Discover the beaches in Mykonos

mykonos beachesThe beaches of Mykonos  are perhaps the most famous beaches in Greece. Beaches for all tastes, cosmopolitan and family ones, nudist and gay beaches, remote and secluded, all with golden sand, umbrellas, sunbeds, water sports, bars and restaurants.

Mykonos is famous for its beaches. Its crystal clear icy waters on hot summer days are ideal for any visitor who wants to swim in the endless blue. Many who are looking for peace and relaxation do not choose the Cycladic island with its cosmopolitan atmosphere for their holidays. And that’s because they have to pay a lot for a sunbed! And in fact, if someone goes in the months of July and August, it will be difficult to find.

While in Mykonos you will pass by the most famous beaches of the island, where celebrities from all over the world enjoy the crystal clear waters of the Aegean and the hot Greek sun.

But if you want to discover the other side of the island, and get lost in the beauty of the most secluded shores go for the less known beaches

On the deserted beaches of Mykonos, where the only sound is the splash of the waves and the song of the seagull, you do not pay for a sunbed. Only stones, sand, pebbles, blue sea and a few Cycladic houses on the hillside.

The body rests on the warm sand and you find shade under rocks, in the few tamarisks or under your own umbrella. Swimming in the endless blue, among the cluster of sun rays that dive and disappear at the bottom.

 

Megali Ammos beach

megali-ammosMegali Ammos is so near to Mykonos Town it is often referred to as the town beach. The sands are a 10 minute walk south, on the Ornos road, and large crowds are guaranteed most times of the day.

It is a pleasant spot with a narrow strip of sand and shallow water. There are large flat rocks at one end and a sea wall at the other.

Small hotels and apartments line overlook the beach, and tavernas charge hefty prices. This is not a place for those on a budget, although where is on this island?

A triple row of sunbeds cover most of the beach and there are the usual watersports and facilities with views across to Agios Ioannis and fine sunsets.

The beach of Psarou

psarou-beachThis upmarket beach is popular amongst Greeks. It is a pretty sheltered sandy cove with walk boards, umbrellas and extremely comfortable upholstered sun beds, complete with beach towels, provided by the two restaurants which have a prime location on the seashore.

Around the bay there are small-scale hotels and apartments all with fabulous views to the crystalline blue water.

The atmosphere of the beach and the restaurants is cool/chic and, particularly charming, are the few traditional fishing boats – looking strangely out of place in all this chic sophistication – defiantly moored alongside state of the art yachts and speedboats as if to say ‘we were here first’

The beach is reached by a small lane and has no access for cars or bikes. These must be left at the top of the lane at a small car park where the fee is whatever you feel is appropriate!

Psarou is a more select version of its popular neighbour at Platys Yialos. A 150 metre strip of white sand is backed by a line of tavernas and the occasional tamarisk tree. It would make a pretty and intimate spot were it not overlooked by the stepped terraces of tavernas and hotels.

Alive with jet skiers and jet setters, Psarou lies at the head of a long gulf that offers good protection for the yachts and boats which regularly litter Psarou Bay.

During the high season the beach can be packed, with holidaymakers especially on days when there are strong winds because the beach, like the bay, is particularly well sheltered.

The beach is of good fine sand and the water reasonably shallow, so it’s good for families with children.

Platis Gialos

platys-gialosThis is a popular family beach with a wide sandy beach, straw umbrellas, sun beds, diving platform and large inflatable platform provided for amusement of youngsters. Here you will find almost everything a family may need for their stay.

The hotels and apartments for rent all have balconies overlooking the sea and are located on the first floors above the restaurants, bars, shops, mini markets and small supermarket which line the seashore.
Here too you can take a boat trip to other beaches on Mykonos or, if you wish to be an independent sailor, you can rent a boat to make your own day trips.

Platys Yialos used to be a swamp but is now a major holiday centre monopolised by back-to-back hotels lining a long sandy beach.

