Best secrets to discover Mykonos

Tips and useful "paths" to explore Mykonos

Hidden locations, "private" beaches and unknown sights that reveal a different view of the island.

When we hear the word "Mykonos", many things come to mind. For most tourists it's the island of endless parties, celebrities and Instagram. But apart from its glamorous showcase, Mykonos has another side, calmer, simpler and authentic, that if you are in the mood to discover it, you will want to return to the island.

This summer, when the holidays will be completely different due to the pandemic, it is ideal to discover the different face of Mykonos.

From the unknown to many attractions and the most beautiful secluded beaches to the perfect retreat for a holiday of calm and relaxation, Adorno Beach Hotel & Suites, these are the ten experiences that will make you see the "island of the winds" with another eye.

 "Island of the Winds."

The "Island of the Winds" was and will be among the most popular destinations in the Mediterranean. Especially when we talk about Jet Setters and those who love parties, Mykonos hotels, beach bars, beaches and parties are almost synonymous with the holidays of thousands of visitors every summer. In recent years, however, the voices of critics have been growing, accusing the white island of accuracy and crowds in all its corners. But the most searched are based on advice from locals and other acquaintances to make their lives easier when they visit. 

Every day in Mykonos can be a completely different story. Not just for what happened the night before, but because the moods of the winds can have a significant impact on your shots. With the good beaches, beach bars and restaurants divided into all corners of the island, it is a good thing to know in advance where you will go to avoid the very strong winds that "trouble" Mykonos all year round. Therefore, prefer to consult the weather report or - even better - a local about which beach to choose in order to avoid suffering, wave and sandblasting. 

Less well-known, but no less good

Most when they hear beaches of Mykonos bring directly to their minds Psarrou, Kalo Livadi, Paradise and Super Paradise. What not many people know is that even on an island that receives so many visitors every summer, there are coasts where you won't find yourself on top of each other. Such are Fokos (with the wonderful tavern at its edge), the lesser known Lias, but which has fantastic waters, and Agia Anna in Kalafatis. Of course, we never take out of the equation Agios Sostis, which while it has become quite popular lately as it is one of the most beautiful beaches of the Aegean, the fact that it is not organized and has difficult access makes it one of the options with less crowding. 

Solutions to food

Generally speaking, food in Mykonos is probably the most expensive in our country. But even there are some well-hidden secrets that will allow you to eat well without sighing when you get the bill. Of course, under no circumstances will you be able to compare the value-for-money of Mykonos food with any other island in the country. But in places like Fokos, in Nikolas on the beach of Agia Anna in Paraga, in the Court of Thodoris in Platis Gialos, in Karavaki in Chora or in Ameros in Ornos you will eat honestly without feeling that someone is "undressing" you.

Adjust your expectations

Wherever you go for a swim, wherever you eat or party, Mykonos will give you a sense of precision that definitely stands out from the rest of the country. So it would be good when you decide to visit her to be ready for what you will experience. For example, you cannot want to visit one of the most cosmopolitan islands in the world and wait to sit on the first sun lounger without a reservation or without spending anything more. Similarly, you cannot expect to pay for food and drink at prices equivalent to those in Naxos and Paros. Locals and acquaintances would advise you to be fully aware of what to expect before you even arrive. Especially if you're visiting her for the first time. Otherwise, maybe you'd better go to another destination. 

The only village in Mykonos

Ano Mera, Mykonos

If you want to get to know the traditional life of the island, you will go all the way to the picturesque Ano Mera. The only village of Mykonos, at a distance of 8 km. from Chora, has preserved many elements of the Mykonia tradition. In the main square you will find cafes and taverns to taste local dishes, as well as the historic monastery of Panagia Tourliani that is worth visiting.

A different sunset

Armenian Lighthouse, Mykonos

The connoisseurs of the island will assure you that the sunset is not only worth it in Little Venice. It is just as nice from the Lighthouse of Armenist, with the wonderful view to Tinos. This imposing lighthouse, located in fanari area, at the northwest end of the island, was built in 1891 and has been inextricably linked to the history of the island.

