Paraga beach on Mykonos is a lively, stylish south-coast bay of golden sand about 6 km from town, home to the world-famous Scorpios and the glamorous SantAnna beach clubs, with a chic party scene alongside quieter natural patches. This guide covers the beach, the clubs, how to get there, the facilities and what to do.
Paraga is one of the most fashionable south-coast beaches in the Mykonos travel guide, famous for its beach clubs. The sections below cover it in full.
What is Paraga beach like?
Paraga is a lively south-coast bay of golden sand and clear water about 6 km from Mykonos Town, split into two coves by rocks. It mixes a chic beach-club party scene at Scorpios and SantAnna with quieter natural stretches.
Paraga lies on the south coast of Mykonos, roughly 6 kilometres from town. The setting combines beauty with a buzzing reputation. The beach is made up of two small adjoining coves of soft golden sand, divided by a rocky outcrop. Clear, calm turquoise water fronts the sand and is good for swimming.
Paraga’s fame comes from the cluster of world-renowned beach clubs along it, above all Scorpios and the glamorous SantAnna. These draw a fashionable international crowd for stylish days of dining, music and partying by the sea. Yet the beach is not entirely given over to the clubs. Quieter natural patches, a long-standing campsite and a bohemian, mixed feel appeal to those who want a simpler swim. This blend of glamour, music and laid-back corners makes Paraga one of the most characterful spots in the wider guide to the beaches. The beach clubs are the headline.
What are the Scorpios and SantAnna beach clubs like?
Scorpios and SantAnna are two of the most famous beach clubs on Mykonos, both at Paraga. Scorpios is a bohemian-chic club known for sunset DJ sets and dining, while SantAnna is a vast, opulent club with a huge pool and a glamorous party scene.
The beach clubs are the reason most people come to Paraga, and the two headliners are legendary. Scorpios is a globally famous, design-led club with a bohemian, ritualistic spirit, set on the rocks at the end of the bay. It is celebrated for long, atmospheric days that build from relaxed Mediterranean dining and music into sunset DJ sets and gatherings with an almost ceremonial feel. The crowd is stylish and international.
SantAnna, nearby, takes a different, opulent approach. It is one of the largest beach clubs in the world, with an enormous swimming pool surrounded by hundreds of loungers, several restaurants and bars, lavish design and a high-energy party atmosphere. Both clubs are upmarket and expensive, with daybeds and tables best booked well ahead in peak season. Together they define the bay’s fashionable, see-and-be-seen reputation, set out alongside the guides to nightlife and restaurants. There are calmer corners too.
Is Paraga a party beach?
Paraga is largely a party beach, thanks to Scorpios and SantAnna, which bring music, DJs and a glamorous crowd, especially in the afternoon. It also has quieter natural patches and a campsite, so it is more varied than pure party beaches like Paradise.
Paraga has a strong party reputation, but it is more nuanced than the all-out party beaches. Scorpios and SantAnna mean much of the bay pulses with music, DJ sets and a fashionable crowd through the day and into the evening, peaking in the afternoon. The beach sits firmly on the chic Mykonos party circuit. The partying here leans towards the stylish, bohemian and upmarket rather than the rowdy, wet-and-wild atmosphere of Paradise and Super Paradise.
Beyond the clubs, Paraga keeps a mixed, bohemian character. Stretches of natural sand, a well-known campsite and budget accommodation give the bay a second identity. Backpackers and those seeking a simpler swim share the sand with the beach-club glamour. This range means you can dip into the party scene at a club or find a calmer spot nearby. Paraga therefore suits more types of visitor than a single-note party beach, set out alongside the guides to Paradise Beach and Mykonos on a budget. Getting there is easy.
How do you get to Paraga beach in Mykonos?
Paraga is about 6 km south of Mykonos Town, a 10 to 15 minute drive. You can reach it by car, taxi or scooter with parking nearby, by the local KTEL bus, or by the summer water taxi from Platis Gialos and Paradise.
