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Mykonos 2022: tours, activities & other things to do

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Tours, cooking classes, wine & beer tastings, fitness activities, outdoor entertainment and other things to do on Mykonos

 

Activities and tours available on Mykonos in 2022

Images from some popular Mykonos activity and tour providers, from top left: Mykonos Horseland; Mykonos Raceland go-kart center; Mykonos Kayak; Maria-Eleni Sfaellou from Bespoke Mykonos guided tours; a cooking class at Mykonos Spiti & Farm; Kite Mykonos; a Mykonos Phototour picture of the Armenistis lighthouse; Yummy Pedals e-bikes; animals at the Mykonos Spiti farm; kids on a horse riding lesson at IPPOS Mykonos.

 

 

Beyond the bars and beaches: Mykonos may be famous for its beaches, boutiques and nightlife, but there’s a lot more to do on the island than just sunbathe, swim, party or shop ’til you drop. Activities abound for visitors, whether they’re travelling solo, as a couple, with family or in a group — either visiting the island just for the day on a cruise stop, or staying on Mykonos for a few days or an extended holiday.

Want to go sightseeing? There’s a wide variety of guided tours available that will show you scenic off the main tourist path parts of the island either on foot, by bicycle, on horseback, or in a jeep or other vehicle.

Are you a foodie who’d like to take a cooking class, taste traditional Greek dishes, or learn about olive oil or cheese making? Or are you more interested in sampling local craft beer or wine, either at a craft brewery or local vineyard, or on a private scenic tour? There’s a number of tours focussed on food and wine, as well as specialized cooking classes and demonstrations, wine or beer tastings, and more.

Looking for fitness, fun outdoor activities or watersports?  You can choose from kayaking; horseback riding; windsurfing, kitesurfing & boarding; yoga, pilates & other fitness classes; go-karting; and boat, sailboat and yacht tours and excursions galore.

If you’re a history and culture buff,  the ruins and archaeological site of Delos island — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — are a must-visit, and easily reached by boats that depart from a pier near the town hall in Mykonos Town. There’s several interesting museums, along with a municipal art gallery and a number of excellent private art galleries that showcase works by Greek and international artists.

And for evening entertainment, how about watching a movie under the stars at the Cine Manto outdoor cinema in the heart of Mykonos Town?

Below, and on page 2 of this post, we spotlight those and other top Mykonos attractions and activities:

 

 

A brand new arrival

Padel Mykonos padel tennis facility

As of July, Mykonos visitors can enjoy games of padel tennis at Padel Mykonos, a brand-new facility located in the Korfos area near Ornos beach.  Padel, a sport that has rapidly been gaining popularity around the world, is a fun sports activity that can be enjoyed by families and people of all ages and abilities. The first padel courts open to the public on Mykonos, Padel Mykonos is open daily from 8 a.m. until midnight.  Lessons with a qualified coach are available, while anyone who wants to give the sport a try is welcome to drop by. Court bookings can be made by phone to +30 6975532566; by email to [email protected]; or by using the online reservation form on the Padel Mykonos website.

 

Guided tours, sightseeing excursions and day trips to other islands

 

Two Delos Tours vessels docked at the Delos island port

The most popular partial day trip/tour excursion available on Mykonos is one of the daily boat trips to nearby Delos island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important and historic archaeological sites in all of Greece. (Admission to the site costs €8 per person, payable at the entrance gate.) Since the 1970s, the Mykonos-based family business Delos Tours has been operating boats that ferry tourists to Delos to explore the ancient ruins of what was once a thriving and wealthy cosmopolitan port city. From April until the end of October, the Delos Tours boats make daily return trips (weather conditions permitting), and visitors can either buy €22 per person tickets for just the boat transfer so they can see Delos at their own pace, or they can purchase €60 per person tickets for organized tours that include the boat trip, entrance to the site, and a guided tour of the ruins by a certified tourist guide. (Guided tours are free for children under 6 years old, and €30 for kids aged 6 to 12.) Full details of boat and guided tour schedules, and online ticket booking, are available on the Delos Tours website.

 

Tour activities offered by Kyklomar Tours on Mykonos

Operating for the past 27 years, Kyklomar Tours will resume its popular series of excursions and private tours this spring. Its City and Island Tours start on April 3, while its Jeep Safaris will begin on April 18. Tours to Delos island start May 2, Tinos island day trips on May 3, south coast boat cruises on May 21, and sunset cruises on May 22. A Wine & Culture tour can be booked anytime upon request.  The company also offers transfer services. Full details of the tours, including start times, meeting points and prices, are outlined on the Kyklomar Tours website

 

Yummy Pedals Mykonos bicycle and hiking tours

Open for bookings and requests throughout the year, Yummy Pedals began operating its guided bicycle and hiking tours on March 15.  Yummy Pedals offers a variety of half- and full-day adventures for people of all ages and abilities, with excursions tailor-made for singles, couples, families, honeymooners, and cruise passengers.  Romantic escapes and special events can be arranged, and electric bikes are available for booking.

 

Mykonos Excursions tours and activities on Mykonos

A part of the Mykonian Spiti farm and cooking class business, Mykonos Excursions offers an extensive array of adventures and activities, including cooking demonstrations and classes; farm visits; hiking, walking and jeep tours; sunset and southern beach cruises; island tours; and even a day trip to Andros island.  Their season started in March.

 

Blue Lion jeep safari tours on Mykonos

Again this year, Blue Lion Safari is offering its selection of private and semi-private specialized Jeep tours of Mykonos.  The options include 5-hour private and semi-private morning tours and sunset tours through northern regions of Mykonos; a 10-hour full day private tour; and a special occasion private tour that will be customized to private a unique adventure experience on Mykonos. The tours include a meal and wine stop along the way. Maps and descriptions of the tour itineraries, along with contact information, are available on the Blue Lion Safari website.

 

Mykonos Photo Tour

Mykonos Photo Tour returns April 24, offering private island photo tours and photography shoots, location guides and travel coordination services hosted by its founder, Achim Eckhardt

 

Maria-Eleni Sfaellou of Bespoke Mykonos private guided tours

 Private guided tours on Mykonos are available now from licensed tour guide Maria-Eleni Sfaellou of Bespoke Mykonos. Starting on April 1, Maria-Eleni also will be available to provide guided tours at the Delos island archaeological site. 

 

 

 

Food, beer and wine-focussed tours, classes and activities

 

Photos of Mykonian Spiti and Farm on Mykonos island

One of the island’s best-known food and farm attractions, Mykonian Spiti & Farm hosts cooking classes and demonstrations, wine tastings, and tours of its farm. Located in the island’s Messaria district, Mykonian Spiti offers day and evening cooking classes hosted by Teta Fragedaki. The spiti’s other activities include wine tastings, traditional lunches and dinners, a farm bakery class with lunch, a farm barbecue, olive oil tasting, and a variety of experiences — ideal for children — on the farm.

 

Rizes Folklore Farmstead on Mykonos

Photo collage from the website for Rizes Folklore Farmstead & Restaurant Mykonos

A 5-acre property in the Maou area near Ano Mera, Rizes Folklore Farmstead offers guided tours of a re-created Chorio (traditional Myconian farmstead), including its house; chapel; vineyard, olive grove and vegetable garden; wine pressing vat; cheese workshop; folklore exhibitions; stable, dovecote and chicken coop; and a visit with the domestic farm animals. Cooking and bread baking classes also are offered.  In addition, the farmstead has a popular restaurant where visitors can enjoy freshly-cooked traditional meals, including  homemade pies, salads and spreads, and vegetable and meat dishes, all prepared according to Greek and Myconian recipes and techniques, and made primarily with local ingredients and products.  On Sundays, Rizes presents live Greek folk music entertainment, and hosts party feasts to celebrate national holidays and important religious events. During winter, Rizes was open only on weekends, but since April 16 has been open every day from noon until 9 p.m.

 

Mykonos Vioma Organic Farm & Winery

April 1 is opening day for Mykonos Vioma Organic Farm & Winery, located in the Maou area near Ano Mera. Operated by the Asymomitis family, the farm offers daily free guided tours that show visitors its biodynamic cultivation and wine making techniques. The farm also hosts tastings of their wines and local products, and kids can meet and play with the farm’s four-legged residents. 

 

Tour in Mykonian Land on Mykonos

The unique Tour in Mykonian Land experiences return on April 1. The two-hour guided tours of an estate in the Marathi area take visitors through an olive grove, vineyard and wine press facility, and conclude at the on-site taverna. There, guests are treated to traditional live music entertainment while they sample local food delicacies and some of the estate’s wines and olive oil. 

 

 

Mykonos Farmers cooking class workshop

Located in the Agios Lazaros area, Mykonos Farmers is a facility that specializes in the production of Mykonian cheeses (including the spicy Mykonos Kopanisti cheese) and other dairy products using traditional methods. Visitors are welcome to drop in for a tour of the facilities, and to sample the products. Mykonos Farmers also offers interactive cooking workshops that will introduce participants to cheese making, along with recipes to take home. Tours and workshops are available for large and small groups alike.

 

Anita Zachou of Mykonos Olive Oil Tasting

From May 15 to October 15, Anita Zachou of Mykonos Olive Oil Tasting will again host her group tasting workshops every afternoon. Private tasting sessions, special event tasting parties, on-yacht sessions and children’s workshops also are available. Full details of the company’s tasting sessions and activities, as well as booking and contact information, are available on the Mykonos Olive Oil Tasting website.

