Mykonos is the Greek St Tropez. A beautiful island in the Cyclades, which looks just like the postcards: white houses with flowers and blue shutters, painted streets, windmills of, pigeon, a myriad of little churches and wonderful restaurants and cafes.
Most of the "jet setters" Greeks have a house there or spend their summer holidays there, and the nightlife is particularly active. You can meet many eccentrics. But even if Mykonos is a party island and night, decibels are not as strong as Kos and Ios and you can sleep in peace.
Mykonos has the reputation of being a particularly visited island by homosexual, but that's not the whole truth. The gay audience is present, but it is above all a glamorous place for the rich and famous, you will understand very clearly when you'll take a look at the prices on the menus.
The island was once very poor. People survived by fishing and cultivating the hard ground, and the main industry was shipbuilding. Tourism has intensely developed from the 50s and the premises have vis-à-vis this dual attitude: gratitude because tourism has saved the economy of the island, but they also have the feeling that everything has was engulfed in its favor.
Architecture:
With the exception of the capital city of Mykonos, Chora, is noted throughout the island traditional Cycladic architecture: small white cubes, one usually floor, spread across the landscape like little ice cubes . Mykonos town however offers a different architectural style, unique in the region of both sides of narrow streets and tangled one can see houses recalling the medieval style.
It accesses each house by a flight of stairs wiry, parallel to the street, under which the space was once the cellar. Up the stairs, there is a small painted wooden balcony overlooking the narrow street and almost touches the corresponding balcony of the house opposite. Here again you will not find the traditional white and blue Greek: the wooden parts of houses in the town of Mykonos are painted in every color of the rainbow sky, and the contrast with the white walls with lime and the blue sky is absolutely superb.
Landscape:
Outside the capital Chora, in the densely populated areas are few. Villages and hamlets scatter the hillsides. Some places offer tourist complexes larger, but always in a friendly and pleasant way.
The island is subject to winds from all directions, you will see very few trees in the landscape, but many rocks scattered across the countryside that give a strange and desolate side are contrasted with sophisticated activity of the city.
History:
According to mythology, this is Mykonos that Hercules would have killed the giants. The rocks around the island are their bodies!
The first known settlers were the Ionians in the ninth century B.C. The island, like all those surrounding, then fell under the domination of the Athenians, Macedonians and Romans.
The Venetians conquered it in 1207 and made a Duchy until the invasion of the Turks in the first half of the sixteenth century.
All Greek students studied the life of Mando Mavrogenous who drove the Turks when they tried to land on the island in 1822, a year after the start of the War of Independence. His house is still visible in the Chora.
Mykonos was finally released in 1830, exhausted by war, and it was not until over a century later with the emergence of tourism, she really could not recover.
To See:
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| Chora the capital |
There are also five museums: the Archaeological Museum, the popular museum, maritime museum, cultural museum, and a private museum with private collections of old furniture.
Most Mykonos museums are located in the street Enoplon Dynameon, which is one of the busiest streets of the capital during the summer. From the waterfront, turn right sales office ferry tickets in Matogianni street, continue this road until the end, then turn right again: you fall into the street Enoplon Dynameon. You will find the Aegean Maritime Museum (open from 10:30 to 13:00 and from 18:30 to 21:00), the Folk Museum and the House of Lena (open from 18:30 to 21:00). Besides these museums you will also see the birth house Giannis Svoronos, a famous archaeologist and numismatist Greek.
A little further away, just before the three wells are the churches of St George, built in the fifteenth century B.C., and St. Barbara and St. Fanourios, built in 1883.
Behind the primary school of Mykonos you will find the main square of Chora "Laka", a green oasis in the middle of the white walls of the city, with eucalyptus, palm trees, all kinds of shops, restaurants, cafeterias and coffee . You will also find the Post Office.
Continuing west of this place, you reach the plateau which bears the famous windmills. This is one of the most typical views of Mykonos. In the past people came there from all Cyclades there grind their grain of wheat or barley.
Just below the mills is Alefkandra neighborhood, or the "little Venice". Its name originates Alefkandra that this district was where women were washing their clothes Mykonos.
Continuing north you walk through the narrow streets of the "little Venice", you will fall soon on the Paraportiani church, which is another of the views of Mykonos. The church Paraportiani is actually made from a blend of 5 different churches. This is one of the most photographed buildings of Mykonos and the whiteness of the walls contrasts sharply with the blue sky and the sea. With time, its structure seems to have metamorphosed into a mass that looks like by places a glittering iceberg on the shore and at other points in a big meringue dripping sugar.
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| Kastoro |
The village of Ano Mera is also worth a visit: small, pretty and quiet, you can visit the monastery and the little church museum from the XV century.
Daily excursions to Delos, the sacred island of ancient Greece, are proposed. Leto would have given birth to Apollo and Artemis over a palm tree. It is impossible to spend the night on the island, but it imposes a visit because it is full of archaeological sites.
You can also arrange a visit to Tinos, the neighboring island, which is the sacred island of modern Greece. The church of the Virgin Mary in it is an absolute must pilgrimage for thousands of Greek Orthodox each year. It's also a beautiful island that is worth trying.