The biggest and longest established resort on Mykonos, Platis Yialos is now more cosmopolitan than Greek with it’s sights firmly set on the international holiday market.

A long crescent of sand is backed by low hills and terraced tavernas line a beach which heaves with bodies in the high season. Frequent buses from Mykonos add large numbers of day trippers.

There is a large watersports centre in front of the Mykonos Palace hotel offering all types of fun. The beach also has a large number of hotels, tavernas and beach bars, a mini-market and shops.

Platis Yialos is also the main starting point for small taxi boats taking visitors to other south coast beaches such as Psarou and Paranga as well to the surrounding islands, Delos in particular.

Paraga beach

psarou-beachSouth of Platis Yialos is the small, picturesque south-facing beach of Paraga, or Paranga, good enough to attract both locals and tourists.

The beach was known in the 70s as a ‘hippy’ enclave but the changes have been well rung and large hotel complexes now dominate the headland. Nevertheless, Paranga seems to have hung onto the laid back party atmosphere.

Paraga consists of two sandy strips split by a headland. Both beaches are long and flat with rocks offshore in the shallow sea.

A deep horseshoe bay makes the resort well sheltered and away from northerly winds and a line of tamarisk trees provides natural shade, although most visitors use the rows of sunbeds that sweep around the bay. The northern beach is more commercialised with music bars ramping up the volume, while the southern sands are calmer and quieter.

Hill paths behind Paraga beach lead to the quiet, sandy beach of Agia Anna, only a few minutes away on foot, a delightful sandy beach with plenty of old established tamarisk trees providing natural shade from the summer sun.

Forty years ago the facilities on this beach were just a simple refreshment hut run by an old hippie of the 1960s. Today, the beach still maintains a laidback hippie atmosphere and the hut has expanded into a substantial taverna and bar with palm umbrellas and sun beds on the beach.

Paradise Beach.

paradise-beachIt has to be said, this beach is only paradise if you are under 30 (or less) and love loud music. The beach is wide and is fine gravel rather than sand. At the back of the beach there are bars, clubs, DJ platforms and dance floors. Sun beds and umbrellas provide shade and recovery from the heavy club style music. This is the beach for clubbers, it is loud and crowded and not for anyone over 30!

Paradise is also the island’s premier party beach where tavernas and music bars pump out party music ad nauseam and visitors are never far from a burger.

Once a favourite of the 70s’ hippy generation, Paradise is better known these days for its big outdoor discos, international DJs and special events such as full moon beach parties.

Paradise beach parties usually start around 5pm and last well into the night, while the closing beach party in early September is now an island institution. The noted Cavo Paradiso Disco club is found to the south along the headland.

A large campsite nearby and diving school add to the delights but it’s mostly drinking, dancing and partying on the sands or joining the queue for the unisex toilets.

Super Paradise Beach

super-paradiseEast of Paradise beach but with no direct easy route is the crassly called Super Paradise instead of its proper Greek name of Plyndiri.

Once exclusively gay, Super Paradise lost much of its louche reputation as a cruising beach after the textiles moved back in force.

A magnificent strip with crystal clear blue water, Super Paradise is not ideal for families as the water runs deep and nudity is still common at the rocky end of the beach.

This is also a big party beach, one of the most visited on Mykonos, and with loud music belting out from the beach bars day and night.

Super Paradise beach parties liven up at 10pm and last until the early hours. Hillside clubs and bars help provide for those who prefer to party indoors.

Caiques arrive daily from Platis Yialos to swell the numbers. There are no buses to Super Paradise so it’s a car, taxi or boat. Overland arrivals face a very steep drop down the hillside.

One end of the beach caters for nude bathing and has an elegant restaurant bar on the steps leading to the sand, whilst the other end has sun beds, umbrellas, a cafe/bar, self-service restaurant, beach boutique and ATM cash point.