 

Mykonos Brewing Company

Mykonos Brewing Company is the island’s first, and only, craft brewery, and makes the local Mikonu brand of beers.  Located in the Argyraina area just outside Mykonos Town, the brewery is a complete brewhouse and taproom in an underground facility that once housed the island’s bowling alley. Visitors can advance book tours and tasting sessions, or can simply walk in to visit the taproom and sample the brews.  The taproom has windows offering a view of the brewery production area, and “is a family friendly, pet friendly, snack friendly, board game friendly space with a bar and table seating area.” The taproom is open year-round; its hours of operation for the spring and summer are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

The Wine Society Mykonos

The Wine Society exclusive wine tastings return on April 1, along with other unique holiday experiences curated by Georgia and Stelios, co-owners of Your Concierge. Their company’s one-of-a-kind activities include a variety of walking tours (a morning excursion that includes a breakfast break; an evening tour that includes a stop for a cocktail, and another that features a beach picnic); a souvlaki cooking class; a Greek cocktail masterclass; and a fish meze picnic at a secret beach. Your Concierge also can create customized private tours and memorable activities for visitors celebrating special occasions. Their experiences can be scheduled for anytime between April 1 and October 31. Full descriptions and details of the various experiences can be found on the Mykonos Experiences page of the Your Concierge website.

 

 

Open-air movie entertainment

 

Cine Manto outdoor cinema on Mykonos

Cine Manto is an outdoor cinema located in a beautiful botanical garden oasis in the heart of Mykonos Town.  Open from the beginning of June until the end of September, it presents a nightly roster of original release, first-run movies (usually in English, with Greek subtitles).  Besides the nightly Hollywood entertainment, Cine Manto boasts a cafe-restaurant which operates from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily, offering a unique, tree-shaded spot to escape the hustle and bustle of Mykonos and relax with a reasonably-priced breakfast, lunch or BBQ dinner meal and beverages.  The garden also hosts special events as well as mosaic workshops and morning yoga classes offered by Sweat Vacay (you’ll find information about both of those activities on page 2 of that post.

 

Please click on the link below to continue reading on page 2, where we profile fitness, sports and outdoor fun activities; cultural attractions and activities; and boat, sailboat and yacht tours and excursions.

 

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Mykonos 2022: DJ and party schedules, regular music events and season closing dates

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With the arrival of autumn, the Greek Islands have moved into shoulder season  — and even on busy Mykonos, the atmosphere has become much quieter, with a noticeably more chill and relaxed vibe than the frenetic and crowded party months of July and August.

As happens every September, clubs and restaurants gradually begin to close as the tourist crowds slowly thin out. The pace of closures picks up in early October and accelerates by mid-month. Sometimes businesses provide advance notice of their season finale parties or closing dates but, more often, venues shutter their doors with little or no prior announcement.

Below is a listing of popular beach clubs, nightclubs and restaurants that have already wrapped up their operations or that have announced their season-ending party celebrations.

On page 3 of this post, you can see our at-a-glance roundup of regular DJ shows, parties and live music events that took place on Mykonos this summer on each day of the week, along with some of the summer event calendars for major clubs including Alemagou, Cavo Paradiso, Ftelia Pacha, Sanctus, SantAnna, Super Paradise, The Sanctuary, Tropicana and Void. They will give you an idea of the events you might expect to find if you happen to visit Mykonos during 2023.

For listings of special one-time-only DJ or singer appearances, parties and other events, see our separate posts:

Mykonos bar and nightclub openings and events in 2022

Mykonos beach bar and club openings and events in 2022.

 

 

Mosaic Mykonos Christmas week parties

Mosaic is party central every night during Christmas Week 2022

 

Vegera Mykonos Christmas holiday parties 2022

Vegera will close out 2022 and ring in 2023 with parties on Friday December 30, Saturday the 31st, and Sunday January 1. DJ Simos Anastasopoulos will be on the decks for all three parties.

 

Velanos Mykonos New Years party

Velanos will be ringing in the New Year with a December 31 party featuring music by DJ Babis Lazos

 

Mosaic Mykonos New Year's Eve party

DJs MaPet and Jerry will be on the decks for the New Year’s Eve Party at Mosaic on December 31

 

Appaloosa restaurant on Mykonos

Appaloosa Restaurant & Bar has announced it will remain open during the holiday season from 7 p.m. daily (except Mondays and Tuesdays, when it will be closed).

 

Rizes Folklore Farmstead & Restaurant on Mykonos

Rizes Folklore Farmstead has announced that its restaurant will be open Saturdays and Sundays, from noon until 9 p.m., for  the winter season 

 

Promenade Mykonos DJ Thanos Desypris

This fall, DJ Thanos Desypris will be playing “mainstream vibes” every night after 8 p.m. at Promenade 

 

Vegera restaurant and bar on Mykonos

Beginning November 14, the Vegera Mykonos bar will be open only on Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m.  for drinks, music and dancing. Food won’t be available — the Vegera restaurant kitchen will be closed for the winter. 

 

Paloma bar on Mykonos

Paloma Bar will be open for Friday and Saturday night parties until December 18. After a Christmas and holiday break, the bar will re-open on January 13 2023. 

 

 

 

Season closing events and announcements

 

Mykonos Brewing Company

Mykonos Brewing Company, makers of the island’s iconic Mikonu craft beer, will be closed for the holiday season starting on December 23. The brewery will reopen on January 4.

 

Lovemeze restaurant on Mykonos

On December 18, Lovemeze restaurant in Ano Mera announced that it has permanently closed, after three years of operation

 

The Cook restaurant in 
Ano Mera Mykonos

The Cook in Ano Mera will be taking a holiday break starting on December 16. The restaurant will re-open on January 16.

 

El Burro Mykonos season closing announcement

El Burro will hold its season closing party on Sunday December 11, with music by DJ Nick Sintilas

 

Apouzouraki Cafe on Mykonos

Sunday December 4 is season closing day for Apozouraki cafe in Ano Mera. The cafe says it will reopen in the new year “with many changes and many new surprises.”

 

Local Mykonos closing announcement

Local Mykonos BBQ & Souvlaki ends its season on November 30

 

Jayont Coffee Brunch & More on Mykonos

Jayont Coffee Brunch & More in Ano Mera will celebrate the end of its first season with a closing party on Wednesday November 30. It won’t be closed for too long, though — Jayont says it plans to reopen on February 19 for the 2023 season.

 

Bistrot de Nicolas on Mykonos

Bistrot de Nicolas is serving its winter menu until November 26, when it will be closing for an extended break.  Until the 26th, the restaurant will be open Tuesday through Saturday nights, from 6 p.m. until midnight.

 

To Maereio taverna on Mykonos

To Maereio taverna posted this season closing announcement on its social media pages on November 9

 

Aperanto Galazio restaurant on Mykonos

Aperanto Galazio restaurant at Ornos beach announced the end of its season on November 8

 

Captain's -- food for sharing mezedopoleio on Mykonos

Captain’s — Food for Sharing mezedopoleio opened for the final time this season on Sunday November 6. “The good times are taking a break. We’ll be back in early 2023,” the restaurant said in a season-closing post on its social media pages.

 

The Liberty Breakfast Room on Mykonos

The Liberty Breakfast Room ended its season on November 6

 

To Steki Tou Proedrou taverena at Ano Mera on Mykonos

November 6 is closing day for To Steki Tou Proedrou taverna in Ano Mera

 

Paprika Souvlaki & Pizza in Drafaki on Mykonos

November 6 is closing day for the Paprika Souvlaki & Pizza restaurant in Drafaki. The Paprika store in Ano Mera will remain open a few days longer.

 

Kavos Taverna on Mykonos

November 3 was the last day of the season for Kavos Fish Taverna

 

Branco Mykonos hotel seen in an image from its social media pages

On November 1, Branco Mykonos Beach Resort announced the end of its season

 

Oniro Sunset Bar & Restaurant on Mykonos

On November 1, Oniro Sunset Bar & Restaurant at the Mykonos View Hotel announced the end of its season

 

Souvlaki Story restaurant on Mykonos

On November 1, Souvlaki Story Taverna in Argyraina announced it has closed for the winter. However, the Souvlaki Story location on Enoplon Dinameon Street will remain open a little while longer.

 

 

 

 

Farina Cucina Italian restaurant on Mykonos

On October 31, Farina Cucina Italiana at Ornos announced that its 2022 season has ended

 

Roca Restaurant on Mykonos

Sunday October 30 marks the end of the season for Roca Restaurant

 

Pita Wrap & Pizza Mykonos

October 30 is closing day for Pita Wrap & Pizza Mykonos 

 

Tasos Taverna on Mykonos

Tasos Taverna will wrap up its 60th season on October 30 with live music entertainment by the local band Αποσπερίτες

 

To see more venue closing dates, please click on the link below to turn to page 2.

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Mykonos restaurants 2022

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Photos of restaurants on Mykonos island

Photos from a few of the many restaurants on Mykonos, seen top row from left: Farina Cucina Italiana; Baboulas Ouzeri; Apaggio; Scorpios beach club; Sakis Grill House; Coffee Break; D’Angelos; Maizevelo; Branco; Byblos; Tasos Taverna; Coya Mykonos; Ceresio7

 

Tastes of the island:  With its hundreds of snack bars, cafes and restaurants serving up fast food/street eats, fine dining/gourmet cuisine, and everything in between, Mykonos is a veritable paradise for food lovers. Visitors will find Greek, Italian and Mediterranean fare, including fresh fish and seafood, all around the island, along with French, Japanese, Mexican, Peruvian and other international cuisines, as well as vegan food.

The dining options are extensive, ranging from local family-owned tavernas to iconic high-end dining establishments known around the world.  The restaurant roster includes places that have been welcoming visitors to Mykonos for decades, plus brand-new arrivals hoping their food and beverage selections will make an impression on the island’s vibrant hospitality scene.

In this post, we present an overview of places to eat that have already opened their doors or that have announced their opening dates for the 2022 travel season. We will be updating this post as we learn of additional restaurants that have started their seasons, so check back from time to time to see more.

Below, on this page, we profile the dining spots that have been operating for decades, and that have become beloved favourites for many Mykonos repeat visitors. We also spotlight the establishments along what we call “restaurant row” — the Akti Kampani harbourside promenade in Mykonos Town.

