Is Mykonos Worth Visiting, or It's an Overrated Island?

If this is your first time in Mykonos and you are not sure whether it’s worth visiting, keep reading. You may have heard a lot about this island and maybe not all of it was good. Yes, Mykonos is one of Greece’s most popular islands, yet people have very mixed feelings about it. Some say it’s crowded, touristy and overhyped. Others say it’s their favorite Greek island for its beauty, activities and nightlife. So who is right?

image of Mykonos town, one of the reasons to visit Mykonos Mykonos

Like with everything in life, attractiveness depends on the perspective of the beholder; meaning that beauty is subjective and influenced by individual experiences and cultural norms. What one person finds attractive, another might not. That being said, there are both good and bad things to be said about Mykonos and once you are aware of them you can decide whether the island it’s worth visiting or not.

How did Mykonos gain its fame?

Mykonos is a very small, barren island with a total area of around 85.5 square kilometers (33 square miles) and a population of only 10 thousand permanent residents. Landscape wise, it doesn’t even compare to other lush Greek islands like Crete, Kefalonia, or Corfu. Then why is it so popular?

Back in the 1950’s Mykonos was a simple fishing island where the most common sights were fishing boats in the harbor and handcrafts.

However that changed in the 1960s, when celebrities like Jackie Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis began frequenting the island. That helped Mykonos establish itself as a luxurious destination with a cosmopolitan vibe, a vibrant nightlife and a gay-friendly scene.

image of St. John Hotel resort in Mykonos St. John Hotel & Resort

Mykonos was successful at attracting wealthy entrepreneurs because the island felt like it had no rules. More and more tourists who wanted to escape their work-dominated routines and enjoy a bohemian lifestyle started flocking here, so Mykonos became their paradise.

What is worth visiting on Mykonos Island

Although it’s not one of my favorite Greek islands, Mykonos has quite a few nice places to visit.

Mykonos Town

The biggest attraction on the island is Mykonos Town (a.k.a Chora), a charming maze of narrow alleys with blue-white houses, colorful bougainvilleas, and a great array of small luxury boutiques and fancy restaurants. When visiting Mykonos Town, you shouldn’t miss:

The Iconic Windmills

These are especially beautiful at sunset. The whitewashed, rounded windmills with pointed roofs and small windows were once an important source of income for the island’s inhabitants.

Is Mikonos worth visiting The windmills in Mykonos town

The Church of Panagia Paraportiani

This unique church located in the Kastro neighborhood is one of the most photographed churches in Greece. The special thing about the church is that it consists of five small churches, built one on top or next to the other. The five churches were not constructed at once, but gradually over the centuries.

image depicting Panagia Paraportiani in Mykonos Panagia Paraportiani

Little Venice Neighborhood

Little Venice is one of the places truly worth visiting on Mykonos island. It is not only pretty and romantic, but also very authentic. The neighborhood is packed with colorful old houses hanging precariously on the edge of the land.

Little Venice neighborhood in Mykonos Town Little Venice neighborhood

Many of these historic homes have been transformed into a variety of cozy restaurants, trendy bars, shops and nightclubs, overlooking the sea.

Matoyianni Street

Matogianni (Matoyianni) is the most popular street in Mykonos for a good reason. What makes it truly unique is its cobblestone ground and white houses. There are beautiful flowers that embellish every corner as you walk by.

image depicting Matoyianni Street, worth visiting in Mykonos Matoyianni Street

But perhaps the biggest attractions on this street are the numerous boutiques and souvenir shops. If you want to go shopping in Mykonos, this is where you’d come.

Old Port of Mykonos

Mykonos has two ports, located about two kilometers apart: The Old Port which serves local boats and the New Port/Tourlos whichserves ferries and all cruise ships that dock in Mykonos. While there is nothing special about the New Port, the Old Port has a lot going for it.

image depicting the Old Port in Mykonos Old Port in Mykonos

Located right in the heart of Mykonos Town, just behind Little Venice, the Old Port is full of life 24 hours a day. This is where you’ll find the traditional fish market as well as numerous shops, bars and restaurants. Around its rocky dock you can still see the traditional wooden vessels used for fishing. The northern part of the Old Port is the spot from where many organized tours and small cruises depart.

Also, don’t miss the seaside promenade lining the historic harbor in Mykonos Town. The walkway starts at the northern edge of the Old Port and continues all the way to the windmills. Walking alongside this promenade is an experience in itself.

Delos Island

If you are a fan of Greek mythology, a visit to the adjacent Delos island is a must and an adventure that you shouldn’t miss if you are in Mykonos. This is a historically significant ancient Greek site where you can explore well-preserved ruins including the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Terrace of the Lions, and other important monuments.

images depicting the archeological site on Delos Island Delos Archeological site

Delos is an uninhabited island, so there are no lodging options, no airports and no direct ferries from mainland Greece. The only way to visit it is by booking a ferry from the closest island, which is Mykonos. During the summer months, ferry routes from other nearby islands (Naxos, Paros, Tinos, Syros) are also available.

