The Best Things to Do in Mykonos, Greece

The 15 Best Things to do in Mykonos, Greece

Famous for its sleepy coastal villages with instantly recognizable Cycladic architecture and home to some of the coolest clubs with the world’s best international DJs, Mykonos is an amazingly unique place to visit.

If your idea of the perfect vacation is to enjoy long, lazy days relaxing in the sunshine before making the most of one of Europe’s coolest nightlife scenes, you can’t do better than this cosmopolitan Greek island. And don’t worry about getting bored. Picture-perfect Mykonos has so much to offer that you can easily create an amazing itinerary, however long you plan on visiting.

With so many great activities and attractions to choose from, you might not know where to begin. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of the absolute best things to do in Mykonos. Add these things to your Mykonos bucket list and have fun exploring Greece’s most vibrant party island!

Don’t forget to check out our web story: The 15 Best Things to do in Mykonos, Greece

The 15 Best things to do in Mykonos

1. Step Back in Time at Delos

Best Things to do in Mykonos: Delos

One of the most fascinating things to see in Mykonos is Delos, a tiny uninhabited island that can be reached by catching a ferry from the Old Port in Mykonos Town. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is believed to be one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and, according to Greek mythology, is said to be the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. 

There are so many fascinating things to discover that you can easily spend half a day here. From terraces, sanctuaries, and temples to statues, fountains, and market squares, there’s a surprising amount to discover in such a small space. As Delos was one of Mykonos’ most important religious centers in 1400 BC, this is likely to be the oldest place you’ve ever visited!

Don’t miss the Hellenistic mosaics found at the House of Dionysos. Unlike modern mosaic artwork, which is often simple aesthetically-pleasing shapes, these ancient mosaics depict stories from captivating myths featuring Greek gods. The bronze mask of Dionysos, which dates back to the 2nd century BC, is also worth seeking out.


2. Watch a Movie Under the Stars

Best Things to do in Mykonos: Cine Manto
Images courtesy of Cine Manto

If you’re planning to travel during the summer, one of the must-do things in Mykonos is to watch a movie at Cine Manto, the island’s open-air cinema. Hidden away in the center of Mykonos Town and shrouded in lush greenery, the cinema looks more like a botanical garden than a place to catch up on the latest releases.

Pine trees, cacti, and palm trees provide natural decor for the outdoor cinema, as well as a much-needed wind barrier, making the cinema a great choice no matter how windy it is! There are two screenings each day, and the movies are always in their original English version with Greek subtitles. The only exception is kids’ movies, which are dubbed in Greek.

We definitely recommend you order food as you’re watching the movie. Every night, the staff prepares a huge BBQ dinner with a Greek feast. There’s also a fantastic selection of local wines to choose from to accompany your food.


3. Have the Place to Yourself at Agios Sostis Beach

Mykonos Bucket List: Agios Sostis Beach

Mykonos is famous for its Instagram-worthy beaches, and one of the best is Agios Sostis Beach. The perfect place to spend the day surrounded by peace and tranquility, this hidden gem in the north of the island is always quiet and serene – even in the height of summer.

Unlike the most popular beaches in Mykonos, Agios Sostis Beach isn’t lined by lively bars and restaurants. It doesn’t even have any sunbeds or beach facilities. What it does have is powder-soft white sand, sparkling aquamarine waters, and a rugged beauty you won’t be able to get enough of. 

The gentle slope of the beach and the calmness of the water makes it the perfect choice for families with young kids. However, the beach does attract all kinds of people, including the occasional nudist. If you get hungry, take a stroll north of the beach, and you’ll stumble across a cute taverna that dishes up local food and cheap drinks.

Like this post?! How about...
12 Cool Boutique Hotels in Mykonos, Greece

4. Spread Kopanisti on Freshly-Baked Bread

What to do in Mykonos: Kopanisti on Freshly-Baked Bread

If you’re a fan of cheese, one of the best Mykonos activities is to dig into kopanisti. At Mykonian restaurants, the appetizer is often served for free as soon as you sit down. But if you’ve never tried it before, kopanisti is an incredible cheese that can easily compete with anything you’ll find elsewhere in Europe.

Often nicknamed “Greek Roquefort,” kopanisti is a thick, creamy cheese with a delicate texture that makes it ideal for spreading in a thick layer on fresh-from-the-oven bread. It has an intense peppery flavor that some describe as an acquired taste and is yellow-pink in color. Made exclusively from sheep’s milk or a combination of goat and sheep’s milk, kopanisti takes around four months to produce, two of which are dedicated to the maturing process.

