Exploring Greece During Off-Peak Season
If you’re looking for a quaint Greek village where old men gather to play dominoes and yayas (grandmas) force-feed you baklava, Mykonos is not for you. Famous for its beaches and nightlife, frequented by supermodels and Italian bachelor parties, the island is more “Ibiza” and less “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.” But if days spent in the Mediterranean sun followed by dancing the night away sound like your cup of tea, read our guide, grab your bestie, and pack your swimsuit.
Best Time to Travel to Greece
We visited Mykonos and Santorini in early June, but tourist season doesn’t get rolling until July and hits its peak in August. Here’s why that matters:
The weather
In early June, the weather is less predictable. For peak beach fun, go in late June-August.
The experience
Tourist season brings the island to life. While the streets were busy and a few nightclubs were packed, we were assured that nothing compares to the height of the tourist season. We found many of Mykonos’ world-renowned beaches empty, and some of the bigger nightclubs closed early.
The price
Because we arrived before the crowds, we scored some amazing prices. Our hotel was gorgeous and perfectly affordable. We treated ourselves to lounge chairs and one (ok, two) massages on the beach. Our meals were reasonable. Nightclub covers were either inexpensive or nonexistent.
The moral of the story is to expect a little give and take. If you go during peak tourist season, you’ll find the beaches and nightclubs at their best, but be prepared to drop some serious cash. Going outside during peak tourist season will make prices more reasonable, but the island will be a bit sleepier. We still enjoyed basking in the sun and stayed out late enough to watch the sunrise.
Getting There
Mykonos has a small airport, and depending on your origin/next destination, prices on and off the island can be comparable to flying into Athens, Greece’s largest hub. Because we were coming from different countries, we decided to meet in Athens and take a ferry to our first stop.
Buy your ferry ticket in advance online via SeaJets. The prices vary depending on how early you buy and what type of seat you get. Make sure to pick up your ferry tickets at the port office once you arrive. You can Uber from the airport to the port or grab a taxi (if you Uber, expect to sign a “rental agreement”; this is how Uber gets around some local laws that restrict it). The ferry is about four hours long.
Pro tip:
If your hotel doesn’t have a transfer or you arrive after hours, arrange a taxi beforehand; they don’t hang out at the port like you might expect them to. Your hotel should be able to help you with this.
Where to Stay
We stayed at the Argo Hotel in Platys Gialos. Our hotel was lovely, the staff friendly and helpful, and it was located right next to our favorite beach. As a bonus, the breakfast was amazing. You do have to travel for nightlife.
Getting Around
Bye-bye Uber. Getting around Mykonos can be challenging. The island has five main areas of interest: Mykonos town, Platys Gialos, Paranga, Paradise, and Super Paradise.
To visit the beaches, you can buy a day pass ($20) for beach hopping by boat. Boats come once an hour. This is the easiest/most economical way to get from beach to beach. (Note: price and frequency likely go up during tourist season).
Depending on where you stay, you can take public transportation to Mykonos town, where restaurants, bars, shops, and famous tourist sites like the Windmills and Little Venice are located. The bus is more reliable on the way there; catching it on the way back proved a bit harder. Ask your hotel about taking the bus. Service ends around 1 am. If traveling after hours or between other parts of the island, you must take a taxi. Taxis on the island range from 15-30 dollars each way, so plan your nights out accordingly.
You can also rent a scooter but don’t drink and drive.
What to Do in Mykonos
Beach all day
There are four main beaches on Mykonos: Platys Gialos, Paranga, Paradise, and Super Paradise. Our hotel was a block away from Platys Gialos beach, which was by far the best in terms of sand and sea. The sand was soft, and the water was easy to access. The rest of the beaches were pebbly, which made them uncomfortable to walk on, but the water is pristine no matter where you go. Paradise and Super Paradise are known for beach parties, but don’t expect to find any ragers during the off-season. These are optional suits, so bring your binoculars (just kidding, don’t do that). Paranga had great, affordable food; if you’re beach hopping, plan to eat lunch there. Cocktails on all four beaches are around $14 (during the off-season), so buy to save on drinks. Just a note that a beach blanket will do on Paranga, Paradise, and Super Paradise, but there is no room on Platys Gialos, which means you’ll have to rent a beach chair ($20+ for 2 chairs and a shade during off-season). Treat yourself!
Party all night
Nightlife options on the island are endless, so rinse the sand out of your hair and throw on a party dress. Bars and clubs fill up late, starting at 11. Here are a few of our favorite spots:
Mykonos Town
Caprice- A small bar with a dance floor, top 40 hits.
Scarpa- Cocktail bar, house beats.
Paranga
Scorpio-This is a Mykonos must. The complex comprised a restaurant, two bars, a dance floor, beach access, and a fire pit. Young crowd. Great DJs. The sunset party on Sundays is supposed to be excellent.
Paradise
Cavo- THE Mykonos night club.
Paradise Club and Tropicana– We heard great things about these but weren’t there at the right time to enjoy them.
Tourist Sites
We agree that our favorite thing about Mykonos’ tourist sites is that there aren’t any. You will inevitably run into the Windmills, Paraportiani Church, and Little Venice while in Mykonos Town (try to get a cocktail on the water near Little Venice at sunset!). Other than that, there’s not much to see. Why is this a good thing, you ask? You can focus on your tan FOMO-free! So lay on the beach all day, recover from your night out, then do it again. That’s what Mykonos is all about.
Greek Island Hopping
Once you’re tired of sunbathing with celebrities (oh hey cast of OITNB), hop on a ferry and explore another island. Check out Santorini if you’re interested in “the world’s best sunset” and photos that will make your Instagram look truly inspired. Also, note that this is “Lover’s Island,” I was solo then, so taxis were more expensive, and the views were slightly depressing. The ferry ride is pricier than Athens-Mykonos, about $60 one way, and takes a little less than 3 hours on the fast ferry. I stayed on Perissa beach, which is nice if you want to enjoy the beach, but I was on the opposite side of the island to see the famous sunset at Oia.
Plan, instead of spending a fortune on taxis, which are hard to come by because there are so many tourists (even before peak tourist season), take a boat tour to see it all in one day! I only had one day on Santorini, so I went to the tourist office and booked a tour to see the volcano, hot springs (which aren’t hot), Thirasia (a smaller island off the island), and you can also see the red beach or the black beach if you have more time!
In Conclusion…
Despite our complaints (that’s honestly just who we are), we had a great time on the Greek Islands. We made friends who welcomed us into their hearts and onto their private yachts. We ate, drank, danced, and sunbathed. If you want to experience the history of the birthplace of democracy, head to Athens. But if you’re going to swim in the Aegean Sea, rub elbows with the rich and famous, and dance your worries away, make Mykonos your first stop!
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