You said that you loved the outdoors and enjoying beautiful beaches, I had to include some of the best trails for you on the island of Mykonos.
Roads and trails lead to and around the enticing main town of Hora, as well as the island’s famous – and not-so-famous – beaches. You’ll find stretches of solitude amid wildflowers in the spring and early summer. You can even visit a working lighthouse with arresting views of nearby islands.
Waterfront and Windmills
1 mile (1.6km) round trip; 2-3 hours; easy
Leave the crowded passages of old-town Hora behind and get some seaside air on this walk, an excellent introduction to Mykonos. Start at white-washed Taxi Square (Plateia Manto Mavrogenous) and follow the harbor-front walk west to the Old Jetty. Walk to the end of the stone redoubt that protects Hora from the open sea, and you’ll see myriad tour boats buzzing amid swanky yachts and ferries bringing new hordes of holidaymakers.
Continue back around the waterfront until you reach Little Venice, the oldest – and most-photographed – part of Hora. You’ll no doubt spend much time getting blissfully lost in the warren of streets within – but for now, pause amidst the bougainvillea at one of the cafes with water views. Suitably restored, head south to the gentle walkway up to the seven windmills, which along with the pelicans, are the symbols of Mykonos. (note: you’ll be part of a crowd if it’s near sunset.) Wander the rocky shoreline before you plunge back into the Hora maelstrom.
South Coast beaches
Best coastal trail for beaches
4 miles (6.4km) one way; 3–5 hours; moderate
This beautiful walk takes in most of the famous beaches Mykonos is famous for. You can do it in one long swath of sun, sand and hedonism, or in segments between your beaches of choice. Know that in high season you’ll be far from alone, as many others flit on foot from beach to beach to revel in the island’s high-energy vibe.
Start with the wonderful chaos of Ornos Beach, before you head southeast along the narrow cove and up and over the modest, vacation-rental-dotted hill to Psarou Beach, where you’ll find a mannered crowd reading Vogue and The Economist. A few minutes southeast brings you to the long swath of white sand at Platys Gialos. Rent something fun from the excellent water-sports center and cool off in the refreshing Aegean.
Continue along a superb beach walkway to the popular cove at Paranga and take the short detour down the narrow peninsula to immerse yourself in water views. Continue on the coastal trail around the small headlands to Paradise Beach, one of the most famous in all the Mediterranean. Meander the tangle of dirt roads snaking around the next headland to find Super Paradise, home to the island’s most raucous clubs. From here you can catch a small boat (caïque) to the beaches back west or go east to the appealing Agrari and Elia beaches.
Armenistis Lighthouse
Best hike for escaping the crowds
3.5 miles (5.6km) one way; 2–3 hours; moderate
You can forget you’re on one of the very most popular Greek islands on this hike, which finishes at a working lighthouse with sublime views.
From Hora, follow the waterfront past Agia Anna Beach, the Old Port and the jumble of the New Port. Then, turn inland and climb the gentle hills, choosing narrow dirt roads that head north. The density of cubic white holiday apartments gradually thins as you leave the harbor behind. From February through June, wildflowers enliven the palette and the hardy Mykonos shrubs are at their greenest.
Look for the glassy tip of the Armenistis Lighthouse to poke onto the horizon as you walk the gravel and dirt roads. You can peer up into the tower from the base of the still-in-use lighthouse, which dates to 1891. From this knoll on the northwest tip of Mykonos, Tinos rises out of the impossibly blue Aegean and seems much closer than its 15km-distance. Return to Hora by different roads for some variety or summon a taxi.