This harsh, rocky, arid and often windy island is one of Greece’s main tourist attractions. It is certainly due to the emerald sea, the very fine sandy beaches enclosed by rocks and to the singular beauty of the scenery dotted with whitewashed houses and numerous little churches and chapels built by fishing families ex voto. This unique Greek Island fuses cosmopolitan lifestyle and traditional features, making a multifaceted holiday destination for all types of visitors. Mykonos town, the island’s capital, is set at amphitheatre around the bay, a fantastic view of whitewashed houses with flower adorned balconies, external wooden stairwells, narrow zigzag streets, small chapels with red or blue cupolas and the windmills that are a landmark of the Cycladic world and form an extraordinary contrast with the fashionable clubs, high-end boutiques, trendy art galleries and chic gourmet restaurants found in Mykonos Town. The greatest monument of Mykonos Town is the 16th-17th century Church of Paraportiani, which actually consists of four chapels set over two layers and united by a thick whitewash. The Archaeological, Maritime and Folklore Museums in Mykonos Town display excellent collections of historical artefacts and are worth visiting. Alefkandra, the "Little Venice" of Mykonos, an area famous for its colourful buildings and their balconies which are suspended over the Aegean Sea, is the ideal place to stop for a meal and a refreshing drink. Mykonos Island is particularly famous for its exciting nightlife, with countless bars and clubs that cater to both the straight and gay crowds. The island offers a large selection of luxury hotels, posh resorts and elegant villas, as well as hotels, apartments, studios and rooms for rent at affordable prices.
The beautiful beaches are no doubt the main attraction on the island, many and varied they offer something for everybody. Popular beaches such as Paradise Beach, Platis Gialos Beach, Super Paradise Beach and Psarou Beach are very crowded and offer a wide range of tourist facilities. Much frequented are also the small Paranga Beach and Agios Ioannis Beach, the latter of which offers a stunning view of Delos Island. Agrari Beach, Ornos Beach, Agios Stefanos Beach and Tourlos Beach are ideal for people travelling with children as they are less crowded and offer a wide range of facilities. Quieter beaches such as Agia Anna Beach, Kalafati Beach and Ftelia Beach are ideal for those people looking to escape the crowds and for practising windsurfing as these are rather windy spots.
Although Mykonos is most well-known for its beaches and superb nightlife, the island also offers a number of wonderful sights and attractions. Located in the village of Ano Mera, Mykonos is the 16th century Tourliani Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the Cyclades Islands cluster. The Tourliani Monastery is renowned for its beautiful wood-carved altar screen that was crafted in Florence in the 18th century and contains several exquisite ecclesiastical artefacts, including the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, which is believed to be the work of the Apostle Luke. In Platis Gialos, we suggest visting the Well of Giannaros - a large underground cistern, with a staircase that leads to its bottom -, as well as the three towers that were built during the Hellenistic Era and used to defend Mykonos Island.