Mykonos has a reputation as one of the most expensive islands in Greece, and in July and August that reputation is fair. But the island is more affordable than its image suggests if you choose your dates, your base and your activities with care. Much of what makes Mykonos worth visiting costs nothing: the lanes of Chora, the windmills, the churches, the harbour and many beaches. The trick is to spend on the few things that matter and to avoid the traps.
Choose your dates
The biggest saving is the calendar. Hotel prices in July and August can be several times higher than in May, June or late September, and the same goes for sunbeds, taxis and restaurant tables. Late spring and early autumn give you warm weather, open shops and calmer streets, and in the shoulder months you will often find better rooms for less. Check each hotel’s opening dates, because many close in winter and a few shut in mid-October.
Choose your base
Staying in or near Mykonos Town means you can walk to Little Venice, the windmills, the Old Port and the Delos boats, and avoid the cost of daily taxis. Hotel Lefteris, a small eleven-room hotel on Apollonos street one minute from Matoyianni Street, is the budget pick in this guide. It is simple, with a rooftop terrace, no parking and no breakfast, but nowhere else is so central at this price. Taxis cannot reach the door and there are stairs, so pack light. Porto Mykonos Hotel is a step up and has free parking, a pool and sea views near the Old Port. Beach areas such as Platis Gialos and Ornos are pleasant but pricier in summer, and transport to town adds up.
See the free sights first
Walk Mykonos Town early in the morning, when the lanes are empty and the light is soft, then continue to the windmills, Little Venice and the church of Panagia Paraportiani. Watch the pelican at the Old Port. Drive or take a bus to Ano Mera and look at the monastery of Panagia Tourliani, and watch the sunset at Armenistis Lighthouse, which is free to see from the outside. Public beaches have free sand, and you only need to pay if you want a sunbed or umbrella. Bring your own towel, water and snacks, and walk a little away from the clubs to find space.
Pay for the right things
Delos is the one paid sight you should not skip: the boat and the site ticket are separate, but together they cost far less than most cruises, and it is the highlight of the island. The Archaeological Museum and the Aegean Maritime Museum are small, quick visits. If you want to see the whole island in one morning and have no car, a small-group half-day tour with hotel pickup can be better value than renting a car, hiring a driver or paying for several taxis. For a boat day, a catamaran or sailing cruise that includes a meal and drinks can work out cheaper than paying for lunch, drinks and transport separately.
Eat like a local
A bakery breakfast of a cheese or spinach pie and a coffee costs a fraction of a hotel buffet. For lunch, look for tavernas away from the harbour front, order a few shared plates and a salad, and ask the price of fish before you order. Souvlaki and gyros shops in town are cheap and filling, and supermarkets sell fruit, cheese and bread for picnics. A single cocktail at sunset in Little Venice can cost as much as a taverna meal, so treat it as a treat rather than a nightly habit. Choose the house wine in a jug, which is usually good and much cheaper than a bottle.
Get around cheaply
Public buses connect Mykonos Town with the main beaches, Ano Mera and the airport area, and they are by far the cheapest way to move around, even if the timetable is thin in the evening and in winter. Taxis are limited and expensive, and in July and August you may have to queue. If you want a car or scooter, book early and compare quad and car prices, but remember that parking in town is scarce. Walking is free and in Chora it is the only option anyway.
A simple budget plan
Visit in late May or September. Stay near the Old Port or in the old town. Spend day one walking Chora and the free sights, day two on Delos, day three on a bus to Ano Mera and a quiet beach. Eat at bakeries and local tavernas, and keep your splurge for one sunset drink and one good dinner. You will see the best of Mykonos for a fraction of what the headlines suggest.
