Where to stay in Mykonos?

Staying in Mykonos Town: the main town

When you arrive on the island, Chora is theideal place to stay for a short break. It's a must, because :

• it's lively and charming
• it's home to the island's main cultural sites, museums, shopping streets, restaurants and bars
• it's by the sea, so you can easily enjoy the beaches close to your accommodation
• you can easily explore the island from Chora, thanks to the buses that leave from the Fabrika bus station (information on this site), or by renting a scooter, quad bike or even a car

In Mykonos Town, there are two main areas where it's worth staying: Little Venice and the port of Chora.

Little Venice is the historic center of Mykonos. It's also known as Alefkandra. It's a small fishing village with charming white cube-shaped houses along the Aegean Sea. It's probably the most photographed spot on the island.

A lively district, it boasts a large number of cafés and restaurants where you can relax in the evening. Among the places of interest, staying in Little Venice means being less than 1 km from the picturesque church of Paraportiani. But above all, the Mykonos windmills, which date back to the 16th century and offer a breathtaking view of the district. Two not-to-be-missed sights!

The port of Chora lies to the north of the historic center. It's the old fishing port, where locals and tourists alike enjoy a drink or a stroll along typical streets such as Matoyianni Street, the main shopping street, where haute couture boutiques, artisan jewelry shops and souvenir markets rub shoulders until midnight. During the day, you'll also find yourself on Agia Anna beach, often crowded in summer. For museum-lovers, the port of Chora offers no less than five (maritime, folklore, popular, nautical and archaeological museums).

Where to stay is the largest on the island. Nevertheless, it's a very popular destination. In summer, Mykonos Town is packed. Traditional accommodations are overrun by tourists in high season. If you want to stay in this island landmark, you'll need to book well in advance.

Lodging near Paradise Beach: for night-time entertainment

Just 8 km south of Mykonos, these 2 beaches can be found in 2 neighbouring bays.

Paradise and Super Paradise Beach are two popular nightlife and relaxation spots. If you want to dance and listen to loud music at all hours, you'll want to stay close to these two exclusive and eclectic spots.

The water is clear and the sand fine. During the tourist season, parties are lively in the beach clubs and nightclubs. Internationally renowned DJs keep the party going into the wee hours of the morning. In other words, the music never stops, and people don't come here for peace and relaxation, but rather for an "alternative" vacation.

However, staying close to these 2 Mykonos beaches also means you're just a few kilometers from Ano Mera, a small inland village not to be missed. Or Platis Gialos, famous for its water sports, which we'll talk about below. Just to vary the pleasures.

Throughout the year, accommodation on Paradise Beach is limited, with mainly bed & breakfasts and apartments. Super Paradise Beach, on the other hand, offers a wider range of accommodation. Luxurious hotels and villas with swimming pools make Super Paradise Beach a pleasant place to stay close to the nightlife.

Accommodation in Ornos: peace and quiet

Just 2 km southwest of Chora, Ornos is a pretty little village that becomes a popular seaside resort in summer. Popular with families for its peace and quiet, it was once a small fishing port.

Its beautiful beach, shallow waters and bay protected from northerly winds make Ornos a relaxing place to stay. Here, idleness is the order of the day. The pace of life is much slower than on neighboring Paradise and Super Paradise Beach.

Staying in this small village means staying amidst beautiful white buildings with typical Mykonos architecture. Stroll through the picturesque alleyways, stopping off at souvenir and craft stores. There are also numerous restaurants and cafés to enjoy. In the evening, visitors can stroll along the promenade of the little port.

Korfos beach lies 500m north of Ornos. Facing due north, it's a favorite with kite surfers, as the wind rushes into the bay.

The beach's location also allows you to reach the historic center of Chora in around 10 minutes. To visit Ano Mera, a 20-minute drive is required.

Ornos offers a wide range of accommodation to suit all needs. Please note, however, that the resort is only open in high season. It's difficult to find accommodation outside this period.

Platis Gialos: for its activities and tranquillity

Located to the south, Platis Gialos is the largest beach on Mykonos. It is very well equipped to welcome visitors and offers a wide range of facilities for tourists.

