3 Days In Mykonos Itinerary: Your Ultimate Guide

Mykonos is world-famous as the party island of the Cyclades. Bars and beach clubs are plentiful throughout its coastal towns – and we’ve been to most of them! In our 3 days in Mykonos itinerary, we’ll take you through some of the best places for banging beats and good vibes, alongside some of our fav cultural spots for snapping perfect pics.

We’ve been to Mykonos twice in the last few years, once relying on public transport and once renting a car in Mykonos. Both options are entirely feasible, though having your own vehicle does make it more convenient and time efficient to see the things we’ve featured in our 3 days Mykonos itinerary – albeit it is the more expensive option.

In this post, we’ve covered the must-see Mykonos attractions, as well as some cool experiences to have while on the island. We’ve also included a few practical tips about where to stay and how to get about, all taken from our own trips.

3 Days In Mykonos Itinerary: Overview

Day 1 Mykonos Old Town  

The best place to start a 3 day Mykonos itinerary is Mykonos Old Town, also known as Chora. Busy and vibrant, it’s filled with pretty churches, restaurants, and a ton of cool nightlife hangouts. It’s also one of the most convenient places to base yourself, with tons of facilities and access to a fairly reliable bus network.

📍Chora

Start your 3 days in Mykonos itinerary at the Archaeological Museum of Mykonos, located right on the harbourfront. Even though it doesn’t hold a candle to what we saw in Athens, we found the collection of ancient Greek pottery and sculpture here worth checking out for 45 minutes or so.

If you’re not interested in history at all, the museum is still a good starting point for a walking tour of Chora. From here, you can walk south along the port, before dipping into the maze of alleyways and getting enjoyably lost!

We always tell friends to just let their feet lead them wherever they want in Chora, as part of the joy of exploring Mykonos’ largest town is just strolling the streets of whitewashed houses. 

There are a few spots you can pin on the map though if you want to roughly plot a route.

First up is Agia Ana Church, a gem of a place that perfectly gels with the seaside atmosphere of Chora. Right in front of it is Chora Beach, which isn’t an especially remarkable bit of shore for bathing but is a great spot to enjoy picturesque views over the Old Town across the port.

Head away from the sea and down Mattheou Andronikou Street and you’ll discover one of our fav photo locations in Mykonos, the Agia Kyriaki Church. The building itself is charming in the classic Greek island mode, and it’s located on a gorgeous small square with bougainvillaea exploding from the walls of a nearby house.

For something a little quirky to add to your list of what to do in Mykonos Greece, head to the Happiness Store. Aside from selling some cute clothing options, the shop is also Instagram-famous because of the #happiness sign above the entrance.

We were amazed by how many photogenic churches are scattered about the Old Town, but one of the most unique on our Mykonos 3 day itinerary is Panagia Paraportiani. It’s made up of 5 different chapels that were built on top of one another over time, with the earliest dating back to the 14th century. Come back here at sunset and it’s a glorious spot to spend the golden hour.

For lunch, head just next door from Panagia Paraportiani to Kastro’s Restaurant, an iconic taverna for seafood enthusiasts. We found the menu quite pricey, but not outrageously so given its location, right on the side of the harbour with views of the Mykonos Windmills.

If you’re on a budget, Il Forno di Gerasimo is a fab deli to grab a quick sandwich or salad, before continuing your explorations.

📍Little Venice

After lunch, head south into the heart of Little Venice, a highlight of any Mykonos travel itinerary. This incredibly picturesque part of Chora was once where maritime merchants and shipcaptains had their homes.

These homes dangle out over the seafront, with balconies resembling those you’d see on the canals of Venice – hence the name!

These days, many of the former houses have been converted into cool cocktail bars and tempting souvenir boutiques.

📍Mykonos Windmills 

At the very southern end of Little Venice are the famous Mykonos Windmills. Although they’re not the only windmills on the island, these hilltop ones are the most visible and iconic. In former times, they would greet trading vessels as they sailed into the port.

