In this blog, I will help you to decide Where to stay in Mykonos first time, best areas to stay in Mykonos for first-timers (with a map and video) and the best hotels for all budget (including the hotel where I stayed).
Mykonos, known as The Island of the Winds, is packed full of beautiful sandy beaches, sleepy and attractive old farming towns, and plenty of Greek Island charm. There are great places to stay for all kinds of people and all kinds of budgets, the west and the south coast of Mykonos are popular places to stay on the island.
Mykonos is one of the smallest of the Cyclades islands, you don’t need to hire a car to travel around. There are efficient public transportation such as buses and taxis connecting between towns and beaches.
You can easily travel to Mykonos by flights to Mykonos International Airport or ferries. You can take a ferry from Athens’ ports (such as Piraeus or Rafina) or from other popular Greek islands like Santorini, Naxos, Paros, and Crete.
Where to stay in Mykonos first time?
The best areas to stay in Mykonos for tourists are Mykonos Town, Super & Paradise Beach, Ornos, Platis Gialos, Elia, Ano Mera, Agios Stefanos, Kalo Livadi, Agios Sostis, and Agios Ioannis.
These are popular and safe areas for tourists that offer a wide variety of attractions and amenities.
Mykonos Town the best overall area for first time visitors due to its central location, easy access to public transportation, tourist amenities and attractions. Staying here provides short walk to the island’s top sights, restaurants, bars, and shops.
Mykonos Town is the best place to stay in Mykonos without a car because it is the transport hub of the island, home to two bus stations, making it great base to explore other parts of the island without the need of having a car.
If you want party, you should head to Paradise Beach and Super Paradise Beach which are great for nightlife, parties, young couples and honeymooners. Meanwhile, if you looking for quiet holiday, look no further than Agios Sostis Beach, Ornos Beach, and Kalo Livadi Beach.
Where did I stay in Mykonos?
When I first visited Mykonos, I stayed for 5 nights at the Lefteris, a great family-run hotel located in a pedestrian alley of Mykonos Town. My room was modern, clean, and comfortable. Easy access to various shops, restaurants and attractions.
| 💖 Best Area for first-timers: | Mykonos Town |
| 💎 Best luxury hotel: | The TownHouse Mykonos |
| 🏨 Best mid-range hotel: | Aeolos Resort |
| 💰 Best budget hotel: | Fresh Boutique Hotel |
Map of areas and towns in Mykonos:
The Best areas to stay in Mykonos for tourists are:
1. Mykonos Town
Mykonos Town ( aka Hora or Chora) is the best overall area to stay in Mykonos for first-time travelers because it is the main town of Mykonos and the island’s capital. Staying here allows you to be located in the middle of everything, within walking distance to top sights, many restaurants, bars, and shops.
This traditional Cycladic village has a central location, vibrant nightlife, shopping, and is home to many famous attractions such as Little Venice, the 15th century whitewashed church of Panagia Paraportiani, the picturesque Cycladic windmills of Kato Mili.
Packed with pedestrian maze of narrow streets with whitewashed cubic houses, bougainvillea trees, blue doors, and wooden balconies that take up a large area of the mid-west coast of Mykonos.
Mykonos Town is close to the main ferry terminal, so if you are island hopping around the Cyclades, this is an excellent place to spend at least the night before you leave. Home to two main bus terminals, it is also well-connected public transportation, you can easily travel around the island by bus.
Visitors will find some fabulous shopping here, especially if you’re looking for top designer brands and imported fashion goods. And of course, there are a number of touristy shops selling memorabilia and tourist gifts. Some of the most centrally located stores and restaurants here can be quite pricey, catering to the day trip crowd from the cruise ships that stop by regularly.
Matoyianni Street is the main shopping street, retail, and nightlife hub of the island. It is lined with jewels shops, boutiques, restaurants, tavernas, and bars. Nearby you can visit the Rarity Gallery, the leading art gallery of Greece;
If you head to the harbor of Alefkandra, you can see the seven Mykonos windmills close to the village of Neochori. There are also many other windmills that was built in the 16th century by the Venetians.
