Mykonos Island

Mykonos is famed as the most cosmopolitan destination amongst the Greek islands and widely recognised as one of the great travel meccas.
Behind the cosmopolitan glitz the photos, the wild parties, the shopping, the resorts, the bars and the restaurants lies another Mykonos, an island of incredible natural beauty, full of unknown coves, and well hidden secrets. It\'s in the face of the island locals and loyal friends love. It’s the real Mykonos.  Here the cubist, white architecture can be seen nearly at its best. There is a good deal of variety in the size and shapes of houses, but color is not admitted except the doors or shutters or the pink, green or blue domes or roofs of some of the countless little churches (one is told there are 365, but that need no to be taken as an accurate estimate. The architectural gem in the Paraportiani, four chapels on different levels forming one church on the site of old fortress. The Athens School of Fine Arts used to enjoy a suburb view from the town’s highest point. Pink oleanders, and scarlet hibiscus, and trailing green pepper trees also from a contrast amid the dazzling whiteness-kept up by frequent renewal of the whitewash. Today one can see that the hotels of Mykonos, from the small family hotels to the modern complexes, accord to the island’s traditional architecture.

Mykonian houses are cubic in shape, with one or two floors, small balconies (boundia) of wood, stone or iron, high chimneys (kapasi) courtyards and eaves troughs (kanali).
When you think of the climate of Mykonos island, the meltemia (etesian winds) run into your mind. During August meltemia blow very strongly and are a severe trial. Same with that of the other Cyclades, the climate of Mykonos is typically Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot, dry summers. You will always find the weather from April to August very sunny and bright weather. The island has a very law rainfall and for that reason it is using tankers to supply its population and the high tourism in water. But caution, this water is not drinkable!  

Get around

On Mykonos you can get around by scooter, ATV, car, or bus. A sophisticated bus network, which takes you to virtually any point of the island.
Additionally taxis operate at constant rate. In the evening, it can be nearly impossible to find a taxi. You can wait hours at the taxi queue in town.
There are now two ferry terminals at Hora (Mykonos), the main sea port on the island. If you are on foot and leaving the island, be certain whether your ferry leaves from the old port (the nearest one to the main section of town) or the NewPort (about 10 km to the north).
There is also a third "port" from whence boats to and from Delos depart and arrive, but most travellers won\'t confuse this with the ferry landings.

Hora - Capital town of Mykonos island 

The most picturesque port in the Cyclades, it looks as though it just stepped out of a painting.
The stark white houses, with their parallel staircases and multicoloured doors, windows and banisters cling to the hill that rises toward the windmills. There are narrow streets paved with flagstones outlined in white. Over the roofs of the houses we can see the brightly painted domes of churches toped with the characteristic crosses. This is MykonosTown.
In summertime life tends to focus on the central road through town, Matoyanni St.and the narrow lanes around it, collectively known as the Matoyannia districts, which constitute the commercial centre of the town. These few blocks of buildings contain shops, bars and restaurants to suit very taste and wallet. In fact Matoyanni St. is one of the priciest shopping streets in all Greece. Barkia is a crowded and noisy place of the Mykonos town, which is youthful in tone and full of life, music and street artists. You can buy colored bracelets and dancing toys, or have yourself tattooed with henna.
Just before the Town Hall stand the marble slabs where the fishermen set out their catch in the early morning. It is around here that you are likely to see Petros the Pelican, one of the Mykonos’s trademarks.
Little Venice, on the right-hand side of the Alefkandra Bay, is built on foundations resting in the sea- hence its name. In the afternoon, when they have their last swim, hundreds of young people-and some not so young - press on to the balconies and low walls of the shops to watch the sun turn the sea red.
After Little Venice, there is Praportiani Church. It takes its name from the location close to the small gateway in the medieval fortification. An important historical and cultural monument during the day, at night Paraportiani becomes a "crusing spot" for gays, where absolutely anything can happen.
Mando’s Square, with the statue of Mando Maurogenous, a heroine of the Greek War of Independence, standing next to the taxi stand.
At Lakka there is an open-air theatre which in summer is used for concerts and other events. Movie-lovers will be delighted by the Mando Open-Air Cinema, located in a beautiful garden behind the Catholic Church and regarded as one of the most attractive open-air summer cinemas in Greece. Note that parking and traffic are heavy problems during summertime.

