3 Days in Mykonos | Itinerary for Adventure & Fun
Greece, and the island of Mykonos, has been on our bucket list since forever and our dream finally came true Summer of 2022 when we finally reached this fantastic country.
Greece is one of the most historical places you can visit in Europe. Home to ancient ruins, Greek Mythological wonders, active volcanoes, and an unmatched party scene, Greece is pretty epic. We traveled to Greece in May of 2022 and visited the islands of Mykonos, Delos, Santorini, and then the city of Athens. We believe it is one of the most beautiful places to visit for any group of travelers or solo. The Greek Islands are truly a unique and special place to visit in the summer and shoulder months. In Greece, you can visit several of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and explore a place where past meets present.
Know Before You Go
Relatively safe and easy to get to, traveling to Greece is accessible for people all over the world. Being only 200 kilometers (120 mi) from Turkey and having direct flights from most of Europe and the United States, getting to Greece will not break the bank or require too many stopovers.
Best Time to Visit
Visiting Mykonos in the shoulder months is my recommendation: early May to June, and September and October. We visited in early May and felt that it was the perfect time to visit as the crowds were not excessive in popular tourist destinations such as Mykonos Town. We were told by several locals that we came at the best time. The weather in early May and late September can be a bit chilly so keep that in mind when visiting during the shoulder months, The island itself is known as the “windy island”, so it is wise to pack a light jacket for all months of the year. During the summer months is the Greek Islands’ peak season, but the weather can be brutally hot and crowds can make it difficult to enjoy certain aspects of travel to Mykonos.
How to get there
I am a Scott’s Cheap Flight stan, and since I first joined their newsletter, all our trips have been booked because of an email I received from Scott and his team. We booked this trip because there were $405 round-trip tickets from Washington, DC to Athens, Greece. Now that was a no-brainer for us, because average fares run from $500-$1000 USD per ticket for round-trip fares to Athens.
There are plenty of other ways to score cheap tickets on your own. I also use Skyscanner and play around with the dates in Google Flights. On Google Flights, there is an option to follow prices for your specific dates/locations and get email notifications when the prices change.
Currency
Greece is a member of the EU, so they use the Euro as their official currency. I definitely recommend using a currency converter (such as XE Currency on your cell phone or app on the web) to see what the currency rate is currently. At the time we traveled to Greece (and when I wrote this), the Euro was pretty close to the US Dollar at $1.05 for every 1.00€.
You can use credit or debit cards almost anywhere in Greece, and if not you will surely find an ATM within minutes. Keep around 100 Euro cash on you for smaller purchases. Be mindful of foreign transaction fees if your card has any. American Express is not widely accepted, but can be used at chains like H&M, Starbucks, etc.
To get the best exchange rate, I also tell people to take out local currency at ATMS upon arrival and never ever through an exchange desk at the airport or from a bank in your home country. ATMs provide the best exchange rate, always!!!
Plugs
The plugs in Greece are Type C and F. The standard voltage is 230 V, and the standard frequency is 50Hz. Forget your curling iron and Dyson, these do not work in Europe and will damage your tools. Stick to blow outs using the hotel hair dryer.
Health & Safety
Health:
During your time in Mykonos, it is important to note that you cannot drink the tap water. There are plenty of convenience and grocery stores where you can stock up on bottled water. I highly recommend brushing your teeth, cooking, and drinking with bottled water.
Because Greece is an ancient country, their pipes are also pretty ancient. Do not flush toilet paper down the toilet in Mykonos. This was the most annoying part of the trip for me because I got my period. The sewage system is very small, and the pipes tend to get clogged quite easily.
Safety:
I felt completely safe in Mykonos during our travels, but there are political and economic struggles of the country that you should educate yourself on before traveling to Greece. Petty theft such as pickpocketing is something to be mindful of in the main tourist destinations and party spots. Use normal precautions to keep yourself and your family/friends safe. Mykonos is a party island, so in case of altered judgment, always travel with a buddy and avoid extreme intoxication.
Always keep your valuables at your side, don’t leave cameras, phones, or other expensive gear visible, and don’t leave any precious belongings unattended at the beach.
And now finally we can get to the good stuff, a perfect 3 days in one of the world’s most chic and beautiful islands.
Over a million tourists travel to the stunning island of Mykonos each year to soak up its sun-drenched beaches, stunning sights, excellent entertainment and laid back Mediterranean charm. There’s a wealth of things to do in Mykonos, whether you want to shop til you drop, wander through picturesque streets, visit gorgeous white villages, quaint churches, lazy windmills and exquisite sandy beaches.