Built from the 16th century onward by the Venetians, the mills were used to mill wheat.

We took plenty of pics of these structures from below, then walked up the hill and enjoyed the views from the top.

After checking out the windmills, we recommend heading back to your hotel to relax for a siesta. In the heat of summer, we definitely appreciated a late afternoon refresh!

📍Boni’s Windmill

Continue your sightseeing in the early evening with a hike up to Boni’s Windmill. This standalone building is a great place to watch the sunset if you’re on a budget, with panoramic views of the Old Town as it spills into the sea.

We reckon this landmark is up there with some of the best views on our 3 days in Mykonos itinerary. There’s also a museum inside the windmill, but we didn’t check it out personally.

📍Sunset At 180 Sunset Bar

If you don’t mind splashing out for drinks, we really enjoyed the spectacular views at 180 Sunset Bar. It’s a lush place to order a cocktail al fresco while watching the sun set. They also stage dance performances and DJ spinning as part of the experience.

180 Sunset Bar is one of the more expensive things to do in Mykonos Greece, with a minimum spend of at least 100 euros per person. On the other hand, it was one of the coolest nights out we had on the island! 

Day 2 Delos Island + Sunset Cruise 

Once you’ve absorbed the busy, bustling, beautiful Mykonos Old Town, it’s time to get out on the sea! For the second of our 3 days in Mykonos itinerary, we suggest making the most of the various tours that the Cycladic haven has to offer. There are lots to choose from, each providing an amazing way to see more of the coast.

📍Morning Trip To Delos 

Delos is a place that’s rich in mythology. The Ancient Greeks believed it was the birthplace of the gods Apollo and Artemis, leading them to build grand temples to these and other deities from the Olympian pantheon. A lot of these structures are now in ruins, but enough has been preserved for UNESCO to declare the whole island a World Heritage Site.

For history buffs, a trip to Delos is bound to be a highlight of your 3 days in Mykonos Greece. We were astonished by the breadth of the ruins, which range from a stunning terrace of sculpted lions to fantastically preserved mosaics. 

We decided to go on a group tour to get the most out of our visit, and we weren’t disappointed by the amount of information – although there is quite a lot to absorb! 

The tour begins at Mykonos Old Port, where the guide meets the group. Weirdly, the price includes the ferry tickets to Delos but not the entrance tickets to the site, but whatever.

Everything else was superb, especially the guide, who provided a lot of detail about the numerous temples and statues. They hand out a headset at the start, so the guide can communicate easily with everyone without having to shout.

If you’d rather explore Delos yourself, it’s easy to purchase tickets for the ferry, just check the schedule online beforehand. Of course, you won’t get as much detail going solo, but there is a smattering of plaques throughout the archaeological site, as well as further details about the objects found during excavations inside the on-site museum (included in the entry ticket).

📍Late Lunch At Sakis

After returning from Delos, head into the old town for lunch at Sakis, which specialises in generous platters of grilled meat, served on skewers (souvlaki) or sliced off a vertical spit (gyros). They also do a tasty gyros wrap if you want something to eat on the go.

This was probably one of the best-value meals we had on what is admittedly one of the most expensive Cycladic islands, which is why we’ve included it on our 3 days in Mykonos itinerary. The combo deal is particularly good and comes with either souvlaki or gyros as a main, accompanied by French fries, a simple Greek salad with feta, and a Coke. Filling, tasty, and friendly on the wallet!

After eating, enjoy a leisurely walk back to your hotel, so you have time to digest a little before the daily siesta.

📍Sunset Cruise 

If you’re looking for a special way to end the second day of your 3 days in Mykonos itinerary, the most romantic thing we did on our visit was a sunset cruise tour. 

The captain took us on a short sail around the coast of the island before the yacht anchored for about 90 minutes off the coast to await the close of the day. Weather is always a crapshoot, but we had a lovely clear evening with relatively little wind to bathe in the sun’s last rays.

As part of the package, the crew serve your choice of 2 complimentary beverages, either wine, beer, or soft drinks (we went for sparkling wine). This is paired with a selection of Greek snacks and some tunes.