Paradise beach - a crowded party beach for the under 30 set, nudity is common. Large pebbly sand is great for windy days.

Super Paradise beach - another crowded party beach for the under 30 set. Paradise and Super Paradise may be some sort of quarantine created by the locals. Also popular with gays, and transgenders. Nudity is quite common and practised in the central beach area.

Psarou beach - Half the beach chairs and umbrella require reservations during peak season. Non-reserved chairs are available first come, first served.

Platys Gialos beach - busy family and tourist beach. Jet ski rentals available.

Elia beach - Rent beach chairs and umbrella for 10 euro. Rentals for Jet ski, waterskiing, wakeboarding and para sailing are available. Elia is a large beach compared to other Mykonos beaches. Nudity is permitted but not as common as Paradise, Super Paradise and Paranga.

Paranga beach - another popular beach. Full nudity is practised on the right end (facing the water). Becoming more popular for nudists that don\'t want the party atmosphere of Paradise and Super Paradise.

Ornos beach - a quiet family beach. Lots of umbrellas and lounges available for rent. Bathing suit bottoms are required on Ornos. The beach is lined with great restaurants, hotels and a nearby grocery store and town. Some hotels and restaurants are quite upscale. Serviced by bus and boat taxi.

Unknown side of Mykonos island

Paraportiani is one of the most photographed churches of the world. Located in the Kastro quarter at the edge of the port, and regarded as the jewel of Mykonos. The church dates to the Byzantine era and is distinguished by its exceptional form, its asymmetrical masses and low, stepped bell tower. One of the finest examples of Cycladic vernacular architecture. The name Paraportiani is derived from the word paraporti ("little door" in the Mykonisn dialect), because it was built beside the gate of the medieval castle.
The costal "aquatic habitat" of Panormos and Ftelia, with a variety of flora and fauna, frequently become transformed into little lagoons, significant stopover points for migratory birds. In number of regions, such a Marathi, currents and basins are created for the outflow of water, leading finally to the creation of an aquatic habitat, such as in Ano Mera. Unfortunately, two other equally important aquatic habitats in the region of the Empourdechtis and the Ornos have been gradually degraded.
Visit the monastery of Tourlianis for the great fest of August 15th. The monastery is practically at the centre of the village, and was founded in 1542 by the two monks Paros Katapoliani where an older church used to be. In 1767 it was renovated and became what it is today. Its architecture, especially the bell-tower, is impressive. Thre is also a cure marble fontain at the front.

At the north part of Ano Mera you will find the monastery of Palaiokastro, now in ruins, that used to look like a front,with a wall surrounding it.

Dove cotes constitute a characteristic example of Mykonian architecture. They are structures built by folk artisans, often richly decorated (with lozenges, suns, triangles, stars, cypress, birds, and trees). Many dove cotes are still being used to breed doves. More modern structures constitute supplementary decorative features on many houses. We also encounter dove cotes on other Cycladic islands, such as Sifnos, Adros, Tinos and Naxos.

You will find an opportunity on Mykonos to try the island’s tasty traditional dishes. Try syglino (chunks of salt pork), louses (smoked pork), delicious pies and savory kopanisti cheese. Classical Mykonian sweets include amygdalota (marzipan) and diples (fried bow knots). We have listed some of the best restaurants and tavernas of the island of Mykonos…but till you get there to savor the delicious dishes of Greek cuisine, we will provide you with some traditional Mykonian recipes.

