The best things to do in Mykonos are wandering Mykonos Town (Chora) and Little Venice, taking the 30-minute boat trip to the ancient ruins of Delos, and beach days at Paradise, Psarou and Ornos. Beyond the parties you can shop Matoyianni Street, tour the Aegean Maritime and Archaeological museums, visit the Ano Mera monastery, and photograph the windmills at sunset. Plan on 3 days and a daily budget of €120–€250+ — Mykonos is Greece’s most expensive island. The quietest months are May, late September and October; July–August are the busiest.
| Quick facts | Details ✓ Verified June 2026 |
|---|---|
| How many days | 3 full days to cover Chora, Delos and the beaches without rushing |
| Getting around | KTEL public bus from Fabrika (South) Station, €1.80–€2.80 per ride; ATV/car for the north coast |
| Old Port to New Port | Sea Bus, €2, about 8 minutes, every 30 minutes |
| Daily budget | €120–€250+ (Mykonos is the priciest Greek island) |
| Best months | May, late September, October (warm, fewer crowds); avoid the July–August peak |
| Don’t-miss | Delos & Rhenia cruise, Little Venice at sunset, Mykonos Town alleys |
Mykonos is one of the most well-connected Greek islands, with dozens of daily summer flights and frequent ferries, so it makes an easy base for island-hopping. It has a smaller list of attractions than Santorini — see our Mykonos vs Santorini comparison — but it pairs a beautiful capital town with some of the best beaches in Greece. Below are 18 of the best things to do, each with the transit, cost and timing details you actually need.
Things to know before you go to Mykonos
- It is busiest in July and August. If you can travel in May, late September or October, you’ll get warm weather with far smaller crowds — see our best time to visit Mykonos guide.
- It is Greece’s most expensive island. Sunbeds at famous beach clubs can run into the hundreds of euros; bring a beach umbrella if you want to keep costs down.
- The two main draws are beaches and nightlife, but there are quiet coves, cultural sites and family-friendly stretches too — browse family hotels in Mykonos if you’re travelling with kids.
- Public buses are cheap and reliable from Mykonos Town; full routes and timetables are in our Mykonos bus schedule.
- Decide where to base yourself first. Our where to stay in Mykonos guide breaks down Chora, Ornos, Platis Gialos and the quieter north.
Recommended booking sites for Greece
- Booking.com — the widest choice of rooms and villas in Athens, Santorini, Mykonos & Crete.
- Ferryhopper — book ferry tickets and check timetables for all Greek islands.
- GetYourGuide — the largest range of tours in Athens and the Greek islands.
- Rentalcars — rent a car or quad for Greece with thousands of options.
- Booking.com Flights — compare flights to and from the Greek islands.
The 18 best things to do in Mykonos
1. Wander the streets of Mykonos Town (Chora)
Chora’s maze of whitewashed alleys is the heart of Mykonos and where almost every visit begins and ends. This is where the island’s shopping, the best restaurants in Mykonos, the bars and the nightlife are concentrated, so plan to walk it every evening.
- Getting there: All KTEL buses depart from Mykonos Town, so you’ll pass through daily; Chora itself is fully pedestrianised.
- Cost: Free to wander.
- Best time to go: Early morning for empty alleys and photos, or evening for the atmosphere; midday is hottest and most crowded when cruise passengers arrive (around 11:00).
- Insider tip: The lanes are deliberately confusing — built to disorient pirates. Don’t fight it; getting lost is the point.
2. See Little Venice at sunset
Little Venice is a small Chora neighbourhood where whitewashed houses are built right at the water’s edge, most now converted into bars and restaurants. It’s the most popular spot on the island for an evening drink as the sea laps the tables.
- Getting there: On foot through Chora — a 5-minute walk from the main square (map).
- Cost: Free to walk; waterfront cocktails are premium-priced (€15–€20+).
- Best time to go: Arrive 45–60 minutes before sunset to claim a railing table; it’s the busiest corner of the island at golden hour.
- Insider tip: Reliable picks are Caprice Bar, Nigrita Bar and Semeli Bar; for dinner with the same view, book Kastro’s ahead.
3. Photograph the famous Mykonos windmills
The row of whitewashed 16th-century windmills (Kato Mili) on the hill above Chora is the island’s most recognisable view. They’re a two-minute walk from Little Venice and completely free to visit.
- Getting there: On foot on the southern edge of Mykonos Town (map).
- Cost: Free.
- Best time to go: Golden hour, then swing down to Little Venice for sunset.
- Insider tip: It gets windy here (the clue is in the windmills) — hold onto hats and shoot from the Little Venice side for the classic composition.
