Mykonos, the famous Greek party island where everyone, from on a budget travellers to the most wealthy on the planet want to visit at least once in their lifetime.
Mykonos is more than a party island
It is a romantic vacation spot where to spend a honeymoon, maybe in one of the many private villas or suites with a private pool, have a romantic walk in the main town Chora and have wonderful dinners only a few meters from the shore while watching a breathtaking sunset.
If you travel with your family and little ones, Mykonos can be perfect for you too.
Many beaches have shallow waters where kids can play freely; you must avoid those with the most extensive beach clubs because there is not much left of free beach (it is covered by their sunbeds).
Read "The Best Beaches in Mykonos," where I explain the difference between them and which ones are family-friendly.
It doesn't matter if you are a party person or not. I went to Mykonos and haven't been to dance either once. And I loved the island.
Walking and exploring every corner of the main town of Chora, playing in the water and getting tan on one of the beautiful beaches, spending a day on a boat trip and having marvelous dinners right on the seaside was terrific.
So, whichever traveler you are, I am sure you will love it.
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Read 24 Things to Never Do in Mykonos
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1. Don't avoid planning a holiday to Mykonos only because it is expensive:
Yes, it is much more costly than any other island and highly crowded during the high season. That is why you only need to avoid getting there during high season.
The high season in Greece goes from the second half of June and the beginning of September.
That means that if you visit it at the end of May/beginning of June or at the end of September, everything will be much cheaper, and you will be able to enjoy the island at your peace.
Visiting Mykonos on a Budget?
2. Don't plan to visit Mykonos during winter if you are looking for hot temperatures:
If you look at flights and accommodations prices for Greece during the winter season, you are going to see that prices drop a lot, and yes, you are going to save a lot of money and avoid the summer crowd, but you will also find cold weather (unless you like it, of course).
But what is the point of going to Mykonos if it's cold and rainy and most restaurants and hotels are closed?
Greek is a summer destination, perfect from May to October, and the weather is not sunny and hot as usual from November to April because even in Greece, there is a winter season.
I think the best month to visit Mykonos is at the end of May, the beginning of June, and the end of September, when the kids are at school.
It is less crowded, the temperature is warm but not so hot like July, and prices are lower.
Keep in mind that beach clubs and nightclubs open in the middle of May. So if you want to enjoy Mykonos as the party island it is, go from June till September.
3. Don't drink and drive:
I don't want to sound like your mother, but when I got to Mykonos, and I met the guy who brought my rental car to the port for me, the first thing he told me was that only that summer more than 50 people died because they got in a scooter or quad crash.
I am not joking, guys, more than 50 people in only three months on a little island like Mykonos.
Greece has the third-highest motorcycle deaths in Europe, and the cause is that kids go there on holiday, rent a scooter even if they have never driven one, get drunk, and lose their life crashing against something or falling from a cliff.
While in Mykonos, I saw girls driving scooters, and trust me, if you had seen how they were driving. It was terrifying.
It was evident that it was their first time on a scooter. Imagine them driving in the middle of the night, on streets they do not know, under the effect of alcohol.
So, please, be careful.
4. Don't be afraid to learn some basic sentences in Greek:
I know the Greek language might be intimidating for some of us, but you have no idea how hospitable Greek people are.
They will appreciate the effort, so learn some essential words on Duolingo as I do to use at your accommodation or in a Myconian restaurant, like good morning, good evening, thank you, etc.
You might become friends with some locals just because you show them how much you like your country and culture just by saying a few Greek words.
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5. Avoid tourists traps:
As you probably know, my dear traveler, every tourist place has plenty of tourist traps.
So please do your research in advance.
Check my article "Stunning Restaurants with Sea View in Mykonos" or "Most Places Where to Eat Local on a Budget in Mykonos" or ask locals where they ea.
You won't regret it. You will taste delicious local food and probably also save some money.
Planning a Romantic Vacation in Mykonos?
