Mykonos visitors can choose from a vast array of holiday accommodations, ranging from cozy studios to spacious designer villas and luxurious hotel suites with private pools. Here’s a look at several more of the island’s impressive new lodging options for 2021.
Some of the beautiful new bedrooms where guests will enjoy resting and recharging after a day at a beach or a late night in the island’s legendary bars and clubs. Top row: Agrari Black Villas (left), Soleila villa, and The Elaia House. Second row: Once in Mykonos (left), Noima, and UBUD. Third row: Mykonos Euphoria Suites (left) and Kalesma. Bottom: Mykonos Earth Suites.
Luxury of choice: Each year dozens of new accommodations open on Mykonos to sleep the steadily-rising numbers of tourists who flock to the island for spring, summer and fall vacations. In New hotels, suites and villas on Mykonos, we profiled 10 such newcomers, including Airbnb studio rentals, luxury hotels and vacation villas. Here, in Part 2, we shine the spotlight on 7 more properties that have already opened or will be opening their doors in 2021.
They include:
♦ Agrari Black Villas
♦ Noima Luxury Suites
♦ Bonzoe Homes & Villas
♦ Bill & Coo Villas
♦ Habitat Mykonos All-Suite Hotel
♦ UBUD Mykonos
♦ Panormos Bay Luxury Suites
Please click on the link below to see the profiles on page 2 of this post.
From an impressive airport overhaul to bars, clubs, cafes, restaurants, hotels and villas, there are lots of new things for visitors to discover on Mykonos this summer. Here’s a sneak peak at some.
A 4-year, €25 million project to expand and improve Mykonos International Airport (JMK) was completed recently, just in time for the 2021 tourist season. The terminal building has been completely overhauled and enlarged, and will impress with its striking modern look based on traditional Cycladic island design elements. The terminal now boasts a larger arrivals area, more departure gates, a new baggage handling system, plus new shops, restaurants, washrooms and VIP lounges. Upgrades also were made to the runway, ramps, parking, and terminal curbfront. The terminal entrance is shown in this photo from airport operator Fraport Greece.
Noteworthy newcomers: Spring has sprung, and pandemic-weary people around the world are wondering whether they will get a summer vacation this year. Millions are hoping to holiday in Greece, and many have set Mykonos in their sights. As the most exuberant, exciting and hedonistic island in Greece, it’s quite possibly the ideal holiday destination for anyone looking to let loose and experience unbridled joy, freedom and self-indulgence — something most of us have only been able to dream about during the lockdowns and quarantines that have kept us cooped up at home for much of the past 12 months.
It’s no wonder Mykonos maintains such immense appeal for people desperate to escape the mind-numbing tedium and disruption of the Covid-19 crisis. While the island’s wind-whipped natural landscapes are barren, arid and austere, they provide the perfect backdrop for the bliss and pleasure-focussed activities and attractions that have made Mykonos one of the most desirable summer holiday destinations in the Mediterranean.
Crisp white sugar-cube houses, hotels and villas gleam in the sunshine on rugged, rocky hills. Sparkling turquoise seas splash against craggy coastlines ringed with secluded coves, scenic bays and crescent-shaped sandy beaches. A magical atmosphere pervades in Mykonos Town, where glamorous fashion boutiques, exquisite art galleries, stylish cocktail bars, elegant restaurants, budget-friendly fast food joints and delightful dessert shops sit nestled inside a mesmerizing maze of cobbled lanes and bougainvillea-draped courtyards. Of course, there’s also the allure of the dynamic dance bars, bustling beach clubs and the electrifying late-night party places that have made Mykonos legendary for robust dusk-to-dawn revelry and unabashed adult entertainment. The island’s long-established reputation as a summer playground for the world’s beautiful, rich and famous only adds to its cachet as a great place to get away from the everyday grind back home.
Vacation rental villas are in high demand on Mykonos. This photo shows Soleila (left) and Ethereal, new “twin” villas on a sun-soaked hillside at Kalafatis.
