A Visit to This Picture-Perfect Greek Island Inspired a Lifetime of Wanderlust
I got my first passport for a girls’ trip to the Greek islands in my 20’s. It was love at first sight and 176 countries later, I’m still going strong.
It was the first time I ever needed a passport.
My very first trip “across the pond.”
At the time, it seemed like a big adventure.
Just a trio of 20-something girlfriends hitting the Greek island of Mykonos for a week. I had no way of knowing how much that trip would change my life.
From the minute I stepped off the plane on that tiny little granite island in the middle of the Aegean Sea, I was hooked.
It was quite simply the most beautiful place I’d ever laid eyes on.
From the exquisite beaches edged by clear turqoise waters to the white-washed homes adorned with blue shutters to the imposing shadows of the windmills that welcome every traveler to the harbor – Mykonos is a work of art.
I always knew I wanted to travel but until that first trip to Greece, I hadn’t done much about it.
After all, simply wanting to travel doesn’t make it so.
Everything changed for me after Mykonos.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to book through these links, I receive a small commission, which I will undoubtedly blow on more flights (it’s a vicious cycle). All of this internet voodoo takes place at no additional cost to you.
From a shiny new passport to a trip around the world
Just a few years later, I took my first solo trip around the world.
And now, 10 round-the-world trips and 176 countries later, I still find myself drawn to the place where I first fell in love with travel.
In the years after that first trip, I visited Mykonos 7 more times and introduced four more friends to the island. It has always been, after all, the perfect place for a girls’ getaway.
As one of Greece’s most visited and most famous islands, Mykonos is well known for stunning beaches, charming white-washed Cycladic architecture, 5-star hotels, and a nightlife scene that will have you dancing til dawn.
And that’s why I consider Mykonos one of The 10 Best Greek Islands to Visit This Summer.
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I will always cherish those girls’ trip memories from my 20’s and 30’s. Lounging on beautiful beaches during the day, sunset cocktails in the evening, and dancing the night away.
Wake-eat-beach-sunset-eat-dance-sleep. REPEAT.
For a young single girl, it was absolute bliss.
These days, as a happily married lady, my travel tastes have shifted a bit.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still head over heels for the Greek Islands (and so is my husband!). I just find myself seeking out Greece’s less touristy and quieter islands like Koufonisia, Milos, Syros, or Hydra. (It’s true…I’ll admit it, I’m getting old!)
I’ve come a long way from my days of ending a night out on Mykonos with a 5:00am gyro at Jimmy’s. Good times.
But I digress…
If you’re headed to Mykonos this summer, you’re probably looking for all those great things I just mentioned – dazzling beaches, chic sunset cocktail bars, and high-octane nightlife.
Or maybe you’re trying to decide between Greece’s two most popular islands…
Read More: Battle of the Greek Islands: Mykonos vs Santorini – Which is Better?
If you’ve already decided on Mykonos, let’s start with a few quick facts to help you plan your trip:
How to get to Mykonos from Athens
There are two options to get to the island of Mykonos – you can either fly or take the ferry.
By Flight
Flights from Athens to Mykonos are operated by both Olympic and Aegean Airlines and the flight takes about 40 minutes.
Olympic is now owned by Aegean so fares are the same on both websites and flights are operated interchangeably. (For example, you can book a flight on the Olympic website that may be operated by Aegean and vice versa.)
There are also seasonal direct flights from European cities like Rome, Venice, Amsterdam, Paris, and London that allow you to bypass Athens entirely.
But if this is your first trip to Greece, definitely don’t skip Athens. Spend at least a day or two there on your way to or from the islands.
Read More: 24 Hours in Athens
By Ferry
Ferries depart Athens from both the Piraeus and Rafina ports. The trip can take as little as 2h 25m (on a fast ferry) to as long as 5h 15m (on the larger car ferries). It all depends on the size of the ferry and how many stops it makes.
Note that ferries can be canceled due to high seas (this is more common with the smaller fast ferries).
Though it takes longer, I’m partial to the larger Blue Star ferry. They are far less likely to be canceled and offer a much more comfortable ride for the somewhat long journey. Do yourself a favor and upgrade to a business class ticket. It’s well worth the small splurge.
Tip: The absolute best site for booking ferries in Greece is FerryHopper.com.
A quick note about strikes in Greece
Greece is notorious for strikes that bring transportation to a standstill. It’s generally a ferry strike, or an airline strike, or a taxi strike, etc. So when you don’t have one option, you still have another.
I’ve landed in Athens twice only to discover that my planned method of transportation to Mykonos was on strike. The first time it was an airline strike. Fortunately, we hurried to the port and were able to catch a ferry.
Determined not to let that happen again, on my next trip we booked ferry tickets in advance instead of a flight. Lo and behold, we land in Athens and there’s a ferry strike. Sigh. Luckily, we were able to get a flight the next day at a fairly reasonable fare. But it scrapped a day of our vacation.
Don’t be surprised if this happens on your trip to the Greek Islands. There’s some sort of strike in Greece several times a year.
