Mykonos, Greece: A Comprehensive Travel Guide
As my senior year of high school was quickly coming to an end, I suddenly realized that I had yet to plan a senior trip. At the time, I was living in Italy, so the travel opportunities seemed virtually endless. While there was a wide array of places that I had been dying to visit, my friends and I ultimately decided that we wanted to go somewhere that was A) warm and B) inexpensive. After hours of google searches and a few long-winded debates, we finally decided on our dream senior trip destination: Mykonos, Greece. Read on for my advice on having an incredible time in Mykonos (or anywhere your personal journey takes you!).
Flight Tips
While most people will tell you to book your plane tickets months in advance, we actually booked ours only a month before and they were still incredibly inexpensive. However, we had decided to take the train from Vicenza (the small northern Italian town where we lived) to Milan and then fly from Milan to Mykonos. The reasoning behind this decision simply came down to the fact that it’s a lot cheaper to fly out of a larger airport rather than a small one. Our plane tickets were about $50 each and our train tickets were under $10!
My takeaway: Taking a train from a small city with a tiny airport to a big city with a larger international airport is the best way to score the cheapest price on flights!
Best Time to Visit
My friends and I really lucked out with the timing of our trip because we ended up getting there just a few days before the busy summer season began. By booking our flights and hotel in early May, we were able to see Mykonos in its full, non-touristy glory and save money. We stayed in a gorgeous hotel within walking distance to the beach for more than half off the normal price because we had booked during the “off-season.”
My takeaway: Visiting Mykonos in the off-season is a must because A) the weather is still warm B) the town and beaches aren’t crowded and C) the hotel prices are half off what they normally are.
Where to Stay
There is quite the selection when it comes to choosing a place to stay in Mykonos. Because my friends and I were paying for the hotel ourselves, we knew that we wanted to stay in a nice, yet reasonably-priced place. You can imagine my excitement when I came across the Paradise View Hotel, a gorgeous hotel with insane views, a close proximity to the ocean, free breakfast, a sparkling pool, and a bus that takes you directly into the heart of Mykonos — for less than $100 a night! Splitting that price amongst the three of us and we found ourselves paying a little over $30 a night!
My takeaway: Booking a place like the Paradise View Hotel during the off-season will give you the chance to stay somewhere close to the beach with free breakfast and transportation for an incredibly low cost!
Where to Eat
It is no secret that greek food is unbelievably delicious. While practically every meal we had during our trip was to die for, there was one restaurant that really stood out — Nikos Gallop. The thing that made this restaurant even better was the fact that we just happened to stumble upon it. After a long, tiresome day of sightseeing, we were prepared to eat just about anywhere but preferred something as “local” and non-touristy as possible. Just when we were about to give up on our food search, we were welcomed by the mouth-watering aroma drifting out of a quaint little restaurant. After checking out the menu and liking what we saw, we decided to head inside.
The menu included everything from salad and seafood, to pasta and meat — all of which were fresh and traditionally greek. We ordered greek salad, fried calamari, moussaka with shrimp, and a platter of hummus, tzatziki, and pita bread to share. The flavors of each dish were so incredibly vibrant that they warmed my soul each time I took a bite. If you ever find yourself in Mykonos, head on over!
My takeaway: Try to eat at restaurants that are not located in touristy areas in order to find the best quality and prices!
Things to Do
Mykonos definitely has something for everyone. Whether you’re into relaxing by the beach, exploring the shops and restaurants downtown, or partying until the sun comes up — you will be able to find something right up your alley.
If you’re into relaxing by the beach, check out: Elia Beach. Elia Beach is the largest beach in Mykonos and has chairs and umbrellas for renting, bars and restaurants to grab a bite to eat, and crystal clear water to swim in. If you venture past the main area, you’re likely to come across a small dock that is perfect for both sunbathing and diving. My friends and I stumbled across one and we were the only ones there!
If you’re into exploring the shops and restaurants downtown, check out: Little Venice. Little Venice is an area of downtown Mykonos that sits directly on the waterfront and is comprised of colorful buildings, delicious restaurants, and quaint shops. While you are there, make sure that you visit the Mykonos windmills, which are iconic pieces of architecture that the island is known for. Also, be sure to stop at any of the traditional greek restaurants for a steaming bowl of moussaka and a slice of sweet baklava!
If you’re into partying until the sun comes up, check out: Tropicana Beach Bar and Restaurant. This little bar and restaurant actually ended up being one of our favorite parts of the trip. Located right on the beach and within walking distance of our hotel, Tropicana Beach Bar and Restaurant threw nightly parties — some of which had themes. The last night we were there, the bar threw a glow-in-the-dark paint party and it was a night I’ll never forget!
My takeaway: Mykonos has something for everyone and if you plan accordingly, you can experience it all on a budget!
