GREEK CITIES
AND GREEK ISLANDS
ABOUT MYKONOS
This is the Ibiza of Greece. A beautiful island
in the Cyclades, which looks just like the
postcards: white little houses with flowers and
blue windows and doors, hand painted streets,
windmills, pigeon keepers, chimneys, lots of
little churches and wonderful restaurants and
cafes
.
Many of the Greek jetsetters either have a house
here or visit every summer, and the nightlife is
very developed. You will see a lot of eccentrics
especially at night time. Even though it is a
party-island, it is not as loud as for example
Ios and Kos, so you can get sleep at night.
Mykonos has a reputation for being a summer
resort for mainly gay men, which is not entirely
true. The gay audience is present, but it is
also a glamorous place for the rich and famous,
which is painfully clear to whoever has a look
at the prices on the menus.
The island was once very poor, and the people
tried to survive on fishing and stock breeding
on the harsh land. A major industry was also
ship construction. Tourism has turned the
economy over since it started in the 1950's and
the locals have a double attitude towards this:
it may have saved the economy but some also feel
that it has taken over too much.
Architecture: With the exception of
Mykonos town, Chora, all over Mykonos you will
see the typical Cycladic cubist style of
architecture. Small, often single storey white
cubes sprinkled over the landscape like little
iced cakes. Mykonos town however offers a
different architectural style
that is unique in
the area. Here, flanking the narrow winding
streets are buildings reminiscent of a medieval
style.
Every house is reached via a flight of straight
steps, parallel to the road, whilst the space
underneath these steps was traditionally kept
for storage. Atop the steps is a wooden painted
balcony that sometimes projects over the road to
nearly touch the balcony of the house across the
street. Here too, you will find a change from
the ubiquitous blue and white decor of Greece.
In Mykonos town the wooden structures of every
house are painted in a rainbow of colours,
against the whitewashed walls and blue sky, the
effect is absolutely delightful.
Landscape: Outside of the capital Chora
there are very few densely populated areas.
Villages and hamlets scatter the hillsides. In
some areas there is fairly intensive development
of holiday complexes, although it must be said,
in a very low-key and sympathetic way. Being an
island that receives the four winds head on,
there are very few trees in the landscape. this,
together with the rocks and boulders strewn
across the terrain, give a strange and desolate
feeling to the island that contrasts starkly to
the sophisticated busyness of its main town.
History Mykonos according to mythology, this was
where Heracles killed the giants. The rocks
around the island are supposedly their corpses!
Mykonos was the first ruler on the island
according to tradition, and the first known
settlers we know of were the Ionians in the 9th
century BC.
The island was to fall under Athenian,
Macedonian and Roman rule in the years to come,
just like the surrounding islands.
The Venetians conquered the island in 1207, and
their Duchy later until the Turks invaded in the
first half of the 16th century. All Greek
school-children have read about the heroine
Manto Mavrogenous who success-fully fought the
Turks after they tried to land on the island in
1822, a year after the war of Independence had
broken out. Her house can still be seen on
Mykonos.
Mykonos was liberated in 1830. It was quite
exhausted after the war, and it was not until
tourism started pick up that the island got on
its feet economically again.
What to See : The town Chora is a place
you should really explore. Walk around, go to
the windmills, feed the pelicans Petros ('Rock"
and Irini ("Peace"), have a drink in the little
harbour and visit the Parapotiani church. And of
course, go shopping. There are also five
museums: an archaeological, a folk museum, a
maritime, a cultural and a private one with old
rooms and furniture. Most of the museums of
Mykonos are located at Enoplon Dynameon Street
which is one of the busiest streets of Mykonos
town during the summer. To reach this area is
fairly straightforward, At the seafront, turn
right by the ferry ticket office into Matogianni
Street, walk the length of this street and turn
right at the end - this is Enopolon Dynameon
Street. Here you will find the Aegean Maritime
Museum (opening hours 10.30-13.00 pm and
18.30-21.00 pm), next to it is the Folk Museum,
the House of Lena, (open 18.30-21.00 pm).
