Mykonos Holidays

When it comes to beaches, Mykonos has a bit of a split personality. On the south coast, nearly every inlet comes with a liberal dusting of golden sand. Make Platis Yialos beach your first port of call – it’s on the road from Mykonos Town and regular buses run between the two. Once there, you can stay put, or hop on a water taxi and chug round the coast to bays like Paraga, Agrari, Elia, Paradise or Super Paradise. All of these are pretty popular thanks to their fine white sands and bright cobalt waters. They’re sheltered from the wind, too, so they’re great sunbathing spots. Other southern belles include Ornos, Kalo Livadi and Aghios Yiannis, with the latter having provided the gorgeous backdrop for the filming of Shirley Valentine. Up north, it’s a completely different story. First off, no buses run up this way, so you’ll have to make the journey by car or foot. As a result, the beaches are infinitely calmer and much more low-key than the ones in the south. For the ultimate in footprint-free sands, it’s got to be Agios Sostis. It’s at the bottom of a rocky path so the hordes usually steer clear. Make the trek though, and you’ll be rewarded by honey-coloured sands and rolling hills which stretch off into the distance. Watersports enthusiasts, meanwhile, should head to Ftelia. Tucked into the crook of Panormos Bay, it gets plenty of wind, so it’s a favourite with surfers.

Bargain Buys

About half an hour's drive from Mykonos Town are the whitewashed walls and cobbled streets of Ano Mera, where the aroma of fresh bread drifts from bakery windows. Every Sunday, the main square transforms into an open-air market, where stalls are stacked with local cheeses and colourful knick-knacks. Brush up on your bartering skills to get an authentic taste of local life.

Mid-Range Buys

The island's Little Venice is the place to go for leather accessories, low-key fashion boutiques and costume jewellery. There's also a smattering of traditional souvenir shops, so you can pick up an evil-eye glass charm to help you out if you're down on your luck.

Designer Buys

To really treat yourself, hit the designer shops along Mykonos Town's Matogliani Street. Or, head to Mavrogenous Street for a one-of-a-kind art piece to bring home. Jewellery fans will be in their element, too, with a wide range of little workshops selling intricately crafted bespoke pieces.

Laid-back evenings

With its waterfront bars that like to play it cool rather than loud, Little Venice is a favourite with the in-crowd. There's a bevy of tavernas and cafés, as well as postcard-perfect views of sherbet-coloured seafront townhouses. Order something refreshingly fizzy and get your camera ready for sunset.

Lively evenings

During summer, the island doesn't sleep. Bass begins thumping at beach parties in the late afternoon and doesn't stop until the sun rises. Mykonos Town's got a couple of clubs and queer-friendly venues, but the life of the party's found in the beachfront super clubs. Expect to be dancing 'til dawn to live music from local DJs and international stars.

Gyros

A Greek take on kebabs, gyros are flatbreads wrapped around spit-roasted pork, juicy tomatoes and onions. They're finished with creamy tzatziki sauce, and you'll often find a few chips inside, too.

Fasolatha

A national dish that's veggie friendly, fasolatha's a hearty white bean soup. Simple but packed with the flavours of Greece, it's made with crushed tomatoes and seasoned with thyme and bay leaves.

Galaktoboureko

Sniff out your local bakery to try these sweet custard slices, made with flaky filo pastry and dusted with cinnamon – best eaten fresh from the oven.

Loukoumades

These sticky doughnut-like balls are fried, covered in honey and topped with cinnamon or walnuts. They're served piled high in a big dish – because one's never enough.

Tsipouro

After dinner, do as the locals do and order tsipouro instead of ouzo. Similar to Italy's grappa, this boozy tipple's been around for centuries and might just knock your socks off.