Fokos beach on Mykonos is a wild, remote bay on the north-east coast, reached by a dirt road and prized for its unspoilt natural beauty, far from the crowds, and for the celebrated Fokos Taverna serving some of the island’s best Greek food. This guide covers the beach, the taverna, how to get there, what to bring and what to do.
Fokos is one of the most untamed and authentic beaches in the Mykonos travel guide, a retreat for nature lovers. The sections below cover it in full.
What is Fokos beach like?
Fokos is a wild, remote beach on the north-east coast of Mykonos, set in a rocky bay surrounded by untamed natural landscape, free of crowds and development. It has golden sand but often choppy, windy water, making it better for peace, scenery and privacy than for swimming, a rare unspoilt gem on the island.
Fokos lies on the wilder north-east coast of Mykonos, about 13 kilometres from Mykonos Town, and is one of the island’s true hidden beaches. Set in a rocky bay surrounded by raw, untamed natural landscape, it offers a rare sense of remoteness, privacy and unspoilt beauty far from the crowds and beach clubs that define the south coast. The beach is a stretch of golden sand, but because it faces north it is often windy, and the sea can be quite choppy, so it is not the best beach for easy swimming. Instead, its appeal lies in its peace, scenery and authenticity: this is a place to escape, soak up the wild landscape and feel a Mykonos far removed from the glamour. It is also a popular spot for horse riding, and you may see horses making their way down to the sand. For nature lovers and those seeking solitude, Fokos is a special, untamed corner of the island, set out alongside the wider guide to the beaches. Its taverna is a destination in itself.
What is Fokos Taverna like?
Fokos Taverna is a celebrated, remote restaurant by the beach serving some of the best Greek food on Mykonos, with dishes like its renowned broccoli salad and fresh fish. Despite its isolated setting it has won international acclaim, including a Monocle restaurant award, and gets busy at lunch, so booking ahead is recommended.
Much of Fokos’s fame comes from its taverna, which has become a destination in its own right and draws diners who make the journey for the food as much as the beach. Fokos Taverna is a small, charming restaurant set by the sand in this wild, remote location, serving some of the finest authentic Greek food on the island, prepared with care from fresh, local ingredients. Its renowned dishes include a celebrated broccoli salad and excellent fresh fish, and the menu and setting have earned it real international acclaim, including recognition among the world’s best restaurants with a Monocle restaurant award, remarkable for such an out-of-the-way taverna. Around lunchtime it gets very busy as people drive out for the experience, so making a reservation is highly recommended to secure a table, and for two people you might expect to spend in the region of 70 to 100 euros. The combination of superb food and a wild, scenic setting makes a long lunch here unforgettable, set out alongside the guide to restaurants. Reaching it takes a little adventure.
How do you get to Fokos beach?
Fokos is about 13 km from Mykonos Town, a roughly 20-minute drive ending on a dirt road, with the route signposted from Ano Mera. There is no bus service, so you need a hire car or scooter to reach it. The remote access along the unpaved track is exactly what keeps the beach wild and uncrowded.
Getting to Fokos is part of the adventure and the reason it stays so quiet. The beach lies about 13 kilometres from Mykonos Town on the north-east coast, roughly a 20-minute drive, with the final stretch along a rough dirt road before you reach the sand. The route is signposted, and the simplest way is to head to the inland village of Ano Mera and follow the signs for Fokos from there across the countryside. Crucially, there is no public bus service to Fokos and no water taxi to this part of the coast, so you must have your own transport, ideally a hire car or a sturdy scooter able to handle the unpaved final section, and drive carefully on the dirt track. This remoteness and the lack of public transport are precisely what keep Fokos wild, undeveloped and free of crowds, rewarding those willing to make the effort with solitude and unspoilt nature. Having your own vehicle is essential, set out alongside the guides to car rental and Ano Mera. You will need to come prepared.
What should you bring to Fokos?
Because Fokos is wild and undeveloped, bring your own water, sun protection, a hat and a towel, as there are no shops and limited shade beyond the taverna. Carry cash, wear suitable shoes for the dirt road and rocks, and book a table at Fokos Taverna ahead if you plan to have lunch there.
Fokos rewards visitors who come prepared, because beyond the single taverna there are no facilities on this remote, natural beach. Bring plenty of water to stay hydrated, as there is no shop or kiosk to buy drinks, along with high-factor sun protection, sunglasses, a hat and a good towel or beach mat, since natural shade is limited away from the taverna. It is wise to carry cash for the taverna and to wear suitable footwear, as the access road is unpaved and parts of the bay are rocky. If you plan to have lunch at the renowned Fokos Taverna, book a table ahead, especially around the busy lunchtime hours, to avoid disappointment. Because the sea is often choppy and windy, manage expectations for swimming and treat the day as one of scenery, peace and good food rather than easy bathing. With water, shade, cash and a reservation sorted, you can fully enjoy this wild, beautiful spot, set out alongside the guide to Mykonos on a budget. There is a particular pleasure to a day here.
Is Fokos good for swimming?
Fokos is not the best beach for swimming, as its north-facing bay is often windy and the sea can be choppy with waves. On calm days you can swim and enjoy the clear water, but the beach is better appreciated for its wild scenery, peace and the taverna than for easy bathing.