4. Discover Panagia Paraportiani and Chora’s churches
Mykonos Town hides over 500 churches and chapels — an astonishing number for a small island. The most famous, Panagia Paraportiani, is five churches merged into one sculptural whitewashed form near the Old Port, and is one of the most photographed buildings in the Cyclades.
Self-guided church walking route
- Panagia Paraportiani — five churches merged into one structure near the Old Port.
- Church of St. Nicholas — patron saint of sailors, with maritime offerings inside.
- Agia Kyriaki — small but beautifully decorated with striking icons.
- Three Wells & Alefkandra chapels — tiny family churches tucked between the houses.
- Agia Anna — finish here for sea-view sunset.
- Cost: Free (donations welcome in some chapels).
- Insider tip: Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) to step inside any active chapel; the abundance of churches dates to Ottoman times, when families used name-day services to quietly keep Greek language and faith alive.
5. Shop Matoyianni Street and browse Rarity Gallery
Matoyianni Street is Chora’s main shopping spine, lined with high-end designer boutiques, artisan jewellers and contemporary Greek art. A few steps away, Rarity Gallery — set in an early-20th-century manor — is one of the island’s best contemporary art spaces, with original paintings and sculptures from Greek and international artists.
- Cost: Free to browse the street and the gallery.
- Best time to go: Evening, when the lanes light up and the shops stay open late.
- Insider tip: Even if you’re not buying, Matoyianni is the best-lit, most atmospheric alley for evening photos in Chora.
6. Visit the Aegean Maritime Museum and Lena’s House
Two small, low-cost museums sit side by side in Chora and make a perfect midday escape from the heat. The Aegean Maritime Museum, in a 19th-century mansion, tells the story of Greek seafaring with ship models, rare engravings and old maps; next door, Lena’s House preserves a 19th-century Myconian middle-class home exactly as it was lived in.
- Getting there: Both are in the Tria Pigadia (Three Wells) area of Chora, a short walk apart.
- Cost: Lena’s House is around €2; the Maritime Museum is a few euros. ✓ Verify current hours/price on arrival
- Best time to go: Late morning or early afternoon; both are quick (20–40 minutes each).
- Insider tip: Combine the two with the Archaeological Museum below for a culture-packed half-day out of the sun.
7. Tour the Mykonos Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum is small but holds a remarkable piece: the Mykonos Vase, one of the earliest known depictions of the Trojan Horse, found on the island in 1961. It’s a quick, air-conditioned stop near the Old Port.
- Getting there: A short walk from the Old Port at the north edge of Chora.
- Cost: €4 general admission (reduced €2 for EU seniors/students; under-18s free). ✓ Verified June 2026
- Best time to go: Open seasonally (roughly April–October) and typically closed Tuesdays — check the official museum site for current hours.
- Insider tip: Pair it with a Little Venice sunset — both are within a 10-minute walk in Chora.
8. Spend a day at the Mykonos beaches
The golden-sand beaches are the number-one reason Mykonos became world-famous, and a beach day is easily one of the best things to do here. Paradise and Super Paradise are the party beaches; Psarou is the glamour spot; Ornos, Platis Gialos, Elia and Agios Sostis are calmer and more family-friendly. Our full ranking is in the best beaches in Mykonos guide.
- Getting there: KTEL buses run from Fabrika (South) Station to Paradise, Platis Gialos and Ornos; the quiet north beaches (Agios Sostis, Fokos) need an ATV or car.
- Cost: Bus €1.80–€2.80 each way; sunbeds at a beach club can run €40–€200+ for two. ✓ Verified June 2026
- Best time to go: Before 11:00 for a free patch of sand; the famous clubs fill up after lunch.
- Insider tip: Bring your own umbrella and skip the front-row sunbeds to save serious money. For sunset drinks, switch to a Mykonos beach club.
9. Party (or just swim) at Super Paradise beach
Super Paradise is a sandy beach with clear water that doubles as one of the most famous party-beach clubs in Europe, with international DJs all summer. It’s very LGBTQ+ friendly, and even if clubbing isn’t your thing the swimming is excellent in the morning.
- Getting there: Direct KTEL bus from Fabrika Station, or a water taxi from Platis Gialos.
- Cost: Front-row sunbeds command premium prices in peak season; the water and the back of the beach are free.
- Best time to go: Mornings are calm for swimming; the party builds from early afternoon.
- Insider tip: Compare it with the other clubs in our must-visit Mykonos beach clubs guide before committing a whole day (and budget) to one.
10. Watch the sunset with a cocktail
Sunset is an event in Mykonos. The classic options are a railing table in Little Venice, the cliffside 180° Sunset Bar above the windmills for the widest view, or the famous Scorpios on Paraga beach, where the sundowner ritual comes with live music and DJ sets.
- Getting there: 180° Sunset Bar is a short uphill walk from Chora; Scorpios is on Paraga beach (bus or taxi).
