MYKONOS
Vacations and Sightseeing
Vacations and Sightseeing
| Basic information | |
| Official language | Greek |
| Capital | Mykonos-city |
| Area | 105 km² |
| Population | ca. 11,000 (2018) |
| Currency | euro (EUR) |
| Web | .gr |
| Code. | GRC |
| Tel. | +30 |
Popular destinations GREECE
| Aegina | Alonissos | Andros |
| Chios | Corfu | Crete |
| Hydra | Kalymnos | Karpathos |
| Kefalonia | Kos | Lefkas |
| Lesbos | Mykonos | Naxos |
| Paros | Patmos | Peloponnese |
| Poros | Rhodes | Samos |
| Santorini | Skiathos | Skopelos |
| Spetses | Thasos | Zakynthos |
Vacations and Sightseeing
Mykonos Town or Chora is a good example of the unique architecture of the Cyclades. The fishing village is situated around a picturesque bay. Completely whitewashed organic cube-like houses with red or blue doors and domes and wooden balconies form a random maze of narrow alleys and streets and are practical examples of typical Cycladic architecture. Mykonos Town looks like you see on postcards.
Mykonos Town has a number of interesting museums: the Archaeological Museum with jewellery and tombstones, many Roman and Hellenistic reliefs and ceramics from the 6th and 7th centuries and as a highlight a large 'pithos', an unglazed pot from the 7th century BC. The Regional Museum with ceramics, embroidery and modern textiles; the Aegean Maritime Museum with ship models from antiquity to the 19th century, nautical instruments, paintings and very old coins; Municipal Museum with paintings by local, domestic and foreign painters.
Windmills have been around since the 16th century. They are characteristic of Mykonos. Mykonos is located on the great sea trade route from Venice, the gateway to Europe, to Asia. The mills were needed to grind flour. Easy access to the harbour was necessary so most of the mills on the island were placed in or around the main harbour. The highest concentration is in the western part of the city. With the advent of industrialisation, the number of mills decreased. Today, only a fraction remains of what once stood. The importance of the mills is now mainly for tourism. One of the windmills that is still working is the Bonis windmill, from which one has a beautiful view of Mykonos Town and the harbour.
Petros the Pelican has been the official mascot of Mykonos for many years. The pelican gave up migrating and decided to become a local resident. After more than 30 years, Petros died in a car crash in 1985. The loss of this personality was deeply regretted by both locals and tourists. A replacement was quickly found. Through the care and protection of the islanders, the spirit of Petros lives on in his successor, who still has his house on the waterfront of the island.
The neighbouring island of Delos is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Greece. Delos is under the jurisdiction of Mykonos and is only 2 kilometres away. The whole island has been declared a national museum. Access to the island is via excursions that leave daily from the main port of Mykonos and from some of the more popular beaches.
Last but not least are the beaches of the very gay-friendly Mykonos, the 'Saint-Tropez of the Aegean'. They come in all shapes and sizes and for all sorts of people. There are family, gay, straight and nudist beaches, both sandy and pebbly. Some of the best known are: Paradise Beach (nude, hippy atmosphere), Super Paradise Beach (gay), the very busy Plati Yialos Beach and Ornos Beach (family), Kalafatis Beach (windsurfers), Ayios Stefanos, Psarou, Paranga, Little Agrari, Long Elia, Kalo Livadhi and Platis Gialos.
The most beautiful beaches of Mykonos are on the south side of the island, the more stars, the more luxurious and popular they are.
| Name beach | Luxury | Popularity |
| Agia Anna (Kalafatis) | * * | * * * |
| Agia Anna (Paranga) | * * * | * * |
| Agios Ioannis | * * * * | * * |
| Agios Sostis | * * * | * * |
| Agios Stefanos | * * | * * |
| Agrari | * * | * * |
| Choulakia | * * | * * |
| Divounia | * * | * * |
| Elia | * * * * | * * * |
| Fokos | * * * | * * |
| Frangia | * | * |
| Ftelia | ** * * | * * * |
| Glyfadi | * * * | * |
| Kalafatis | * * * | * * * * |
| Kalo Livadi | * * * * | * * * * * |
| Kapari | * * | * |
| Korfos | * | * * |
| Lia | * * * | * * * |
| Megali Ammos | * * | * * |
| Merichia | * * | * |
| Mersini | * * * | * |
| Old Port | * * | * * * * |
| Ornos | * * * | * * * * |
| Pano Tigani | * | * |
| Panormos | * * * * | * * * * |
| Paradise | * * | * * * * * |
| Paranga | * * * * | * * * * |
| Plaka Tou Patera | * * | * |
| Platis Gialos | * * * | * * * * * |
| Psarou | * * * * * | * * * * * |
| Super Paradise | * * * | * * * * * |
| Tourlos | * | * |
| Tsagari | * | * |
| Vathia Lagada | * | * |
The Armenistis Lighthouse, located on the north-western tip of Mykonos, was built in 1891 and overlooks the strait between the island of Tinos and Mykonos.
Sources
Wikipedia
CIA - World Factbook
BBC - Country Profiles
Last updated March 2024Copyright: Team The World of Info