But there’s one thing you can count on, there is ALWAYS a major strike on May 1st every year. So whatever you do, avoid planning ANY form of transportation on May 1st.
But enough about labor disputes, let’s get back to the fun stuff!
Where to stay in Mykonos – In town or at the beach?
On my first few trips to Greece, I stayed near the beach, at Platis Yialos.
The first time at the Petasos Beach Resort and the second time at the Petinos Beach Hotel. Both are fabulous resorts and it’s wonderful to be close to the beach and have a short walk from hotel room to beach chair each day.
However, by the second trip, my girlfriends and I tired of the nightly challenge of getting back to the hotel after a night of dancing in town.
Taxis are few on the island and the buses don’t run late. So when the bars close, there’s often a long wait to get a taxi back to the hotel.
Eventually, we realized it made a lot more sense to stay in town and just take the cheap and convenient buses out to the beach during the day.
My favorite place to stay in Mykonos Town
So on my third trip, I discovered Marietta’s Apartments and I’ve been staying there every visit since.
Located near the windmills, Marietta has a terrific building on the edge of the incredibly scenic Little Venice area with several great apartments. Each one has a perfect view overlooking the windmills and the sunset each night.
Her apartments are clean and comfortable, her prices are reasonable and she even offers an airport shuttle. There is simply no better place to stay in Mykonos town.
The Nightly Sunset Routine in Mykonos
The balconies at Marietta’s are the perfect place to watch the nightly sunset show in Mykonos.
In the waterfront bars and restaurants opposite the windmills (known as Little Venice), where the balconies literally overhang the sea, the sunset earns a nightly round of applause from the assembled audience.
And it’s well-deserved.
As a bit of a connoisseur of sunsets around the world, I can safely say that those in Mykonos rank up there with the best in the world.
After sunset, you’ll have to kill a few hours with a leisurely seaside dinner and a stroll through the shops. Because the nightlife scene on Mykonos doesn’t fire up until at least 11:00pm.
After that, it’s time to dance the night away at bars like the iconic Skandinavian Bar in Mykonos Town (my long-time favorite).
Best Beaches in Mykonos
After a night of dancing and a sleep-in, you’ll be ready to hit the beach! And Mykonos definitely has you covered there.
Read More: The 7 Best Greek Islands for Beaches (You’ve Never Heard of #4)
No matter where you choose to stay on Mykonos, it’s easy to take advantage of the excellent island bus system to make your way to your favorite beaches. Here are my two favorite beaches on Mykonos:
Platis Yialos Beach
More relaxing (and I think much prettier) than the popular “party” beaches of Paradise and Super Paradise, Platis Yialos is a wide expanse of sand with sparkling, clear-blue waters.
It’s the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon before kicking it into high gear again in the evening (Ornos Beach is another favorite).
Psarou Beach
Mykonos is known for its world-class beaches and Psarou Beach is definitely a beauty.
Psarou Beach is a secluded, sandy cove surrounded by rocky cliffs and a few of the island’s best resorts like the uber-fabulous Mykonos Blu and Kensho Psarou.
From the bus stop, there’s a short hike down a winding path to the beach where yachts glide in and out of the crystalline waters in the distance.
Both Platis Yialos and Psarou beaches are easily reachable from the main town of Chora by the efficient local bus system.
Things to do in Mykonos
Yes, there’s more to do in Mykonos than just assume a vegetative state on a fabulous beach all day. And on my various trips, I’ve done a lot of them.
You can rent a car for a day to explore the island on your own schedule.
Or wander the charming labyrinth of narrow whitewashed streets of Mykonos Town. Don’t be surprised when you lose your way, these streets were designed to confuse pirates.
Exploring the many shops, art galleries and cafes in town is a great way to spend an afternoon if you’ve had enough sun.
Day Trip to Delos
The most popular day trip on Mykonos is a trip to one of Greece’s most important archaeological sites on the nearby island of Delos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to Greek mythology, Delos is the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.
It’s a great half-day or full-day trip and I highly recommend it. This 6-hour Mykonos Sail Cruise to Delos & Rhenia with BBQ & Drinks is a great choice for a fun day out on the water.
But if you just have a few days to spend on Mykonos, there’s no shame in sticking to beaches and nightlife – the two things Mykonos does best.
Will Mykonos inspire you, too?
Though I’ve seen so much more of the world now since that first trip abroad, Mykonos will always have a special place in my heart. It’s the island that started it all for me and I know I’ll continue to return for years to come.
So don’t be surprised if you leave this beautiful Greek island with your own case of wanderlust.
More fabulous Greek islands to visit:
7 Reasons Naxos is the Best Greek Island (for pretty much everything)
Yes, Santorini is an Expensive Honeymoon Destination (but it doesn’t have to be!)
Heraklion or Chania? It’s an Easy Choice (PLUS: the Perfect 5 Day Crete Itinerary)
Sparkling Symi is the Best Greek Island You’ve Never Heard Of