The land of white buildings, happening beach clubs, and stunning vistas makes Mykonos an ideal spot for a girls trip, family vacation, or a romantic getaway. Despite being perfect for any type of trip, Mykonos has the reputation as a party girl. Competing with Ibiza to be the coolest destination for the world’s most elite to throw down, Mykonos is becoming more and more popular each passing summer.
Getting to Mykonos
Depending on where you are starting your trip to Greece, you will either be arriving by airplane or ferry.
By Air: Booking a direct flight from Athens is quite easy, because during the summer, there is a nonstop to Mykonos every 30 minutes. Most of these flights will be operated by the European budget airlines (RyanAir, Volotea, Aegean etc.) and will be relatively cheap. We paid 30€ (not including bags) for a one-way ticket to Mykonos from Athens, flying the Spanish budget airline: Volotea. The flight was great and luckily, we had no issues. Reading reviews of these airlines will make you uneasy, and rightfully so. These flights are often delayed or canceled and have a history of poor customer service. Just be wary of this when booking and that you may want to purchase travel insurance when flying them.\
By Sea: The alternative to flying directly to Mykonos is taking a ferry. You can take it directly from Athens for an 8 hour journey or if you are visiting another Greek island before Mykonos, a much shorter journey. I recommend flying to the first island you visit and then using the ferries to get around the islands. The ferry is easy to navigate, but definitely a stressful experience (at least for me), and claustrophobic folks may have a hard time. Ferry prices range from 20€ to 120€; we paid something around 80€ a person for the most basic ticket on the fastest ferry.
Where to Stay in Mykonos
Location
I highly recommend staying in Mykonos Town (or Chora), due to the fact that it is centrally located to all the best nightlife, shopping, and restaurants. Other happening spots to stay are near the beaches of Ornos or Platis Gialos.
Airbnb
Mykonos Town Suites - We stayed in Mykonos Town and would have it no other way. We stayed in this amazing Airbnb right in the heart of Mykonos Town. Our Airbnb host Elena was absolutely fantastic and we would 110% stay there again just because of her. Oh and the epic location! We walked everywhere and it was perfect.
Hotels
Splurge: Next time I go to Mykonos, I plan to splurge and stay at the iconic Cavo Tagoo or the luxury Marriott hotel: Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort.
Budget: For a cheaper alternative, I recommend still lodging in Mykonos Town and staying in a smaller locally owned hotel such as Villa Pinelopi, Rooms & Studios.
Day 1 - Arriving to Mykonos
Afternoon:
Depending on when you get into Mykonos, you will probably only have a half day to explore the island. To kick things off, we recommend getting settled in your accommodation to decompress from the long travel leg. Once you feel up to explore, it is time to hit the town…well “Mykonos Town” to be exact.
Exploring Mykonos Town
There is so much to do in the heart of Mykonos Town that you could spend your entire trip to Mykonos just in these parts. I obviously don’t recommend you do that, but it is a great place to grab food, shop around, and to just watch tourists come and go.
Shopping on Matogianni Street - The heart of the island is known by locals and tourists as Matogianni (or Matoyianni) Street. It houses designer stores, boutique handmade jewelry, fabulous restaurants, and souvenir shops. During the summer, most stores and shops are open till midnight, and you will never be short of things to do in the evening hours on Mykonos.
Chiesa di Panagia Paraportiani - These beautiful white buildings make an epic photo location for your instagram you have been wanting to snap. The Church of Panagia Paraportiani is located in the Kastro district of Mykonos Town. Its name means "Our Lady of the Side Gate" in Greek, as its entrance was found in the side gate of the entrance to the Kastro area.
Windmills of Kato Mili - When you see postcards from Mykonos, they will almost always be showing the Windmills of Kato Mill. Located next to Little Venice, make sure you stop by this location to fight off the tourists and snap a couple pics.
Boni’s Windmill - Kind of on the other side of town from where we have you going next, is the beautiful Boni Windmill. It sits atop a hill and is one of the best places to watch the sunset in Mykonos.
Little Venice - My favorite area of Mykonos Town is Little Venice. I am almost positive you have seen various instagrammers posting the waves crashing right up to tables. This spot is fantastic for watching the sunset along the coast as well as sipping a cocktail next to the sea.
Afternoon Drinks at Negrita
Negrita is one of my favorite places in the world. This cute little bar in the heart of Little Venice is the BEST place to have a “Welcome to Mykonos” cocktail. I highly recommend stopping here at least once on your trip to enjoy the soft sounds of the ocean and breathtaking views right in front of you. This is also a lovely place to watch the sunset, but be aware that you will have to make a reservation for sunset and these times book quickly and there is a minimum spend per person. I recommend you just walk in there during an off-peak time to have a quick drink for the experience. This place also comes alive at night and is so fun for dancing the night away.
