Mykonos is a small island with a big reputation. It is only about 14 kilometres long and, according to the municipality’s figures, has just over 10,700 permanent residents, yet 762 cruise ships arrived with more than 1.2 million passengers in 2025. You get whitewashed lanes, windmills and some of Greece’s best-known beach clubs, and you pay for the privilege.
That makes choosing the right area especially important. The island has very few taxis, almost all buses run from Mykonos Town, and a quiet family bay can be just a few kilometres from a party beach. Here are my recommendations for six good areas to stay in Mykonos, with hotels in several price ranges.
Contents
The Best Areas to Stay in Mykonos
- Mykonos Town - best for first-time visitors and nightlife
- Ornos - best for families
- Platis Gialos - best for a beach holiday without a car
- Paradise and Paraga - best for beach parties
- Agios Stefanos and Tourlos - best for peace, views and lower prices
- Elia and Kalo Livadi - best for long sandy beaches and luxury
Below, I go through each area with its advantages, drawbacks and three hotels at different price levels. The hotel prices are those I found for two people on a weekend in June, converted approximately into euros, so expect to pay more in July and August.
1. Mykonos Town - best for first-time visitors and nightlife 🍸
- 📍 Distance from the centre: You are staying in the centre. All three hotels below are less than 600 metres from the Kato Mili windmills as the crow flies.
- 🚌 Transport: All the island’s bus routes start here. Buses to Ornos, Platis Gialos, Paradise and Paraga leave from Fabrika station, while services to Agios Stefanos, Ano Mera and Elia depart from the old harbour area.
- ✈️ From the airport: The airport is just under 3 kilometres from town. The bus to Fabrika runs roughly hourly, and you buy your ticket from the driver. If you arrive by ferry, the SeaBus takes 12 minutes from the new port in Tourlos to the old harbour.
- 💰 Prices: €€ to €€€€. Guesthouses were around €90 to €115 per night, two- to four-star hotels €140 to €275, and five-star hotels from about €280 to over €535.
- 👮 Safety: Generally quiet, but crowded when cruise ships are in port. Several hotels are on the hillside above town, and the climb is steep when you have luggage.
Mykonos Town, known to Greeks as Chora, is the obvious choice for your first visit or a stay of just a couple of nights. Visit Greece describes a town of narrow cobbled streets and whitewashed houses with blue windows and wooden balconies. In Little Venice, the houses sit right at the water’s edge, with the island’s landmark windmills standing just above them.
You have restaurants, bars and shops on your doorstep and can manage perfectly well without a car or quad bike. Boats also leave from here for the ancient island of Delos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990. The return boat ticket costs €25, and admission to the archaeological site is €20.
See hotels in Mykonos Town here.
Town is not a beach base, though. The nearest beach, Megali Ammos, is about half a kilometre from hotels such as Semeli, and you need a bus or boat to reach the famous beaches. Be prepared for hills, too. Many of the best hotels are on the slope above town, and several guests mention the steep walk home.
If you are hiring a car, choose a hotel with its own parking, as space in town is tight. Light sleepers should also read recent reviews carefully, because some of the smaller properties have thin walls.
Places to Stay in Mykonos Town
Andriani's Guest House - best budget option near the bus station
Andriani's Guest House has a guest rating of 9.2 and is a few minutes’ walk from Fabrika bus station, putting both the centre and buses to the beaches within easy reach. There is a garden and terrace, but no pool, and breakfast costs extra. The house is on the hill, so the return walk with a suitcase can be tough, and one guest mentions thin walls.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The location is good, a little way up the hill, which gives you a lovely view, and very close to Fabrika bus station.”
See photos and book Andriani's Guest House here.
Vencia Boutique Hotel - best mid-range hotel with an infinity pool
Vencia Boutique Hotel is a four-star property with a guest rating of 9.5 from more than 600 reviews. It has an infinity pool with views, a restaurant and free parking, and the centre is about a ten-minute walk downhill. The hotel’s elevated position means an uphill walk home, and a few guests find the pool cold and feel some rooms need renovating.
