Can’t Miss Mykonos Sightseeing Stops
Mykonos Sightseeing by Cavo Psarou Suites, What to Do in Mykonos
In any holiday, it helps to have a game plan, and a trip to Mykonos island is no exception. There’s so much to do and see here, and visitors often only have so much time. You’ll want to prioritize and decide what you want to see most before you arrive.
Mykonos sightseeing ranges from classic and historic to quirky and artistic. You’ll find beautiful beaches here and traditional white-washed architecture, but you’ll also find sights and stops that are, well, uniquely Mykonos. Here are some of the best Mykonos sightseeing stops:
Windmills
You don’t need to take a Mykonos sightseeing tour for this one, although if you want to there are certainly some available. However, you might stumble across some of the windmills on your way through town. Traditionally built windmills are scattered throughout Mykonos island, Greece, to the point that they’re become characteristic of the island. 16 windmills in total, most are located in Chora, but you may find them throughout. You can even make a game of it, trying to find them all.
In their heyday, these windmills were designed to crush crop yield, like wheat. They were operated simply by the strength of the famous gust winds of Mykonos island. Today, farmers no longer need to use windmills for their harvest, so they’re not operational, though the gusting winds certainly are. You can find The Agricultural Museum of Mykonos, Cyclades, partly housed in a 16th century windmill. This is a part of the Folklore Museum and educates visitors on the tools that farmers have used throughout centuries to get the most from their crops.
Museums
So, of course, the next logical step on your Mykonos sightseeing visit is the Folklore Museum. Located in Chora, the Folklore Museum of Mykonos, Cyclades is dedicated to preserving the rich history — particularly slice of life history — of Mykonos island. Here you can find antique furniture, textiles, photography, ceramic art, and musical instruments. Art has long been a part of Mykonos’ culture, and you can find it here, including a collection full of exquisite paintings. You can also find relics from the War for Independence of 1821, including cannons from that very war.
You may also enjoy visiting the Delos Archaeological Museum, which features excavations from Delos island like regal lion statues, an ivory plaque dating back to the 14th century BC, and the mask of Dionysus. The Maritime Museum exhibits a different portion of Mykonos’ history, its nautical history. And the House of Lena is a 19th century home turned museum, showing the traditional furnishings of that time.
Panagia Paraportiani and Other Churches
One of the trademark quirks of Mykonos island, Greece is the sheer number of churches. There are 365, one for each day of the year. Many of these churches are historic, some dating back hundreds of years. The most famous, however, is Panagia Paraportiani. The name is an intriguing one, and translates in English to “Our lady of the side gate.” The gate in question was a door to a medieval castle, beside which Panagia Paraportiani stood. Sadly, the castle and door have been destroyed through time. However, much of the Byzantine church still stands, and still serves as a place of worship today. Because of this, it’s free to visit, so long as you’re respectful of those praying.
Panagia Paraportiani is not so much one church as five churches all built practically on top of each other. Here you can walk the cobbled streets in between these white-washed buildings and see centuries old artwork inside the churches. Once you’ve explored Panagia Paraportiani, you may feel inspired to visit the other churches of Mykonos, like the Cathedral of Mykonos or Paleokastro Monastery, which still serves as a monastery.
Beaches
Of course, if you visit Mykonos island, you have to visit some of the beaches. Not only are there a variety of beautiful sandy beaches here, with clean, crystal blue waters, but there’s a variety of culture to be found on the beaches. For instance, you can visit Paradise beach to find a vibrant party and a flow of dance music; or you could visit Ornos beach, the most family friendly beach on the island and perfect for Mykonos family holidays. Platis Gialos beach, perhaps the best beach on the island in the eyes of visitors and tourists, is remarkably nearby your Mykonos accommodation when you stay with Cavo Psarou Suites.
Located in Psarou, Mykonos, Cavo Psarou Suites is also the perfect place to enjoy one of the quieter, lovelier beaches in Mykonos, that of Psarou beach. We’re so close to the shore you can even feel those refreshing sea breezes wafting towards you from your veranda. And the views are simply unbeatable.