Mykonos Town

beach report and Mykonos map

Mykonos Town

Once considered the Saint-Tropez of Greece, MYKONOS TOWN or CHORA appears to have lost some of the glitz in recent years, though echoes of the glamour are still much in evidence.
White cubist houses cluster around the old Mykonos Town port, spilling bougainvillea, while tiny chapels, too numerous to count, cast their shadows over miniscule squares.
It makes strolling around the streets of Mykonos Town or pottering through the shops a very pleasant experience, though a bronze body, laced with medallions, and a gelled head of hair seem almost de rigeur.
Mykonos Town's main shopping strip is Matoyanni, heading inland from the harbour and full of shops, cafes and bars for just about every taste but not everyone's budget.
There are cheap trinkets on sale but this is mainly designer wear territory and flicking through the Gucci and Prada a 'must do' experience for anyone who wants to make their mark on Mykonos.
Get away from the main drag though and you can wander the quiet labyrinthine alleys without feeling you have to strut and sashay your way past the mirrored sunglasses of the onlookers.
The central harbour is the most popular place for people watching, with boys waltzing along the quay watched by racked rows of Ray-bans in scores of cafes and bars.
At the western end is the magnificent Church of Paraportiani, a whitewashed stand of four chapels and to the southwest is the picturesque quarter of Little Venice. It takes its name from the Italian city after many wealthy seafarers built home overlooking the sea here. It's now home to stylish bars serving overpriced drinks.
On the windswept hill that overlooks Mykonos Town harbour are the island's famous windmills that date from the 16th century. To see inside, visit the Agricultural Museum on the road to Platis Yalos.