If you’re not served kopanisti as you’re seated at your table, it’s almost certain to be available on the menu as an appetizer or part of a mezze platter. Try it alongside a glass of local white wine, and you’ll be in heaven!


5. Explore Mykonos by Bike

Cool Things to do in Mykonos: Mykonos by Bike

Discover the best sights in Mykonos in one of the most fun and high-speed ways – by bike! If you’re feeling adventurous, you can rent a bike from your resort and go exploring on your own. Take a picnic with you or plan your route so you can stop off at a quaint Greek taverna for lunch. 

If you’d prefer someone else to do the organizing for you, sign up for a guided bike tour. For an intimate experience, choose the Romantic Ride at Dusk. This route is suitable for all levels and is relatively short at just less than six miles.

On the tour, you’ll cycle to a secluded point where you’ll stop for a picnic of wine and local nibbles as the sun sets. Your guide will provide romantic candles and a blanket, just in case it gets chilly. They’ll also carry all the stuff for you, so you don’t have to worry about it!

When you arrive, your guide will give you some alone time so you can enjoy each other’s company before guiding you back. It’s a wonderful choice if you’re planning on proposing in Mykonos!


6. Party the Night Away at a Beach Club

Must do things in Mykonos: Beach Club

The beach clubs in Mykonos are some of the most beautiful and high-octane in the world. Even if you don’t think you’re really into clubbing or late-night partying, you’ve got to at least pay one a visit! 

Cavo Paradiso is one of the most legendary beach clubs in Mykonos. Set into a small cliff overlooking the sea, this club has a giant open-air dance floor that fills with partygoers every night throughout the summer. World-renowned DJs feature almost every night, and there’s a shuttle bus service to and from Mykonos Town.

If you’d prefer to party during the day, consider Super Paradise Beach Club. Set on its own private beach, this club is the place to see and be seen. 

International celebrities, models, and excited visitors looking for a good time head to its shores to lounge on the golden sand, sip exotic cocktails, and listen to cool music. Spontaneous parties can start at any time – so be prepared!

Like this post?! How about...
The 25 Best Things to do in Greece

7. Transport Yourself to Venice at Alefkandra

Mykonos Things to do: Venice at Alefkandra

Visit Venice without ever leaving Greece by taking a stroll around Alefkandra. Fondly known as Little Venice, thanks to its colorful buildings built on the edge of the sea, this neighborhood is one of the most charming and captivating in all of Mykonos.

Originally houses, many of the buildings have since been converted into sophisticated restaurants and elegant bars where you can indulge in fine local food and wine. Alefkandra is one of the best places in Mykonos to watch the sunset, but it can be pretty difficult to get a table at the best-positioned dining venues, especially during summer. Because of this, we recommend you make a reservation in advance, so you don’t miss out!

Nice n Easy is a great place to watch the sunset. This beautiful restaurant has cute wood tables set onto the terrace right next to the sea. As the sun sets, you’ve got the perfect view of the Mykonos windmills and Little Venice’s quaint houses being bathed in golden sunlight.


8. Spend a Day at the Lively Platis Gialos Beach

Must do things in Mykonos: Platis Gialos Beach

Mykonos is brimming with amazing beaches, and one of the best is Platis Gialos Beach. Here you’ll find a huge expanse of golden sand lined with countless sun loungers and parasols. The sand gently slopes into the sparkling waters that are just begging you to hop in and take a dip. 

If you’ve got your own snorkeling equipment, it’s definitely worth bringing with you. The water is so clear that you can see all sorts of small fish near the rocks.

The beach is lined with restaurants, bars, and a convenience store, giving you a variety of choices when lunchtime rolls around. It’s got great connections, too. There are direct buses into Mykonos Town and water taxis to other beaches.

For a gorgeous shot of Platis Gialos Beach, climb one of the nearby hills. They’re relatively small, but your effort will be rewarded with an incredible bird’s-eye view across the shore which you can share with your friends. If you time your ascent for sunset, your photo will be even more spectacular! 


9. Learn How to Cook Authentic Mykonian Cuisine

Unique Things to do in Mykonos: Cook Authentic Mykonian Cuisine

If you like getting creative in the kitchen, one of the best things to do in Mykonos is to sign up for a cooking class led by a local family. During this workshop, you’ll visit a Mykonian family’s home and learn to cook some of their favorite dishes.

The tour lasts six hours and is a great way to expand your culinary repertoire. Teta, your host and chef teacher, will reveal the cooking tricks and techniques that have made Greek cuisine so popular all over the world.

