Mykonos

One of the main tourist destinations in Greece, Mykonos attracts cruises, families, and honeymooning couples. It was the most expensive island in the Cyclades and not very budget friendly. Mykonos had the most beautiful town out of the Cyclades with its quite winding streets, small alleys lined with white washed houses overlooking a beautiful harbor. Mykonos is famous for its “Little Venice” which, though beautiful, is nothing more than a row of houses on the water. I love the island but during peak season, prices are so high, I tend to avoid it!

Typical Costs

• Hostel Prices: You can find cheap hostels on Paradise beach for $13 USD per night. However, most hostels aren’t cheap here and cost around $33 USD per night.
• Budget Hotel Prices: Budget hotels (the few that are here) begin around $53 USD per night for a double.
• Average Cost of Food: While you can find cheap gyros and pizza, for the most part eating out here is expensive. The night I went for seafood the going rate was $100 USD per kilo for fish! Even a light dinner of pasta and wine cost me over $27 USD. If you want to save money, avoid eating in the main town. Stick to cheap sandwiches, pizza, or gyros.
• Transportation Costs: The quickest way to get around is renting a moped or scooters which are very cheap but require a license. Bus tickets cost about $2 USD. A taxi around the island will cost between $10-20 USD per person.

Top Things to Do

• Walk around Chora Village – From the hills, you can see a wonderful view. Bring a picnic as you’ll want to take it all in as long as possible. Windmills and great restaurants, this town is on the West side of the island and worth the visit.
• Little Venice – Because of the houses on the water, this place is referred to as Little Venice. It’s a nice place to spend sometime eating a meal or having a coffee. During the late afternoon, lots of people file in to have a drink. There’s a great view of the windmills here too.
• Elia Beach – The longest stretch of white sands in Mykonos, this beach also has transparent waters and plenty of tavernas and bars to choose from.
• Beach Hop – Besides Elia, there are plenty of beaches on Mykonos. While you’ll find beaches all over the island, the three popular ones are Paranga, Paradise, and Super Paradise. Paradise is the most popular with backpackers and is where they party each night.
• Go scuba diving – There’s great scuba diving around Mykonos. If you are a diver, consider taking a few dives while you are here. You won’t find a lot of coral but you’ll find lots of fish and even a few ancient wrecks.
• Visit Delos – A small uninhabited island close to Mykonos, Delos is known for its important archaeological sites. There are daily excursions from Mykonos Town except Monday, when the archaeological site is closed. The excavations are open from 8:30 AM to 3 PM, so have an early start if you really want to see it all. The cost is $20 USD which includes the boat, the island and the museum.
• Panagia Paraportiani – In the western, and oldest part of Mykonos town resides this Byzantine church, which dates back to 1425. There are over 400 churches to see throughout the island, but this is considered the highlight of them all. It is comprised of 4 chapels, only one of which is open to visitors.
• Gay scene – There a number of gay & lesbian bars/nightclubs throughout the island. Jacky O’ is one of the busiest places, but there is also: Babylon, Diva, Pierro’s, Lola, Kastro Bar, Ramrod, and Porta Bar. Most of these places offer disco, dancing, and the promise of late night fun.
• Tour the museums – There are a number of different museums here, however, most of them are only open from April to October. In Mykonos Town alone, there are six – The Archaeological Museum, Floklore Museum, The Boni Mill, Lena’s House Museum, Agricultural Museum, and Aegean Maritime Museum. Admission typically runs from $3-8 USD.
• Petros the Pelican – Interestingly enough, the island of Mykonos has a beloved mascot—a real life Pelican. The original died in the late 80s, however there are now 3 that inhabit the island. It is fun to try to spot them and capture them in a photo.

Budget Tips

• Travel during the off-season – If you can, come here before June otherwise the beaches get overcrowded and prices double.
• Don’t stay in the town – Accommodation prices in the town are on the high end and the further you go from the town, the cheaper it is. There is a good bus system to get you to and from town.

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