Mykonos, Greece Travel Guide || Fall 2022

My world tour continues and this week I’m in Mykonos, Greece having my Mama Mia moment! As my European adventures continue, it’s becoming more and more clear to me that I was born to be by saltwater and sand. My five-day adventure to the islands was incredible with lots of time to relax.

Before we get into the travel guide, I want to make it known that Mykonos is the most wealthy island in Europe therefore it is also one of the most expensive. It actually did not become a popular tourist hit-spot until the late 70s becoming a gay hot spot + honeymoon destination. It also happens to be the ideal spot if you’re wanting a fun girl’s weekend.

The island is centered around tourism, however, it essentially shuts down from late October until early May. Most of the workers return to their home islands to spend time with family and return to Mykonos when the tourism season begins. That being said, we visited in early October with low season just two weeks ago and it was a ghost town.

If you’re looking to avoid the crowds and take in Mykonos’ beauty from a distance now is the time to go. If you’re looking for a rowdy, party-filled scene, you have to come in the summertime! Regardless, we appreciated having the beach to ourselves and roaming the streets at our own leisure.

Per usual I’m back today with a full travel guide breaking down all of my trip’s details including where we stayed, ate, and swam.

Transportation

I won’t lie, Mykonos is a hike to get to as it’s quite far away from well… pretty much everywhere as it is an island. Florence, Italy is my home base. I took the last train of the day from Florence to Milan ($25, 1.5 hours), got on the bus from Milan train station to Milan airport ($10, 45 minutes), waited 4 painful hours on the airport floor, and then took the first flight out from Milan to Mykonos ($26, 1.5 hours).

Thankfully our hotel had a shuttle to and from the airport that was free so we didn’t have to worry about a taxi!

The return was definitely more costly as I, unfortunately, booked this last minute and didn’t have as much wiggle room. I flew from Mykonos to Athens (40 minutes), had a 50-minute layover, flew from Athens to Rome ($250, 2 hours), took the train from the airport to the Rome Train Station ($15, 35 minutes), and then the train from Rome to Florence Santa Maria.

Transportation within the island is… interesting. The whole island is 20 minutes from one side to the other. We were a 10-minute taxi ride to the downtown area which was $25 each way. We found it easiest to take a taxi however many people rent ATVs and bikes to get around. Seems incredibly unsafe to me but hey, that’s just me! 

All in all, traveling to and from Mykonos is a headache no matter how many ways you try to work around it.

Where To Stay 

My trip to Mykonos was extra special because it’s where I completed my first European hotel collaboration! I had the pleasure of staying at Panormos Villages, a small family-owned hotel located along the north shore of Mykonos. This property has 29 rooms, varying from basic queens to extravagant honeymoon suites with gorgeous moon pools.

The property itself is perched on a hill and is just a five-minute walk to the beach. However, if you’re more of a pool girl, they’ve got that too. In fact, this was the most insane pool I’ve ever seen with two different levels, cabana beds to lay out on and tons of bean bags to tan at. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time here.

We actually had the pleasure of staying in two different rooms throughout our stay, the first being a Junior Suite. This room was spotless with a large, comfy king bed to share.

I loved the bathroom of this room, with a large walk-in shower, a separate toilet area, and sleek sink hardware. The room was cleaned every day with fresh sheets and towels which I always appreciate.

And while our room was nice, the best part about It was the private moon pool right outside of our bedroom door. We had our own little porch area where we could sit out and tan in the large beanbags and the cutest little area to swim. I came out here each night to swim under the stars and it was magical.

On our last night, we were actually upgraded to their Superior Double suite which was about twice the size of our previous room. This room had its own little seating area with a couch to lounge at. This bed was also a king which looked out into the most gorgeous patio area.

The patio was huge with several different chairs and beanbags to relax in. Plus, the moon pool turned warmer at night which was even better. You have a clear view of the ocean from this room so the views are absolutely spectacular.

The bathroom was also much bigger with double sinks and a jacuzzi to take a nice long bath in. The place was spotless and had the best natural light which made getting ready in the morning a breeze.

Our hotel also had a fully functioning restaurant with an all-inclusive breakfast that we took advantage of every single morning. While breakfast usually functions buffet style, there were so few people saying at the resort that we were able to pick and choose what we wanted each morning and have it made fresh for us.