Dinner at D’Angelo
You are probably HUNG-REE by this point! Make your way over to D’Angelo Italian Restaurant–you may need a reservation for the peak season. We had my boyfriend’s birthday dinner here and not only are the prices really good, but the food is fantastic. It is a mix of Italian and Greek cuisine–leaning more towards to the Italian side. The food and vibes are great–they also just filmed Netflix’s “Selling Sunset” here lol. Make sure you get the peanut butter dessert if you go here because it is to die for, and I’m not a big dessert person.
Night
If you still have any energy left (how?), walk on down to Little Venice again to go dancing. The best spots are Negrita, Scandinavian Bar (much college kid vibes), Jackie O’s, ASTRA, or Queen of Mykonos.
Day 2 - ATV Day
Morning
Rise and shine for your epic day of exploring the island of Mykonos!I absolutely recommend renting ATVs for a day in Mykonos; it is such a great way to see parts of the island you normally wouldn’t. It was my favorite day of our Greece trip (even though every day was amazing). I felt totally safe the entire time even though some of the time we were driving on main roads.
Start the day by picking up your ATV rentals. We rented two for four people and it was perfect. We rented from OK Mykonos Bikes & ATVs. Depending on where you are staying, you could find a rental closer to you. We didn't shop around for prices, but it was only 80€ for both for the entire day. They pick you up (not quickly) at your hotel. You could also rent razors which would probs be cooler than just the regular ATVs.
Brunch at Bowl
Bowl was a good brunch spot if you are craving brunch. It is super healthy and totally the vibe of Mykonos. We found the prices to be a little high (like everything in Mykonos), but the food was extremely fresh and it was a great place to start our day.
HippieFish Beach Club
After brunch, make your way down to one of the many beach clubs on the southern coast of Mykonos. The southern side is home to all the best beaches and will definitely be more crowded than those on the northern part of the island. The reason for this is because the wind is much stronger on the north and flows from north to south, making the beaches on the southside a lot more pleasant.
We hung out at the beach near HippieFish for a little bit, and full disclosure we sat on the beach next to HippieFish (it’s free). I would have preferred one of those nice beach loungers and an aperol spritz in my hand, but it was 11 in the morning and any way you can save money in Mykonos is a plus.
Kapari Beach
THE BEST! This is my favorite beach in Mykonos and it is not commonly known by tourists. That being said, we were the only ones there. Look it up online it is heaven on Earth. It also is really fun to drive to on ATVs because it is a dirt road and the views are oh so sweet. Maybe my fav moment of my trip.
Lunch at Paradise Beach Club
This place turns into a rager at 4 pm (maybe not a family vibe after 4), but we went for lunch and to chill and the food was spectacular, and the views were amazing. My boyfriend’s sister said it was her best gyro of the trip - shocking because we had gyros for every other meal. Their cocktails are so good but pricier than the food. I would have loved to have spent a longer time here, but we had other sites to see and did not want to have the ATVs out too late.
Armenistis Lighthouse
Fair warning this next spot is on the northern part of Mykonos, so if you would rather just hang around the beach clubs of the south, I would recommend going to NAMMOS for some shopping or another beach club.
This spot is so cool to drive to and the views are otherworldly. You go straight up a mountain (also the roads when you get to this part of the island are basically empty unlike the south side). If you look far into the distance you will see the outlines of other islands and GOATS.
Afternoon/Evening
ATV Return
Returning the ATVs was so smooth and the owner of the ATV rental drove us back to our Airbnb as soon as we got there. By the time we returned our ATVs and made our way home to the Airbnb, it was almost dinnertime. We freshened up a bit and got ready to watch another magical Greek sunset (spoiler: we watched them all).
Sunset at 180 Degree Sunset Bar
Okay, I also highly recommend this spot for tapas/watching the sunset one night. I warn you, It is super pricey and the service was not spectacular–that being said, 100% worth it! If a place encapsulated my vibe entirely, this would be it. The music is SO good and chill and they have a live singer in Greek, and it is just awesome. This is a prime spot for seeing one of the greatest sunsets of your life–well maybe until you get to Santorini. We climbed up a mountain to get here (thanks Google Maps), and our one friend was like there is probably a better way to get here, but we never figured it out. Maybe you will if you go. Let me know in the comments please.