This image shows the Kalesma luxury hotel in the Aleomandra area of Mykonos. Several leading travel and lifestyle publications have ranked Kalesma among the world’s top new hotels for 2021.
Beaches, food, drink and fun are among the top features that draw crowds to Mykonos. Paradise, Super Paradise, Platis Gialos, Psarou and Paraga are among the island’s most iconic beaches, but dozens more — from hidden coves to quiet, pristine shorelines and busy golden-sand strips fully organized with bars, restaurants and water sports amenities — mean there’s a sensational seaside to suit any traveller’s lifestyle, needs and preferences . First-time and repeat visitors also come to dine at the superb restaurants and dance at the notorious party venues they have been hearing about for years. Paradise Beach Club, Tropicana, Cavo Paradiso, Skandinavian Bar, Astra, Caprice, Nammos, Remezzo, Katrin, Kastro and Kiki’s are perenially-popular tourist hangouts, but visitors also throng to newer hotspots that regularly feature in their Instagram and Facebook photo feeds, including Scorpios, Alemagou, Principote, 180 Sunset Bar, JackieO’ Beach Club, Lohan Beach House, Buddha-Bar Beach, M-eating, and more.
Five much-anticipated additions to the Mykonos dining and nightlife scenes in 2021 are the weekly Joker Mykonos dinner and party events; the Bordello Mykonos series of Italian Dinner Show parties, the Lío live cabaret restaurant and club, Nōema restaurant, and the Jason Atherton restaurant Mykonos Social.
Ensuring that Mykonos remains vibrant and enticing is the bevy of brand-new tourist-oriented enterprises and attractions that debut on the island every year. A building boom that began in the mid-2010s has added thousands of hotel and villa beds to the island’s accommodation capacity for overnight guests, and is still going strong with dozens more villas, hotels and rental homes currently under construction and in early stages of development. This has led to corresponding growth in travel-related hospitality and service businesses — retail shops; drinking and dining establishments; personal health, beauty & spa services; transportation and tour providers; and so on. Each new tourist season brings even more things to do and places to discover — an impressive feat for a small island that already boasts an incredibly wide range of options for rest, relaxation and entertainment.
That trend continues in 2021, despite the tremendous upheaval and uncertainty that the Covid-19 pandemic has inflicted on the international travel industry. Mykonos is set to welcome dozens of new establishments whose owners and management expect a good summer for the island’s tourism industry, and see an even brighter future for holiday travel in the forecast.
Among the fabulous accommodations opening on Mykonos this summer are the Destino Pacha hotel at Agios Stefanos (top), new 1-bedroom villas at Bill & Coo Hotel in Mykonos Town; Noima Mykonos Luxury Suites at Agios Ioannis; Aeonic Suites & Spa near Korfos beach; and Agrari Black Villas near Agrari beach.
Food, drink and entertainment newcomers set to make waves on Mykonos this year include live dinner show clubs, elegant restaurants and cocktail bars, cafes and bakeries, and specialty food shops. You can see some of them in our post Hot new places on Mykonos in 2021.
This summer’s new accommodations range from studio apartments to luxury hotels, lavishly-appointed suites, and spacious private villas. You can see them in our post New hotels, suites & villas on Mykonos.
Mykonos: Yours for life is a scenic 1-minute video that will instantly put you in a Mykonos frame of mind. It’s from a joint travel promotion campaign by Marketing Greece and the Municipality of Mykonos.
*Photo credit notes: The images, photos and videos included in this post were sourced from websites and/or social media posts published by the respective businesses.
Now open: If you’re a regular Mykonos visitor, this post will show if & when your favourite bars, beach clubs, nightclubs, hotels and restaurants have opened for the 2021 tourist season.
If you’re planning to visit Mykonos for the first time, this post will give you a good idea of what to expect in terms of things to see and do on the island, plus places to stay.
Scroll down this page to see information about daily, weekly and other regular parties and events that take place on the island.
