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Activities & sightseeing

The most obvious place to spend a day is on one of the many white sand beaches that the island has to offer. But there is much more to do than just soaking up the sun and swimming in the cool water.

Entertain yourself in Mykonos

Shopping
Mykonos is an inexhaustible shopper’s paradise, with Matoyiannia being one the most expensive streets in Europe, both in terms of prices as well as rents! Shops in Mykonos sell handmade mosaics, textiles and jewellery, while the world’s grandest brands are on sale in the boutiques of Chora. Mykonos should not be exclusively associated with luxury restaurants and pretentious cuisine. Taste the island’s rich local flavours and recipes. The book “Mykonos cuisine – A Mosaic of Culture” (ed. Indiktos) by Dimitris Rousounelos deserves a look. If not in the mood for reading, queue for a seat in “Maereio” for traditional dishes. Do not leave Mykonos without trying traditional almond sweets and soumada (refreshingly made from almond milk) at “Efthimiou” in Steno in Chora. Get some Myconos “louza” (traditional sausage from locally grown pork) and the spicy cheese “kopanisti”, the perfect accompaniment to ouzo.

Ano Mera
Explore the traditional farmsteads and village architecture in Ano Mera. An ideal spot for a relaxing stroll, the village offers its ancient settlement of Palaiokastro for a visit. A short distance away, the Panagia Tourliani monastery –founded in 1542- is worth the walk to marvel at its decorations, episcopal throne and Florentine woodworks.

Daily Trip to Delos
A short distance from Mykonos stands the tiny island of Delos. The island –one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites- has been inhabited since the 3rd millennium BC and was considered one of Antiquity’s holiest sites. In the island’s North you’ll come across the Gallery, the Agora, the theatre and the ruins of three temples.
Boats leaving Chora every day except Monday will bring you to Delos in a mere 20 minutes. Departures from the pier of Palio Limani from 09:00 to 12:50. Return trips from Delos are at 12:15, 13:30 and 15:00.

Art & Culture
In the town of Mykonos you will find many art galleries and see exhibitions hosted in the Municipal Gallery. In the summer, performances and concerts are held at the Grypareion Cultural Center, 1 km from Chora or at the “Theatraki tis Lakkas” or even watch a film at the open air cinema “Cine Manto” in the Meletopoulos Garden.

Windsurfing and Kitesurfing
As many of the islands of the Cyclades, Mykonos Greece is blessed by the strong northern winds called meltemia.
Windsurfing lovers and experienced will find their paradises in the beaches of Ftelia and Kalafati, which are offering the ideal conditions for windsurfing.
For the beginners, most of the organized beaches of Mykonos Island propose windsurfing courses, protected from the violent winds.

Diving
Mykonos diving is a very developed activity on the island. Due to the large number of tourists who visit Mykonos every summer and the interesting diving sites that are found around the island, many Mykonos diving centers have opened offering courses and trips in the open sea. Most diving centers in Mykonos are found in the beaches on the southern side of the island, which are the most popular, such as the beaches of Paradise, Super Paradise, Agios Ioannis and Kalafatis.
Interesting diving sites for novice or experienced divers are found all around Mykonos island. Very popular is the Paradise Reef, a reef with wide diversity of marine life, such as sponges, barracuda, starfish and octopus. Another diving site is Dragonisi, an uninhabited islet with spectacular rock formations. A challenging Mykonos diving spot is the Anna II shipwreck as it is found at a depth of 18-35 metres.

Horseback Riding
Horse riding in Mykonos is not a particularly popular sports but it could be a nice experience if you are interested to do something very special on the island. Riding tours in Mykonos lead to secluded beaches, old sightseeing, small chapels and spots with breathtaking view. In particular, Mykonos riding tours can be sunset tours, family tours or even tours for therapeutic riding.

Places to visit

Little Venice
Little Venice is one of the most romantic places in the whole of Mykonos. This neighborhood is replete with elegant and gorgeous old houses that are situated precariously on the edge of the sea. Many discerning travelers in the past have fallen in love with this charming quarter to its magnetic appeal. Quite amazing are the sunset views from Little Venice.

Windmills
The windmills are the quintessential features of Mykonos landscape. There are plenty of them that have become a part and parcel of Mykonos. Visitors to Mykonos can see the windmills irrespective of the locale. From a distance one can easily figure out the windmills, courtesy of their silhouette.

Panagia Paraportiani
The lovely church of Panagia (Virgin Mary) Paraportiani is among the most photographed churches not only in Mykonos, but in the whole world. It is located at the entrance of Kastro neighbourhood, right by the sea. Its name (Paraportiani) actually means standing next to the entrance door, meaning that the church was next to the Castle door.
The special thing about this church is that it actually consists of five small churches that were built one on top or next to the other.
ESPA