Paradise Beach is Mykonos’s most famous party beach, a golden crescent of sand on the south coast with the legendary Paradise Beach Club and the cliff-top Cavo Paradiso above it. This guide covers what the beach is like, the parties, the clubs, who it suits, the facilities and watersports, how it compares with Super Paradise, how to visit and tips.
Paradise is the epicentre of the island’s party scene in the Mykonos travel guide. It sits on the sheltered south coast. The sections below cover the beach in full.
What is Paradise Beach like?
Paradise Beach is a golden crescent of sand on the sheltered south coast of Mykonos, famous as the island’s main party beach. It combines fine sand and clear, calm water with beach bars, sunbeds and a young, lively crowd, and is home to the Paradise Beach Club and a small on-site resort and campsite.
Paradise Beach is where Mykonos’s reputation for hedonism comes to life. A beautiful arc of golden sand just south of Chora, it is sheltered by the hills so the water stays calm and clear even when the meltemi blows, making it good for swimming as well as partying. But it is the atmosphere that draws the crowds: rows of sunbeds, beach bars and a young, energetic, international crowd give it a carefree, party-all-day feel, with music playing from late morning and the energy building through the afternoon. The beach has its own small resort and a famous campsite behind it, so many visitors stay right on the sand, and it has been the island’s party hub since. It is lively, fun and unmistakably Mykonos, beautiful by day and electric by night, set within the wider Mykonos beaches. The parties are legendary.
What are the parties and clubs like?
Paradise Beach is famous for its parties, led by the open-air Paradise Beach Club, one of the world’s best-known beach clubs, with day and night events, top DJs and a high-energy scene. Above it on the cliff sits Cavo Paradiso, a vast open-air nightclub that runs until daybreak, making this the island’s party heart.
Paradise Beach is built for partying. At its centre is the Paradise Beach Club, a sprawling open-air venue going strong since and ranked among the best beach clubs in the world, with an outdoor stage, tiered dance platforms, a beach bar and high-energy electronic music, day events typically starting in the late afternoon and night events later, with names like Tiesto, Afrojack and Nervo on past line-ups. Up on the cliff overlooking the beach is Cavo Paradiso, one of Europe’s most famous open-air nightclubs, hosting world-class DJs through the night until dawn, the place the party moves to after dark. Together they make Paradise the undisputed party heart of Mykonos, with the action running from afternoon to sunrise. Cover charges, drink and bottle prices are high, especially in peak season, and tables sell out, so booking ahead is wise, set out alongside the guide to Mykonos nightlife. It suits a particular crowd.
Who is Paradise Beach best for?
Paradise Beach is best for younger travellers and party-lovers wanting a lively, music-filled beach day and big nightlife, rather than families or those seeking peace and quiet. The party season runs roughly late April to early October, peaking in July and August, when the beach and clubs are at their most intense.
Paradise Beach is a clear-cut choice depending on what you want from a beach. It is ideal for younger travellers, groups of friends and anyone who wants to combine swimming with music, dancing and a buzzing, social atmosphere, and it is the natural base for a big night out at Cavo Paradiso just above. The on-site camping and budget accommodation also make it popular with backpackers and a younger crowd. It is not the place for families with young children or for travellers seeking a quiet, relaxing beach, who are far better served by calmer spots like Ornos or Platis Gialos. The party season runs from around late April to early October, building to a peak in July and August when the beach clubs and parties are at their loudest and most crowded, so come then for the full experience, or in the shoulder months for a gentler, less frenetic version of the same beach, set out alongside the guides to family beaches and the best time to visit. Getting there is easy.
How do you get to Paradise Beach?
You reach Paradise Beach in about 10 to 15 minutes from Mykonos Town by frequent KTEL bus from the Fabrika terminal, by car or quad with parking nearby, by taxi, or by water taxi along the south coast. Buses run late in summer to suit the nightlife, making it easy to get to and from the beach.
Paradise Beach is one of the most accessible beaches on the island. It lies on the south coast just a short distance from Mykonos Town, reached in about 10 to 15 minutes by the frequent KTEL buses that run from the Fabrika terminal in town, which conveniently operate late into the night in summer to serve the nightlife, so you can party without worrying about driving. You can also drive or take a quad, with parking near the beach, come by taxi, though taxis are scarce, or, in summer, arrive by water taxi shuttling along the south coast between the beaches such as Platis Gialos, Paraga and Super Paradise, a fun and scenic option. The easy transport and the late buses are a big part of why Paradise works so well as a party base, letting you enjoy a full day on the sand and a big night at the clubs and still get home easily, set out alongside the guides to getting around Mykonos and a Mykonos itinerary. The facilities are extensive.
What facilities and watersports are there?
Paradise Beach has sunbeds and umbrellas, beach bars and restaurants, the famous beach club, a campsite and budget rooms, plus a dive centre and watersports such as jet skis, banana boats and paddleboarding. It is one of the most developed beaches on the island, with everything for a full day on the sand.