Of course, I took advantage and had the most amazing omelets, fresh fruit, meats + cheeses, and croissants each day. Oh, and if you come here you have to try the fresh squeezed orange juice. It’s incredible and each glass is made fresh. Plus, you really cannot beat the ocean view.

I cannot say enough good things about our stay here. The staff were incredibly kind and accommodating. We even had the chance to talk with the owner for several hours one evening which was so nice! If you’re interested in booking your stay click here to view all of your options.

Things To Do

I’ll be honest, there isn’t a whole lot to do in Mykonos. It’s an island, therefore most people come here to relax by the pool and/or ocean. Which believe me, was fine by me. After all, that’s definitely my favorite activity, lol. Mykonos is known for its rowdy nightlife, however, in the midst of low season, there was little-no action.

We did, however, have a blast and I was thrilled to be with my content bestie @bejulesed in our fourth country together. I want to note that we definitely would have gone on a boat however the winds were so strong during our stay that we didn’t have the chance to…. oh well, guess that means we’ll have to come back! 😉

Relax By The Beach

There’s nothing I love more than a good beach day. We had a beach just five minutes from our hotel. We were shocked to learn that just two weeks ago the entire beach was covered in umbrellas and beach chairs belonging to a beach club…. we had the whole place to ourselves with not one other person around us the entire week.

The water is so rocky here so as silly as it sounds if you have water shoes I recommend bringing them. Other than that, the water was so enjoyable with the perfect mix of waves and shallow waters. To our surprise, the water was actually pretty warm for it being the middle of October.

I also want to note that the beaches are sand here—that’s hard to come by in Italy so it was definitely a nice change of pace from what I’m used to!

Lots of Shopping Downtown 

The shopping Is just incredible over here with tons of handmade fabrics, Mykonian one-of-a-kind clothing pieces, and lots of linen. To be honest, the authentic stuff was 100x cuter than any of the things in the tourist shops lol. I’m not usually a huge fan of window shopping as I feel it can get quite boring when you’re not actually buying anything but I had a ball looking at all of the unique styles.

So much so that I purchased a piece in one of the linen shops. This maxi can be worn as a strapless dress or as a skirt and was hand stitched by a woman right there in Mykonos. The quality of this piece is insane— I couldn’t pass it up. Jules got the same one in pink so that we could match. I can’t wait to wear this more and keep it to share with my kids one day!

Get Lost In The Downtown Streets 

Ask your taxi driver to drop you off downtown. This area is only a few miles big but packed full of all the action. This is where most restaurants, shops, and Airbnbs are located. There are a few coastal bars and restaurants, with booming nightlife in the summertime.

The area is literally called Little Venice and is so similar to Venice, Italy if you’ve ever been. Windy streets that all look the same but each holds something unique. It’s easy to get lost in them and let yourself do so. There are tons of hidden gems to discover and so many gorgeous photo locations.

Visit The Windmills 

The windmills are another popular spot that many tourists visit. Obviously, it is incredibly windy over here so I didn’t end up getting a photo with me in it. Still a gorgeous spot worth taking a photo of and it’s right across from the water!

Where To Eat 

I have to say Greek food is one of my favorite cuisines— I was stoked to come here and have the chance to eat all the tzatziki and pita bread my heart desired. Usually, my travel guides are chock full of restaurant recommendations however this time around, we actually didn’t eat out too much.

With eating huge breakfasts around 11:00 am each day, we really only grabbed dinner out. It’s important to note that the restaurants along the waterfront strip are known for being “tourist traps” with average, inauthentic food. To find the good stuff, work your way deeper into the town.

Veranda Mykonos

While we knew better than to eat at one of those coastal view restaurants, we did want to enjoy the sunset here so we grabbed a drink. Most cocktails along this strip are $25 (insane, I know) but they were only $20 at this place. I got their pina colada and it was the best I’ve ever had. So frothy and so fresh.

✈ Menu // Directions

Pepper 

We actually came to Pepper based on a follower’s recommendation and it was definitely my favorite meal of the trip. I got their chicken gyro full of chicken souvlaki, tomato, onion, feta, tzatziki, and paprika-covered french fries and it was amazing. I had variations of the same meal the entire trip but this had its own unique flavor to it. We also got their hummus and while I’m not usually a hummus lover, this one was amazing.

