Mykonos might be a starry playground enjoyed by the international jet set, but there’s far more to this chic Cyclades island than a hedonistic nightlife scene. Mykonos beaches are one of the island’s biggest draws.
Whether you’re looking for a gorgeous stretch of golden sand or want to swim in cool Mediterranean waters, here are 18 of the best beaches in Mykonos to visit during your next vacation in the Greek Islands.
Kalafatis Beach
Kalafatis Beach
Located in a fishing village on Mykonos’s blissful southeast coast, Kalafatis Beach is a lovely destination with neat rows of thatched parasols and sun loungers. Even though the beach is backed by a cluster of whitewash houses, hotels, and vacation apartments, Kalafatis Beach remains relatively unspoiled.
Kalafatis is one of the best beaches in the Mediterranean, perfect for swimming with water sports facilities available on the beach. If you’re into windsurfing or just keen to give it a go, there’s a school that offers lessons and board rentals.
There are two restaurants at either end of the beach serving fresh-off-the-boat seafood and souvlaki. Watch the waves turn to foam as they crash onto the shore while you tuck into a bowl of wine-infused mussels or a sweet and buttery Aegean lobster.
Ornos Beach
Ornos Beach
Located on the southwest edge of the island, just a short drive from Mykonos Town, the horseshoe-shaped Ornos Beach is one of the best beaches in Mykonos.
Take a dip in the beguiling sea or join the many yachts bobbing in the water on a boat tour. During an excursion, take in the beautiful scenery of the south coast and make the most of a scheduled stop by diving into the glistening water.
Ornos Beach is a buzzy spot thanks to the many chic, minimalist hotels that surround it. There are plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from, too if the beach becomes crowded during the height of summer.
Agios Ioannis Beach
Agios Ioannis Beach
Visiting the secluded Agios Ioannis is one of the best things to do in Mykonos because of its crystal-clear water. Relax on the golden sandy stretch and spot the island of Delos, the birthplace of Apollo, in the distance.
This sun-soaked beach is home to the uber-chic Hippy Fish restaurant and bar. Book a table and dive into the renowned dishes, including sea bass ceviche and fresh-made sushi—don’t forget to try their killer cocktails, too. Save space for the sweet loukoumades, a delightful local dish reminiscent of donuts.
Agios Sostis Beach
Agios Sostis Beach
Veer off the well-trodden path and drive to this remote Mykonos beach. Tucked in a bay on the wild north coast, Agios Sostis is home to gorgeous azure water that gently laps on the honey-hued shore. The calm water is perfect for swimming and the soft beach ideal for lazing on.
Kiki’s Tavern, which overlooks Agios Sostis, is legendary. Reserve a table for lunch or head there for an afternoon cocktail and enjoy spectacular views of the sun melting into the horizon at golden hour.
Psarou Beach
Psarou Beach
Surrounded by designer boutiques and stylish hangouts, Psarou is one of the best beaches in Mykonos. Traditional parasols and sunbeds line the sandy shore, while a strip of luxury yachts gently bob in the bay of this southwest retreat.
Psarou is a beach to see and be seen on, but if you stroll past the flashy restaurants and high-end hotels, you’re likely to find a more tranquil spot on the island. Wade into the calm turquoise water that is ideal for swimming. Water sports, including scuba diving and jet skiing, and catamaran cruises are available from the bay.
The downside of Psarou’s popularity is that it can become overcrowded during summer. Arrive early to secure a coveted spot in paradise.
Kalo Livadi Beach
Kalo Livadi Beach
This sweeping stretch of golden beach on Mykonos’s south shore is popular with families because of its idyllic shallow water.
Flanked by a row of neat palm trees, Solymar beach club is a glamorous stop with a restaurant that offers punchy cocktails and a fantastic fish-centered menu of Aegean steamed lobster, sushi rolls, yellowtail ceviche, and grilled octopus. There’s also an excellent vegetarian menu that leans towards plant-based dishes.
Tick off two Mykonos beaches in one day and take the scenic walk to Loulos Beach, located east of Kalo Livadi. There’s a lookout point from above the beach on the main road, which offers glorious views of the Neptune-blue bay. Spot the larger Greek island of Naxos on the horizon.
Agios Stefanos Beach
Agios Stefanos Beach
This gorgeous beach lies just north of Mykonos New Port, the island’s main cruise and ferry terminal in Tourlos. Though Mykonos Town has Chora Beach, Agios Stefanos is a far superior and more spacious spot for sunseekers.
Chalk-white hotels and tavernas with a laid-back, bohemian vibe back the beach. Reserve a sunbed and parasol on the sand and enjoy this sun-kissed stretch with a swim in the warm Mediterranean water.
Mykonos Town
From Agios Stefanos, walk the scenic coastal route into Mykonos Town, where you’ll spot pearlescent tentacles hanging from local fishing boats before they’re tossed into the kitchens of waterfront tavernas.
Plan ahead and book a table at one of the town’s restaurants. At the end of your meal, sip on anise-peppered ouzo and watch the sun slip into the horizon.
Panormos Beach
Panormos Beach
Located in a bay off Mykonos’s north coast, Panormos Beach is a soothing antidote to some of the island’s more crowded shores. It’s also one of the best beaches in Mykonos for its golden sand and unspoiled feel.
The most reliable means of getting to Panormos is by renting a car—although there’s also an infrequent bus service that takes you there. Sunbeds are available on a section of the beach, while another section, which is typically less crowded, is dedicated to naturists, where swimsuits are optional.
Sunbathe, read, and gulp down the delicious sea air. After enough time on the sand, stop by one of the traditional tavernas by the beach for a local specialty: a hit of briny sea urchin caught fresh in the Aegean Sea.
