The best things to do in Mykonos are exploring the whitewashed lanes of Chora and Little Venice, watching the sunset by the windmills, taking a day trip to sacred Delos, enjoying the famous beaches and experiencing the legendary nightlife. Beyond that, the island offers museums, the traditional village of Ano Mera, the Armenistis lighthouse, windsurfing, diving and sailing. This guide covers the top attractions, the beaches, the nightlife, the day trips, the lesser-known sights, the activities, the family options and what you can do for free.
Mykonos packs a remarkable amount into a small island, the heart of this Mykonos travel guide. There is far more here than partying, from culture and history to beaches and watersports. The sections below cover everything worth doing.
What are the top attractions in Mykonos?
The top attractions in Mykonos are Mykonos Town (Chora) with its maze of whitewashed lanes, the waterfront quarter of Little Venice, the iconic hilltop windmills, and the much-photographed Panagia Paraportiani church. Together they make the old town one of the most beautiful and atmospheric in Greece.
Mykonos Town, known to locals as Chora, is the island’s beating heart and its greatest sight, a labyrinth of powder-white, walled lanes deliberately built as a maze to confuse pirates, now lined with bougainvillea, tiny blue-domed churches, designer boutiques, galleries, restaurants and bars. On its western edge sits Little Venice, where 18th-century sea captains’ houses rise straight from the water with colourful wooden balconies, the most famous sunset spot on the island. Above the town stand the iconic Kato Mili windmills, a row of round whitewashed mills on a low hill, and nearby the extraordinary Panagia Paraportiani, five chapels merged into one dazzling, sculptural white form often called the most photographed church in Greece. These four sights sit within easy walking distance of each other, and simply wandering and getting pleasantly lost among them is the quintessential Mykonos experience, set within the wider Mykonos Town. The beaches are an equally big draw.
What can you do at the beaches?
At the Mykonos beaches you can swim in clear water, lounge at glamorous beach clubs and join the famous beach parties. The south-coast beaches, from family-friendly Ornos and Platis Gialos to party-loving Paradise and celebrity Psarou, suit every mood, with sunbeds, tavernas and clubs lining the sand.
The beaches are central to the Mykonos experience and stretch mostly along the sheltered south coast, which stays calm even when the meltemi wind blows. They range widely in character. Ornos and Platis Gialos are family-friendly and well organised, with calm, shallow water, restaurants and easy bus access, while Psarou is the celebrity favourite, home to the legendary Nammos beach club and lined with moored superyachts. Paradise and Super Paradise are the party beaches, with day-long beach parties and a young, lively crowd, and Elia is the island’s longest stretch of sand. Quieter, more natural beaches such as Agios Sostis and Fokos on the north reward those willing to drive. Whether you want to relax on a sunbed, dine by the sea, snorkel in clear water or dance all afternoon, there is a beach to match your mood, set out alongside the guide to Mykonos beaches. The nightlife is world famous.
What is there to do at night?
At night Mykonos offers some of the best nightlife in the world, from the bars and clubs of Chora and Little Venice to the open-air clubbing of Cavo Paradiso and the chic beach club Scorpios. The action runs late, with clubs filling after midnight and parties continuing until dawn.
Mykonos has been a byword for nightlife for decades, and the island delivers across every style and budget. In Mykonos Town the narrow streets come alive after dark with cocktail bars, open-air dance spots and clubs, and the seafront bars of Little Venice are perfect for sunset drinks before the night unfolds. For serious clubbing, Cavo Paradiso, perched on a cliff above Paradise Beach, is one of Europe’s most famous open-air clubs, hosting world-class DJs until daybreak, while the elegant Scorpios at Paraga blends sunset rituals, dining and music in a bohemian-luxe setting. The beach clubs, led by Nammos and SantAnna, turn a day at the beach into a glamorous party. The island is also one of the world’s top LGBTQ destinations, with a vibrant gay scene centred on Super Paradise and the town’s historic bars. Most venues only get going after midnight, so the Mykonos night is a long, late one, set out alongside the guide to Mykonos nightlife. Delos makes a memorable day trip.
What day trips can you take?
The classic day trip is to the sacred archaeological island of Delos, the mythical birthplace of Apollo and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reached by a short boat ride. Many cruises combine Delos with the uninhabited island of Rhenia for swimming in turquoise coves, making a perfect half or full day on the water.
No visit to Mykonos is complete without the short boat trip to Delos, the tiny sacred island just offshore that has no permanent population but ranks among the most important archaeological sites in Greece. Believed to be the birthplace of the gods Apollo and Artemis and protected by UNESCO, it is famous for its iconic Terrace of the Lions, the marble Sanctuary of Apollo, the mosaic-floored Hellenistic houses and a whole ancient town, all explored on a guided tour, with the site closed on Mondays and an entry fee of around 20 euros. Many boat trips pair Delos with neighbouring Rhenia, an uninhabited island with solitary sandy coves and crystal-clear water ideal for swimming and snorkeling, often with lunch on board. Beyond Delos, fast ferries open up day trips to traditional Tinos, lively Paros and big, varied Naxos, set out alongside the guides to the Delos trip and Mykonos day trips. There is more to discover off the beaten track.
What are the lesser-known sights?
Beyond the icons, you can visit the inland village of Ano Mera with its 16th-century Panagia Tourliani monastery, climb to the Armenistis lighthouse for sweeping views, and explore the Archaeological, Aegean Maritime and Folklore museums in Chora. The Rarity Gallery shows world-class contemporary art.
