"Mykonos, Greece" a Mykonos Travel Page by SWFC_Fan

Where?

The cosmopolitan Greek island of Mykonos is located in the north east of the Cyclades group of islands.

It lies to the east of Delos and Tinos and to the north of Naxos and Paros.

How to get there?

Mykonos is connected by air to Athens and to other Greek islands. Regular flights operated by Olympic Airways and Aegean Airways make the short journey (45 minutes) from Athens to Mykonos. It is also possible to fly directly to Mykonos from other European cities as part of a package holiday on the island.

As well as flights there are also regular ferry connections with Athens. It is possible to catch a hydrofoil or ferry to the Athenian ports of Piraeus and Rafina.

There are also many boats each day connecting Mykonos with the other islands in the Cyclades and with other Greek islands further afield. I visited Mykonos as a daytrip from Paros. The journey time from Paros to Mykonos is 1 hour by ferry or a mere 30 minutes by hydrofoil. The distance is similar between Mykonos and Naxos and Tinos.

Mykonos attracts a very diverse crowd from all over the world. It is famed for its beaches, its party scene and in particular its reputation as a gay and lesbian hangout.

I visited Mykonos for just half a day as a trip from Paros and did not see any of the beach resorts, only Mykonos Town. In September it was free of the huge summer crowds but was still noticeably busier than many of the other islands that I visited.

Mykonos Town's harbour bustles with activity but is more relaxed and laid-back rather than hectic. A number of bars, restaurants and shops line the harbour, while many small colourful fishing boats are tied up at the water's edge. Mykonos has the feeling of a "proper" Greek island - the postcard-pretty appearance and the relaxing pace of life.

There is an area of Mykonos Town known as "Little Venice". Here the water reaches right up to the balconies of the seaside homes and a number of expensive eating and drinking establishments can be found. This is a particularly atmospheric part of the town and it makes for good photographs, but if you're on a budget eat elsewhere where you're not paying for the nice views!

Another famous sight in Mykonos Town is the row of windmills that stand upon a hill overlooking the town. About half a dozen white-washed windmills stand in a row. They are no longer functioning windmills, but rather appear to have been converted into homes. From the hill there is a great view to the "Little Venice" area of the town.

The church of Our Lady Paraportiani is worth a visit. My guidebook refers to it as "perhaps the finest example of traditional architecture in the Cyclades". It is actually five churches joined together and it displays the characteristic white-washed appearance that is common in this part of Greece.

Beyond its glamorous, upmarket waterfront Mykonos Town hides a labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets with blue and white houses, more bars and restaurants and some of the best shopping in the Cyclades.

A few observations from my few hours on Mykonos:

Mykonos' famous pelican

Mykonos' most famous resident is perhaps the pelican that can be found in and around the harbour area. It was to be found on the sand near the fishing boats on the day that I visited. The pelican appears to be an unofficial mascot of the island and can be found on postcards and other souvenirs.

Shirley Valentine's island

The gorgeous beaches and the picturesque views in the film Shirley Valentine actually exist on the island of Mykonos. Alas, I didn't get to visit the beach here but many holidaymakers each year do!

Waterfront prices

Understandably, prices in the bars and restaurants on the waterfront around the harbour (and particularly in the Little Venice area) are considerably higher than those found in the establishments away from the water's edge. If you're prepared to pay for the views and the atmosphere then this is definitely the place to enjoy your evening meal and a few drinks. I chose to pay considerably less than half these prices for a couple of beers from an unpretentious bar on one of the town's narrow side streets.