Page 2 of this post contains a list of bars, restaurants, hotels, villas and attractions that opened for the tourist season during late winter, April, and May.
Page 3 shows places that opened during June, as well as parties and events that took place that month.
NOTE: We have moved our listings of July and August parties and events into separate, new posts.
Mykonos Brewing Company is once again welcoming visitors to its taproom to taste its selection of locally-produced craft brews. The taproom is open Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Nomad Mykonos officially opened its hideaway of bohemian luxury suites at Kalo Livadi on July 21
Velanos Mykonos is a brand-new restaurant that has just opened today (Tuesday July 20). It’s situated next to the National Bank near the airport, and is a great spot for breakfast and brunch, as well as sunset cocktails. The restaurant is open from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m.
Tuesday July 20 is opening day for Drunk Monkey, a take-away cocktail bar in Mykonos Town returning for its second season of operations
July 26 is opening night for Thalami Bar at Agia Moni Square
The Italian Dinner Show event, Bordello Mykonos, will hold its opening party on Wednesday July 28 at Pinky Beach Club
Now open at Ftelia beach, Farma House is a cool new open-air concept club where visitors can dine and drink cocktails at sunset, then dance into the late hours as DJs play “the experimental sound of Mykonos.” It opens at 7 p.m. daily.
July 1 was opening day for The Garden of Mykonos, a relaxing hilltop lounge and bar where guests can enjoy cocktails, appetizers, snacks and desserts with fabulous sea and sunset views and good music
In early July, Sweat Vacay resumed its group yoga, pilates and cycling exercise classes at The Garden of Mykonos, along with other locations on the island. Check their website for class schedules, locations and prices.
One of the most-anticipated new nightlife venues on Mykonos held its grand opening July 9. The Lío Mykonos cabaret restaurant and nightclub brings the unique Lio Ibiza brand of live music and dance entertainment to an open-air dining and lounge courtyard at 6 Enoplon Dinameon Street in Mykonos Town.
July 16 is opening night for Void nightclub
Toy Room Club Mykonos now starts its season on Friday July 16 — one day later than the club had previously announced
Sanctus club also will be holding its opening party on Friday July 16, also one day later than initially scheduled. This season, you’ll find the club in a new location — above Mosaic restaurant at Manto Square.
Daily and weekly parties & events
Again this summer, Tropicana club at Paradise beach will be holding a party every day, starting at 4.30 p.m.
New this summer at Zuma restaurant — a weekend champagne brunch offering Zuma’s amazing Japanese izakaya along with music from the restaurant’s resident DJ. You’ll find Zuma in the Cavo Tagoo luxury hotel near the Mykonos Old Port.
Every Sunday night there’s a Greek-themed party at Hippie Fish beach club and restaurant at Agios Ioannis beach that promises a smashing good time for all. The “It’s all Greek to me” parties start at 9 p.m.
DJ Thodoris Ntontos will be playing at Cosi bar for summer 2021
Singer, songwriter & performer Shaya Hansen returns to Kalua for summer 2021. She will be appearing at the club Tuesdays through Sundays starting at 4 p.m.
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Alemagou beach club will present these DJ and music events from July 2 to 9
Just announced: German DJ & electronic music producer Sven Väth will play for the Phos parties at SantAnna beach club on Fridays, from July 16 to August 13. The parties will begin in late afternoon and continue until midnight.
One of the most popular DJs on Mykonos, Valeron will be making weekly appearances for live shows at Noema restaurant and Scorpios beach club during July. You can catch his show at Noema on Fridays (July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30), and see him at Scorpios on Saturdays (July 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31).
Please click on the link below to turn to page 2, where you can see which places are already open for the summer 2021 tourist season.
Agoria will be on the decks at Sanctus on Saturday July 31
Marco Carola turns the music on at Destino Pacha Mykonos on Saturday July 31, starting at 4 p.m.
