# Mykonos A town of whitewashed lanes, blue-domed churches and windmills — Mykonos Town unfolds as a series of surprises, each turning revealing a different shade of the Aegean. The approach by ferry shows windmills on the hilltop above the harbour, their stone bodies weathered to a warm grey. As the boat draws closer, the whitewashed mass of the town emerges — a cascade of cubic houses tumbling toward the water, interrupted by the occasional flash of a blue dome. This is Mykonos Town, known locally as Chora, the island's main settlement and its historic heart. ## Wandering the lanes On foot, the town reveals itself through its contradictions. The lanes that lead away from the waterfront are quiet and cool, barely wide enough for two people to pass. Whitewashed walls are punctuated by painted doors — deep blue, terracotta, the occasional faded green. Bougainvillea drops purple petals onto stone steps. Then a lane opens, and suddenly there is the sea again, or a small church with a blue dome, or a cluster of tourist shops selling leather sandals and handwoven textiles. Little Venice marks the old waterfront — a row of buildings whose lower floors are built directly over the sea. At dusk, café tables fill and the light turns the water a deep amber. Further along, the Church of Panagia Paraportiani occupies its own corner of the old town: a cluster of four churches built against a fifth, their curves and arches accumulated over centuries, the whole structure bleached almost white by sun and salt wind. ## Windmills and waterfront The windmills above the harbour are among the most recognisable images of the Cyclades. A handful still stand in a line along the ridge, round-bodied with thatched roofs and canvas sails. Historically they milled the grain grown on the island. Today they serve as markers — visible from nearly everywhere in the harbour below, a reminder of the agricultural past that shaped the island's landscape. Below them, the old port remains in use. Fishing boats with colourful prows share the water with ferries and excursion vessels. The fish market near the waterfront draws locals in the early morning, and tavernas along the quay lay out their catch in ice-filled displays — sea bream, little red mullet, squid arranged in neat rings. ## Flavours and light Mykonian cooking follows the island tradition: grilled fish, lobster pasta, tomato keftedes fried crisp and served with cold yogurt. In the markets, dried oregano is sold in small paper cones. At the bakeries, sesame-covered loaves share the counter with galaktoboureko, the custard-filled pastry that cools in tall trays. The food is honest and direct — the same qualities, visitors often notice, that define the town itself. ## Also around here - Delos ## Tours that visit Mykonos - Athens to Santorini: Greek Island Hopping — https://www.smallvoyage.com/tours/athens-to-santorini-greek-island-hopping/index.md (page: https://www.smallvoyage.com/tours/athens-to-santorini-greek-island-hopping/116/2026-11-15/) ## Before you book you should know ### Is this trip right for you? Our groups are capped at eight travellers, which is about a third of what the industry calls a small group. Eight people share one vehicle, one table at dinner and one guide's attention, and the day can change on the road without anybody being left behind. If you are looking for a coach, a fixed script and a microphone, this is not that. Most days involve real walking, often on ground that was laid two thousand years before walking shoes: marble worn smooth, cobbles, uneven steps and long site paths with little shade. Bring shoes you can spend a morning in. Some days move between regions and are largely a drive, with stops along the way. Summers are hot — well over 35°C inland — and winters are colder than most people expect, so layers, a hat and sunscreen earn their place in the bag whatever the month. How demanding a particular trip is, is written on the trip itself: the physical rating in the header, and the day-by-day itinerary above. ### Rooms, and travelling on your own Trip prices are per person, sharing a twin room. Each traveller picks their own room while booking, so a party can mix the three: - **Twin share** — two single beds, shared with someone you are travelling with or with a traveller of the same gender. - **Travelling as a couple** — one double room. - **Individual room** — a room of your own, for a single supplement on top of the trip price. Availability is limited, and the supplement for a given date is shown next to the option when you book. Solo travellers are welcome on every departure, and most of our groups have one or two aboard. ### Accommodation The hotels named in an itinerary are a guideline rather than a guarantee. Where one is full, or has dropped below the standard we booked it for, we substitute a property of a similar standard in the same area — we would rather change the hotel than the trip. Check-in is usually mid-afternoon. If you arrive early we will ask for the room, but no hotel can promise one before its own check-in time; luggage can normally be left at reception in the meantime. If you want the room from the night before, ask us and we will add the extra night to your booking. ### Passports, visas and insurance Entry requirements depend on your nationality and change without much notice, so the only reliable source is the official one: the government of the country you are travelling to, and your own foreign ministry's travel advice. Check both before you book a flight. Many countries ask for a passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, and for blank pages. It is worth looking at yours now rather than at the airport. We ask every traveller to carry travel insurance covering medical treatment and repatriation, and we would strongly encourage cover for cancellation and for your luggage as well. ### Your departure is guaranteed — the day can change Once a departure is on the calendar it runs. We do not cancel a trip for want of a minimum number of bookings, so a booked date is one you can plan flights and leave around. What can move is the shape of a day. Museums and archaeological sites change their hours, roads close, weather turns, a local holiday lands in the middle of the week. Where that happens your guide reorders the day, or swaps a stop for one of the same weight, and tells you why. Changes to a booked itinerary are covered by our Booking Terms & Conditions. --- Full page: https://www.smallvoyage.com/destination/mykonos/