Whether Fokos suits swimming depends heavily on the conditions, and it is honest to say it is not primarily a swimming beach. Because the bay faces north, it is exposed to the meltemi wind that sweeps the northern coast in summer, so it is frequently breezy and the sea can turn choppy with waves and currents, which makes for less comfortable and less safe bathing than the sheltered south-coast beaches. On calm, still days the water is clear and you can enjoy a refreshing swim, but you cannot count on such conditions. For this reason, most visitors come to Fokos for what it does offer best: the wild, unspoilt scenery, the deep sense of peace and remoteness, the chance to escape the crowds, and the superb food at Fokos Taverna, rather than for a classic beach swim. If easy, calm swimming is your priority, the sheltered southern beaches are a better bet, and Fokos is best enjoyed as a scenic, gastronomic escape, set out alongside the guides to Mykonos weather and Platis Gialos. There is more to do around the area.
What is there to do at and around Fokos?
At Fokos you can soak up the wild scenery, walk the rugged coast, relax in solitude, try horse riding and enjoy a long lunch at Fokos Taverna. Nearby are the village of Ano Mera with its monastery, the quiet north-coast beaches and the countryside, making it a destination for nature, peace and food.
Fokos is a place to slow down and connect with the wilder side of Mykonos, with a few rewarding things to do. On and around the beach you can soak up the rugged, untamed scenery, walk along the rocky coast and through the surrounding natural landscape, relax in rare solitude, and watch for the horses that are sometimes ridden down to the sand, as the area is popular for horse riding. The undoubted highlight for many is a long, leisurely lunch at the celebrated Fokos Taverna, savouring its excellent Greek dishes in the scenic setting. Close by, the inland village of Ano Mera with its historic Panagia Tourliani monastery and authentic tavernas offers a taste of traditional Mykonian life, and the quiet north-coast countryside and other remote beaches reward exploration by car. This combination of wild nature, peace, horse riding and outstanding food makes Fokos a unique day out, far from the island’s glamour, set out alongside the guides to the Panagia Tourliani monastery and things to do. Timing helps you enjoy it best.
When is the best time to visit Fokos?
The best time to visit Fokos is the shoulder season of May, June, September and October, on calmer, less windy days, and around lunchtime to enjoy Fokos Taverna. The north-facing beach is often windy in midsummer, so checking the forecast and choosing a calm day makes for the most comfortable visit.
Timing makes a real difference at Fokos, given its exposed position and the draw of its taverna. The shoulder months of May, June, September and October are ideal, bringing warm, pleasant weather, fewer people and a better chance of the calmer conditions that make the beach more comfortable for swimming and lounging, while the wild scenery is beautiful year-round. Because the north-facing bay catches the meltemi wind, which blows strongly in the peak of July and August, it can be breezy and choppy in high summer, so checking the wind forecast and choosing a calmer day greatly improves the experience; on windy days the beach is still scenic but less suited to the water. Within the day, planning around lunch lets you combine the beach with a meal at the renowned Fokos Taverna, the highlight for many, so book a table and aim to arrive in good time. Whenever you go, treat Fokos as a relaxed escape into nature and good food rather than a guaranteed swimming day, set out alongside the guides to when to visit and a Mykonos itinerary. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Why visit Fokos beach?
You visit Fokos for its rare, unspoilt natural beauty, deep peace and solitude, and above all for the celebrated Fokos Taverna and its outstanding Greek food, a combination of wild scenery and gastronomy found nowhere else on glamorous Mykonos. It rewards those wanting authenticity over beach-club polish.
Fokos offers something genuinely different from the rest of Mykonos, and that is precisely its appeal. On an island defined by organised beaches, designer clubs and crowds, Fokos remains wild, remote and almost untouched, a place to escape entirely and reconnect with raw nature, rugged coast and silence broken only by the wind and the sea. For travellers tired of the glamour and noise, this sense of peace and unspoilt beauty is a real tonic, a glimpse of the Mykonos that existed before mass tourism. The other great reason to make the journey is the food: Fokos Taverna has earned international acclaim, including a Monocle restaurant award, for serving some of the finest authentic Greek cooking on the island in this most unlikely, beautiful setting, so a long lunch here pairs superb food with wild scenery in a way no beach club can match. Add the chance to see horses ridden down to the sand, the dramatic landscape ideal for photography, and the simple pleasure of having a beach almost to yourself, and Fokos becomes a memorable, soulful day out. It is best for those who value nature, authenticity and good food over swimming and scenes, set out alongside the guide to things to do. The journey and the wildness are part of the reward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fokos Taverna known for?
Fokos Taverna is a celebrated, remote restaurant by the beach serving some of the best Greek food on Mykonos, with dishes like its renowned broccoli salad and fresh fish. Despite its isolated setting it has won international acclaim, including a Monocle restaurant award, and gets busy at lunch, so book ahead.
How do you get to Fokos beach?
Fokos is about 13 km from Mykonos Town, a roughly 20-minute drive ending on a dirt road, signposted from Ano Mera. There is no bus service, so you need a hire car or scooter to reach it. The remote access along the unpaved track is exactly what keeps the beach wild and uncrowded.
Is Fokos good for swimming?
Fokos is not the best beach for swimming, as its north-facing bay is often windy and the sea can be choppy with waves. On calm days you can swim and enjoy the clear water, but the beach is better appreciated for its wild scenery, peace and the celebrated taverna than for easy bathing.