 

 

 

On page 2 of this post, we showcase:

♦ Traditional Greek tavernas, grill houses and local restaurants

♦ Restaurants specializing in fish, seafood or sushi;

♦ Vegan, vegetarian and healthy food restaurants

♦ Places offering international cuisines;

♦ Breakfast and brunch hangouts;

♦ Italian and Mediterranean cuisine restaurants;

♦ Beach cafes and dining spots;

♦ Fine dining and gourmet restaurants;

♦ Fast food and street eats;

♦ Bakeries, creperies and coffee shops

 

 

 

Island icons, legends and long-timers

 

Below are snapshots of the island’s most enduring and legendary restaurants.  Some are traditional Greek tavernas, several are beach tavernas, one is a renowned bistro that made its name blending traditional Greek dishes with classic French cooking, and another is a popular Italian ristorante. A few have been welcoming guests since the 1960s, while the others opened their doors in the early 1970s. During their collective decades of operation, they have seen hundreds of other restaurants  come and go with the passing trends of their time. But these stalwarts have ensured that visitors and residents can still enjoy a piece of authentic, traditional Mykonos, something that has becoming increasingly difficult to find given all the rapid change and development on the island in recent years. 

 

 Family-owned and operated Nikolas Taverna has been a fixture at Agia Anna Paraga beach for the past 55 years. We took this photo during one of our lunch visits 10 years ago. Since then, the taverna has installed a new sign, and painted all its tables and chairs white, but the food is still delicious and the service remains excellent.  It’s our favourite beach restaurant on Mykonos, and we recommend sitting at one of the tables on the sand for great views of the beach and bay while you dine. This year, Nikolas Taverna opened on April 15.

 

La Maison de Katrin restaurant on Mykonos

 Situated on picturesque Nikiou Street in Mykonos Town, La Maison de Katrin has been a Mykonos fine dining institution since 1971. Operated by the Giziotis family, Katrin “marries traditional Greek recipes with French gourmet cooking, warm hospitality with elegant surroundings, luxurious top–quality ingredients with the simplicity of the Cyclades.” The bistro-style restauration is a favourite shooting location for photographers, and is one of the most-Instagrammed places on the island.  This year, Katrin will hold its grand opening on April 16.

 

Street view of Marco Polo Taverna on Mykonos

Located near Lakka Square in Mykonos Town, Marco Polo Taverna has been a popular go-to spot for fish, seafood and and reasonably-priced traditional Greek food since 1967. The taverna was founded by fisherman Marco and his wife, Maria, and named after Marco’s fishing boat, Marco Polo. The taverna is still a family business — today, it’s operated by the couple’s three children. This year Marco Polo Taverna opened its doors on April 8.

 

Tasos Taverna at Paraga Beach on Mykonos

Tasos Taverna has been a popular lunch and dinner destination at Paraga beach since 1962. It has maintained its traditional Greek taverna focus and atmosphere even though newer trendy restaurants and clubs have arrived with contemporary menus of fine dining, sushi and expensive champagne to the beach. This year, Tasos opened on March 25.

 

Casa di Giorgio Italian restaurant onMykonos

Casa di Giorgio Ristorante has been serving Italian cuisine since 1970 at its Mitropoleos street location behind the Catholic Cathedral near Alefkandra Square in Mykonos Town. This year the restaurant opened its doors and patio on April 6.

 

Kostantis restaurant on Ornos beach Mykonos

For the past 55 years, family-run Kostantis restaurant and bar has been serving fresh fish and seafood, and Greek and Mediterranean cuisine “with cosmopolitan notes.” Located on Ornos beach, Kostantis started its season on April 15.

 

Kastro's restaurant in Mykonos Town

Alley dining area at Kastro's in Mykonos Town

Kastro’s started as a bar in 1976, and later morphed into a restaurant, recently adding three private dining balconies that overlook the Little Venice seafront and offer superb sea and sunset views. For the past several years, the row of tables and benches in the narrow alley outside Kastro’s has been one of the most-photographed Mykonos sights on Instagram.  Kastro’s opens this year on April 29.

 

Niko's Taverna in Mykonos Town

It’s easy to spot Niko’s Taverna at Agia Moni Square, a short stroll from the harbour promenade — just look for the rows of tables with Niko’s signature red and white checked tablecloths clustered in the lane below red-domed Agios Nikolaos church.  Niko’s has been serving traditional Greek food since 1976, and is one of the busiest tavernas on the island — it’s usually packed with customers.

 

Marias Mykonian Restaurant in Mykonos Town

Operating since 1975, Maria’s Traditional Myconian Restaurant is tucked into a quiet, plant-filled courtyard steps from the small harbour beach in Mykonos Town. Easiest way to reach Maria’s is to look for the narrow lane, lined with potted geraniums, that leads off the beach promenade — it will take you directly to the restaurant. Word is that Maria’s could be closing after this season or next year, so don’t miss the chance to enjoy a traditional meal here if you visit Mykonos in 2022. Editor’s update: In posts to its social media accounts, Maia’s announced that it permanently closed on September 20 after 47 years of business.

 

Street view photo of Mourayio Cafe Restaurant on Mykonos

March 29 was opening day for Mourayio Cafe-Restaurant on Akti Kampani, the Mykonos Town harbour promenade.  The family-owned taverna has been operating since 1976. Its specialties are grilled fish, calamari, octopus, shrimp and other seafood dishes, but the restaurant says it has long been renowned for its home-made sweets, too.

 

Bagoyias Gialos Cafe on Mykonos

Located on the Akti Kampani restaurant row (more on that below), Bagoyias Gialos is often overlooked by visitors, especially cruise ship daytrippers, who typically flock to the larger, stylish and much more expensive restaurants that surround it. Since 1977, Cafe Gialos, as it’s also called, has been a longtime meeting place for Mykonos locals, who gather for coffee, conversation, delicious mezes and traditional Greek taverna fare, served at what are very reasonable prices by Mykonos standards.  We’re told the breakfast omelet with Myconian sausage is a must-try.

 

the courtyard dining patio at Eva's Garden Restaurant on Mykonos

A family-owned and -operated restaurant in the heart of Mykonos Town, Eva’s Garden has long been a favourite dining destination for new and repeat Mykonos visitors who enjoy the charming and romantic ambiance of its hidden courtyard garden terrace, dining room and veranda  — as well as its delicious Greek food, seafood and other menu items.  Eva’s Garden has been in business for 40 years, and this year it opens on April 29. You’ll find it at Goumenio Square, with another entrance (with outdoor seating) at the north end of Kalogera Street.

 

 

 

Restaurant row at the old harbour 

 

Another Mykonos icon is the row of restaurants along Akti Kampani street, the long pedestrian promenade that curves along the shore of the Old Port harbour in Mykonos Town, from Manto Square to the Mykonos Town Hall and the iconic blue-domed fishermen’s chapel, Agios Nikolaos, at the dockside. The flagstone walkway is lined with places to eat and drink, including a couple of tavernas that have been in business for more than four decades each (Mourayio and Gialos, which we described in the previous section of this post), along with contemporary and fine-dining restaurants that arrived during the past decade.  Most offer all-day dining, opening early in the morning to serve coffee and breakfast, and remaining open throughout the day for lunch, dinner and late-night drinks.  Almost all serve Greek and Mediterranean cuisine, fish and seafood. Some become lively and festive party spots at night, with music played by in-house or special guest DJs. Here’s a look at the establishments along Mykonos Town’s busiest restaurant strip.

 

Street view photo showing Mosaic restaurant in Mykonos Town

Mosaic MSC restaurant and bar, next to Manto Square, is open throughout the year. The MSC stands for “meat, sushi cocktails,” and the menu features an “eclectic but thoughtfully curated” mix of tastes and flavours from around the world.  Last summer the restaurant regularly hosted live music entertainment by local singer Kelly Kaltsi, and during the winter Mosaic was a popular weekend party spot.

 

Pelican restaurant in Mykonos

One of the newer harbourside eateries,  Pelican restaurant, made its debut in the spring of 2020, just as the country’s tourism industry was reeling from the staggering drop in international travel during the first wave of the Covid pandemic. The restaurant has been resilient, though, and commenced its 2022 season on March 23. An all-day dining spot, Pelican is open for breakfast, and for lunch and dinner serves innovative Greek and Mediterranean dishes that offer “a culinary ride from every corner of Greece.” 

 

Vento Italian restaurant on ykonos

A new arrival to Mykonos in the fall of 2020, the elegant Vento restaurant features “creative Italian cuisine” by chef Alsi Sinanaj.  The restaurant serves breakfast each morning, and for lunch and dinner treats its guests to “a breezy taste of Italy” with fresh-made pasta, fresh fish and succulent meat. This year Vento started its season on March 15.  

 

Interior of Promenade Mykonos restaurant and bar

A new restaurant and bar arrival in 2021, Promenade Mykonos promised “a modern spin on old world traditional cuisine and stylish parties.” Since its re-opening on March 4 after a two-month winter break, the upscale restaurant has been one of the island’s most popular places to dine, drink, dance, and party. It season-opening night featured a live performance by singer Tilemachos Zeis , and since then Promenade has regularly hosted party events with music entertainment by special guest DJs. 

 

Rouvera restaurant and bar on Mykonos

Open throughout the day for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee and drinks, Rouvera restaurant and bar has been in business more than 20 years. Its menu includes Greek, Mediterranean and vegan dishes, as well as meat, seafood and desserts. Rouvera started its season on March 28.

 

 

 

Street view of Bouboulo restaurant on Mykonos

The all-day Bouboulo Fine Mykonian Cuisine arrived on the harbourside promenade in July 2020, the newest member of the nice n easy hospitality group,  whose other Mykonos venues include the nice n easy and Spala restaurants on the Little Venice seafront, the SantAnna beach club at Paraga, and Olea Greek Cuisine at Kalafatis (formerly called Farm ‘n Sea). Bouboulo takes pride in its local and Greek cuisine, which is prepared with fresh ingredients sourced from small producers. Bouboulo held its season opening on March 24.