Dinner/Night
Scorpios Beach Club
Disclaimer: Scorpios may not be for everyone. This spot oscillating between club, restaurant, cultural center and spiritual retreat has become the definitive spot for A-listers and trendy tourists. Here you can have an extremely overpriced dinner and drinks, but afterwards the venue space turns into a chic club where you can continue your night into the evening.
Day 3 - Delos
Looking to add more than just a good party to your Mykonos trip? Make sure you spend half a day exploring the island and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Delos. You will have to book a tour or take a ferry to get here, but it is oh-so-worth-it. We booked this tour company and I highly recommend them. Not only do they take you to Delos, but also the island of Rhenia to swim and enjoy a vegetarian-friendly barbecue lunch. Also, their boat looks straight out of the Mamma Mia movie.
Morning in Delos
Stop and grab a bite to eat at one of the local bakeries for breakfast. Afterwards, make your way to the Mykonos Old Port to meet the tour guide that will take you onboard the boat. This spot is walkable from Mykonos Town and it is a lovely vista your whole way. Once boarded, you wild epart from Mykonos and set sail for the ancient site of Delos island. Upon arrival, you can stay on board, swim in the blue and green waters or disembark for a 2-hour tour of the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is also the birthplace of Apollo and it was a major religious center and port during the 1st millennium B.C. The island's ruins encompass Doric temples, markets, an amphitheater, houses with mosaics and the iconic Terrace of the Lions statues. You can climb the mountain (10-15 min walk) to Zeus’ Temple and see panoramic views of the island and Mykonos/surrounding islands. There are also kitties everywhere! Definitely get out of the boat to see Delos, and do not miss these main sites:
The Terrace of the Lions: This is definitely the most famous spot on Delos and when you Google Delos, pictures of this will be the first to appear. This is an inspiring path lined with marble lions, built in the 7th century BCE by the inhabitants of Naxos. The lions that you see there are replicas, as the original statues are housed inside the island’s museum.
Mount Cynthus: Home to Zeus’ alleged temple, this is the tallest hill on Delos (112m). Το reach the top, you can take the ancient stairs, a climb that takes roughly 20 minutes for those in shape. The view of the island as well as 360 panoramic views of Mykonos, the Aegean, and Rhenia is one of the best in the Cyclades. It is also crazy windy up here–maybe the wrath of ZEUS!
The Ancient Theater of Delos: initially a wooden construction, it was replaced by today’s stone one in the 3rd century BCE. The theater could accommodate more than 5,000 visitors and offered spectacular views of the Aegean.
The Theater Quarter: this is the oldest district of the settlement. Its most unique highlights include the House of Cleopatra and Dioscorides, where their statues are preserved.
The House of Dionysus: here, you will find the famous mosaic depicting god Dionysus riding a tiger. Exceptional mosaics are also preserved in the Houses of Masks, Dolphins and the Trident.
The Archaeological Museum of Delos: This was closed when we visited, but it is one of the most significant museums focusing on ancient Greek sculpture and private life during the Hellenistic period. Inside, you can marvel at the gorgeous statues and findings, including vases, figurines, mosaics, murals and objects of everyday life. A visit will offer you the chance to learn more about the history of Delos.
Afternoon in Rhenia
Board the boat again for another quick sail to the island of Rhenia. Here you will be able to jump off the boat and swim in the sparkling Aegean sea. You can also swim to the island itself, but if you plan to do this, I recommend jumping off the boat in Tevas or Chacos, or else you will be climbing the island hill in bare feet. At the top, you can find local farm animals grazing casually. Be cautious of the snakes as that was something our guide had mentioned to the people who got off the boat to explore. When we went in May only a couple people had jumped off our boat because the water was so freezing! Hopefully when you go it will be nice and warm.
BBQ Lunch
The tour had a lovely barbecue lunch and even though I am a vegetarian, the chef and captain made sure there was something yummy for me to eat. I thought everything tasted great and we had the chance to try a lot of local Greek dishes. There was also an open bar and some of the members of our tour group got a little rowdy.
Evening
We got off the boat at around 5pm and like us, you will probably be exhausted from a day at sea. We freshened up at our Airbnb and did a little bit of souvenir shopping in Mykonos Town. If you have a little more energy than us on your last night in Mykonos, you should venture to one of the many beach clubs on the southern coast of Mykonos.
Dinner at Sale e Pepe
This place has really good vibes and is right in Mykonos Town. A little bit Italian and a lot a bit Greek, the food at Sale e Pepe was so good. They have like 40 different OLIVE OILS for your bread, so definitely get bread. Carbs don't count on vacay. Also, I highly recommend you get the red pepper olive oil as one of them on your table. I had the spaghetti and it was the perfect portion size and perfectly al dente.