If you want a romantic vibe, head to the waterfront area of Little Venice (also known as Alefkandra), which offers a beautiful view during sunset while enjoying eating and drinking in one of its restaurants and bars.
Another must see landmark is the Petros the Pelican, located in Old Port of Mykonos, which is a lovely place for taking a photograph! This white pelican was the official mascot of the Greek island of Mykonos.
If you are interest in historical and cultural attractions, you can visit the Mykonos Folklore Museum, Aegean Maritime Museum, Lena’s House, a Mykonian townhouse of the 19th century, the Archaeological Museum which displays a unique collection of artifacts which were found on Mykonos.
There is no beach in Chora but you can easily access nearby Megali Ammos Beach by car or bus. The beach is sandy, the water is warm, so it is good place to enjoy a nice swim.
Mykonos town is packed with some excellent budget places to stay, including guest houses, hostels, and hotels. Similarly, there are lots of fantastic and very affordable places to eat, drink, and party. Most of the hotels are behind Little Venice and Old Port, expanding all the way to Megali Ammos beach.
Stay in Mykonos Town if you want first-time tourists and want lively nightlife; you want to stay somewhere convenient for ferries and onward travel, you are looking for the best areas for a solo traveler or with friends in Mykonos with no car.
Best Places to Stay in Mykonos Town:
- luxury ($$$): The TownHouse Mykonos
- mid-range ($$): Aeolos Resort
- budget ($): Fresh Boutique Hotel
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2. Paradise and Super Paradise Beach
If you’re looking for the best place to stay in Mykonos for nightlife for the island’s biggest party, you should stay in Paradise Beach and Super Paradise beach. The superlative names of these two neighboring beach resorts probably give away the fact that they are the island’s go-to destinations for high-octane all-night parties.
If you are looking for some top-quality international nightclubs that run from sunset all the way through the night, then you have found your paradise. Don’t miss out one of the best world clubs the Paradise Beach Club and Cavo Paradis. It’s attracting thousands of visitors every summer, the club is known for inviting many high-profile DJs in the world to play.
Paradise Beach is the most accessible of these two beaches; It is only 20 minutes by bus from terminal of Fabrika in Mykonos Town. you will need to take a short walk over the hill or a quick boat taxi to get to Super Paradise.
Super Paradise is the most famous homosexual beach in Greece, a nudist-friendly beach, and can get very crowded during peak season. It’s filled with clubbers, jet-setters, models and VIPs, and many celebrities. The beach is well organise with parasols and sunbeds for rent. Super Paradise is favorite spot for couples and honeymooners.
The beach is no longer the hippies of the 70s, but they truly offer a kind of hedonistic paradise for the young party crowd.
Stay in Paradise & Super Paradise Beach if you’re young couples; you love party; you want to lounge on the beach during the day, you want good hotels and plenty of restaurants and bars, you want to beach that allows nude sunbathing.
Best Places to Stay in Mykonos in Paradise Beach:
- mid-range ($$): Lyo Boutique Hotel Mykonos
- budget ($): Super Paradise Suites
- budget ($): My Aktis
3. Ornos Beach
Ornos beach is a family-friendly beach, located 3 km to the south of Mykonos town. The main settlement is on a small headland that is flanked by Korfos Beach in the North and Ornos Beach in the South with beautiful crystal waters and sandy beaches.
It’s the most popular and crowded beach. The beach is well organise with parasols and sunbeds for rent, as well as some of the amazing beach front restaruants. Kite surfing is popular on the North beach as its strong winds. The sheltered Ornos Beach is a great place to swim. Its shallow and calm waters are perfect for families with young children. .
Ornos has excellent hotels and guest houses, many restaurants and bars, and everything that the visitor needs to have a relaxed and convenient beachside stay. There is a particularly good range of restaurants here, so if for some inexplicable reason you tire of the delicious Greek food, you can enjoy food from many other international cuisines.
You can easily reach Orno Beach by bus from Mykonos Town, and a water taxi from other popular beaches like Argari Beach, Paraga Beach, Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach, and Elia Beach.