 

Raya is an all-day restaurant and bar offering “elegant dining by the sea,” with a focus on fine Greek and Mediterranean cuisine, as well as sushi. Raya is open throughout the year.

 

  Kazarma opened its doors in 1997 in a historic building which once was owned by Greek revolution heroine Manto Mavrogenous, who used the premises as an arsenal to store arms and munitions.Kazarma opens at 7 a.m. to serve hearty breakfasts, and its kitchen and bar remain open until at least 1 a.m. for late night snacks, meals and cocktails. The menu focusses on Greek and Mediterranean cuisine as well as fish and seafood. Following a brief winter holiday break, Kazarma re-opened on February 3 for this year’s tourist season.

 

street view photo of Kadena Restaurant in Mykonos

Kadena restaurant is another all-day establishment, serving home-made Greek and Mediterranean dishes, salads, pastas, desserts and cocktails. Kadena opened for the season on March 15 this year.

 

Captain's restaurant on Mykonos

Open for the past 7 years, Captain’s specializes in mezes — small plates of Greek and Mediterranean dishes that are perfect for sharing. The restaurant is open all day, and is popular for its selection of Greek wines and ouzo and local craft beers. This year, Captain’s commenced its season on March 5. 

 

Vegera restaurant and bar on Mykonos

Stylish Vegera restaurant is easy to find — its harbourview patio is only steps away from Agios Nikolaos, the iconic blue-domed fisherman’s church that is a magnet for Instagrammers. The all-day restaurant and bar serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as coffees and cocktails. This year, Vegera held its opening day on March 4 and has been a popular weekend party destination, featuring music by special guest DJs.

 

 

 

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Mykonos: What’s new for 2022

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The Little Venice area of Mykonos

A view of the Little Venice seafront of Mykonos Town

 

 

— Updated on June 19 2022 —

 

The Island of the Winds: Much like the dry Meltemi winds that blast the island every summer, the winds of change blow strongly on Mykonos, bringing a flurry of brand-new hotels, restaurants, bars and shops for each fresh travel season.

This cycle of constant change and renewal is an integral part of what makes Mykonos so vibrant, exciting and enthralling — it ensures there are always plenty of new places popping up where visitors can explore and enjoy the latest Greek and international trends in design, decor, fashion, food, drink and entertainment.

Here are snapshots of many of the notable changes and newcomers that Mykonos visitors will discover during the 2022 travel season.

 

Cubic Hotel on Mykonos

Opening July 13 at Ornos beach, Cubic Hotel is an adults-only boutique property consisting of just 11 rooms and suites with private pools. Each of the luxury  accommodations “has been designed in a contemporary manner, blending cubic style with multiple dimensions and traditional Cycladic architecture with modern twists,” the hotel website says.  

 

Zuma Mykonos

After two years as a seasonal pop-up situated in the ultra-luxe Cavo Tagoo Hotel, the Japanese restaurant Zuma Mykonos has a new home all its own. The opening of the new premises — carved into the face of a rugged rock cliff a short distance down the coastal road from Cavo Tagoo — marks the debut of “a first of its kind lifestyle concept” by the high-end international restaurant chain, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. “This creative, multi-purpose destination is a new concept within the [Zuma restaurant] portfolio featuring a restaurant, lounge and bar, sleek infinity pool, day beds and resident DJ. Zuma Mykonos is set to be the first of many other similar venues unveiled in international destinations in the years to come, as Zuma enters a new era,” the Zuma website explains.  Zuma Mykonos officially opens for dinner service on July 14, while its spectacular sea- and sunset-view infinity swimming pool will open on July 18. 

 

Billionaire Mykonos

Italian celebrity entrepreneur Flavio Briatore is bringing his exclusive Billionaire lifestyle club to Mykonos this summer. Self-described as famous for its “extraordinary artistic performances with a superb dining experience,” as well as a “thrilling” late-night after party,  Billionaire Mykonos will operate in an elegant former mansion near the small Agia Anna harbour beach in Mykonos Town (in the premises formerly occupied by the Hondos Center fashion retail shop). Billionaire Mykonos hasn’t announced its official opening date, but it is expected to open its doors as soon as July 15, and has been heavily promoting a “coming soon” campaign on social media.  Billionaire Mykonos made news headlines in Greece in July when it cancelled online reservations for tables of four persons or less, explaining in an email to affected customers that the venue has been designed to “accommodate groups of 6,8,10 and 12 people or more”  only. Rumours had been circulating that the club would require a minimum spend of €50,000 per table, but news reports said the minimum spend in the restaurant will be €300 per person on food alone — with alcoholic drinks not included in that amount.

 

Cocco restaurant on Mykonos

Doors opened in early July at Cocco Mykonos, a small Italian bistro situated at the Little Venice seafront of Mykonos Town. A project of the Belvedere Hotel, Cocco occupies cozy, intimate spaces in an historic 200-year-old building on the waterfront.  Cocco’s menu “offers small yet inspired bites for a leisurely drink, while refreshing salads alongside delectable raw and marinated meat and fish dishes will ground a dreamy evening in earthly delights. Light-as-a-cloud pizzas, straight from our wood-fired oven, classic antipasti and rich pasta dishes will round out an unforgettable Italian experience,” the restaurant’s website says. Cocco’s hours of operation are 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

 

Bar & Co Mykonos

A stroll down Ag. Anargiron street near Little Venice will lead you to a tiny new cocktail and coffee joint, Bar & Co, which opened in early July. It’s a friendly spot to grab a coffee beverage or a hand-crafted cocktail to enjoy either at the bar, or “on the go.”  Besides classic cocktails, Bar & Co serves beer, shots and drinks.

 

Jayont Mykonos restaurant

Jayont coffee brunch & more is a new dining spot in Ano Mera village, situated steps from the historic Panagia Tourliani Monastery.  Jayont specializes in coffees and  breakfast/brunch fare, but is open til late at night for dining and cocktails.  Menu items are available for take-away, so it’s a convenient place to pick up drinks and snacks while on the way to Elia, Agrari, Kalafatis or Kalo Livadi beaches.

 

Mantri Mykonian Resto on Mykonos

Mantri Mykonian Resto is another newcomer situated near Panagia Tourliani monastery in Ano Mera village. If the name seems familiar, perhaps it’s because it’s the new Mykonos sibling of the Mantri restaurant that has been operating in the Athens suburb of Glyfada since 1977.  Mantri offers a Mediterranean menu highlighting quality meat and charcoal barbecue dishes, as well as slow-cooked Greek dishes.  The menu, with prices, can be viewed on the restaurant’s website. Mantri Mykonian Resto is open daily from 12:30 p.m. to midnight.

 

Photos of Saltbae Mykonos burger restaurant by Dimitris Koutsoukos

Regular Mykonos visitors will notice a big change at Goumenio Square in Mykonos Town this summer. The popular meat and meze restaurant Familia is gone — its prized location has been acquired by celebrity chef Nusret Gokce and transformed into one of his high-end Saltbae Burger joints. (Gokce brought his world-famous Nusret steakhouse to Mykonos in 2019, and is still packing that place with big-spending customers every night). The Saltbae burger restaurant and bar opened in mid-June, serving a variety of burgers and steak sandwiches at prices starting at €30 and up, along with Oreo, marshmallow and “crazy baklava” shakes costing €19 and €25 respectively.  The restaurant’s signature dish,  the Gold Burger, is a juicy Wagyu Saltbae burger covered in edible 24K gold and smothered in freshly melted cheddar cheese. It is served with seasoned fries and sells for only €150.  

 

Salt & Fire Mykonos steakhouse 2022 season opening announcement

Salt & Fire Steakhouse claims it will offer “the most exclusive dining experience in Mykonos” when it opens June 15 at the Charisma Hotel and Wellness Suites in the island’s Plintri area (near Super Paradise beach). Situated on the patio beside the hotel’s sea view pool, Salt & Fire will have only a handful of tables at which a small number of guests can enjoy Black Angus and Wagyu steaks grilled to perfection over the restaurant’s signature wood fire. (The menu also includes a simple but superb selection of salads, starters, sides and desserts).  Salt & Fire Mykonos is a summer venture of the popular Salt & Fire restaurant established in 2019 in the Agios Ioannis area of Nicosia, on Cyprus. 

 

Byblos restaurant on Mykonos

Friday June 10 was the grand opening day for Byblos, an opulent new fine dining and late-night party restaurant “that plays by its own rules blending flavours, sips, music and vibes.” Byblos specializes in “elevated Peruvian-Japanese gastronomy,” exquisite cocktails, wine and sake. In an opening day announcement on its social media pages, Byblos said “Our talented executive chef Thanos S Stasinos & our expert sommelier Nikolas Giannopoulos will be your guides in this exotic world of exquisite taste.” Byblos is located at 1 Delou street in Mykonos Town. 

 

 

Anima Italian cuisine restaurant on Mykonos

“Specialized in authentic Italian cuisine,” Anima Restaurant is a new arrival at Goumenio Square in Mykonos Town. It opened on June 2.

 

Sinners Pizza and Street Food Cafe in Mykonos Town

Sinners Pizza opened in early June on Polikandrioti Street, serving a variety of take-away pizzas (whole and by the slice), paninis, and beverages

 

Street view of Meatropolitan Greek Style Gyros on Mykonos

 With a menu aimed to satisfy even the hungriest meat lovers, Meatropolitan Greek Style Gyros specializes in souvlaki and gyros, but also serves  burgers, chicken, sandwiches and more. It also has falafel items for vegan visitors. The restaurant opened in late April on Enoplon Dinameon street in Mykonos Town. 