- Cost: Cocktails €15–€25; Scorpios often has a minimum spend in peak season.
- Best time to go: Arrive 60–90 minutes before sunset on summer weekends — the best spots fill fast.
- Insider tip: For a free sunset, the windmills and Agia Anna church both deliver the same Aegean light without the bar bill.
11. Take a boat tour to Delos & Rhenia islands
Tiny Delos — the mythological birthplace of Apollo and Artemis — is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, with a temple, a theatre, mosaics and the famous Terrace of the Lions. The easiest way to see it is the Delos & Rhenia islands cruise with BBQ, which adds a swim stop and a meal on board.
- Getting there: Boats leave from the Mykonos Old Port; the crossing takes about 30 minutes.
- Cost: Guided cruises start around €60–€90 per person; the Delos site has a separate entry fee paid on arrival. ✓ Verify final pricing at booking
- Best time to go: A morning departure beats the heat (there’s almost no shade on Delos) and gets you back for an afternoon beach.
- Insider tip: Delos closes on certain days and in bad weather — book a guided tour rather than risk the schedule, and bring water, a hat and closed shoes for the rocky paths.
Book it:This Delos & Rhenia cruise with BBQ is the one we recommend.
12. Explore Ano Mera village and Panagia Tourliani monastery
Ano Mera is the only sizeable village beyond Mykonos Town and the place to see authentic Cycladic life away from the glamour. Its central square is dominated by the Panagia Tourliani monastery, founded in 1542, with a carved 18th-century wooden iconostasis, valuable icons and a small ecclesiastical museum, and the square’s tavernas serve some of the most honest food on the island.
- Getting there: KTEL bus from the Old Port (North) Station, or a short ATV/car drive inland.
- Cost: Free to visit the village and monastery (modest dress required).
- Best time to go: Late afternoon, then stay for dinner in the square.
- Insider tip: This is the best-value meal on Mykonos — prices in Ano Mera are a fraction of Chora’s waterfront.
13. Go wine tasting at Mykonos Vioma organic farm
Mykonos isn’t famous for wine the way Santorini’s wineries are, but the organic, biodynamic Vioma farm near Ano Mera runs an excellent vineyard tour, walking you through the olive groves and vines before tastings paired with Myconian mezze — and the resident donkey, goats and dogs make it a hit with families.
- Getting there: Inland near Ano Mera; transfers are usually included with booked tours.
- Cost: Around €70–€110 per person with food and wine. ✓ Verify at booking
- Best time to go: Late afternoon, when the light over the vines is best.
- Insider tip: A great plan for a windy day, when the beaches are uncomfortable. Book the wine-tasting tour here.
14. Take a Myconian cooking class
One of the best non-party things to do in Mykonos is a hands-on cooking class at a family farm, where you learn to make tzatziki, spanakopita, stuffed vegetables and giouvetsi (orzo with beef), then eat what you cooked with local wine. Past guests often call it the highlight of their trip.
- Getting there: Most classes include transfer or are a short taxi/ATV ride inland from Chora.
- Cost: Typically €90–€130 per person including the meal and wine. ✓ Verify at booking
- Best time to go: A late-afternoon class flows straight into dinner.
- Insider tip: Mention dietary needs when you book — the farm cooks around what’s in the garden that day. Book the cooking class here.
15. Rent an ATV or quad to reach the north coast
Renting an ATV (quad) or a small car is the key to the Mykonos that most visitors miss: the wild, uncrowded north-coast beaches like Agios Sostis, Fokos and Panormos, plus the inland villages. Taxis are limited and expensive, so your own wheels pay for themselves quickly.
- Getting there: Rental agencies cluster around Chora, the New Port and the airport.
- Cost: ATVs from roughly €30–€50/day; small cars from about €50–€90/day in peak season. ✓ Verify at booking
- Best time to go: Set out early to beat both heat and the afternoon meltemi wind.
- Insider tip: You legally need a driving licence (a car licence is fine for 50cc; larger quads need a motorcycle category) — check before you ride, and go slow on gravel.
16. Drive to the Armenistis Lighthouse for sunset
The 19th-century Armenistis Lighthouse stands on a rocky headland on the north coast, with sweeping views over the strait to Tinos and the North Cyclades. It’s one of the most peaceful spots on the island — an “end of the world” feeling that’s the opposite of the beach-club scene.
- Getting there: By ATV or car, about 15 minutes north of Chora (no bus).
- Cost: Free.
- Best time to go: Sunset, for the light and the quiet.
- Insider tip: The final stretch is unpaved — drive carefully and bring a layer, as the headland is breezy.
