When you think of European summer getaways, Greece is almost always at the top of that list. And with over 6,000 islands in its realm, your options are seemingly endless for places to visit.
With our limited vacation time, we knew that hitting up one of the main destinations would be our best bet rather than trying to island hop. Mykonos is one of the bigger islands Greece has to offer, and along with all that space is a plethora of options for eating, drinking, and exploring. While the amount of options at your fingertips is exciting, it can also be overwhelming. See below for my top recommendations to get you started!
EAT
Kastro’s (pictured left): Often times restaurants are chosen because of the views they offer, not necessarily the quality of their menu. Kastro’s is not one of those restaurants. Not only was the seaside view absolutely breathtaking, the food was DELICIOUS! The menu challenged my notions of what I thought of as “traditional Greek food” and the ambiance made for a perfect first night in Mykonos. Highly recommend!
Nammos: This restaurant certainly comes with a price tag but my oh my, it is WORTH IT. The food is divine and it's located at one of the most popular party beaches on Mykonos, Psarou Beach. Depending on what time you go to dinner, you can easily stay for their beachside clubs for a fun and rowdy night!
Kostas: Not to be confused with Kastro's mentioned above, Kostas was a delightful little find in Mykonos Town that was easy on the wallet and still boasted delicious Greek cuisine. We went during peak tourist season and were still able to snag a table almost immediately. It was the perfect spot for a low-key dinner.
DRINK
Skandanavian Bar: It's no secret that Mykonos is known for its nightlife. And with Skandanavian Bar being arguably the most notorious nightclub on the island, it definitely deserves a visit during your time in Mykonos. I’m not generally much of a club-goer, but this place was super fun and HUGE! While its not everyone’s cup of tea, if you really want a taste of the Mykonos party scene you should stop in for at least one drink here.
Argo’s: Multi-story mega clubs not your scene? Fear not. Argo to the rescue! We stumbled upon this bar by chance as we were wandering around the tiny streets of Mykonos Town after dinner our first night. What it lacked in size, it made up for in fun. We loved our bartender (shout out to Andreas!) and the DJ seemed to cater every song specifically to us. The mix of 90s pop and R&B, with some of the Mamma Mia soundtrack thrown in for good measure, was enough to make any millennial extremely happy! :)
Negrita Bar: This place was definitely more laidback than Argo or Skandanavian, but equally as fun. Just a stone’s throw away from our personal favorite spot, Argo, Negrita had amazing cocktails with a lively ambiance. The bar had a patio that overlooked the water, with Latin music bumping. If you want a more sophisticated vibe, this could be your spot!
DO
Greek Cooking Class: Of all of activities I’ve done on my travels, the cooking class we took at Mykonian Spiti is one of my favorite experiences hands down. I’m not much of a cook, but learning how to make traditional Greek dishes in a cozy kitchen with a matriarchal figure at the helm really exceeded my expectations. The 6 hour class is available during the day (from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) or during the evening (from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m.). That may seem like a long time, but it really flew by. We opted for the evening class so we could have a full day at the beach before the class. It ended right on time so we even were able to go out afterwards as well!
Sailing Excursion: With so many beaches around Mykonos to explore, it can be hard to tear yourself away from the island. But we opted to take a sailing day trip to nearby islands of Delos and Rhenia with Sunfos Alessia Yachting and it was one of the highlights of our trip! A delicious Grecian lunch AND all drinks were included in the price, plus you get to spend 6 hours sailing around the Aegean Sea. Win-win-win!
Rent ATVs: On an island like Mykonos, the prime mode of transportation is not by car. With narrow and hilly dirt roads crisscrossing the entire island, ATVs make it easy to get around from beach to beach and allow you to explore more on your own! Just make sure to use caution, heed the instructions the rental shop gives, and always always always wear a helmet.
EXPLORE
Beaches of Mykonos: One of the highlights of the island are the long list of beautiful beaches at your disposal! With only a few days in Mykonos it was so hard to narrow down the beaches to explore, but ultimately I think we made excellent picks. Each one we visited had a different vibe, look, and energy level.
Platis Gialos: This beach was a quick 10 minute walk from our hotel Artemoulas Studios and with it's light turquoise waters against white-washed buildings, it was exactly what you picture as a classic Mykonian beach.
Paraga (pictured right): This gorgeous beach was still walking distance from our hotel, though a bit farther than Platis Gialos. Paraga was more secluded and the vibe was a little more tropical. Though it was fairly mellow while we were there throughout the day, the party seemed to be picking up quite a bit as we left around 5:00 p.m.!
Ornos: This beach was the most relaxed of the three we visited. It was beautiful and more "family friendly" than some of the other party beaches on the island. If you're there with children or a significant other, this could be your prime spot.
*Tip: At any beach you visit on Mykonos, you’ll have to pay for your beach chair and towels. Depending on the beach you visit and the location of your beach chairs, these prices can vary.
Little Venice: This neighborhood in Mykonos Town is exactly what comes to mind when you picture the island. The white-washed buildings, the bright blue accents, the winding cobblestone streets…it’s the perfect place to get lost. With very few streets names and a maze of paths, we definitely got lost more than once! But when it looks like that, I could have continued wandering around forever.
Windmills Of Kato Mili: This iconic landmark is situated just outside of Mykonos Town and makes a perfect stop in or out of the main town. We stopped by these straw and stone structures on our way to dinner one night and it wasn't nearly as crowded as we expected!
*Tip: Those island winds are no joke! The cliffside area up by the windmills is especially windy, so a short or flowy dress may not be the best idea to wear on your visit if you want to keep things PG...
This is only a small sampling of the wonders at your disposal on the island of Mykonos, but hopefully it's enough to get you started on your Greek adventures. Our time on the island only fueled my interest of Greek culture and I already have a list of lesser explored islands that I hope to one day visit. If you've been to the Greek isles, which ones did you visit? If not, which ones are on your list? I can always add to my own growing list!
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