Mykonos, Greece – Everything & More Travel Guide (Updated 2026)

I’m headed back again this August, my 7th trip to the island, and this guide keeps evolving every time I go.

The first time I traveled to Mykonos was in 2016 with my mom and sister, and I’ve gotten the chance to go back with them almost every year since (yes, you read that right, I most definitely party with my mom in Mykonos). I’ve been back six times since, and I’ve also planned and booked this island for clients doing everything from mom and daughter trips, to milestone birthdays and honeymoons.

Mykonos is one of the most visited islands in Europe, and I’ve met so many amazing people from across the world and from the states while I’m there. The island is very big on the party scene (you’ll spot shirts in the gift shops that say “MYKONOS F***KS IBIZA”), but there’s just as much on offer if you want to relax, soak up the sun, and sightsee. There’s a lot to cover, so here are my top recommendations whether it’s your first time visiting or your sixth.

Number of Days to Stay: 3-5 Days

Expense: $$-$$$$

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Where to Stay:

Depending on how much time you’re spending on the island, you want to pick a central location so everything you want to do is easily accessible. Here’s how I break down the main areas.

Mykonos Town – The most popular part of the island, packed with shops, restaurants, sightseeing (like the famous windmills), and nightlife. It’s mostly Airbnbs, small hotels, and hostels here. I’ve never actually stayed in the main town, since I’d rather spend my afternoons at the beach with easy access from my hotel, but public transportation is very easy to find here, along with rentals that will take you to popular spots around the island. If you’re only in Mykonos for 2-3 days and don’t mind a short trip out to a beach club every morning, this is a solid base.

• Paradise Beach – If you love to party all day and all night, this is your spot. I’ve stayed in Paradise Beach almost every time I’ve visited, and it never disappoints. Every year I return, this area seems to be more developed with new hotels, beach clubs and restaurant options. Paradise beach is accessible from most nearby hotels and has a public transportation stop right outside Tropicana Beach Club, where you can reserve chairs in advance (worth doing since they fill up fast). There’s also a market within walking distance for food, drinks, and beach essentials. If you love to swim, love good music, and love to party, this is where you’ll get the most out of your stay.

• Platis Gialos – One of the best areas if you’re traveling with family or want a slightly more low-key part of the island. I’ve never actually stayed here myself, but I visit often by water taxi. Accommodations fill up fast since they’re mostly villas and hotels for larger groups, so book early if this is your pick. The beach is lined with chairs and umbrellas for rent, restaurants, and quick access back to the village. This is great for honeymoon couple that don’t want to break the budget, enjoy nice accommodations, and want a lively, but not party atmosphere.

• Paraga Beach – A great option if you don’t mind spending a little more, though there are budget options too on the left side of the hill. Paraga is home to SantAnna and Kalua Beach Clubs, both with fancy beachside cabanas, chairs, and umbrellas (they can get pricey). Walk toward the far end of the beach for more affordable chairs where you can still hear the music. Facing the water, you’ll spot Scorpios, one of the most famous beach clubs and nightclubs in Mykonos, which you can reach by walking a beaten path (a nice shortcut, though it can be a workout in the dry heat)

• Ornos & Psarrou Beach – I group these together since they’re right next to each other. Psarrou, better known as “Nammos,” is small and probably the wealthiest stretch of the island. If you want a quieter, more luxurious stay, Ornos is the destination. It’s popular with celebrities and couples on their honeymoon thanks to how secluded it is. You will find honey 4.5-5 star hotels or villas here. For me, this area is more of a half-day or day visit than a home base, but I wanted to include it for anyone looking to treat themselves.

Where to Eat:

There are so many places to eat around the island, whether you’re craving traditional Greek, Italian, French, or a simple gyro. Depending on which village you’re staying in, you may need to venture out a bit to find the spot you’re after. I always recommend booking reservations in advance for the popular restaurants, especially anything that’s more of a dining experience.

Good news for my gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan travelers, plenty of restaurants around the island will accommodate you, especially in Mykonos Town.

