A Week in Mykonos, Greece: A Complete Travel Guide
If you’re looking for a beautiful Greece island to visit, Mykonos is worth checking out. Mykonos, Greece is known for delicious food, picturesque views, and a vibrant nightlife.
When I was finally able to travel out of the country and overseas in the middle of October, Mykonos is where I headed. I had been craving a longer trip, but a week was all I could fit in, so that’s what I did. Greece had been on my list of places to go for a long time even since canceling a trip scheduled in 2015.
This time around, I was planning a trip with a group of friends. We didn’t have much time to research where to go, so we settled on Mykonos since it was easy to plan for, and I’m glad we did.
I will say that we went in October 2021, and there were some hectic situations before our trip in terms of COVID and PCD testing results for our layover in London. I ended up having my results while the rest of the group didn’t. So, they did rapid antigen tests, which ended up being enough. Just be sure you check the policy before your trip to any destination.
If you’re wondering about traveling to and around the island and what to do on Mykonos, take a look at how I spent my week and some travel tips.
Best Time to Visit Mykonos, Greece
Mykonos is busiest during June, July, and August, and this is probably due to the ideal summer temperatures with highs in the 80s and lows in the 70s and warm water temperatures. Personally, the best time to go is probably during September or October because the weather is still great and the crowds are much smaller.
We went during the second week of October to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Even though it was supposed to rain all week, the weather was perfect – sunshine during the day and the temperatures didn’t drop too much at night. Although there were a few stormy nights, it was cleared up by morning.
Traveling to Mykonos
Our journey to Mykonos, Greece began in Los Angeles, and we took several flights before arriving at the Mykonos airport.
LAX (Los Angeles) to LHR (London)
LHR (London) to ATH (Athens)
ATH (Athens) to JMK (Mykonos)
The first flight to London was pretty smooth as we had the back rows to ourselves and could kick back and relax. Even though we could've upgraded our flight, we knew the plane would be empty, so we didn't. However, the flight was exceptionally long, so I would've upgraded if the plane had been full.
Our layover at LHR in London wasn’t too bad because we leveraged the priority pass lounge. Even though the food was limited, you can’t argue with free drinks. Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to your gate because the airport can be confusing. We had a close call on our way home!
The flight to Athens wasn’t too bad either. Since we arrived at the airport just after midnight, we had two options. We could take the first flight to Mykonos at 11 AM and rent a room at the hotel right across the street, or we could wait until the lunges opened back up at 4 AM. Since the rooms were pricey at $300, we chose to wait it out. Be sure you check out the cool outdoor restaurant in front of the airport. It’s open 24 hours per day and also serves drinks, making it easier for us to make it to the 4 AM opening.
Travel tip: As I look back on planning the trip, it probably would’ve been a lot easier to fly from LAX to JFK then to ATH. England seems to be much more restrictive than most other countries, which caused a lot of unneeded stress on the day of the trip. I shared this tip with a friend traveling at the end of the year, and they said it was much easier to plan it this way.
Getting Around the Island
Once we arrived in Mykonos, we were picked up at the airport by our Airbnb host. Then, we took taxis to get around on the first day. The taxi route adds up quickly because it costs about $35 each way, and it doesn’t give you much freedom to get around.
When you research how to get around the island, you find that ATVs are one way to go. We had also seen RZR’s when we were walking around on the first day, so we ended up doing that. And, for only $70, it was by far the best decision we made the entire trip. I believe ATVs cost about the same, but the RZR’s are definitely much safer.
Where to Stay on Mykonos
In Mykonos, you can stay in Airbnbs, hotels, or resorts. Because most hotels we looked at were priced very high, we went with Airbnb. And, since we would’ve needed 3 hotel rooms, a house made more sense.
We stayed in Ornos in a 4 bedroom home with a pool overlooking the sea. The only significant drawback was that the pool wasn't heated, which would've been nice as it started cooling down some at night.
Ornos is a popular tourist area with plenty of accommodation options. It’s a great area for beach lovers and active travelers.
Other good places to stay when visiting Mykonos, Greece:
Old Port of Mykonos: popular and bustling downtown area
Little Venice: charming location with many boutique hotels and vacation rentals
Platys Gialos: perfect for beach bums and families
Megali Ammos Beach: beautiful, quieter area
Elia Beach: luxurious spot off the beaten track
Where to Eat and Drink
Mykonos, Greece is a food lover’s paradise. Here are some spots in the area we enjoyed food and drinks at:
Paradise Beach Club
Paradise Beach Club is a lively beachfront club that’s open 24 hours. It’s definitely a big party spot during the high season. You can rent beds on the beach and swim during the day. There’s usually a DJ playing during the day and at night during the high season. When we left at 7 PM for dinner plans, Paradise Beach was getting wild. Go here if you want a taste of the beach club life at night.
Pasta Fresca
Pasta Fresca is an Italian restaurant that a local waiter recommended. We were celebrating a friend's birthday, and we wanted a great dinner. Pasta Fresca didn't disappoint as the food was fresh, and the service was amazing. Our private table outside on the balcony was perfect. Highly recommend it!
Mykonos Bay Hotel
We found Mykonos Bay Hotel to be one of the best locations on the island. We stopped here several times for drinks and to use their beach beds. We didn’t stop at many other hotels in the area because most are guests only, but this place has fantastic views.
Little Venice
Little Venice is a great area in Mykonos, Greece. There are a bunch of restaurants and bars, so it's the ideal spot to walk through if you're looking to eat and drink. Little Venice is right on the water and offers amazing views when the weather is nice. We came at the end of the season, but we enjoyed coming here when we went into town at night.
Mamalouka
We came across Mamlouka on our first day in Mykonos. We were walking the streets and were absolutely starving, so we stopped in. The food was incredible, and so was the service. This is where we met the server who recommended Pasta Fresca for the following night.
DK Oyster
DK Oyster is a seafront restaurant that’s all about the experience. While the location is great, be sure to look at the menu before ordering. You definitely pay for the experience and don’t want to be caught off guard when you get the bill.
A Stop in Athens
Our original flight leaving Mykonos was on a Sunday and gave us an hour to make our flight leaving from Athens. After speaking to a local friend who told us that Sundays in Greece can be very slow-paced, we decided to head to Athens on Saturday and spend the night at the hotel across from the airport.
Since we had 24 hours to kill in Athens, we decided to go into the city. Because we were traveling with a friend who lives just outside the city, we were given an excellent tour. Being that it was a Saturday, the city was very busy with a lot of traffic. There is so much to see and do in Athens, from historical sites to great restaurants and small shops.
Tip: If you plan to stay in the actual city, make sure you give yourself at least an hour to make it to the airport.
Final Thoughts on Our Trip to Mykonos, Greece
If you're wondering where to visit in Greece or you're already planning a trip to Mykonos, I hope this guide helps. The island is beautiful, and the food is great. Travel tips and planning accordingly should ensure that you also have an excellent trip to Mykonos!
