Mykonos |
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Not as lush as some of the other Greek islands and only just over 10 square miles, Mykonos is completely devoted to tourism with little else to support the local population. The holiday industry albeit growing, isn't particularly brash and even the busiest parts of the island, like Mykonos Town remain picturesque. Away from the coast the island is parched with little in the way of greenery infact it is almost treeless, and yet it is still picturesque thanks to its wild-flowers and mountains. The resorts on Mykonos are all very similar offering a traditional Greek atmosphere with little to get the pulse racing, hence our condensed resort guides below. Note: The roads around Mykonos can be treacherous in places due the hilly terrain and poor visabilty on some 'blind' bends.
Mykonos Town is the tourist centre of the island surrounding a bustling harbour and an old fishing port. The area isn't suitable for the less mobile due to its hilly location but those with sturdy legs will enjoy exploring the many nooks and crannies along the maze of streets which extend up the hill away from the coast. Traffic is banned from the centre of town and therefore the result is almost total emersion in authentic pastimes. This is picture-postcard Greece where the houses are white-washed and maintained with pride and the locals are highly religious hence the tiny churches dotted around the town. At night the bars and restaurants along the harbour are the pole attraction offering traditional Greek dishes alongside the usual tourist tummy fillers. The town beach is poor with course sand and stones and is an extension of the harbour. On the outskirts of town is a better stretch of coast at Megali Ammos. The best shops on the island are in Mykonos Town. Back to the top Not the most picturesque resort comprising a few white-washed accommodation blocks stepped-back from the beach There are hardly any facilities outside of the small hotels and for anything other than absolute basics the nearest supplies are in Mykonos Town The beach here isn't the prettiest on the island and consists of a decent sized patch of course sand in a sheltered bay. The shoreline is decieving however, and the gently shelving beach can drop quite suddenly so care is needed when swimming. Agios Stefanos is strictly for those seeking comotose relaxation. Back to the top Set on a barren headland, Kalafatis is merely a cluster of small apartment blocks and hotels. There is little in the way of scenery other than a cluster of houses set against a backdrop of rugged countryside. The offshore breeze attracts a few windsurfers and watching them at play, or joining-in is the main focus of the resort's daytime entertainment. At night the focus turns to a handful of restaurants and bars. Back to the top The photograph above shows Tourlos harbour which attracts yachts and small cruisers from around the Med. This newly developed seafront is the focal point of the resort which consists of no more than a cluster of hotels and restaurants set against the island's barren landscape. The beach is set in a bay and offers plenty of space to stretch out with places to eat overlooking the sea. There is also quite a breeze at times and there have been complaints that the beach isn't as clean as it could be. Plati Gialos is one of the most established resorts on the island and has developed on a small scale around some of the best beaches on Mykonos. These are set in picturesque sandy bays which are worth exploring. Be aware that some are popular with naturists while others are more family orientated. There are restaurants, beach bars and water sports available and boat trips are popular to other parts of the island. |