Getting to Super Paradise Beach is an interesting drive through the country roads of Mykonos with its rocky, boulder-strewn landscape. From the main road there are two roads leading down to the beach by car. On reaching the junction, a left turn leads to the end of the beach with the refreshment facilities whereas a right turn leads down to the nudist area. Both roads have good, free parking areas with steps down to the beach. Alternatively, there are boat trips from Platis Gialos to Super Paradise Beach.

Kalafatis Beach

kalafatisA beautiful and less developed beach from the other beaches on this south-eastern coast of Myonos. A deep bay with golden sand and backed by well established tamarisk trees. Peaceful and away from the fashionable crowds it is the perfect spot for windsurfing.

There are also facilities for beach volleyball and it is well served by hotels and restaurants. Car parks are located on both ends of the beach.

Immediately next to Kalafatis are the beaches of Draoumia and Tafarnis. Both sandy with tamarisk trees and also undeveloped. and hence less busy than the more popular beaches. In the area of Kalafatis you will find a more traditional Greece with farms and fishing hamlets.
North of Agia Anna is the long beach known as Kalafatis. about 12 kilometres from Mykonos Town and just three kilometres from Ano Mera.

The large sandy beach is free of loungers except for the northern end where there is a large holiday complex. There is a beach restaurant, bar and hotels. Nearby, on the main road, is a mini market, a large taverna and a pizza restaurant.

Kalafatis is well known for its watersports such as windsurfing and parasailing as well as a diving school. Boats leave here for Dragonisi, an islet off the east coast that has many caves some of which are populated by the rare and protected Mediterranean Monk Seal, although visitors are highly unlikely to glimpse any of the shy creatures.

Kalafatis beach is about two kilometres long and 70 metres deep with a line of trees behind for natural shade. Hotels offer tables for visitors and there is a water skiing and surfing as well as bicycle and motorbike rental.

Local hotel owners, sensitive to growing environmental concerns, run local clean-up campaigns and the result is a very clean beach. There are buses to Ano Mera and to Mykonos Town

Ornos Beach

ornos-beachThe tiny fishing port at Ornos was one of the first on Mykonos to enjoy major development as a tourist resort and it has been pretty much overwhelmed by it.

It sits on the southern side of a narrow neck of land where colonies of expensive hotels cram behind the long, flat beach, itself crammed with pricey sunbeds.

The Ornos sands are ideal for families though, with a gently sloping beach and lots of watersports. Tavernas and cafes run the length of the beach and there are even more to be found inland.

Boat trips to other beaches are also plentiful and many visitors use Ornos as a base for exploring the rest of the island.

But the ranks of hotels and apartments make for an atmosphere of little charm and some may find Ornos a characterless place to spend a whole Greek island holiday.

The advantage of Ornos is the proximity to Mykonos Town and several other fine beaches both west and south.

This charming seaside resort has a lot in common with Platis Gialos. Like most of the beaches in Mykonos it is very wide and sandy and offers plenty of holiday accommodation, supermarkets and tourist shops which fringe the seashore.

It has scuba diving and snorkelling schools and is easily reached by bus from Hora. For those arriving by car there are plenty of parking areas at the seafront and just outside the town itself.

Agios Ioannis Beach

agios-ioannis-beachWell known for many location shots during the shooting of the 1989 feature film Shirley Valentine, Agios Ioannis is thought by many to be one of the most picturesque places on Mykonos.

It’s located about five kilometres west of Mykonos Town on an ‘ear-shaped’ headland, a little isolated from other Mykonos beaches.

The small west-facing beach is set in the captivating bay with views across to the island of Delos. A small white chapel on the headland adds a picture postcard flourish.

The pebble and sand beach is well protected and there are sunbeds and watersports as well as tavernas and cafes.

The beach is split in two by a large, rocky area. To the north is the harbour, a beach, large car park and bus stop. To the south is the main beach, with limited parking.

The water here is shallow and nearby coves add interest, with a tiny beach at Kapari for those who prefer more solitude, although it has no shade and no facilities.