Ornos Beach is close to the island of Delos, a place full of archaeological heritage and ancient Greek history. In Delos, you’ll find the 7th century BC Terrace of the Lions, the Minoan Fountain, the Doric Temple of the Delians, the Theatre Quarter, and incredible Hellenistic mosaics.
This is a good place to stay if you are interested in exploring the archaeological museum and beautiful ruins of this island since there are regular, well-priced boat trips from Ornos beach across to Delos.
Stay in Ornos Beach if you’re traveling with family; you want to learn diving, water skiing, or other water sports; you want to hop on a boat to visit historic nearby Delos, you’re a young couple.
Best Places to stay in Ornos Beach:
- luxury ($$$): Mykonos Ammos Hotel – Small Luxury Hotels of the World
- mid-range ($$): Adorno Beach Hotel and Suites
- budget ($): Anemos Apartments
4. Platis Gialos
Located 4 km to the south of Mykonos Town, Platis Gialos beach (also known as Platys Yialos) is a beautiful beach with shallow crystal-clear waters in a sheltered Bay. It’s within 10 minutes drive from the airport and 15 minute bus ride from Fabrika bus terminal in Chora.
This Resort on the island’s South Coast has a lovely sheltered location protected by a rocky headland and a prominent peninsula to the south. So Platis Gialos is the perfect place for families to relax by lapping Aegean waters, knowing that it’s a safe place for the kids.
Platis Gialos is also famous for its water sports, with a great selection of water activities such as kayaking, windsurfing, paddleboarding, wakeboarding, and flyboarding.
The main tourist beaches on the southern coast of Mykonos are connected by a convenient boat taxi service that begins at Platis Gialos. This means that if you stay on one of these southern beaches, and for some reason, you tire of the local sands, you can just hop on a boat and be on the next beach is only a few minutes.
Platis Gialos offers some of the best tourist facilities on the whole of Mykonos. In particular, the beachfront bars and restaurants here are of an international standard, and there are some fabulous dining and drinking to be found here.
There are an enormous number of hotels and guesthouses on this part of the island, so whatever your budget, and whether you’re traveling with friends, family, or on your own, you will find somewhere to stay here at your price range.
In fact, the one thing that Platis Gialos isn’t is quiet. If you are the kind of traveler who wants to get away from the tourist crowds and find somewhere isolated and unexplored, you will probably be better off looking elsewhere on the island. This is a great place to stay in Mykonos in October.
Stay in Platis Gialos if you want the island’s best mixture of tourist facilities and beach activities, you want excellent and sophisticated Beach dining, love water sports, you want a good family beach for the kids.
Best places to stay in Platis Gialos:
- Luxury ($$$): Thalassa Boutique Hotel – Suites
- Mid-range ($$): The George Hotel Mykonos
- Budget ($): Acrogiali Beach Hotel Mykonos
5. Elia Beach
Elia Beach is a great place to head for if you want somewhere quiet, away from the crowds that still provides you with excellent facilities and sophisticated hotels and resorts.
Elia is the longest sandy beach of Mykonos, located on the central south coast of Mykonos. The beach has plenty of sunbeds, and you can take part in watersports here. It just isn’t as crowded as some of the Island’s busiest places, which can be oppressive in the middle of the peak season.
This beach has a freer and open attitude that is reflected in the fact that nude sunbathing is permitted here. This is also the favorite gay beach for gay travelers.
If you feel like getting even further away from the crowds, then a good tip is to head over to the even smaller and more private Paralia Agrari Beach, just a couple of hundred meters to the west of Elia Beach.
To get to Elia beach, you can hire a car, take the bus from the Northern Bus Station near the Old Port ferry quay, or you can stop at Plato Yailos, then grab a water taxi to Elia.
Accommodation here is a few large hotels and resorts of hotels and resorts, but there are some superb little designer boutique hotels that offer all the privacy and comfort you could hope for.
Stay in Elia if you want a high-class but private destination; you want to escape the crowds; you want to go to the nude beach; you’re on a honeymoon holiday, you’re looking for gay LGBTQ+ friendly.
