Hi everyone! This is the SantoriniDave guide to where to stay in Mykonos. We’re going to
show you the island’s best beaches, towns, and places to stay. Let’s get right into it.
When deciding where to stay in Mykonos, the big question visitors need to consider
is whether to stay in Mykonos Town, the center of most nightlife, shopping and restaurants,
or near one of the island’s many great beaches. One popular approach is to stay in Mykonos Town,
and to make day trips to beaches, then return to town in the late afternoon
to enjoy the evening, when Mykonos Town really comes alive.
For a quieter, more secluded stay, you'll likely want to select a location by the beach.
Most of the island’s best hotels are located at the beaches,
though the best partying is in Mykonos Town, with its countless bars and nightclubs.
Pretty much every developed beach on Mykonos is perfect for a romantic holiday.
Some great choices for families include Ornos Beach and Platis Gialos Beach.
Now everything featured in this video is explained in greater depth at SantoriniDave.com, plus you’ll
find links to our other detailed videos about all things Mykonos in the description below.
When determining which part of the island to stay in, consider whether you are planning
to use public buses, taxis, or a rental vehicle to get around. During summer,
buses run regularly and late to and from the main beaches and Mykonos Town, so it's easy to
stay in one spot and enjoy the other.; buses on Mykonos are cheap, comfortable, and reliable.
Taxis are another option, but there are only 30 of them on the island, and waits can be long.
Reserve in advance to save time. Your hotel can also arrange private transfers for you, a costly
but convenient option, while some hotels provide complimentary shuttles to and from Mykonos Town.
The airport is located three kilometers from Mykonos Town. To get from the airport to your
hotel, it’s always a good idea to arrange for private transfer through your hotel,
or a pre-booked service like Welcome Pickups, as waiting in a long queue for
a taxi during high season can be time consuming and frustrating. If you’ve pre-arranged a ride,
your driver will be waiting for you outside the arrivals hall with a sign with your name on it.,
The cost is only slightly more than a taxi.
Visitors arriving on ferries from Athens or other islands arrive at the Tourlos Ferry Port,
also called the New Port, which is near Mykonos Town, but not within walking distance. The
quickest and easiest way to get to the center of town from the ferry port is by using the SeaBus,
a shuttle boat that only costs a few euros. The SeaBus takes you from the ferry terminal to a
choice of 2 locations in town- one at the old port which includes the Old Port bus station
with routes to beaches in the east, and the other in the center of the Mykonos Town Harbor
near the central square. If you’re needing to get to the Fabrika Bus Station in Mykonos Town,
then you’ll want to take the public bus from the ferry terminal instead of the SeaBus.
Now let’s talk about Mykonos Town. Also known as Hora, Mykonos Town features the
island’s greatest concentration of hotels and accommodation, though these tend to be
budget to moderate boutique hotels with only a few luxury options. The island capital is a charming
tangle of narrow pedestrian-only streets, which are a real pleasure to get lost in.
The historic core is densely packed with guest houses, smaller hotels, restaurants, and bars.
Tavernas dot the waterfront, and there are two bona fide shopping streets
lined with local and international fashion boutiques, art galleries, and souvenir shops.
The Little Venice area of Mykonos Town is a dense cluster of waterside bars and a
favorite gathering place at sunset, as are the picturesque Cycladic windmills. There are also
a couple of worthwhile museums, and an open-air cinema that add to the town's attractions.
Several bus routes connect Mykonos Town to the island’s beaches and interior villages.
Here are some of the best hotels in Mykonos Town: Belvedere Hotel is a refined luxury hotel with an
organic spa, exceptional dining and drink options, and a convenient location near the windmills,
the Old Port, and the island’s best shopping and nightlife.
Semeli Hotel is a stylish, family-friendly, 5-star hotel with 2 pools, fantastic dining, and a spa.
Semeli is just a 3-minute walk from Mykonos’ famous nightlife, dining, and attractions.
Mykonos Theoxenia is a historic, seafront hotel near the Mykonos windmills and Little Venice,
featuring a gorgeous infinity pool. It feels quiet and secluded for being so central,
just steps away from the center of Mykonos Town. Cavo Tagoo is one of the top luxury hotels on
Mykonos, that sits on a rise between the two ports, where you can watch the ferries and cruise
ships come and go throughout the day, and fabulous sunsets at night. Mykonos Town is a 10-minute walk
away, plus there is a free shuttle bus. Myconian Korali is a 5-star hotel with
a panoramic, sea view infinity pool, a superb Greek and Mediterranean restaurant,
and a thalassotherapy spa. It’s about a 10-minute walk downhill to Mykonos Town,
and guests of Korali have access to facilities of all 8 other Myconian Collection properties.
You can find more great Mykonos Town hotels, as well as recommended restaurants,
things to do, and detailed travel guides across our channel and on our website.
Moving on to beautiful Ornos Beach. Just 3.4 kilometers south of Mykonos Town, Ornos Beach
is one of the busiest beaches on the island. The streets around it are dotted with luxury
resorts and boutique hotels, and its white sand is densely lined with sun loungers. Half a dozen
or so seafood restaurants are found immediately next to the beach, with a few more in the near
vicinity. Ornos features a sheltered bay, and the shallow, calm water is popular with families.