While you’re learning, you’ll get to sample some delicious local snacks and drinks, including kopanisti, louza (pork), wine, and raki (pomace brandy made from grapes). You’ll also get a chance to stroll through her gorgeous organic vegetable garden to pick up the fresh ingredients you’ll need for cooking.

When we were there, we made the most amazing stuffed peppers, spinach pie, and beef with orzo. At the end of the day, all your hard work is rewarded as you’re invited to dig into the feast you lovingly created. If you’re lucky, Teta will even put together a bag of local treats for you to take home!

Like this post?! How about...
The 15 Best Things to do in Santorini, Greece

10. Let Your Hair Down at the Mykonos Summer Festival

Must do things in Mykonos: Mykonos Summer Festival

One of the top things to do in Mykonos is to party at one of the biggest events of the year – the Mykonos Summer Festival! Held at various venues throughout the island each summer, this festival is one of the best things to do in Mykonos, whether you’re traveling solo, as a family, as a couple, or as a group.

The festival boasts an action-packed lineup with amazing theatrical performances, magical open-air concerts, fascinating art exhibitions, and loads more. Hundreds of people from all around the world flock to the tiny island to show off their talents, while even more come to admire the incredible performances and masterpieces on display. 

Dates for the Mykonos Summer Festival vary every year, and there’s limited information available online. Because of this, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for posters advertising details when you’re there or ask for more info at your hotel’s reception.


11. Indulge Your Cultural Side at the Rarity Gallery

Fun Things to do in Mykonos: Rarity Gallery
Image courtesy of Rarity Gallery

When you’re stuck for what to do in Mykonos, give your brain a boost by paying a visit to the Rarity Gallery. Founded in 1994, this art museum provides a space for emerging international artists to show off their work. 

The gallery is set inside an early 20th century Mykonian manor house and, despite its small size, has hosted more than 80 different exhibits and group shows, encouraging visitors to reconsider the definition of art itself. 

For a piece to be put on display within the Rarity Gallery, it must meet several requirements. It must be original, have timeless artistic value, and have an elevated aesthetic quality. These strict criteria make it a captivating place to visit, even if you don’t consider yourself to be an art lover.

Some of the artists on display in recent years include Hong Sung Chul, best known for his 3D string sculptures, pop artist Julian Opie, and Carole Feuerman, renowned for her hyper-realistic sculptures.


12. Discover an Underwater Kingdom at Paradise Reef

Best Things to do in Mykonos: Paradise Reef

If you’re a fan of scuba diving, one of the coolest things to do in Mykonos is to go deep underwater and dive along Paradise Reef. Just off the coast of the famous Paradise Beach, Paradise Reef is one of the most popular places to dive in all of Mykonos, especially for beginners.

Here you can discover a huge array of tropical plants and marine life. From octopus and barracuda to starfish and moray eels, you can see all kinds of magical creatures here. 

There are several shoals of wrasses and groupers, which call the area home. They’re so friendly you can feed them from the palm of your hand if you’re brave enough!

If you’ve got your own scuba diving equipment, you can head along to Paradise Beach and go diving at Paradise Reef yourself. Alternately, get in touch with a local dive center (like Mykonos Diving Center) to help you organize your trip. 

They will take care of transport, equipment, and safety. Plus, they will make sure you have the best experience possible.

Like this post?! How about...
The 12 Best Luxury Hotels in Santorini, Greece

13. See Another Side of Mykonos at the Harvest Festival

Mykonos Bucket List: Harvest Festival

One of the most fun things to do in Mykonos at the start of fall is to join in with the Harvest Festival. Held each year on the second Sunday of September at the island’s Agricultural Museum, the Harvest Festival gives you an excellent opportunity to experience what Mykonos was like hundreds of years ago, well before the impact of the island’s hedonistic nightlife.

During the autumnal festival, villagers from all over the island bring their homemade food and wine for everyone to share. Folk groups play traditional Greek music, and everyone dances in celebration of the harvest feast. 

Don’t worry that you don’t have anything to bring. Just join in with the festive spirit, and you’ll have a great time!

Make sure you’ve got your phone handy because you’ll definitely want to take pictures. Locals often get dressed up in typical Mykonian clothes for this event, and they look fantastic dancing against the windmill backdrop.


14. Snack on Traditional Louza

Cool Things to do in Mykonos: Traditional Louza

When you need to take a break from all the Mykonos sightseeing, pop into a rustic taverna and order a plate of louza. An island specialty, louza is made up of thin slices of lightly spiced and cooked pork, a little like prosciutto.