Mersini Beach
Escape the crowds of Mykonos’s southwest coast in favor of the spotless, white sandy Mersini Beach on the island’s wind-worn north shore, only a 30-minute commute from the main town.
Locals tend to bring folding chairs and parasols or simply recline directly on the soft sand as there are no sunbeds or umbrellas to rent. Mersini is also one of the island’s few beaches without a taverna or beach bar, so pack some food and drinks, such as juicy fresh watermelon or a feta salad, to enjoy as a picnic in this scenic spot.
Fokos Beach
Fokos Beach
This little-known Mykonos beach lies on the island’s northeast coast, a scenic 25-minute drive from the capital.
Other than a pretty church and a scattering of traditional whitewash buildings, Fokos is deserted, patronized only by locals and in-the-know tourists. Pack a snorkel and swim in the peaceful horseshoe bay.
Monastery Of Panagia Tourliani
If you’ve rented a car to reach Fokos Beach, stop by the pretty village of Ano Mera in the center of the island to discover the red-domed, 16th-century Monastery Of Panagia Tourliani on your way back.
Frangias Beach
A sizable sandy stretch on the island’s far southeast coast, reaching untouched, photogenic Frangias Beach is an adventure. Rent a car and drive to the nearby Lia Beach, then make the remainder of the journey on foot or opt for a more scenic water taxi ride.
Cool down in the shimmering sea. Dry off and hike the hilly shrubland that hugs the beach to reach a gentle peak for views that stretch as far as Naxos island.
There are no facilities on Frangias, so pack the essentials and hunker down for an idyllic day on the sand.
Ftelia Beach
Ftelia Beach
Cast away on this gorgeous beach in northern Mykonos, one of the island’s more offbeat beaches and a magnet for windsurfers because of its breezy credentials.
If you’re looking for a space with soft camel-colored sand and turquoise water without the crowds, Ftelia is one of the best beaches in Mykonos. Sunbeds and parasols are available for hire near the beach bar, though, while Ftelia is undeniably beautiful, the wind makes it tricky to sunbathe for too long.
Don’t forget to pack plenty of sun protection, including sunscreen, a sun hat, and water to stay hydrated.
Lia Beach
Lia Beach
Found in the southeast of Mykonos, Lia Beach has everything you could need for the perfect beach day. Padded loungers with sunshades, water sports facilities, shallow water for paddling in, and a typically chic beach bar for when you’re ready to sip on an ice-cold beer or sample a glass of chilled local wine.
If you’re a keen diver, check out the center on the beach that offers group excursions to the wreck of Anna II, a cargo ship that sank into the seabed in 1995. Spot shimmering schools of Mediterranean barracuda and explore the intact shipwreck.
If you prefer to stay on dry land, lie back and soak up the sun on this Cyclades island hideout.
Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach
Fill your lungs with salty sea air and your ears with the sound of throbbing beats at this archetypal glamorous Mykonos beach, where world-class DJs are known to play.
Fringed by palm trees and beach bars, this sultry spot has the best beach facilities on the island. Sunbeds with umbrellas, changing facilities and showers, water sports, and even WiFi is available. Diving, jet skiing, and water skiing are all popular.
Alternatively, go barefoot at one of Paradise Beach’s chic haunts and watch Mykonos’s magic unfold.
Elia Beach
Elia Beach
Hop on a Mykonos water taxi to reach Elia Beach on the island’s south shore. A smart way to tick off several Mykonos beaches in one day, the island’s water taxis use converted fishing boats to shuttle passengers along the south coast between Ornos and Elia beaches.
Elia boasts the longest beach on Mykonos; a languorous stretch of powdery sand with no shortage of sunbeds. Before catching the hourly water taxi back to Mykonos Town, try water-skiing, parasailing, or windsurfing in the calm blue-green water.
Pano Tigani Beach
Mykonos beaches tend to fall into one of two categories, either achingly-hip places to be seen or unspoiled stretches with hardly a soul in sight. Pano Tigani falls into the latter. It may only be a 30-minute drive from Mykonos Town, but it’s a world away from the pulsating shores and bars of the island’s southwest.
Untouched and easy-on-the-eye, Pano Tigani is the kind of place where if you bump into another beachgoer, you can count it as a busy day. Pano Tigani and neighboring Kato Tigani have no facilities, so pack plenty of supplies if you plan on making the excursion to either of these east coast retreats.
Agrari Beach
Agrari Beach
Agrari Beach’s pine-scented bay is home to soft sand, crashing waves, and a chic beach bar and restaurant. This off-the-beaten-path hideaway is one of the best beaches on the island for its serene quality.
Public transport won’t get you to Agrari Beach, though. Take a water taxi to nearby Elias Beach and enjoy the 15-minute rocky coastal walk to Agrari or hire a car and drive from Mykonos Town.
This quiet spot attracts few tourists, though it does sometimes draw naturists for its secluded feel.
Merchia Beach
Merchia Beach
Located on the wild and windswept northeast coast of Mykonos, Merchia Beach is a deserted sandy cove featuring nothing more than a scattering of salt cedar trees. If you’re looking for solitude, Merchia is one of Mykonos’s best beaches.
With the place to yourself, go for a swim and channel the beach’s serenity. While you’re here, admire Saint Nicholas church. Built in typical Mykonos fashion, with whitewash walls and a bright blue roof, the church stands on a low-lying rocky outcrop to the east of the beach.
Watch: Greek Islands Cruise with Celebrity Cruises
Now that you know all about the best beaches in Mykonos, it’s time to start planning your next cruise to the Greek Islands. Browse Mediterranean cruise itineraries on our website and book your next vacation today.