Best places to stay in Elia Beach:
- luxury ($$$): Royal Myconian
- mid-range ($$): Senses Luxury Villas & Suites
- budget ($): Niriides Luxury Homes
6. Agios Sostis Beach
Located on the Mykonos north coast,4.5km from Mykonos Towm, Agios Sostis Beach is a fabulous place to go on Mykonos if you want to really get away from the crowds. This beach is perfect for independent travelers who want to find those attractive and unexplored little corners of the Greek islands.
To get to Agios Sostis, you will need to have to rent a car or take a taxi, since the local Island bus service doesn’t stop here. This 300 m long Beach is a gorgeous stretch of sand that you get to after a short downhill walk from the road.
The beach is unspoiled but there is no facilities such as chairs and umbrella, so you just need to bring the towel and enjoy the water.
If you are looking for a beach resort, then forget it, the only places to stay in this quiet and undisturbed village are a few small guesthouses and boutique homestays. Similarly, you won’t find a great choice of dining and drinking here, although the village does have a fantastic little taverna, which might just be all that you need.
Stay in Agios Sostis Beach if you want a quiet holiday; you are a real independent traveler, you have your own transport, you’re looking for a truly tranquil little beach.
Best Places to Stay in Agios Sostis Beach:
- mid-range ($$): Mykonos Star
- mid-range ($$): Panormos Village
- budget ($): Siourdas Mykonos Villas
7. Kalo Livadi Beach
Located on Mykonos’ East Coast, Kalo Livadi is a family-friendly beach resort between Kalafatis and Elia beach. It’s also one of the longest beaches on the island, and popular for its parties atmosphere. It can only reach by bus which passes through Ano Mera.
This is a remote and quiet beach, served by a small village with some lovely boutique hotels and a few restaurants and taverns.
The beach has crystal blue and shallow water which is safe for kids. Plus water sport activites such as paddling or kayaking. There are also sunbeds, umbrellas, beach bars in surrounding area.
If your idea of the Greek Islands is chilling out in a quiet settlement beside the blue Aegean Sea, then this might be the perfect place for you. It’s never crowded here, and it’s easy to kick back and let your daily routine be washed away by island time.
Stay in Kalo Livadi if you truly want peace and quiet, you’re looking for a homestay or small boutique guest house, you don’t mind being a long way from Mykonos town, you’re comfortable with a bit of hill climbing.
Best places to stay in Kalo Livadi Beach:
- luxury ($$$): Archipelagos Hotel – Small Luxury Hotels of the World
- mid-range ($$): Mykonos Pantheon
- budget ($): Sea Side Studios & Houses
8. Ano Mera
Ano Mera is the island village, located in the heart of the island, 8 km from Chora, Ano Mera. This might sound a little controversial, but why not consider staying somewhere away from the beach? You see, Mykonos is quite a small island, and it has a good bus service so that you can get to the beach very quickly from anywhere on the island.
This is a local town has the combination of classic Cycladic beauty, scenic alleys and traditional taverns. This little town’s white roofs and winding streets are fascinating to explore and hide some traditional little tavernas and restaurants, serving fabulous locally grown foods and wines.
It’s home to a fabulous 16th-century monastery called Panagia Tourliani, which is well worth exploring. Panaghia Tourliani is the Patron saint of the island. Here you will find a marble fountain, a museum with religious exhibits.
The Paleokastro Monastery nearby is also well worth a visit. It is the 18th-century monastery where you can see the remains of the historic Byzantine castle and white-washed building. You can take a stroll or climbing to the Gyzi Castle to see ruins like the old local market, the castle itself, and even an old cemetery.
If you want to get away from tourists, and instead immerse yourselves in the local Island way of life, then a stay in and Ano Mera would be very rewarding for you. You will find some very nice villas for rent and some comfortable homestays and guest houses too.
Stay in Ano Mera if you want to stay in a traditional Greek village; you don’t need to be beside the beach;
Best places to stay in Ano Mera:
budget ($): Mykonian Studios This property offers self-catering accommodations with Cycladic-style. You can easily reach Kalafatis and Kalo Livadi Beach and Mykonos town.
budget ($): Olive Mykonos Villas Located within walking distance to the beach, close proximity to the Ano Mera City Square where you can find the shops and restaurants. Mykonos city center, and the Ferry Port can be reached by car within a short drive.
