Exploring Mykonos

Mykonos belongs to the Cyclades archipelago in the southern Aegean Sea. It's one of Greece's most touristy islands since the 1960s. Known as Greece's party island, it attracts celebrities, young people from around the world, and families. We traveled to Mykonos with DanDan when he was 1.9 years old and discovered that many families also vacation on this beautiful island.

Mykonos With A Baby

When to travel to Mykonos

The recommended season to visit the island is between June to September. The peak tourism season is from June to August when the island is busiest with visitors. Although Mykonos enjoys pleasant weather year-round, it's worth noting that some leisure facilities and restaurants may not be operational outside the tourist season months. We traveled to Mykonos at the end of September and enjoyed excellent and warm weather, perfect for swimming in the sea and pool.

Mobility

Mykonos is a small island with almost no public transportation options. There are a few taxis, but they are scarce and expensive according to demand. Additionally, some shuttles travel between different areas. It's worth considering that they depart at specific times and require long waits to purchase tickets.

Most tourists simply choose to rent a car or ATV. We rented a car that we booked in advance before the trip. An important tip to consider is that the roads in Mykonos are very narrow (!) and there is a shortage of parking, so I highly recommend renting a small car whenever possible.

Parking - The main area of the town in Mykonos is pedestrianized, and cars are not allowed entry. Just before reaching this area, there is a free unofficial parking lot. It might seem to be full, but during the five days we spent on the island, we always managed to find parking there.

Accommodation

Given that Mykonos is a touristy island, the lodging options are plentiful and diverse. When we began our search, it was important for us to find a hotel that was family-friendly and in a less hectic, less "party" area yet still relatively close to the center. We looked for a hotel with a pool and a nearby beach where we could spend most of the day with DanDan.

We chose the Mykonos Blu, located on Psarou Beach, a 12-minute drive from the center. We read many reviews highlighting that the hotel is known for being family-friendly, and indeed, during our stay, we encountered many travelers with young children. The hotel has a private beach with sunbeds for guests, which is not trivial in Mykonos, and additionally, an amazing seawater pool. Breakfast is served in a beautiful space with a huge variety of high-quality food, meeting the standards of a luxury hotel. Despite the hotel being quite full during our vacation, it felt very intimate.

Mykonos is known as the "island of winds," but not in all areas. Psarou Bay in the south of the island is almost entirely sheltered from the winds, which is another advantage of staying in the area, especially at the end of the season when the weather starts to cool down.

Another recommended hotel that was our second option and also very suitable for a family vacation is Mykonos Blanc. It's also a hotel with a private beach located a short drive from Mykonos town.

Things to do in Mykonos

The center of Mykonos island, along with all its famous attractions, is a fairly small area of alleys and picturesque streets with countless designer shops, souvenir shops, bars, and restaurants. The entire area is pedestrianized, with no vehicular access, and can be crossed lengthwise and widthwise in a fairly short time. Here are some points worth visiting during your stroll on the island

Windmills of Mykonos - One of the iconic landmarks of Mykonos, the old windmills stand on a high hill overlooking the island.

Tip: Another windmill station called Boni's Windmill is located in a slightly more secluded area but also less crowded with tourists.

View of Alefkandra - Another iconic spot on the island of Mykonos also known as Little Venice. The houses on the water reminiscent of Venice inspired the name of this touristy area. It's one of the most beautiful spots in the city to watch the sunset from one of the restaurants along this small promenade overlooking the sea and the windmills.

Panagia Paraportiani  - An ancient whitewashed church from the 15th century, and one of the most famous landmarks of Mykonos. It's the oldest entrance on the island and also the most famous of them all.

Agia Kyriaki Church  - A church and central square at the beginning of Matogianni Street. The church is usually adorned with flowers, making it a particularly photogenic spot.

Restaurants in Mykonos

A general recommendation for Mykonos is to avoid spontaneity when it comes to dining out, especially for dinner. We traveled to Mykonos at the end of the tourist season, and still, all the recommended and sought-after places we read about were busy in the evenings. Therefore, to avoid feeling like settling, it's advisable to book places in advance.

Nikos Gallop Restaurant  - Located right across from the Mykonos Blu Hotel. An excellent local restaurant with a menu featuring seafood and fresh fish grilled over charcoal.

Nautilus Restaurant - A local restaurant but slightly more upscale in the city center. A classic Greek menu with a variety of fresh fish as well as pastas and risottos. Advance reservations are required for dinner.

Avli Tou Thodori - A local restaurant at the beginning of Platis Gialos Beach. An excellent restaurant indeed! We had lunch here and loved all the dishes. A rich and high-quality variety of seafood.

Kadena Restaurant - A local restaurant on the promenade near Mykonos harbor. One of the well-known and recommended restaurants with a variety of classic Greek dishes. It's recommended to book in advance for dinner.

Alesta Restaurant Mykonos - A local Greek restaurant that we passed by every evening, and each time it was crowded with guests. We had an excellent lunch there.

Sale & Pepe, Mykonos - A small and well-known local restaurant, right at the entrance to the city center. A rich Italian menu with a variety of pastas and pizzas, alongside seafood and fish. The portions here were relatively small compared to other places we ate on the island but also more flavorful.

Krama Mykonos - A fine dining restaurant at a high level. A sophisticated menu of classic Greek dishes with a twist. Lots of non-conventional flavors.

Bars

Rhapsody Bar - A restaurant bar with a view of the windmills. A recommended spot for watching the sunset. Note that outdoor seating is for those ordering alcoholic drinks. It's highly recommended to book in advance for sunset.

Negrita Bar Mykonos - A dance bar with fun music. DJ every night and a real party atmosphere.

Ice Cream

SNOW Gelato - A super trendy gelateria located right near Little Venice.

THE MILKY WAY Café and Gelateria - Right near Mykonos harbor. Nice to grab a coffee and/or ice cream and sit on one of the benches overlooking the sea.

Kayak Ice Cream Store - An excellent gelateria in the town center.