8 day trips from Mykonos • Wanderlix

You are in Mykonos and would like to explore the region and islands around? Here are the 8 day trips from Mykonos that we recommend!

A dream destination for many holidaymakers, Greece is famous for its scattered islands. Each has its remarkable point, its identity and its history. Traveling to the Greek islands is evading the happy holiday season!

Among the islands of the Cyclades Islands, Mykonos has the reputation of being the most festive of all. This reputation is not usurped! Mykonos is indeed an island where it is good to have fun, sometimes (often?) until dawn. Nevertheless, like all the other islands of the Cyclades, Mykonos is home to dream beaches and lovely villages. It is also the starting point for excursions to the islands around.

Here are the 8 day trips from Mykonos that we selected for you!

1. Santorini

Santorini is no longer present and it is a day trip from Mykonos quite classical. Santorin is the postcard of the Cyclades Archipelago, with its white houses and traditional alleys, which can be found in Fira and Oia.

An island where it is good to rest, where one day is not enough to appreciate the whole. However, you can choose between you pre-lasser at the beach or make a cruise around the volcanic caldera. Because yes, Santorin is a volcanic island!

The visit of this caldera is by boat, sailing around Nea Kameni and the Tholos Naftilos volcano. A unique moment to live that you will not regret! Finally, wanting a little beach ride? Santorini is full of beautiful beaches and you will only have the embarrassment of choice, some being close to the port.

2. Ios

Ios is one of the classics among day trips from Mykonos. At first, Ios Island has many similarities with a famous neighbor. On arrival at the port of Chora, the view of the white houses can only recall Santorini! We like to get lost in its upward and downward paved streets, with its small houses, cafés and bars.

Those who appreciate ancient Greek literature may know Ios for a particular point. It would indeed be the last home of the famous poet Homère. Truth or legend? We can't know for sure. It is always that the poet liked to spend time on Ios and that his tomb is north of the island.

Whether you like Homer or not, you can go there for the exceptional sea view from the promontory.

Speaking of the Mediterranean Sea, there are many and beautiful beaches in Ios, so you can relax and enjoy a head before leaving for a few hikes on the island. Finally, be sure to test one of the many local restaurants to taste the culinary specialties of the famous Cretan diet.

3. Paros

Its location in the centre of the Cyclades archipelago makes Paros a trip from the most ideal Mykonos. The island is particularly appreciated for its beautiful beaches and white houses, as in Santorini. Once you arrive in Paros, your steps will lead you to the villages of Parikia, Naoussa and Lefkes.

Famous for its beautiful winding streets overlooking the castle built with the marble of an ancient temple, Parikia is the port of Paros. It is in Parikia that the immense Byzantine church Panagia Ekatontapilian (“Church at the 100 gates”), built in 326 and still original despite an earthquake that damaged it in the 18th century.

The rest of the island is rather well served by bus and taxi. This will allow you to admire the village of Naoussa in the north, a pretty typical old port with beautiful white houses. Further south and in the land is Lefkes, which has an air of the alleys of Santorini.

It is clearly the best place on the island to enjoy a coffee on the terrace or lunch! Finally, nothing forbids you to visit the beautiful beaches of Paros at the end of the day!

4. Syros

Syros is rarely cited among day trips from Mykonos. Yet this island is a true little hidden gem, with absolutely magnificent places. The first of them is the picturesque village of Ano Syros, where one loves to get lost in his alleys.

Built in the 13th century as a fortress, Ano Syros is the jewel of the island, a unique place where you could spend hours sipping a cocktail on a shaded terrace.

Ano Syros is actually a district of Ermoupoli, the port of Syros. The island was once an important commercial crossroads of the Aegean Sea and, from that time, Ermoupoli preserved a neoclassical architecture that was not common in the Cyclades. The town hall, located on Miaouli Square, and Apollo Municipal Theatre are the most remarkable examples of this architecture.