Mykonos Town:

• Nikos Taverna ($-$$$): If you want authentic Greek food, this is one of the few places you’ll truly find it. I return here every year.
• Baboulas Ouzeri or Kavos Taverna ($-$$$): Great seafood with an amazing view of the old port, and a bit less congested than the main strip.
• Interni ($$-$$$): If you’ve seen videos of people dancing on tables in Mykonos, with sparklers and napkins, it’s probably here. Fun atmosphere, book well in advance.
• D’Angelo ($$-$$$): I love Greek food, but sometimes I want a good ol’ bowl of pasta. This is a great alternative is you need a break from Greek dishes and want a nice Italian meal.
• Jimmy’s Gyros ($): The best Gyros in the town. Vegan options!
• Taverna Lakka Garden ($-$$): Great affordable option for Greek Traditional meals
• Cocotte Mykonos ($-$$): Whether you dine here for brunch, lunch or dinner you will always find a traditional Greek dish that is delicious and a cute atmosphere to enjoy your meal!
• La Petite Taverne Windmills ($-$$): Hidden gem inside Mykonos Town with delicious Greek flavors and dishes that you can enjoy outdoors
• Kounelas Fish Taverna ($-$$$)

Around The Island:

• Tropicana ($-$$) – Paradise Beach: Surprisingly good food for a beach bar. My family favorite is the dolmades, the chicken or lamb gyro, and the souvlaki. Room service is just as good if you’re staying at the Tropicana Hotel.

• Tasos Taverna ($-$$) – Paraga Beach:  If you want authentic Greek food, this is oneof the few places you’ll truly find it. I return here every year.

• Zuma ($$$-$$$$) – Outside Mykonos Town: A popular Japanese restaurant and beach club chain across the Mediterranean and known for its sunset views and vibes. Worth knowing about, but I think there are better options unless you’re specifically craving sushi.
• Alemagou ($$$) – Ftelia Beach: Newer on the Mykonos scene and one I am heading too this August. It’s a laid back, boho beach club and restaurant with straw umbrellas right on the sand, and dinner here feels like a proper occasion without being stuffy. We booked a sunset dinner reservation followed by their evening set from a resident DJ, which turned into one of the best nights of the whole trip.
• NAMMOS ($$$-$$$$) Parsou Beach – Around 4pm this restaurant turns into a beachside dance party that runs until 9 or 10pm. Time your reservation accordingly, and book fast, tables go quick.

• Hippie Fish ($$$) – Agios Ioannis: Vegan options available. One of my go-to dinner reservations for a special occasion and a great spot for sushi lovers! I am headed here this summer to see what this is a beachside dining experience is all hype is about.

• Beefbar ($$-$$$) – Agios Ioannis: A high-end luxury restaurant known for serving world class beef from all over the world like the US, Japan, Australia and more. If you are craving a good steak and nightlife, head here.

• Scorpios ($$$$) – Agia Anna: Known for their iconic DJ event and Sunset Ritual parties, but the key to securing a spot in Scorpios? Dine, and DANCE! Schedule for a late night meal and then dance those calories away. The food is actually good here and lives up to the hype.

• Yialo Yialo ($$$) – Platy Gialos: Great spot for anyone traveling in Mykonos that is looking for a great meal seaside. Casual during the day and romantic in the evening.

Vegetarian/Vegan Recommendations:

• Bowl ($$) – Ornos Beach
• Koukoumi Hotel ($$-$$$) – Ano Mera: This is Greece’s first and only vegan hotel!
• Nice n easy ($$) – Mykonos town
• Healthylicous ($$) – Mykonos Town
• Appaloosa ($$) – Mykonos Town
• Captain’s ($$-$$$) – Mykonos town
• Jaipur Palace ($$) – Paradise Beach

What to Do:

Beaches

• Tropicana – Paradise Beach:  Rent beach chairs and cabanas, order massagesbeachside, and grab food and drinks from table service or the food court. Soft musicplays until 4pm, when the beach party kicks off and runs until 1am. The public bus dropsyou right at the entrance, and the water taxi stops here too. This was our sunbed spotfor two mornings on Andrea’s trip since it’s an easy walk from the resort.

