Mykonos | Photo Diary + Travel Guide

For our final stop on our Greek Honeymoon, we made our way to Mykonos. A perfect compliment to scenic Santorini and charming Folegandros, Mykonos is a “jet-setter” island full of lavish beach clubs, high end restaurants, designer shopping, and lots of beautiful people looking to have a good time.

We arrived into the new port in Mykonos via SeaJets from Folegandros. The ride took about 3.5 hours and was EXTREMELY choppy. The day we took the ferry was an extra windy day but I would not recommend this to someone who is prone to sea sickness or generally creeped out flailing around in a boat on large bodies of water. SeaJets are much smaller in size (and faster) compared to the larger lines such as BlueStar. So if you’d prefer a smoother ride over saving time, that would be your best option.

Most hotels will pick you up at the port. I would recommend setting up this service as the island is very busy and this promises a stress free experience. 

We decided to stay just off of Platis Gialos beach. There is a bus station located right in Platis Gialos with easy access into Mykonos town and to all the beaches along the southern coast of the island: Agia Anna, Paraga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Elia, Kalo Livadi and Kalafati. This makes it a great location if you’re looking to explore most of the island without a car. Once we arrived at our hotel and settled in, we walked around and checked out the nearby beaches, hotels and restaurants. You can feel the energy of the island immediately, with lots of people and excitement all around.  image credit ^^Psarou is one of the more upscale beaches with a “see and be seen” vibe and is home to the well known Nammos beach club and restaurant. There is never a shortage of yachts hanging out in the Psarou bay, or champagne bottles being popped at Nammos.

After getting ready, we took the bus up to Mykonos town (which only takes about 15 mins) and made our way to Little Venice. Little Venice

The iconic Little Venice is a great place to grab a drink and enjoy the sun setting over the water to start off the night. Any of the bars along the water have nice views, but plan to grab a table early as it’s a very popular spot. If you’re looking for something classic, you can’t beat Caprice, which has been around since 1980. Another newer spot worth checking out is BAOS, next door to Caprice. We stopped in for our second drink and enjoyed the modern vibe and unique cocktails.image credit ^^After some cocktails, we headed into the winding streets of Mykonos town and made our way to dinner at m-eating. Here you will find modern inventive Greek food with fresh local ingredients. Everything we ordered was delicious.

The next morning we picked up our rental ATV and headed up to Panormos beach on the North side of the island to spend the day at Principaute de Mykonos beach club. The drive took about 25 mins and was fairly easy to navigate since we plotted our route beforehand. On the drive, we went past Ftelia beach and another really great beach club, Alemagou, but unfortunately they were hosting a wedding that weekend so we weren’t able to check it out.

Let me just start by saying the beach clubs in Mykonos are above and beyond. And Principaute in particular is truly spectacular. Newly opened in Spring of 2016, every detail of Principaute is mezmerizing, from the rustic decor, the open air layout, the delicious food, and the beautiful beach. It was a perfect way to spend a day relaxing. Smoothie and juice for breakfast^^ We made a reservation for two beach chairs with an arrival at 10am, so we enjoyed both breakfast and lunch at the club :)Food can be ordered from a smaller menu delivered straight to your beach bed, or you can make a reservation at the beautiful restaurant for a more comprehensive menu options. We did the latter for a late lunch and enjoyed some delicious steamed mussels, seared tuna steak, greek salad, and rosè. One huge perk of the beach clubs are the on site massage specialists available to give a varitety of different massages right at your beach chairs. We opted for leg massages and they were incredibly relaxing, especially after all the travel and exploration.

After a full day of beaching, we drove the ATV back to the hotel and got ready for a late dinner at Nammos. I don’t know if it was the atmosphere or mood, but this was the best steak dinner we’ve ever had. All the food was delicious and perfectly cooked, and the service was impeccable. The dining area was on the sand and was lit entirely by candle light with soft music playing and the sound of the water in the background. It felt like a romantic scene from a movie.

On our third day on the island, we took our ATV out for some beach hopping, starting with Kalo Livadi. Because we were only planning to stay a couple hours before moving on to the next beach, we didn’t rent any chairs but rather sat on the public area of the beach. Both of us really loved Kalo Livadi, a very chill vibe with nice golden sand and clear blue water. Also there are two nice beach clubs where you can eat and rent chairs for the day: Solymar and the asian inspired Rakkan. ^^such pretty sand, it had almost a sparkle to it.
^^Fresh Bombolini on the beach! Maybe the best donut I’ve ever had…and huge.

