Mykonos: things to see and do
In the central Cyclades, Mykonos carries the nickname island of the winds. The 2021 census recorded 10,704 permanent residents on Mykonos. The island group covers 105.481 square kilometres, with 89 kilometres of coastline. Evidence from the prehistoric settlement at Ftelia places habitation of Mykonos, Delos and Rhenia as far back as the fifth millennium BC.
Things to do in Mykonos
In Chora, Little Venice has seafront houses with colourful wooden balconies. Panagia Paraportiani brings five churches together in a single structure, with origins dating to 1425.
A guided tour of Mykonos beaches, town and villages lasts 4 hours and includes shared vehicle transport and a professional guide throughout. Included stops cover Armenistis Lighthouse with views of the Aegean, Ano Mera and Panagia Tourliani Monastery, beach photographs at Kalafatis and Kalo Livadi, and a viewpoint above Mykonos Town. The included walking tour takes in the windmills, Little Venice, Paraportiani Church and Matoyianni Street.
Mykonos windmills
Windmills are an emblem of Mykonos, and the Chora skyline combines these centuries-old structures with red church domes and bell towers. Some mills kept working well into the twentieth century; Geronymos Mill is generally dated to around 1700.
A private Mykonos highlights tour with windmills and lighthouse lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes, with a dedicated local guide and private transport along the island route. It includes stops at the landmarks and viewpoints on its itinerary, along with opportunities to take photographs.
Delos and its archaeology
Delos holds UNESCO World Heritage status, with remains from the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods and a connection to the birth myth of Apollo and Artemis. The island had an early Cycladic settlement in the third millennium BC. It later served as the headquarters of the Delian League as that alliance added cities to its network. Its period of independence lasted from 314 to 167 BC.
Houses on Delos featured atriums, with paintings applied to thick plaster on both exterior and interior walls. The Temple of the Athenians was built between 425 and 420 BC. Excavation work began in the late nineteenth century, uncovering the ruins. The Archaeological Museum of Delos displays its finds in nine rooms.
Ano Mera and Panagia Tourliani
Ano Mera is near the centre of Mykonos, 8 kilometres from Chora, the island capital. The municipality links the story of Tourliani monastery to two monks who fled Paros in 1537 seeking safety from pirates. Panagia Tourliani monastery was established there in 1542 over the foundations of an earlier church. Its feasts fall on 15 August and on 23 August, the leave-taking of the Dormition.
Museums and local food
Work on the Archaeological Museum of Mykonos started in 1899 in response to the extensive burial ground on Rhenia. Six main halls at the Folklore Museum of Mykonos display historic furniture, Byzantine icons and folk pottery. The Aegean Maritime Museum is housed in a traditional Cycladic building from the nineteenth century. Its models depict vessels that travelled the Aegean under oars, sails and steam power. Kopanisti is a soft, spreadable white cheese with a pronounced peppery, spicy flavour and PDO recognition in the Cyclades.
Frequently asked questions
What is Mykonos called?
Mykonos is known as the island of the winds.
What were the Mykonos windmills used for?
They produced flour used in paximadi rusks; some kept working well into the twentieth century.
Is Delos a UNESCO World Heritage site?
Yes, Delos has UNESCO World Heritage status and preserves remains from the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods.
Where is Ano Mera?
Ano Mera lies near the centre of Mykonos, 8 kilometres from Chora.
What is kopanisti?
Kopanisti is a soft, spreadable white cheese with a pronounced peppery, spicy flavour and PDO recognition in the Cyclades.
