In the immediate vicinity of Mykonos is Delos Island, one of the most important archaeological sites in the whole of Greece. Day trips to the Island of Delos are popular amongst tourists. This UNESCO World Heritage site is about 1.5 miles west of Mykonos – here you’ll find a wide variety of marble statues and ruins giving you an insight into life in ancient Greece.
You don’t have to leave the island to discover the past, though. The windmills of Mykonos are an important part of the landscape and once made the island an important stop for traders travelling the seas between Venice and Asia. Explore the island by car and stumble upon these ancient and once-vital structures – no photograph album from a Mykonos holiday is complete without a snap of the windmills.
As for modern Mykonos, the island's capital city, Chora, can be reached using car hire and has a variety of bars, clubs and restaurants to explore. Museums include the Aegean Maritime Museum, and there’s the historical Paraportiani Church.
You can see more of the influence of Venice, too, in Chora. The 18th-century balconies suspended above the sea make the spot known as “Little Venice” the perfect place for more photographs. Café and restaurant owners take advantage of this beauty spot, so pull up a chair and order a cool drink as you admire the scenery.
Though the provision of public transport is reasonable between the airport, the town and the main resorts of Ornos, Plati Yialos, Agios Stefanos and Agios Ioannis, elsewhere it can be harder to get around without your own car. Reaching places such as Elia beach, one of the best beaches on the island, would be difficult. It takes only 25 minutes to drive from Chora to reach this sensational stretch of sand.
