I HATE to admit this, but I truly thought I wasn’t going to like Mykonos.
I thought since we have seen the most beautiful beaches and towns in France, Italy, etc, that there was no way Greece could compare. I thought I would get tired of the food after a day or two. I thought the language would be way too hard to pick up. OK, one of those three things were true for me (I still have no idea how to pronounce σας ευχαριστώ – “thank you”,) however, Greece, primarily Mykonos, became my new favorite place in the world. Perhaps going in with such low expectations helped, but I honestly don’t know how anyone could NOT love the Greek Isles. There were so many things that surprised me both in a good way, and in just a…surprising way. I put together a list of things I wish I had known before landing on the magical island of Mykonos.
1. Pictures do NOT do it justice.
I mean, even photos make Mykonos look like a dreamland, but, seeing it in person it indescribable. Places like the Amalfi Coast, the South of France, and the Balearic Islands more accurately portray what you are going to see and feel, maybe even make it look better than real life. Mykonos is not one of those places. The color and clarity of the water, the insane vibrancy of the sunsets, and the striking blues accents and historic white limestone of the tiny windy streets of Mykonos town are something you have to see for yourself to understand just how amazing this place is.
2. The food is the best I have ever had in the world.
Not even exaggerating. I never thought that Greece would beat the daily pizza and pasta in Southern Italy, the seafood in the French Riviera, or the fresh produce in the Netherlands, but it did in every. single. way. There has not been a day go by that I haven’t thought about our daily breakfast overlooking Psarro beach with fresh fruit, Greek eggs benny, lunches on the beach with Ouzo Shrimp and THE BEST SALADS at Nikolas Tavern, and the lamb shank at Avli Tou Thodori, the Sea Bream at Kastro’s, and finally, my favorite I had to go back TWICE was the braised beef gnocchi at Yialo Yialo. We made a habit for sharing an appetizer, salad, and entree between the two of us. It is the healthiest I have ever felt on a vacation and I know it had everything to do with the fresh and nutritious food we had everyday. I will never enjoy food the same. I actually feel a bit sad after writing this. Editing the photos was also very painful. Be warned.
3. It’s a small island, but can be hard to get around.
There are only 30 taxis on the entire island, so you will need to rely on your own transportation (scooters/quads/car rental) or your hotel’s driver if they have one. We learned that the scooters and quads were actually quite dangerous, parking for car rentals was slim to none, so we relied on the hotel driver to get us to our destination, and then hoped and prayed we could find a taxi for our way back. Getting around was definitely our biggest challenge. Since we did not plan ahead enough, we mostly stuck around our local beach and neighboring beaches since we could walk, and then took the hotel car/taxi when we went to Mykonos town for a couple of nights. It was relaxing and easy, but we wish we could have explored more of the island. Also, make sure you arrange transporting from the airport to where you are staying – most hotels will have this if you ask for it.
4. It is not a cheap place.
Hotels, food, transportation, beach clubs, and nightlife were much more expensive than we were expecting. We naively assumed since Greece has had some rough economic times that prices would be similar to that of Italy or possibly even less, but they were shockingly high. Fortunately the quality matched the price, so it didn’t feel like we were being ripped off, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind if you like to budget for your trips.
5. Greek people are the friendliest and most speak English extremely well.
Again, another surprise, but in the best way. Every single local, whether it be a server, hotel manager, pharmacist, or plain ol’ Myconian resident, we were treated like family and with the utmost respect. I feel like that is so rare when you are an American Tourist at the end of the season, they have to be so tired of us. Their personalities reminded me a lot of my husband, HAHA! Super friendly, kind, helpful, but not afraid to tease you and have a sense of humor. THE BEST!!!
6. The “Party Island” reputation isn’t entirely accurate.
Yes, if you want to party your little heart out, you will have no trouble, however, we spent 99% of our time in Mykonos exploring the island, swimming, and straight up relaxin’. We literally just came from attending Oktoberfest in Munich, and Ibiza before that, so I needed at least a few days of R&R. I was able to relax easily. I spent the vast majority of my days one of our hotel’s loungers reading near the pool that overlooks the ocean, only moving to cool off in the pool or grab a Fix (local beer). At night we tried out a new restaurant and either went to a club or had an early night to do it all over again the next day. It was perfection.
7. Don’t plan on doing and shopping or picking up any souvenirs at the airport. It is tiny and limited.
The best shopping is definitely in Mykonos Town, so be sure to pick up souvenirs and any goods you want before the airport. I found so many amazing things I wanted to bring home to remember the trip but Dave was too anxious to get to dinner and convinced me to do souvenir shopping at the airport. There was NO shop at the airport and he had the nerve to tell me to try and find the windmill ornament I loved so much on AMAZON. I am still bitter.
8. Servers will give you a Raki after most meals.
A raki is a free greek “surprise” at the end of a meal, it’s usually a dessert or shot of liquor. We never expected it, but always got it, which just really put the cherry on top of every experience we had in Mykonos. We truly feel like we got the best first impression of Greece in Mykonos and are so delighted with how beautiful and hospitable the island and people were.
Do you have plans to go to Mykonos? Let me know so I can live vicariously through you! Let me know if you have any questions or comments. Also, you may find my post on long haul flight essentials and packing lists helpful too!
xx Kylie
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