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When picturing an idyllic vacation in Greece, many of us conjure up images of stunning white-washed buildings with deep blue pops of colour, the sea, and great food. Though sometimes synonymous with the country, this incredibly specific image actually comes from Greece’s party capital – Mykonos. One of the most frequently travelled to areas, Mykonos is overrun by throngs of people during the summer months, when tourism hits its peak season. If you’re looking to indulge in an unforgettable holiday, then you must plan a trip to Mykonos for sure! Keep reading to know why.
| Mykonos Tourism : A Quick Overview | |
| Continent | Europe |
| Country | Greece |
| Official Language | Greek |
| Dial Code | +30 |
| Population | 10, 134 |
| Currency | Euro |
| Time Zone | UTC + 2, UTC +3 during the summer |
| Area | 105.2 km square |
Mykonos town, arguably the area solely responsible for Mykonos’ iconic image, is located in the Choro area of the city. It has tons of restaurants and cafes scattered everywhere. With symmetrical white homes, vibrant wooden doors, and pastel bougainvillea adding pops of colour everywhere you look, Mykonos Town is the one place in Mykonos that you must see before leaving the city.
If you’re looking for areas that offer cinematic frames at every corner, then you must also visit Little Venice. It overlooks the island’s southwest harbour, with most buildings built in a way that they look like they’re precariously dangling off cliffs. Grab a spot at a sea-facing restaurant and watch the breath-taking sunset while sipping on crisp white wine!
Dating back to a period when locals used wind power to grow grain, the Mykonos Windmills are another lovely attraction that this city has to offer. Interestingly, this area was once known as Alefkandra, or whitening, because all the locals used to hang their laundry here to make the most of the windmills! If you’re heading down to this spot, keep an eye out for the beach right at the foothills – it’s a great spot for a picnic with lots of bread and cheese!
Finally, don’t think that Mykonos only has wild parties to offer! Delos island is an absolute paradise for fans of Greek mythology, since it’s considered the birthplace of Apollo. You’ll find a lot of ruins, villas, theatres and temples on this island, and even an entire museum dedicated to historical artefacts discovered here. The island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that often gets ignored by travellers that only want to indulge in Mykonos’ party scene.
Often called the Ibiza of Greece, Mykonos has a reputation for hosting some of the best parties in the summer. This is exactly why so many people travel here during this time. If you’re planning to live it up and go wild during your Grecian holiday, then you must head to these top party spots in the city:
Most of the adventure sports in Mykonos take place at Elia beach, which has sparkling, crystal clear water and a long shoreline that makes it perfect for tourists to enjoy a range of activities. Some of the things that you can do hear include parasailing, water skiing, wakeboard surfing, jet skiing, riding tubes, and flyboarding. You can also rent yachts to sail in the water and have your own private party in the middle of the sea. If you really want to get your adrenaline pumping, try your hand at flyboarding, a thrilling water sport activity that launches you into the air and lets you drop down with a splash!
Moussaka is one of the most popular Greek dishes and offers a burst of flavour with every bite. Typically made with roasted eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, minced meat and bechamel sauce, it makes for a very filling meal – one that you’ll be dreaming of long after your vacation in Greece is over. When you’re exploring the alleys of this city, you may come across vendors selling grilled meat wrapped in pita bread. Of the many variants of this dish, Souvlaki, made of chunks of beautifully charred meat, is the most popular one.
When you’re in a city flanked by the sea, there’s no way you can pass up on seafood. Grab a seat at a local tavern and order fresh fish and calamari, along with white wine for a meal you’ll never forget. More often than not, you’ll find that the most classic recipes of fish include humble ingredients like lemon and olive oil. This is a flavour combination that works wonderfully in the summer, with the citrus notes offering a refreshing note that makes you forget about the warm climate.
Mykonos is an island city that’s a part of the Cyclades. It’s located between other popular tourist destinations like Paros, Naxos, Syros and Tinos.
The summer season, particularly the months of June and August, see the most tourist activity. This is when all the major parties are held, along with a few festivals that honour patron saints. However, if you’d like to trade the raging parties for some tranquillity, then you should visit Mykonos during the shoulder season – September and October. The period between November and March marks a lull in tourism, however, on the plus side, travellers with a shoe-string budget can enjoy heavily discounted rates at this point.
By Air: Mykonos International Airport is located only 4 kms away from the main city area. The airport caters to most major international airlines like British Airways, German Wings, Atlasjet, Easyjet, and Edelweiss Air, to name a few. If you’re planning to land in Athens, don’t worry, because you can take a 35-minute connecting flight to Mykonos from there.
By Cruise: Most cruises that take you around the Greek islands stop at Mykonos. If your cruise ends at a different port though, you can always book a ferry or take advantage of the cruise shuttle in order to get to your destination.
By Ferry: You can take a ferry to reach Mykonos from any other island located in the Cyclades. Some of the ferry companies that you can rely on include Hellenic Seaways, Blue Star Ferries, Seajets, and Aegean Speed Lines.
During the 18th century, Mykonos was a popular trading island and even attracted the attention of pirates. Mesmerised by its beauty, the pirates eventually established it as party-central in the early 1900s. While the island’s economy benefited from the boost in tourism during this era, this financial surge was short-lived and most of the city was poverty-stricken by the 1950s. However, it began to attract wealthy travellers, and was soon transformed from a barren island to the party mecca that it’s known for being today.
Mesmerised by Mykonos? Then you must check out Thomas Cook’s Greece Holiday Packages and start planning your trip to this enchanting island.
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