Although we embarked as a couple, there were also groups of friends on our voyage, so it’s not just for loved-up twosomes! The vessel we went on was quite small, so there weren’t a lot of people on board. It was adults only, but there are other options that cater for families as well as people looking for all-you-can-drink booze!

The cruise also included free transportation to and from our hotel, which was a nice bonus.

Day 3 Around The Island + Beach Time

So far, our list of what to do in Mykonos in 3 days has mainly been centred on Mykonos Old Town, Delos, and the high seas. For the final day, it’s time to explore the rest of the island, from its pretty towns to its party beaches!

There are buses between the main destinations on Mykonos, but this is more time-consuming, so you may have to cut down the destinations we’ve included here. The best option is to either rent a car or ATV or hop on a private tour that covers a good chunk of the highlights.

📍Armenistis Lighthouse

Just past the New Port on the northwestern part of the island, Armenistis Lighthouse is a scenic spot to get some snaps of the rocky shoreline as it slips into the sea. The lighthouse itself has been here since about 1890, helping ships to stay off the jagged reefs that lie below the promontory. 

The building was shut off to the public when we visited, so no views from the top we’re afraid, but the surrounding area offers plenty of pretty panoramas.

Although it’s only worth a short stop off, we’ve included it as part of our 3 days in Mykonos itinerary because it showcases a more rugged side of Mykonos. It’s a popular place to come for sunset, so make sure you turn up early if you want to snag a car parking space.

📍Paralia Agios Sostis

If you have a car or an ATV, you could basically spend the whole day beach hopping. We’ve just picked out a few of the places we liked the most to include here.

Up there with our fav beaches on Mykonos, Agios Sostis is off the beaten track, just a bit further along the coast from the Armenistis Lighthouse. 

It’s wonderfully free of all the umbrellas and lounge chairs that characterise so many of the beaches found on the Cycladic Islands. We’re not entirely sure why because the sand here is soft and the sea is wonderfully clear, but we’re not complaining!

For the more adventurous types, part of Agios Sostis is given over to nudists – so if bathing naked is on your bucket list, then definitely include this beach on your 3 days in Mykonos itinerary.

Make sure you bring along supplies, because there was nowhere on the beach to purchase food and drink when we visited. 

There is, however, a rather good restaurant on the northern end called Kiki’s Tavern. The kitchen does seafood complemented by classic Greek fare in a charmingly rustic setting with fab views of the coast. They don’t take reservations, but they do give visitors a glass of wine while they wait for a table to become available!

📍Paralia Merchia + St. Nicholas Church

Half an hour from Paralia Agios Sostis is Paralia Merchia, which was almost completely empty when we turned up. It’s composed of shingles rather than sand, but if you don’t mind stepping over small rocks it’s a very pretty place to throw down a towel.

Like Agios Sostis, Merchia doesn’t have much in the way of facilities, providing a wilder seaside experience. 

If you do come here, make sure to check out St. Nicholas Church, a small orthodox chapel that looks like it’s slipping into the sea. Even though it now seems completely isolated, it was built to cater to the mining community that used to live around these parts. 

The whole area just to the south was once rich in minerals, although the mine and the associated village have been abandoned for some time now.

📍Ano Mera

After Chora, Ano Mera is the second largest town on Mykonos. Situated in the interior of the island, it’s a village of whitewashed houses and cobbled streets surrounded by rocky hills. 

There are a couple of attractive monasteries to check out here as part of a Mykonos Greece itinerary. The first, Panagia Tourliani, is the more decoratively designed of the two, featuring a grand, Byzantine belltower outside and some gorgeous gilded woodwork inside.

Paleokastro is about 10 minutes’ walk away and looks more like the classic Cycladic building with its simple, white façade. On a hill to the north of the town centre, it has a more meditative, serene air than the downtown monastery. It’s adjacent to a ruined Medieval castle and a photogenic but unremarkable chapel.