 

The Sanctuary Mykonos

The Sanctuary Mykonos is a soul-soothing retreat, restaurant, and open-air music and events venue that opens its gates on June 2. Situated in the remains of an old fishing settlement near the eastern end of Ftelia beach, The Sanctuary Mykonos is set to make a distinctive mark on the island’s outdoor lifestyle and entertainment scene with unique curated music events, family-friendly gatherings, and ritualistic programs providing personal well-being and spiritual nourishment. Facilities include a bar, lounge and restaurant, where guests can enjoy a “social and soulful dining experience” choosing from a menu featuring Mediterranean, fusion and sushi dishes. Besides nightly dancing under the stars to curated DJ and live music performanes, The Sanctuary will host body- and soul-nurturing rituals including yoga kundalini, chanting and mindfulness meditation, shamanic drums, sound healing, fire rituals, moon rituals, tarot readings and more.

 

La Cantine du Faubourg Mykonos

A much-talked-about newcomer to Ornos beach this summer, the seaview restaurant and bar La Cantine du Faubourg bills itself as “Mykonos’s new luxury playground.”  An outdoor restaurant featuring Parisian cuisine and French social flair, it’s designed to be a must-visit lifestyle destination, built on four guiding principles: “sound, music, image, and food. Cultural venue meets dining destination, meeting spot or late-night hideout, La Cantine du Faubourg is whatever its guests want it to be, and more,” says an introduction on the venue’s website. Opening day was June 26.

 

Meraki restaurant at Cavo Tagoo Hotel on Mykonos

For the summer of 2022, the 5-star Cavo Tagoo Hotel  in Mykonos Town is hosting a new fine dining restaurant — Meraki — in the prized sea- and sunset-view spot next to its Instagram-famous infinity pool. (In 2020 and 2021, the coveted space had been occupied by a summer “pop up” of the Japanese- and Asian-fusion restaurant chain, Zuma.)  Meraki Mykonos is the fourth and newest member of the Meraki group of high-end restaurants and bars specializing in Modern Greek and Mediterranean cuisine (the others are located in London, Riyadh and Puerto Cervo).   Meraki Mykonos opened on May 6.

 

 

 

Tabu nightclub on Mykonos

Tabu Mykonos is a new concept nightclub that will offer guests “a different kind of ambience inspired by Japanese culture.” A summer project of the Tabu London club in Mayfair, it will be located on the Mykonos Town harbourside restaurant strip, at Promenade (which last year hosted a nightclub called Shiba).  Tabu Mykonos is scheduled to open on June 1.

 

Wake Bar Mykonos seen in an image shared on Instagram by @platonpap

May 13 was opening day for Wake Bar, an “exquisite” new venue that Kalua beach club has created on Enoplon Dinameon Street in Mykonos Town. 

 

Bagatelle Mykonos

After several years of planning and development, the Bagatelle brand of luxury restaurants and beach clubs has brought its southern France-style “joie de vivre and epicurean spirit” to Mykonos this summer.  The long-awaited Bagatelle Mykonos is located on the Mykonos Town seaside a short walk from Fabrika Square (between the Mykonos Theoxenia Hotel and the Poseidon Hotel). Opening day was May 24.

 

Ftelia Pacha Mykonos beach club on Mykonos

June 1 was opening day for Ftelia Pacha Mykonos, an ‘open beach experience” restaurant, bar and music entertainment venue at Ftelia beach (situated on the premises of the former Ftelia Beach Club, a short-lived seaside project of the Interni group of restaurants and hotels in Greece).  Ftelia Pacha is the third and newest property to be opened on Mykonos by The Destino Pacha hospitality group, which last year debuted the Destino Pacha Mykonos Hotel near Agios Stefanos beach, followed by the Lio Mykonos restaurant and live cabaret club in Mykonos Town. The arrival of the Ftelia beach club — which boasts a summer calendar packed with parties featuring performances by top international DJs — has positioned Destino Pacha as one of the island’s leading lifestyle and entertainment venue operators.

 

 

Tuya restaurant on Mykonos

Tuya Mykonos, a fine dining restaurant featuring a menu of French Riviera Cuisine, opened June 10 on Kalogera Street in Mykonos Town. It’s the third Tuya restaurant to open in Europe — the chain’s other locations are in Bucharest and Vienna, with a fourth Tuya set to open this fall in Milan.

 

Mykonos Theoxenia hotel on Mykonos

Mykonos Theoxenia, one of the island’s most iconic and historic hotels, has been undertaking an extensive and “daring” renovation this year.  “The mythic Mykonos Theoxenia reinvents itself to realign with its timeless heritage and the essence of ultimate hospitality,” the hotel website says. Located near the landmark row of six windmills in Mykonos Town, the Theoxenia is expected to start its 2022 season in July.

 

Apozouraki cafe on Mykonos

Apozouraki is a new cafe which opened April 27 in Ano Mera. It sells a variety of coffees and other drinks, along with breakfast items like crepes, waffles and pancakes, as well as sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, pizza, spinach pies and other light fare, plus donuts, jelly beans, candies and other sweet treats.

 

Bambao Mykonos

Bambao Noodles & Bao Buns opened April 29 in the Fabrika area of Mykonos Town. It’s an all-day, casual Asian fusion eatery serving up bao buns, noodles, chicken buckets, and more.

 

 

Calma Suites on Mykonos

Opened on June 1, Mykonos Calma Suites is a collection of deluxe luxury rooms and suites situated on the hillside overlooking chic Psarou beach, with wonderful views of Psarou and Platis Gialos bays and Naxos island

 

Rhino vegan fast food restaurant on Mykonos

April 15 was grand opening day for Rhino Vegan Street Food, located at 3 Riga Feraiou street in the heart of Mykonos Town.  Rhino’s goal is to promote sustainable and healthy eating; and as the shop says on its social media pages, “We hope to show people that a vegan lifestyle can be lived casually and effortlessly, and it can taste great too!” 

 

Brunello Mykonos Cucina e Vinoteca

Brunello Cucina e Vinoteca will bring “a little bite of Italy” to its restaurant location in the Mykonos My Mall in Ano Vrisi. It opened in May.

 

 

 

ITBeach Mykonos restaurant and beach club

In 2021, the IT Restaurants Group opened IT Mykonos, a party restaurant in the Drafaki district on the edge of Mykonos Town. This year the chain has shifted its focus to Paradise beach, where its new IT Beach Mykonos open fire restaurant, bar and beach club opened on June 10, bringing yet another trendy spot to dine and party to the island’s most famous beach. 

 

a collage of photos of Super Paradise Beach Club on Mykonos

For 2022, Super Paradise Beach Club has undergone a massive transformation that was unveiled on its season opening day, May 1.  The club has been totally redesigned and reimagined into a sophisticated new space, with natural materials, wood, stone and earth tones that reflect a timeless Mykonos aesthetic and a bohemian-chic upmarket style and atmosphere.   

 

A collage of images of Paraj beach club on Mykonos

A new arrival at Super Paradise this summer is Paraj, an upscale beach venue featuring a fine dining Mediterranean restaurant, a bar, a boutique and a beach club. It’s located right beside Super Paradise club, and is operated by the same owners.  Opening day was May 7.

 

 

Kensho Psarou hotel at Psarou beach on Mykonos

Formerly known as Kensho Psarou, the luxury hotel, villa, restaurant, bar and spa complex at Psarou beach has a new owner, and is now called N Hotel Mykonos.  The 31-suite, 5-star property had received extensive praise from hotel, design, travel and lifestyle publications around the world, and those accolades appear destined to continue for N Hotel, whose website is now taking bookings from May 15 onwards.

 

Casa Cook Mykonos hotel

The Casa Cook hotel collection is expanding to Mykonos this year. In June, it will open Casa Cook Mykonos, an “intimate boutique retreat” with 26 luxury rooms and suites on a “village-like” property. Located on the Aleomandra peninsula south of Ornos and Agios Ioannis, the hotel has views towards Delos island.

 

Arocaria Hotel on Mykonos

May 1 was opening day for the brand-new Arocaria Hotel in Pigados (an area that’s walking distance to Mykonos Town, Tourlos beach, the New Port, and Agios Stefanos beach). Arocaria has 16 rooms and suites, some with their own pools, and its amenities include a main swimming pool, bar, restaurant and spa. 

 

New Paradise Beach Resort on Mykonos

A new resort opened at Paradise Beach in late June. The aptly-named New Paradise Beach Resort boasts a beachfront pool venue, seaview rooms with plunge pools, and a restaurant and bar. 

 

O by Myconian Collection Hotel on Mykonos

O by Myconian Collection is a luxury beachfront hotel with 63 rooms and suites set to open at Ornos on June 22.  It’s the 11th property of the Myconian Collection, a chain of 5-star hotels owned and operated by the Daktylides family of Mykonos (some of their other hotels and resorts on the island include the Myconian Ambassador, Imperial, Avaton, Panoptis Escape, Utopia and Myconian Villa Collection).  Myconian O’s facilities will include a spa, the Oasis pool and its beach & pool bar, Obar, and the Baloo fine dining restaurant.

 

 

 

 

Lovia luxury hotel on Mykonos

Lovia Mykonos is a new luxury hotel expected to open in July. Located on a hillside overlooking Mykonos Town, the hotel will boast 21 rooms and suites with private infinity pools and hot tubs, a  spa, gym, billiard hall and open-air cinema.  Facilities include a Mediterranean restaurant and bar, a pool bar, and a breakfast area.

 

 

Once in Mykonos Luxury Resort

Originally slated to open last summer, the 5-star Once in Mykonos Luxury Resort at Ornos finally opened its doors on June 10.  Featuring 59 sumptuous rooms and suites, a spa, Infinity Bar & Restaurant, and its own private chapel, Once in Mykonos is the new incarnation of what was once a palatial private villa owned by a prominent businessman who hosted glamorous parties for “artists, intellectuals and influential people from all over the world.” 

