What is it Like to Travel to Mykonos, Greece?

The word “Mykonos” conjures up images of white washed houses, blue-green ocean, and an island full of nightlife and ATVs. After spending the last couple of days in Italy in Naples, it marked the first stop on my friend Gloria and I’s venture into Greece. I was super stoked to travel to Mykonos and begin exploring the country that birthed the world’s first democracy and was responsible for producing some of the most famed and loved philosophers in world history.

To get to the lovely island of Mykonos, Gloria and I flew EasyJet and as of December 2015, the website shows flights taking off beginning June 28, 2016, starting at around 60 euros, which is much cheaper than the 120 euros that Gloria and I paid each when we booked about a month in advance. I would highly recommend booking early so you can save those euros!

Upon arrival, the first thing we did after checking into our hotel was to get lunch. We were lucky in that there was a nice, local restaurant within walking distance. Because it was so good, we were there pretty much every single day and feasted on the classic Greek meal of a kebab, fries, flatbread, fresh tomatoes, and yogurt dipping sauce.

After energy levels were back on par, we took a taxi to the beach and explored downtown. Mykonos is a very small island and so there is no public transportation. If you’re looking to get around, your options are to either walk, take a taxi, or ride an ATV. Once we reached the beach, I just stared in awe. Mykonos is probably one of the most beautiful islands I’ve been lucky enough to visit and it was so damn scenic. The beach, the water, the white buildings all combined to provide a beautiful background so Gloria and I couldn’t help but have a mini photo shoot.

After indulging in our narcissistic side (okay, it was mainly mine), we continued walking around the harbor. A major source of Mykonos’ economy is tourism and that is evident by the types of stores that dot the beachfront. Many of them cater towards tourists and there are plenty of visitors milling around the downtown. As you walk through the restaurants and bars, you can also spot some of the clubs. Mykonos is well-known for its nightlife and after spending a couple of nights here, they did not disappoint.

The next day, we visited a different part of the island. Mykonos isn’t just known for its nightlife, it also has a strong dayclub presence as well. We made the bold choice of walking to Tropicana from our hotel. Having done that, I would not recommend it because it was a hot and long walk. I did enjoy getting a closer look at the architecture of Mykonos though, especially these sugar cube homes below!

As you can see below, beautiful harbors are scattered all across Mykonos. This one is much simpler than the main one downtown but it has a certain tranquil aesthetic to it.

We finally made it to Tropicana and upon seeing all their bottles of Dom and Grey Goose, we had to take a picture. It looks like a club full of stories. Tropicana was nice because they had a beach area where you could tan and relax, which was adjacent to an outdoor bar area with plenty of tables. They also sold food and Tropicana merchandise on-site. It almost reminded me of a dayclub in Vegas but with an actual beach.

After chilling at Tropicana for a bit, we headed towards Avil Tou Thodori, based on a foodie friend’s recommendation. The food was delicious and fresh, the service friendly, and the ambience beautiful with a view of the beach. I would highly recommend going to this restaurant if you’re in the area!

—

Mykonos is a gorgeous island with beautiful landscape and architecture, a great party scene, easy transportation via ATV or taxi, and tasty food. It is arguably one of Greece’s most popular islands, so if you’re planning to visit, I would recommend booking flights and hotels early.

Tips:

• Housing: Housing ranges from budget traveling to luxury villas. Summer is the busy season for Mykonos so if you’re planning on visiting at that time, make sure you plan ahead!
• Windmills: The windmills in Mykonos are famous and as they are near the coastline, it’s a beautiful place to go and take pictures. Unfortunately, my phone died right around when Gloria and I visited so I am unable to share the pictures with you. It was well worth it though and it’s also a great place to watch the sunset!
• You might see grappa featured as part of the alcoholic beverage selection in some of Greece’s restaurants. Don’t let the grape-base fool you, this drink is strong. It’s 35-60% alcohol by volume, which is 70-120 US proof. It is definitely not for the weak of heart, I tried it once and I can still taste the bitterness.