Greece’s answer to Ibiza, Mykonos has long been known as a party paradise – a hedonistic home to up-and-coming DJs, nightclubs fringing the Aegean and beach club parties that last until the early hours. But to book a £280 flight (the average cost from London) and travel four hours just to do shots at the bar and spend every night in Cavo Paradiso (the island’s most famous club) is not the way to experience Mykonos in its truest form.
Known as the Island of the Winds, and situated slap bang in the middle of the Cyclades, Mykonos is particularly picturesque, home to stone-paved alleys, cube-shaped, whitewashed houses, historic chapels and, of course, the windmills the islands are famous for. It gained favour with the jet-set in the 1960s – with Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Grace Kelly, and Brigitte Bardot all fans – transforming this sleepy, rustic island into one of Greece’s most expensive, and some say glamorous, islands by the turn of the century.
That said, it certainly hasn’t lost all of its charm. From five-star hotels leaning into the island’s Greek heritage to delectable restaurants to book for sundowners, here’s our non-clubbers guide to Mykonos. Trust us, you may need it.
The hotels: Cali Mykonos and Anandes Hotel
Cali Mykonos opened in 2022 on the eastern edge of Greece’s most cosmopolitan island. Overlooking the deep blue Aegean and standing proudly behind its own private beach, Cali Mykonos boasts 40 luxury villas in the prime location of Kalafatis Beach – one of the most secluded areas on Mykonos. Each villa has views of the sparkling sea and is complete with a private pool and patio, all perched above a 110-metre infinity pool which, for 2025, has been dressed in striking fashion by Missoni – marking the brand’s first hotel pop-up in Greece.
Also new for this season is a world-class spa – complete with infrared saunas, cold plunges, hammams, steam showers, and holistic treatments inspired by local ingredients – as well as an array of padel and tennis courts with panoramic views over the Cyclades-peppered sea. The place to see and be seen, however, is the Apollo Bar: a bustling sundowner spot promising live music, traditional Greek small plates, and a bevy of classic cocktails with local twists.
From £830 per night.
For those who prefer to be within easy reach of Mykonos Town, Anandes Hotel is one of the island’s most distinctive boutique retreats. Since its debut in 2024, it has offered a refined take on Cycladic elegance, with sweeping views of the iconic windmills, whitewashed rooftops, and the glittering Aegean Sea. It’s also home to famed French Riviera-inspired restaurant La Petite Maison – book a table at the al fresco poolside dining space for a taste of French joie de vivre set against a backdrop of the Aegean.
Inside, the hotel houses 42 rooms and suites – many with private pools – alongside a full-service spa, hammam, sauna, gym, and wellness treatments. Interiors nod to the authentic architecture of the island, featuring natural stone, embossed pine wood, linen, and rattan, while modern twists – think in-room Bang & Olufsen sound systems and bathrooms finished in travertine stone and brass – create a mid-century glamour that pays tribute to Mykonos’ jet-set past.
From £360 per night.
The beaches: Glyfadi and Kalafatis
If you want to step back in time to the heyday of Mykonos, head to Glyfadi beach – if you can find it on Google Maps, that is. A slither of golden sand and crystal-clear waters tucked away in a secluded cove on the southwestern side of the island, it’s usually frequented by locals and a handful of guests-in-the-know from nearby hotels. There’s a couple of sunbeds up for grabs, so get there early if you want to reserve them (at refreshingly decent prices that Mykonos isn’t exactly known for) but you won’t find any bars or tavernas – just good old-fashioned sand and sea. Pack your goggles to experience some of the best snorkeling spots on the island.
Kalafatis, on the other hand (and on the other side of the island), is more adventurous than sleepy and serene Glyfadi. A windsurfer’s paradise close to the aforementioned Cali Mykonos, it’s home to a number of watersport schools and diving centres so you can easily catch a glimpse of Mykonos’ underwater inhabitants. For those who prefer to spend their time horizontal on land, there’s a selection of sunbeds (some shaded by tamaris trees) and the area is well serviced by bars, toilets, showers and changing rooms. It is one of the busier beaches on the island – but is still well worth a visit.
