A Guide to Surviving Mykonos, Greece in your 30s

Ahhh Mykonos…one of the most famous islands in Greece if not in the entire world. Prior to visiting the Greek island of Mykonos, I had heard that it was the place to go if you want to party, which made me both excited and horrified all at once.

I’ve been known to enjoy a mid-day beach party and an after-hours dance club in my day. However, I am also acutely aware that I am beginning to be one of the oldest people there. Leading up to our arrival I began mentally prepping myself for what was sure to be an endless string of all-day beach parties followed by late nights on the town. I wasn’t nearly as prepared as I should have been.

Guide to Surviving Mykonos, Greece: Little Venice in Mykonos

The most popular beaches on Mykonos are Paradise Beach and Super Paradise Beach. These two beaches are definitely the place to go if you are looking to party as they are home to some of the best beach clubs in Mykonos.

Unfortunately, every square inch of both beaches is covered in lounge chairs. So your only real option at these two beaches is to pick a beach club and rent a chair. The day will start out pretty relaxing. As it turns into the afternoon, the music starts to get louder and the go-go dancers will be rocking out to remixes of the latest pop hits.

That means that if your idea of a “relaxing day at the beach” involves a good book and a little peace and quiet, Paradise Beach and Super Paradise Beach clearly won’t be your jam. Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever felt so old, sober, or conservatively dressed in my entire life.

While Mykonos is not somewhere I’ll likely return anytime soon (I prefer Santorini), I did manage to find a few enjoyable and a bit more age-appropriate activities. If you too find yourself overwhelmed on Mykonos, follow my tips to avoid needing a vacation from your vacation.

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Getting to Mykonos

Mykonos has a small international airport (Airport Code: JMK) and most visitors choose to arrive via airplane. The other option is to travel to Mykonos by ferry. There are dozens of ferry routes that connect all of the major Greek Islands like Mykonos, Santorini, Ios, Paros, etc.

Getting from the airport or ferry port to your hotel is, unfortunately, more expensive than it should be. The taxis on Mykonos are known for ripping off tourists. A taxi from the airport should be no more than 20€ but they frequently overcharge.

Make sure you check with your hotel before your arrival in Mykonos to see if they can provide an airport pickup service. At the time we visited, they did not yet have Uber but it was coming soon.

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Guide to Surviving Mykonos, Greece in your 30s

1. Wander the Alleyways at Sunrise

Guide to Surviving Mykonos, Greece: Beautiful streets of Mykonos
#Happiness

Visiting the city center of Mykonos anytime between the hours of 11 am and 8 pm will require you to push your way through hordes of tour groups in the blazing sun. And from 11 pm until the wee hours of the morning, the streets are again filled with college students pounding shots and dancing in the streets or spilling out of one of the many techno-music-blasting nightclubs.

If you really want to experience the beauty of the whitewashed buildings and the pristine cobblestone streets, get there early. Aside from the morning deliveries, you’ll pretty much have the place all to yourself. Take photos of the beautiful white buildings smattered with bursts of bright colors and enjoy a coffee and some yogurt with fresh fruit at Popolo Cafe.

The waterfront restaurants will begin to fill up with people around 10 am with clattering silverware sounds. You’ll be amazed by how the streets are almost unrecognizable as they come to life.

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2. Rent a 4-Wheeler and Explore the Less Crowded Beaches in the North

One of the best things to do on Mykonos is to explore the more remote northern side of the island via moped or 4-wheeler. Mykonos is fairly small and the roads are mostly paved. Even if you don’t have experience driving a moped or ATV, you’ll have an easy time driving in Mykonos.

You can rent a decent 4-wheeler from a variety of shops sprinkled all over the island for 30€ for a 24-hour period. Load up on snacks and water, don’t forget sunscreen and a beach towel, and head north to Agios Sostis and Panormos beaches for a day of lounging.

