Oct 3, 20235 min read

Guide to Mykonos, Greece

I truly loved Mykonos! A lot of people are reluctant to visit, as it is one of the more touristy islands, but I had a very enjoyable stay. For me, it lived up to the hype, as it is hard not to love the beautiful landscapes, amazing food and friendly people. I did visit before the peak tourist season. I was fortunate not to have very many crowds, which may have changed my experience. It is a little more expensive than some of the other islands, but there were a variety of options for every budget.

For the day-by-day itinerary of my whole trip, check out my 10 Days in Greece blog! This is one of my favorite trips, and one of my most requested itineraries to share. I went to Mykonos, Paros, Naxos and Athens. The Greek islands definitely did not disappoint. This was my first time to Greece, but definitely not my last.

When to Go

I went in May of 2022 over Memorial Day through the first week of June and traveled with my mom! I would definitely recommend visiting at the end of May/beginning of June. The Greek islands' “tourist season” goes from May to September. Outside of these months, the islands are mainly shut down and most of the locals go back to the mainland in the colder months. Given there is such a short travel season, it can tend to be busy, but we were fortunate to travel early in the season and miss the crowds. I would highly recommend missing the peak of the season mid-June through August if you want to avoid the crowds. It is also cheaper! I have read that in September/October is also cheaper but that it can get very windy on the islands during this time.

Tip: We spent at least 3 nights on each island during our trip and I would not recommend staying shorter than that in each place. I would do at least 3 nights in Mykonos. There is so much to do, especially if you want to check out different parts of the island. You could definitely stay longer and still be very entertained. My travel philosophy is: I would rather see less places and really get to know them, rather than packing my bags every day to see every stop and not fully enjoying any of them.

How to Get There

I flew from LAX to Mykonos with one layover in Vienna. I was eager to get to the islands, so I was very excited when I found a flight directly into Mykonos. Most people fly into Athens and then take a ferry or short regional flight to the islands from there. I personally was not super enthusiastic about visiting Athens and wanted to only stop through there on the way home. The Mykonos airport was small, easy to navigate, and only about 10 mins to the main town!

Where to Stay

In Mykonos we stayed at Platis Gialos beach at the Petinos Hotel. I could not recommend this area or this hotel enough.

The hotel was beautiful, so close to the water and the free breakfast every morning was 5-stars -- you even got your own waiter with an ocean front view. There are so many amazing hotels in Mykonos, so it was tough to decide where to stay and in what area. Platis Gialos beach was a 10 minute drive to Mykonos town. You can take a taxi for about 15 euro, or the public bus which runs every 30 mins right outside our hotel for 2 euro (we did this a few times and it was super clean/safe!).

I personally liked staying in Platis Gialos because you wake up right on the water and can be on a beach lounger within an hour of waking up. We would sun tan all day and then head into Mykonos town around sunset for dinner and shopping. To me, this was perfection!

Where to Eat

Yialo Yialo: Only a few mins from our hotel, we had dinner here our first night and it was a great welcome meal! The restaurant was located beachfront and the service was 10/10. Come here to try some traditional Greek food. It was one of the best spots we went to in Mykonos and I would recommend trying the dip trio.
Kadena: I still think about the shrimp Saganaki (a local dish) from here. It is to die for and one of the best things we ate on the trip. The food and the ambiance of the restaurant was fantastic!
Jimmy’s Gyros: After a night of dancing and drinking atRhapsody, we got some late night munchies here. I cannot express how AMAZING it was, this is a must-visit spot. The gyros are very cheap and they are open 24/7. It was one of the best gyros of my life (and this isn't the drinks talking). If you are traveling on a budget, this is a great, cheap food option!
Vegera: This was a cute boho spot with great people watching and patio dining. We had another traditional Greek meal here. It was great but not one of my most memorable meals on this trip.
Jackie O: I would recommend coming here for drinks during sunset. It was much less crowded than some of the other more "instagrammable" spots and had just as great of a view! Our server was fabulous as well.
Rhapsody: We went into Mykonos town for sunset (again) and found this cute hidden gem. There are only about 4 tables though, so get there early! We went back here later in the night for dancing and drinks. It has a super fun and friendly staff!

What To Do

Tanning on Platis Gialos: Platis Gialos is a beautiful beach cove only 10 mins from Mykonos Town with many vendors offering lounge chairs with beachside food and drink service. Beach loungers range from 5 to 20 euro. The Yialo Yialo ones were on the cheaper side (5 euro each), so more money for us to spend on food and drink! It is more of a relaxing vibe here. If you are looking for a beach party, I would go elsewhere!
Wander Mykonos Town: Before and after dinner, we walked through the picturesque winding white streets for some sightseeing and shopping. You could spend hours getting lost in Mykonos town!
Beach Clubs: Mykonos is known for its nightlife and young people who come from all over to enjoy the beach parties. I was traveling with my mom, and was going for more of a relaxing trip. I didn't go to any beach clubs, but these are the most popular ones I had recommended: Scorpios, Nammos, Super Paradise Beach Club and Principote. Do note, they can get pretty expensive, and some require reservations!
Visit the Windmills of Mykonos: The iconic windmills of Mykonos are a symbol of the island and offer a great photo opportunity. The best time to visit is during sunset for breathtaking views.
Explore Little Venice: Little Venice in Mykonos is a charming seaside neighborhood known for its architecture and sunset views.

Warning: If you are traveling elsewhere after Mykonos, be wary that ferries can often run late. In our case it was 2 hours behind! It is a very comfortable, cheap and efficient way to travel around the islands, just be wary of delays.

Tip: For short ferry rides, it is not worth it to upgrade to business class! It is honestly pretty similar to the regular, so save your money.

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