MYKONOS in the CYCLADES ISLANDS of GREECE

Mykonos lies in the Cycladic group of islands in Southern Greece. Just 85km sq with a population of 5,500 this tiny haven is a must for those seeking a cosmopolitan holiday. It would be fair to say that of all the Greek islands, Mykonos offers the best choice of top-class hotels and accommodation, the finest beaches in the Aegean Sea, exciting nightlife and an unparalleled choice of clubs and restaurants. Since the first faltering steps of gay tourism some forty years ago, we’ve been flocking to this island, swelling its population ten fold during the Summer months and thanking our lucky stars that, despite this awe inspiring influx of international pleasure-seekers, Mykonos remains unspoilt, welcoming and truly magical.

Mykonos Town and Other Bits

Nothing quite prepares you for your first sight of Mykonos Town, which is where most of you will stay and all of you will play. With its centre covering no more than a square mile, the entire town is a patchwork of white cubic buildings set among a labyrinthine spiders web of narrow paved streets. No room for cars here, and even Mykononians will admit that they seldom walk the same way to the same place twice.

When it comes to outward appearance, the traditional beats the modern by a mile: no trace of a high rise or a 1960s concrete block, just little buildings which look the same as they might have centuries ago. However, behind this ancient mask lies some genuine twenty-first century style. Lacroix, DKNY and a host of other names spread their wares before you among a myriad of smart boutiques, chic jewellers and trendy galleries, punctuated by dozens of restaurants, bars and tavernas. And amid this oasis of cool you’ll soon discover a thriving, vibrant and exhilarating gay scene.

The best place to start a night out is down by the waterfront in an area called Little Venice. Here you’ll find a great selection of bars, some with live music, where you can relax, take in the night air.  Strolling into the centre of town you’ll be really spoilt for choice. At some point or another you’re bound to come across Mantos, Icarus or Pierros. While most of these venues can honestly be categorised as ‘gay’, the scene in Mykonos is not at all the ghetto you may think and you’re more than likely to end up at some of the town’s excellent mixed bars.

Whilst a majority of accommodation is to be found in Mykonos Town itself, you will find a few located in quieter resorts. These are best suited to those looking for a bit of R & R, yet are still within easy reach of the main town and all it has to offer.

San Stefanos is a tiny village located 3½ km from Mykonos Town with just a smattering of bars, cafés and transditional taverns. Ahios Ioannis, made famous as the location for the movie Shirley Valentine,  is situated near Ornos and about four kilometres from the town.

While there is a small beach in Mykonos Town, most people choose to travel to one of the many beaches situated all around the island. A regular bus services to all the main beaches is available and if you get to Plati Yialos there are frequent boat services which travel around the island from beach to beach, dropping people off and picking others up. This is a lovely way to get about, and highly recommended.

The main gay beach is Super Paradise, very gay and can be quite cruisy with a hell of a lot of nude sunbathing, there are also a couple of groovy beach bars to keep you fed and watered. Girls, don't fret! You will be relieved to know that Super Paradise attracts more than its fair share of Sapphic sun seekers!

Paradise Beach is another fashionable choice; more mixed and also with a nude section, here you can combine sunbathing with seaside pursuits such as water-skiing, jet-skiing and other fun stuff. Elia and Agrari are two more beaches worth a visit: larger than the others but also quieter, although Elia in particular is becoming more and more popular. Again, friendly beach bars are an added bonus!

A word of warning! There are only about 30 taxi's on the island so if you are staying outside Mykonos town and to travel back by taxi you may have to wait a while although waiting for a cab in the main square is a laugh and you will get to meet others. Finally, you need to understand that like getting to Lesvos there are only a couple of direct flights per week from the UK to Mykonos. This means that Mykonos demands the earliest possible booking.

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