One guest sums it up on Booking.com: “Fantastic views, pool and food for those who don’t mind the exercise.”
See photos and book Vencia Boutique Hotel here.
Semeli Hotel Mykonos - best luxury hotel in the heart of town
Semeli Hotel Mykonos is a five-star hotel a few minutes’ walk from the windmills, with a heated outdoor pool, spa, gym, restaurant and free private parking. It is my suggestion if you want resort comforts without leaving town. The bathrooms are open to the bedroom, which will not suit everyone, and some guests mention that many sunbeds are in the shade.
One guest says on Booking.com: “Excellent hotel in a lovely location! What a find in the middle of Mykonos.”
See photos and book Semeli Hotel Mykonos here.
2. Ornos - best for families 👨👩👧
- 📍 Distance from the centre: About 3 kilometres south of Mykonos Town.
- 🚌 Transport: The bus between Fabrika and Ornos runs every 30 minutes for most of the day and takes about 10 minutes. Boats leave from the beach for other beaches along the south coast.
- ✈️ From the airport: About 4 kilometres and less than 10 minutes by car. There is no direct bus, so you need to change in Mykonos Town or use a taxi or hotel transfer.
- 💰 Prices: €€ to €€€€. Studios and small hotels were around €115 to €165 per night, three- and four-star hotels €195 to €215, and luxury beachfront hotels €420 to €455.
- 👮 Safety: The bay is shallow and sheltered, making it good for young children. The beach gets crowded in July and August.
Ornos is my first choice for families. Its fine sandy beach sits in a sheltered bay on the south coast, where the water deepens gradually and the northerly meltemi wind is less noticeable than elsewhere on the island. Several hotels have family rooms and are either right on the sand or just a few minutes’ walk away.
Several hotels have their own restaurant, so you do not need to go into Mykonos Town every evening. There is a diving school and a water-skiing school on the beach, and a 20-minute walk west brings you to the smaller beach of Agios Ioannis.
During the summer season, water taxis run from Ornos along the south coast to Platis Gialos, Paraga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia. A day pass costs €20 per person, and the first boat leaves at 10am. It is an easy way to see several beaches without hiring a car.
Ornos is not a nightlife destination, and the bay does not face the sunset. The popular beach fills up quickly in high season, so arrive early if your hotel does not have its own sunbeds. Guests at several smaller hotels also mention unreliable Wi-Fi.
Places to Stay in Ornos
Eleftheria Hotel & Apartments - best budget option with apartments
Eleftheria Hotel & Apartments has a guest rating of 8.9 and offers double rooms as well as one- and two-bedroom apartments, making it a good fit for families wanting space. There is free parking, a garden and a terrace, and the beach is a few minutes’ walk away. There is no pool, and one guest mentions weak Wi-Fi.
One guest writes briefly on Booking.com: “The location was perfect for my needs.”
See photos and book Eleftheria Hotel & Apartments here.
Deliades Hotel - best mid-range hotel close to the beach
Deliades Hotel is a four-star hotel with a guest rating of 9.1, less than 100 metres from Ornos beach. It has a saltwater pool with views, a pool bar, restaurant, family rooms and free parking, and Booking.com highlights a child-friendly buffet. The pool is small, and one guest mentions there are only six sunbeds beside it.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Fantastic location by Ornos beach, lovely breakfast.”
See photos and book Deliades Hotel here.
Mykonos Ammos Hotel - best luxury hotel right on the sand
Mykonos Ammos Hotel is a five-star property directly on the beach, with its own beach area. Its guest rating is 9.6 from more than 900 reviews, and it has a pool with a shallow section, spa, restaurant and family rooms. It is the easy choice if your budget allows and you want your beach, meals and room in one place. The gym is very small, and a few guests have been able to hear their neighbours.
One guest highlights the beach on Booking.com: “The beach is absolutely beautiful and one of the hotel’s highlights.”
See photos and book Mykonos Ammos Hotel here.
