-Europe.Greece.Mykonos-
When the weather is hot, in the summertime, the beach fills up with parties late into the night. Mykonos became known as the party island for jet-setters and the super rich and famous. There is an endless supply of luxurious hotels and villas, as well as bars and restaurants here. Many of them with a heavy price tag. Mykonos is as expensive as Santorini, if not more so. All the more reason for holidaying during off-season here.
We arrived into Mykonos Airport to find the Hotel shuttle waiting for us. It was a comfortable and scenic drive with the famous white-washed buildings topped with blue roofs. A familiar sight in the Aegean region.
In the summer months there is a public bus terminal outside the airport. Tickets can be bought from the driver. Link here for bus schedules.
Ship
Coming in by Cruise Ship >
Option 2 : Other ships provide shuttle buses to the city for a fee.
Option 3: Sea bus from new port to Old Town Mykonos
Option 4: Taxi
Where To Stay
I celebrated my October Birthday in Mykonos and was looking for some rest and relaxation at a nice Hotel by the Beach. We had the Hotel almost all to ourselves due to the low tourist season. This made our stay at the Agios Ioannis Beach out of this world perfect! Read more about our Hotel stay here…
Getting Around Mykonos
Buses are good ways to get around the island for cheap. There is a main bus station at the Old Town which has a fleet bringing to different parts of the island. You queue to buy tickets from the small ticket booth before boarding the bus. Here is a link for schedules for the buses.
Experience Old Town Mykonos
The old town has a lot of charm. You don’t need a map because it is fun to get lost in its cute alleyways looking in on the shops. There is a mix of branded shops like Louis Vuitton and Greek owners. Deeper into the alleyway there are homes which look slightly different from the polished store fronts. The old town is completely walkable and stress-free due to it being a no car zone.
The Windmills are a symbol of Mykonos and date back to the 1700’s. They harness the power of windy Mykonos for grinding of grains like wheat and barley. As far as I learned, there are no active windmills now on the Island. However they are preserved well and the only one open to public is the Bonis Windmill, which houses a museum. It is located uphill from the old town and opens in the summer months from July to September from 4pm. It would be a good idea to check if and when it is open with the hotel concierge or call them (telephone number: +30 22890 26246).
Food and Drinks
Mykonos is a touristy place – the restaurant prices reflect it. I would recommend checking the ratings of the restaurants before eating there. If you are paying a high price, then it may as well be good, right ?
*Tip: Cheap and good eats: Scattered around the old town are still places with affordable prices. After all, the locals and workers there have to eat as well. Often you find these in Kebab or Gyros places which serves a healthy dose of meat with salad
There are always reasons to splurge too and it is easy to do so when on Holidays but one of the best reasons is when the ambience is second-to-none. Or to catch a beautiful sunset in Greece! An example of the place where you can have both is Little Venice. Where in the olden days were homes built on the water, is now converted to ever busy bars and restaurants. This is a really cozy hangout place, with the sound of waves crashing on the sea walls. Be prepared to pay some high prices though.
Shopping in Mykonos
Its my Birthday, and I’ll shop if I want to! Another good reason to visit off-tourist season , are the shopping sales. A lot of shops close for the winter beginning in mid-October and they want to be rid of excess stock. It is well worth doing some bargaining and you just might go home with a favourite bag and dress.
Mykonos Beaches
There seems to be a beach for everyone in Mykonos, the family beach, the party beach, the nudist beach, LGBTQ-friendly beaches , there seems to be an endless list. However in October the water is chilling out and swimming is not for the weak. Mykonos is often windy and coming out of the chilly water into chilled air is a “No” for me.
I still enjoyed spending time on the Hotel Loungers on the Beach reading. Our Hotel was on the Agios Ioannis Beach , a quieter narrow beach suitable for families. Delos Island can be clearly seen from here.
We visited Paradise Beach known for its parties during high summer. There was a deserted beautiful beach devoid of tourists. How lovely for people looking for a quiet beach all to themselves!
As a more quiet traveller , there are so many advantages to travelling in the low or quiet season of a normally touristy place such as Mykonos. We managed to spend a 5-day 4-night luxury holiday for less than 400 Euros per person.
$
Expenditure >
Accomodation : 238 Euros per/pax
including airport transfers, free shuttle to the city and daily breakfast.
Dinners + Transport: 100 Euros per/pax
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You have shared vital information needed when one travels toMykonos. Loved your post
Aaah you brought back some really lovely memories of our time in Mykonos back in 2013. I can still recognise the streets that you walked down, the bus station and more. Mykonos is such a lovely destination and Mykonos Town is perfect for shopping and getting lost down the colourful cobblestoned alleyways.
