2-Day (Family & Budget Friendly) Itinerary for Mykonos

Arrive in Mykonos

Whether arriving by ferry or plane, plan to arrive as early as possible to make the most of your day. Given the short duration of your stay, I would choose to stay in Mykonos Town, otherwise known as Chora, so that you are within walking distance of the many sights, cafes, bars, restaurants, shops, galleries and museums and can avoid the extra time and expense of needing transportation. You will however need to take a taxi to your hotel upon arrival. Take note that you may have to walk a bit to your hotel from your taxi drop-off location, as no cars are permitted in town.

Wander the quaint alleyways in town

After dropping your luggage off at your hotel, set off on foot to explore the maze of streets that is Mykonos Town. It is a very easy walk where you will find luxury stores, designer jewelry, galleries and many souvenirs, particularly along Matoyianni street, which is the busiest and most well-known alley in Mykonos. Explore the Little Venice neighborhood, which is filled with trendy bars and restaurants, so after working up your appetite, it’s a perfect place to find a spot for lunch with amazing views. Negrita is an Instagram favorite, with its terrace seating right on the water. You may even get splashed from the waves crashing in, so the novelty is fun for kids, but Negrita may be best suited for a quick cocktail, as you pay a premium for the atmosphere.

See the sights and fill your camera roll with Instagram-worthy photos (a teenage girl’s dream!)

Just walk along the sea wall of Mykonos Town Beach to find the picturesque and colorful harborside neighborhood of Little Venice in one direction, the iconic Mykonos Town (Kato Mili) Windmills in the other direction and then the most amazing sunset right in between. Then, while exploring the town, you will find windowsills and doors in many different shades of blue around every corner against the perfect whitewashed backdrop, often in addition to the colorful bougainvillea vines full of flowers draping the buildings.

There may be as many or more churches in Mykonos, as there are shades of blue, each with its own character, thus take the time to stop in and admire them. The most famous of all is Paraportiani Orthodox Church, which dates back to the 1400s. It is completely white and is actually a cluster of five churches in one. Super Instagram-worthy.

Lastly, be on the lookout for the town mascot, Petros the pelican, wandering around the streets.

If you have seen the sights in town and have some extra time in the afternoon, you may wish to choose one of the following two based on your interests.

Visit Mykonos Vioma Organic Farm

Head about 20 minutes out of town to visit this kid-friendly organic farm and vineyard in the village of Ano Mera. The kids will love visiting the many farm animals, including the fan favorites Marika the donkey and Marousso the sheep, while the parents enjoy tasting the locally produced wines or partaking in the free tour. It’s only open in the afternoon from April – October and closes by 6 pm, so plan accordingly.

Explore the many museums

There are a number of museums you can walk to in town that are either free or have a small admission fee. The following may be of most interest to kids. Lena’s Folklore Museum is located in the center of town and is a small museum within a 19th-century residence that includes furniture, an embroidery collection and replicas of women’s clothing from that period. Right next door is the Aegean Maritime Museum of Mykonos which houses artifacts from Greek nautical history to the present. Then a little bit closer to Old Port you will find Mykonos Folklore Museum which is noted for 19th-century furniture, sculptures, model ships & more. Hours vary.

Finish your day with a sunset dinner by the sea

Head back down to Little Venice to find a restaurant on the water. There are many bars that line the sea wall, but we found the Nice 'n Easy organic sea restaurant to be a family-friendly environment with premium outdoor seating to experience the sunset. The menu has a variety of options, including vegan dishes and some pasta that can be made to work for finicky eaters. They take reservations, so you can be sure to select a time that coincides with the sunset.

What kid doesn’t love the beach? And with Mykonos, you’re in luck, as it is home to a plethora of beautiful white sand beaches with crystal clear waters; thus, making it hard to choose just one beach to visit. That’s why a day trip to Platis Gialos beach is a great option. Not only is it an easy and inexpensive, 15-minute ride by bus from the Fabrika station in town, but it is the main departure point for the Mykonos Water Taxi (cash only), where you can buy an all-day, all-beach pass to take you to other popular beaches on the island if you’d like to see more. Or you have the option to take a very short, easy walk over to Psarou beach (up the hill to the left from Platis Gialos) to see a multitude of expensive yachts parked at the beach for the day, as well as find more restaurants to choose from.

Platis Gialos beach is a large, shallow-water beach lined with hotels and restaurants. You can rent beds from any of the restaurants; some include towels and others you have to pay extra, so you can plan ahead and bring your own if you’d like. And if water sports are of interest, you will find opportunities to jet ski, water ski, wakeboard, or go for a tube or banana boat ride, amongst other things for a fee.

Outdoor Movie night at Cine Manto

Continue to enjoy the night air and end your relaxing beach day with dinner and a family-friendly movie under the stars at this open-air cinema café and restaurant situated in the heart of Mykonos Town. You will be seated in a lovely garden setting surrounded by trees, feeling completely secluded from the hustle and bustle of the Mykonos nightlife. All kids' movies are in English with Greek subtitles. Plan ahead, as reservations are required. You can choose to dine right before a showing or ask to be served inside the theater itself, where you can watch the movie while enjoying your dinner and drinks.