Marco Carola performs his second show of the day on July 31, with an appearance at Void
Valeron & Band perform for the Sunset Ritual at Scorpios on Saturday July 31
On Saturday July 31, Mykonos Art Festival presents July 31 2021 Mykonos Art Festival presents Savina Yannatou and Primavera En Salonico in concert. The event promises an evening of “songs from the Mediterranean, the Balkans and Greece are woven together into a varied musical carpet, combining east and west, contemporary and traditional as well as free improvisation.” The concert takes place at Lakka Theatre, and admission is free.
Benny Benassi is featured performer at Cavo on Saturday July 31. DJs Rivaz and Terry also will be playing sets for this event.
DJ Ludo Erre will play a set during the Bordello Mykonos midsummer party being held Saturday July 31 at Pinky Beach Club
What’s on: Planning to visit Mykonos during July, and wondering what sorts of parties and cultural events will be taking place on the island while you’re there?
Check out page 2 for a list of daily, weekly and regular events.
Page 3 shows events that took place from July 1 to 30, including bar and beach club parties, DJ sets, special dinner party events, live singer performances, art shows, and more.
This is the calendar of DJ appearances scheduled for July 26 to August 1 at IT Mykonos restaurant and bar
This is the schedule of DJ acts appearing at Cavo Paradiso club from Monday July 26 to Sunday August 1
Sanctus club reopens on July 26, and has released this DJ lineup for the week of July 26 to 31
This is the program of concerts and theatrical performances being held in July as part of the Mykonos Art Festival 2021. All the events are free to attend at the locations specified for each event.
Click on the link below to see the day-to-day list of events happening on Mykonos during July.
What was on: The 2021 tourist season ended in October for most hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants and shops on Mykonos, but that didn’t mean the island shut down completely for the winter.
More than two dozen restaurants and bars that serve local residents year-round kept their doors open, as usual, while numerous places that normally close by mid-October extended their seasons into November as business from late-season island visitors remained steady. A few brand-new hangouts even opened up in the post-season to offer fresh options for drinking and dining after the tourist-oriented venues shuttered for the winter. Newcomers Elaion, La Barran, Mosaic, Paloma, Promenade and Velanos were among the bars and restaurants that stayed open into December.
Gala New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations had been scheduled for several bars and restaurants, but those events were cancelled when the Greek government imposed operating hour restrictions and banned the playing of music — a year-end attempt to control the skyrocketing number of Covid cases caused by the Omicron variant.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, 2021 turned out to be a surprisingly good year for Mykonos tourism, producing a huge bump in visitor traffic compared to 2020. Traffic jams, sold-out hotels, and crowded bars and restaurants during August and September, in particular, gave the impression things were almost back to normal, while October and November saw more tourist arrivals than usual for those months.
Although Omicron put a damper on year-end festivities, tourist-related businesses on Mykonos are optimistic about 2022, since advance bookings for hotels have been strong, as has interest in the island on social media.
What will happen tourism-wise in 2022 is anybody’s guess, but if infections caused by Omicron peak in winter, and the pandemic begins to burn out by spring, you can expect a robust travel season on Mykonos. The island will be ready for it. Dozens of exciting new hotels, restaurants and bars opened in 2021 (see our post Mykonos restaurants, bars, clubs & more: What’s new for 2021 for details), while more are in the works for 2022.
Unfortunately for many repeat visitors, however, several popular restaurants and bars won’t be returning in 2022, including Avra, Babylon, Central and Joanna’s Nikos Place (see more on that below).
If you have never been to Mykonos before, but think you might finally make it there in 2022, this post will show you the types of events that take place on the island each summer. Our listing of parties, DJ appearances and cultural events held from August to December 2021 will give you an idea of what you can expect if you visit during any of those same months in 2022.
Major autumn closing and opening announcements
Joanna’s Nikos Place, the much-beloved beach taverna at Megali Ammos, is closing its doors permanently. In an announcement shared on social media December 9, owner Joanna Daktilidi broke the news that she is ceasing operations of the taverna after a 30-year run.