Another interesting building just before these 2
museums is the house where the Greek
Numismatologist and Archaeologist, Giannis
Svoronos, was born .
Further down just before the 3 wells are the
churches of Saint George, that was built in the
15th century BC, and St Barbara and Saint
Fanourios built in 1883.
Behind the primary school of Mykonos is the main
square of Chora "Laka", a green oasis in the
whitewashed Mykonos town with Eucalyptus and
Palm trees and all kinds of shops and eateries
around, here also you will find the post office.
Walking up from there to the west you will reach
the plateau where the famous windmills are
located. These are one of the most popular
landmarks of Mykonos. In olden times the people
from all over the Cyclades would bring their
wheat and barley to these mills to be made into
flour.
Just beneath the windmills is the area of
Alefkandra, or 'little Venice'. Its original
name Alefkandra derives from its original use as
a laundry and it was here that the women of
Mykonos washed their clothes.
If you keep on walking through the winding small
streets of Little Venice towards to the north,
soon you will find the Paraportiani church
another famous landmark of Mykonos.
The Paraportiani church in fact is 5 churches
all built in a compact complex. It is one of the
most photographed buildings of Mykonos and an
amazing combination of white against the blue of
the sky and the sea. Its structure over time has
metamorphosised into an organic mass that
resembles at one point a sparkling white iceberg
stranded on the shore or at other points a huge
cake dripping with icing sugar. From
Paraportiani, the Kastro and the western part of
the promenade are very close. In this area is
the municipality building with its red clay
roof. From this location the visitor can enjoy a
panorama of the promenade of Mykonos. On the
other side of the promenade at the taxi station
in Manto square is the Statue of Manto
Mavrogenous a Mykonian Heroic figure of the
Greek War of Independence equivalent to
Laskarina Bouboulina of Spetses island.
The little village Ano Mera is worth s visit:
small, pretty and quiet. Visit the monastery and
the little church museum from the 15th century.
There are daily excursion to Delos, a small
island which used to be the holiest island in
ancient Greece. Leto gave birth to Apollo and
Artemis here, holding on to a palmtree. You can
not spend the night on this island, but a
daytrip is definitely a must: the island is
cluttered with archaeological remains.
You can also go to another neighboring island,
Tinos, which is the holiest island of modern
Greece. The church of the Virgin Mary is a goal
for thousands of orthodox pilgrims every year.
It is also a very beautiful place worth
visiting.
What to Do There are lots of water sports
offered, as well as diving, horse riding and
swimming pools. There are also daily excursions
to the beaches, as well as to Delos and Naxos.
The best hours to enjoy Mykonos town is early in
the morning when all the party crowds have been
retreated in their hotels to gain powers for the
next night. Strolling in the winding whitewashed
streets of Mykonos in the morning is an
unforgettable experience. Go for a coffee in the
Little Venice and take photographs of the
spotless white church of Paraportiani. As the
noon approaching head for a swim at one of the
numerous sandy beaches of Mykonos
Beaches The beaches are generally very busy. It
is worth exploring the little bays on the south
side. Platy Gialos and Elia are very popular
beaches. Further from Platis Gialos are the
famous nude beaches of Paraga, Paradise and
Super Paradise, you can go there with boats that
departing from Platys Gialos. Other beaches are
in Agios Stefanos in the north, Kalafatis beach
recommended for the lovers of wind surfing.
Ornos beach, Agios Giannis, Agrari, all of those
beaches and more that you can explore have made
the island of Mykonos the most visited island of
Gree
ce.