• Paradise Beach Club – Paradise Beach: A farther walk from the bus stop with the same energy as Tropicana, just a bit more low key.

• Paraga Beach – Rent chairs at SantAnna, Kalua, or toward the far end near Tassos Taverna for a more affordable option. Accessible by water taxi or by parking up on the hill. We spent a golden hour evening at SantAnna on Andrea’s trip, and it’s worth booking a table in advance if you want a spot for sunset.

• Platy Gialos – Good for relaxation and swimming, with food and beverage service at every chair and umbrella rental. Book in advance, it gets crowded

• Psarou Beach – Walk through Nammos Village to reach the beach club. Sun beds are pricey, but you can rent regular chairs and umbrellas nearby for less. I don’t recommend the cheaper food and beverage service here, it’s overpriced and underwhelming.

• Super Paradise Beach Club – The farthest beach from town, but a great place to relax in the sun. The beach party starts in the afternoon and runs late. Walk uphill to Jackie’O for restaurant service, or grab food and drinks right on the beach.

• Ftelia Beach – Where the newer beach clubs and four to five star hotels are situating themselves, but is more known for kite surfing and quieter upscale beach clubs and vibes.

Activities

Mykonos Town Highlights: Shop in town (early evening or night is best to avoid the heat), walk the streets of Little Venice, visit the Windmills, wander Old Mykonos Town, and stop by Panagia Paraportiani Church.

• Shop in Nammos Village

• Scuba Diving at Paradise Beach

• Rent ATVs and explore the island

• Half Day Tour to Delos Island – Take the ferry from Old Town and explore the legendary Delos Island. You must pay the entrance fee to tour the island’s ruins.

• Catamaran or sail cruise around the Island – I upgraded this from a quick half day tour to a full sailing day for this summer’s trip to Mykonos. Departing from Ornos Bay we are sailing to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Delos to admire the ancient ruins from the water and learn the island’s history from the crew, then continue on to the quieter island of Rhenia for a couple of stops to swim and snorkel in genuinely clear water. Lunch and drinks are served on board, and you’re back at Ornos by mid-afternoon. This is one of my favorite additions for anyone who wants a slower, more scenic day away from the beach clubs and I book on my client itinerary that want a day of exploration and swimming in the beauoful Mykonos waters.

Nightlife

Mykonos Town: The best place to bar hop, with a bar for cocktails or dancing around every turn. A few favorites:

• Scandinavian Bar: The most popular, most affordable bar in town. Multiple levels, great music, and a stripper pole tourists love to try out. I always stop in. This bar brings in crowds of all ages, but screws mostly younger.

*DISCLAIMER: (Please be safe and do not take drinks from strangers or share drinks here! I have unfortunately see some new social videos surface of people having safety issues here. I personally have never experienced this, but feel it would be unethical of me to not address. Always be safe while partying!)

• Jackie’O Town Bar: The best gay bar in town, great atmosphere and music, with drag performances most nights between 9 and 11pm. It’s connected to the Jackie’O club at Super Paradise Beach.

• Negrita: Located in Little Venice, this one blew up on TikTok and is a fun atmosphere, though on the expensive side (table service usually has a minimum). There are plenty of other great bars nearby on the same strip.

• Bao’s Cocktail Bar Mykonos: Located just a few doors down from Negrita, I love coming to Boa’s. You can enjoy a waterside cocktail here or dance the night away inside to avoid paying the minimums. I love the atmosphere here.

• VOID: One of the newer clubs in town with world renowned DJs. A good alternative if you can’t make it out to Cavo Paradiso.

• Scarpa Bar: A staple in Mykonos town for over 40 years known for their fresh fruit cocktails and beautiful water level views of the windmills.

• Tabu Nightclub: The R&B spot in the town known for playing hip-hop and its lively crowd that can’t stop dancing.

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• Tropicana Beach Party: I stayed in Paradise Beach just for this beach party. Great music, reasonable drinks, and food available until it closes at 1am. Walk around, dance, or book bottle or table service.

