Mykonos Travel Information - Holidays in Mykonos Sightseeing, Museums, Beaches, History of Mykonos Greece

MYKONOS ISLAND - HOLIDAYS IN GREECE

Fed up of everyday life? Do you want to forget everything? Want to have a bash? Want to soak the sun & sand? Then Mykonos is the place to be.

Mykonos Island (often called the Jewel of the Aegean Sea) is a Greek island in the middle of the vast Aegean Sea. A quick search in Google for Mykonos indicates that some people spell it as Myconos, Mikonos, Miconos or even Mycanos. Mykonos is one of the most cosmopolitan among the Cyclades group of islands.

Famed for its night life, pristine beaches, blue sky, deep blue sea, windmills, unique cycladic architecture, pubs ,bars, clubs, Greek cuisine, Ouzo, picturesque fishing villages, friendly locals and many more things, Mykonos is one of the top tourist destinations in Europe. Whether you are looking for sun & sand, birding, surfing, jet skiing, romance, snorkelling, bars and clubs or anything, Mykonos is the place to be with your loved ones..

Mykonos has a lot to offer, clean beaches, windsurfing, seaside taverns, pubs bars, loud music, gay clubs, Greek cuisine, Jet sking, monastries, churches, boat rides etc. Full nudity is allowed on most beaches. The night life of Mykonos is fantastic. Famous DJs and many Greek and European stars frequent the beach bars of Mykonos.

Getting to Mykonos

Mykonos is a well connected place. Catamaran services and ferries go to Mykonos daily from Piraeus and Paros. It costs around 25 Euro. Mykonos can also be reached from Santorini. Mykonos is also connected by air. Flights take off from Santorini, Athens and Thessaloniki. During peak season some flights operate directly from europe to Mykonos.

Getting Around

In Mykonos getting around is fairly easy. There are scooters, buses, cars and ATV available. The entire island is connected by bus service. Taxis operate at constant rates, however finding a taxi in the evening is difficult.

Places or Things to See

White washed ancient Greek windmills (Kato Milli) are a must see. Most of the houses here are built in Cycladic architecture. Some ancient monuments in Drafaki, Vrissi, Glastros, Platis Yialos. Paraportiani Church in Kastro. Little Venice is a district in Chora famous for its flowered and colorful balconies. Zoodoxos Pigi (Mitropoli), Panachra, Agia Kyriaki, Agioa Nikolaos (Post-Byzantina Era Churches). Kalafati Divonia bay of Panormos Ftelia.

Monasteries like the Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Tourliani, Monastery of Paleokastro, 17th century church of Panagia Lozaria in Alefkandra square and Marathi-Ampelokipos. "Tria Pigadia"or the three wells. The 17th century neoclassical town hall.

Petros the pelican is an immensely popular pelican with the tourists.

Archaeological museum of Mykonos

It contains large number of vases, ancient grave statues, stelae and funerary urns etc. Delos is a nearby island with famous Greek temples. It was the birth place of Apollo. There are daily excursions from Mykonos to Delos.

Places to Stay

There are many good hotels in Mykonos like the Belvedere Hotel, the Rochari Hotel, St John's Hotel, Agios Ioannis Beach Resort etc. Most hotels have good food and sea view. Mykonos is hot during July and August so it is better to book airconditioned hotels in those months.

The Beaches in Mykonos

Agios Ioannis Beach
It is a small beach with good snorkling opportunities. There are tavern and cocktail bars. It is not a tourist beach. Deck chairs are available on rent.

Paradise Beach
A windy beach. Gets good crowd. Nudity is allowed.

Super Paradise Beach
It is another crowded party beach, popular with gays, and transgenders. Nudity is allowed.

Psarou Beach.
Beach chairs and umbrellas are available on rent. Nammos is a good beach tavern here.

Platys Gialos Beach.
This is a crowded family beach. Jet Ski's are available on rent.

Elia Beach.
This is a large beach. You can rent beach chairs and umbrellas here for about 10 Euros. Jet skiing, watersking, wakeboarding and parasailing are available on rent here. Nudity is allowed but not very common. Elia is a good beach tavern, a must visit joint.