To do:
There are of course many beaches, diving spots, but also horse riding, swimming pools ...
Daily excursions to various beaches, Delos and Naxos are organized.
To take advantage of Mykonos town in the quiet, visit the morning, when night revelers are trying to regain strength to enjoy the night. Stroll the white streets of Mykonos in the early morning is an unforgettable experience. Drink a coffee in the small Venice, and take a picture of the Immaculate Church of Paraportiani. By late morning, then go swim at one of the many superb beaches of the island.
Beaches
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| Ornos Beache |
The beaches are often crowded. Small coves south of the island worth visiting. Plati Gialos and Elia are two very famous beaches. Beyond Plati Gialos you will find the famous beaches of Parga, Paradise and Super Paradise, which you can reach by boat from Plati Gialos.
To the north you will find the beach of Agios Stefanos, or that of Kalafatis for windsurfing lovers.
Ormos, Agios Giannis, Agrari, all these beaches and many others have made Mykonos Island's most visited Greece.
Night life:
Most bars and clubs are in Chora. They are very trendy and often exorbitant prices. The "beach parties" are also organized throughout the summer: keep an eye on the posters that advertise. For lovers of Greek music (Ellinadika) the most popular bar is the Giuzel (formerly "9 Muses") east of Akti Kambani. Aux Trois Puits you will find the famous Aegli one of the hot spots of the night in Mykonos, and on the other side of the street the Asteria bar and Coo.
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| Beach Party |
Caprice bar in Little Venice you can enjoy every afternoon unforgettable sunsets. Nearby, the famous Scandinavian. The famous Pierro's gay bar moved to the second floor of a building instead Agia Kyriaki, above the Manto bar, while the nearby Remezzo, renamed El Pecado Remezzo, remains one of the highlights of the night. The party lasts until morning and continues most often beyond the bars of Mykonos beaches, like Cavo Paradiso and Tropicana in Paradise beach, Super Paradise beach bar Super Paradise, Sol Y Mar Kavo Livadi or Elia Elia beach bar.
Food
You will find Greek restaurants as well as international, most of which are located in Chora, the capital. The island specialties are the "Louza Loukaniko" (a special kind of sausage), and the "Kopanisti" (goat cheese with lots of pepper).
In reality, you will find any kind of food Mykonos, from souvlaki and Gyros to the Italian pasta or pizza, pancakes, restaurants haute cuisine or fish tavernas. You will find local food in cafeterias and taverns along the promenade, especially at the snack bar "Yalos" Vassiliki, opposite the fish market where you can delight with ouzo glass accompanied by "mezze" Greek , fried squid, fish or a huge portion of local sausages at very reasonable prices.
Shopping:
Folk shops abound in Mykonos, and a nice souvenir to bring is a copy of Cycladic art figurine (playing the flute, praying, thinking ...) the originals of which date back over 6,000 years. Gold is also good, and you can also find clothing, ceramics, textiles, antiques or even if you are willing to pay the price. The fashion boutiques are located in the Matogianni street, with big names like Prince Oliver for clothing or accessories for Folli Follie. You can find the famous Greek jewelers, as Ilias Lalaounis Polykantrioti in the street in front of the Art Gallery of Giannis Galatis.
If you want to bring something more regional and traditional you can find in the street Zouganeli pastries such as almond cakes (the famous "Amygdalota") of the Efthymiou shop. A shop products made based on Greek olive oil is also available: The Olive Oil Shop, located in the same street towards the city. You can buy local products such as Kopanisti the grocery Lykos ( "Wolf") in the Matogianni street, or in the tavern "Spilia", next to the primary school of the street Enoplon Dynameon where owner sells his own productions.
To Move:
Many bus lines, or bike rentals and two wheels are offered. It is also easy to find taxis and boat services take you to different beaches. The night, however, if you live far from the center, it is sometimes difficult to find a taxi, because their number is limited and customers of large owls.
If you rent a car, keep in mind that you can not circulate in the center, and the parking is often a problem in high season.
There are 3 car parks around the city. A good idea if you visit the island for the first time is to make a 30 minute walk to an hour by taxi to discover the city and the island. Some drivers like Christos are great tour guides who will show you the most important places and the best beaches, while telling you numerous anecdotes.
How To Get There:
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| Mykonos Airport |
Mykonos has its own airport. There are also excellent connections by ferry with the port of Piraeus (Athens) and Rafina and the other Cyclades islands. The Super Fast Catamarans provide connectivity within hours throughout the year, and from April small boats ensure the transfer to Paros and other Cyclades. You can also visit Delos, with daily departures at 10:00 am from the west wharf next to the City Hall, return at 13:15
Tourist Information:
About Mykonos
Area: 46 km²
Population: 6000 inhabitants
ATM: Yes
Airport: Yes
Highest peak:
Internet cafe: Yes
International Code: 0030
Local: 22890
Airport: 79000
Taxi: 22400
Tourist Police: 22100
Port Police: 22218
Police: 22716
Greek Telephone company (OTE): 22139
Ambulance: 71418
Health center: 23994