On Saturday December 4, Madoupas Meats opened a new shop in Argyraina — their third outlet on Mykonos — giving visitors another place to stock up on food for their villas, Airbnbs orself-catering holiday accommodation rentals
2021 has been the final season of operations for Babylon Bar. In a social media post on November 29, club owners Jose & Stratos announced that, “after 13 years full of happiness, pride, and entertainment, the time has come for Babylon Mykonos to put an end to a ride that will always be in our hearts for years to come.”
It’s the end of an era: The elegant fine dining Avra Restaurant is closing permanently after 22 years of operations. Owners Nikos Iliopoulos and Sarah Pearson announced the news in a November 23 post on Facebook, stating: “we have felt blessed to be part of an incredible magical Mykonos era that many of us feel is unfortunately now fading fast. We hope we have made everlasting memories for your times in Mykonos and… well… perhaps … we may be back to make more.”
5×5 Multiplex is a new restaurant that opened in Ornos in mid-November. Open every day except Monday from 7 a.m. until midnight, it’s a casual go-to spot for coffee, breakfast, brunch, lunch, crepes, waffles, burgers, souvlaki and more. You’ll find it across from the athletic stadium along the road from Korfos to Agios Ioannis
Mykonos residents and visitors have a new place to dine out during the winter — the Italian restaurant, pizzeria and bar Elaion Mykonos has just opened in the Vougli district of the island (in the premises formerly occupied by Taverna Kandavlos). If the name Elaion sounds familiar, that’s because the restaurant is owned by the same people who operate the Elaion restaurant on nearby Syros island. According to the Elaion Mykonos page on Facebook, the restaurant is open daily from 2 p.m. until midnight.
There’s a new place to enjoy a good Greek food meal in the heart of Mykonos Town this winter. La Taverna Greka moved into the Mother Earth restaurant space in late summer, and will be offering traditional Greek dishes at reasonable prices from 12:30 in the afternoon until 10:30 at night. You’ll find the taverna tucked into a lane beside the ALIS fashion boutique on Mitropoleos street.
Rizes Folklore Farmstead originally had announced its end of season closure on October 31, but subsequently decided to open its restaurant on weekends throughout the winter “to keep you company with Mykonian flavors.” Rizes will operate on Fridays from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m., and Sundays also from noon to 9 p.m.
Mykonos Brewing Company, makers of the island’s Mikonu craft beers, will be open on weekdays during the winter. From November through March, the brewery will be open to visitors on Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bistrot De Nicolas, located on the highway to Ano Mera, will be open throughout the winter. Its days and hours of operation will be Thursday to Saturday from 6 p.m. until midnight, and Sundays from 1.30 p..m. to 8.30 p.m. The restaurant recommends booking reservations by telephone at: +30 22890 71361
Mosaic MSC restaurant at Manto Square in Mykonos Town launched its winter season on Friday October 15
Central cafe has announced that, after 8 years of operations, it will soon be closing permanently. The news — posted on social media on November 16 — said the restaurant will remain open “until the holidays and somewhere there before Christmas to say goodbye.”
Autumn Cultural Events
“The Island that seduced the world — Mykonos in the 50s” is an exhibition of images by noted American photographer Robert McCabe, who first visited Greece in the 1950s and captured portraits of local residents and scenery on subsequent multiple trips to the island and elsewhere in the Aegean. Exhibits of McCabe’s fascinating photos are on display in two places: from August 1 to October 31 at the archaeological site in the Mykonos Kastro (next to the iconic Paraportiani Church), and from August 4 to December 31 at the Mykonos Archaeological Museum above the Old Port.
Please click on a link below to see events that took place during specific months of 2021.
Page 2 lists events, openings and season closings during November and December.
Page 3 shows events and season closings during September and October.
Page 4 lists parties and cultural events that happened in August.
Videographer Nikos Outdoor travelled to the Eastern Aegean island of Ikaria at the beginning of the summer — before Greece had ended its Covid-19 lockdown and reopened its borders to international tourism — and enjoyed what he described as “probably the most unique trip ever!”