Paraga sits about 6 kilometres south of Mykonos Town and is well connected. By car, taxi or scooter the drive takes only around 10 to 15 minutes along good roads, and there is parking near the beach. A hire vehicle gives you flexibility to come and go. The local KTEL public bus serves the south-coast beaches and stops at or near Paraga from the main stations in town. It is an inexpensive option at a few euros, though you may have a short walk down to the sand and should check seasonal timetables.
One of the most enjoyable ways to arrive is by the south-coast water taxi. These little boats shuttle between Platis Gialos, Paraga, Paradise and the other bays through the summer, offering a scenic approach from the sea and an easy way to beach-hop. Good transport links and the beach’s fame mean it can get busy, so arriving early in peak season helps. See the guides to getting to Mykonos and Platis Gialos. Because it draws both campsite backpackers and a glamorous beach-club crowd, Paraga has a sociable, mixed energy that few other Mykonos beaches share. Facilities are well developed.
What facilities does Paraga beach have?
Paraga has sunbeds and umbrellas to rent at its beach clubs, restaurants and bars including Scorpios and SantAnna, toilets and showers, plus a campsite, hostels and rooms above the beach. Natural stretches stay free of facilities for a simpler patch of sand.
Paraga is well equipped, reflecting its popularity, though the level of service varies across the bay. The beach clubs provide stylish sunbeds, daybeds and umbrellas to rent, full restaurant and bar service on the sand, toilets, showers and changing facilities. This gives you a comfortable, upmarket base, albeit at premium prices and best reserved ahead in summer. Beyond Scorpios and SantAnna, smaller tavernas and bars along the bay offer more casual food and drinks.
Paraga is also notable for its accommodation right by the beach. The long-established Paraga campsite, hostels and budget rooms make it a hub for younger and budget travellers as well as the beach-club set. As on many Mykonos beaches, natural stretches away from the clubs have no facilities, so if you settle there bring your own water, shade and essentials. This mix means you can tailor your day from full luxury to simple and free, set out alongside the guide to where to stay. There is more to do around the bay.
What is there to do at and around Paraga?
At Paraga you can swim in the clear water, sunbathe, party or dine at Scorpios and SantAnna, and relax on the quieter sand. Paradise, Super Paradise, Platis Gialos and the water-taxi network are close by, and Mykonos Town is a short drive away.
Paraga makes an excellent base for a south-coast beach day. On the beach itself you can swim and snorkel in the clear, calm water of the coves, sunbathe on a club daybed or a free patch of natural sand, throw yourself into the party and dining scene at Scorpios or SantAnna, or simply relax in a quieter corner. The bay works for very different moods within a single afternoon.
Paraga sits in the heart of the south-coast beach belt, so it is well placed for beach-hopping. The party beaches of Paradise and Super Paradise are minutes away by water taxi or road, family-friendly Platis Gialos is just around the headland, and the water-taxi network lets you explore several bays in a day. Inland and a short drive away, Mykonos Town offers shopping, museums, restaurants and the island’s celebrated nightlife for the evening. This central position and the beach’s own glamour make Paraga a lively, versatile choice, set out alongside the guides to Super Paradise and things to do.
When is the best time to visit Paraga?
Paraga is busiest from June to early September, when the beach clubs run at full pace. Late May, June and September bring warm sea, calmer sand and lighter crowds. Mornings are quiet everywhere; the club scene peaks after midday.
The beach follows the island’s summer rhythm. July and August are the peak, with the water warm at around 24 to 26 degrees, the clubs at full energy and the bay at its busiest. This is prime time for the party scene, but daybeds sell out and prices climb. Book club tables and loungers ahead if you visit in these weeks.
June and September are the sweet spot for many visitors. The sea stays warm, the weather is reliable and the sand is less crowded, yet Scorpios and SantAnna are still open and lively. Late May and early October are quieter again, with cooler evenings and some clubs winding down. Whatever the month, an early arrival buys you a calm swim before the afternoon crowd builds. Pair this with the wider guide to the best time to visit Mykonos.