Agios Stefanos beach

agios-stefanos-beachJust two kilometres north of the island capital of Mykonos Town is the popular family beach of Agios Stefanos which takes most of the overspill from its better known neighbour.

This is very much a family resort with good sand and plenty of tavernas and cafes both on the beach and also inland. The resort is just around the headland from the new marina at Tourlos.

There are plenty of sunbeds and lots of organised beach sports such as volleyball. Watersports include windsurfing and water skiing.

Mykonos Town can be seen to the south and on the horizon is the islet of Delos. Agios Stefanos also has good sunset views from the west-facing shoreline tavernas.

Such a popular family beach, so near to Mykonos Town and on a good regular bus route, will get very crowded in the summer.

Korfos

korfos-beachKorfos is just to the north of the more popular Ornos beach and has been the target for considerable tourist development, although it is hard to understand why.

There is a beach at Korfos, but it is a scruffy affair of dirty sand and stone next to a busy little port and with the island rubbish dump nearby. As if that were not enough there is the constant whine of factory noise to add to the delights.

It’s north-facing too, so it tends to get buffeted by winds and waves to the delight of windsurfers but less so for sunbathers and swimmers.

Agrari beach

agrari-beachAgrari beach is in a hidden cove west of Super Paradise and to the east of Elia beach that has somehow managed to avoid the massive exploitation of its neighbours.

One reason may be the nerve jangling approach down a boulder-strewn ravine and another, the lack of any public transport.

Those looking to escape the Mykonos crowds may find Agrari beach just the ticket as it rarely gets crowded.

There are no noisy beach bars belting out disco music (yet), just a single beach cantina and one restaurant. Small and rather exposed, Agrari has a small stream running across it.

Access is by car or by boat from Platys Yialos and, while the lack of crowds and noise adds appeal, its busier neighbour at Elia is just a short clifftop walk over the headland and has a bus service.

Elia beach

elia-beachElia beach was ‘discovered’ in the mid 90s and building work hasn’t stopped since, with most of the cement poured into the nearby ‘Watermania’ water park.

Regarded by some as the best beach on Mykonos, Elia is a long, broad swathe of coarse sand backed by a steep circle of hills and split by a rocky headland. The sand quickly turns to sharp pebbles under the sea.

A cosmopolitan beach with sunbeds, showers and plenty of watersports, Elia as has scuba diving and deep sea fishing. It has some very attractive tavernas and is often the last port of call for water taxis that frequent the southern shore.

The eastern end of Elia is dominated by a large hotel but there is still plenty of room for everyone. The water is shallow and the beach clean and well kept.

Elia is another favourite of gays and there is nude sunbathing at one end of the beach. Access is from the pleasant inland village of Ano Mera, just two kilometres km away or it’s a 45-minute boat trip from Platys Yialos.

Kalo Livadi

kalo-livadiFurther east from Elia and at the end of a wide valley is the long sandy beach at Kalo Livadi, the last port of call for some taxi boats that serve the south coast beaches.

A rustic setting on the road out of Ano Mera adds to the charm of a pleasant beach with loungers, watersports, restaurants and bars. The valley behind is particularly scenic and scattered with farmhouses.

The two kilometre stretch of sharp sand is good for those who prefer to avoid big crowds and, although not exactly quiet, Kalo Livadi is very much a family beach.

Yachts are usually anchored out in Kalo Livadi bay. There is a daily bus but it’s a 10-minute walk to the beach from the bus stop on the main road above.

Agia Anna

agia-anna-beachAgia Anna is a quiet shingle beach that lies south of Platys Yialos just across the headland from Paraga beach. Confusingly, it bears the same name as a stretch of sand found much further east near the beach of Kalafatis.

This Agia Anna is a small, west-facing beach of sharp sand dominated by a large hotel complex. A long sea wall provides a backdrop to a narrow stretch of sand with shallow seas.