“We had the whole island literally for our own as the the usually crowded places were missing! We took advantage of the closed borders and shot some magnificent scenery that even during winter it is difficult to catch them so pure!” he says in notes accompanying his drone video, which was published on YouTube July 10.
The 5-minute film features amazing aerial views of the island’s inimitable scenery, including interior and coastal landscapes, beaches, villages and sunsets.
At his Greece Summer 2020 press conference on Santorini on June 13, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis formally announced Greece’s re-opening for summer tourism. Impressive backdrops for the international media event included views of the island’s clifftop village of Imerovigli (top photo) and a glorious sunset over nearby islands (bottom). Greece went into lockdown in late March to protect its citizens from the Covid-19 pandemic, and on June 15 began reopening its borders to tourism.
By mygreecetravelblog.com
“Greek tourism is back.”
Those words — spoken by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during an international press conference on Santorini island June 13 — must have been sweet music to the ears of people around the world who have been hoping to holiday in Greece this summer.
Please click on the link below to continue reading on page 2 of this post.
If you ever get the chance to visit Samos, here’s a few sage words of advice: Stay for at least a week, and rent a car for either all or part of your holiday. You’ll need that time, and access to a vehicle, to see even just a few of the fabulous sites and scenic locations spotlighted in the video This is my island, This is Samos by Michali’s Films.
We spent 4.5 days on Samos during an island-hopping holiday through the Dodecanese and East Aegean regions of Greece exactly 10 years ago this month. (How time flies — we can’t believe a full decade has passed since that vacation).
We knew when we arrived that we would only be scraping the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, by basing ourselves in and near the island’s capital city, Vathy, and not having a car at our disposal. Samos is a big island, as evidenced by the fact it boasts three ferry ports and an airport; spellbinding mountain, valley and coastal landscapes; dozens of beautiful beaches; charming villages, churches and monasteries; noteworthy historic places and monuments (including UNESCO World Heritage Sites); vineyards that produce the island’s world-famous muscat wine; scores of tavernas serving delicious local and traditional Greek cuisine; and much much more.
We weren’t stuck in Vathy the whole time, though, since we did rent mountain bikes for a day. That gave us the opportunity to take a fun ride to and from the picturesque seaside village of Kokkari, and to explore the countryside north of the city.
Still, we missed out on seeing so much, as This is my island, This is Samos made clear.
The 4-minute film shows dozens of remarkable places all over the island, and captures impressive aerial views of:
♦ the villages of Platanos, Kokkari, Pyrgos, Miloi, Irion, Pythagorion (and its striking Blue Street), Mesokampos, Posidonio, Mitilinii and Ormos Marathokampou;
♦ the beaches Klima, Potami, Mourtia, Mykali, Proteas, Psili Ammos, Megalo Seitani, Klima, Glikoriza, Tarsanas, Remataki, Livadaki, Limnionas, and Balos;
♦ the Temple of Hera, Ancient Walls of Samos, an ancient observatory, and other historic sites;
♦ the 2,500-year-old olive tree “Eva” at Miloi village;
♦ numerous churches and holy sites including the Church of Profitis Ilias, Agias Triada Monastery, Agios Nikolaos Church at Pandroso village, Panagia Church at Mitilinii village, the Church of Panagia Eleousa, the Church of Profitis Ilias near Spatharaioi village, the Church of Agiris Chrysostomos of Smyrna at Mykali, the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, Agios Nikolaos Church at Posidonio, the Monastery of Panagia Spiliani at Pythagoreion, and Agios Nikolaos Church at Potami;
♦ a flamboyance of flamingos at Alikes Mykali;
♦ the islands of Samiopoula, Karavopetra, Agios Nikolaos, Diaporti and Vareloudi;
♦ Mount Kerkis and the Profitis Ilias mountain region;
♦ the statue of Pythagoras at Pythagoreion village;
♦ tour boats, and more.
If you’d like to see more of the island after taking this aerial tour, you’ll find nearly 20 other Samos videos to watch on the Michali’s Films channel on YouTube.
