“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us <3”
Wondering what are the 10 best things to do in Mykonos, then keep on reading…
Ever since I was a little child, I dreamed of visiting the beautiful Greek islands. I mean who hasn’t gotten major FOMO watching The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, Shirley Valentine and Mamma Mia? This year I finally decided that I couldn’t wait any longer to behold the beauty of this country with my own eyes. After landing into Athens, Greece, I took a plane out to Mykonos and it was the best decision I have ever made. I may have fallen in love with Mykonos way more than I thought, to the point where I am already planning my next trip out there.
Many people refer to Mykonos as the party town as it is quite famous on the internet to be the ‘Ibiza of Greece’. But that is not the reason that made me fall in love with this whitewashed, postcard-perfect island. It was the little antics and quirks of this island coupled with its blue and sandy beaches; the white and blue houses; cute little dome churches; unique windmills, chimneys, and the mouth-watering Greek food.
I only spent two and a half days in Mykonos and stayed in the gorgeous Adikri Villas. My friends and I came across this hotel last minute and it could not have worked out more perfectly. It was super affordable and had a gorgeous pool overlooking the Aegean Sea. The hotel is also a five-minute drive to downtown Mykonos and ten minutes walk away from the Mykonos Ferry Port. Our driver and host picked us up from the airport and took care of us for the duration of our entire stay. I highly recommend staying at this Mykonos resort if you’re looking for a great deal.
Two more important things before I get started, there are apparently only 30 taxis in Mykonos so I recommend renting a car or motorbike if you want to get around the off-beaten paths or you may be stuck waiting for cabs. In terms of shooting pictures, go early! The streets in Mykonos town start getting busy around 9am so if you want to have them all to yourself I recommend going between sunrise until 9am to get the perfect lighting and empty street shots you see all over Instagram.
- Cobbled Streets of Mykonos Town (10 Best Things to do in Mykonos)
You have already seen it all over Instagram, the white-washed houses with blue and red doors and walls, with pink flowers hanging in little alleyways. You will find them all in the Mykonos town, also known as Chora. The streets get filled with people really fast so if you want to get the perfect shots with no one in them I would suggest going here super early in the morning between sunrise and 9am. The town has many wonderful restaurants and is perfect for shopping as well.
- Little Venice Waterfront and Town (10 Best Things to do in Mykonos)
This waterfront is very picturesque as it overlooks a cluster of colorful houses. The windmills are also located near the waterfront and there is a boat dock nearby which is also very scenic to take pictures. The sunset from this point is insane so I highly recommend going here around 4-5pm to explore the town and then watch the sunset by the waterfront. The restaurants by the waterfront are a little expensive but if you just go in a little, you can find nice restaurants that are cheaper. My friends and I fell in love with Casa di Giorgio, an Italian restaurant that is close to the waterfront and had amazing food and hospitality!
- Kato Milli Windmills (10 Best Things to do in Mykonos)
These windmills are the trademark of Mykonos and one of the key attractions in the area. There are currently around 16 windmills in Mykonos, five of which are perched together on the landmark hill of Mykonos town. You can see the windmills from the Little Venice waterfront as its in the same area.
You can also do a sunset sailing tour and watch the windmills from a different perspective. I did not actually do this due to shortage of time but saw pictures which looked gorgeous so definitely recommend doing this as another option.
- Pandora Store and Panachra Church (10 Best Things to do in Mykonos)
This is one of the most instagrammable area in Mykonos town where both the Pandora store and the Panachra Church are located. If you want it completely empty for your pictures then definitely go before 8am.
- Happiness Store (10 Best Things to do in Mykonos)
This is yet another instagrammable store in the Little Venice town. I mean put a sign up of happiness and who wouldn’t want a picture here right? The lighting in this area starts getting weird as soon as the sun comes out so definitely suggest going here early as well. Also, the store opens around 8:45am which makes it harder to take a picture with just the door and no one in it.
- Paraportiani Church (10 Best Things to do in Mykonos)
This church is located in the Little Venice area and is ideal for pictures. I would recommend going here very early in the morning before 8am. We went around 8am and the lighting got tricky as you can see in the picture below. There were also tour crowds that started to come by and we had to wait for them to leave so if you want this spot all to yourself then make sure to set that alarm clock!
- Scorpio Mykonos or Nammos Mykonos (10 Best Things to do in Mykonos)
You cannot go to Mykonos and not visit at least one of these beach clubs. Since my trip was so packed I only had the chance to visit Scorpio Mykonos. But I wish I could’ve just spent a whole day chilling at the beach club, listening to some techno beats and enjoying the gorgeous views and weather. I actually ended up going to Scorpio Mykonos twice, once during sunset and once during night-time and both times the vibes were unreal.
Scorpio Mykonos is located between Paraga and Kavos Beach. The atmosphere and food is amazing here, albeit it is expensive. That is why I recommend spending a whole day here to make the most of it if you have the luxury of time.
- Cavo Tagoo Mykonos (10 Best Things to do in Mykonos)
We were invited by the Cavo Tagoo Hotel to spend a day by the pool. This hotel is probably one of the most instagrammable hotels because of its insanely breathtaking view of the Aegean Sea and cave suites. My friends and I had a great time here and if you’re lucky you can even spot some celebrities at the hotel. If you are super rich, then definitely stay at this hotel for a luxurious experience! Otherwise, the hotel also offers day passes from 8am to 7pm for 200 euros per person (minimum spend in bar/restaurant/pool).
- Platis Gialos Beach (10 Best Things to do in Mykonos)
Located in the Southern part of the island, this beach is one of the most popular and crowded beaches in Mykonos. Although I didn’t actually get to visit this beach, I have heard great things about it and so I thought I would mention it in my blog post. There are direct buses that run from Mykonos to Platis Gialos beach and there is also a taxi boat you can take to beach hop to other nearby beaches. Majority of the sunbeds are owned by the restaurants on the beach which you can rent for 2o euros or more, however some also offer free lounge chairs if you order from their menu.
- Cine Manto (10 Best Things to do in Mykonos)
Cine Manto is known to be one of the most beautiful open-air cinema in the world. There is also a restaurant attached to the theatre. The place is not known to many tourists and is a local favorite! It is very romantic with lush greenery and jungle vibes all around. The tickets cost around 8-10 euros and I definitely recommend checking the calendar beforehand to see what movie they are playing. I went here for dinner and fell in love with the atmosphere and food!
I hope you enjoyed reading the blog post and found some good tips on what to do and see in Mykonos. If there are any other places you know about and recommend, feel free to leave it in the comments as I can’t wait to go back to this gorgeous island. Hope you have a wonderful trip to Mykonos!
Until next time lovelies, xoxo <3
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