Mykonos Tourism Information Mykonos , Cyclades Islands.
Mykonos, ‘the island of the winds’ is part of the Cyclades Islands in the central Aegean Sea, lying between the islands of Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos. It is the smallest of the Cyclades covering an area of about 89 square kilometres and a coastal line of 80 kilometres. The island is very rocky, almost treeless, mainly composed of granite and its two highest points have an altitude of 370 and 395 meters. It has little natural fresh water and the desalination of sea water is necessary to meet its needs. Mykonos has a population of 10,500 inhabitants and from these about 4,000 are foreign residents. It is the closest island to uninhabited island of Delos, the ancient spiritual centre. Daily trips from the port of Mykonos are organised to this sacred place of antiquity.
The main town called Chora is situated on the west coast and is a great example of Cycladic architecture with whitewashed houses, flowered balconies, narrow alleys and streets, many windmills, and blue domed churches. It is considered as one of the most beautiful cities of the Cyclades. Shopping in Mykonos is very sophisticated with boutiques that have attracted the likes of Armani, Cartie, Bulgari and Donna Karan. Chora is full of trendy art galleries, gourmet restaurants and is no wonder why every yacht sailing through the Aegean Sea has to make a stop here. Mykonos has some of the most fantastic beaches with golden sand and crystalline waters very well organised. Beach golf was invented on these beaches. Mykonos is known for its vivid and crazy nightlife with countless bars and clubs and is a known oasis for homosexuals. The local people are very hospitable and open minded, knowing what it means to have a good time. The infrastructure of the island is very well developed over the years to apply to the demands of its very wealthy visitors and to people from any social class. There are hotels with romantic swimming pools, spas and Jacuzzis, special suites for honeymooners, elegant villas and any kind of apartments and rooms to let.
Mykonos has an honoured past being next to spiritual centre of Delos and a place in Greek mythology.
Mykonos started to spread the rumour of its beauty during the 50’s and by the 60’s it was known as the island of celebrities. Important personalities from the Greek and the International jet set came hear creating a fashion that holds until today. With regular flights and ferries connection anyone can enjoy the chic and magical atmosphere of the ‘jewel of the Aegean’.
According to Greek mythology Hercules, in one of his twelve tasks, killed the giants that opposed Zeus and threw them in the sea where they were petrified and formed Mykonos and that is why there are so many huge rocks on the island. Later the island was named after Appolo’s grandson Mykonos.
As the island of Delos developed into an important spiritual centre Mykonos was under its shadow and few things are known about it during ancient times. Recent archaeological findings prove that Mykonos was first inhabited by the Neolithic Kares tribe in prehistoric times. After them the Phoenicians, the Cretans, the Egyptians and the Ionians followed. After the end of the Persian Wars the Athenian alliance was formed with its headquarters being in Delos and Mykonos along with the rest of Cyclades became part of the partnership. During the Roman occupation the island continued to flourish until 88 BC when Mythridatis destroyed Delos.
In Byzantine times it was part of the Prefecture of Achaia. In 1207 the island came under the Venetian rule and the Gizi Dynasty until 1537 when Mykonos along with the rest of the Cyclades came under the Turks. When the Greek Revolution burst out, the inhabitants of Mykonos, being excellent sailors, offered great help and 22 ships against the Turks. The local heroine Manto Mavrogenous financed the Revolution, helped into organising the fights and also participated as their leader. In 1830 Mykonos became part of the free Greek State but it had lost all its ships and its economy was in bad shape. During German occupation the island suffered starvation until the middle of the 50’s when tourism industry started to rise. Due to the island’s beauties and hospitality by the 60’s it had became celebrity’s favourite island from all over the world. Today Mykonos is the most famous Greek island and top tourist destination globally.
Delos
Delos is a small rocky island situated 2 kilometres south west of Mykonos. According to mythology Delos is the birthplace of two Olympian Gods, Apollo god of music and light and Artemis goddess of hunting. Leto was their mother who was seduced by Zeus. When Hera, Zeus wife, found out about Leto’s pregnancy she cursed her to give birth on a place hidden by the sun. Leto wondered desperate around until Poseidon, god of the sea, decided to help his brother and his lover and revealed an island from the depths of the sea. Delos means revealed and the islands around it formed the shape of a circle and called Cyclades (circle). So Apollo and Artemis were born in Delos and since then it was dedicated to the beautiful God becoming a religious and cultural centre of ancient times.