 

Cali Mykonos luxury hotel

Opening this summer on a coastal clifftop near Kalafatis beach, Cali Mykonos is a boutique resort comprised of 40 villas (each with its own private pool), a Mediterranean restaurant and a 110-meter infinity swimming pool. Cali was profiled in an exclusive sneak peak article in Travel + Leisure magazine in the spring, and subsequently was included in lists of the year’s most anticipated new hotel openings published by such high-profile international travel and lifestyle publications as Conde Nast Traveller, Vogue, Luxury Travel Magazine, Forbes, Fodor’s Travel, The Telegraph, Robb Report and more (links to all of the articles can be found in posts on the Cali Mykonos Facebook page). Cali is expected to open in July, and its website’s online reservation page is accepting bookings from July 1 onwards.

 

Yi Hotel on Mykonos

Yi Hotel is a 5-star boutique hotel scheduled to open this year in the Livadakia district near Elia beach

 

 

Mykonos hotels, suites, studios & other places to stay 2022

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Photos of hotels and other accommodations on Mykonos

Photos showing just a few of the myriad accommodations available on Mykonos, from top row (left to right): Villa Konstantin; Rochari Hotel; Mykonos Charming House; Katerina Studios; Olia Hotel; Hotel Tagoo; Amazon Mykonos; Hotel Alkyon; Habitat Mykonos; Agia Anna Studios.

 

Where to stay: For some people, Mykonos can be an overwhelming place to visit in summer. Though it’s a fairly small island, it can seem as busy, bustling, and bursting with energy as any big city.  Selecting a place to stay on Mykonos can be equally intimidating, since there are so many options — everything from airbnbs, rental rooms, studios and apartments, to villas, holiday houses, hotels, full-service luxury resorts, posh suites, and exclusive vacation retreats. 

Repeat Mykonos visitors have their favourite places to stay, or are familiar with alternatives should they wish to try somewhere new. But for people planning a first-ever holiday on Mykonos, the range of choices can leave their heads spinning.

 

 

 

If you’re going to the island this year for the first time, we hope you can use this post as a starting point to assist your search for the holiday accommodations that best suit your tastes and travel budget. We can’t show you all the possible places to stay on Mykonos, since there are thousands, at all price ranges. Instead, we have collected photos of many of the island’s most popular lodgings and the spots we personally like, so you can simply scroll through the top options without having to click your way through multiple online booking sites or look up individual hotel or vacation rental websites. We have provided a link to the website or an official social media page for each place pictured, though, so if you see something that strikes your fancy, you can click for detailed information and photos. 

And here’s a tip to keep in mind when you do find a place that interests you: book direct either through their website’s online reservation system, or by calling or emailing the property. Most Mykonos hotels offer discounts or extras if you book direct with them instead of through a third-party reservation site.

On this page, we have posted snapshot profiles of some of the island’s most dreamy and impressive places to stay, including premier 5-star hotels and resorts and other outstanding or unique accommodations. If you’re going to Mykonos to celebrate a wedding, honeymoon, anniversary or other special occasion, one of these properties might be perfect for you, especially if you’ve got an urge to splurge or pamper yourself in special surroundings.

Page 2 spotlights many of the island’s perennially popular hotels and resorts, along with some new arrivals; while

Page 3 shows a variety of rental apartments, rooms, studios, suites and holiday houses.

This post is still a work in progress … we will be adding more properties regularly, so check back for updates.

 

 

 Premier luxury hotels & accommodations

 

Aerial view of Bonzoe Homes & Villas on Mykonos

Designed to give its guests a luxurious “home away from home” experience, Bonzoe Homes & Villas is a collection of 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom villas and homes that opened last year near Megali Ammos beach on the outskirts of Mykonos Town.  Each of the accommodations has a sea view, and boasts a private heated pool. Bonzoe began its season this year on April 1.

 

Branco Mykonos hotel seen in an image from its social media pages

April 7 was season opening day for Branco Mykonos, a 5-star beachfront hotel and resort at Platis Gialos

 

A suite at Bill & Coo Suites and Lounge hotel on Mykonos

April 8 was season opening day for Bill & Coo Suites and Lounge, situated on the hillside above Megali Ammos beach on the edge of Mykonos Town

 

Amazon Mykonos Hotel at Agios Ioannis on Mykonos

The opulent Amazon Mykonos Resort & Spa at Agios Ioannis opens on April 14

 

The Wild Hotel by Interni, seen in a cinematic video by Vasilis Barahanos, is a stunning retreat of 40 rooms, suites and villas perched on a cliff above a private beach at Loulos near Kalafatis.  The hotel, which boasts a seaview swimming pool and restaurant, has been profiled in and praised by numerous international design, fashion, hotel and lifestyle publications. 

 

Belvedere Mykonos seen in an aerial photo from the hotels social media pages

April 20 is opening day for the iconic Belvedere Hotel in Mykonos Town. “Framed by a verdant garden, the Belvedere Hotel is a universe of transformation: 35 luxury rooms, 9 suites and 1 Mansion unlock endless possibilities, played out against the turquoise backdrop of a mesmerising pool,” says the website for the legendary 5-star hotel.

 

Kalesma Hotel on Mykonos

It was the most-talked-about new hotel on Mykonos in 2021, receiving rave reviews from design, lifestyle and travel publications around the world. It’s now being recommended as one of the top hotels to experience in Greece during 2022. Kalesma Mykonos will open its doors this year on April 21.

 

the pool bar at Mykonos Earth Suites

Mykonos Earth Suites has been getting lots of attention this year from hotel and design publications, and it recently won gold  in the Adult-Only Hotel category at the Greek Hotel of the Year Awards 2022.  Situated above Megali Ammos beach, Mykonos Earth starts its season on April 28.

 

 

 

Aeonic Suites & Spa on Mykonos

New to the island last year, the 5-star Aeonic Suites & Spa near Korfos beach recently was awarded the Silver honour in the All-Suite Hotel category at the Greek Hotel of the Year Awards 2022. Aeonic will start its season on April 29. 

 

View from the pool at Saint John Mykonos Hotel Villas & Spa

April 29 is opening day for Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa, one of the biggest luxury beach resort complexes on Mykonos

 

Aerial view of the Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort

May 1 is opening day for Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort at Agios Ioannis. One of the island’s premier 5-star resorts for two decades, the Grand boasts luxury rooms and suites, the award-winning Althea Spa Retreat, Nama Restaurant, a wine cellar and several bars, a fitness center, tennis court, 500 sq meter saltwater swimming pool, and a beachfront area reserved exclusively for its guests. 

 

Aerial view of Casa del Mar Mykonos Seaside Resort

Situated on the Aleomandra peninsula in southwest Mykonos, Casa del Mar Mykonos Seaside Resort is a complex of 11 spacious, luxury villas. The property includes a spa and wellness center, a gym, and the fine dining  Miramar Cocktail Restaurant. Casa del Mar also boasts easy access to what it describes as “semi-private” Glyfadi beach, a secluded sandy cove visited mainly by families staying at the luxury hotels and villas in the immediate area. Casa del Mar’s opening day this year was May 2.

 

Aerial view of Cavo Tagoo hotel on Mykonos

Popular for its huge sea- and sunset-view infinity swimming pool and bar, and its luxurious cave-style suites with private pools, Cavo Tagoo is the most famous Mykonos hotel on Instagram and social media influencers’ sites. It starts its 2022 season on May 6.

 

Kivotos Hotel at Ornos bay on Mykonos

Noahs Villa at the Kivotos hotel on Mykonos

May 6 is opening day for the Kivotos Mykonos luxury suites, villas and spa/wellness hotel at Ornos (top) and its unique waterfront Noah’s Villa with private pool and beach (bottom)

 

Aerial view of Panoptis Escape luxury villas on Mykonos

May 10 is first day of the season for Panoptis Escape, an exclusive luxury villa retreat perched on a mountaintop overlooking Elia beach

 

A suite at the O by Myconian Collection luxury hotel on Mykonos

O by Myconian Collection is a luxury beachfront hotel with 63 rooms and suites opening at Ornos on May 10.  It’s the 11th property of the Myconian Collection, a chain of 5-star hotels owned and operated by the Daktylides family of Mykonos (some of their other hotels and resorts on the island include the Myconian Ambassador, Imperial, Avaton, Panoptis Escape, Utopia and Myconian Villa Collection).  Myconian O’s facilities will include a spa, the Oasis pool and its beach & pool bar, Obar, and the Baloo fine dining restaurant.

 

Aerial view of the Santa Marina Mykonos luxury resort beachfront

May 6 is opening day for the Santa Marina Resort, a 5-star complex of rooms, suites, villas, spa, restaurants and a private beach on Ornos Bay. The resort is home to two of the island’s signature dining spots, the Buddha-Bar Beach Mykonos and Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton’s first restaurant in the Mediterranean, Mykonos Social.

 

Great scenery from Mykonos abounds in this promotional video for the 5-star Mykonos Riviera Hotel & Spa, located at Tourlos above the New Port. The Riviera will start its season on May 9.

 

Mykonos Theoxenia hotel on Mykonos

One of the island’s most iconic and historic hotels, Mykonos Theoxenia, has been undergoing an extensive and “daring” renovation this year.  The hotel website describes the transformation as follows: “The mythic Mykonos Theoxenia reinvents itself to realign with its timeless heritage and the essence of ultimate hospitality.” Located near the landmark row of windmills in Mykonos Town, the Theoxenia is expected to start its 2022 season in July.

 

 

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Mykonos beach bar and club parties and events in 2022

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PHotos of popular beach clubs on Mykonos

Some of the top beach clubs on Mykonos include, from top left: Alemagou; SantAnna; JackieO’ Beach; Tropicana; Super Paradise beach club; Nammos; Scorpios; Principote Mykonos; Pinky Beach; Solymar; Hippie Fish; Kalua; and Paradise beach club.

 

↓ SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW SPECIAL DJ EVENTS AND PARTIES BEING HELD IN OCTOBER AT MYKONOS BEACH CLUBS AND BARS ↓

 

Our other posts to check out:

♦ To see a list of regular events that take place on Mykonos either every day, or on specific days of the week, click here.

