Many people meet Mykonos in a hurry: a cruise ship that docks at breakfast and leaves in the late afternoon, a ferry stop between other islands or a single weekend before a flight home. The island is small enough to enjoy in a short visit, but only if you plan the hours well, because the lanes are slow, the roads are busy and the wind can change the plan. This guide shows how to get the most out of a few hours, a day or a weekend, what to book ahead and what to leave for another trip.
If you have five or six hours from a cruise ship
Decide what you want before you get off. If it is the old town, the windmills and a sunset-style view, you can do that on foot and with a taxi in a morning. If it is a beach, choose a south-coast bay close to the port and go straight there. A small-group shore excursion is the simplest option, because it is timed to return you to the ship, and a guide handles the logistics. Whatever you do, check your ship’s all-aboard time and set an alarm for the return, because the ship will not wait.
Beat the crowds
When several ships are in port at once, the lanes of Chora fill between ten and three. Walk through the old town as soon as you arrive, before the main crowd, and leave the beach for the middle of the day. Little Venice and the windmills are best at the start or end of the day, and the Archaeological Museum is a cool and quiet break when the lanes are busy. Wear comfortable shoes with grip, because the polished stone lanes are slippery, and bring water and a hat.
Do not try to fit in Delos on a short call
Delos is the headline sight, but it needs the better part of a morning, with a boat each way, and the site has little shade. If your ship leaves at five, you can sometimes manage a half-day Delos tour, but it will be tight, and the boats are cancelled in strong wind. If Delos matters to you, plan an overnight stay instead, take the first boat and return to Chora for lunch.
If you have a day on the ground
A day gives you room for one big thing and one small thing. A half-day island tour is a good big thing, because it links the town, the windmills, Ano Mera and a beach in a few hours, and a sunset walk or a drink at Little Venice is a good small thing. If you prefer to be active, a quad or jeep tour takes you away from the crowds, and a cruise gives you the south-coast beaches without a car.
A weekend plan
On day one, arrive and walk Chora in the afternoon, then watch the sunset from the windmills or Little Venice and book a late dinner. On day two, take the first boat to Delos, return for a late lunch and swim at a nearby beach. On day three, if you have it, take a boat trip or visit a quiet north-coast bay before your flight or ferry. Leave a gap for the wind: if the boats do not run, use the day for the museums, a cooking class or a tasting, which are all indoors.
Where to sleep
For a short stay, choose a hotel you can walk from. Mykonos Theoxenia and Cavo Tagoo are close to the old town, and Semeli is a calm base above it. If you arrive late or leave early, a hotel near the airport or the port saves time, and if you want a beach, Platis Gialos or Agios Ioannis are convenient. Many hotels are seasonal and have minimum stays in July and August, so confirm availability early, and book for midweek if you want a better price.
Getting around
In Chora, you walk. Taxis are limited, expensive and in short supply in summer, so book transfers in advance and allow extra time. Local buses link the town with the main beaches and Ano Mera, and water taxis run between the south-coast beaches in the summer. If you rent a car or a quad, take care on the narrow roads and park only in legal spaces. Because the island is small, a guided tour with a driver is often the least stressful way to see a lot in a short time.
What to skip
You cannot see everything, so choose. Skip the long beach-club afternoons if you are on a tight schedule, skip the farther museums unless you love archaeology and skip long drives to the north coast unless you want a wild beach. What you should not skip is a slow walk through the lanes, a drink at sunset and a swim, because those three things are what most people remember. Come back for Delos, the quiet beaches and the food on a longer visit.