3. Platis Gialos - best for a beach holiday without a car 🏖️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: About 4 kilometres south of Mykonos Town.
- 🚌 Transport: The bus from Fabrika runs every 30 minutes from morning until around midnight and takes 10 to 15 minutes. A ticket costs about €2. Boats leave from the jetty for five other beaches.
- ✈️ From the airport: About 3 kilometres and less than 10 minutes by car. By bus, you need to change in Mykonos Town. The new port in Tourlos is about 7 kilometres away.
- 💰 Prices: €€ to €€€€. The cheapest hotels and studios were around €120 to €135 per night, three- and four-star hotels €185 to €260, and the more expensive options €295 to €415.
- 👮 Safety: Shallow water and a family-friendly setting. The beach gets crowded in high season, with little space outside the paid sunbed areas.
Platis Gialos is the best place to stay if you want a beach holiday and would prefer not to hire a car. The beach has golden sand and shallow water, faces south and is sheltered from the meltemi, with tavernas all along the sand. Buses to Mykonos Town run every 30 minutes until late in the evening, so going into town for dinner is easy.
What makes Platis Gialos special is the boats. According to Mykonos Municipality, water taxis leave from the concrete jetty for Paraga, Paradise, Super Paradise, Agrari and Elia, running from roughly mid-May to mid-October. The €20 day pass lets you hop on and off as you please, so you can try a different beach every day.
See hotels in Platis Gialos here.
The downside is the price of a day on the beach. The sunbeds generally do not belong to the hotels, and a set costs from around €40, typically €60 to €80 per day in high season. There is only a narrow stretch where you can put down your own towel.
A 15- to 20-minute walk along the coastal path takes you to neighbouring Psarou bay, home to Nammos beach club, where sunbeds start at around €250. Platis Gialos is very much a summer destination. When I searched for a weekend in January, there were just four apartments and villas to choose from and no hotels.
Places to Stay in Platis Gialos
Casa Grande Hotel - best budget option with a pool
Casa Grande Hotel is a four-star hotel with a guest rating of 9.5 and was the cheapest good hotel I found in Platis Gialos. It has an outdoor pool with a pool bar, free private parking and a 24-hour reception, and the beach is a few minutes’ walk downhill. I only found minor complaints in the reviews, including a lack of hooks and hangers in the rooms.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything here was fantastic! The location was ideal, the rooms were lovely and cleaned every day, and the pool area is wonderful!”
See photos and book Casa Grande Hotel here.
Kamari Hotel - best mid-range hotel between two beaches
Kamari Hotel is a three-star hotel with a guest rating of 9.0 from more than 500 reviews. It sits between Platis Gialos and Psarou, with a bus stop right outside, and has an outdoor pool, pool bar, hot tub and family rooms. The beach sunbeds do not belong to the hotel, so you need to pay for them, and a few guests have heard noise from the corridor at night.
One guest says on Booking.com: “The pool is lovely, and it was never crowded.”
See photos and book Kamari Hotel here.
Palladium Hotel and Spa - best luxury hotel with a spa
Palladium Hotel and Spa is a five-star hotel with one of the island’s highest guest ratings: 9.8 from more than 1,400 reviews. It is on the Psarou side, about five minutes’ walk from both beaches, and has outdoor and indoor pools, a spa and a sauna. Booking.com lists free airport and port transfers. The outdoor pool is not heated, and you need to budget for taxis if you want to go into town late at night.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “An absolutely fantastic hotel! Palladium Hotel Mykonos exceeded all our expectations.”
See photos and book Palladium Hotel and Spa here.
4. Paradise and Paraga - best for beach parties 🎉
- 📍 Distance from the centre: About 6 kilometres southeast of Mykonos Town.
- 🚌 Transport: The bus between Fabrika and Paradise runs every 30 minutes for most of the day and takes about 20 minutes. The Paraga bus only runs hourly, and the last service leaves early in the evening outside peak season. Water taxis stop at both beaches.
