Mykonos
Mykonos is the archetypal Cycladic party island, 86 square kilometres southeast of Tinos, all low granite hills, windmills, whitewashed cubes and 300 tiny churches, built around the huge natural harbour of Chora. Chora itself is a maze of narrow streets designed to confuse pirates, lined with designer shops, chapels, and Little Venice where balconies hang over the sea, while the island’s interior is mostly barren except for goats and the old lighthouse at Armenistis.
Famous since the 1960s when Delos next door made it a jet-set stop, Mykonos today is Greece’s most cosmopolitan and expensive island, known for beaches like Paradise, Super Paradise, Paraga and Psarou where day clubs and beach clubs run from noon to night, and for a huge gay scene. Despite the crowds, it keeps old village corners, the Monastery of Tourloti in Ano Mera, and some quiet southern coves like Agios Sostis if you get up early enough.
The wind island with white towns and 80 kilometres of coast
Mykonos is a small, mountainous island in the Cyclades, 150 kilometres east of Athens between Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos, and just 6 square kilometres from Delos. It covers about 85 to 86 square kilometres, maximum 16 kilometres west to east and 11 north to south, with a coastline of around 80 to 90 kilometres giving it a ragged butterfly shape. Its terrain is mostly granite, very rocky and eroded by strong winds.
The island is composed of two high points both called Profitis Ilias and is known as the island of the winds, with a population of around 10,000 to 12,500 people. Half live in Chora, the main town on the west coast, with its whitewashed lanes, windmills and Little Venice, and another large proportion inland in Ano Mera. Despite its small size it has a reputation for picturesque beaches, vibrant nightlife and a glamorous feel that earned it the nickname Capri of Greece. Just southwest is Delos, the uninhabited sacred island and major archaeological site.
This is for you if you want Cycladic architecture with energy, beach clubs by day and a town that stays up late. It is not for quiet seclusion or for budget travellers seeking emptiness.
How to get there & around
Mykonos is reached by ferry or plane from Athens. Ferries operate from both Piraeus and Rafina. Fast ferries from Rafina take as little as 2 to 2.5 hours and are closer to Athens airport, about 30 minutes by airport bus, while conventional ferries from Piraeus take around 5 hours 50 minutes. High-speed hydrofoils average 3 hours 33 minutes from Rafina and 3 hours 49 minutes from Piraeus, with average crossings around 3 hours 41 minutes and up to 9.5 hours on slow ferries. Operators include Blue Star Ferries, Seajets, Fast Ferries and Golden Star Ferries, with sailings from 06:10 to 22:00. Flights from Athens take 40 minutes. On Mykonos you need a car, scooter or bus — the island is spread out, beaches are in all directions, and Chora’s lanes are pedestrian only.
Sources
- https://en.tripmydream.com/blog/interesting/mykonos-population-where-is-mykonos-geography | part of Cycladic archipelago washed Aegean neighbors Tinos Syros Paros Naxos area about 85 square kilometers population about 10 thousand many small villages main
- https://www.in2greece.com/greek-islands/mykonos/geography/ | small island about 105 sq km coastline 90km rocky granite terrain no notable rivers about 9300 residents half main town Mykonos Chora west large proportion inland Ano Mera
- https://www.theworldofinfo.com/Greece/Mykonos/geography.htm | 177 km southeast port Piraeus relatively small between Tinos Siros Paros Naxos near Delos surface area 86 km2 coastline approx 80 km maximum 16 km west east 11 km north south southwest small island Dilos 6 km2
- https://ferryscanner.com/ferry-from-athens-to-mykonos | ferry Athens to Mykonos typically 3h41min fastest 44min Eleftherios Venizelos average 3h49m Piraeus 3h33m Rafina vary high-speed conventional
- https://www.kimkim.com/ab/how-to-get-to-mykonos | Piraeus Rafina smaller port Athens fast slow ferry options high-speed hydrofoils 2.5 hours leisurely slow ferry nine half hours in-between 4.5 hours
Back to all Greek islands
The Greek Island Directory is a project of passion where a love of Crete, Data Integrity and Directories converge to create something truly special for users: Learn More.
Last Updated on August 30, 2026 by admin