A different monument 

Few know that the island of winds was famous for its mining activity. The old mines on the northeast side of the island remain witnesses to a time when in Mykonos not only yachts and cruise ships arrived. Dusty structures, rusty machinery and carcasses of industrial buildings are reminiscent of a scene from the film "Mad Max".

Dive into History

Elm Beach, Mykonos

The windswept Elm is the best beach in Mykonos for windsurfing. But there is another reason to visit it: the Neolithic settlement of the region, which dates back to 5,000 BC and is considered one of the most important in the Aegean.

Pictures of another era

You should met the rich tradition of the island with a visit to the Folklore Museum, in the picturesque neighborhood of Kastro, which still has two annexes: the Bonn Mill (restored mill at The Ano Mills) and the House of Lena, an authentic 19th century Mykoniatic house. The Maritime Museum of the Aegean, which tells the story of the island's relationship with the sea, also deserves your attention.

The morning walks in Gialos

Gialos, Mykonos

If you want to discover a different view of the cosmopolitan island, take an early morning walk in Gialos, where local farmers sell vegetables from their bostani, flowers and fresh fish and seafood.

The authentic taste of Mykonos

During your stay on the island, it is worth looking for and tasting the local delicacies: copanist (soft cheese with intense, peppery taste), luza (alternative made from pork fillet), Mykonia sausages, onion pie, but also fragrant almonds. Tastes of a simple island cuisine that will be unforgettable.

Beaches for a few

Kapari Beach, Mykonos

And yet, Mykonos has quiet beaches. If you want to enjoy your bath without crowds, lay your towel on the low-profile Capers (a few meters after Agios Giannis), the huge and sandy Frangia (on the way to Lia), Mergia, Mersini or Pan, under the Mines.

The unknown islets

Rhineia

For even more solitary dives and a little extra adventure, it is worth putting in your program a trip to one of the three small islands around Mykonos: Rhineia, Tragonisi and Ktapova. There you are waiting for private beaches with fantastic waters and impressive caves to explore. Don't forget to take a mask and a ventilator with you!

Mykonos: has another, secret side

Apart from the lively nightlife and cosmopolitan beaches, Mykonos still keeps some places secret, waiting for adventurous travelers to discover them.

Although every year millions of visitors make a landing in Mykonos, there are still places that are unknown to many. Discover the secrets of the mines, the ships waiting on the silent seabed and the magical caves in Tragonisi. On the northeast side of the island, there is a place you would not expect to meet on the island of winds. Shattered walls, rusty machinery and strange geological formations that seem to catch fire under the sun.

Abandoned but enchanting, the old mines of Mykonos whisper their call to anyone who decides to walk among the crumbling buildings that the miners worked the barite from 1956 to 1986. Walking carefully among the rubble, hear the wind howling through the galleys and keep an eye out for the only resident left in the mines today, the little crocodile of Mykonos, also known as the Mykonia lizard!

The next part of the exploration is underwater, in the secrets of the two shipwrecks that remain almost intact at the bottom of Mykonos.

The first is the "Anna II", a cargo ship that sank in 1995 very close to the beach of Lia. It rests at a depth of 20 to 30 meters and acts as an artificial reef attracting many species of marine life.

The other is the "Peloponnisos", which sank in 1926, on the northeast side of Mykonos, next to a reef on the open sea. It is cut in half and is offered for more experienced divers, due to the weather conditions and depth, which reaches 55 meters.

Next stop is Tragonisi, also known as Dragonisi, about a mile from the northeast coast of Mykonos.

Protected area and refuge of the seal Munichs, Tragonisi is a beautiful small rocky island, where the power of the sea created a unique system of caves and caves.

If you explore by walking the island, do not forget to follow the path to Panagitsa, a small chapel hooked on the rock, where once a year there is a festival for men only!

The island is also one of the most popular places for diving in Mykonos, since the underwater tunnels and its chambers host rich life and is the exclusive home of the yellow sea anemone.