Chora, Delos and the beaches. Two is enough for a short visit.
- Best time to go
- May to June and September to early October.
- Book ahead
- Delos tickets and boats in summer, beach club tables, and any dinner with a sea view.
- From the airport
- The airport is about 4 km from Chora. A bus or a taxi takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes.
Where to stay in Mykonos, in brief
Mykonos Town (Chora)
walking, food and nightlife
A maze of white lanes around the old harbor, with most of the restaurants, bars and shops. The best base for a first visit, and the loudest at night. Rooms are dearer here.
Ornos and Platys Gialos
families and calmer beach days
Sheltered bays on the south coast, a short bus or taxi ride from Chora. Sand, tavernas and sunbeds, with quieter evenings.
Psarou and Paradise
beach clubs and nightlife
The island's best-known beach clubs and music venues. Lively and expensive in July and August, with little to do away from the beach.
Ano Mera and the north
quiet and local life
A village inland and quiet beaches on the north and east, best with a car. Few restaurants and no walkable nightlife.
Things to do in Mykonos
Walk the lanes of Chora
The old town is a maze of white lanes, chapels and doorways, planned to confuse pirates. Go before 10am or after dinner to avoid the crowds.
Little Venice and the windmills
Houses built over the water on the west side of Chora, and a row of windmills on the ridge above. Come at sunset and expect crowds on the waterfront.
Panagia Paraportiani
A cluster of whitewashed chapels fused into one church by the sea in Chora, one of the most photographed buildings on the island.
Delos archaeological site
A sacred island and an ancient trading port, a short boat ride away, with mosaics, the Terrace of the Lions and a view from Mount Kynthos. Take a hat and water, because there is no shade.
a few days ahead in summer
Archaeological Museum of Mykonos
A small museum in Chora with finds from Delos and the island, a short stop on a hot afternoon.
Platys Gialos and Paradise beaches
Two of the island's long sandy beaches, with sunbeds and tavernas. Paradise is the busiest and loudest; Platys Gialos is calmer.
Agios Sostis and the quieter beaches
Beaches on the north coast with fewer buildings, reached by car or a taxi. The meltemi wind blows hardest here, so check the forecast.
Ano Mera and the Tourliani monastery
The island's second village, inland, with a square, tavernas and a monastery with a carved wooden screen.
Sunset boat trip
Small boats sail the south coast and round to Rhenia, with swimming stops. Confirm the departure point and whether wind may cancel it.
a few days ahead in summer
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Mykonos can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Mykonos, and which to pick- Delos boat and entrya few days to a week ahead in summer
Boats are limited, and entry to the site is timed at busy periods.
- Beach club tables and sunbedsweeks ahead in July and August
The best spots are booked out well before you arrive.
What to skip in Mykonos
- Chora's waterfront restaurants at sunset
Tables with a view are expensive and the food is ordinary. Eat one street back, or go to a village taverna, and watch the sunset from the windmills.
- Paradise Beach in the middle of a July weekend
It is crowded and loud from midday. Go in June or September, or choose Platys Gialos, Agios Sostis or a north-coast beach instead.
Best time to visit Mykonos
May to June and September to early October are best, with warm days, a warm sea and fewer people than the peak. The sea is comfortable from June to October.
July and August are hot, windy and crowded, and rooms cost the most. The meltemi wind blows in summer, especially in the north, and can cancel boats. Many hotels and restaurants close from November to March, and ferries run less often in winter.
- From the airportThe airport is about 4 km from Chora. A KTEL bus runs to the Fabrika terminal in town for about €2.50, and a taxi costs roughly €17 to €25 plus a small airport surcharge. Queues for taxis can be long in summer.
- From the ferry portLarge ferries use the new port at Tourlos, a few kilometers north of Chora. Buses and taxis link it to the town, and small boats to Delos leave from the old port.
- BusesKTEL buses run from Chora to the main beaches and to Ano Mera for about €2 to €3, cash on board. Service stops late in the evening.
- Car, quad or scooterA car or scooter reaches the quieter beaches. Parking in Chora is limited, and roads can be busy and narrow in summer. Drive carefully in the wind.
- TaxisTaxis are scarce in July and August and fares are high. Book ahead for late evenings or early flights.
Mykonos in three days
- Day 1
Chora in the morning: the lanes, Paraportiani and the museum. Little Venice and the windmills at sunset, then dinner in town.
- Day 2
A morning trip to Delos, then an afternoon on Platys Gialos or Ornos beach.
- Day 3
Ano Mera and the monastery, a north-coast beach by car, and a last evening in Chora.
Day trips from Mykonos
- DelosThe sacred island and archaeological site, about 30 minutes by boat from the old port, usually done in a morning.
- TinosA larger island with pilgrimage churches, marble villages and quiet beaches, reached by ferry in around 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the boat.
- Paros and NaxosLarger islands with villages and long beaches, reached by fast ferry. A long day, so many people stay a night.
Mykonos: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Mykonos?
Three days cover Chora, Delos and the beaches. Two works for a short visit and four allows more beach time or a day on Tinos.
Where should I stay in Mykonos?
In or near Chora for walking and evenings, Ornos or Platys Gialos for a calmer beach base, and Ano Mera for quiet.
Is Mykonos worth visiting?
Yes, for the old town, Delos and the beaches. It is crowded and expensive in July and August, and quiet outside the season.
What is the best time to visit Mykonos?
May to June and September to early October.
Is Mykonos expensive?
Yes, especially in July and August, at beach clubs and in Chora. Village tavernas and rooms away from the beaches cost less.
Do I need a car in Mykonos?
Not essential. Buses and taxis cover Chora and the main beaches, but a car or scooter helps for quieter beaches and Ano Mera.