If you didn’t eat lunch at Kiki’s Tavern, there are several traditional taverna’s around Ano Mera’s main square where you can grab a bite. We recommend Fisherman Giorgos & Marina, and not just because of the beautiful bush of bougainvillaea exploding from the ceiling!

The vibe here is super cheerful, and they do a good line in seafood dishes – the fried calamari is particularly moreish.

We stopped on our way out of town at Vioma Organic Farm, where they do tastings of wines made from local grape varieties like Assyrtiko and Mandilaria. We were driving so had to limit our intake, but it was a nice experience all the same.

📍Beach Time

Finish your 3 days in Mykonos itinerary with more sunbathing and sea swimming! Depending on your personality, you can go for a quieter beach or a more party-oriented spot.

For somewhere that’s less busy but still with a restaurant and a beach club, Paralia Agrari is for people who want a cocktail but not a thumping beat. The shore is made up of fine rocks rather than sand, but we didn’t find it uncomfortable to walk on. Plus, the sea was nice and calm.

For somewhere that’s all about the DJ beats, Paradise Beach was one of the most fun places we went on our Mykonos trip. The crowd was quite young and chatty and as the evening set in the atmosphere was boisterous and entertaining.

Best Areas To Stay In Mykonos

On both our trips we stayed in Mykonos Old Town, which is what we’d suggest for most travellers who want to explore the island. It’s well linked to the main ports for boat tours and ferry rides, as well as having bus services to the popular beaches.

🌟 WHERE WE STAYED IN MYKONOS TOWN ➡️ Andromeda Residence

It’s also here that you’ll find the prettiest architecture, a diverse selection of shops, and a choice of nightlife right on the doorstep.

For beach lovers and party seekers, the south side of the island has the best beach clubs and beachfront hotels. If your idea of the perfect Mykonos holiday is spending almost the entire time relaxing by the sea, this is where we’d recommend booking your accommodation.

Mykonos Itinerary: FAQs

How to get around Mykonos?

A bus services runs between Mykonos Old Town and most of the major attractions. The one we found most handy was the Fabrica Bus Stop, which connects with the New Port, Paradise Beach, and the airport. There are also buses from the Old Port Stop to Ano Mera and Agios Stefanos. For greater convenience, there are ATV and car rental places around Chora.

How many days do you need in Mykonos?

That depends on how many days in Mykonos you want to spend on a beach vs exploring the sights. We’d say three days in Mykonos is perfect for a busy but not overwhelming schedule, but you might want to add on a couple of days if you’re after that golden-brown tan.

Do you need a car in Mykonos?

Having a car is not necessary to travel around the island. It’s possible to get about using the KTEL bus network or by ATV/buggy. Having said that, a Mykonos road trip does make it easier to visit more out-of-the-way beaches that aren’t quite as packed with parasols, loungers, and clubs.

Is Mykonos expensive?

There’s no way to sugarcoat this: Mykonos is expensive to visit. Is Mykonos expensive to visit compared to other Cycladic islands? The answer is, sadly, still yes! We spent a lot more here than we did almost anywhere else around the Aegean, particularly when it comes to eating out and ordering cocktails.

Is Mykonos a party island?

Yes, Mykonos is definitely a party island! From our trips here, it’s clear that quite a few people come purely to go wild beside the sea, whether that means daytime fraternising on nude beaches or evening partying at the raucous bars. That said, it’s perfectly possible to build a 3-day Mykonos itinerary that is heavier on culture than clubbing.

3 Days In Mykonos Itinerary: The Wrap-Up

While a lot of people arrive for good times on sandy shores under sunny skies, there are a lot of other reasons to line up a 3 days in Mykonos itinerary. Beyond the plentiful beaches – and there are a lot! – you can also spend time exploring historic sites like nearby Delos as well as cultural curios like the Windmills of Chora. 

Plus, the popularity of Mykonos means it’s got some solid infrastructure, which makes it easier to explore than some of the lesser-visited Aegean islands. Overall, it’s a great introduction to what the Cyclades can offer world travellers.