Mykonos
Mykonos Town / Chora
Despina Galani / Unsplash
The iconic whitewashed heart of Mykonos — windmills, Little Venice, and the Matoyianni luxury strip.
Chora is Mykonos at its most visually perfect: the five windmills on the hilltop, the coloured fishermen's houses of Little Venice cantilevered directly over the Aegean, and the labyrinthine lanes of the old town deliberately designed to confuse pirates and, incidentally, delight every visitor who gets lost in them. Matoyianni street runs through the centre as the island's luxury artery — designer boutiques, high-end restaurants, and people-watching that rivals anywhere in the Mediterranean. At sunset, the windmill terrace and Little Venice bars are the most photographed and most genuinely spectacular scenes in all the Greek islands.
Scores
Walkability
Transit
Price
Local feel
Nightlife
Family-friendly
Centrality
What you gain
- ↑Little Venice at sunset — cocktail bars with tables directly over the sea, watching the sun drop behind the windmills across the bay; one of the great sunset experiences in the Mediterranean and genuinely worth the inflated drink prices
- ↑The windmill hill above Chora offers the defining Mykonos photograph and a 360-degree view of the island, the port, and the Aegean; free, accessible at any hour, and spectacular at golden hour
- ↑Staying in Chora means everything is walkable — the Old Port, the best restaurants, the nightlife, and the ferry to Delos are all within 15 minutes on foot regardless of where you are in the old town
What you sacrifice
- ↓The most expensive accommodation on the island by a significant margin — Chora addresses command premium pricing, and even small boutique rooms carry a location surcharge that reflects the neighbourhood's desirability
- ↓Peak season evenings are genuinely very crowded — Matoyianni and the Little Venice waterfront can feel uncomfortably busy in July and August; the lanes that make the town beautiful also concentrate foot traffic
- ↓Noise is a real consideration: Chora's nightlife runs until dawn in summer, and even the quieter lanes are not quiet — light sleepers should choose their accommodation carefully or consider Ornos
Best for
Avoid if
Other Mykonos neighbourhoods
The only non-tourist part of Mykonos — inland village life, the Panagia Tourliani monastery, and local tavernas.
The quieter, more upscale south coast — family-friendly beaches, boutique hotels, and a calmer take on the island.
The party beach — open-air clubs running until dawn, DJ sets, and the most hedonistic scene in Greece.
Know where to stay — now find when to go.
Best time to visit Mykonos →