Paradise is among the most developed and well-equipped beaches on Mykonos, set up for a complete day out. Rows of sunbeds and umbrellas line the golden sand, with beach bars and restaurants serving food and drinks all day, from Greek dishes to wood-fired pizza, and the open-air beach club at its heart. Behind the beach, the Paradise complex includes a popular campsite, budget rooms and a small resort, plus shops and a mini-market, making it a self-contained base. For activity between the music, there is a long-established scuba diving centre running dives and courses in the clear, sheltered water, along with watersports such as jet skis, banana and tube rides and stand-up paddleboarding. With sunbeds, food, drink, watersports and partying all in one place, Paradise packs everything a lively beach day needs into a single golden bay, set out alongside the guide to things to do in Mykonos. Super Paradise is just next door.
Paradise or Super Paradise, what is the difference?
Paradise is the mainstream party beach with the biggest beach club and Cavo Paradiso above it, while neighbouring Super Paradise is slightly more relaxed and famously LGBTQ-friendly, with its own beach clubs and party scene. Both are lively south-coast party beaches; you can reach Super Paradise by bus, boat or water taxi.
Paradise and Super Paradise are the two great party beaches of Mykonos, sitting close together on the south coast but with subtly different characters. Paradise is the larger, more mainstream party hub, home to the famous Paradise Beach Club and the Cavo Paradiso nightclub on the cliff above, with the biggest, most full-on day-and-night party scene and the camping and budget crowd. Super Paradise, in the next bay, has an equally strong party reputation but a slightly more laid-back, glamorous feel, with its own beach clubs and a long, celebrated history as one of the most welcoming and inclusive LGBTQ-friendly beaches in the world, drawing a beautiful, mixed crowd. Both have golden sand, clear sheltered water and music-filled afternoons, so the choice is one of nuance: Paradise for the full-throttle, mainstream party, Super Paradise for a slightly more relaxed, inclusive scene. You can reach Super Paradise by bus, boat or water taxi from Paradise, set out alongside the guide to Mykonos beaches. A few tips help.
What tips help for visiting Paradise Beach?
The tips are to arrive earlier for a sunbed in peak season, budget for high prices on loungers and drinks, use the late buses or water taxis rather than driving, and bring sun protection and cash. For the party, the action builds through the afternoon, so come around lunchtime and stay for the DJ sets.
A great day at Paradise Beach rewards a little planning. In peak July and August the beach and its sunbeds fill up, so arrive earlier, around late morning or lunchtime, to secure a lounger and settle in before the crowds and the music build through the afternoon to the evening DJ sets. Budget for Mykonos prices, as sunbeds, drinks and food at the beach club are not cheap, and bring some cash for quicker service and any cover charges. Because the day often rolls into a big night at Cavo Paradiso or the beach club, rely on the late KTEL buses from Fabrika or a water taxi rather than driving, so you can relax and enjoy yourself. Pack strong sun protection, a hat and water for the long hours in the sun, and keep an eye on your belongings in the busy crowd. With that in mind, Paradise delivers one of the most memorable beach-and-party days in Greece, set out alongside the guides to nightlife and the best time to visit. One more point is worth knowing.
Is Paradise Beach free to enter?
Paradise Beach is free to enter and there is a public stretch of sand where you can lay a towel for nothing, but most of the beach is organised with sunbeds and umbrellas that cost money, and the beach club and Cavo Paradiso charge for entry, drinks and tables. So the beach is free, but the full experience is not.
Like most Greek beaches, the sand at Paradise is public, so you can walk on and swim for free and find a spot on the unorganised public stretch to lay your towel without paying. However, the great majority of the beach is taken up by the organised beach-club set-up, where sunbeds, umbrellas and cabanas are hired for a fee that rises the closer you sit to the water, and food and drinks at the bars and restaurants are at Mykonos prices. The party venues, the open-air beach club with its day and night events and the Cavo Paradiso nightclub on the cliff above, charge cover or entry, and tables and bottle service cost a great deal more. So while you can enjoy the beach itself on a budget by bringing your own towel, water and shade, the full Paradise experience of a sunbed, beach-club party and night out is a costly one, set out alongside the guide to when to visit. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Paradise Beach in Mykonos?
Paradise Beach is Mykonos’s most famous party beach, a golden crescent of sand on the sheltered south coast with calm, clear water, beach bars and a young, lively crowd. It is home to the legendary Paradise Beach Club and the cliff-top Cavo Paradiso nightclub above it, plus a campsite and resort.
Is Paradise Beach good for families?
Paradise Beach is not ideal for families, as it is the island’s main party beach with loud music, beach clubs and a young crowd. Families are far better served by the calm, sheltered beaches of Ornos and Platis Gialos, which have shallow water, restaurants and a relaxed atmosphere.
How do you get to Paradise Beach Mykonos?
You reach Paradise Beach in about 10 to 15 minutes from Mykonos Town by frequent KTEL bus from the Fabrika terminal, by car or quad with parking nearby, by taxi, or by water taxi along the south coast. Buses run late in summer to suit the nightlife, so you need not drive.