• Cavo Paradiso: The nightclub to visit in Mykonos, with some of the biggest DJs in the world playing almost every day of the week. Buy tickets online for a better price, or at the door if it’s not sold out. Always one of the first things I book when i visit Mykonos!

• Scorpios: The most talked about club in Mykonos. It can get expensive, but if you book dinner or drinks before 8pm, you’ll already have access to the party. Sunday’s 8pm “sunset rituals” carry the highest prices (think five figures for table service), so plan accordingly. For Andrea’s birthday, we booked a dinner reservation at Scorpios early in the evening, which let the group ease into the party as the night went on rather than paying for full table service. Book well in advance, this spot fills up fast

• Alemagou: The new kid on the block and where people are going to if they do not want to go through the trouble of not getting into Scorpios. Beach club by day, dinner in the evening and DJ at night Alemagou has been hosting top international DJs from around the world and has made its mark on Mykonos.

• SantAnna Mykonos: A beach and pool party that’s a bit less wild than Tropicana, but still a great time and in the evenings it turns into a club! Entrance, pool beds, and table service run on the pricier side, and you’ll spot famous actors and athletes here often. Buy DJ or event tickets here in advance.

Transportation:

Getting To Mykonos

Airplane – I’ve traveled to Mykonos by both ferry and plane from Athens. Flying is worth it if you’re short on island time and don’t mind spending a bit more. The airport is central and easy to get to and from, with flights arriving from multiple cities across Europe as well as Athens. If you’re flying in from the US, I’d suggest arriving in Athens the night before or very early in the morning so you’re not short on time.

Ferry- A great way to save money and enjoy some time on the Aegean. Ferries depart from Athens’ two ports, Piraeus or Rafina, and tickets can be booked through seajets.com or directferries.com (all times are listed in military time). The fast ferry takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, while the regular ferry runs closer to 4.5 to 5 hours. It may take longer, but it’s a nice way to get a preview of the other islands along the route. All ferries have a food stand for pastries, sandwiches, snacks, coffee, and drinks (my go to is a tiropita and a cappuccino freddo). The Cyclades can get choppy, so if you’re prone to motion sickness, flying might be the better call.

While in Mykonos

Public Transportation – Easy to use during the day and until midnight, with buses stopping at most major beaches from the main town. If you’re arriving by ferry or cruise ship, a ferry taxi boat will take you from the port to different stops around the island. Bus times are posted outside the main station and at the ticket booth, and fares are much cheaper than a taxi or private car.

Taxi/Uber – The one downside of the island is the taxi situation, and the limited amount of Ubers which result in very long wait times, and hailing a taxi at night can be genuinely hard. I’d suggest booking a private car service or scheduling a taxi ahead of time for a night out or a day trip if you’re not renting your own wheels. For Andrea’s trip, we used a private transfer service for every hotel to beach club and dinner reservation, which took all the guesswork out of getting a group of four around at night.

Renting Cars/ ATVs / Scooters – The next easiest way to get around, though I’ll warn you it’s also one of the more dangerous options, especially at night. I’ve rented ATVs many times but never risked driving after dark since the island has a lot of cliffs and winding, poorly lit roads. Use rentals for the day and switch to a taxi or private car at night. Most hospitalizations and incidents in Mykonos come from tourists drinking and driving, so please be careful if you’re behind the wheel.

Water taxi boat – When you’re lounging anywhere from Ornos to Elia, you’ll notice small boats loading passengers up and down the coast. It’s the cheapest way to island hop between beaches on the south side of Mykonos, and I take it almost every year. Cash only, five to ten euro per ride or a twenty euro day pass. Stops run from Ornos to Platis Gialos, Paraga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Agrari, and Elia, with the first boat departing Ornos at 10am and the last leaving Elia around 5:45pm
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Although it’s filled with tourists and one of the most expensive islands in Greece, Mykonos is always at the top of my list of must visit islands, and it’s still one of my favorite places to plan for clients celebrating something big, and to visit myself. Between the crystal blue water, incredible beach parties, raving nightlife, and beautiful winding streets of the main town, my heart will always be in Mykonos. Hope to see you there soon.

With Love,

Mykonos