6. Don't be afraid to talk to locals:
Locals know the area and can give you advice, like where to eat and how to get from A to B in the cheapest and fastest way; they know the best beaches in Mykonos and all the tips to visit Mykonos and make the most of your vacation so don't be afraid to talk to them and ask for advice.
Book your tours and activities before they get sold out!
Check here all the activities and tours available. You won't regret it!
7. Don't forget to research where to eat locally:
We all have a budget when we travel (at least I do), and the best way to experience the place we visit is through local food, and the Greek food is fantastic and don't make me start talking about the Greek sweets!
I think it is probably the first thing I research as soon as I choose a destination, where and what to eat, for me that I would spend all day eating, is an essential part of my travel. This is one of the most important tips for visiting Greece I can give you!
Want to know more about Food in Mykonos?
8. Don't be scared to share your meal with your travel mates:
And by saying this, I mean there are so many delicious foods in Greece; you cannot just order a starter and a main course for yourself and try only two things a restaurant offers.
Share all the food with your travel mates unless you are traveling alone.
Order different dishes and share everything with them. In this way, you will try most of the options on the menu, still feeling satisfied but not fully ready to explode, or maybe yes.
Greek food is so good you won't be able to stop eating everything. Also, don't forget to book a great wine and food tour in Mykonos, where you will try the most local dishes and local wines!
9. Don't eat only Greek food you have heard about:
Greece is a vast country; every region has some specialty you may not have heard about.
Please do your research ahead, or when visiting, ask your waiter, or at your accommodation, what the local gastronomy has to offer, trust me, you will get very well surprised. And if you love cooking, maybe a Mykonos cooking class is what you have to book on this vacation!
Read "Unmissable Food and Drinks to Try in Greece" to learn about all the delicacies you cannot miss trying in Greece.
10. Don't talk about politics or country issues:
As you might have heard, Greece has a substantial financial issue, so please avoid the subject unless a local starts to talk about it with you.
11. Don't forget to bring a gift when a local invites you to their house:
Greeks are very hospitable people, so if some of them invite you to their home, please be a perfect guest and bring something to say thank you.
It might be just a bunch of flowers, a bottle of wine, or some sweets bought at a local bakery. You will see how much they will appreciate your gesture. If you want to learn what to buy in Greece, I have you covered, as always!
Want to See More Places in Greece?
12. Don't forget to be extra careful when crossing the road:
Greeks are a little bit crazy while driving, not all of them, of course, but only because the traffic light is green in your favor; it doesn't mean you don't need to check the street before crossing, so keep that in mind and please be always careful and vigilant.
Also, Mykonos is full of tourists that don't know the area, or they might have drunk too much and still driving, so keep your guard up all the time.
13. Don't expect everything or everyone to be on time:
Buses might not be right in time like in London (to give you an example), so you might have to wait a couple of minutes for your bus to leave or wait a bit longer than usual to meet a local.
My advice is to always be there in advance if you must catch a bus or a ferry (anywhere in the world), just in case it leaves right on time or if you find traffic on your way. Traffic can be terrible in high season with locals going to work plus tourists not knowing the area.
Please leave your accommodation in advance and be there with plenty of time ahead of you, do not risk losing it please, bring with you a novel or have some music to listen to, to avoid getting bored while you wait (if this could be your case).
14. Don't show your hand palm:
It may mean nothing to you, but it is a well-known insulting gesture in Greece. It is showing your middle finger, so please avoid it. (read my tips to visit Mykonos and plan the best trip to Greece)
To make you understand, I am not saying you cannot let other people see your palms. The gesture I am talking about is when you are talking to someone, and you lift your hand and show their face your palm in a very straightforward way.
15. Don't forget to apply sunscreen:
The sun is ill, and we have heard about it many times, so please buy good mineral sunscreen or an aloe vera one and apply it many times daily.
The sun in Greece is powerful, so if you come from a country where you don't sunbed very often, please do not forget!
Save your delicate skin and your holiday because sunburns can turn your holiday into a nightmare, and get the best tan this summer!