Mykonos rewards those who look past the party scene. In the centre of the island, the traditional village of Ano Mera is built around the fortified 16th-century Panagia Tourliani monastery, with its ornate marble bell tower, carved wooden iconostasis and a small religious museum, offering a quiet, authentic counterpoint to glamorous Chora, along with tavernas around its village square. On the north-west headland, the 19th-century Armenistis lighthouse rewards a short drive with breathtaking views over the sea, the sunset and neighbouring Tinos. Back in town, the Archaeological Museum displays finds from sacred Rhenia, the Aegean Maritime Museum celebrates the island’s seafaring past, and the Folklore Museum and the preserved Lena’s House recreate old Mykonian life, while the Rarity Gallery is internationally renowned for hyper-realist contemporary sculpture and art, set within the wider Mykonos Town. Active travellers have plenty to keep them busy too.
What activities and watersports are there?
Mykonos offers windsurfing at Ftelia and Korfos, scuba diving from the south-coast beaches, sailing and yacht cruises around the coast and to Delos and Rhenia, plus quad and jeep tours, cooking classes and sunset cruises. The strong winds make it one of Greece’s top windsurfing islands.
The Island of the Winds is a natural playground for water and outdoor activities. The breezy north-coast bays of Ftelia and Korfos are among the best windsurfing and kitesurfing spots in Greece, with schools renting gear and giving lessons, while several dive centres run scuba trips and PADI courses from the sheltered south coast, exploring reefs, caves and clear water. Sailing is a highlight, from group catamaran day cruises that swim and snorkel along the coast or sail across to Delos and Rhenia, to private yacht and gulet charters for a glamorous day at sea with lunch and drinks. On land, you can hire a quad or buggy or join a jeep tour to reach hidden beaches and viewpoints, take a Greek cooking class or wine tasting, or simply end the day on a sunset cruise out of the old port, set out alongside the guides to Mykonos day trips and the beaches. Families and quieter visitors are well served too.
What is there to do for families and quieter visitors?
Families and quieter visitors can enjoy the calm, shallow beaches of Ornos, Platis Gialos and Agios Stefanos, the traditional village of Ano Mera, the museums in Chora, and gentle boat trips and beach-hopping by water taxi. Mykonos is more than nightlife, with plenty of relaxed, family-friendly experiences.
Despite its party reputation, Mykonos works well for families and travellers seeking a calmer trip. The sheltered south-coast beaches of Ornos, Platis Gialos and Agios Ioannis have shallow, gentle water, sunbeds, shade and a range of restaurants ideal for children, while Agios Stefanos near the new port is another easy, family-friendly bay. Away from the coast, the village of Ano Mera and its monastery offer a relaxed afternoon, the small museums of Chora suit a cooler hour out of the sun, and a daytime boat trip or beach-hopping by water taxi along the south coast is fun for all ages. Exploring the lanes of Chora in the gentler morning or evening, before the nightlife crowd arrives, is a pleasure for everyone, set out alongside the guides to where to stay and the best time to visit. Some of the best experiences cost nothing.
What can you do for free in Mykonos?
For free in Mykonos you can wander the whitewashed lanes of Chora, watch the sunset from the windmills or the Little Venice waterfront, photograph the Panagia Paraportiani church, walk the harbour and enjoy the public stretches of the beaches. The island’s greatest pleasures, its beauty and sunsets, cost nothing.
Mykonos has a glamorous, pricey reputation, but many of its finest experiences are free. Wandering the maze of dazzling white lanes in Chora, admiring the bougainvillea, the painted doors and the tiny churches, costs nothing and is the heart of the island’s charm. The famous sunset can be enjoyed for free from the public walkway along the Little Venice waterfront and from beside the row of windmills, where crowds gather each evening, and photographing the sculptural Panagia Paraportiani church needs no ticket. Strolling the old and new harbours, watching the fishing boats and perhaps spotting the island’s pelican mascot, and laying a towel on the free public stretches of beaches like Paradise, Platis Gialos and Agios Stefanos all cost nothing. Even window-shopping along Matoyianni street is part of the fun, set out alongside the guides to Little Venice and a Mykonos itinerary. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
How many days do you need in Mykonos?
You need around three to four days in Mykonos to enjoy the highlights without rushing: a day for Chora and its sights, a day for a Delos trip and a beach, and a day or two for more beaches and the nightlife. A shorter cruise-day visit can still cover the town, and longer stays suit beach lovers.
Mykonos is small, so a focused trip goes a long way. Three to four days is the sweet spot for a first visit, enough to explore the lanes, windmills and Little Venice of Chora, take the boat trip to Delos, sample two or three of the island’s varied beaches and dip into the famous nightlife, all at a comfortable pace. Visitors arriving on a cruise for just a day can still see the best of Chora and one nearby beach, while those who love the beach and party scene, or who want to island-hop to Tinos or Paros, will happily fill five days or more. The island’s compact size and good bus and water-taxi links mean you waste little time getting around, so even a short stay feels full, set out alongside the guides to a Mykonos itinerary and getting around. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you do in Mykonos?
Mykonos is best for exploring Chora and Little Venice, watching the sunset by the windmills, seeing the Panagia Paraportiani church, taking a day trip to Delos, enjoying the south-coast beaches and experiencing the famous nightlife. It also has museums, the village of Ano Mera and watersports.
Is Mykonos only about partying?
Mykonos is not only about partying. Alongside the world-famous nightlife, it has the beautiful old town of Chora and Little Venice, the iconic windmills, the most photographed church in Greece, the sacred archaeological island of Delos, museums, the village of Ano Mera and lovely beaches for all tastes.
What is the best day trip from Mykonos?
The best day trip from Mykonos is the short boat ride to Delos, the sacred archaeological island and mythical birthplace of Apollo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many cruises combine Delos with the uninhabited island of Rhenia for swimming in turquoise coves, often with lunch on board.