After some time at Kalo Livadi beach, we made our way to Elia Beach and enjoyed a nice lunch at Elia Mediterranean restaurant. Mykonos’ longest beach made up of beautiful golden sand, Elia is relaxed, carefree and less crowded than other equally renowned Mykonos beaches like Psarou or Super Paradise. With its length and many well-organized sunbed & umbrellas, Elia Beach is a great choice for those looking to appreciate the island’s legendary jet-set atmosphere but don’t want to be overwhelmed by big crowds. After Elia, we continued on our ATV to check out Paradise and Super Paradise beaches. The route was a bit longer and more zig-zaggy from Elia to Super Paradise than we expected from the map, but it was a lot of fun just being out on the ATV and seeing so much of the island.

Both Paradise and Super Paradise have more of a younger spring break type vibe, so we opted to move on and keep exploring. But if you’re looking to dance the nigth away until sunrise, Paradise beach is home to one of the best night clubs in the world, CAVO Paradiso. Especially in the summer season, you will find the best DJs around the world performing there, as well as a Full Moon party each month.
That evening, we took the bus from Platys Gialos back in to Mykonos town and made our first stop at the windmills to watch the sunset. The infamous windmills can be very busy, so I would suggest planning a visit for early morning if you’re looking for fewer crowds. Sunset is probably the busiest time. Trying to get some photos without other tourists in the background was quite a challenge.
Walking through the Mykonos maze^^

The streets in Mykonos town are crazy. Even when you think you know where you’re going, it’s easy to get turned around as they’re all small and there are no real street signs. But to be honest, it’s a bit fun getting lost with all the different shops and restaurants lining the streets. You end up discovering places you didn’t even know you were looking for.

After the windmills, we wandered the maze like streets with no particular destination in mind and found ourselves at the Old Port. The port is lined with restaurants and shops, so we sat and had a couple espressos while people watching. All the lights of the town glistened over the water and the sounds of people enjoying themselves surrounded us. With so much left to see and do and only one day left on the island, we both felt very nostalgic in that moment thinking back on all the fun memories we made during our time in Greece.After a nice pick me up, we continued to explore and bar hop (including a stop at the very interesting but well known Skaninavian Bar), and eventually made our way to Souvlaki Story for the most amazing late night Gyro plate in the history of the world. We ordered the “Gyro Combo for 2” which came with half pork and half chicken gyro meat, tomato, onion, tzatziki, fresh pita bread, greek salad with feta and fries. The mound of food is aboslutely massive. And even after lots of drinking with two big appetites, there was so much food left over. But let me tell you, it was the best Gyro plate I’ve ever consumed. The thought of opening a Souvlaki Story in Chicago defintely crossed our minds! It was that good.^^Sadly this picture does not even do this Gyro plate justice!  Our last day in Mykonos was spent at one of the coolest beach clubs on the island: Scorpios. Located on Paraga beach, just a few minutes walk from Platys Gialos, Scorpios was opened two summers ago by the owners of the design esteemed San Giorgio Hotel.

Located on it’s own peninsula off Paraga beach, the spacious grounds span three main areas: the western sunset lounge and beach, the generous restaurant & club area in the center, and the terraces on the eastern sunrise beach. The impeccably designed clubhouse and bar sit in the center of it all and serve as the central hub of social activity.
image creditThe restaurant is filled with airy wood decor and serves Mediterranean fare—all organic, local, and health conscious to go along with the holistic whole living approach to everything at Scorpios. image credit^^The grilled BBQ Octopus. Wow. ^^Delicious cocktails made with Mezcal in nod to our wedding in Tulum. Immediately following we ordered a bottle of rose…and then another. Enjoying our last day of honeymoon!We were excited to see the shop in the clubhouse sells Caravana, a brand we fell in love with in Tulum (and created by one of the owners of Coqui Coqui). After chatting with a woman working in the shop, it turns out Scorpios was actually inspired by Tulum, which was an oddly perfect full-circle end to our honeymoon.image creditAt night, the club showcases DJs and live music, and takes on a whole new vibe. The best nights for music are Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursday. We never wanted to leave! Scorpios was hands down one of the coolest places I’ve ever been. Dragging ourselves back to our hotel was incredibly difficult and we both left hoping to make it back as soon as possible.

