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home - destinations - europe - greece - destination: mykonos
Mykonos is an important Greek island of the Cyclades group, situated in the middle of the Aegean Sea close to Paros.
Mykonos is a grand example of unique cycladic architecture set around a picturesque fishing-village bay. Totally whitewashed organic cube-like buildings fit closely together to form a kind of haphazard maze of narrow alley ways and streets.
Mykonos is famed as a cosmopolitan destination amongst the Greek islands and widely recognised as one of the great travel meccas. It is the most touristed island in the Aegean. This means that any visitors should be prepared for loud dance clubs, English breakfasts and over-priced merchandise.
Mykonos is a grand example of unique cycladic architecture set around a picturesque fishing-village bay. Totally whitewashed organic cube-like buildings fit closely together to form a kind of haphazard maze of narrow alley ways and streets. Many well preserved windmills and hundreds of tiny red-roofed churches adds a flavor of culture and custom to the scene, enhanced even further by many museums and the historical ancient site of nearby Delos.
Though considerably less picturesque than Santorini, visitors to Mykonos will find it comparable to the Greek version of Disneyland. Much of the landscape is obsviously put up for "show" fooling tourist families about its authenticity.
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There are several villages on Mykonos Island.
- The Windmills - the windmills are the landmark of Mykonos.
- Little Venice - a district in Mykonos City, famous for its colourful balconies.
- Petros the Pelican can be found at the waterfront. Originally the pelican was found after a storm back in the 1950s. After Petros died he was so popular that a new pelican was introduced as a successor. Now there are two pelicans inhabiting the island, who can sometimes be found up in the town as well as at the port.
- Archaeological Museum of Mykonos - the exhibition of the museum includes a large number of vases, ranging from the prehistoric to the late Hellenistic period (25th-1st century B.C.), grave statues, stelae and funerary urns from Rheneia, and very few finds from Mykonos.
- Agios Ioannis Beach - a small beach with fantastic snorkling oppertunities. Never got over crowded, deck chairs were available to rent. Great tavern and coctail bar very close. Not a tourist beach. Was used in the film Shirly Valentine
- Paradise Beach - a crowded party beach for the under 30 set, nudity is common. Large pebbly sand is great for windy days.
- Super Paradise Beach - another crowded party beach for the under 30 set. Paradise and Super Paradise may be some sort of quarantine created by the locals. Also popular with gays, and transgenders. Nudity is quite common and practiced in the central beach area.
- Psarou Beach - Half the beach chairs and umbrella require reservations during peak season. Non-reserved chairs are available first come, first served.
- Platys Gialos Beach - busy family and tourist beach. Jet ski rentals available.
- Elia Beach - Rents beach chairs and umbrella for 10 euro. Rentals for Jet ski, watersking, wakeboarding and para sailing are available. Elia is a large beach compared to other Mykonos beaches. Nudity is permitted but not as common as Paradise, Super Paradise and Paranga.
- Paranga Beach - another popular beach. Full nudity is practiced on the right end (facing the water). Becoming more popular for nudists that don't want the party atmosphere of Paradise and Super Paradise.
- Ornos Beach - a quiet family beach. Lots of umbrellas and lounges available for rent. Bathing suit bottoms are required on Ornos. The beach is lined with great restaurants, hotels and a nearby grocery store and town. Some hotels and restaurants are quite upscale. Serviced by bus and boat taxi.
Delos, an island close to Mykonos is famous for its ancient temples. Daily excursions can be booked for trips from Mykonos.
Delos was the most important Panhellenic sanctuary, and, according to mythology, the birth-place of Apollo and Artemis. The first signs of habitation on the island date from the 3rd millenium B.C., and important remains of the Mycenaean period have been uncovered in the area of the sanctuary. In the 7th century B.C. Delos was already a known Ionic centre because of its religious importance as the birth-place of Apollo.
For more information on Mykonos, visit the source at Wikitravel
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