✈ Menu // Directions

Panormos Village Restaurant 

As I mentioned, our hotel has its own restaurant which we also went to one night. We got their tzatziki and pita bread to start and it was super dilly, just the way Jules likes it. We tried two different authentic dishes per the waiter’s recommendation and they were interesting….

I learned that I’m not a fan of calamari when it’s stuffed like this as it’s a little (okay, a lot) too fishy for my liking. We also tried their shrimp saganaki which was shrimp you had to peel marinated with tomato, feta, and a unique sauce. It freaks me out seeing the head of a shrimp like this but once I got past that, this was actually very good.

I had two drinks here as well—their strawberry daiquiri (incredible, ask for it frozen) and a pina colada (also very good!). Cocktails were $15 here so much cheaper than in town.

✈ Menu // Directions

Jimmys

There are gyro stands on every corner and you must go up and grab one. We settled on this place because they had falafel for Jules however I would have gotten the same thing wherever we went lol. I got the chick gyro and it was delicious. Not as good as the first night, as there wasn’t as much seasoning on it but still yummy. But hey, you can’t beat $4.

✈ No Menu // Directions

Kostas

Our last night we found this authentic greek restaurant and sat down based on the cozy outdoor atmosphere. I ordered their chicken souvlaki platter which I learned is basically the same thing as a gyro, just with all of the ingredients laid out, lol. It’s definitely more food though so if you’re hungrier it’s a must. I will say, this meal was very average—not bad but nothing exceptional either!

✈ Menu // Directions

Things To Pack

After securing Pinterest for hours beforehand, I was a little torn on what to pack—all of the looks I was seeing were mini dresses and swimsuits. Despite it being early October and temperatures reading seventy-two degrees and windy, I packed the same things and hoped for the best. Admittedly, I think I was pretty spot on this trip!

If you want to see all eight outfits I wore throughout my trip to Mykonos complete with links to shop and directions to some of the most Instagrammable locations click here.

In the meantime, here’s a short and sweet packing list.

• Tote Bag: You’re going to need all the beach essentials in one place. Don’t forget a tote bag; I brought my straw one from H&M.
• Wrap: It’s incredibly windy in the evenings by the water and according to the locals this is the case all year round. For that reason, I highly recommend packing some type of wrap/shawl to keep in your bag and throw on as needed. I have the 3 Yard Wrap from Bleusalt in the color unbleached and bring it on every trip. It works as a blanket on the plane, as a cute coverup with a dress, and as a throw on the beach. I don’t photograph this often but boy was it a lifesaver for this trip—I highly recommend this brand as their wraps are made of a type of cashmere so you’re always “just the right” temperature. Big fan!
• Flat Shoes: Mykonos is all cobblestone with tons of hills and stairs so make sure you’re wearing flat shoes. I was perfectly comfortable in sandals, just make sure they are ones that your feet can handle some miles in!
• Linen button-up and pants: I almost always travel with a linen button-up and pants and I was so grateful I had both with me this trip. I wore them over my swimsuit, to breakfast, and even home on the plane for a long day of travel. Definitely good layering pieces as they go with everything.
• Swimsuit: No matter what time of year you’re going, bring a swimsuit. Even with it being seventy and windy the sun was still strong enough for us to sit by the pool and beach every single day. I’m so glad I brought a suit for each day and was even happier to have the chance to swim so late into the year.

Watch The Week

Want to see my trip to Mykonos on camera? Check out this vlog and hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out on more travel content coming your way soon. I do want to note that there is definitely a quality difference with this vlog as mid-week my camera lens got a piece of sand lodged into it, causing it to not turn on.

I’m so sad about this and am currently taking it into *hopefully* be repaired. Luckily, I was able to vlog the rest of the trip on my phone but just wanted to give you a heads-up.

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Phew, what a week it was! I’m so glad I finally had the chance to see Greece. I would say that I feel it’s a little overhyped as a destination however we visited during their low season and therefore I don’t feel it’s fair to say that just yet, lol. I hope to make it back to Greece at some point, possibly to visit Santorini or Paros.

Until then, I hope you enjoyed this mini travel guide. Thanks so much for sticking around. Catch you next week for my trip to Morrocco, Africa! Woohoo.

With love, McKenz

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