Surrounding stretches of the coastline here are very scenic and were used for lots of location filming on the Shirley Valentine movie. Although less popular than its neighbours, the resort at Agia Anna can attract plenty of visitors.

There are a couple of good tavernas, with parking, and a footpath that leads over the headland west to Platis Yialos with fine offshore views.

Lia beach 

lia-beachLia beach marks the end of the main south coast tourist beaches and this is the last to be reached by road and is about 14km from Mykonos Town.

Once a hideaway beach for Greek celebrities, Lia has become much more popular recently and ranks of sunbeds now line the shore and a taverna behind serves good food.

The bare hillside and lack of buildings in the area can make Lia Ammoudia beach feel very isolated but bamboo windbreaks provide shelter and there are some excellent fish tavernas here.

There are several beaches and coves beyond Lia but they are remote and will only appeal to the more intrepid holidaymaker. They are popular however with boat parties who often use them for beach barbecue trips and cruises.

The most notable are Tsangari and Frangia. All of them are dominated by the island peak of Profitis Illias which, majestic though it is, has been sadly marred by ugly military masts and conspicuous radar domes.

Beaches at the North coast

Far wilder than the soft south, the northern coastline is for those who prefer a little wild adventure on their holidays. Large beaches are few, are exposed to the northerly winds, are more difficult to get to and have fewer facilities. But visitors can enjoy wild windswept scenery and there are numerous small coves and tiny bays for those with their own transport. Winds also attract the more serious surfers.

north-coast-mykonos-beaches

Fokos beach

Fokos is a superb sandy north-facing beach, newly discovered by tourists but still far enough away to remain peaceful. The beach is large and deep with dramatic rock formations on the headland.

Fokos is surrounded by wild and beautiful scenery and has a small summer taverna to serve the growing numbers that venture away from the usual tourist haunts to delight in the deep sands of the bay.

The northerly winds can get very strong and the waves choppy. As a result Fokos is more popular with surfers than sunbathers.

Ftelia beach

The huge Panormos Bay in north-east Mykonos has three main beaches. The first, at the southern end of the bay and nearest the capital, is the increasingly popular beach of Ftelia

North-facing and exposed to the strong winds that whip around the bay, this beach another big favourite with surfers. Sunbathers may find it too exposed but is a fine sandy beach for those who prefer a more rugged environment. Roads have improved recently and it is now easy to reach.

A beach cantina opens in the summer and lays out some few sunbeds, but there are no buses so transport is needed to get there.

Panormos beach

panormos-beachThe main Panormos Bay beach is called Panormos and lies just north of Ftelia on the west side of the bay. Facing east, it enjoys a little more shelter from the winds although waters can get choppy when the wind does get up.

Panormos has a fine long stretch of white sand that has become increasingly popular in recent years. A couple of tavernas at the northern end open in the summer to provide the basics where the bamboo and tamarisks offer some shade.

There is little natural shade and the sands do bank quite sharply into the sea. Naturists favour the southern end of the beach where the low dunes offer more privacy.

Good walks can be found in the surrounding countryside although, with no trees it can feel a little exposed up there. There is no bus service to this part of Mykonos so visitors need their own transport.

Agios Sostis

agios-sostis-beachAgios Sostis is a small, wild and windswept beach at the northern mouth of Panormos Bay and another big favourite with surfers. Rollers crash in on a sand beach in July and August when the meltemi winds are at their strongest.

In such an exposed spot the long beach can pick up litter. That said, the beach is an excellent one – a long swathe of golden sand, shallow water along the shoreline and with scrub and low dunes behind and small outcrops of rock at one end.

There is no public transport and parking is limited so many park on the hill above and walk down along a rough track. A couple of good beach tavernas open in the summer season and there are several rooms to rent in the area.

In the beach you will find just a few people and you will enjoy its clear blue waters without being disturbed by the loud music from a beach bar.

