PAR-TEE CENTRAL. Except it totally doesn't have to be.
Mykonos can be just as relaxing and serene as it can be wild. Since we were attending a workshop for the entirety of our stay in Mykonos, we didn't take advantage of the nightlife like many people do! We stayed at Villa Kanalia, a home in Ornos, about 15 minutes away from Mykonos town. It was unreal. Truly something out of a dream.
Being with our buds from Study Abroad Workshops, we kept things relatively chill and focused on learning, growing and enjoying creative community. We took advantage of exploring Mykonos town during the day, with one night out to check that off the bucket list. I personally think I would have been more likely to hit the *clurbs* more than once if we had extra time to check out some of the beach bars. Mykonos town got pretty busy at night, and with the narrow walking paths and smaller bars it was a bit tricky. We definitely kept the spirit of Mykonos alive at the villa, though! I actually think we got rowdier at the house than when we went out!
The town does get busy during the day, too, but you can find areas that are less populated. If you start exploring earlier, you may avoid some of the intense foot traffic. Mykonos town is great for photo walking, exploring, shopping and getting in some picturesque views but isn't the best place for finding a spot to sit and relax. There are a few bars and restaurants in Little Venice (like Baos Cocktail Bar) where you're right on the water with views of the windmills that are perfect for a lunchtime chill, or drink at dusk. I would probably save sunset for a beachside restaurant like Avli Tou Thodori in Platis Gialos, though. We had our welcome dinner there and I could have gone back every night!
My favorite outing we had in Mykonos was a half-day cruise with Mykonos Catamaran. Our crew was incredibly knowledgeable, and the homemade meal was the most DELICIOUS and authentic meal of our entire trip. We had the best time swimming, sailing, snorkeling and learning about some of the history of Mykonos and the surrounding islands. Our Captain and Chef, Michalis and Aliki, were incredible hosts!
What we missed:
- Beaches & beach bars
- Full island exploration - we stuck to Ornos and Mykonos Town (purely a timing thing!)
Top 5:
- Catamaran cruise
- THE VILLA. Having the space and the VIEW to enjoy - really, really made the trip.
- Avli Tou Thodori Restaurant
- Wandering through Mykonos town
- Farina Cucina Italiano in Ornos (yummmm Italian food by the beaches in Ornos)
Eric's Fave: Photo walking and exploring Mykonos town
Christina's Fave: Villa views!