Finally, it is of course possible to taste the joys of the beach in Syros. They are numerous, sometimes built by the hand of Man as that of Astoria.

5. Naxos

Although we never set foot in Greece, the name of Naxos resonates in our minds. Nothing more normal, Naxos is a very important island in the Cyclades Islands and Greek history. It is therefore quite normal to devote a day trip from Mykonos.

Greek mythology welcomes us from our arrival at the port with the remains of the temple of Apollo, ideally located on a small promontory. It is quite possible to get there. Once on site, we know that we are there for the splendid view rather than for the rare vestiges still present!

On the other hand, the temple of Demeter is much better preserved, close to several old Orthodox churches and the Apano Kastro in the center of Naxos. Apano Kastro are actually the ruins of an old castle. If the weather allows you, we can only advise you to go there, at least for the panorama from the heights!

The climb to the Apano Kastro represents one of the many hikes that Naxos offers and the walkers will only have the embarrassment of choice. Finally, want to relax at the beach at the end of the day? The beach of Agios Prokopios is perhaps the most accessible for you and it will be impossible for you to resist its crystalline color!

6. Tinos

A nice day trip from Mykonos, Tinos is a small island in the Cyclades Islands. The visit is to discover a relatively quiet and authentic place, protected from mass tourism.

The village of Tinos, the port of the island, is renowned for being an orthodox pilgrimage site around August 15 to celebrate the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Tinos is home to the Panagía Evangelístria, the most important church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Even if you don’t go there for the pilgrimage, don’t miss the visit of this beautiful church!

The villages of Volax and Loutra are located in the land, close to each other. Both are authentic villages, with paved alleys and pretty little houses. There are also typical taverns to taste the culinary specialties of the Cyclades.

Around Volax and Loutra, if you begin to see some quite amazing buildings, you approach Tarambados. These buildings are actually doves and Tinos is renowned for hosting a good ten! The best preserved are precisely around Tarambados.

Finally, if Tinos doesn't have the most beautiful beaches of the Cyclades, nothing forbids you to refresh yourself before leaving in Mykonos!

7. Rineia and Delos

Among the excursions from Mykonos, Rineia and especially Delos are among the must-sees. First of all, the proximity to Mykonos facilitates the journey and many agencies offer a half-day or day trip to the places. Then, Delos is a very important island of ancient Greece.

The island of Délos is an uninhabited island with one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. It is in Delos that the sanctuary of Apollo, the birthplace of the god of arts and music according to Greek mythology, is located. Regardless of its meaning, we appreciate its visit and the remains are quite well preserved, including the ancient theatre.

Many objects are today exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Delos which is located near the site and which you have access to with the entrance ticket. Délos also offers nice hikes, especially up to Monte Cintos, from which the view is splendid.

If you liked the calm at the top of the Monte Cintos, you'll even appreciate that of Rineia. Located right next to Delos, some say that it was in Rineia that the soul of Mykonos, now dedicated to tourism, flew away.

It must be said that once on site, one would believe in another world: a lot of greenery, a quiet olympian, beaches for you alone or almost. Rineia is an ideal place to rest a few hours before leaving in Mykonos.

8. Beach Agio Sostis

We finish our selection of day trips from Mykonos by a trip... to Mykonos! As surprising as it may seem, this day at the beach of Agio Sostis can be considered a true exit from the island.

Agio Sostis is indeed one of the few beaches of Mykonos still in the crude state. Nothing has been arranged for tourists. Here, we make it easy, we go there by our own means and we appreciate being in a quiet and soothing place.

The somewhat isolated character of the beach of Agio Sostis distances the majority of holidaymakers preferring sandy beaches near the tourist places, often overcrowded in the summer.

For amateurs, Agio Sostis even has a nudist corner! But the beach is large enough to welcome everyone, small and large. A place of happiness for a day to enjoy the paradise that is and must remain Mykonos.