- ✈️ From the airport: The airport is less than 3 kilometres away as the crow flies, but the bus journey requires a change in Mykonos Town, so plan on a taxi or hotel transfer.
- 💰 Prices: €€ to €€€€. Apartments were around €135 per night, hotels €195 to €240, and the five-star hotel right on Paradise Beach cost more than €800.
- 👮 Safety: Music is loud from mid-afternoon, and there is plenty of drinking. Keep an eye on your phone and wallet on the crowded beaches.
Paradise and neighbouring Paraga are the places to stay if you have come to Mykonos to party. On Paradise Beach, Tropicana, Paradise Club and Guapaloca sit side by side on a flat sandy beach with sunbeds, showers and water sports. The DJ usually starts around 3pm to 4pm, and the party peaks between 5pm and 8pm.
Paraga is in the next bay, with golden sand and the beach clubs Scorpios, Kalua and SantAnna. The waterfront tavernas play loud music, while the southern end of the beach is quieter. The two beaches are about half a kilometre apart as the crow flies, so you can reach both on foot.
See hotels near Paradise and Paraga here.
Be honest with yourself before booking here. The music is loud, and hotel guests report noise at night as people walk to and from the clubs. A cocktail typically costs €12 to €18 and a beer €6 to €10.
The other thing to consider is transport. Night buses run to Paradise in July and August, but for the rest of the season you depend on taxis once the last bus has left, and there are very few of them. One hotel guest paid €40 for a five-minute drive. If you are travelling with children or want a good night’s sleep, Ornos or Platis Gialos is a better choice.
Places to Stay near Paradise and Paraga
Maganos Apartments - best budget option near Paraga
Maganos Apartments is about 50 metres from Paraga beach and has a guest rating of 9.2 from more than 800 reviews. You get a studio or apartment with a kitchen, a saltwater pool with views and free parking at a low price by Mykonos standards. One guest describes the kitchen equipment as worn, and the property is clearly aimed at people who have come for the beach clubs.
One guest warns on Booking.com: “I wouldn’t recommend this place if you’re travelling with family, but it could be fine for a group of friends who have come for the clubs.”
See photos and book Maganos Apartments here.
Aelo Mykonos Hotel - best mid-range hotel between the two beaches
Aelo Mykonos Hotel is a new four-star hotel with a guest rating of 9.5. It sits between Paraga and Paradise, about half a kilometre from each beach, and has an infinity pool, pool bar and spa. Booking.com lists a free airport transfer, which is worth using: this is where the guest with the €40 taxi bill stayed.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel is beautiful, brand new, stylish and spotless.”
See photos and book Aelo Mykonos Hotel here.
Tropicana Suites & Villas Mykonos - best luxury hotel right on Paradise Beach
Tropicana Suites & Villas Mykonos is a five-star hotel directly on Paradise Beach, with a guest rating of 9.7 from more than 800 reviews. It has a heated infinity pool, spa, sauna and restaurant, with the party right outside your door. It is expensive, and you should expect noise at night from guests heading to and from the clubs.
One guest says on Booking.com: “The hotel was breathtaking, and the staff were fantastic and really helpful with information!”
See photos and book Tropicana Suites & Villas Mykonos here.
5. Agios Stefanos and Tourlos - best for peace, views and lower prices 🌅
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Tourlos is about 2 kilometres north of Mykonos Town, and Agios Stefanos is 3 to 5 kilometres away, depending on your hotel’s location.
- 🚌 Transport: The bus from the old harbour runs roughly hourly via the new port to Agios Stefanos. From Tourlos, the SeaBus runs to the old harbour every 30 minutes from 1 April to 30 October and costs €2.50.
- ✈️ From the airport: About 5 to 6 kilometres and roughly 10 minutes by car. Ferries arrive at the new port in Tourlos, right in this area.
- 💰 Prices: €€ to €€€. Simple hotels and apartments were around €115 to €120 per night, hotels with a pool and views €155 to €225, and the most expensive options €280 to €440.
- 👮 Safety: Quiet in the evening. Hotels sit on a hillside with steps and steep roads, and the coastal road can be very windy.
