Question 1

Getting Around

Accepted Answer

Mykonos Town is covered on foot, because buses, taxis and motorbikes cannot enter the old town. Fabrika, at the southern entrance to town, is the bus depot for Ornos, Agios Ioannis, Platis Gialos, Psarou, Paraga and Paradise Beach. Buses for Ano Mera, Elia and Kalafatis use a different depot, above the Old Port. Timetables change through the season. The meltemi, a strong, dry north wind, blows across the Aegean from about mid-May to mid-September and is strongest in the afternoon. Boat times, the Delos boats included, change with the weather. Think twice before renting a quad bike. UK government advice for Greece says people are seriously injured and killed on quad bikes there every year.

Question 2

Tipping and Currency

Accepted Answer

A common guide across Europe is to round up a taxi fare and leave 5 to 10 percent in a restaurant when service is not included. Greece uses the euro. Check the bill for a service charge before you add anything. Carry some coins and small notes for buses, kiosks and small purchases.

Question 3

Beaches

Accepted Answer

The south coast is sheltered from the north wind, and its beaches have calmer water. Platis Gialos has a long sandy shore, calm water and restaurants along the beach. Psarou is the upscale one, with beach clubs. Paradise Beach is known for its lively beach scene. On the north coast, Ftelia draws windsurfers and Agios Sostis has almost no development. Expect wind and waves on both. Agios Stefanos is a sandy beach next to the New Port, with sunbeds, umbrellas and water sports.

Question 4

Delos and Culture

Accepted Answer

Delos, about 2 nautical miles from Mykonos, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990, and boats leave for it from the Old Port. The crossing to Delos takes 30 minutes. In 2026 the return boat ticket is €25, entry to the site and museum is €20, and boats run from April to November. On Delos you walk past the marble lions of the Terrace of the Lions, the Sanctuary of Apollo, an ancient theater and houses with mosaic floors. Seven windmills stand on the hill above the Old Port. The island had 29 by the early 19th century, grinding grain for bakeries that supplied passing ships. Panagia Paraportiani, in the Kastro quarter, is five churches joined into one. Building began in 1425 and went on into the 17th century. The houses of Little Venice, with balconies over the sea, date from the mid-18th century and belonged to merchants and sea captains.

Question 5

Shopping in Mykonos

Accepted Answer

Mykonos Town's lanes hold luxury stores and art galleries, and shops stay open into the night. Some of the old houses in Little Venice are now small shops and galleries. Mykonos is one of the most expensive islands in Greece, so look at the price before you pick something up. Amygdalota, the almond cookies of the Cyclades, are an easy thing to carry home.

Question 6

Traveling with Family

Accepted Answer

The SeaBus takes strollers on board, which makes the trip from the cruise dock into town simple with small children. A pelican has been the town's mascot since the 1950s. The first, Petros, was found injured by a fisherman and lived on the waterfront until 1985, and other pelicans have followed him. The Aegean Maritime Museum, in a 19th-century house in the town center, has an 1890 lighthouse on display in its garden. Mykonos has dozens of beaches, and they differ in facilities and cost. Check what a beach is like before you take children there.

Question 7

History

Accepted Answer

Mykonos was part of the Ottoman Empire for almost three centuries, from 1537 to 1830. Ionians from Athens settled the island in the early 11th century BC. In ancient times Mykonos was a poor island that supplied its sacred neighbor, Delos. Delos became a tax-free port in 167 BC and grew into a trading city of about 30,000 people before it was attacked in 88 and 69 BC. Venice ruled Mykonos directly from 1390 until the Ottoman admiral Barbarossa attacked the island in 1537. Manto Mavrogenous, an aristocrat who spent her fortune on the Greek Revolution of 1821, is the island's heroine. Her statue stands in the square named for her. The international jet set arrived in the 1960s, and tourism is now a major industry on the island.

Question 8

Accessibility

Accepted Answer

The SeaBus operator says its boats between the cruise dock and the Old Port have wheelchair access. The SeaBus operator says wheelchairs can be used along the main streets and the waterfront of Mykonos Town. The lanes behind the waterfront are narrow. No taxi can enter the old town, so plan on covering it under your own power. Ask the Delos boat operator about boarding and about the ground on the island before you buy a ticket. Ask your ship whether the gangway will be step-free at Tourlos. If the ship is at anchor, ask whether the tender can take a wheelchair.

Question 9

Food & Drink

Accepted Answer

Kopanisti, a salty, peppery cheese, has been made on Mykonos for more than 300 years and carries a protected designation of origin. Louza is pork cured with local spices. Fish is usually grilled and dressed simply, with olive oil and lemon. Look for Cycladic pies filled with local cheese and herbs, and for kremidopita, the island's onion pie.

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