The pool looks incredible! I want to book just for that gorgeous water and view! I would love getting lost in all the alleyways of Mykonos too. It makes sense to visit during the off-season with less tourists, better shopping deals and better prices on hotels!
That’s brilliant that you managed to visit for under 400 Euros! It’s been a few years since I was back in Greece, and reading this brought back good memories. You’re right about the restaurants in Mykonos though, they’re very touristy and pricey too!
I’ve been hearing so many things about Mykonos, a destination that I am thinking of visiting soon! The beach looks amazing and very inviting. Also, I am curious about their local laidback lifestyle.
And people used to tell me that Greece is one of the affordable vacation spot. I have visited Santaroni last summer and boy it did exceed the budget which I had set. HAHA. Nevertheless I haven’t been to Mykonos yet but it seems pretty much the same as Santaroni.
Its so pricey , I wondered how the locals manage to be honest. Then I found out most of the hotel employees aren’t from there. when the resorts closes over winter they go home after collecting a nest egg from the work.
Wow, Mykonos as it my favorite destination till now but I always find it very expensive and luxurious. Good to know that you had this luxurious vacation that too below 400 Euros. It is good that you chose off peak time to travel as most of the shops and business were closing due to upcoming winter and you could have got good bargains. Your post revived my Greek holidays. I wanna go again.
Oh wow! That is great about the cost of flights, and I can’t believe you did it for less than 400 each. Such a great deal! I always love the windmills in Mykonos – we spent a day there on a cruise stop. And you are right about checking the ratings of restaurants. That is always a good idea!
My fear of visiting Mykonos is related to what I expect are high prices. I do love off-season travel and October is one of my favorite travel months. The view poolside from your hotel is breathtaking! The Old Town seems charming.
I managed to tick of this bucket list destination a year ago and yes it does come with a hefty price tag. I was visiting during the peak season due to children and school holidays so yes paid the higher price. You can get great deals like you did when visiting during the shoulder season. The island is just stunning with a lot of great beaches and bars. Caprice near the windmill was my favorite I must admit. Thanks for bringing back loads of memories and a very informative post
I am impressed that you managed a luxury holiday for so little. We certainly found things very expensive this year. Mykonos is a great spot to celebrate a birthday. Especially visiting off-season with the place almost to yourself. I would have loved the beaches at that time of year too. Good to know you found that the bus schedule was still good off-season. We have been stranded before when schedules shrink badly after the season ends. Eating where the locals eat may be a great way to save money but we also found it was perfect to get very tasty local foods.
Mykonos is one of the Greek islands that I haven’t had chance to visit yet, but it looks stunning and its great to know that if you go in low season when the weather is still good that it is so cheap. The little towns look so cute and I also want to get my photo with the windmills. The view from your hotel and the pool is so amazing that I need to add this to my list of places to visit soon.
Adele, thank you very much for this informative post. Now I know when is the affordable time to visit Mykonos and Santorini. It’s been on my list for a long time. October is also my birthday month. From your post, it’s best to visit in the first two weeks of October if you want to shop a little. I don’t like crowds, and don’t care about partying on the beach, so October is perfect!
Mykonos looks like the perfect weekend place. I love those patterns on the floor of the narrow alleyways. I would love to sit and enjoy some kebabs on one of the cute restaurants in the alleayway. The beaches are so inviting especially with less people. That sunset image is spectacular! I am bookmarking your blog post for future reference.
Whilst I haven’t been to Mykonos, I have been to Santorini, which is also known as a very expensive island, and I know that you can have a trip there on a budget if you want to. I like the idea of going to Mykonos in October. The weather seemed great, even if the water was a bit too cold for swimming. The hotel you’ve stayed at looks pretty dreamy as well, that pool is more than inviting, to compensate for the chilly sea water. I didn’t know that autumn was such a great time for sales in Mykonos as well. Definitely a great reason to shop!
Lately I came about several blog posts featuring Mykonos. I have never been there, but now I wonder why. You pictures of alleys and sunsets are so pretty. It seems you had a wonderful birthday stay on this charming little Greek island. Good idea to mix things up (like streetfood and fancy restaurants) in order to save some money.
Wow! That’s definitely a great destination. I mean shopping and spending time at the beach are two of my favorite things in the world. The sunset at Mykonos is beautiful. Thank you for sharing these tips. It is nice to know that cheaper options are available.
So many good memories. I agree with you here, travelling in the shoulder seasons saves so much if you can help it and booking individual trips or travel in Greece works so well for money saving. I also like may and October for the lack of crowds at that time in these more popular spots.
It sounds and looks like you had an amazing time in Mykonos.