Paranga Beach
This is a popular beach for nudists.

Ornos Beach
This is a quiet family beach. Umbrellas and lounges are available on rent. Nudity is not permitted. The beach is lined with restaurants and hotels. This beach is well connected by bus, boat and taxi.

Places to Eat and Drink in Mykonos

In Mykonos town, La Maison de Catherine, Kalidonios Restaurant, Aqua Tavernia (in Little Venice)etc are good places to eat. There are several traditional restaurants in Ano Mera. Caprice in Little Venice is a good bar club. There are several balkan clubs which open just before midnight where flower trays are passed to the guests. The flowers are to be thrown on the singers in appreciation of their singing.

Cuisine

Greek cuisine is typically mediterranean. The basic grains are barley and wheat. Olive oil gives a distinctive taste to Greek food. The appetizers here are called Meze and are served with Ouzo. There are many popular Greek dishes. Moussaka is eggplant casserole. There are some variations in Moussaka like zucchini or rice. Kleftiko is marinated lamb in garlic and lemon juice slow baked to the bone. Souvlaki is lamb and vegetable grilled on skewers. Gyros is roasted meat served with sauce and garnishes. Boureki and Pastitiso are other popular dishes. There are some popular desserts. Baklava is pastry with nuts, honey syrup etc. Ghalatoboureko is custard pastry. Loukoumades and Loukoumia are other popular sweets.

Drinks

Ouzo is the national drink. A must try for first time visitors to Greece. It is an alcoholic beverage flavored with Anise. It turns milky white when mixed with water. Tsipouro is a home brewed drink similar to Raki. Metaxa is a sweet brandy. Mavrodafni is sweet red wine. Retsina is white wine with pine tar. Beer and wine are widely consumed in Greece. Tee totalers can taste Greek coffee. Greek coffee is made by boiling finely ground beans. It is often sweetened and is served thick.

Mykonians

The population of the island is about 6000. The economy is mainly dependent on tourism. The locals understand English. People are used to tourists, nude beaches and gay clubs etc. Mykonians are friendly and open people and know how to have fun. The hotel booking, travel tickets, excurisions etc can be booked online or through travel agents. Mykonos is an ideal destination for a perfect holiday.

Mykonos island history

The island took its name from "Mykonos", the son of the Mythical king of Delos Anios who was a descendant of the god Apollo and the nymph Rio.

Almost all the major empires of the past have had at least some influence on the Island. According to Greek mythology, Zeus (literally the father in the sky) defeated the Gigantes (the ancient Giants who had rosen against the Olympians) on Mykonos Island. The Giants were buried under the Mykonos granite by Hercules after a fierce battle. Little is known about Mykonos during the ancient times but according to coin descriptions, we are able to presume that Dionysus was the islands patron god.

Phoenicians were the first inhabitants of the island. Later it was ruled by Persian generals, then Romans ruled Mykonos for some time, subsequently the Byzantines occupied Mykonos. By 1207 it was under the occupation of the Venetians and was totally destroyed and deserted. In 1537 it was attacked by Admiral Barbarossa, after which it came under the rule of the Ottomans.

The Mykonians were proved to be very experienced sailors and decisively contributed to the war of Independence of 1821 with their ships, while the most important figure in the set-up and funding of the fight was the Mykonian heroine Manto Mavrogenous, thanks to whom the Turks who tried to disembark on the island on October 1822 were blocked.

Finally Greek immigrants came to the islands and it later came under Greek rule. Mykonians are famed sailors and a colourful flotilla can be seen at the watefront in Hora (the main town of Mykonos). Many people say you have not seen Greece till you have seen Mykonos.

During 1933 the first tourists appear who mostly visit the archaeological site on the sacred island of Delos and the Museum of Mykonos, while around the mid fifties, Mykonos is beginning to transform to the cosmopolitan tourist resort of recent years, attracting visitors from all over the globe.

Mykonos has an area of 86 kmē and an elevation of 364 m. It is made mostly of granite and has little water. There are approximately 6200 inhabitants. The largest town is Mykonos, also known as Hora, on the west coast.