The coast north of Mykonos Town suits anyone wanting a pool, views and quiet evenings without paying town prices. The coast faces west, so many hotel terraces look out towards the sun setting over the sea and the islands of Delos and Rhenia. A good hotel with a pool and a guest rating above 9 cost about €155 per night here, compared with about €265 for a similar hotel in town.
Agios Stefanos has a sandy beach with sunbeds on part of it, plus restaurants, cafés, minimarkets and a car park nearby. Tourlos is the area around the new port, where large ferries and cruise ships dock. That makes it practical if you arrive late or have an early onward ferry.
See hotels in Agios Stefanos and Tourlos here.
You are not entirely dependent on a car here. From Tourlos, the SeaBus takes 12 minutes to the old harbour, and buses run roughly hourly until late in the evening. However, you are not within an easy walk of town. One guest at a hotel in Agios Stefanos estimates the walk to the old harbour at around 45 minutes.
The hotels’ hillside setting is what gives them their views. It also means steps and steep sections, and one guest describes the walk home along the water as very windy. If you want a large beach with a full range of facilities and water sports, the south coast is a better fit.
Places to Stay in Agios Stefanos and Tourlos
Olia Hotel - best budget option near the new port
Olia Hotel is a three-star hotel about 200 metres from the new port in Tourlos, making it an obvious choice if you arrive by ferry. Its guest rating is 8.7 from more than 450 reviews, and it has a saltwater pool with views, pool bar, restaurant, family rooms and free parking. Agios Stefanos beach is about a kilometre away, and the walk from town can be hard going in the wind.
One guest puts it simply on Booking.com: “The pool was fantastic.”
See photos and book Olia Hotel here.
Paolas Sunset - best mid-range option with an infinity pool
Paolas Sunset is in Agios Stefanos, about 500 metres from the beach, and has a guest rating of 9.6 from almost 400 reviews. It has an infinity pool with sea views, pool bar, gym, family rooms, free parking and a small minimarket. This was the hotel in the guide that offered the most for the money. The drawback is the distance: you need a bus or taxi whenever you want to go into town.
One guest highlights the essentials on Booking.com: “The views and the pool were fantastic.”
See photos and book Paolas Sunset here.
Croco Mykonos - best luxury hotel with sea views
Croco Mykonos is a five-star hotel in Tourlos with a guest rating of 9.5 from more than 600 reviews. There is an outdoor pool with a pool bar, a restaurant and a gym, and you can choose suites with a private hot tub and sea views. The hotel is a few hundred metres from the new port. One guest mentions poor soundproofing in the rooms.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The staff are lovely. So is the breakfast.”
See photos and book Croco Mykonos here.
6. Elia and Kalo Livadi - best for long sandy beaches and luxury 🌊
- 📍 Distance from the centre: About 10 to 12 kilometres east of Mykonos Town.
- 🚌 Transport: The bus from the old harbour to Elia runs only every one to two hours during the day, with no evening service. Elia is the final stop for water taxis from Ornos and Platis Gialos, and the last boat back leaves in the late afternoon.
- ✈️ From the airport: About 8 kilometres to Elia and just over 10 minutes by car without traffic, longer in high season. The new port is about 13 kilometres away.
- 💰 Prices: €€ to €€€€. Hillside apartments were around €125 per night, four- and five-star hotels €185 to €280, and the large luxury resorts €385 to €475.
- 👮 Safety: Very quiet. You depend on a car or your hotel’s shuttle, and the small roads down to the beaches are narrow and uneven.
Two of Mykonos’s longest sandy beaches lie on the southeast coast. Elia is the longest of all, with sunbeds and water sports including water-skiing, parasailing and windsurfing, but a quieter atmosphere than the party beaches. It faces south and is sheltered from the northerly wind. A set of sunbeds costs about €40, and there is a nudist section at the eastern end.
Kalo Livadi is in the next bay and is also one of the island’s longest beaches. Its shallow, clear water makes it a popular choice for families.