The tribe of Kares was its first inhabitants followed by Ionians who worshiped Apollo and made the island a spiritual centre (7th century BC). The Athenians who made the first partnership with Delos decided to purify the island and transferred the bones of the dead to the neighbour island of Rhenia transforming it into a necropolis. The 4th century BC decided that births and deaths were forbidden on the island of Delos and organised a ceremony in favour of Apollo every five years. In 315BC Delos came under Ptolemies of Egypt the successor of Alexander the Great. When Romans came the island flourished and became an important port. In 88BC Delos along with Mykonos were completely destroyed and the history of Delos stopped at this time.
The excavations of the island started in 1873 and continue until today by the French School of Archaeology. Delos is still the sacred island of the Cyclades and the whole island is an archaeological site. Daily trips from the port of Mykonos with the duration of 20 minutes bring visitors to admire this wonder of ancient times. The Stadium, the Temples of Apollo with the Temple of Dilion the biggest of the three, the Temples of foreign gods such as Isida and Serape and Kaviron, the Terrace of the Lions with the famous marble lions, the Market of Kobetaliaston next to the port dating back to the 2nd century, the House of Dionysus and the House of the Dolphins are some of the very important antiquities. On the island of Delos there is an archaeological museum, built in 1904, containing objects from the excavations on the island and not only. The island of Delos is protected by UNESCO as it has been declared part of the World’s cultural Heritage.
Archaeological Sights and What to see
Mykonos Chora: is the capital of the island situated on the west coast and built amphitheatrically around the port. The architecture of the village is typical Cycladic small whitewashed houses with blue doors and windows, flowered balconies, rambling streets, small pebbled alleys and everywhere the smell of flowers. Chora is famous for shopping. In Matogianni, the shopping street of Chora, there are numerous shops, chic boutiques, jewellery shops, souvenir shops and popular art for any pocket.
Walking around the alleys the visitor comes across with many small churches and Panagia Paraportiani in the settlement of Kastro is a National monument. The coastal road is full of cafes and taverns where the locals enjoy their coffee with the beautiful views of the Aegean. The famous windmills, the trademark of Mykonos stand on the hill at the left of the town overlooking at Chora and the Little Venice, a small peninsula of impressive beauty full of bars and cafes where the visitor can enjoy the wonderful sunset. Petros the Pelican, the other trademark of Mykonos, can be found usually and photographed in Little Venice. In Chora there is an Archaeological Museum, a nautical museum and a folklore museum. Accommodation is plenty in Chora from the most luxurious hotels to rooms to let. Mykonos is also famous for its nightlife and numerous clubs and bars prove its fame when the night comes. The town fills with sounds of all kinds of music. Just follow the music and have fun until the next day. Party stops when the sun is way up in the sky.
Aleykantra (Little Venice): is a really unique neighbourhood of Chora located on the east side of the harbour. It begins from the beach of Aleykantra and ends to the old district of Kastro. The houses, used to be fishermen’s houses, are elegant dyed with lively colours and stretch into the sea. The waves leak the walls of these houses and the wooden balconies overhanging the water. Many of them have turned into sick bars famous for their cocktails; some of them are rooms for rent and some art galleries. The sunset in Little Venice is magnificent as the sun falls into the azure waters of the Aegean. All the celebrities who visit Mykonos have their hour in Little Venice. Even Petros the Pelican is found mostly here. This beautiful scenery is the favourite of many Greek and international artists who have portrayed this unique scenery in priceless artwork and spread its rumour.
Petros the Pelican: is the oldest celebrity of Mykonos and the official mascot of the island. Legend has it that in 1954 after a big storm, a fisherman found a wounded pelican and decided to take him and nurse him so it can continue his migrating trip. When the pelican regained his strength the fisherman set him free but to his surprise he stayed on the island and made Mykonos its home for the next thirty years. When he eventually died in 1986 Mykonos felt into mourning. Soon another pelican was donated to the island called Irene and a tradition was established. At the same time the Hamburg Zoo donated another one, Petros. A few years back another injured pelican found on the island that was nursed and decided to stay as well. So today, three pelicans can be found wondering around on the island to the joy of the locals and the tourists. The pelicans can be found strolling around the alleys but mostly around the harbour and Aleykantra. They enjoy the attention of the crowds and the daily treats from the fishermen who save the best for their beloved creatures.
