The Best Beaches in Mykonos

Mykonos is an Aegean Island where unhurried sun-drenched afternoons stretch into bustling summer nights. The Greek Island, part of the Cyclades cluster, expertly balances the natural and the cosmopolitan. Mykonos’ beaches are no different, flaunting options for the family, the adventurer, and the hedonist alike. 

Mykonos is famed for its iconic white-washed walls and fixtures painted in deep cerulean blue to mirror the Aegean Sea. This classical architecture reflects and elevates the natural beauty of the island. 

The island’s rich history is manifested in its architecture, such as its renowned 15th-century windmills that characterise Mykonos’s unique skyline. These Venetian windmills remind visitors of the land’s natural bounty and agricultural roots. In Chora, the islands’ capital, this classical infrastructure blends with the metropolitan centre, boasting luxury shops, restaurants, and beach clubs.

The beaches of Mykonos share a similar dichotomy of beautiful natural scenery and built-up venues for families and partygoers. Whether this is a beachside all-inclusive resort for the family or one of the famed Mykonos beach clubs, pleasure has been built directly into Mykonos’ sands. Despite this, some of the best beaches in Mykonos champion untouched white sands, hidden coves, and inviting azure waters.

In this article, we guide you through eleven of the best beaches of Mykonos. Whether you are a nature lover, parent, or partygoer, there is a beach in Mykonos for you.

Paradise Beach

Tucked on the south coast of Mykonos only 6 kilometres from the island’s capital Chora, Paradise Beach is considered the best beach in Mykonos for the seasoned partygoer. Host to the notorious Mykonos beach club’s Paradise and Tropicana, Paradise Beach is the epicentre of Mykonos’s vibrant nightlife scene. 

The beach’s reputation for hosting exuberant parties draws in hundreds of thousands of hedonists every summer, as well as celebrity jet-setters and international DJs. In Paradise, luxurious slow-living afternoons spent on beach club cabanas liven into evenings of dancing barefoot in the golden sand, overlooked by the Aegean sunset.

Psarou Beach

Psarou Beach offers an upscale alternative to Paradise for the more mature reveller. Psarou’s white sands are a favourite haunt of celebrities and moguls, offering coveted restaurants and designer boutiques along the glistening shoreline promenade. 

Host to a major yacht docking station and the infamous beach club Nammos, Psarou Beach is a playground for the partygoer with no budget. These luxury beach clubs offer slow, designer living in the daytime with a number of facilities right at your fingertips. 

The beach also has its own diving school, encouraging visitors to escape beneath the crystalline waters that lap the shore. Visitors can also charter a boat and enjoy the offerings of the Aegean Sea whilst the sun still warms their faces.

Kalafatis Beach 

The powdery sands of Kalafatis are surprisingly not the beach’s main attraction. Nestled on Mykonos’s south coast, Kalafatis Beach is subject to the strong southeasterly wind of the Aegean Sea. For this reason, Kalafatis is the central hub for water sports in Mykonos, claiming the island’s only professional windsurfing centre. 

Home to the only ‘blue flag’ on the island, deeming the waters some of the clearest in the Aegean, Kalafatis Beach welcomes visitors into its acclaimed waters. It’s also amongst the best Mykonos beaches for diving and surfing, given its clear aquamarine waters, abundant marine life and consistent winds. At this Mykonos beach, making the most of your epic Greek getaway is a breeze.

The Best Beaches in Mykonos for Families

Ornos Beach 

Ornos Beach proffers the longest swathes of sand near Mykonos’s old town Chora. Ornos is coveted as a top family-friendly destination, nestled within a sheltered bay and hosting translucent gentle waters, making it a haven for families seeking a relaxing getaway.

The bay is frequented by boats, including those of local fishermen reeling in that morning’s daily catch. This makes Ornos home to several fish restaurants that are favourites of the foodie crowd, whether you are looking for lunchtime mezze or a sunset dinner boasting freshly caught local delicacies. 

Ornos Beach is the ultimate buffet for the hungry traveller, with more than enough treats to share between the family.

Platis Gialos Beach

Platis Gialos Beach sits in the heart of a family resort, providing everything a family could need for an unforgettable stay – from upscale hotels, tavernas, and local boutiques – within a single island bay. The beach itself has ample sun beds and parasols for hire, amongst a variety of water sports equipment and calm shallow waters for young swimmers. 

