Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Paradise run every hour through the night in high season.
By car and motorcycle
Rental agencies are concentrated
around the two bus stops. The only free parking area near
the town is by the north bus station. Parking spaces at most
beaches are inadequate and signposting surprisingly poor.
By taxi
Taxis run from Mantó square on the main seafront
and from the south bus station; the rates are fixed and
quite reasonable; try Mykonos Radio Taxi (
T
22890 22400).
By boat
Kaïkia
head from town and Orkós to all of the
southern beaches.
Mýkonos Town
Don't let the crowds put you of exploring
MÝKONOS TOWN
, the quintessential image of
the Cyclades. In summer most people head out to the beaches during the day, so early
morning or late afternoon are the best times to wander the maze of narrow streets. The
labyrinthine design was supposed to confuse the pirates who plagued Mýkonos in the
eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and it has the same effect on today's visitors.
Getting lost in the convoluted streets and alleys is half the fun of Mýkonos, although
there are a few places worth seeking out. Coming from the ferry quay you'll pass the
archeological museum
(Tues-Sun 9.30am-3pm; €2) on your way into town, which was
specially built in 1905 to display artefacts from the cemeteries on Rínia island, opposite
Delos (see p.396). The town also boasts a
Maritime museum
displaying various nautical
artefacts and ship models as well as an 1890 lighthouse lantern re-erected in the back
garden (April-Oct Tues-Sun 10.30am-1pm & 6.30-9pm; €4). Next door is
Lena's
House
(Mon-Sat 4.30-8.30pm; free), a completely restored and furnished merchant
home from the turn of the twentieth century. Near the base of the Delos jetty, the
Folklore museum
(Mon-Sat 4.30-8.30pm; free), housed in an eighteenth-century
mansion, crams in a larger-than-usual collection of bric-a-brac, including a basement
dedicated to Mýkonos's maritime past. The museum shares the promontory with
Mýkonos's oldest and best-known church,
Paraportianí
, a fascinating asymmetrical
hodgepodge of four chapels amalgamated into one (and a gay cruising area after dark).
Beyond the church, the shoreline leads to the area known as
Little Venice
because of
the high, arcaded Venetian houses built right up to the water's edge on its southwest
side. Together with the adjoining
Alefkándhra
district, this is a dense area packed with
art galleries, trendy bars, shops and clubs. Beyond Little Venice, the famous
windmills
look over the area, renovated and ripe for photo opportunities.
ACCOMMODATION MÝKONOS TOWN
The scrum of room-owners by the old port jetty can be intimidating, so if you arrive by ferry press on 100m further, where
you will find two accommodation offices; one deals with hotels (
T
22890 24540,
W
mha.gr) and the other with rented
rooms (
T
22890 24860).
6
K Group
Vrýsi
T
22890 23415,
W
myconiancollection
.gr.
A cluster of hotels,
Kalypso
,
Kochyli
,
Korali
and
Kyma
about 1km south of town. Many of the comfortable rooms
have wonderful views and there's also a pool and
restaurant. Often available when small
er pla
ces are fully
booked. Breakfast included. Easter-Oct.
€150
Ì
Leto
Old Port
T
22890 22207/22918,
W
letohotel
.com.
The best of the luxury town hotels, slightly raised
above the small town beach with a large swimming pool
that becomes the focus both in the daytime and, fully lit, at
night when the hotel restaurant - one of the best
on the
island - lays its tables around it. Breakfast included.
€250
Mantó
Evangelistrías 1
T
22890 22330,
E
mantohotel1@yahoo.gr.
Situated in a small side street,
the hotel's exterior belies its Tardis-like interior expanse.
Good, simple rooms with a/c and fridge for those who are
always on the move and just w
ant a
comfortable bed to
crash in afterwards. March-Nov.
€75
Matogianni
Matogianni Str
T
22890 22217,
W
matogianni.gr.
Living
proof that it's possible to stay in
Mýkonos Town without mortgaging your home, this is a
comfortable hotel with classically minimalist de
cor a
nd as
peaceful as can be in the buzz of the backstreets.
€60
Stelios
Above the old port
T
22890 24641.
This
whitewashed Mykoniot-style building is an excellent-value
pension in a prime location overlooking the old port. Only
hitch may be hauling your lug
gage
up the steep steps
behind the OTE office. April-Oct.
€90
Tagoo
Tangoú
T
22890 22611,
W
hoteltagoo.gr.
To p -
quality hotel overlooking the sea, about a 700m walk
north of the archeological museum. Attentive service,
spacious rooms, roof pool with panoramic views and