Nightlife Most of the bars and clubs are in
Mykonos Chora. They are quite stylish and the
prices can sometimes be outrageous. There are
also beach parties going on all through the
summer so keep a lookout for advertising
posters. For the Greek Music fans (Ellinadika)
among the most popular is the Thalami next to
the town hall and the Mykonos Bar. The Giuzel 9
Muses at the east side of Akti Kambani and the
Argo bar at the square of Manto. At the Three
Wells you will find the famous Aegli one of the
hot spots of Mykonos nightlife and on the other
side of the road the Asteria bar and the Coo
restaurant bar. At The Caprice bar in Little
Venice, from early afternoon, you can enjoy
amazing sunset views. Nearby is located the
famous Scandinavian bar . The well- known gay
bar of Pierro's start its wild parties after
midnight, behind the square of Agia Kyriaki,
while Remezzo with its new name El Pecado
Remezzo still has its top spot in Mykonos
nightlife, just under Remezzo, the bar
restaurant Kavos stays open 24 hours, so there
is no problem if you want to eat something after
the night clubbing. The night party can go on
until the morning and be continued in the famous
beach bars of Mykonos like Cavo Paradiso and
Tropicana in Paradise beach, Super Paradise bar,
in Super Paradise beach, Sol Y Mar in Kalo
livadi,and Elia bar in Elia beach.
Food and Restaurants There are both Greek and
international restaurants and most of them are
situated in Mykonos capital, Mykonos or Chora.
The island's specialty is the Louza loukaniko -
a special kind of sausage and Kopanisti a
special kind of soft goat's cheese with lots of
pepper. Actually any kind of eatery can be found
in Mykonos, from souvlaki and Gyros to Italian
pasta and pizza, crepes, fish taverns and
haut
cuisine restaurants . You will find many locals
eating at the cafeterias and taverns along the
promenade, particularly at Vasiliki's "Yalos"
snack bar right oposite the fish market where
you can enjoy Greek meze with ouzo, Calamari
(squid) , fried fish and huge portions of local
sausages at very reasonable prices.
Restaurant Aneplora at Kalafatis bay Mykonos.
This elegant but simple restaurant is
beautifully located overlooking the Agia Anna
Bay of at Kalafatis. It specialises in all kinds
of seafood including Class A fish and lobster at
very reasonable prices. You can also find more
unusual seafood such as sea urchins, mussels,
oysters and scorpion fish as well as the more
traditional fare such as squid, tuna and bream,
etc. For diners not wishing to eat the fruits of
the sea, the restaurant also offers a wide range
of alternative tantalising cuisine. Aneplora
Restaurant is very popular amongst Greek people.
The decor is clean and bright, choosing a colour
scheme which harmonises with the surrounding
nature. The service is excellent - fast and
polite even at the busiest times in high season.
Shopping Folklore shops are everywhere in
Mykonos, and a great souvenir is a copy of
ancient Cycladic art; little white figures in
various positions (playing the flute, praying,
thinking, families etc.) which are more than
6000 years old. The gold is also very good, and
you can get clothes, ceramics, textiles and
antiques if you are willing to pay the price.
Many fashion shops are along Matogianni Street ,
including upmarket fashion and design names like
Prince Oliver for clothing , costume jewellery
like Folli Follie etc. Famous Greek jewellers
can be found in Mykonos like Ilias Lalaounis
jewellery opposite the Art Gallery of Giannis
Galatis at Polykantrioti Street. If you are
interested for something more local and
traditional in
Zouganeli Street you can buy
local sweets and cakes made of almonds, the
famous "Amygdalota", from Efthymiou sweet shop.
Another unique shop of beauty products all made
from Greek olive oil, The Olive Oil Shop,
located also in the same street further towards
to the town. Some of the local products of
Mykonos like the cheese "kopanisti" you can find
at the traditional grocers shop "Lykos" (the
wolf) in Matogianni Street. In the Grill Tavern
Spilia next to the primary school at Enoplon
Dynameon Street you can buy local cheese and
sausages from the tavern owner's production.
Getting Around There are good bus connections in
Mykonos, as well as many car and bike rentals.
It is not hard to get a taxi as well, and there
are boat trips to many beaches. The night though
is a bit tricky if you stay far from the centre
of Mykonos town and you are looking for a taxi,
you must be patient as the taxis are limited and
the people coming out from the numerous clubs,
bars and restaurants are too many. If you rent a
car be aware that you can't drive it through the
town and parking has become a problem especially
in high season.