The Beaches

Mykonos has many beautiful beaches, most of which have easy access, slowly descending water depths and crystal-clear waters. However, none of them compares to the beaches in Ithaca, Zakinthosh, or Crete.

image of a crowded beach in Mykonos Remote beach in Mykonos

Most of the beaches in Mykonos are very crowded, especially during the high season. But if you hire a boat you can get to some that are absolutely pristine.

image depicting a pristine beach I Mykonos Pristine beach in Mykonos

Some of the beaches worth visiting are:

Kalafatis Beach: A family-friendly beach on the southeastern coast of Mykonos
Psarou Beach: A romantic area with a waterfront and lively bars
Platis Gialos: A lively beach with loungers, umbrellas, bars, and restaurants
Super Paradise Beach: A beach known for its parties and crystal-clear blue waters

image of a restaurant in Mykonos. Restaurant next to the main beach in Mykonos

The Downside of Visiting Mykonos

There are quite a few drawbacks that make Mykonos less desirable than other Greek islands.

The High Costs

On the less positive side, the costs associated with visiting Mykonos are very high. Starting with accommodations and continuing with boat rentals and restaurants, everything is insanely expensive on this island.

image of jewelry stores in Mykonos town Jewelry stores in Mykonos Town

To say nothing about the stores, most of which sell designer clothes, handbags and jewelry at prices that are even higher than the ones you’ll find in the department stores in Paris!

The Barren Landscape

Another disappointment is the island’s landscape, which is relatively flat with few hilly areas and completely barren. It’s mostly rocky, arid terrain with very little vegetation and a lack of rivers. This is a typical feature of the Cycladic islands in Greece. And for this reason, Mykonos is not a hiking friendly destination.

image depicting the barren landscape of Mykonos Barren landscape on Mykonos island

The Roads

Roads in Mykonos are narrow and overcrowded with cars, busses, trucks, mopeds and quads. The pavements are either shattered (and often lined with trash) or non-existent. You can also throw potholes into the mix.

The Crowds

Perhaps the most annoying thing in Mykonos are the huge crowds. The island is jam packed with tourists not only during the peak season, but almost throughout the year. We visited late October, which is the end of the shoulder season, and every single day there were 4-5 big cruise ships anchored in the port.

If you consider that each of these cruise ships carries a minimum of 5000 passengers, that means that at least 25,000-30,000 people roam around the small streets of Mykonos town at the same time.

This is in addition to the thousands of tourists that are already on the island and those that arrived daily from the main land in big busses via ferry boats. Overtourism makes it difficult to find a quiet, peaceful spot to relax on the island and will eventually lead to environmental degradation, affecting local ecosystems and local communities.

When should you visit Mykonos?

High season in Mykonos is June to September, so hotel prices are at their highest and the beaches, restaurants and nightclubs are packed. Summer is also party time, so expect concerts and loud music everywhere. Not to mention XLSIOR in August, a five-day clubbing festival that attracts some 30,000 gay revelers!

Shoulder season (April to early June, late September and October) is arguably a more pleasant time to visit. The temperatures are lower while the water is still perfect for swimming. However, don’t expect empty beaches or low accommodation prices.

image deicting Mykonos in October Visiting Mykonos in October

In winter is too cold for sunbathing and swimming, but that’s the only time of the year when you’ll see empty beaches and plenty of bargain accommodations. The good thing is that many of the restaurants in Mykonos stay open year-round, unlike on other Greek islands. On the less positive side, winter can bring fierce storms and ferries are limited.

How much time should you spend on Mykonos?

We spent 3 full days in Mykonos and felt this was just about the right amount of time for this island. We spent the mornings exploring the beaches and the afternoons visiting the shops, restaurants and bars of Mykonos Town. One afternoon we caught a boat to the sacred island of Delos.

How to get to Mykonos?

There are frequent ferries that connect Mykonos Island with Athens’ ports of Rafina and Piraeus. During the high season the high-speed catamarans link Mykonos with numerous other Cycladic islands, including Santorini and Paros.

Mykonos Airport also has year-round flights between Athens and many European destinations. Even though Mykonos is a small island, I would advise renting a car, moped or ATV to properly explore it.

In Conclusion

Whether Mykonos is worth visiting or not depends entirely on what you’re looking for in a vacation: if you want a vibrant nightlife scene, beautiful resorts, stunning whitewashed houses, and are okay with crowds and high prices, then Mykonos could be a great choice.

image of shops in Mykonos Shops in Mykonos

However, if you prefer a more relaxed, budget-friendly experience, you might want to consider other Greek islands. Although included in many Greek islands itineraries, Mykonos is considered a very touristy and expensive island. We liked it, but would not consider returning there. There are so many more beautiful islands to visit in Greece.