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, scenic south-coast bay of golden sand and clear water about 6 km from Mykonos Town, split into two small coves separated by rocks. It mixes a chic, glamorous beach-club party scene at spots like Scorpios and SantAnna with quieter natural stretches, making it both fashionable and varied.
Paraga lies on the south coast of Mykonos, roughly 6 kilometres from town, in a setting that 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, fronted by clear, calm turquoise water that is good for swimming. What gives Paraga its fame is the cluster of world-renowned beach clubs along it, above all Scorpios and the glamorous SantAnna, which 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: there are quieter natural patches, a long-standing campsite and a more bohemian, mixed feel in places, so it appeals both to those chasing the chic party scene and to others wanting a simpler swim. This blend of glamour, music and laid-back corners makes Paraga one of the most characterful beaches on the island, set out alongside the wider guide to the beaches. The beach clubs are the headline.
What are Scorpios and SantAnna like?
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 its sunset DJ sets, ritual gatherings, dining and global crowd, while SantAnna is a vast, opulent club with a huge pool, restaurants and a glamorous party scene.
The beach clubs are the reason many 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, celebrated for its long, atmospheric days that build from relaxed Mediterranean dining and music into sunset DJ sets and gatherings with an almost ceremonial feel, drawing a stylish, international crowd. 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 glamorous, high-energy party atmosphere. Both are upmarket and expensive, with daybeds and tables best booked well ahead in peak season, and both have helped make Paraga synonymous with chic Mykonos beach life. Between them 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 the famous Scorpios and SantAnna clubs that bring music, DJs and a glamorous crowd, especially in the afternoon. But it also has quieter natural patches and a long-standing campsite, so it is more varied than pure party beaches like Paradise, mixing chic partying with calmer corners.
Paraga has a strong party reputation, but it is more nuanced than the all-out party beaches. The presence of Scorpios and SantAnna means much of the bay pulses with music, DJ sets and a fashionable, lively crowd through the day and into the evening, peaking in the afternoon, so it is firmly part of the chic Mykonos party circuit. However, the partying here leans towards the stylish, bohemian and upmarket rather than the rowdy, wet-and-wild spring-break atmosphere of Paradise and Super Paradise. Moreover, between and beyond the clubs there are quieter stretches of natural sand, a well-known campsite and budget-friendly accommodation that give Paraga a mixed, more bohemian character, where backpackers and those seeking a simpler swim share the bay with the beach-club glamour. This range means you can dip into the party scene at a club or find a calmer spot nearby, making Paraga suit 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?
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 that serves the south-coast beaches, or by the water taxi that hops between Platis Gialos, Paradise and the neighbouring bays in summer.
Paraga sits about 6 kilometres south of Mykonos Town and is well connected, making it easy to reach. By car, taxi or scooter the drive takes only around 10 to 15 minutes along good roads, and there is parking near the beach, so 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 bus stations in town, 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, the little boats that 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. The good transport links and the beach’s fame mean it can get busy, so arriving early in peak season helps, set out alongside the guides to getting to Mykonos and Platis Gialos. Because it draws both backpackers from the campsite and a glamorous beach-club crowd, Paraga has a sociable, mixed energy that few other Mykonos beaches share, and that variety is a large part of its enduring appeal. Facilities are well developed.
What facilities does the beach have?
Paraga has sunbeds and umbrellas to rent at its beach clubs, several restaurants and bars including Scorpios and SantAnna, toilets and showers, plus a campsite, hostels and rooms above the beach. Some natural stretches stay free of facilities, so you can choose between full beach-club service and 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, giving 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, including the long-established Paraga campsite, hostels and budget rooms, which make it a hub for younger and budget travellers as well as the beach-club set. As on many Mykonos beaches, some 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. The famous Paradise and Super Paradise party beaches, Platis Gialos and the water-taxi network are all close by, and Mykonos Town is a short drive away for shopping and nightlife.
Paraga makes an excellent base for a south-coast beach day with plenty within reach. 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. Because Paraga sits in the heart of the south-coast beach belt, it is perfectly placed for beach-hopping: the famous party beaches of Paradise and Super Paradise are minutes away by water taxi or road, the 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. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Where can you stay near Paraga beach?
Paraga offers a wide range of places to stay, from the long-established Paraga campsite, hostels and budget rooms right by the beach to boutique hotels and luxury villas in the surrounding hills. Its mix of cheap and upmarket accommodation, close to the beach clubs and the south-coast bays, 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, a magnet for younger and backpacking travellers who want cheap beds within walking distance of the sand and the nightlife, making it one of the more affordable beach bases on an expensive island. These options give Paraga a sociable, youthful energy that sets it apart from the purely luxury beaches.
At the same time, the hills and slopes around the bay hold boutique hotels, stylish studios and private villas with pools and sea views, catering to those who want comfort or luxury close to the chic beach clubs of Scorpios and SantAnna. This range means couples, groups and solo travellers across very different budgets can all find a base here, and 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 by a famous beach makes Paraga a practical and popular 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, moves into a long, glamorous lunch and afternoon at Scorpios or SantAnna with music and cocktails, and 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Scorpios and SantAnna at Paraga?
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, while 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. But it also has quieter natural patches and a long-standing campsite, so it is more varied than pure party beaches like Paradise, mixing chic partying with calmer corners.
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.