Cruise Edition: Mykonos, Greece
Note: This post has been updated on May 10, 2022.
Writer’s Note: This was part of a 7-day Mediterranean cruise on Princess, which means this post is limited to what I saw in Mykonos on that day.
After a day at sea, traveling through the strait of Istanbul, Marmara Sea, Dardanelle straits, and past Canakkale; we entered the Aegean Sea, headed for Mykonos. Cruising through these Greek isles and past all of the cargo ships was magnificent - even more so to see the sunset over some of the islands that evening.
Still, nothing compared to waking up, docked at Mykonos - a place well-stocked with "celebrated" individuals and an abundance of money. Although inhabited for hundreds of years, it became the ultimate playground for the wealthy when Jackie Onassis proclaimed this to be one of her yearly vacation spots in the 1960s. Since then, the likes of the CEO of Mattel, Steven Spielberg, and many others have either docked their yachts or built homes there.
NOTE: You do not have to be on a cruise to take this tour! If you’d like to see more of Mykonos than you’d see otherwise, click here to book.
Panagia Tourliani Monastery
There are 365 churches in Mykonos with this Monastery being one of the oldest. Built in 1542, the Panagia Tourliani Monastery was founded by monks of the monastery of Katapoliani of Paros, to protect Mykonos.
We entered the grounds through a heavy, red iron door and into a courtyard adorned with magnificent purple and pink flowers, white washed walls, and a trickling fountain - a serene place to meditate or pray. Through another set of iron doors was the chapel.
Kalafati Beach
The next stop on our tour was to Kalafati Beach - a pristine beach that is a favorite of divers. Although a bit of a "hole in the wall", compared to other beaches in Mykonos, the clear water of the Aegean Sea was so refreshing and inviting that it doesn't matter the locale, you can't help but want to dive head first into it and swim as far as you can go to see all the marine life below you, as well as the towering rocks ahead of you (supposedly the corpses of the giants that Heracles slew all those eons ago).
Little Venice
By far, my favorite part of my day was Little Venice - the most photographed neighborhood in all of Europe. This is where the uber chic go to dine and shop, and when it's 3am, party.
Our first stop was a restaurant (no longer in existence) right across from the famous "Three Wells", as well as Astra Bar and Louis Vuitton. It's one of the places to "be seen", particularly at night. With its continuous deep house music, chic decor and intimate but expansive outdoor area, it's worth going there even for lunch, as it possesses that Miami-esque vibe my friends and I crave when we're stateside. My recommendation on food - order the quinoa, chicken, avacado and tomato salad. It's the best/freshest salad I've had.
We then spent the afternoon shopping throughout the town - there are a TON of well-known and local upscale boutiques to shop at. These boutiques house everything from DVF, to Maison Martin Margiela, to Louis Vuitton, to Marco Bicego. Although I didn't pick up any new clothes (I regret not going with a bigger suitcase), I did pick up a fabulous sterling silver evil eye necklace I've been wanting, from a place called Ipatia.
When the day was wrapping up and there was a breeze in the air, we capped off our day with a cocktail at Remezzo - another bar/restaurant the jet set party at until the sun comes up. I ordered a Mocha Martini - I highly recommend it.
But... the fun was over before I could even say I had a true taste of it. Can't wait to come back!
Tips/Suggestions
The island is meant for the jetsetters. As such, everything can be very expensive. The closer you are to the water, the higher the bar/restaurant prices go. And, since the shops house the aforementioned imported designer names, prices on those items are much higher than you'd find in the U.S.
Stay for 3-5 days. It all depends on what your taste is for nightlife - it's a young, wealthy, hip crowd. They come here to relax during the day and party at night, until the sun comes up.
Book this day trip
You do not have to be on a cruise to take this tour! If you’d like to see more of Mykonos than you’d see otherwise, click here to book.