Whitewashed lanes, windmills on a headland, and the most expensive beach clubs in the Mediterranean. Genuinely beautiful, and no longer a cheap Greek island by any measure.
Sunbeds at the famous beach clubs can run to hundreds of euros a pair, before you've eaten.
Mykonos in July and August charges what New York or St Tropez charges. Beach clubs at Paradise, Super Paradise and Psarou set minimum spends, and a straightforward dinner in town costs more than most European capitals. None of that makes it a bad holiday — the town is one of the loveliest in Greece and the light is extraordinary — but people arrive expecting Greek island prices and get a shock. Come in May, June or September and it's a different island at a fraction of the cost.
A town, a scene, and an archaeological site next door.
Whitewashed lanes deliberately laid out to confuse pirates, and houses with balconies over the water. Get lost in the evening.
Thirty minutes by boat. The birthplace of Apollo, and one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. Uninhabited, and closes early.
Psarou, Ornos, Platis Gialos and Paradise. Organised, expensive, and where the scene is. Check minimum spends first.
Unorganised beaches with no sunbeds and no music. Windier, and where you go when the south coast palls.
The island's only inland village, with a fortified monastery and tavernas at ordinary prices. A different Mykonos.
Sixteenth-century mills on the headland above town. Free, and the sunset spot everyone crowds onto. Go earlier than you think.
Town or south coast. The north is windy and quiet.
The lanes, the windmills and the restaurants. Walkable, and the most atmospheric base.
Sheltered south-coast bays with sand and calm water. Easiest with children.
Beach clubs and day parties. Know what you're booking.
Agios Sostis and Fokos. Unorganised, beautiful, and you'll need a car.
May to September, and the shoulder months are dramatically better value.
July and August are at peak prices, peak crowds and peak wind. May, June and September give the same island with warm sea, manageable numbers and far lower costs — September has the warmest water. The island largely closes from November to April, with most hotels and restaurants shut.
4 hours to Mykonos (JMK), seasonal from UK airports. Also easy via Athens or by ferry.
Buses run to the main beaches and are cheap. Taxis are scarce and expensive; ATVs are common and the roads are busy.
Euro. Cards everywhere, and read the bill before signing.
Rafina and Piraeus from Athens, and short hops to Paros, Naxos and Santorini.
We'll be straight about what it costs, suggest Paros or Naxos if that suits better, and write the payment plan out in full.
The town and the light genuinely are. The beach clubs are a choice. In May, June or September the maths is much kinder.
Paros and Naxos are an hour away, just as Cycladic, and roughly half the price. We'll happily price both.
Three or four. It's small, and most people pair it with Santorini, Paros or Athens.
Ornos and Platis Gialos are calm and sandy and work well. The party beaches and the prices are the limiting factors.
Flights, accommodation and transfers as one package. Every one can be reshaped — different dates, different board, a different airport, or a stopover on the way.
Guide prices, per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, accommodation and transfers. They indicate what a holiday of this type has typically cost and are not an offer or a quotation. Your price depends on dates, party, board basis, departure airport and availability, and is confirmed in writing before any payment is taken.
Ready-built itineraries with flights, transfers and internal hops booked as one package, ATOL protected. Every one can be reshaped around your dates.
10 nights · May–Jun, Sep–Oct · from £1,449pp
11 nights · May–Jun, Sep · from £1,149pp
10 nights · Mar–May, Sep–Nov · from £849pp
11 nights · Apr, Oct · from £2,699pp
12 nights · Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb · from £3,399pp
12 nights · Jul–Oct · from £3,099pp
11 nights · Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb · from £1,799pp
11 nights · Nov–Apr · from £2,199pp
