Mykonos is bigger than it looks, and many of its best corners are spread across the island rather than clustered in town. This half-day small-group tour is a practical way to see them without hiring a car or working out the buses. It is run in an air-conditioned vehicle for a maximum of twelve travellers, with pickup and drop-off at your hotel. The stops, whose order may vary, include a free hour in Mykonos Town, the Kato Mili windmills, Little Venice, Ornos, a drive-by of Kalo Livadi beach, thirty minutes in the village of Ano Mera, a swim or stroll at Agrari beach, the Panagia Tourliani monastery, the Paraportiani church and the chapel of Agios Ioannis Diakoftis. The price includes snacks, a taste of tsipouro, the local spirit, and the monastery entrance fee. It is a good first morning for anyone who wants to get their bearings, and it suits travellers who would rather listen to a local guide than study a map.
How it works
You book a start time and are collected from your accommodation, or from the nearest accessible point if you are in a pedestrian-only part of Chora. The tour lasts about four hours and is run in English. The vehicle is not wheelchair accessible, although it can take pushchairs and child seats. The ticket includes snacks, tsipouro and the monastery entrance fee, while lunch, beach drinks and anything you buy in the shops are extra. A full refund is offered if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start.
Season
Operating months are not stated, so confirm availability for your dates. Island tours like this are most frequent from April to October, when the roads are busy and the beaches are open, and are thinner in winter, when the weather is less predictable and some stops are quieter. In July and August the tour is the best way to avoid the parking and taxi queues, and an early start avoids the worst of the heat.
Making the most of it
Bring a swimsuit and towel for the beach stop, a hat and sun cream, and comfortable shoes for the lanes of Chora. Use the free hour in town for lunch or shopping, and note down any lane or chapel you liked so you can come back.
Because the route covers so much in a short time, treat it as an orientation rather than a deep visit: Delos, the Archaeological Museum and a long dinner by Little Venice all deserve their own time. Dress modestly for the monastery, with shoulders and knees covered.
What to expect
The experience
A guided half-day minivan tour for up to twelve people, with hotel pickup and short stops around Chora, Ano Mera and the beaches.
Best time
An early start on your first or second day, so the tour doubles as orientation and avoids the midday heat in summer.
How long
About four hours, with stops of ten minutes to an hour.
Tips
Bring a swimsuit and towel, dress modestly for the monastery, and confirm availability for your dates, because the operating months are not stated.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-time visitors without a car who want to see the whole island in one morning.
- Families
- Pushchairs and child seats can be accommodated, and the short stops and beach break suit school-age children.
- Couples
- An easy, unhurried way to see the island together, with the free hour in Chora for a long coffee.
- Pair with
- Delos on another morning, and sunset at Little Venice that evening.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
How long is the Mykonos small-group island tour?+
It lasts about four hours, with stops ranging from ten minutes to an hour. The order of stops may vary on the day.
What does the tour include?+
It includes an air-conditioned vehicle, snacks, a taste of tsipouro, hotel pickup and drop-off, and the monastery entrance fee.
How big are the groups?+
There is a maximum of twelve travellers. The tour is run in English.
Which places does the tour visit?+
Stops include Mykonos Town, the Kato Mili windmills, Little Venice, Ornos, Ano Mera, Agrari beach, the Panagia Tourliani monastery, Paraportiani and Agios Ioannis Diakoftis. Kalo Livadi beach is a drive-by only.
Can I cancel?+
A full refund is offered if you cancel at least 24 hours before the tour starts. Check availability for your dates, as operating months are not stated.