The restaurants: Papaioannou and Yēvo
The acclaimed Athens-based seafood restaurant, Papaioannou, opened its first site beyond the Greek capital last summer, tucked away in the northwest of Mykonos on Agios Stefanos beach. Having first opened in the early 1990s in Mikrolimano, Piraeus, the family-owned Papaioannou Restaurant has long been a local haunt for Athenians and appreciators of simple, high-quality seafood. 30 years on, the new Mykonos outpost will be a day-to-night destination – ideal for those seeking respite from the summer crowds and parties, offering a sophisticated atmosphere and some of the best sunset views on the island.
Signature dishes include raw plates, such as tartares, ceviches and crudo, as well as sardines on the bone, grilled squid, the signature crawfish orzo and chef Papaioannou’s legendary taramosalata. The Mykonos menu will also offer meat dishes, including black Angus beef tenderloin and tomahawk steak – a first for the family-run-business in order to cater to an international clientele. Post-dinner, take your sundowners to the seaside and enjoy an evening under the stars.
Just moments from the vibrant heart of Mykonos Town, and overlooking Megali Ammos beach, is Bill and Coo: a stylish hotel blending barefoot luxury and minimalist architecture. While its rooms are a real treat, its flagship restaurant Yēvo should not be overlooked. Helmed by executive chef Aggelos Bakopoulos, dishes spotlight the finest local ingredients while fusing traditional Greek flavours with modern techniques, all served in a setting perched above the shimmering sea. Opt for sensorial tasting menus featuring dishes of baby calamari with crumbled tomato and oyster cream, and organic lamb with fig and marinated chickpeas, or choose from the refined sharing menu of crispy ladenia limolou (a Greek version of pizza), shrimp tacos and wagyu sliders.
The day trips: Boat trips to Tinos, Paros, and Delos, and Mykonos Town
Mykonos is popular with the island-hopping crowd thanks to its direct international flights, so any sojourn here can be easily sandwiched between trips to nearby Tinos and Paros. A plethora of ferries and boat tours will happily chauffeur you 35 minutes to tiny Tinos, while the white-washed, picture-perfect Paros requires an hour-long journey but is well worth it for a more laidback taste of Cycladic culture. That’s what we call three for the price of one.
Culture vultures, meanwhile, won’t be able to stay away from the sacred island of Delos: a UNESCO World Heritage site and the mythological birthplace of Greek gods Apollo and Artemis, which dates back to the 1st millennium BC. Organised tours run regularly from Mykonos and offer a glimpse into Ancient Greek civilisation, with a smattering of Doric temples, an amphitheatre, houses with mosaics and the iconic Terrace of the Lions statues remaining incredibly well preserved.
Those not keen on gaining their Cycladic sea legs should soak up every inch Mykonos has to offer with an afternoon or two exploring the charming, cobbled streets of the Old Town. Make a pitstop at the Panagia Paraportiani – a striking whitewashed church considered a masterpiece of Cycladic architecture – before delving into the island’s past at the Archaeological Museum of Mykonos and the Folklore Museum. Here, artefacts and traditional crafts tell the story of Mykonian life dating back to the 5th millennia BC, combining Roman, Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman influences.
The shopping: Nammos Village and Matogianni Street
Shoppers certainly won’t feel like they’ve been under-sold on the Mykonos’ fashion experience once they arrive in Nammos Village. A few miles from Mykonos Town, this purpose-built but sophisticated shopping enclave sits on the southern side of the island and is home to a clutch of designer boutiques, such as Chanel, Hermès, Fendi and Louis Vuitton.
Those looking for something more authentic needn’t look further than Matogianni Street. Situated in the heart of Mykonos Town, this is the main hub for local designer and jewellery shops, including the likes of Sketch Boutique, selling a curated selection of beachwear and beaded bags, and Poniros Boutique by acclaimed Greek jewellery designer Yiorgos Poniros.
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