Where other beaches are serene, Platis Gialos provides the excitement of a marine playground. Make a splash in the serene waters or simply be assured your kids can do so safely whilst you enjoy the Aegean sun. This Mykonos beach’s golden shores will leave you or your family wanting for nothing, except perhaps another week or two in its welcome waters!

Kalo Livadi Beach 

Kalo Livadi Beach offers families a reprieve from the crowds that settle on Mykonos’s south coast. This long stretch of beach is settled into a curving hillside, creating the effect of a sheltered oasis. Only 10 kilometres from Chora, Kalo Livadi is the best daytime escape from the island’s metropolitan centre.

Its long swathes of sand are ideal for a stroll with your children in the evening, whilst the sheltered waters are perfect for younger swimmers. Kalo Livadi Beach has been known to liven in the evenings, but the daytime is balanced with peacefulness and hospitality for all.

The Best Mykonos Beaches Near the Cruise Port

Agios Stefanos Beach 

Mykonos beaches are known for their boutique amenities and Agios Stefanos Beach is no exception. The hotels and restaurants of Agios Stefanos are elegant and understated, featuring traditional Mykonian designs of exceptional quality. The beach and accompanying facilities are large enough to cater to visitors from the nearby cruise port, without seeming overcrowded.

Hosting both adult-only and family-friendly resorts, Agios Stefanos is a resort that caters to all visiting seafarers. Grab a private cabana or sit at a beachside taverna and admire views of the sun-kissed sea silhouetted by the ferries that come and go from the port.

Megali Ammos Beach

Megali Ammos Beach is the closest stretch of sand to Chora, providing ferry day trippers the opportunity to balance their time between the historic Old Town and the beach. It is also the closest beach to view Mykonos’ iconic windmills which grace the nearby hillside, making the beach a great option for those with sightseeing ambitions and limited time.

Due to its proximity to the capital, Megali Ammos is a great base to appreciate the island’s fabled history and culture. Whether this is admiring classical Grecian architecture or remnants of the island’s agricultural history, this beach is a setting for both relaxation and reflection.

The Best Quiet Beaches in Mykonos

Agios Sostis Beach

Agios Sostis is a lesser-known jewel of Mykonos, with fine pearlescent sands and sapphire sea. The beach is embraced by red-rock cliffs that magnify the area’s stunning colour palette. The oasis is hidden in the Northeast corner of the island, imbuing Agios Sostis beach with the feeling of being a natural sanctum.

If you are seeking an authentic Grecian adventure, hire a car and set off down an unpaved road to Mykonos’ best-kept secret. Due to limited access, Agios Sostis beach is much quieter than its southern counterparts, so the limited infrastructure on the beach, with no deck chairs and only one taverna, fosters the unspoilt beauty of this hidden gem.

Mersini Beach

Mersini Beach is a secluded inlet at the end of an unmarked road in the island’s northeast. This undisturbed marine sanctuary is the perfect backdrop for a quiet Greek escape. Solitude is as ample as grains of sand in this quiet corner of the island.

Whether you intend to enjoy lying directly on the gentle sands or dive into the Aegean’s turquoise embrace, Mersini Beach will leave you feeling connected to this beautiful paradise. Adventure to Mersini come evening time and experience the sun setting over the Aegean, with a seat reserved just for you.

Ftelia Beach

Ftelia Beach is submerged in local and mythical history, the site of the Neolithic tomb and ancient artefacts. For those interested in archaeological history, Ftelia Beach is a quiet example of the remnants of an ancient world that exists across the Aegean. Dive into history and discover the secrets of the sea in this under-visited corner of Mykonos.

If you are seeking Mykonos’ famed winds, Ftelia Beach is the perfect spot to take to the sea without any competition. Ftelia Beach nurtures the ideal conditions for wind-surfing but is only accessible by private vehicle, dramatically lessening the beach’s crowds.

Summary

Mykonos’ turquoise sea and powdery white sands mirrored against the backdrop of white-washed houses and crystal blue skies offer the romantic idyll Greece is so famous for. Whether you seek refuge in the quiet waters of the north or chase unforgettable experiences in the trendy south, rest assured that all of the beaches in Mykonos maintain that classic Greek beauty. 

Remember this guide for your next sun-soaked Greek getaway, and you are promised the trip of your dreams.

Looking for activities beyond the beach? Discover the 13 best things to do in Mykonos.

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About the Author

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Backpacker Boy

This blog is where I share my travel tales and advice picked up from more than 10 years of backpacking in various places around the world. I share my favourite places to visit, along with tips on how to travel cheaply whilst still going far.