Mykonos is a seasonal island, and the single most useful thing to know before you book is the calendar. From about April to October the beach clubs, boat cruises, Delos boats and most hotels are open and the island is busy; July and August are the busiest and hottest months. From November to March many hotels, bars and restaurants close, the Delos site is shut from 1 December to 31 March under its published schedule, and what remains is a quiet working island. Pick your months first and everything else follows.
What to book ahead
Your hotel, first of all, because most places are seasonal and the best fill early for summer. Our where to stay guide covers the eight hotels in this market. In July and August also reserve dinner in Chora and any cruise. The catamaran cruise is a warm-season trip that only runs from spring to autumn. The small-group island tour is worth booking for your first morning if you have no car. The Archaeological Museum and Delos are paid at the door and need no booking in advance, although the Ephorate also sells e-tickets for Delos.
How many days
Three full days is a good first visit. One day for Chora, the Archaeological Museum and sunset at Little Venice and the windmills; one day for Delos, with a swim in the afternoon; and one day for Ano Mera, the quiet north coast beaches or a cruise. Add a fourth day as a weather buffer, because the Delos boats only sail when the sea allows and the meltemi, the strong north wind, can cancel them.
Getting to Delos
Delos is the headline sight and it needs an early start. Boats leave from the small quay opposite the church of Agios Nikolaos on the town beach, near the Old Port, and the crossing takes about half an hour. The site ticket is bought separately at the entrance. There is little shade, so take water, a hat and sun cream, and go on the first boat in summer. Treat Delos as a single sight and give it half a day.
Getting there and around
Flights from Athens run all year and take well under an hour, while direct international flights are mostly summer only. Ferries from Piraeus use the New Port at Tourlos, a few kilometres north of town, with more sailings in summer and occasional cancellations in strong wind. Chora itself is walkable and car-free, so you get out of taxis at the edge of the old town and walk. For Ano Mera and the beaches, rent a car or scooter, take taxis, or use the local buses, which run more often in summer.
Where the headline sights fit
Day one: walk Chora in the morning, visit the Archaeological Museum, look for the pelicans at the Old Port and finish with sunset at Little Venice and the windmills, with Paraportiani a few steps away. Day two: Delos by the first boat, then lunch in town. Day three: drive or take a tour to Ano Mera for the Tourliani monastery and a taverna lunch, then a beach. The quiet north coast beaches suit anyone who wants to avoid the party scene, while the south coast beach clubs only open for the summer.
Weather and packing
Summer is hot and dry, with the north wind stronger than the heat suggests, so pack sun protection and a light layer for the evenings. Most of the year’s rain falls between November and March, when a windproof jacket and shoes with grip for the polished stone lanes are essential. Walking Chora is best early in the morning, and sunsets are earlier in winter, so start the day early whatever the month.
