
An island legend where luxury finds its natural home
Awash in its iridescent Aegean light, which it shares with neighboring Delos, you’ll fall hopelessly in love. So if you’ve got an appetite for luxury and adventure in equal measure on a cosmopolitan island in the Cyclades, read on. You’re in for a treat.
It’s hard to imagine a time when Mykonos was a humble little island, without electricity, just a layover on the way to famous Delos. Things changed in the 1950s, with the arrival of the likes of Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas, Jackie O, Marlon Brando, Grace Kelly, Princess Soraya, Elizabeth Taylor, Nureyev, Pierre Cardin, Stavros Niarchos… legendary names of the international jet set that became associated with Mykonos.
Mykonos quickly became the favored holiday destination in Greece for the super-rich, artists, and movie stars. And the list of celebrities continues to grow: Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, Shakira, Lady Gaga, Steven Spielberg, Monica Bellucci, Liam Neeson, Hugh Jackman, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Clive Owen, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Giorgio Armani, Russell Crowe…
Sparkling white with an Aegean blue backdrop, the architecture of Mykonos is one of a kind. It extends into the little neighborhoods of the island’s main town, Hora, with captain’s homes, old churches, and wells. Everywhere you look, there’s a maze of whitewashed alleyways. In Gialos, you’ll find the famed pelicans, as well as Agios Nikolaos tis Kadenas, the Town Hall of 1780, and the imposing Mavrou School. Through Barkias, you will reach the Church of Panagia Paraportiani, a complex of five churches, completed in the 17th century.
One of the most-photographed spots on Mykonos, Little Venice is made up of homes that were built in the 18th century and have their foundations in the sea. It has been said that pirates would store their loot here. Today, they have been converted to bars and restaurants and the view of the sea from their balconies is dazzling. Mykonos’ other iconic attraction is its windmills, which stand facing the sea and at night are beautifully lit up. Powered by the north wind, these windmills used to grind the island’s grain into the flour until the early 20th century.
In Mykonos, anything is possible, especially when it comes to the island’s dining and nightlife spots. From Little Venice to Super Paradise, from Matogiannia to Psarou, Orno, Paradise… the party’s swinging all summer long. Day and night, spontaneous and organized, with guest DJs from all over the world. Holidays in Mykonos mean fun, fun, and more fun – champagne on the beach, cocktails on balconies, dancing, and flirting until the sun comes up.
Mykonos is a luxury destination that has it all: elegant villas and suites with private pools that merge with the blue horizon, award-winning design, five-star service, gourmet gastronomy served to you on dreamy balconies, on a yacht, or on a private pier. The hospitality here has reached a standard all of its own.
Shopping in Hora is a high-fashion experience, during which you can find the latest collections from top design houses. Sitting in Matogianni St makes for some great people-watching. The colorful crowd comes and goes, streaming in and out of brightly lit stores, whether they’re just window-shopping or holding bags full of clothes. Could there be a more beautiful catwalk than the cobblestone streets of Mykonos’ Hora?
Mykonos boasts some of the best restaurants in the Mediterranean. Award-winning chefs bring you a medley of local and international cuisines. Fresh, local ingredients, elegant and refined dishes inspired by the latest culinary trends, all paired with wines that would satisfy even the most selective palate. So if you’re a foodie, don’t hesitate to take an agrotourism tour on Mykonos. You won’t regret it.
Green, blue and turquoise water, pebbly sand… some of the best beaches in Greece are found here. Agios Sostis, Kalafatis, Lia, Ornos, Paraga, Super Paradise, Ftelia, Psarou. By boat, car or on foot, you can get to cosmopolitan beaches or secluded coves. You’ll find all sorts of water sports: tubes, water-skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, parasailing, windsurfing… The choices of how to spend your day are endless.
In the 1970s, Jackie Onassis introduced Mykonos to her gay American friends. Being particularly open-minded, locals welcomed the gay community and soon it became known as the most gay-friendly destination in Greece.
The Gyzi Castle in the hills of Paleokastro, the Neolithic settlement at Ftelia, the Myconian grave in Angelika, the ancient wells and ruins … all witness to the island’s great history and worth a visit.
The most unexpected excursion you’ll make when visiting Mykonos takes you to neighbor Delos, where you can walk amongst the sanctuaries and statues of a vast Greco-Roman settlement dedicated to Apollo. And there are other small islands next to Mykonos that will enrich your holidays in Greece: Rinia, Tragonisi, Ktapodia. They are full of tiny bays with emerald water that are perfect for long, relaxing swims.
Dating back to 1891, this is one of the most interesting lighthouses in the Cyclades. It is worth making the trip on foot and seeing the old mechanism in the garden of the Aegean Maritime Museum in Hora. Spend an evening there and watch the sunset, one of the most beautiful in Mykonos and in all of Greece.