There’s a lot of work that goes into making it. First, the pork fillets and tenderloins are cured in salt for 24 hours. The meat is then rinsed, dried, and flavored with herbs and spices. Afterward, the meat is stuffed into a pig’s intestine and left to cure for 20 to 25 days. 

It doesn’t sound particularly appetizing, but it tastes amazing! It’s so good you can easily eat it on its own in super-thin slices. But when paired with freshly-baked bread, juicy tomatoes, and local cheese, it’s even better. Louza is so popular that you’ll find it in practically every Greek restaurant you come across as an appetizer.


15. Take a Selfie with the Mykonos Windmills

Mykonos Things to do: Mykonos Windmills

Before you leave Mykonos, make sure you take a selfie with the island’s iconic windmills. There are 16 windmills on the island in total, seven of which are perched on a hill in Mykonos Town and are visible from practically every point of the neighborhood. Get up close, and you’ll find they make the perfect background for a cool vacation picture!

Most of Mykonos’ windmills were built in the 16th century by Venetians when they were originally used to mill wheat. They were used less throughout time and today are primarily a tourist attraction.

If you visit during the summer and you’ve got some time to spare, head for the Bonis Windmill, which stands alone overlooking the bay. You can reach it by climbing up the hill from the Old Port. The only windmill that’s open to the public from July to September, Bonis Windmill houses a museum where you can see where the flour was once weighed and where supplies were stored.

Like this post?! How about...
Visit These 4 Archaeological Wonders of Greece

There you have it! The 15 best things to do in Mykonos. What’s your favorite thing to do in Mykonos? 


SHARE THIS ON PINTEREST


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best beach in Mykonos?

Mykonos is famous for its Instagram-worthy beaches, and one of the best is Agios Sostis Beach. The perfect place to spend the day surrounded by peace and tranquility, this hidden gem in the north of the island is always quiet and serene – even in the height of summer. Unlike the most popular beaches in Mykonos, Agios Sostis Beach isn’t lined by lively bars and restaurants. It doesn’t even have any sunbeds or beach facilities. What it does have is powder-soft white sand, sparkling aquamarine waters, and a rugged beauty you won’t be able to get enough of.

What is the best food to try in Mykonos?

If you’re a fan of cheese, one of the best Mykonos activities is to dig into kopanisti. At Mykonian restaurants, the appetizer is often served for free as soon as you sit down. But if you’ve never tried it before, kopanisti is an incredible cheese that can easily compete with anything you’ll find elsewhere in Europe.

What is the coolest beach club in Mykonos?

The beach clubs in Mykonos are some of the most beautiful and high-octane in the world. Cavo Paradiso is one of the most legendary beach clubs in Mykonos. Set into a small cliff overlooking the sea, this club has a giant open-air dance floor that fills with partygoers every night throughout the summer. World-renowned DJs feature almost every night, and there’s a shuttle bus service to and from Mykonos Town.

What is the top attraction in Mykonos?

Before you leave Mykonos, make sure you take a selfie with the island’s iconic windmills. There are 16 windmills on the island in total, seven of which are perched on a hill in Mykonos Town and are visible from practically every point of the neighborhood. Get up close, and you’ll find they make the perfect background for a cool vacation picture!

What is the best festival in Mykonos?

One of the most fun things to do in Mykonos at the start of fall is to join in with the Harvest Festival. Held each year on the second Sunday of September at the island’s Agricultural Museum, the Harvest Festival gives you an excellent opportunity to experience what Mykonos was like hundreds of years ago. During the autumnal festival, villagers from all over the island bring their homemade food and wine for everyone to share.

What is the most famous historical landmark in Mykonos?

One of the most fascinating things to see in Mykonos is Delos, a tiny uninhabited island that can be reached by catching a ferry from the Old Port in Mykonos Town. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is believed to be one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and, according to Greek mythology, is said to be the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.


About the Author:

  • Nicola Quinn

    Nicola is a freelance writer with an insatiable hunger for travel. She swapped her home in the UK for the sunny Canary Islands when she was just 11 and she has been based there ever since.

    From crawling on her hands and knees inside pyramids in Egypt to swimming with baby sharks in Bali and searching (fruitlessly!) for the Northern Lights in Iceland, Nicola takes every chance she gets to explore new places.

    The incredible experiences she has around the world fuels her writing and inspires her to plan even more adventures for the future.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

325 Shares
Share
Pin325
Tweet