Also, when it's windy, you might feel that you are not so hot, but trust me, the sun will make you look like a lobster in the evening, so apply good sunscreen every couple of hours.
16. Don't spend all your holiday in one place:
Of course, if you are planning to visit Greece just for a weekend, you won't have time to see much, but if you are lucky enough to have one or two weeks to spend in this beautiful country, my advice is to visit more than just one place or one island.
All the mainland is well connected by bus and trains, and all the islands are well connected by ferries, so it will be elementary for you to move around.
A few years ago, I started my holiday in Athens where I spent three days (I had 16 days in Greece).
I moved to Mykonos for four days, then Paros for three days, Ios for three days, and ended my holiday in Santorini for another three days.
I am not saying you have to do the same as I did, but honestly, ferries can be so fast, and the islands are not so big, so you can easily see everything you want in one day and then spend the other day and a half on a beach.
I rented a car everywhere (just not in Athens, where I moved by public transport and walking during the day and by taxi at night), and I have seen everything I wanted, having a lot of time to spend at the beach relaxing and swimming.
17. Don't forget to bargain:
Buying souvenirs in Greece in shops or local markets is common to bargain and get the best price.
Even if you have never done it, try it. They won't get upset because this is part of their customs, and you might save some money.
Don't forget, the only way to lower the prices is by paying cash.
Plan Your Vacation in Mykonos
Check out all my articles in the "Most Complete Guide of Mykonos" and get all the information you need to make your next travel successful.
18. Don't forget you will need an international driver's license to rent a car in Greece:
Unfortunately, you might end up without the chance to rent a car without an international driver's license, so check how to do it in your own country (it is basically just a translation of your driver's license and is usually valid for one year).
If you are from Europe, you won't have any problems but plan to come from a country outside the EU.
19. Don't forget to buy local products as souvenirs:
Greece has a lot to offer, from wine, olive oils, olives, honey, and herbs, handmade soaps, and many other natural cosmetics, so do your research about the place you will visit, buy and eat locally, your friends at home will love to receive your gifts from Greece.
20. Don't throw toilet paper or anything else inside the toilet:
If you see a little bin next to it, the pipes are much smaller than in any other country.
If you throw a lot of toilet paper in it, it will clog, and trust me, you don't want to be in a situation when you and your travel mate cannot use the toilet in the morning, so keep this in mind.
21. Don't forget to withdraw money:
While in Greece, always have some cash with you. In many restaurants, bars, and shops are possible to pay by credit card, while in some other ones, like in small towns, card payments are not always accepted, so keep that in mind, and never leave without some cash in your pocket.
To be sure, always ask if they accept card payments before ordering something.
Tips & Info About Mykonos
22. Don't waste your time looking for a smoke-free bar or restaurant:
In Greece, most people smoke, and local owners let them do it, so if you cannot eat in a place where people smoke at the table next to you, I highly recommend you choose a location with a garden or a terrace.
Don't Miss to Read
23. Don't forget to bring with you an adapter:
Greek plugs differ from the US, Uk, and other countries.
Make sure to buy a universal adapter before your departure. It is always cheaper to buy it while at home than at the airport in a very tourist spot.
Plan and buy all the necessary for your trip.
24. Don't forget to save the emergency numbers:
I wish you all the luck in this world and that nothing terrible happens to you, but sometimes bad things happen at home or while traveling, so save up all the numbers you might need in an emergency.
Mykonos Medical Center: +30 2289023994
Tourist Police:+30 2289022482
Mykonos International Airport: +30 2289079000
Mykonos Bus Services: +30 2289023360, 2289026797
Mykonos Taxi Services: +30 2289023700, 2289022400
Mykonos Hotel Association: +30 2289024760, 2289024540
Municipality of Mykonos:+30 2289022201
In Greece, the numbers to dial are:
police emergency is 100
to call an ambulance is 166.
I added all the numbers you may need on every main page of a city or country I wrote about, so check them out.
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