Many water sports are available, including water skiing and jet skiing. It's a great place to relax and swim. There are also numerous bars and restaurants on the seafront. The pleasant atmosphere delights couples and families alike. To stay here is to enjoy a quiet place where it's pleasant to dine.

Its location makes it easy to get around the island, as it's no more than 20 minutes from Chora, the airport or Ano Mera. There are also numerous boat cabs serving other places of interest on the island.

Platis Gialos offers a wide variety of accommodation for your stay on Mykonos. But the closer you get to the sea, the more luxurious they become. It's a good idea to book your accommodation in advance, as the most traditional and authentic are always in demand. Please note, however, that this seaside resort is closed during the low season.

Staying inland at Ano Mera

Ano Mera is a small inland village. Far from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist attractions, this small hamlet offers an idyllic, peaceful and relaxing place to stay. You'll discover local culture, preserved sites and a serene atmosphere, particularly around the Panagia Tourniali monastery. This majestic, whitewashed 16th-century church is one of the must-sees of a Mykonos holiday.

Staying here allows you to stroll its narrow cobbled streets in the evening, away from the hustle and bustle of the day. Tavernas and cafés are to be found here.

Ano Mera also offers a number of small footpaths for strolling through the surrounding rocky hills. But above all, you'll find easy access to nearby beaches, less than 5 km away, such as Kalo Livadi, Elia, Kalafatis and Ftelia. Ftelia, located to the north, is exposed to the wind. It is therefore less popular, apart from surfers looking for a spot away from the crowds.

In terms of accessibility, Ano Mera is only a fifteen-minute drive from the town of Mykonos. The main reason to stay at Ano Mera is to enjoy the atmosphere. But also to be a little set back from the coast, inland.

Even if the village is less touristy than the coastal towns and villages, and unlike the seaside resorts which are only open in high season, you can find accommodation in Ano Mera all year round. Whether in a hotel or a vacation home, this village remains a pleasant and practical place to stay in Mykonos.

Other southern beaches where to stay

In the south of the island, about twenty minutes from the town of Mykonos or the airport, there are three beautiful, famous beaches: Elia, Kalo Livadi and Kalafatis. Even though they are geographically close to each other, they have a different atmosphere.

Elia is a small village surrounded by mountains that has the reputation of having one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, if not the most beautiful. Only 8 km from Chora, people come here for its golden sand, shallow water, peace and quiet. What makes this place so special is its simplicity and understated charm. It is a small, upscale beach resort, and it is not uncommon to come across celebrities.

Elia has many restaurants and hotel complexes. The accommodation is among the most luxurious in Mykonos, with villas and five-star hotels making up the majority of the offer.

Kalo Livadi and Kalafatis are located in an idyllic setting, with a long stretch of pleasant, well-maintained sand. Numerous restaurants serve seafood and Greek cuisine. This region is renowned for its hospitality infrastructure, but it is especially popular with extreme sports enthusiasts.

In Kalafatis, you can relax on a deckchair, but above all you can enjoy water sports such as diving, windsurfing and jet skiing. In Kalo Livadi, you can also take boat trips, to Delos in particular. This small island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is now uninhabited. It is visited for its ancient remains.

In Kalo Livadi and Kalafatis, you can find a variety of hotels and villas to stay in. In short, there is a wide range of options, and these two locations are ideal for both relaxation and water sports.

Agios Stefanos and its authentic charm

Agios Stefanos is a sandy beach just a few kilometers north of Mykonos town. It's a popular spot for families who come to stay here for its sheltered seafront and cultural sites to visit. Agios Stefanos is divided into two parts:

• one side devoted to tranquillity
• another half dedicated to water sports

A variety of restaurants and bars can be found here. Tavernas and bars offer parasols and deckchairs for hire on the sand. Agios Stefanos offers a wide range of accommodation where to stay.

However, there are two disadvantages to staying here. On the one hand, its proximity to the port of Tourlos: this serves as a drop-off point for the ferries and other cruise liners that visit the island every hour. If you choose to take the ferry and not the plane, this is the point of entry to Mykonos.

On the other hand, if you want to spread out over the island, you'll find yourself a little further from the other points of interest to be discovered on Mykonos. Even if this is relative, it's still a 30-minute drive to the southern part of the island.