Where can you stay near Paraga beach?
Paraga offers a wide range of places to stay, from the campsite, hostels and budget rooms by the beach to boutique hotels and villas in the surrounding hills. Its mix of cheap and upmarket accommodation, close to the beach clubs, suits many budgets.
One of Paraga’s distinctive features is the breadth of accommodation right around the beach, which reflects its mixed, bohemian-meets-glamorous character. At the budget end, Paraga is famous for the long-running Paraga campsite and its associated hostels and simple rooms. This is a magnet for younger and backpacking travellers who want cheap beds within walking distance of the sand and the nightlife. These options make it one of the more affordable beach bases on an expensive island, and they give Paraga a sociable, youthful energy.
The hills and slopes around the bay hold boutique hotels, stylish studios and private villas with pools and sea views. These cater to those who want comfort or luxury close to the chic clubs of Scorpios and SantAnna. Couples, groups and solo travellers across very different budgets can all find a base here. Staying near Paraga puts you in the heart of the south-coast beach belt, within easy reach of Paradise, Super Paradise and Platis Gialos and the water-taxi network, as well as a short drive from Mykonos Town. The combination of cheap and upmarket options makes Paraga a practical place to stay, set out alongside the guides to where to stay and Mykonos on a budget.
For many visitors the ideal Paraga day starts with a relaxed morning swim in the coves before the crowds build. It moves into a long, glamorous lunch and afternoon at Scorpios or SantAnna with music and cocktails. It drifts on towards a sunset that signals the start of the evening, capturing the beach’s blend of beauty and hedonism. The world-famous beach clubs remain its main attraction.
How does Paraga compare with Paradise beach?
Paraga and Paradise are neighbouring south-coast party beaches, but they differ in tone. Paradise is a louder, high-energy party beach with pool clubs and a young crowd. Paraga leans chic and bohemian, led by Scorpios and SantAnna, with quieter natural corners too.
Both beaches share the same stretch of coast and are linked by the summer water taxi, so many visitors see them on the same day. Paradise built its name on daytime pool parties and a wet-and-wild, spring-break energy, and it draws a younger, high-volume crowd. The music is loud and the pace is fast from midday onward.
Paraga takes a more stylish route. The scene here is set by design-led Scorpios and the opulent SantAnna, and the mood is upmarket, curated and sunset-driven rather than raucous. Paraga also keeps a bohemian, budget side thanks to its campsite and hostels, which Paradise lacks in the same form. If you want polished glamour with the option of a quiet swim, choose Paraga; for full-throttle pool parties, cross to Paradise, covered in the guide to Paradise Beach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Scorpios and SantAnna at Paraga Mykonos?
Scorpios and SantAnna are two of the most famous beach clubs on Mykonos, both at Paraga. Scorpios is a stylish, bohemian-chic club known for sunset DJ sets, dining and a global crowd. SantAnna is a vast, opulent club with a huge pool, restaurants and a glamorous party scene.
Is Paraga a party beach?
Paraga is largely a party beach thanks to Scorpios and SantAnna, which bring music, DJs and a glamorous crowd, especially in the afternoon. It also has quieter natural patches and a long-standing campsite, so it is more varied than pure party beaches like Paradise.
How do you get to Paraga beach?
Paraga is about 6 km south of Mykonos Town, a 10 to 15 minute drive. You can reach it by car, taxi or scooter with parking nearby, by the local KTEL bus serving the south-coast beaches, or by the water taxi that hops between Platis Gialos, Paradise and the neighbouring bays in summer.
Is Paraga beach free to visit?
Paraga beach is free to enter, and natural stretches away from the clubs cost nothing to use. If you want a sunbed, daybed or table at Scorpios or SantAnna you pay club prices, which are high in summer. Bring your own towel and shade to enjoy the sand at no cost.