17. Try water sports and snorkeling
Mykonos’ clear, sheltered south-coast bays are great for water sports. Super Paradise, Paradise, Kalafatis and Elia are the main hubs for jet-skiing, wakeboarding, SUP and scuba diving, with operators right on the sand.
- Getting there: Bus or water taxi to Super Paradise, Paradise or Kalafatis.
- Cost: Sessions vary widely; a discovery dive or a jet-ski rental typically runs €50–€120. ✓ Verify at booking
- Best time to go: Morning, before the afternoon wind picks up.
- Insider tip: Kalafatis on the east coast is the most reliable for wind sports; the south bays are calmer for first-time snorkelers.
18. Island-hop to Rhenia, Naxos or Paros
Mykonos is one of the best-connected islands in the Cyclades, so it’s easy to add a day trip or a second island. Uninhabited Rhenia (paired with Delos cruises) has some of the area’s clearest swimming water, while frequent fast ferries reach Paros and Naxos in well under two hours.
- Getting there: Fast ferries from the New Port; book ahead in summer via our Mykonos ferries guide.
- Cost: Day-trip ferry fares vary by route and operator; Rhenia is usually included on Delos cruises.
- Best time to go: Pick a calm-sea day — the meltemi can disrupt fast-ferry schedules.
- Insider tip: Compare destinations first with Mykonos vs Paros and our islands near Mykonos guide.
One day in Mykonos: a sample plan (great for cruise visitors)
Arriving on a cruise or only have a day? Cruise ships dock at the New Port (Tourlos). Take the Sea Bus to the Old Port (€2, about 8 minutes) and you’ll be in Chora before the crowds.
- Morning: Walk Chora’s alleys, Matoyianni Street and Little Venice before the day-trip crowds peak around 11:00.
- Midday: Take the KTEL bus from Fabrika Station to Platis Gialos or Ornos (€1.80–€2.80) for a swim and lunch.
- Afternoon: Return for the windmills and the Archaeological Museum, then a drink in Little Venice before your last Sea Bus back.
Got more time? Compare ferry connections in our Mykonos ferries guide, hop over from Athens or Santorini, or weigh it against Mykonos vs Santorini.
FAQs
What are the best non-party things to do in Mykonos?
The best non-party things to do in Mykonos are a morning boat tour to the UNESCO ruins of Delos, a self-guided walk of Chora’s 500+ churches, the Aegean Maritime and Archaeological museums, a visit to the Ano Mera monastery, and a cooking class or wine tasting at a Myconian farm.
Is Mykonos expensive?
Yes – Mykonos is the most expensive Greek island. Expect a daily budget of EUR 120-250+ per person. You can cut costs sharply by using the EUR 1.80-2.80 KTEL buses instead of taxis, bringing your own beach umbrella instead of renting front-row sunbeds, eating in Ano Mera rather than the Chora waterfront, and visiting in May, late September or October.
How many days do you need in Mykonos?
You need 3 full days to enjoy Mykonos without rushing: one day for Mykonos Town, the museums and Little Venice, one day for a Delos boat trip plus a beach, and one day for the beach clubs or to rent an ATV and explore the quieter north coast.
What is the best way to get around Mykonos?
The cheapest, most reliable way to get around Mykonos is the public KTEL bus from Fabrika (South) Station in Mykonos Town, at EUR 1.80-2.80 per ride. For the quiet northern beaches and inland villages, rent an ATV or small car, because taxis are limited and expensive. The Old Port and New Port are linked by a EUR 2 Sea Bus.
Is it worth going to Delos from Mykonos?
Yes. Delos is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece – the mythological birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. The boat from the Old Port takes about 30 minutes and a guided tour of the ruins, including the Terrace of the Lions, takes around three hours, making it the perfect half-day trip.
What can you do in Mykonos from a cruise ship?
Cruise ships dock at the New Port (Tourlos). Take the EUR 2 Sea Bus to the Old Port (about 8 minutes), walk Chora and Little Venice before the 11:00 crowds, then take the KTEL bus to Platis Gialos or Ornos for a swim. Finish with the windmills and a drink before your last Sea Bus back.
Can you walk everywhere in Mykonos?
You can walk everywhere within Mykonos Town (Chora), which is fully pedestrianised. You cannot safely walk from Chora to the southern beaches such as Paradise or Platis Gialos – the roads have no sidewalks – so take a bus, taxi or water taxi.
Turn this Mykonos research into a trip plan
- Compare ferry routes — lock your crossings before the rest of the itinerary.
- Build an island route — turn this guide into a multi-stop Greece trip.
- Estimate trip costs — model transport, hotels, food and activities together.
- Where to stay in Mykonos — pick the right base for your travel style.
Read next:Best beaches in Mykonos · Best restaurants in Mykonos · 32 best things to do in Santorini · Best things to do in Paros
