Greece is truly a dream destination. If you have an upcoming trip to Greece or it’s been a location at the top of your bucket list for a while now, then keep reading! I will be sharing everything you need to know like how to get there, where to stay, how to get around on the islands, where to eat, what to do, and more. I will be covering one of the most popular travel destinations in Greece within this Mykonos travel guide.
Mykonos is known for its beautiful old town, luxurious day clubs and beaches, nightlife, and famous windmills. It is also known as “The Island of the Winds”. If you are looking for a party scene with beautiful beaches for you and your friends, Mykonos is the place to go.
This was actually our second time coming to Mykonos. We came for the first time in 2019 and had such an amazing time that we were dying to go back. Although we have a mile long list of destinations within Europe that we haven’t been to yet, we couldn’t wait to get back to Greece. We missed the amazing food, Greek hospitality, crystal clear waters, the Cycladic architecture, and cobblestones walkways throughout the towns.
Mykonos has one airport on the island, and it is relatively small. You will find the most flight options (and typically more affordable) by flying into Athens first. From Athens you can take a second flight to the islands or hop on a ferry. A flight from Athens to Mykonos will take you about 35-45 minutes and a ferry will take you 2.5-3.5 hours on average. It may take longer depending on the vessel and weather conditions, so keep that in mind when planning.
We have spent time in Athens on a previous trip, and if you have a day to spare, it is definitely worth seeing. If you are short on time or not overly enthused with history, Athens can get scratched off the list. I personally think 1 full day in Athens is enough to walk around, see the Parthenon, Acropolis and market, before making your way to the islands.
After a very quick couple of days in Santorini, we hopped on the ferry to Mykonos for the duration of our trip. The ferry ride will take you about 2-3 hours but was a quick and seamless ride. Be sure to arrive at least 30 minutes prior, so you can get in line and be ready to board as soon as the ferry comes in. We got stuck in traffic on the way to the port, and almost missed our ferry, so give yourself plenty of time.
If you can, I highly recommend staying in the old town! There was a group of 5 of us and we wanted to stay at an Airbnb together. We were able to find the perfect size Airbnb for all of us and the location was hard to beat. We also knew that we would be spending the majority of our time in the old town, so it was definitely worth it.
Keep in mind that if you are staying on the outskirts, you will most likely need a taxi or rental car to get around. Although accommodation in the main town may be more expensive, you will cut out a lot of the taxi costs since many things are within walking distance there. Most of the beach clubs are scattered throughout the island and not within walking distance, so you will need a taxi or rental car for those locations regardless.
Like previously mentioned, renting an ATV is no longer possible without a motorcycle license. We rented a car on the last two days in Mykonos in order to visit some of our favorite beach clubs. This was definitely the most affordable option since there were 5 of us, but if you are only looking to visit 1-2 places, a taxi may be an easier option.
Unfortunately, when we came in 2019 it was much easier to get around than it is now. You used to be able to rent ATV’s and easily get anywhere you needed! At the beginning of January 2022, they changed certain traffic laws and now renting an ATV or scooter is a bit more restricted. Only people with either a motorcycle license or are from one of the dozen or so states whose licenses are still accepted are able to rent an ATV.
Luckily, since everything we wanted to do was around Oia, we were able to see everything by foot. If you plan on visiting Fira or another part of the island, setting up a taxi service is easy. Most Airbnb hosts or hotels will gladly set up a taxi service for you. The downside of this is that taxis are very expensive on the islands. Depending on where you are going, a taxi could cost you anywhere from 20-50 euros each way. So, take that into account when picking out your hotel location as well. A cheaper option would be to rent a car if you plan on seeing a lot of the island. We rented a car in Mykonos, and it cost us 70 euros per day plus gas.
Explore Old Town: Since we stayed in Old Town, this is something we did on a daily basis, and it never got old! I loved being able to wake up, find a different cafe for breakfast each day, walk in and out of the shops, and just get lost in the streets.
Drinks at Negrita’s for Sunset: We did this on our very first night and it was unreal! The cocktails are (although expensive), very delicious, one of the best locations to watch the sunset and the music was great. I suggest staying into the night when the bar becomes a club. One of the best DJ’s (in my opinion) and such a fun atmosphere. Book a reservation several weeks in advance, especially if you are visiting in the summer. You have to put a credit card down when booking, and you do get charged if you cancel last minute. This is very common in Mykonos, especially for a lot of the “hot spots.”
Walk up to the windmills: Located in Old Town, with a great view of the town, it is definitely worth seeing the famous windmills. We had breakfast at Nice n’ Easy, just a few minutes away, then walked up to the windmills, snapped a few photos and visited the gift shop up there as well!
Dinner / Drinks at Scorpios: Book a reservation in advance, but it’s so fun to go at sunset and then stay afterwards for the DJ and dancing! This is another location that you need to put a credit card down when booking.
Beach Party at Paradise Beach Club: Mykonos is known for their beach parties, so I highly suggest experiencing at least ONE while you’re visiting! There are several to choose from, but we’ve been to Paradise Beach Club both times we went to Mykonos, and it did not disappoint. There is also Super Paradise Beach Club (they are two separate beach clubs), NAMMOS, and Scorpios just to name a few more popular ones.
Dinner at Kastros: A dinner spot that I don’t recommend missing out on! Not only is the food incredible, but the view is even better! Book a reservation in advance but unfortunately, you are not able to reserve the tables overlooking the water. Those are on a “first come, first serve” basis, but somehow, we got lucky enough both times to eat at those tables! It’s even more breathtaking if you can go before sunset- because everything is better at sunset, am I right? 😉
Boat Day: We had a boat tour planned for this year but ended up canceling since the weather was not yet warm enough to be on a boat. We did a boat day the last time we came to Mykonos, and it was such an incredible experience! I suggest booking one that is the entire day and just relaxing and soaking it all in! The water is crystal clear, and it is so peaceful out on the Aegean Sea. Also, most will cook you a traditional Greek lunch on the water! BBQ, fresh feta, vegetables, wine and more!
180 Sunset Bar: Another very popular location to visit for drinks at sunset! We have not managed to try this place out yet, but it is next on our list whenever we head back to Greece!
Breakfast:
Dinner:
We didn’t have one bad meal in Mykonos! There are countless restaurants to choose from, but these are just a few of our favorites!
In my opinion, try to avoid going in July or August if you can. Costs of hotels and Airbnb’s skyrocket, booking any reservation is very difficult unless done far in advance, and it is SO crowded. I would suggest trying to go in May, June or September. We went this year in the first week of May and it was low to mid 70s all week. I did wish it was a little warmer, so we were able to do more boat / pool days, but the locals did assure us that it is typically much warmer during that time of the year.
Mykonos is truly one of my all-time favorite towns to visit. Something about it is so magical and you’ll never want to leave. The people, the culture, the food, the views, the water, I could go on and on. If Greece is a place that has been on your bucket list for a while now, then I highly suggest making it your next vacation destination! It is perfect for a girl’s trip, honeymoon, or even solo traveling.
If you are flying in or out of Athens, and plan to spend any time there, be sure to check out my Athens travel guide for a complete 1-day itinerary of everything to do, see, and eat in one day!! I share all the iconic landmarks, restaurant recommendations and how to budget your time when you’re short on time!
If you’re like me and need help keeping all of your travel plans and itinerary organized, be sure to check out my travel journal that I designed for just this reason! It’s how I plan every single trip and keep organized. It has everything you need from a packing list, a page for your accommodation info, travel itinerary, budgeting on your trip, journaling each day and more!
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