Archeological Museum of Mykonos
 

Open daily from 08.30 to 03.00, except Mondays and public holidays 

The building was built in 1902 in Kamnaki to house the finds from Vothros tis Katharseos, a 5th century BC tomb in Renea island (the so called by locals Megali Delos, that was uncovered in 1898. the museum now houses a rich collection of pottery, representative works from the 6th century BC, sculptures and other art facts.

Naval Museum of the Aegean
 

Open daily from 10.30 to 13.00 and from 18.00 to 21.00 (Apr-Oct)  

In Tria Pigadia, it features replicas of the rowboats, sailboats and steamboats that have sailed the Aegean through the millennia. There is also a rich collection of maps and engravings, ancient coins and weights. The house was formerly owned by Mykonian captain Soumelis. The museum was founded in 1985 by G.M. Drakopoylos.

Folklore Museum

Open daily fro, 16.30 to 20.30 except Sundays (Apr-Oct)

 In an old two-storey mansion, with six halls featuring collections of old furniture, ceramics, Byzantine icons, needle works and textiles. Notice the nice collection of shop models.

To Spiti tis Lenas 

To Spiti Tis Lenas, is a house close to Tria Pigadia area.It is a typical 19^th century Myconian house with its complete facilities and furnishings.

Windmills

Agrotomouseio is an open-air museum that showcases the traditional agricultural installations used in Mykonos for the production of agricultural products (the furnace, the wells, the threshing floor, the wine press), including the fully-operating Bonis Mills (Mylos tou Boni). From July to September visit daily from 16.00 to 20.00.

Windmills circular structures topped by a conic wooden roof, are another integral feature of Mykonos’ vernacular architecture. Of the 16 windmills that existed on the island in the past, one (that of Kastro) was used to supply the island in times of need, the windmills located in the Apano Myloi site or in Ano Mera mainly served the needs of the rural inhabitants, while those in the Kato Myloi were used to grind cereals. It is perhaps worth noting that the mills were operated cooperatively. Today a good number of windmills have been restored. Some of them, such as the Bonis Mill, operate as museum while other have been converted into houses. 

Little Venice

Undoubtedly the most beautiful part of Hora is the Little Venice, or in Greek the Venetia district, south of Kastro, with the captain\'s houses built when Kastro expanded at the end of the 17th century. The doors of the houses allowed the captain’s direct access.

Mykonos island has also a mascot… called Petros (Greek name of Peter) and is a sweet pelican. He wanders around the neighborhoods of Mykonos town, but his favorite place must be the port of Hora, because usually he can be found there. He is feed by locals and tourists, young and old ones and is always ready to get photographed-alone or with any human friend! But on Mykonos things are never simple: the truth is that there are now three pelicans on Mykonos - one of these a gift made by Jackie Kennedy- but none of them is called Petros! The original Petros arrived on the island after a storm in the mid ’50s suffering from an injury. After his recovery Petros was adapted to island life and remained here, for many years serving as Mykonos’ mascot. He died in 1986. His role has been successfully performed by three other pelicans (perhaps operating a shift system!!) called Irini, Nikolas and Petros Junior. Anyway due to the fact the majority of the island’s visitors are not away of this story, in case you see one of them go on and call him Petros -he won’t mind, do not worry!

Shopping

If you choose Mykonos for your vacation, choose it also for your shopping therapy. Mykonos and unrestricted business hours with shops open till after midnight make shopping on the island of Mykonos a unique experience.
In 2002 Tria Pigadia, the first shopping centre of Mykonos opened. It might not be possible to compare shopping in Mykonos, but what makes the difference, however, is the local atmosphere. Because who can deny that the way of which clothes and accessories of famous designers like Christian Dior or Donna Karan, are presented, against the white-washed walls of Mykonos and the small cobbled streets of the island, is absolutely fascinating?
Well, to tell you the truth the prices are arguably slightly higher. The reason is that the shops are open for about six months, although their fixed expenses run for all year round. However shopping on the island of the winds means fun, and all of us while on holiday, are determined to relax and escape, even fro our budget limits.

Mykonos Nightlife