Mykonos

The Exclusive Party Island

The ‘Island of Wind’, Mykonos is best known for its 16th-century windmills, good watersports and outrageous nightlife.

The capital is liberal Mykonos Town (or Chora), where windmills overlook beautiful Little Venice with whitewashed houses right on the water. Keep an eye out for Petros the Pelican – the island’s mascot - by the beach. The sunsets here are fantastic, but it’s after dark that the bars and clubs (including famous Cavo Paradiso) on its cobbled streets kick into life. This is the de facto Greek party island, but unlike less exclusive counterparts Malia and Faliraki, you might struggle to find cheap Mykonos hotels here.

A complete contrast is laidback Kalafati, popular with windsurfers. Good for surfing is Ornos, while next door Aghios Ioannis was the setting for the ‘Shirley Valentine’ film. Its sandy beach offers views of uninhabited Delos island whose archaeological sites are UNESCO World Heritage listed.

Elia has the longest beach, while around the coast is Platis Gialos, a popular resort with a good number of Mykonos hotels on the beach on Booking.com. Glass-bottomed boats departing from here give great views of local sealife.

Cruise ships dock at Tourlos and the turquoise waters of neighbouring Aghios Stefanos are sheltered by low hills. Inland, peaceful Ano Mera provides a taste of more traditional Mykonos life.