Mykonos has more variety in its beaches than almost anywhere else in the Cyclades. On the south coast you will find organised strips with sunbed service, DJ sets, and cocktails brought to your lounger. On the north coast, 15 minutes away by car, there are beaches where you might be the only person there all afternoon. The island covers both ends of the spectrum and everything in between.
The south coast beaches are the most sheltered and get the calmest water, which is why the beach bars and watersports centres concentrate there. The north coast catches the meltemi wind head on during July and August, which keeps it quieter but also rougher. Mykonos Town sits on the west coast, and Little Venice is at its waterfront edge. Most visitors base themselves in or near town and take buses, boats, or taxis to the beaches.
Getting around is easy in summer. Buses run regularly from Mykonos Town to the main south coast beaches, and water taxis connect several of them by sea. Check the Mykonos bus timetable for routes and the how to get to Mykonos page for flights and ferry connections from the mainland and other islands.
Which Mykonos Beach Suits You
Glamour and celebrity watching: Psarou Beach is the most exclusive beach on Mykonos. Designer sunbeds, waiter service, and a crowd that comes to be seen. It is a small sheltered bay and the water is genuinely lovely, but expect high prices for everything.
The famous party beach: Super Paradise Beach is where the beach club scene on Mykonos really took off. Music, dancing, cocktails, and a crowd that builds from midday. It also happens to be a beautiful crescent of sand with clear water if you arrive early enough to enjoy it before the bass drops.
Families with children: Ornos Beach is one of the most popular family beaches on the island. Shallow, calm water, organised sunbeds, and several tavernas within walking distance. It is close to Mykonos Town and easy to reach by bus.
Watersports and windsurfing: Kalo Livadi Beach is a wide sandy bay on the south coast with enough space and wind for kitesurfing and windsurfing alongside regular swimmers.
Long sandy beach with beach bars: Platis Gialos Beach is one of the most central south coast beaches, well connected by bus and water taxi. It is sandy, organised, and the starting point for boat trips to Paraga and Super Paradise.
Peace and quiet, no sunbeds: Agios Sostis Beach on the north coast is completely unorganised. No umbrellas, no music, no beach bars. Just sand, sea, and a taverna up the hill. It is what Mykonos must have felt like 40 years ago.
Something wild and remote: Fokos Beach sits on the north coast at the end of a dirt road. It is exposed to the wind, rough around the edges, and beautiful in a way that the polished south coast beaches are not.
Fokos Beach
1. Beach Type & Experience Fokos Beach represents one of Mykonos’s most treasured secrets for travellers who genuinely want to escape the island’s relentless tourism machine. The beach composition mixes pebble and sand, creating a wild, untamed landscape that feels genuinely remote even though it sits just thirteen kilometres from Mykonos Town. The moment you
Agios Sostis Beach
1. BEACH TYPE AND EXPERIENCE Agios Sostis Beach represents one of the last truly undeveloped and authentic beaches on the island of Mykonos. This large sandy beach stretches along the northern coastline, offering visitors a completely different experience from the famous party beaches found in other parts of the island. The beach features soft, clean
Kalo Livadi Beach
Kalo Livadi represents the newer wave of upscale Mykonos beach development, with modern beach clubs (Solymar, Lohan) and luxury hotels rising on surrounding hills. As one of the longest and most popular family beaches, it offers shallow waters, fine sand, and excellent restaurants without the suffocating crowds of Platis Gialos or Elia. The name Kalo
Psarou Beach
1. Beach Type & Experience Psarou Beach is a compact sandy treasure measuring approximately 150 metres in length, nestled in a protected cove on Mykonos’s south coast. The beach features fine beige sand with a gentle composition that feels pleasant underfoot, making it accessible for visitors of all ages and comfort levels. The seabed is
Paraga Beach
1. Beach Type & Experience Paraga Beach offers a lively mixture of experiences on the southern coast of Mykonos. The beach is composed of soft golden sand with some pebbles near the water edge. You might want to bring water shoes if you have sensitive feet, as there are some flat rocks when you enter
Super Paradise Beach
Super Paradise Beach has earned its reputation as one of the most inclusive and exciting destinations on Mykonos, drawing visitors from around the world who come for the legendary parties, pristine waters, and welcoming atmosphere. Located just seven kilometres from Mykonos Town along the southern coast, this beach sits in a sheltered bay that offers
Ornos Beach
1. Beach Type & Experience Beach composition: Ornos Beach features soft, fine golden sand that covers the entire shore and extends into the water. The sand is gentle on the feet, meaning you can walk comfortably without needing water shoes. It is one of the few beaches on Mykonos where you do not have to worry
Elia Beach
Elia Beach stands as Mykonos’s longest sandy stretch, spanning an impressive 11 kilometres of golden, soft sand that seems to roll on endlessly. This sprawling coastal jewel sits approximately 11 kilometres from Mykonos town and offers something genuinely special on an island where finding open space is often a luxury. Despite the beach’s natural appeal
Platis Gialos Beach in Mykonos
1. Beach Type & Experience Beach composition: Platis Gialos consists mainly of fine golden sand, though you may find some areas with a mixture of tiny pebbles near the water’s edge. It is comfortable for walking barefoot, but sandals can be helpful on hot afternoons. Crowd levels: This is one of the most popular beaches on Mykonos.
Planning Your Beach Days on Mykonos
The south coast is where most people spend their time, and the bus and water taxi system makes it simple to hop between beaches without a car. Platis Gialos works well as a base for the day because boats run from there to Paraga, Super Paradise, and further along the coast. If you prefer the quieter north coast beaches, hiring a car or quad bike for the day is the easiest option. The Mykonos taxi page has numbers if you would rather not drive.
The Mykonos map shows where each beach sits on the island. Between beach days, Ano Mera village in the centre of the island is worth a visit for its monastery and quieter pace, and the getting around Mykonos page covers every transport option from buses to boat hire. For the full picture of the island, see our main Mykonos island guide.
