Mykonos Island (Greece)

Mykonos Island is one of Cyclades Islands (Greece, Aegean Sea), located in the archipelago's center. The Cyclades form a circle surrounding the sacred Delos Island. Group's larges island is Naxos. Mykonos Island has total area approx 105 km2 (41 mi2) and population around 10,000, most of whom live in isle's main and biggest port town Mykonos (on the western coast).

Port's peak cruising season is in May and September. Mykonos Airport is located approx 4 km (2,5 mi) southeast of the town and serves domestic (year-round) and international flights (summer only). The island is also accessible via tour boats and ferries.

High-speed ships/ferry catamarans offer daily passenger shipping services from mainland Greece (Piraeus-Athens, Rafina, Thessaloniki, Kavala), and Crete (Heraklion, Rethymno). Fast ferries/Ro-Pax ships connect Mykonos with the surrounding islands Paros, Santorini (Thira), Syros, Tinos, Andros, Naxos, Folegandros, Sifnos, Ios, Amorgos (Katapola), Koufonisi, Milos, Serifos (Livadi), Skiathos, Chios, Ikaria (Evdilos, Agios Kirikos), Samos (Karlovassi), Kimolos, Sikinos, Lesbos (Mytilene), Limnos, Kythnos, Patmos.

Most inter-island ferry services are provided by Hellenic Seaways. Other Greek companies include Minoan Lines, Blue Star Ferries, Sea Jets, Golden Star Ferries, Cyclades Fast Ferries. After the island is named the cruise ship Blue Star Mykonos.

Mykonos Town (Chora) was named following the Greek practice to name the island's principal town after the isle itself. The local economy is heavily based on tourism. The island is famous worldwide for its vibrant nightlife and also for being a gay-friendly destination with several major establishments catering to LGBT communities

As cruise port, Mykonos is Cyclades' second most popular island destination - after Santorini. The town features as tourist attractions narrow curving streets, gorgeous blue-colored cube houses, white windmills. There are numerous operational windmills around the isle, but most are in Chora. Kato Mili (lower mills) stand in a row on a hill overlooking the sea.

Like Santorini, Mykonos is often included in Eastern Med itineraries operated by major cruise line brands like Costa, MSC, RCI-Royal Caribbean, NCL-Norwegian, HAL-Holland America, Celebrity, Princess, as well as the luxury travel brands Azamara, RSSC-Regent, Oceania, Seabourn, Windstar, SeaDream.

In 2019, the cruise port handled 550 ship calls with estimated ~700,000 passengers.

Following the COVID crisis, in 2022 Mykonos handled a total of 608 cruise ship calls, which number in 2023 surged to 895 (131 in June alone). However, 2023's over-tourism revealed the island's inadequate infrastructure to handle such a volume of visitors, among which is the lack of facilities (including public toilets) at the port to accommodate passengers from several simultaneously visiting cruise ships.

Mykonos Island cruise terminal

Mykonos Island tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Petros the Pelican: Petros is the official Mykonos’s mascot since 1954. The first “Petros” was found in the area after a storm. The bird left its migrating and became resident of Mykonos. It lived there for over 30 years. Now, the spirit of Petros is found in his predecessor around the seafront.
• Windmills: they date from the 16th century and are among the most popular landmarks.
• Little Venice: this is the nickname of the western town part (near the sea). All the buildings in the area are constructed at the edge of the sea. The verandas are overhanging the seawater.
• Paraportiani: located near the entrance of the harbour. The transalation of the name is ” inner or secondary door.” Parapotiani comprises five smaller churches. The first was built in 1475.
• Delos: the small island is among the top archaeological sites in Greece. It is a national museum. You can reach it by ferry from Mykonos cruise port old dock. The voyage takes around one hour.
• Beaches: the beaches of Mykonos are like taken from romantic novel. Among the most popular are Ornos Beach (7 km from Mykonos cruise port terminal, 4 from the tender dock), Agios Ioannis Beach (8 km from Mykonos cruise port terminal, 5 from the tender dock) and Paradise Beach (9 km from Mykonos cruise port terminal, 6.3 from the tender dock)