Guide to Surviving Mykonos, Greece: Rent an ATM in Mykonos

Most of the popular beaches in Mykonos fill every square inch of beach space with lounge chairs. They charge anywhere from 10€ to 100€ to occupy it for the day. Panormos Beach is half-resort with beach chairs and half sandy public beach. We thought it was one of the best beaches in Mykonos. Vendors selling ice-cold beers and donuts will wander by occasionally.

Guide to Surviving Mykonos, Greece: Panormos Beach
Panormos Beach

Agios Sostis is a protected area so there are no resorts in sight and only one tiny restaurant option. Since there’s no electricity, it’s all grilled meats and fresh salads. You can expect to wait at least an hour for a table. The crystal clear water and the undeveloped beach are stunning. It’s also too far for most tourists to travel to, so you’ll find it far less populated than the southern beaches.


3. Lounge at the Pool

Guide to Surviving Mykonos, Greece: Enjoying the Swimming Pool

This hotel is quite popular, but it is not a “party scene”. You won’t find any thumping dance music or go-go dancers here. They have an amazingly helpful and friendly staff, reasonably priced snacks and drinks, and lots of options for lounging. The rooms are also quite large and each has its own patio if the pool gets too crowded for your liking. There are also plenty of other hotels on Mykonos with beautiful, pristine pools to choose from.

Artemoula’s Studios Hotel in Mykonos is conveniently located near the beach and just a few minutes walk to a grocery store, a delicious cafe, and the bus stop. Get up early to grab a prime cushioned spot. Then, spend the day sipping delicious cheap white wine from the bar and lazily floating in the peaceful and pristine pool.

When you get hungry, head down to Avli Tou Thodori on Platis Yialos beach. It’s one of the best restaurants in Mykonos and is extremely popular. Be sure to call ahead if you want a table with a view.

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4. Soak in the Sunset From Above

Similar to the way that the beaches of Mykonos are filled to the brim with beach chairs, the seafront of Little Venice is teaming with tables vying for the best views of the sea. To get around, you must weave your way through the mass of tables. It is an unpleasant walking experience and likely an even worse dining experience.

But a few spots such as Gelleraki Cocktail Bar offer second-story patio tables where you can watch the madness unfold below you from a comfortable distance.

Guide to Surviving Mykonos, Greece:Sunset in Little Venice, Mykonos, Greece
Sunset from Gelleraki

The sunsets in Mykonos are absolutely stunning and you’ll have the best view in town! If you have a 4-wheeler, you can also venture up the hill to 180º Sunset Bar. It offers beautiful views of the city below, delicious martinis, and sweet jams.

And while you’re there, why not let loose a bit and shake your booty like it’s 1999 at least once? You’re on the biggest party island in all of Greece, live it up!


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About the Author:

  • Valerie Wheatley

    Val grew up in Portland, Oregon but moved to Oahu on a whim back in 2013. She sold her house and all of her belongings and bought a one-way ticket. Since then she’s taken two around-the-world trips and has visited 60-ish countries while living out of a duffel bag.

    Val started documenting the Wandering Wheatleys travels back in 2013 as a way to update friends and family about her whereabouts and to relay humorous daily interactions. The only readers were her mom and her mother-in-law but that didn’t stop her!

    These days you’ll find Val dreaming up future trips, creating new travel content, managing a team of amazing travel enthusiasts, and chasing around her two adorable but naughty kids.

2 thoughts on “A Guide to Surviving Mykonos, Greece in your 30s”

  1. I visited Mykonos a few years ago when I was still in my 20s. I did my partying part, but also enjoyed the beaches (the virgin ones, not the Paaraise and etc), the town and traveling around the island. I would definitely go back for the lively vibe in town and the beauty of the island, even though partying would not be the main purpose now 🙂
    Last year I went to Santorini and I have to say I preferred Mykonos more.

  2. faillaughlearn

    This blog is beautiful guys! I love following your travels and can’t wait to see what you write about Canada 😉

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