First Timer’s Guide to Mykonos, Greece

Disclosure: This blog is reader-supported, and some posts contain affiliate links. If you make a booking, I may earn a small commission-at no extra cost to you. Thank you for keeping me writing and doing what I love!

Arguably our favorite Island over Santorini, Mykonos is a Greek island that has unique charm. This is the ultimate first timer’s guide to Mykonos; here’s all you need to know to ensure a fun and stress free time.

Best Time to Visit: We visited in what’s considered the ?off-season” which was in October. The weather was still sunny and beautiful, with half the crowds. I recommend visiting in October; but May, June, and September will also bring you pleasant weather and smaller crowds. These months will also be budget-friendly; here as the peak summer months of July and August will normally cost more than off-season prices.

Travel to Mykonos

Flights

There’s a Mykonos (JMK) airport you can fly into. If you’re flying from the States or Asia, it might be cheaper to purchase a round trip flight into Athens (ATH) airport, and then take a ferry to Mykonos. However, for a first timer’s trip to the island, flying directly to Mykonos may be logistically easier. I’d consider both options!

Ferry

Ferries from Athens (Piraeus and Rafina ports) take between 2 to 5 hours, depending on the speed of the boat. You can find and book ferry tickets through here or here. If you are visiting during peak tourist season, I recommend booking these tickets in advance to guarantee a spot for boarding. For all ferry options, consider the full list here.

Cruise

We ended up booking the 7 Night Greek Isles cruise with Royal Caribbean. This cruise is our first visit to Greece and we were planning a wedding while planning our trip to Greece. We agreed that the logistics with a cruise line being planned for us outweighed the time and energy to plan our own Greek getaway.

Everyone is different; for us this was the best decision for our circumstances. Our next trip to Greece, we look forward to planning our trip ourselves! This way, we can visit some of the islands that are off the beaten path. 

Where to Stay

Although we didn’t end up staying on the island overnight, that was our original plan. We researched the island loads when we were mapping out our own visit. I don’t want this research to go to waste, so I’ll include all the research below. There’s research on different locations on the islands and hotel and accommodations options.

Mykonos Town (Chora)

We read this area was ideal for nightlife, shopping, and easy access to attractions. We liked the look of this hotel and this other budget-friendly hotel. Once we visited Mykonos, this was our favorite part of the island. The hues of blue paired with the cycladic pathways set the scene for a picturesque day.

Ornos & Platis Gialos

Known for being more family-friendly with great beaches and a peaceful, relaxed vibe. There are several hotels that caught our eye, but a beachfront hotel wins out for the top recommendation. This price would also be hard to beat considering all its amenities.

Psarou Beach

Nestled in a tiny bay, Psarou beach is known to have clear waters. This beach arguably has the best sand in Mykonos look no and known for it’s celebrity signtings. If you’re looking for upscale beach clubs or a more luxurious stay, further than the Mykonos Azure. However, I personally think this accommodation is a dream honeymoon spot.

Super Paradise Beach

For the party lovers and the lively beach bars, this is the area you want to be in. You’re in luck! This area is fairly budget friendly, even in peak season. From Nama Villas to your own villa with a pool. From your private hot tub to the best budget-friendly deal, you’re in for a fun trip here.

Eat & Drink in Mykonos

We had breakfast at Lalala. We loved their outdoor seating, taking in the cycladic pathways and buildings while sipping on a delicious cappuccino. We got here fairly early in the day, so the outside seating was nice without crowds passing by. It felt like we were the only two on the island except for the dogs and cats strolling about.

Opening its doors in 1420, Gioras Pastry Cafe is one of the oldes cycladic bakeries and offers a wide range of greek pastries. The baklava was our personal favorite

For gyros or souvlaki, check out Jimmy’s. I know the restaurant name Jimmy’s sounds so American but it’s not! Jimmy’s is situated in one of the alleyways and a pillar restaurant in Chora. The cuisine is reasonably priced, located in the center of all the fun, and tasty. If you don’t know what gyros or souvlaki is, I’m happy to paint the picture. A gyro has meat served wrapped or stuffed in pita bread along with other ingredients like tomato, onion, and tzatziki. Souvlaki is a Greek fast food consisting of small pieces of meat and sometimes vegetables grilled on a skewer. 

For a romantic dinner for two, grab a reservation at Sunset By Amazon or Compass. These are a must for the sights, food, and atmosphere. Truthfully speaking, we passed a lot of restaurants we would’ve liked to have tried but didn’t have the time. Our plan is to return so we can add to this list!

Honorable mention: We passed a pizza place called Sinner’s Pizza. This place would be a staple stop after spending the day on the beach or at a club! Don’t forget to confess on a post-it and add to the list of other confessions.

Things to Do in Mykonos

Windmills of Mykonos

An iconic landmark on the island. I wasn’t sure why at first and then I did research. The windmills were once a high source of income for the inhabitants of the island, primarily used to mill wheat. One of the windmills is now a museum.

Beaches

There are over ten beach options on this beautiful island. There are party beaches, family beaches, beaches for water sports; even nude beaches. Whichever beach you decide, you can rest assured that there’s transportation to get where you’d like to go. The Mykonos Beaches Site can break each beach down better than I can.

Wine tasting

Visit the local winery in Marathi, Mykonos on a tour. Here you can walk the olive groves and vineyards. You will be taught how the wine is made, and then can enjoy the wine tasting.

Food Tour

The island has a wide range of food tours to learn about the Mykonian cuisine. Consider a budget friendly choice, or maybe a cooking class to learn recipes to bring back home.

A day at sea

Enjoying the Mediterranean by boat is a bucket list activity for many. There are budget-friendly options, as well as group options and more romantic days on sea. Imagine a clear sky day, a drink in your hand, looking out to endless blue waters in the Mediterranean. How beautiful would that be?

Whether you’re visiting for relaxation, or the clubs and nightlife, this Greek island is a beautiful destination for travelers.