Mykonos is an island that has it all. After 4 days it felt like we were just getting started! From beautiful beaches, relaxation, incredible restaurants, luxurious hotels, daytime parties, nigh time parties, shopping, exploration—whatever you are looking for, you can find it on this island. It has a way of sweeping you under its spell. And with so much to do, it’s a perfect place to come back to over and over.

TRAVEL TIPS

If you want to join in on the Mykonos way of life, plan to eat late, around 10 or 11pm. Also plan to make dinner reservations in advance as this is the most popular time to eat.

The streets of Mykonos town can be very tricky. If you don’t have cell service while visiting, make sure and have a good idea of where you’re going before you set out or be content with getting a bit lost.

Rent a 4×4 or car if you want to explore the island. Mykonos is a very busy and at times a bit chaotic. Getting aroung is easiest with a 4×4 or car, but you can take the bus to and from Myknos town to select beaches.

Like many Greek islands, Mykonos is very windy. Even in the hottest months, you will want something to cover up in at night when the sun goes down and it cools off slightly.

The greek islands in general are not well suited for heels, and Mykonos is no exception.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Hotels in Mykonos Town: Belvedere, Cavo Tagoo, Bill and Coo

Hotels on beaches: San Giorgios (Paraga), Mykonos Blu (Psarou), Santa Marina (Ornos Bay), Grace (Agios Stefanos), Pietra and Mare (Kalo Livadi)

Budget Hotels: Artemoula’s Studios (Platys Gialos), Kamari Hotel (Platys Gialos), Almyra Guest Houses (Parga)

Restaurants: m-eating, Ling Ling, Nammos, Thea, Buddha Bar, Souvlaki Story, KiKi’s Tavern, Bakalo

Cocktails: Caprice, BAOS, 180 Sunset Bar

Beach Clubs: Scorpios (Parga), Principaute de Mykonos (Panormos), Nammos (Psarou), Alemagou (Ftelia)

Night Clubs in Mykonos Town: Toy Room, Ling Ling

Night Clubs on beaches: Scorpios (Parga), Nammos (Psarou), CAVO Paradiso (Paradise)

DAY TRIPS/ACTIVITIES

Unfortunately we did not have enough time to do these excursions but plan to next time we go back! They both come highly recommended by locals and other tourists:

Trip to Delos island: Delos is an must see for history buffs or anyone interested in exploring old Grecian ruins. With so much to see, the island requires several hours to tour properly. Highlights include colorful floor mosaics in the residential quarter, the replica lions on their terrace, various temples, and a sweeping view from Mount Kýnthos. Several companies provide both round trip boat rides to the island as well as tours while there. Things to keep in mind: the trip takes about 30 mins each way, no food or drink on the island so come prepared, and with all the walking, plan to wear comfortable shoes and lots of sunscreen. 20 Euros round trip boat ride. Guided tours 50 Euros.

Scuba Diving: Mykonos Diving Center “Mykonos Diving Center was established in 1978 in Psarou, Mykonos. Since 2007 the center has been operating from Paradise Beach. Our diving center continues to offer high quality services to thousands of divers throughout the world. We offer diving excursions to certified divers, and training for all levels from beginners to experienced divers. People can get to know the enchantments of the sea safely and easily by doing their first dives with us.”

 

White Off-the-shoulder Dress | Stone Cold Fox

Blue Off-the-shoulder Dress | Faithfull the Brand (similar here)

Round Sunglasses | Ray-ban

Navy Star Top | Realisation Par

Denim Cutoff Shorts | RE/DONE (similar here)

Tan Wrap Sandals | Madewell (similar here)

Purse | Chloe

Crochet Coverup | Lisa Maree

White Swimsuit | Marysia (Top, Bottom)

Straw Hat | Lack of Color

Beach Bag | Monsurat de Lucca (similar here)

MORE GREECE:

SANTORINI Photo Diary + Travel Guide

FOLEGANDROS Photo Diary + Travel Guide