Mykonos

This place is simply romantic with traditional old houses built right on the edge of the sea, their terraces already above the lovely blue water.

From here, it is undeniable that the sunset could be seen at its best. Here is where you can truly feel the seaside experience, with waves crashing beneath your feet as you sit down on the bottom of the wooden stairs.

Little Venice captured the heart of many people including numerous artists who have even chosen to live in the place and make Little Venice the subject of their artworks. Because of this, many art galleries scatter in the area.

Party animals would also love the place with the abundance of bars there. It is said that Little Venice served once in the 16th and 17th century as the loading and unloading station for goods brought by pirating.

A great place to view the sunset is from Little Venice as the sea laps gently or not too gently against the bar or restarants sea walls.

These are the most popular landmarks of Mykonos Island. They stand impressively with their unique features. They were white straw covered cylindrical constructions which have three floors, small windows, and wooden roofs which look like cone.

Back in the 19th century, 28 windmills stood in Mykonos. Mykonos was in fact once a center for processing grains. They were more than enough for the needs of the people so they also produced some for trade.

Today, there are only few remaining but it is made sure that they are being well-preserved. One of the remaining windmills now functions as a museum while the others serve as shelter. The windmills are essential pieces of Mykonos’ culture and history.

They were used back then to grind grains through the use of the wind’s power. Because of the amount of wind Mykonos is receiving due to its strategic location, use of windmills had been very beneficial. One of them is located at the Kastro while the others are scattered in the island.

Mykonos Island has two ports, the old and the new. The old port used to be the center of water transportation activities, serving both commercial and private ones until 15 years ago.

Today, the old port serves private boats and yachts primarily and only leaves minimal space for commercial purposes. They only serve small commercial boats that travel to Delos every day. Some fishermen still use the Old Port as well. The Old Port is just five minutes away from Gialos waterfront via walking.

It is also popularly referred to as the Old Port. Here you could enjoy the typical fishing village setting. It is a very wonderful view with the colorful fishing boats all lined up and the array of fishing nets and other fishing paraphernalia.

There are also yachts and speed boats parked there. Local shops and restaurants are also found near the harbour so people could enjoy a nice stroll and meal while appreciating the beauty of the harbour.

Sunset over Mykonos bay is best viewed from one of the many restaurants along the harbour and old port.

Here is the perfect place to settle down during sunset. The view here is very spectacular.

Watch as the sun goes down, as the sky turns bluish orange, and as the moment is reflected by the crystal blue water. Listen to the gentle crashing of the waves as you eat or have cup of coffee nearby.

Many hotels are located in this area so you could also choose to stay here if you wish to be near the bayside.

Most of the towns in the Cycladic Islands are characterized by the white cubist houses, the typical Cycladic architecture. However, there is something different about Mykonos Town.

As you walk along its winding alleys, you would notice the touch of medieval style on the structures. On the other hand, the wooden details of the houses are painted in wide variety of colours, instead of the usual blue and white in other Cycladic towns. The traditional white windmills also make the place more unique.

But like the other towns, Mykonos town also has the charming stone paved winding alleys, local shops, the old churches, and the harbours. A nice relaxing stroll along the beautiful alleys and beside the harbour is something to look forward to.

The style of the streets were originally designed to confuse pirates so there are lots of turns that you can take to look for something you have not seen before. The church of Parapotiani, St. George, St. Barbara, and Saint Fanourios, as well as the five museums are located in this town.

It is the most popular church in Mykonos Island. Paraportiani actually means “the side door”.

This is because the original structure was built near the side door at the north-west of the medieval walls which guard the Kastro. The church is located near the harbour of Mykonos. The architecture is very interesting, in fact, five churches constitute Paraportiani. Four were built in the period between 14th and 17th century, and then served as the foundation for the fifth church which is called Panagia Paraportiani. The last one was dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Not only that, the five churches also represent different styles. Byzantine, vernacular, tradition, and western style were all merged together to become this wonderful structure. Your visit to Mykonos would truly be incomplete without visiting Paraportiani.

Kastro or the Castle area is a good place to explore and just have a relaxing stroll. This is the oldest portion of the town of Mykonos. It is where the beautiful white church, Paraportiani, stands. The municipality building with red clay roof stands in this area. With the history it has witnessed, the architecture and the vibe in the area would bring you back to medieval Greece. The view from this area is also plainly beautiful.

The streets of Mykonos are narrow, confusing, but still extremely alluring. It is said that the streets were made that way to confuse the pirates that frequently raid the place.

It is the ultimate defense system of Mykonos. However, other than the presence of pirates, there are more to the story. There are many reasons for building narrow alleys most especially because of Mykonos’ location. The most common reason would be the lack of space. People built their houses around the castle found in Mykonos even if there were little space to cater them. There is also the wind factor.

Mykonos is hit by strong north winds so they needed to have that kind of architecture. They needed the houses to huddle together to block the wind.

Mykonos also receives a lot of sunlight so the narrow streets were also designed to provide a good shade.

The beaches of Mykonos are very popular worldwide so expect them to be crowded during peak seasons. Who would not fall in love with the golden sand and the clear blue water?

The good thing is that since they are popular, they are mostly commercialized. Restaurants, hotels, bars, and cafes already scatter in the different beaches of Mykonos. The most popular among them are the two party beaches, Paradise and Super Paradise Beach as well as Platis Gialos.

It is 4km away from Mykonos Town at the southern part of the island. It is almost always filled with tourists who cannot get enough of the golden sand and the stunning clear blue water.

The beach is also very well arranged so accommodations and shops are a few steps away. Sun beds, umbrellas, water sports facilities, and bars are very much available. From here, people could also reach other beaches if they want to try something new.

Paradise Beach could be easily accessed from Platis Gialos via walking, bus, or taxi-boat. It is a lovely flat beach which resides in between Paranga and Super Paradise Beach. The beach is popular among youngsters especially the nudists. People could try different water sports as well as diving in this area.

A camping site is also available nearby. The beach is fully developed as well. Cavo Paradiso is the most popular complex among tourists. During night time, Paradise Beach becomes more alive and wild as party animals try to enjoy the clubs and beach parties.

Super Paradise Beach This beach is one of the most majestic among the beaches in the whole of Greece. The clear blue water which touches the soft golden sand is just irresistible. It is also very popular as a homosexual beach but people of all race and gender go here for the amazing Greek island paradise experience.

Compared to other beaches in Mykonos it is less organized but due to its popularity it still gets too crowded during peak seasons. Super Paradise Beach lies just next to Paradise Beach and is accessible via boat from Platis Gialos.

A coastal path connects a number of the beaches.

Aside from Platis Gialos and Super Paradise Beach, many stunning beaches are also nearby Paradise Beach. There is Paraga Beach which is a combination of two beaches which then forms an impressive stretch of sand. Its southern part is the quieter one compared to the northern part. The northern part is the more developed one so the commercial establishments make the beach more. Another one is Psarrou Beach which is popular among many celebrities because of its beauty.

Scuba diving could be tried here. Then there is Agia Anna Beach which carries a peaceful and pristine ambiance. There are no water sports activities here and the usual facilities like sunbeds and umbrellas are not abundant.

Lastly, there is Elia Beach which is the longest sandy beach in the whole of Mykonos. It offers a lot of water sport activities and taverns but is still more serene compared to Paradise and Super Paradise Beach.