🔍MORE HOTEL DEALS IN ANO MERA9. Agios Stefanos Beach
Agios Stefanos is a small but beautiful beach on the western sunset coast of Mykonos. This windless sandy beach is 3 km to the north of Mykonos town, 1km from the Tourlos area and the NEW port, one of the most popular beaches in all of Mykonos. This means that in the peak summer months in July and August, it can become crowded.
You can get to Agios Stefanos beach by car, motorbike, taxi, or bus from the Old Port bus station.
There are some very cool places to stay around Agios Stefanos Beach; you will find some great options if you have money to spend and a slightly higher budget. Remember that the west coast of Mykonos is the sunset coast, and you will find some excellent hillside accommodation with splendid views where you can watch the sun dipping over the Aegean waters.
Agios Stefanos Beach has some beautiful five-star hotels and also some excellent mid-range options. However, this area also has many private villas and apartments for rent. These are fabulous options for families or groups of friends or anybody who wants complete privacy and a bit more space.
Stay in Agios Stefanos if you want lovely sunset views, you want excellent facilities and don’t mind the crowds, you want to be on the sunset coast, you want excellent mid-range and five-star hotels and villas.
Best places to stay in Agios Stefanos:
- luxury ($$$): Mykonos Princess Hotel – Preferred Hotels & Resorts
- mid-range ($$): Grace Mykonos
- budget ($): Mama’s Pension
10. Agios Ioannis Beach
Agios Ioannis Beach is also known as Shirley Valentine Beach, after featuring prominently in the movie of the same name. This is a very pretty beach, and since it is difficult to access, being at the bottom of a steep hillside, it’s a great place to find a little privacy on what is a busy coast of the island.
This beach has some of the best snorkeling around, so if swimming through the crystal blue Aegean waters spotting all of the sea life sounds like your idea of fun, then here’s a great place to try it. The beach has soft sand and crystal clear water, a good spot for families with young children.
Because of its remote and hilly location, there are just a few places to stay here, and some nice bars and tavernas. This beach has one of the best views in Mykonos, and you can look out over the islands of Delos and Rhenia.
If you visit Agios Ioannis Beach at the end of September, you will encounter the famous feast of St. John, and enjoy food, drink the juice of meat in a glass, and stroll in the flea market.
Stay in Agios Ioannis if you’re looking for romance and honeymoons stay; you want a beautiful private beach, you want great snorkeling, you want great views of the other islands, you are a fan of the movie Shirley Valentine, you’re visiting Mykonos in May.
Best places to stay in Agios Ioannis:
- Luxury ($$$): Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa
- Mid-range ($$): Lithos by Spyros & Flora
- Budget ($): Evagelia’s Place
11. Psarou Beach
Psarou Beach (the “p” is silent, so you pronounce this place “Sarou”) is a sophisticated and classy beach with a lot of tourist development. This is a popular destination for Greek tourists and international celebrities, thanks to its cosmopolitan feel. You will also find some of the best tavernas and Greek restaurants around here.
Psarou Beach has located 4km from Mykonos Mykonos Town, between Platy Gialos and Ornos Village.
To get to Psarou Beach, you can take a bus from the Fabrika terminal in Mykonos Town, rent a car, motorbike, or take a water taxi from Ornos Beach. Since the beach is so popular, parking is difficult to find, so taking the bus is a good option. It’s also within walking distance from Platis Gialos Beach, Agia Anna Beach, Paradise Beach, and Paraga Beach.
You can find some opulent and very upmarket hotels in Psarou, and if you fancy splashing out a bit, there are places here that will reward the extra investment. The hilly landscape in this part of the island means that many resorts have fabulous clifftop panoramas that look out over the surrounding area.
It is an organized golden sandy beach with clear turquoise and calm waters, ideal for sunbathing, relaxing, swimming, and watersports. Other beach facilities are sunbeds, umbrellas, numerous shops, taverns. Renting umbrellas and sunbeds can be expensive and in a wait-list during the summer months due to its popularity.