There are lots of buses to and from Mykonos Town, and some of them continue on to nearby
Agios Ioannis beach. Ornos is also the starting point for the Mykonos water taxi to the island’s
southern beaches of Platis Gialos, Paraga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Agrari, and Elia.
Here are some of the best hotels in the Ornos Beach area:
Kivotos Mykonos is one of the more magical hotels on Mykonos, set on beautiful Ornos bay with
stunning views of the surrounding water and hills. There’s a large pool, and a small private beach.
The setting is incredibly romantic, and there are a handful of restaurants a short walk away.
Mykonos Blanc is a family-friendly, small-dog-friendly, luxury hotel with a dazzling
pool, full-service spa, and an upscale beach club restaurant. Mykonos Blanc is one of only a handful
of hotels on the island with wheelchair-accessible rooms and an elevator. The hotel is surrounded by
restaurants and beach clubs and is just a short walk from the bus to Mykonos Town or the water
taxi to the southern beaches. They also provide complimentary airport and port transfers*****.
Kensho Ornos is a luxury boutique getaway with 2 pools,
a rooftop jacuzzi, and an amazing culinary program. One of the highlights here is
the hotel’s restaurant, offering Greek and Cretan gastronomy experiences during dinner,
casual Greek dining throughout the day, and an inspired cocktail bar and wine list.
Santa Marina is one of the˛ largest and most luxurious resorts on Mykonos. One of the best
choices on Mykonos for families, it features a beautiful semi-private beach and small playground.
The restaurants of Ornos are a short walk away and there’s a regular free shuttle into Mykonos Town.
Platis Gialos is the best beach on Mykonos for a mix of restaurants, low-key nightlife, hotels,
and good sand, located four kilometers South of Mykonos town. It's got something for everyone.
Families come here for the calm waters and white sand, the young, trendy crowd heads for the hip
beach bars, and everyone comes here to eat. The beach is lined with back-to-back restaurants,
serving everything from Greek standards and seafood to sophisticated fusion. It's
also the main water sports beach in Mykonos, with kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, wakeboarding,
and flyboarding on offer. Platis Gialos has excellent bus connections to Mykonos Town,
and hourly water taxi service to other South coast beaches in high season.
Numerous hotels and villas surround the beach. Here are some of our favorites:
Petasos Beach Resort is a Family-friendly hotel a with a small private beach,
a large saltwater pool and jacuzzi, and a spa with thalassotherapy.
It’s just a 2-minute walk to Platis Gialos Beach and a 12-minute walk to Psarou Beach, plus the bus
to Mykonos Town is right in front of the hotel. Branco is a fashionable, beachfront luxury hotel
offering a dreamy pool and beach spa on the widest part of Platis Gialos Beach.
With a fantastic location, the pool, restaurant, and all rooms look out over the beach, where DJs
spin music daily. The bus to Mykonos Town and the water taxi are both only a few minutes walk away.
Myconian Ambassador is just a short walk to the beach and bus stop. Situated on a steep hill,
the higher rooms have some of the best views on Mykonos. The hotel also boasts
a fantastic pool and a thalassotherapy spa. Nissaki Boutique is a family-friendly hotel
right on the water, with 4 saltwater pools and spacious rooms and suites.
Nissaki is well-located within a short walk to both Platis Gialos and Psarou beaches.
Studded with beach umbrellas, Agios Ioannis is a narrow, sandy crescent on Mykonos' West coast
just past Ornos Beach, and is a favorite sunset watching spot. There's a ˛ popular
beach club restaurant, and a couple of boutique hotels on the hillside overlooking the Aegean.
From Agios Ioannis, it's a 10-minute walk past the church and around the headland to the small
sheltered and less crowded cove of Kapari Beach. The best hotels in this area are Katikies Mykonos,
an adults-only hotel offering 2 infinity pools, a lavish spa, and breathtaking sea views over
the beach toward Delos Island. With a 2:1 guest to staff ratio, service is incredibly attentive here.
Mykonos Grand is another family-friendly hotel with sea view rooms, a wonderful pool,
a full-service salon and spa, and direct access down to a private, serviced beach. The hotel has a
spectacular gourmet restaurant and wine cellar. And Anax Resort, a romantic, beachfront hotel
with 2 infinity pools, a wonderful restaurant and bar, and a full-service salon and spa.
There’s a small private beach fronting the hotel with a rocky entrance to the sea,
excellent food and drinks, plus complimentary arrival and departure transfers.
With its calm waters, Psarou Beach in the South is one of the island's most popular beaches,
and is well protected from the wind. It's a particular favorite with families and
honeymooners, due to its relaxed atmosphere and powdery white sand.
There are a few beach clubs covering much of the beach, with a couple of good restaurants,
and a small mall-like plaza with high-end shopping. The best hotels at Psarou Beach include
Mykonos Blu, which is one of the most romantic hotels on Mykonos and a great honeymoon pick,
equal parts charming and trendy. It’s also an easy walk to Platis Gialos beach.