See hotels near Elia and Kalo Livadi here.
This is where you find large resort hotels with several pools, spas and plenty of space. If you want peace, views and a long beach within walking distance, it is hard to do better on Mykonos. It suits both couples and families with older children.
You are a long way from everything else, though. One guest in Kalo Livadi allows 30 minutes to drive into town, while another says a taxi costs €35. Buses are infrequent and do not run in the evening, so choose a hotel with a shuttle or hire a car for your whole stay.
Places to Stay near Elia and Kalo Livadi
Niriides Homes & Villas - best budget option with a pool and views
Niriides Homes & Villas sits on the hillside about a kilometre above Elia and offers studios and two-bedroom villas. It has a guest rating of 9.1, an outdoor pool with views and free parking. Booking.com lists a free shuttle and airport transfer, but confirm these before booking. You are not by the beach, and without a car or shuttle you are stuck.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “This has nothing to do with the property, but we hadn’t realised that taxis aren’t easy to get on Mykonos.”
See photos and book Niriides Homes & Villas here.
Pietra e Mare - best mid-range hotel near Kalo Livadi
Pietra e Mare is a four-star hotel about 200 metres from Kalo Livadi beach, with a guest rating of 9.1 from almost 400 reviews. It has an infinity pool with a pool bar, a restaurant, tennis court and free parking, and several rooms have their own terrace with a hot tub. A few guests say breakfast is the same every day, and town is a long way away.
One guest sums it up on Booking.com: “Breathtaking views, a great pool and lovely rooms with a private terrace and hot tub.”
See photos and book Pietra e Mare here.
Myconian Utopia Relais & Chateaux - best luxury resort above Elia
Myconian Utopia Relais & Chateaux is a five-star hotel just above Elia beach, with a guest rating of 9.3. It has a saltwater pool with views, an indoor pool, spa, gym and restaurant, and runs a shuttle to Mykonos Town. This is somewhere you book with the intention of spending time at the hotel. A few guests would like more vegetarian dishes on the menu.
One family writes on Booking.com: “We loved the hotel. As a family of four with two teenage daughters, it was a good compromise, secluded and peaceful for us parents.”
See photos and book Myconian Utopia Relais & Chateaux here.
Where Should You Avoid Staying in Mykonos?
I would not stay on the southeast coast or inland without a car or a hotel shuttle. The bus to Elia runs infrequently and not at all in the evening, and taxis are both scarce and expensive. I would also avoid Paradise and Paraga if I were travelling with children or wanted to sleep before midnight.
The north coast, with beaches such as Ftelia and Panormos, is beautiful but exposed to the meltemi. According to Britannica, this wind blows from mid-May to mid-September and is strongest in the early afternoon. There is no bus to Ftelia. If you have heavy luggage, a pushchair or troublesome knees, check the map carefully before booking a hotel on the slope above Mykonos Town or Tourlos.
Outside the main season, Mykonos Town is the only realistic choice. The SeaBus stops on 30 October, water taxis run only from late spring to early autumn, and many beach hotels close for winter.
For a first visit of two or three nights, I would choose Mykonos Town; with children, Ornos; for a week on the beach without a car, Platis Gialos; and on a tighter budget, Agios Stefanos if views matter more than nightlife. Elia and Kalo Livadi suit travellers wanting peace and a resort, while Paradise is for those who have come to party.
Remember the climate resilience tax, which hotels throughout Greece collect at the property. From April to October, it is €2 per room per night at one- and two-star hotels, €5 at three-star hotels, €10 at four-star hotels and €15 at five-star hotels. KTEL Mykonos publishes bus timetables for limited periods, so check the current times just before you travel. Read the UK government travel advice for Greece too, and only use licensed taxis.
Mykonos is easy to combine with other Cycladic islands, with ferries running several times a day during the summer season. See my guides to where to stay in Paros, where to stay in Naxos and where to stay in Santorini. If you are flying via the Greek capital and want to add a couple of days there, read my guide to where to stay in Athens.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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