It is located on the north side of the island, and its waters have a deep blue color. It is about 7.5 kilometers from the country, about 15 minutes. It depends on the traffic, the month and the time! There is no public transport for this particular beach

Secluded beaches of Mykonos

mykonos-beaches-secluded

Tigani

tigani beach mykonos The beach of Ano and Kato Tigani located away from the overwhelming crowds that swim in the most famous and toursty Mykonos beaches

Tigani beach located just 5 km from Ano Mera, on the east side of the island. There are no houses, only the natural beach and the caves. From the most “wild” and lonely beaches of Mykonos, it is often chosen for parties with boats, barbecues, etc.

From the dirt road that starts from Ano Mera you move east towards Pano and Kato Tigani. Two houses all in all, rocks and caves, a view of Tragonisi and swimming in peace.

Myrsini beach

myrsini-beach-mykonos Myrsini beach located next to Fokos beach, summing up one another. Untouched, peaceful beach with shallow green waters and coarse sand. The beach is separated by a small section of rocks that reach the sea, into two smaller beaches. For umbrellas and sunbeds, no reason, you must bring mats. Myrsini is also very friendly to nudists. Stock up on water, snacks and anything you deem necessary.

The beach of Myrsini located 12 kilometers north of Chora. The road is in good condition paved with cement and after the Fokos dam it becomes a dirt road with comfortable traffic on both sides of the road. At the top of the beach there is a small parking area that serves beach visitors.

Vathia Lagada

mykonos-vathia-lagada-beach About 15 kilometers away from the cosmopolitan Mykonos you will find the beach Vathia Lagada. It is considered one of the most difficult to access Greek beaches.

The beach is quite small as it is about 12 meters wide and 30 meters long and therefore not quite worth the hussel of going there.

It is a natural sandy beach at the northeastern tip of the island. From its name that means “deep creek” you understand that it is relatively inaccessible, suitable for adventure lovers. One of the most secluded beaches of Mykonos, accessible only with SUV’s.

Hulakia beach

mykonos-hulakia-beach One of the few pebble beaches on the island, it is ideal for private dives, just 4 km north of Chora. It is divided into two sides, with the left consisting of a small creek with sections of sand and the right having only large pebbles.
Even if you do not want to swim (the beach is considered a natural monument), visit it to enjoy the sunset on one of the most unique secluded beaches of Mykonos . Houlakia is one of the few beaches that have large, colorful pebbles instead of sand. They are the only ones in Mykonos, and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The protected area also has a sign, which states that the removal of stones from the beach is strictly prohibited. It is located on the north-eastern side of Mykonos, just 4 kilometers away from the country. There are no beach bars, so it is the right place for a quiet and enjoyable day, away from the -crowded- famous beaches of the island.

Kapari beach

kapari-beach-mykonos Kapari is a small beach, with quite difficult access, a difficult road and a difficult path that leads to the clear blue, crystal clear waters with fine sand and smooth flat rocks that are worth the effort for every visitor.  The beach located 6 km from Mykonos town, unorganized beach, without umbrellas, sunbeds and beach-bars. Where all you will hear is the sound of the wave and the wind.

Even if you visit it in the late afternoon, you will be compensated with the view as you will see the most beautiful sunset. On your horizon is the holy island of Delos.

A few meters from Agios Ioannis  there is this small cove with a view of Delos and ideal sunset! It is definitely on the most beautiful secluded beaches of Mykonos, with fine sand and clear blue waters. Nudists are welcome here too.

Loulos beach

loulos-beach-mykonos The beach of Loulos is ideal for diving and a sparkling beach with pebbles and wonderful turquoise waters. Loulos is a secluded beach as it does not attract many people and is only 1 km from the busy Kalo Livadi, so you can go on foot.

Loulos is a beach that not many people know about it and is worth a visit is Loulos. It is probably the least known of the beaches of the island .

White pebbles, calm waters, blue-green color. It’s near Kalo Livadi, so stop by there first for snacks and refreshments.