The hotel’s free shuttle service gets you to Mykonos Town in less than 10 minutes.
Kensho Psarou is a posh boutique hotel right on the beach with a private dock.
The hotel’s gorgeous pool, bar, spa, and restaurant are all steps from the sand.
Elia Beach is a long white sandy beach on the South coast of Mykonos.
There's only one restaurant here:, Elia Mykonos right on the sand. It’s a good place for seafood,
with an attached bar serving beers and cocktails. The restaurant rents out beach chairs, but while
the beach gets busy with sun worshipers, it has a much more relaxed vibe to it than most
other South coast beaches. There are also water sports rentals available at Elia.
A short scramble along the rocks from the west end of the beach takes you to the small,
pretty Agrari Beach in a sheltered bay. Elia Beach is home to a handful of excellent hotels including
Myconian Villa Collection, an ultra-luxury, family-friendly suites and villas property
overlooking Elia Beach. The hotel provides free shuttles to Elia Beach just down the hill
to their complimentary beach beds, babysitting services, and access to the facilities and dining
of all other Myconian Collection properties on this beach and the rest of the island.
Greco Philia is an upscale suite and villa hotel perched above Elia Beach with stunning
sunset sea views, an infinity pool, and an organic spa. Dining is fantastic,
with many ingredients grown onsite or caught daily by the hotel’s personal fisherman.
Agios Stefanos is the beach nearest to the new port at Tourlos, about 2.5 kilometers from the
old port, and about three kilometers from the heart of Mykonos Town. It's a small sandy beach
with a handful of restaurants and beach clubs, including the amazing Limnios Tavern on the
hill overlooking the sea, and offering gorgeous sunset views and flavorful Greek comfort foods.
This is not the most beautiful beach in Mykonos, but it is great for swimming,
protected from the winds, and popular with locals. The area is easily accessible and well connected
by buses to and from Mykonos Town. The best hotels in this beach are Grace, which is a lovely
property, with a sea view pool, tranquil spa, and an all-day restaurant and bar. The hotel offers
complimentary shuttle service to Mykonos Town. Destino Pacha, an upscale, adults-only hotel
offering 2 pools and an outstanding wellness center. There’s a stunning restaurant that
sits poolside, offering casual, all-day dining and upscale Greek gastronomy in the evenings.
And Rocabella, a young-trending, luxury hotel with a glass-front infinity pool, a decadent spa,
and sea view rooms and suites. Food and drinks are always extraordinary here, and their excellent
culinary program offers wine tasting, cooking classes, island picnics, and private dining.
Exclusive villas dot the hillside above the sheltered cove of Super Paradise Beach,
accessible via a steep, narrow access road. Super Paradise is dominated by its namesake beach bar
and club. During summer peak season, beach parties kickoff in the afternoons and continue until the
wee hours of the morning. Nightly international DJ sets are part of the experience. Multi-storied
Jackie O Beach Club at the other end of the beach is also popular, with a large beachfront, a huge
pool deck, an excellent restaurant, and sunset drag shows. Hourly shuttle buses from Mykonos
Town during high season run late into the night, while boat taxis serve the beach during the day.
At Super Paradise, we recommend Lyo Boutique Hotel, an adults-only boutique
hideaway with a stunning pool and excellent restaurant on a hill overlooking the beach,
a 10-minute walk away. Their all-day restaurant is among the very best on the island,
so make dinner reservations in advance. Lyo is one of the more remote hotels on the island.
An equally big draw for revelers, Paradise Beach, also in the South, has 3 famous clubs to choose
from: Tropicana, with a hugely popular beach bar, surrounded by mounds of empty Dom Perignon
bottles; Cavo Paradiso, a nightclub five- minutes walk away on a headland overlooking the waves,
and Paradise with multiple dance floors and a huge pool.
All attract big- name, international DJs, and the parties go on till dawn.
Though it’s a popular party beach, there are few hotels in the Paradise Beach area.
Kalo Livadi is a long, wide, sand and pebble beach, with fewer visitors than
other popular beaches. There a few solid hotels, including Nomad, Euphoria Suites,
Mykonos Bliss, & Aegon.
Our last recommended suggestion is the Panormos Beach area,
which includes the beautiful Panormos Village overlooking the bay.
It’s a wonderful, small hotel with a 2-level cascading infinity pool with floating sun beds,
a great Mediterranean restaurant, and includes affordable rooms and apartments with kitchenettes.
There are many smaller hotels and other rental properties spread around the island, but the
greatest concentrations of accommodations to choose from are in the areas previously mentioned.
Our top 3 areas we suggest staying in are Mykonos Town, Ornos Beach, or Platis Gialos Beach.
Check out our Mykonos travel guide for more detailed information,
including where to eat, what to do, ferry port information,
the best beaches, and beach clubs and alternative activities. We've also got lots of
other great travel guides to Greece and Beyond at santorinidave.com and across this YouTube channel.
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