Mykonos embodies a sexy, chic beach vibe and offers everything that one could desire from a coastal retreat: amazing restaurants and nightlife, beautiful beaches, and fantastic shopping. It’s a place that I could envision myself visiting over and over again in the future, as it’s an ideal European holiday under the sun.
If you’re heading to the beautiful Grecian island of Mykonos, I’m sharing a few of my favorite must-visit spots!
The A-Lyst for What to Do on the Greek Island of Mykonos
Wander Mykonos Town
I loved aimlessly wandering beautiful Mykonos Town. Gorgeous bougainvillea frames the buildings and each alleyway is so picturesque! There are so many amazing restaurants, most of which are set up outside in gardens, so there’s always a canopy of ivy and flowers strung above you as you dine. We found so many romantic eateries with delicious food (Avra and Kalita were two favorites) that it made it hard to choose where to eat! Similar to Santorini, wild cats roam the streets and while most of the buildings are white, there are unexpected pops of color throughout (think blue doors or bright red railings), which make the town that much more striking. In addition, I really enjoyed that all of the boutiques are open very late for post-dinner shopping! We adored exploring the town and taking countless photos of its beauty.
Little Venice + the Mykonos Windmills
Appropriately named Little Venice, this seaside strip of restaurants offers gorgeous views (and even the occasional splash of water from waves!) and the perfect place to enjoy lunch or a drink on the water. We headed here for sunset drinks before dinner and it was magical. It literally felt like we were on top of the water and the breeze was amazing. Little Venice also offers an excellent vantage point for taking photos of the famous Mykonos windmills. At dusk, the light is perfect and the view is gorgeous! While visiting Little Venice, I would definitely recommend going to the windmills to see them up close. This area is always crowded with people, but if you go around to the back of the windmills, you can snap a photo of the them against the backdrop of the ocean without as many tourists in the shot. Windmills operated on most of the Cycladic island until the 19th century to grind local agricultural yields for barley and wheat and are now an iconic symbol representing Mykonos’ past.
Enjoy Sunset Cocktails
The sunsets in Mykonos are absolutely stunning and one of our favorite ways to spend golden hour was finding different spots to watch the sun go down. There are many luxurious beach clubs on the island of Mykonos with beautiful sunset views, but after doing a significant amount of research, we decided to visit Scorpio’s for their daily Sunset Ritual. Each night, Scorpio’s hosts a different DJ and music genre for an evening of music and socializing, kicking off as the sun goes down. The most lively evenings are on Sunday, but you have to book a spot far in advance in order to secure entrance. We went on a Monday, which was definitely more chill, but still provided great entertainment (and people watching!). There are few ways to enjoy Scorpio’s – make a sun bed reservation (obviously this makes more sense if you are going to spend the whole day in the sun), make a reservation for dinner, do bottle service on the terrace, or book a table on the sunset beach. We did the latter and landed a fantastic spot on the beach with an obstructed view of the sunset. The sunset beach tables and loungers do require buying a bottle, but that can be a cool, refreshing bottle of rosé, which is what we enjoyed along with a few appetizers. If it is not busy, you can also come as a walk-in to Scorpio’s, order drinks at the bar, and sit on the steps overlooking the beach for no additional charge or minimum. Depending on where you are staying, Scorpios is best accessible by cab, which could cost about 30 EURO each way.
If you’re looking for an equally awe-inspiring sunset viewing spot that’s closer to Mykonos town, I’d suggest the 180 Sunset Bar, located on a hill above the port. This place has an awesome vibe that’s made even more fun with a swing (yes, a swing!) as well as the most perfect archway for bird’s eye view photos of Mykonos Town. We took a cab here and then after the sun went down, we walked to town for dinner. It’s a gorgeous – and very Instagrammable – vantage point and the cocktails are delicious!
The beauty of Mykonos is that no matter where you stay on the island, you will be near the beach. Our hotel, the Mykonos Grand Hotel + Resort, boasts its own private beach for guests, which was one of the reasons we selected it, and right next door is a great beachside sushi spot, Hippie Fish, which we often found ourselves at mid-day. However, even if your hotel doesn’t have its own beach, you’ll never be far from the waves and sand! Other beach recommendations would be Panoramas, Psarrou, and Agios Sostis (but beware, it’s nude!). If you want to take your beach day up a notch, rent a cabana at Nammos, SantAnna or Scorpio’s. This is literally a party on the beach, so bring your favorite suit + cover-up and get ready to order a lot of cocktails as you get bronzed by the Grecian sun.
Additional activities and tips:
If you are interested in Greek history, taking a quick boat ride to see the Ancient Greek ruins of Delos should be on your list. You can see what remains of Greek temples, markets, houses, and more from this first millennium B.C. port.
Enjoy gyros, souvlaki and more! While there are many fancy restaurants on Mykonos, don’t miss the more casual and traditional options along the way. The most highly recommended spot on the island is Kiki’s Tavern. You have to line up before they open and everyone says it is worth it. Since we didn’t have a car and preferred to relax at the beach during the day, we skipped Kiki’s and tried out a souvlaki spot in town. Jimmy’s, Gyro Spot and Soulvaki Story are all great options in Mykonos Town.
There are less than 35 cabs on the island of Mykonos, so it’s not always easy or convenient to get one when you need it. The best way to get around is the public bus (around 2 euros) or by arranging a private transfer through your hotel. This is only a little bit more expensive than a cab and it can be booked in advance, which is key!
Since there were so many places, including beaches, beach clubs, and Mykonos Town that we wanted to see while visiting Mykonos, and they were all spread out from one another, I do think renting a car or scooter would have made it easier to experience all the island has to offer. If you plan to spend most of your time on the beach, skip a rental but if you want to jump around, it will make your vacation exploration much easier!
The A-Lyst is a Boston-based lifestyle blog curating the very best of style, beauty, food, and travel.