There are 3 parking spaces around Mykonos town.
A good idea for a first visitor to the island is
to get a taxi for a half or one hour drive
around Mykonos in order to get to know the roads
and the island as well. Some of the taxi drivers
like Christos can be a good tour guide and get
you through the most important areas and beaches
of Mykonos plus telling you some really
interesting facts about the island.
Hotels and accommodation : Tharroe of
Mykonos Hotel De Luxe. This elegant, luxury,
hilltop hotel is perfectly located for peace and
tranquillity. It offers stunning views across
the Bay of Mykonos the town itself the port and
the windmills, also the nearby islands of Tinos
and Syros while from the south part you can see
the islands of Delos, Paros and Naxos. The
swimming pool and bar area are particularly
impressive with direct unobstructed, panoramic
views of the sea, creating an illusion of being
on a luxury liner. To sit here and watch the
summer sun setting on the sea is a magical
experience. The decor of the hotel is inspired
by the historical past of the Aegean. It is
comfortable, stylish and sophisticated enhanced
by an excellent collection of paintings and
sculptures. The sculptor Andrew Wielawski has a
studio on the premises where he spends each
summer producing works to exhibit at the hotel
itself. The accommodation comprises 28 rooms and
suites ranging from 2 bed roomed suites, to
double, triple and quadruple rooms. All rooms
have either a balcony or patio and are elegantly
decorated in a minimalist style with tasteful
original paintings and artwork complimenting the
clean lines of the furnishings. All the
accommodation is air-conditioned with Satellite
TV, movie channels and wifi. The Tharroe of
Mykonos Hotel facilities are excellent, offering
swimming pool, gymnasium, wellness spa, beauty
parlour. Our gourmet
restaurant "Barbarossa"
uses organic products and wines from our wine
cellar. In the hotel you will find a fully
equipped Conference Centre. There is also ample
free parking space. For more information please
visit the official site here.
Andronikos: If you want to use Mykonos
town as your base during your stay, which is
quite a good reason as most things happen there,
you can find accommodation within and around the
town in numerous hotels, rooms and apartments.
At the edge of the town is located the
Andronikos Hotel, The Andronikos is an hotel
with a cosmopolitan character built on a small
hill next to the town of Mykonos. It charms your
senses with its magical spaces and breathtaking
views to the sea. Andronikos captures your
imagination with its combination of
sophisticated design that beautifully
compliments its surrounding environment. The
juxtaposition of modern and classical design
gives a fresh style which, together with the
hotel's beautifully chosen furniture from well
known designers such as Arad, Panton, Gehry and
Citterio, makes this hotel especially elegant.
The hotel has excellent restaurant and bar
facilities located around the delightful setting
of the aquamarine
waters of the swimming pool. All of its rooms
have enchanting balconies and are also equipped
with full facilities including room service and
WiFi internet access. For more information visit
their official site on the left.
Getting There Mykonos has its own airport. There
are also good Ferry connections with the other
Cycladic islands, as well as with Piraeus Athens
and from Rafina. Super Fast Catamarans make the
trip to Mykonos within a few hours. From the end
of April there are connections with small boats
to Paros and other islands of the Cyclades. From
Mykonos you can visit Delos with daily boat
trips, the first boat departs at 10 am and
returns at 1.15 am. the ships depart from the
west dock near the town hall.
Facts about Mykonos Phone numbers
Size: 46 sq km International code: 0030
Population: about 6000 Local code: 22890
Cash machine: Yes Health center: 22222
Internet cafe: Yes Tourist Police: 23172
Highest Mountain: Police: 21111
Airport: Yes Taxi: 23700 22400
Internet cafe: Yes Coast guard: 22017
Tour Operators: Argo,Libra, JMC Apollo,
Post office: 22011
Ving Telephone company (OTE): 22399.
