The best Mykonos beaches line the sheltered south coast, from family-friendly Ornos and Platis Gialos to celebrity Psarou, party-loving Paradise and the long sands of Elia, with wilder, quieter beaches on the windy north. This guide covers the best beaches by vibe, the family beaches, the party beaches, the luxury beaches, the north coast, the quiet beaches, the beach clubs, the wind and how to get there.
Beaches are central to the Mykonos travel guide, and there is one for every mood and crowd. The sections below cover them in full.
What are the best beaches in Mykonos?
The best Mykonos beaches are on the south coast: Psarou and Platis Gialos for glamour and swimming, Ornos for families, Paradise and Super Paradise for parties, and Elia, the island’s longest beach. Each has golden sand, clear water and a different atmosphere, from chic beach clubs to all-day parties.
Mykonos has a beach for every kind of traveller, and the most popular cluster along the protected south coast, which stays calm even when the meltemi wind blows. Psarou is the trendiest, a glamorous bay of emerald water, the famous Nammos beach club and moored superyachts, while neighbouring Platis Gialos is a lively, well-organised resort beach good for all-rounders. Ornos is the most family-friendly, with calm, shallow water and restaurants along the shore. For partying, Paradise and Super Paradise host day-long beach parties and a young crowd, and Elia, the longest beach on the island, offers more space and a mix of beach clubs and room to spread out. Beyond these headline names, the island has dozens of beaches, from polished resort strands to wild, undeveloped coves, so the choice comes down to the atmosphere and crowd you want, set within the wider list of things to do in Mykonos. Families have excellent options.
Which beaches are best for families?
The best family beaches are Ornos and Platis Gialos, both on the south coast with calm, shallow, sheltered water, sandy shores, sunbeds, restaurants and good bus links. Agios Stefanos and Agios Ioannis are also gentle, easy bays. Ornos in particular is the most family-friendly, with an everyday beach-town feel.
Families are best served by the sheltered, well-organised south-coast beaches. Ornos is the standout, a calm, shallow bay just a short drive from Mykonos Town with safe swimming, a wide choice of restaurants, cafes and beach bars along the sand, sunbeds for hire and better bus service than most beaches, giving it a relaxed, everyday beach-town feel. Nearby Platis Gialos is a popular resort beach on a gorgeous stretch of white sand, with palm trees, clear water and every amenity, family-friendly but a touch more upscale and lively. For something quieter, Agios Stefanos, close to the new port, and Agios Ioannis, the famous Shirley Valentine sunset beach, both have calm, shallow water and a gentle feel. All have easy access and water-taxi links along the south coast, making it simple to beach-hop with children, set out alongside the guides to where to stay and the best time to visit. The party beaches are legendary.
Which beaches are best for parties?
The best party beaches are Paradise and Super Paradise on the south coast, known for day-long beach parties, beach clubs and a young, lively crowd. Paradise is home to the famous Paradise Beach Club and Cavo Paradiso above it, while Super Paradise has a strong party reputation and a relaxed, inclusive scene.
Mykonos is famous for its beach parties, and two beaches lead the scene. Paradise Beach, a golden crescent south of Mykonos Town, has been the island’s party hub since, with the open-air Paradise Beach Club throwing day and night events and the legendary Cavo Paradiso clubbing venue perched on the cliff above. Neighbouring Super Paradise has a long, lively party reputation of its own, historically known as a liberal, LGBTQ-friendly beach, with beach bars and DJs keeping the energy high through the afternoon and a beautiful mixed crowd. Both have golden sand and clear, sheltered water for swimming between dances, sunbeds and beach bars, and a buzzy, social atmosphere built around music rather than relaxation, so they suit a younger, party-minded crowd rather than families seeking peace, set out alongside the guides to Paradise Beach and Mykonos nightlife. Glamour has its own beaches.
Which are the luxury and glamour beaches?
The most glamorous beach is Psarou, home to the world-famous Nammos beach club, emerald water and moored superyachts, the place to see and be seen. Platis Gialos and Ornos also have upscale beach clubs and restaurants, while Elia and Kalo Livadi offer chic beach clubs with more space. Expect high prices.
Mykonos is one of the most glamorous islands in Greece, and several beaches are devoted to luxury. Psarou is the undisputed leader, a small, chic bay of golden sand and emerald water dominated by Nammos, one of the most prestigious beach clubs in the world, drawing celebrities, fashion crowds and superyachts. Beside it, Platis Gialos has its own row of smart beachfront restaurants and clubs, and Ornos blends family-friendliness with upscale dining. Further east, the long sands of Elia and Kalo Livadi host stylish beach clubs such as SantAnna and Principote-style venues with pools, fine food and DJ sets, offering the glamour with a little more room than tiny Psarou. Across all of these, sunbeds, cabanas and dining command premium prices and benefit from booking ahead in peak season, set out alongside the guides to Psarou Beach and the beach clubs. The north coast is wilder.
What are the north-coast beaches like?
The north-coast beaches, including Ftelia, Panormos, Agios Sostis and Houlakia, are wilder, quieter and more natural than the south, but exposed to the meltemi wind. Ftelia is a top windsurfing spot, Panormos and Agios Sostis are trendy yet low-key, and Houlakia is a pretty pebble cove. Best on calm days.
The north coast offers a different, more rugged side of Mykonos, away from the resort crowds. Its beaches are generally quieter, more natural and less developed than the south, but they catch the full force of the meltemi wind, so they are best visited on calmer days. Ftelia is a long, sandy, windswept bay that is one of Greece’s prime windsurfing and kitesurfing spots, with a relaxed, alternative feel. Panormos and the adjacent Agios Sostis have become fashionable in recent years, with a chic beach club at Panormos and the rustic, undeveloped Agios Sostis loved for its raw beauty and a famous taverna, yet both keep a low-key vibe. The pebbly cove of Houlakia, near the new port, is pretty for a swim, while Fokos and Mersini are remote, beautiful and almost untouched, set out alongside the guide to things to do in Mykonos. The quietest beaches reward effort.