Archaeological Museum: is located next to the town’s commercial harbour and was built in 1902 by D. Stavropoulos in order to house the findings from ‘The Purification Pit’ on the island of Rhenia. In the museum a large collection of marble statues, ceramics and jewellery is exhibited from the prehistoric to after Hellenistic times. Among these a large ceramic vase depicting the scenes from the capture of Troy dated back to 7th century BC, a grave stele of Tertia Oraria that shows a woman waving her husband dated from the 2nd century BC and many more. In 1972 the museum was extended to house more historical vessels and relics.
Folklore Museum: is located in the ‘Kastro’ area of town and housed in one traditional building of the 18th century. The museum houses a collection of antiquities belonging to the 19th century. This remarkable collection includes furniture, costumes, tools, photographs, musical instruments and a fine collection of paintings.
Aegean Maritime Museum: is located in the centre of Mykonos in the area known as Tria Pigadia and is housed in a traditional building of the 19th century. The impressive collection contains models of ship dummies from Minoc times, tools, coins with naval descriptions, old maps showing the naval history of the Aegean islands and other nautical and ancient artefacts.
Paraportiane church: is located near the entrance of the main harbour and is one of the most famous architectural structures of the Aegean. Its name means secondary door because it used to stand next to the entrance of the medieval castle and it consists of four smaller churches forming with the main one a whitewashed asymmetrical church. The main church dated back to the 15th century.
The Monastery of Panagia Tourliani: is located in the village of Ano Mera, 8km east of the capital. The monastery was found in 1542 by two monks and it was named after the Blessed Icon of the Virgin Mary founded in the area of Tourlos. The monastery’s exterior is whitewashed, the carved Temple, quite impressive, is made of wood manufactured in Florence and there is also a small museum where Byzantine icons and ecclesiastic heirlooms are exhibited.
Villages and Beaches
Ano Mera: is the oldest village of Mykonos located 8km east of Chora in the middle of the island. It is a picturesque authentic village and is the only inland village of the island. It offers few hotels and rooms to let and also traditional tavernas with excellent food and homemade recipes. Near Ano Mera is the historic monastery of Panagia Tourliani.
Agios Ioannis: is a seaside village with a beautiful sandy beach located in the south west coast 5km from Chora. It’s one of the quieter beaches on the island most suitable for families who want to get away from the noise. Scenes from the Hollywood movie ‘Sirley Valentine’ were filmed on the beach. Agios Ioannis beach has the best views to the island of Delos. Ornos: is a picturesque fishing village located on the south west 2,5 km from Chora. Ornos has been developed to a paradise summer resort with a number of hotels, bars and restaurants. The beach has fine gold sand and it is fully organised. On the beach schools can be found for diving, windsurfing and skiing. Ornos can be reached by frequent buses from Chora. Psarou: is a wonderful organised beach located on the south 5km from Chora. The beach is of a medium size and attracts many visitors and celebrities from all over the world. On the beach there is a scuba diving school. Platis Gialos: is a very popular beach located on the south coast 4km from Chora. The long beach has gold sand and beautiful turquoise waters; it is a fully organised beach offering sun beds, umbrellas, a number of restaurants and bars and water sports. There are also many hotels in front of the beach so people can walk from their rooms straight to the beach. Platis Gialos can be reached by bus leaving every half an hour from Chora. From the beach boat taxis go to the beaches of Paradise and Super Paradise and the location of Lito can be visited where are the ruins of three towers from the Hellenistic period. Paranga: is a beach set in a picturesque landscape located on the south coast. The beach is separated by a piece of land forming a long beach. There are many beach bars playing loud music to the large number of sunloungers. There are a number of hotels here and an organised camping. Nude sunbathibg is tolerated in Paranga. The beach can be reached by a regular bus service or by boat taxis from Platis Gialos. Paradise: is one of the most famous beaches of the island located on the south coast between Paranga and Super Paradise. It is a beautiful sandy beach with nice clear blue waters and water sport facilities as well as a diving centre. The famous Cavo Paradiso complex is located above the beach working as a café bar during the day and a night club during the night. This is a beach mainly for younger who want to party from 4 o’clock in the afternoon dancing on the sand and the rocks. Famous DJ’s from all over the world come every summer and play music. The beach was discovered during the 60’s by the hippies and developed its fame since then so its name is not accidental; it is the paradise of fun and entertainment. Paradise has a hotel and a very well organised camping. Nudism is acceptable on the beach. It can be reached by frequent bus service or by taxi boat from Platis Gialos. Super Paradise: is the most famous beach of the island known for its fine sand, clear blue waters and the endless