Visitor reviews of resorts, beaches, apartments, tavernas from visitors on holiday on the Greek island of Mykonos. Have you been to Mykonos this year? I welcome all opinions on holidays in Mykonos.
If you would like to add your comments please email me here.
Good: An outstandingly beautiful port, a succession of superb sandy beaches along the south coast . . . and there is a rural interior with farms and a few monasteries.
Bad: The sand on the famous beaches is as harsh and abrasive as ground glass . . . which is the style of the island's tourism, which is utterly immoderate, as is the cost of living.
Good: Unspoiled it isn't, but the island does offer excellent, if crowded, beaches, picturesque windmills and a rolling arid interior.
Bad: Mykonos has become easily the most popular (and the most expensive) of the Cyclades . . . producing some spectacular overcrowding in high summer.
Good: This dry, barren island frequently plagued by high winds but graced with excellent beaches and a beautiful, colourful, cosmopolitan town, has the most exciting and sophisticated nightlife in Greece.
Bad: If you seek the simple, the unadorned, the distinctly Greek - avoid Mykonos like the plague . . . but the party will go on without you.
Mykonos, home of Shirley Valentine and the high priced vodka and tonic, is one of the most picturesque harbours in Greece. As the ferry arrives, white sugar cube buildings come into view, clustered around the waterside, changing colour with the sunlight. The town is a maze of narrow stone streets - in aesthetic terms alone (the sheer look of the place) Mykonos Town is worth making the effort to see. Many of the bars and shops are stylish and well designed. One shop sells nothing but products that are the colour white.
After a while though, the frenetic pace of life in the streets, the ringing of the cash registers, the crowds milling through the narrow streets and the mopeds zooming everywhere, becomes slightly fatiguing - you'll want to sit in an unpretentious taverna with a bottle of retsina and a bowl of olives. If you drink in any of the bars in Little Venice, be prepared to pay a fortune by Greek standard. Presumably you are paying for the view over the sea, to sit on the terrace outside (but get there early - it gets busy) with the water lapping at your feet, watching as the twilight gathers.
From Mykonos you can get an early morning ferry to the nearby island of Delos, where you will usually have two or three hours to look around. This bare, heatstruck and lizard-haunted isle was sacred to the ancient Greeks and visitors can wander around a series of ruined temples devoted to various gods, all clustered around the harbour. There is also a theatre and a few derelict houses. Plundered down the centuries, Delos is now in ruins but well worth going out of your way to see. Allow time to visit the small but excellent island museum where you will find various mosaics, including one of Dionysus on the back of a panther and others depicting shoals of dolphins. In brief: spend a night on Mykonos, but stay on another island (Andros, for instance).
Joe Swan
I just happened to click on a few of your opinions of the islands. As a Greek Cypriot, I found them amusing and fairly accurate. Yes, it is true, that many of the islands are now over commercialised, and in high season litter strewn. Yes, it is true, that in high season the locals stick their prices up, (similar to countries all over the world, especially London). Yes it is true that the locals live off the proceeds off tourism and can be seen to be trying to 'rip' tourists off. And yet, and yet . . .
I went to Mykonos not knowing what to expect as a naive young student. Away from the obvious tourist traps, I stayed at a guesthouse, about half an hour walk from the town. The beauty of the landscape, the light (in the early morning,) and the stunning sunsets are still wonderful memories.
My husband who is English, had never experienced such friendly and helpful people. They went out of their way to show us the best beaches for picnics. We had a specially memorable meal on the town waterfront, we saw some fishermen offloading their catch at mid-day and half an hour later, we were eating fresh calamari and red mullet. I have never forgotten it. I don't know if I was treated well because I am Greek, and speak a few words, whatever it was, I have never forgotten what a magical island it was.(It had an 'otherworldly' quality about it)
I was very upset when I had to leave and go to Paros and other islands, which did not have that heart grabbing quality. I felt totally at home there, and never wanted to leave. Unfortunately now, I see documentaries on the nightlife of Mykonos, which looks totally removed from my experience. I still think if you are patient and if you don't expect anything, you can still find the 'real Greece', it is still there waiting for you.
Helen Hayward
I first went of Mykonos accompanied by Kevin, now my husband. He had worked as a holiday rep travelling the Greek islands and had discovered Mykonos. My introduction to this island was a breathtaking experience. The sight of the pretty harbour, the stunning sunsets and the cosmopolitan culture captivates me each visit. Yes, I went back and back and back. The thought of going back to this lovely place still fills me with an excitement I cannot explain. I agree, there are a lot of activities for the young and daring, but there are also a lot of quiet, peaceful areas guaranteed to give you the relaxing holiday you may well desire. I do not consider it shabby and as for expensive, yes, but shop around. If you bother to talk to the Myconians, they will, in response, be friendly and direct you to some beautiful unspoilt areas of the island. And shy not, if you have still got the party spirit in you, Paradise and Super Paradise is a lively place with not a hint of ageism.
Jean and Kev
If you see a postcard of a typical Greek island it is either Mykonos or Santorini - they are the typical picture postcard islands. Mykonos is one of the Cyclades group in the centre of all the islands. Picture white cube buildings, churches with blue domes and that is exactly what Mykonos looks like.
The main town is full of cafes and tavernas and is very cosmopolitan. The town is also in-your-face gay which I found a bit intimidating. Sad I know but there you are and it is intimidating when you're not used to it.
You can get lost in the tiny streets and run over by dozens of little delivery trucks and motorbikes. It has some very chic shops but watch the prices. Nightlife kicks in around midnight but it is very relaxed and friendly, not cheap and yobbish like Faliraki. There is no beach and to get to one you have to take a boat, a taxi or walk for miles. The beaches are topless or nude - nobody seems to care and it all seems quite normal. They are also superb, very beautiful, lovely sand but packed with bodies in the more popular spots, though you can find more secluded places. For a party atmosphere head for Paradise or Super Paradise. Elia and Ornos are much the quietest. Prices I thought reasonable - a little high but not as much as I'd come to expect and I didn't bother with the main tourist trap tavernas where you get stung - especially for drinks.
Rex
Mykonos is full of beautiful people. No lager louts here thank God as there are not many British - the place isn't cheap enough for them - mostly Italian and French with some Australian and Yanks. You can catch a bus from town to the best beaches. The further beaches need a boat but it's cheap. Take plenty of money with you though, as this is one expensive island! There are lots of good places to eat and dozens of trendy bars. You can also get fast food if you can't afford the prices. The harbour is the place for people watching and sipping cocktails.
Derek
Mykonos Town is really buzzing after midnight and a great place to be. For eating out try to get into Vincenzo's though the place is usually packed the food is out of this world. All the best restaurants are in the centre of the town. The harbour is both expensive and poorer quality. Beer is about £2 a bottle everywhere except the really smart bars where they charge double that or more. The priciest drinks are in Little Venice - We got stung for a cocktail and the smallest bottle of lager. The Piano bar near Little Venice is worth a visit, though the cheapest drinks were very expensive and cocktails cost even more.
Tom
I wouldn't call Mykonos a typical Greek island. Compared to a lot of other islands it is a lot more touristic, there are a lot more tourists, there's more nightlife than most and it's more expensive. The Scandinavian Bar is a place to go for a not-too-expensive beer. It may cost more than other islands but it's cheap by Mykonos standards. I find that some of the tavernas on Mykonos aren't very good - I have my favourite but can't remember what it's called and it would be hopeless trying to describe where it is. I don't agree that the gay scene is in your face - just keep away from Pierro's Bar, the western end of Super Paradise Beach and Elia Beach and you'll hardly notice any.
Greecemad