Which are the quietest, most natural beaches?
The quietest, most natural beaches are Fokos, Mersini and Kapari, plus the less-developed coves reached by boat or rough track. Fokos and Mersini on the north are remote and unspoilt with a single taverna, Kapari near Agios Ioannis is a tiny sunset cove, and the boat-access beaches near Super Paradise stay secluded.
For travellers who want to escape the crowds and the music, Mykonos still has wild, peaceful beaches if you are willing to make the effort. On the north coast, Fokos and Mersini are remote, undeveloped bays reached by rough roads, with little more than a single excellent taverna, clear water and a wonderful sense of seclusion. Kapari, a small cove near Agios Ioannis on the west, is a quiet, scenic spot beloved for the sunset and its calm, shallow water. Several lovely coves are best reached by boat or water taxi, keeping them secluded even in high summer, and the eastern stretches around Kalafatis and Lia offer a calmer, more low-key scene with watersports but fewer crowds. These beaches show that, beyond the glamour, Mykonos still has its quiet, natural corners, set out alongside the guides to boat trips and the best time to visit. The beach clubs define the scene.
What are the beach clubs?
The beach clubs are a Mykonos institution, blending sunbathing, dining, cocktails and DJ sets by the sea. Famous names include Nammos at Psarou, Scorpios at Paraga, SantAnna and Principote at Panormos, where the party builds from afternoon into evening. They are glamorous and pricey, so book ahead in peak season.
Mykonos pioneered the luxury beach club, where a day at the beach becomes a glamorous, all-day party. These venues combine sunbeds and cabanas, fine dining, cocktails and DJ sets that build from a relaxed lunch into a full party as the afternoon wears on. The most prestigious is Nammos at Psarou Beach, a magnet for celebrities and superyachts, while Scorpios at Paraga is famous for its bohemian-chic sunset gatherings, SantAnna is one of the largest with a huge pool and stage, and Principote at Panormos brings the same energy to the north coast. They are expensive, with sunbeds, cabanas and bottle service commanding high prices and a beautiful, see-and-be-seen crowd, so reservations are essential weeks ahead for peak July and August. For a beach day with a side of party, they are the quintessential Mykonos experience, set out alongside the guide to Mykonos nightlife. The wind shapes where you go.
How does the wind affect the beaches?
Mykonos is the Island of the Winds, and when the strong northerly meltemi blows in summer, the south-coast beaches like Platis Gialos, Psarou, Ornos and Paradise stay sheltered and calm, while the north-coast beaches such as Ftelia and Panormos become windy. On windy days, head south for the calmest water.
The wind is a genuine factor in choosing a Mykonos beach. The island is nicknamed the Island of the Winds for the meltemi, the strong, dry northerly wind that blows across the Cyclades through much of the summer, strongest from late June through August. When it is up, the north-coast beaches, such as Ftelia, which windsurfers love precisely for this reason, and Panormos, become breezy and choppy with blown sand, while the south-coast beaches, Platis Gialos, Psarou, Ornos, Paradise and Super Paradise, are protected by the hills and stay calm and swimmable. The simple rule is to head to the south coast on windy days and save the more exposed north for when the meltemi drops, often in the morning or in September. Checking the forecast and asking locally helps you pick the right beach each day, set out alongside the guide to the best time to visit Mykonos. Getting there is easy.
How do you get to the beaches and what tips help?
You reach the main beaches from Mykonos Town by frequent KTEL buses from the Fabrika and old-port terminals, by water taxi along the south coast, or by hired car, quad or taxi. Tips: arrive early for a sunbed, budget for high prices at the clubs, and bring sun protection, as shade costs money.
Mykonos’s beaches are easy to reach, and you rarely need a car for the main ones. Frequent KTEL buses run from the two terminals in Mykonos Town, Fabrika and the old port, to Ornos, Platis Gialos, Paradise, Super Paradise, Elia and Kalo Livadi, cheaply and reliably in summer, with some running late to suit the nightlife. In summer, water taxis shuttle along the south coast between Platis Gialos, Paradise, Paraga, Super Paradise, Elia and Agrari, a fun and scenic way to beach-hop. For the wilder north and remote coves, a hired car, quad or taxi is needed. A few tips help: arrive early in peak season to secure a sunbed, especially at popular beaches, expect to pay a premium for loungers and cabanas at the beach clubs, and bring your own water and strong sun protection, as shade and drinks are pricey, set out alongside the guides to getting around Mykonos and a Mykonos itinerary. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best beaches in Mykonos?
The best Mykonos beaches are on the south coast: Psarou and Platis Gialos for glamour and swimming, Ornos for families, Paradise and Super Paradise for parties, and Elia, the island’s longest beach. The wilder north coast has quieter, more natural beaches such as Ftelia and Agios Sostis.
Which Mykonos beaches are best for families?
The best family beaches are Ornos and Platis Gialos, both on the south coast with calm, shallow, sheltered water, sandy shores, sunbeds, restaurants and good bus links. Agios Stefanos and Agios Ioannis are also gentle, easy bays. Ornos is the most family-friendly, with an everyday beach-town feel.
Which Mykonos beaches are sheltered from the wind?
The south-coast beaches, including Platis Gialos, Psarou, Ornos, Paradise and Super Paradise, are sheltered by the hills and stay calm when the strong northerly meltemi wind blows. The north-coast beaches like Ftelia and Panormos become windy, so head south on breezy days for the calmest water.