party. It is located on the south part of the island next to Paradise in a small but deep bay and because of its exclusivity it used to be the favourite for the homosexual community. Today this nudist beach is everybody’s favorite, is the most crowded and cosmopolitan beach on the island where many celebrities come to enjoy the excellent beach and the happenings and parties. Many famous DJs from around the world come to its famous beach club during summer season and play their music and party begins at 5.00 o’clock with extreme happenings. The beach is accessed by boat taxis from Platis Gialos and a frequent bus service. Agrari: is a beautiful beach on the south coast 10km from the capital. It is a medium sized beach with soft sand and crystal clear waters. It is not very advertised so it is quiet and ideal for people who want to sunbath and relax away from the loud music and the parties. There are many nudists on this beach as well. The beach has a restaurant and a bar. It can be reached by boat taxis and from Elia beach which lies next to it. Elia: is the longest beach of Mykonos located 8km from the capital. It is very well organised beach providing all the facilities to its visitors and the many celebrities who prefer it and plenty of accommodation. It is a nudist beach and much quieter than Paradise and Super Paradise. Elia is the final destination of the boat taxi that departs from Platis Gialos. Behind the beach is located Mykonos’s water park ‘Watermania’ with many water slides and nudist sections where you can have the time of your life. Kalo Livadi: is one of the longest and quieter beaches of the island situated on the south east 12km from Chora. It can be accessed via the village of Ano Mera and there is little accommodation around. Near the beach is a tavern with excellent food. It is ideal beach for relaxing and enjoying the sun and because of its size there is a lot of space for everybody. The beach can be reached by regular bus services. Kalafatis: is a beautiful beach located on a bay 12km from Chora. The beach is known for its water sports with a diving, surfing and windsurfing schools for those who want to explore the waters and the bottom of the sea. There is plenty of accommodation available and restaurants with excellent sea food. Ftelia: is a very peaceful beach located on the largest bay of Mykonos, Panormos Bay, on the north. Because the Meltemi winds come from the north Ftelia is a paradise for windsurfers. It is also a very good choice for anybody who wants to escape from all the noise and enjoy the sun and the sea. There is a restaurant to serve the needs. The beach can be accessed by taxi or private transportation. Panormos: is a very long and sheltered from the winds beach located on the west of Panormos Bay. It is an isolated beach with golden sand and clear blue waters, nudists favourite. There is one hotel and couple of restaurants to serve the needs of sunbathers. The beach can be reached by taxi or private transportation. Agios Stefanos: used to be a small village that developed to a famous summer resort 3km from the capital and 1km from Tourlos and the new port. Its name comes from the little church on the edge of the village. It has a small beautiful beach, protected by the winds, plenty of accommodation and a variety of bars and restaurants. There is a regular bus service from Chora. Tourlos: is a small village located a couple of kilometres on the north of Chora. It has a very well organised beach with water sports which gets very busy. Tourlos was known for its hotel development but recently the new port was established here and the public yacht harbour.
Accessibility
Mykonos has an airport, which is one of the most crowded of all the Greek islands, 4.5km from Chora. The number of the flights increase during the peak season and decrease during the low season. Throughout the year there are frequent flights from the airport of Athens and during the summer there are many charter flights from many countries around the world. Mykonos is also connected with other cities and islands in Greece. There are flights to Thessaloniki, Crete, Rhodes, Santorini and other Greek islands. The duration of the flight from Athens to Mykonos is 40 minutes. Airlines which fly to Mykonos from Greece are Olympic airways, Aegean Airlines and Sky Express. Airberlin flies to Mykonos from Austria, Swizzerland and from 8 cities in Germany (Hamburg & Hanover in the north, Berlin & Leipzig in the east, Düsseldorf & Frankfurt in the west and Nuremberg & Munich in the south), Hapag Fly and German Wings from Germany, XL Airways flies from London Gatwick and Manchester, LTU from Germany and Düsseldorf, Transavia from Amsterdam.
Mykonos is a very popular destination and for that there are daily ferries from many ports in Greece. Mykonos can be reached by ferry from Pireaus and the trip lasts for 6.00 hours with normal ferries and 3 hours with High speed catamarans. There are also ferries from Rafina port and the trip lasts 5, 30 hours. Two ferry trips a week connect Thessaloniki and Mykonos during the peak season. From Heraklion in Crete there are three weekly trips. Mykonos is also connected by ferries with the islands of Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Ios, Tinos, Amorgos, Syros and other islands of the Aegean Sea. The ferry lines departing from Piraeus to Mykonos are Blue Star ferries, GA ferries, Hellenic Sea Ways, Minoan Lines and Nel Lines.
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