The Port of Mykonos

This guide is tailored for cruise passengers visiting Mykonos.

About the Port: The new cruise ship terminal is located in Tourlos (3.5 km from Mykonos town). There are special shuttles that take passengers to the city (3 minutes). You can also walk there for 30 minutes. If the new terminal is too busy, your ship may anchor at the bay or the old harbor, which is a walking distance from downtown.

About the Town: Mykonos is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea and a top tourist destination. Mykonos town, which is surrounded by several villages and settlements, is famous for clubbing and nightlife. There are a lot of parties and alcohol, so don’t expect a calm picnic at the beach. The whole town is entirely white, contrasting to the blue of the sea. The island is also very gay and lesbian-friendly. The population of the town is about 10,000.

Climate
The warmest month in Mykonos is July with the average temperature of 26°C. The touristic season starts in April and lasts till September. The temperature average is 9°C. The island gets 300 days of sunshine a year.

Language
Greek is the official language of the island, but English is spoken and understood everywhere. Besides, other European languages like Spanish and French are also spoken by some of the locals.

Internet Connection
Trio Bambini, Cosmo Café, Yummy, Masa Hapsa, Alexis, Oregano, Barko Coffe and other cafes have unrestricted WIFI connection.

Some hotels like Hotel Argo, Hotel Tagoo, and Hotel Grace also have free WIFI.

Things to Do

Mykonos is a popular Greek Island and very popular as a cruise destination. Some of the nicest photo's can be taken from this beautiful island over the world famous bay. The white/blue houses are pristine to the surroundings and will leave an everlasting impression.

There are various things to do on this lovely island. Beautiful beaches, great food, nice scenic tours and much more. Below is a selection of the best Mykonos has to offer.

Various attractions
• Mykonos Windmills are the symbol of the island. A row of 10 snow-white windmills where built in the 16th century, today only 7 of them are preserved. Generally, there were around 20 windmills built on the island.

• Little Venice is an area, where most of the restaurants and shopping centers are concentrated. The buildings stand on the edge of the island. It is believed that this type of a structure was used for speeding up the pirate uploading in the 17th century.

• Archaeological Museum of Mykonos was built in 1900 and contains prehistoric and late Hellenistic artifacts uncovered from Mykonos and Delos. The collection includes pottery, sculptures and jewelry.

• Panagia Paraportiani Church is the most popular church of the town. It was built between the 14th and the 17th centuries and consists of 4 pure white chapels. The church once served as an entrance to the Mykonos castle, which no longer exists.

Eating/ Drinking

As a popular tourist destination, Mykonos has a variety of cuisines and eating places. However, if you’re on a tight budget, go for gyros and souvlaki, which can cost you under €5 (with a drink). You can also add a Greek salad to the meal.

The average price for a nice dinner will range from €20 to €30. This price includes a glass of wine, which is an absolute must when in Greece. When in a bar, make sure to try raki (tsipouro), restina or ouzo.

Tipping the waiters the 10% of the meal price is common in restaurants.
History

According to a legend, Mykonos was formed by giants, who were defeated by Hercules and thrown into the sea, where they turned into rocks (later to become islands). The name originates from the son of King of Delos, Mykonos. Over the centuries, Mykonos has been under the rule of Venetians and Egyptians. It has taken part in the war of Greek Independence, where the island was almost completely destroyed. Tourism started to develop in 1960s.

Transportation

Bus
Mykonos buses are the cheapest means of transportation. There are two bus stations on the island: Northern and Southern. The Northern station is near the Archaeological Museum of Mykonos and takes you to the northern and eastern tourist attractions. The Southern station is located near the Fabrika Square and connects you to the southern attractions and some of the best beaches. The ticket price depends on the distance, but it will never be more than €2.

Taxi

Taxis are very expensive; the rates are fixed according to the seasons. For example, the same distance in winter is cheaper than in summer. Tax rates can be found on the stand next to the statue of Manto Mavrogenous (national heroine) in the main square of Mykonos. There are no meters, so you can also try bargaining and agree on a specific price before starting the trip.

Boat

You can rent a boat and visit the Delos Island (2 km), which is the center of the Cyclades archipelago and home for historical and mythological treasures. The boats leave at 9 am, 10 am and 11 am and return to Mykonos at around 1 pm.