The beach is divided into 3 sections, the public beach, the private beach for customers of Blu, and the third section for the Nammos Beach Club with its exclusive restaurant Nammos Restaurant by the Sea. The restaurant is specializing in the local freshest seafood prepared by world-famous chefs.
Psarou Beach is the best place to stay if you want to stay somewhere popular with the locals, you’re looking for an upmarket and classy destination, you want to stay on Mykonos’s South coast.
Best Places to Stay in Mykonos in Psarou Beach:
- luxury ($$$): Alissachni Mykonos
- mid-range ($$): Colours of Mykonos Luxury Residences & Suites
- budget ($): Irini Studios
12. Paraga Beach
Paraga Beach is a pretty stretch of sand on Mykonos’s Southern Coast, within walking distance from the Paradise party beach, and about 6 km away from Mykonos town. This is one of the best places on the island for budget travelers wanting to stay beside the beach. There are some excellent budget guesthouses and hostels as well as a campsite right by the sand.
Paraga has an open and relaxed atmosphere and nude sunbathing is common here. Paraga Beach has calm and crystal clear water and is good for swimming, but watch the rocks along the shore. It is popular with a younger crowd, and it has quite a few lively and happening beach bars.
If Paraga Beach gets too busy for you, just walk over to the beach’s eastern side, where you will find things are a little more peaceful.
Stay in Paraga Beach if you are traveling on a budget, you want to stay in a tent, you want some lively beach bars and good nightlife, you’re visiting Mykonos in September.
Best Places to Stay in Paraga Beach:
- budget ($): Zephyros
- budget ($): Agia Anna on the beach
- budget ($): Almyra Guest Houses
13. Megali Ammos Beach
If you want a beach lover, who doesn’t want to stray far from all of the liveliness and excitement of Mykonos Town, then Megali Amos just might be the perfect location for your stay. Megali Amos Beach is often referred to as Mykonos town beach as it’s the closest to the center of Mykonos Town and is just a 10-minute stroll from the town and Fabrica bus station.
The name means “big sand” and the beach here is a pretty stretch of sand about 500 m long. Megali Ammos probably isn’t the best beach on the island, and it can sometimes get quite windy on this coast of Mykonos, but it does have the proximity to town going for it. There are no umbrellas and sunbeds due to its strong wind. But the beach is a good spot for windsurfing and undersea fishing.
Megali Ammos has a decent selection of hotels, guest houses, and some lovely tavernas, including the very popular Joanna Niko’s, in which to eat and drink.
Stay in Megali Ammos if you want to stay at the closest beach to the town, you want to eat and drink beside the sand in some lovely tavernas, you want a reasonable choice of mid-range accommodation.
Best Places to Stay in Mykonos in Megali Ammos:
- luxury ($$$): Myconian Kyma – Design Hotels
- mid-range ($$): Poseidon Hotel Suites
- budget ($): Paoulas Apartments Down Town
14. Tagoo
If you are looking for a base that gives you access to both the beach and the best nightspots of Mykonos Town, this district is a good option. You can just relax on a beach less than 10 minutes walk away during the day. No further away at night, the 10-minute walk will put you in the heart of the action.
There is plenty of choices when it comes to accommodation. In most cases, the accommodation is high quality but in such a special location, you should not worry about paying a little more.
If you want a romantic break, or even if you are on your honeymoon, Tagoo could be for you. The sunset from here is wonderful and you must capture it with your camera; the photos you show family and friends are certain to make you jealous.
Stay in Tagoo if You are looking for a good location for a couples’ holiday, The beach and the nightlife are priorities for you, You intend to relax and party.
Best Places to Stay in Tagoo:
- luxury ($$$): Cavo Tagoo Mykonos
- budget ($): Hotel Tagoo
Check out my virtual tour of the best places to stay in Mykonos in this video:
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Overall, Mykonos town is the best area to stay in Mykonos for first-timers. There are plenty of tourist attractions and amenities within walking distance from your hotel. With its well connected public transportations, you can easily travel to other towns and villages on the island.