Mykonos was my favorite island from my trip to Greece (Santorini being the second, as well as the only other island I visited on my trip). Both islands were breathtaking between the crystal, clear blue waters and the white on white architecture. They were both absolutely magical. However, for me, because I was visiting with a friend and not on a honeymoon, Mykonos was a lot more lively and fun, being the one known as the “party” island.
The party island definitely lived up to it’s name to say the least. We asked our waitress one night where to go out, and she said, and I quote, “After 1 A.M., everything becomes a club.” Needless to say, we ended up staying up until 5 A.M. one night and having an absolute blast.
There are also so many beautiful beaches to relax at during the day, places to eat, and experiences to have in this paradise. Below are 10 of my top recommendations.
- Eat or Have a Drink at Kastro’s
I spotted Kastro’s on Pinterest before my trip, and thought it was one of the most beautiful restaurants I had ever seen. It is in a tiny corridor surrounded by white, that opens up to the crystal, clear Mediterranean waters. I went on a hunt to find this place through the streets of Mykonos, and was pleasantly surprised once we got there that not only was this place straight out of my Instagram dreams, but the drinks were amazing as well. I recommend trying anything with Passionfruit in it as it is some of the freshest I have ever tasted!
2. Go Shopping All Night!
One of my absolute favorite parts of the Island was the amazing shopping selection. You can wander the Mykonos walking town endlessly and find every store imaginable from designers, to little Mykonos boutiques. On top of the amazing selection, the stores are open past midnight, which makes it oh-so-dangerous and easy to shop all night!
3. Party at Paradise Beach Club
The famous Paradise Beach Club was definitely one of the most recommended clubs on the island, so of course one night we ended up there (and into the early morning). This place is a club right on the well-known and popular Paradise beach, and is absolutely massive. There was an amazing DJ, who kept screaming “Mykonos!!” every hour on the hour, and we ended up getting stuck screaming it ourselves for months after. If you are into the club and party scene, or even if you are not, it is definitely an experience!
4. Check out the Windmills
Right on the end of one side of the Mykonos walking town are the famous windmills (you have probably seen them on postcards). They are one of the most iconic landmarks on the island. It is super easy to walk from one side of the town to other, especially because cars are not allowed through, so even if you are on the opposite side, it is easy to get there and definitely worth checking out as it is world-famous and a beautiful site!
5. Explore the Beautiful Walking Town
The Mykonos town is filled with shops, places to eat, and winding white paths. The actual town is only able to be walked through (cars are not allowed), and it is super easy to get from one end to the other. After just a day or so, my friend and I felt as though we already knew our way around fairly well. It is honestly so much fun to just explore the area and walk in and out of the white pathways covered in pink and purple flowers.
6. Eat at Little Venice
Little Venice is one of the most famous areas of Mykonos. It is a collection of restaurants (all of which we tried were delicious as well) lining the edge of the water with a perfect view of the ocean and the famous windmills. It is such a charming little spot, and perfect for dining and watching the sunset. I definitely highly recommend reserving at least one night to have dinner here!
7. Lay All Day on Pragana Beach
During the day in Mykonos our favorite activity aside from shopping or eating was definitely getting some good R&R on the beach. Pragana beach was one of our favorites, as it was less crowded than the more well-known paradise and super-paradise beach, which made it more relaxing. They have beach beds lining the water that you can rent for the day for a small amount. There is also a waiter that comes around so you can sip on some delicious cocktails, or have some coffee or snacks to enjoy while you soak in the sun and the perfect views.
8. Dance The Night Away at Scandinavian Bar (But Don’t Order a Moscow Mule)
Scandinavian Bar or “Scandy’s” as they call it, is one of the other more well-known clubs in Mykonos. It has two floors, as well as outdoor seating in the front. Upon entering the bottom floor, it looks innocent enough, but moving up to the second floor is a DJ and a full-blown club with strobe lights, drunk party-goers, and girls spilling their cocktails. We had an absolute blast here! The only disappointment was the Moscow Mule I ordered, which I learned not to order in Greece as they do not have Ginger Beer, and instead mashed up actual Ginger (Yuck). Lesson learned.
9. Get a Massage on Ornos Beach
Ornos beach was another beach we visited that I would recommend. It was absolutely beautiful, and also had beach beds to rent for the day for a small amount (some of the beaches in Mykonos are not as reasonable). They also had a masseuse walking around, so you can purchase a nice 30 minute massage with oil to soothe your senses. However, make sure not to make my mistake and leave the oil on, and forget to re-apply sunblock as I ended up with a nasty burn (another lesson learned).
10. Try the Crepes at Bougazi Cafe
I don’t know why I didn’t think of Greece before as a place I would expect would have amazing Crepes, but it makes sense being in Europe and just short plane ride away from cities like Paris. We ended up getting Crepes for breakfast every single day that we were in Mykonos as they were delicious and addicting! Our favorite place was Bougazi Cafe, which has every type of Crepe you could imagine (sweet or savory). Just make sure not to get eggs in your Crepe as I learned they put a cut up hard-boiled egg in your crepe instead of scrambled (yikes).
I hope this post was helpful for anyone looking to travel to Mykonos! I absolutely loved it there and would recommend it to anyone. For those of you who have been there already, be sure to leave any more recommendations in the comments section.