♦ To see parties and events happening at bars, clubs and hotels in Mykonos Town and other non-beach locations of the island, click here.

♦ To see what exciting new bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels have opened on Mykonos this summer, click here.

 

 

 

October events

 

Paradise Beach Club on Mykonos

On October 13, Paradise Beach Club posted this image to its social media pages to announce it is still open.  As of October 22, its daily beach parties were still going strong.

 

 

 

 

Season closing events & announcements

 

Tropicana Beach Club on Mykonos

Tropicana throws its final party of 2022 on Wednesday October 19

 

Nammos beach club on Mykonos

Nammos beach club has wrapped up its season. In social media posts on October 10, the club announced: “See you next year!”

 

Super Paradise Beach Club on Mykonos

DJ Vasilis Koutonias was on the decks for the 2022 season closing party for Super Paradise Beach Club on October 9

 

Kalua beach club on Mykonos

October 6 was closing day for Kalua beach club 

 

the entrance to Pasaji beach club on Mykonos

Monday October 3 was the last day of the season for Pasaji beach bar and restaurant at Ornos

 

Liasti beach club on Mykonos

Liasti beach club’s season drew to a close on October 3

 

Facebook photo of Solymar beach restaurant on Mykonos

October 2 was closing day for Solymar at Kalo Livadi beach

 

aerial view of Principote Mykonos beach club

The season ended on October 2 for Principote at Panormos beach

 

Scorpios beach club on Mykonos

Seven popular music acts performed at Scorpios during its season closing celebration on October 2

 

Hippie Fish beach club at Agios Ioannis beach on Mykonos

The season drew to a close October 2 for Hippie Fish beach club at Agios Ioannis 

 

Alemagou beach club on Mykonos

Alemagou held a bonfire party to celebrate its October 1 season closing

 

JackieO Beach Club on Mykonos

October 1 was the last day of the season for JackieO’ Beach Club

 

SantAnna beach club Mykonos

SantAnna beach club officially closed its doors for the season on September 29

 

Pinky Beach club on Mykonos

Pinky Beach club has announced that Sunday September 25 will be its last beach day of the 2022 season

 

 

Tiki Mykonos beach restaurant and bar

Sunday September 18 was the final day of the season for Tiki Mykonos restaurant and bar at Elia beach 

 

September 14 2022 season closing party announcement for Ftelia Pacha Mykonos beach club

Ftelia Pacha Mykonos beach club will celebrate the end of its first eventful season with a closing party on Wednesday September 14. The DJ lineup includes Nico Rac, Da Mike, Lica and Kat X.

 

ITBeach Mykonos seen in a photo shared on its social media pages

ITBeach Mykonos ended its first season at the beginning of September.  Located at Paradise beach, ITMykonos was a restaurant, bar and beach club venue that hosted high-profile international DJ events during the summer.

 

August 24 Bordello Mykonos closing party announcement

The summer 2022 season of Bordello Mykonos dinner show events at Pinky Beach Club wrapped up with a closing party on Wednesday August 24. The grand finale featured entertainment by Ciro Corcione, DJ Enzo Capocelli and singer Alex Pisa.

 

 

For profiles of the island’s new beach bars and clubs, and to see when your favourite Mykonos beach venues opened for the 2022 season, click on the link below to continue reading on page 2t.

 

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Mykonos bar, nightclub and party events in 2022

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Photos of Mykonos bars and nightclubs

Some of the popular cocktail bars and party venues on Mykonos, from top left: Skandinavian Bar; Semeli Bar; Cavo Paradiso; Negrita; Void club; The Garden of Mykonos; 54 cocktail lounge and sunset bar; JackieO’ Town Bar; 180 Sunset Bar; Lio Mykonos cabaret; Queen of Mykonos.

 

 

This post contains information about parties and DJ events taking place in Mykonos bars, lounges and nightclubs — including world-renowned Cavo Paradiso club — during summer 2022. Scroll down to see events coming up in September.

Page 2 shows bar and club openings that took place earlier in the travel season, during April and May and June, in case you want to see when specific party spots opened their doors in 2022. Season closing parties and announcements are shown further down this page.

For a list of parties and DJ shows at beach bars and beach clubs, see our separate post Mykonos beach bar and club openings and events in 2022.

To see a list of regular events that take place every day, or on specific days of the week, click here.

 

 

September events

 

54 Cocktail Lounge & SkyBar on Mykonos presents The Starletts

Singing duo The Starletts will perform at 54 Cocktail Lounge & SkyBar on both Friday September 16 and Saturday the 17th

 

JackieO Yacht Club Mykonos

JackieO’ Yacht Club concludes its 2022 season with a closing party on Saturday September 17

 

 Italico Mykonos closing party

Italico Mykonos wraps up its first summer on September 17  with a closing party featuring music by DJ Thiago

 

2022.09.17 Cavo Paradiso club on Mykonos presents Twisted

On Saturday September 17, Cavo Paradiso presents Twisted, featuring DJs Junior Pappa, Kiki Botonaki and Two Names

 

September 18 Greek Party at Baos Cocktail Bar on Mykonos

DJ Christos Sarantis will play for the Greek Party at Bao’s Cocktail Bar on Sunday September 18

 

September 18 Pan and Slabo perform at Mykonos High villa party on Mykonos

Pan and Slabo will perform a live session for the Mykonos High villa party on Sunday September 18

 

 

September 19 Asty Mykonos Hotel & Spa presents JoJo and Sax Vibrations

On September 19, Asty Mykonos Hotel & Spa is throwing a Sunset Saxophone Party with music by Jojo and Sax Vibrations

 

2022.09.20 Cavo Paradiso club on Mykonos presents Terry Mark Code and MaPet

Cavo Paradiso starts its 2022 season closing week on Tuesday September 20 with a party featuring DJs Terry, Mark Code and MaPet

 

September 21 Scorpios Mykonos presents Izadora

Izadora performs for the sunset ritual at Scorpios on Wednesday September 21

 

https://www.noemamykonos.com/

Selva Arterial and Diass entertain at Noema on Thursday September 22

 

September 22 Scorpios Mykonos presents Viken Arman

Viken Arman is the featured artist performing at Scorpios on September 22. Lannka also will be performing at this event.

 

September 22 Promenade Mykonos presents Sunset Vibes

DJ Anestis Menexes will be on the decks for the Sunset Vibes party at Promenade on Thursday September 22

 

2022.09.22 Cavo Paradiso club on Mykonos presents Argie Heavy G and Zyrak

Argie, Heavy G and Zyrak are in the DJ lineup for the September 22 party at Cavo Paradiso

 

Lefteris Grill House on Mykonos

Lefteris Grill House at Ornos is holding a Greek night with bouzouki music and dancing on Friday September 23

 

September 23 DJ event at Pere Ubu Mykonos

On Friday September 23, Pere Ubu Mykonos restaurant at Kalesma Hotel is holding another party with music by DJs Yannis Mitsokapas and Evridiki from Zucca Radio

 

September 23 Noema Mykonos presents Valeron

Valeron is the featured entertainer at Noema on September 23

 

September 24 live Greek music entertainment at Lovemeze restaurant on Mykonos

On Saturday September 24, Lovemeze restaurant presents an evening of live Greek music entertainment

 

2022.09.24 Cavo Paradiso club on Mykonos presents Junior Pappa and Fused

Cavo Paradiso holds its 2022 season closing party on Saturday September 24 with music by DJs Junior Pappa and FUSED

 

 

 

2022 season closing events and announcements

 

Noema Mykonos restaurant entrance

Noema Mykonos will wrap up its 2022 season on September 24 with a closing party featuring entertainment by Selva Arterial and DJ Little D

 

JackieO Yacht Club Mykonos

JackieO’ Yacht Club concludes its 2022 season with a closing party on Saturday September 17

 

 Italico Mykonos closing party

Italico Mykonos wraps up its first summer on September 17  with a closing party featuring music by DJ Thiago

 

Tabu Mykonos nightclub seen in a photo from its social media pages

Tabu Mykonos nightclub topped off its first season with its final parties of 2022 on Friday September 3 and Saturday September 4

 

September 3 season closing party announcement for Void nightclub on Mykonos

Void club holds its 2022 season closing party on Saturday September 3, with music by Agents of Time and Nick Jojo.

 

August 28 Billionaire Mykonos season closing party

It only opened in mid-July, but the Billionaire Mykonos dinner show and after party nightclub ends its first season on Sunday August 28 with a spectacular goodbye extravaganza. The club promises to return in 2023.

 

August 27 Toy Room Mykonos 2022 season closing party

Toy Room concluded its 2022 season with a closing party on August 27

 

The Sanctuary Mykonos 2022 season closing party announcement

Saturday August 27 was closing day for The Sanctuary Mykonos.  A new arrival that opened at Ftelia the first weekend of June 2022, The Sanctuary included a restaurant and open-air entertainment area that hosted DJs, live music events, and soul-soothing mindfulness rituals and healing programs. In August, The Sanctuary added a clothing-optional beach area with sunbeds. 

 

August 26 Joker Mykonos season closing party

August 26 was the closing party date for the Joker Mykonos series of dinner show parties at Alesta restaurant. The entertainment lineup for the final event of 2022 includes DJ Gio Brunetti and singers Jacopo Lilli and Arianna Leggeri.

 

August 24 Bordello Mykonos closing party announcement

The summer 2022 season of Bordello Mykonos dinner show events at Pinky Beach Club wrapped up with a closing party on Wednesday August 24. The grand finale featured entertainment by Ciro Corcione, DJ Enzo Capocelli and singer Alex Pisa.

 

 

 

To see bar and club openings  that took place during April and May, click on the link below to continue reading on page 2

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Travel writers explore Crete’s food, culture, hikes, history, hotels & landscapes

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Agia Roumeli village in Crete

Knossos Palace on Crete

Top photo: Mountains rise behind Agia Roumeli, a seaside village at the foot of the Samaria Gorge. Bottom picture: an artist sketches at the Minoan-era Palace of Knossos near Heraklion. The gorge and palace are two of the top visitor attractions on Crete, the biggest island in Greece. 

 

Big destination: If you’ve got your sights set on a holiday in the Greek Islands this year, but find yourself struggling to choose from the more than 200 possible destinations you could visit, keep this in mind: you can’t go wrong picking Crete.

It’s the biggest island in Greece — so big, in fact, that seasoned travellers often describe it as being more like its own country than just one of Greece’s many islands. Repeat visitors say it can take years, if not decades, to get to know it intimately. And because of its vast size, they’ll tell you that Crete is best suited for extended holidays of at least one or two weeks’ duration or, if possible, even longer (and the more time available, the better). But Crete is well worth seeing even if you can get there for only a short once-in-a-lifetime visit.

 

 

 

Crete has everything you might imagine when you think of Greece: spectacular scenery; impressive landscapes with mountains, valleys, plateaus and gorges; gorgeous beaches; exciting cities, buzzing resort towns and quiet villages; fascinating culture, galleries, museums and historic sites;  fabulous food and drink; plus activities, sports and entertainment for people of every age and lifestyle.

With so much to offer, it’s shouldn’t come as a surprise that Crete is one of the top travel destinations in Greece, drawing 5 million visitors in 2018. Numbers dropped during the Covid 19 pandemic, of course, but the island appears on track for a big rebound this year. In fact, Crete is very much on peoples’ minds — in the recently-announced Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards for 2022, Crete clinched Top 5 rankings in two major categories:

♦ 3rd place in the World list of Popular Destinations; and

♦ 5th spot in the World’s Top Destinations for Sun Seekers

Print and social media publications have also been casting an eye on Crete, profiling the island in feature stories, travel guides and trip reports, and hotel and resort reviews.

In this post, we have rounded up links to several Crete-focussed reports that have been published since the beginning of 2022, along with some of our favourite travel articles and hotel reviews from the summer and fall of last year.  They’re all interesting and informative reads, and could prove helpful for your personal trip planning if you’ve already decided to visit Crete. If you’re still unsure about where you’d like to spend your holiday in Greece, some of the reads might be all it takes to convince you that Crete is the right place to go.

 

TravelAwaits article My favourite Greek island to visit in winter

Even though spring is fast approaching, it’s not too soon to start thinking about holiday plans for next winter — especially if you can’t stand the heat, crowds and higher prices of summer travel, and prefer to go somewhere in the off-season.

And while a winter vacation on a Greek island might not be something you would ordinarily consider, writer Rebecca Hall’s latest article for TravelAwaits might convince you to give Crete — “the southernmost island in Europe” — some serious thought.

In My favourite Greek island to visit during winter, published on February 26, she notes while Crete can be cooler, cloudier and quiet in winter, daytime temperatures are still comfortable — and the island “offers plenty to do.”

Rebecca spotlights cities worth seeing, such as Chania and Rethymno, and describes major sites, attractions and activities that travellers can enjoy. She also recommends appropriate clothing to pack for winter holidays on the island.

 

Travel + Leisure magazine article Greek Revival

Photographer Thomas Gravanis captured this view of the city of Chania for the Greek Revival article in Travel + Leisure magazine

 

The March 2022 edition of Travel + Leisure has just been released, and Crete’s second-biggest city, Chania, is the subject of one of its feature stories.

Written by Gisela Williams, Greek Revival profiles some of the culture- and travel-oriented businesses recently established in Chania by “a growing group of young entrepreneurs who are breathing new life into their hometown.”

“For decades, the destination has been driven by mass-market tourism,” Williams observes, “but this energetic generation is bringing a more sophisticated type of traveler, luring them with restaurants, hotels, and art galleries that blend Chania’s rich history with a fresh outlook.”

At the moment, the article can be read only in the print issue as well as digital versions for subscribers, and through online magazine services including Apple News. It should be available on the T+ L website soon.

 

 

 

The Guardian article Walk like a Minoan

 

In Walk like a Minoan: Hiking and Foraging in eastern Crete, published by The Guardian in January, writer Heidi Fuller-Love recounts a December trip she undertook to “heal my soul — for a weekend, at least — by hiking through untamed landscapes and foraging for food in one of the wildest corners of Crete.”

The first day of Heidi’s 35 km trek included a hike along the Zakros Gorge (also known as the Gorge of the Dead), a lunch stop at Pano Zakros village, a walk across the Mavros Kambos plateau, a dinnertime pass through the long-abandoned settlement of Skalia, and an overnight stay in an apartment at Ziros village. Her second day of walking took her through the tiny mountain village of Armeni then down a long, winding dirt road to the end point of her journey, a hamlet called Vori, where she spent the night camped out under a sky full of stars.

Even if a hiking trip with an overnight campout isn’t your cup of tea, we think you’ll enjoy joining Heidi as she describes passing through parts of Crete most tourists won’t ever see — and experiencing a brief but blissful break from “the world of Covid.”

 

Crete article in Luxury Lifestyle Magazine

 

In the Luxury Lifestyle Magazine article Visit Crete for a glimpse into the Grecian way of life, published in mid-December, writer Rebecca Underwood provides an overview of Crete’s “most popular sites for intrepid explorers,” including:

♦ the ruins of the Palace of Knossos near the island’s capital city, Heraklion;

♦ the Samaria Gorge, which attracts more than 130,000 hikers annually;

♦ Venetian- and Ottoman-era landmarks in the picturesque town of Rethymno;

♦  the Arkadi Monastery in the foothills of Mount Psiloritis; and

♦ the cliffs and beach at Matala on the southern coast

 

Conde Nast Traveler magazine article on Crete

 

Rachel Howard has written about Greece travel topics for some of the world’s top magazines and newspapers. She has travelled extensively in Greece, and has been visiting Crete since the early 1990s. In The lesser-known side of Crete, published by Conde Nast Traveler magazine last August, she describes highlights of a return visit to the Chania prefecture — the western quarter of Crete that includes the city of Chania to the north and the rugged Sfakia region on the island’s southern coast.

“The legacy of Roman, Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman rule ripples through the fortified city of Chania, but there’s a contemporary edge to this spirited town of merchants and students. Over the past decade, a new generation of ambitious islanders have returned to their roots after studying and working abroad to refresh tired family businesses, renovate historic properties, and set up sustainably minded ventures,” she notes. 

Rachel meets with several of those entrepreneurs, and describes a visit to the ancient citadel of Polirinia, a hike through a miniature canyon, a swim at Kedrasos beach, and a lunch at a taverna at the foot of the Aradena gorge.

 

5 famous Greek Islands article in The Guardian

 

In Peace, antiquity and beaches: a guide to five famous Greek islands, one of which is Crete, writer John Malathronas suggests how to find authentic experiences away from the tourist “hotspots.”

Among John’s recommendations are a visit to the palm forest at Vai, a number of beaches that would be perfect for a lazy day at the seaside, two gorges that avid hikers would enjoy walking, several sites with Minoan ruins that history buffs won’t want to miss, and the cave that is the birthplace of the mythological Greek god, Zeus.

John also offers suggestions on places to eat, drink and stay.

 

 

 

Profiles & reviews of luxury hotels and resorts on Crete

 

Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa

 This private plunge pool terrace at Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa has an impressive view toward historic Spinalonga island. The resort, which bills itself as “the most elegant design hotel” in the Elounda area of Crete, has been written up recently in several influential publications.

 

Since Crete boasts an extensive array of holiday lodging, particularly in terms of luxury and design-oriented resorts,  writers regularly flock to the island to compile hotel profiles and reviews for leading travel, lifestyle and design publications.

If you’re interested in high-end hotel accommodations for your trip to Crete, these recent articles might give you ideas on where to stay:

♦ The Greek Revival article in Travel + Leisure magazine, which we spoke about earlier in this post, describes the Metohi Kindelis guesthouse and Ammos Hotel, both at Chania. Those two places, along with Cabanon Concrete Retreat near the village of Dermitziana, also were singled out in the Conde Nast Traveler article on “the lesser-known side of Crete.”

♦ In January 2022, four resorts — Acro Suites at Agia Pelagia, Daios Cove Luxury Resort & Villas at Agios Nikolaos, Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa at Elounda and The Syntopia Hotel at Rethymno — were ranked as The best hotels in Crete for 2022 if you’re looking for an upscale Greek island escape, in a Red magazine article by Ruth Doherty;

Galaxy Hotel in Heraklion was recommended in Luxury Lifestyle Magazine‘s December overview of  Crete;

♦ In December’s Domes of Elounda, Crete, Greece, Suitcase Magazine writer India Dowley takes a close look at “this vast-but-manages-to-feel-intimate hotel”;

♦ Nichola Murphy paid a visit to the Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa last fall and wrote about her experience in the Hello! Magazine story Looking for end of season sun? Crete’s luxurious resort is a must-try;

♦ Ellie Smith wrote Review: Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa, Crete for Country & Town House

♦ The Syntopia Hotel at Rethymno was the focus of Dennis Lye’s report How checking in to this Cretan hotel totally transformed my post-lockdown mental health, published last September in the U.K. edition of Glamour magazine;

♦ In their See, luxury can be fun! piece for Gay Times in September, Simon Gage and Stephen Unwin explain “why Crete’s Nana Princess is ticking all the right boxes” and

♦ Last May, Luxury Travel Magazine looked at Numo Ierapetra, Crete – A laidback resort with a grown-up vibe

 

The Syntopia hotel on Crete

Above: The swimming pool at The Syntopia Hotel in Rethymno; Below: an aerial view of some of the clifftop suites and private plunge pools at Acro Suites at Agia Pelagia.

Acro Suites on Crete

 

 

 

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