Mykonos
Travel Advice for Seniors: Mykonos
Mykonos is well-known for its beaches and party atmosphere. If your idea of a good time is sunbathing by day and partying by night till early dawn, this is the place for you!
Thankfully, there are other sights to see besides the beaches. We did spend an afternoon on the beach, which was very nice. The waters are beautiful, the lounger chairs comfortable and the service exceptional. You are welcome to swim with or without clothes as we witnessed, but did not participate! Do remember to bring a beach towel and plenty of sunscreen. The beach umbrellas cover part, but usually not all of you. So, your towel may be necessary to cover yourself with, just to avoid the hot sun. The beach we went to was advertising a twerking contest on Saturday night….you get the picture. We passed on the party, but not on the fantastic beach!
The first day we arrived by ferry from Athens, about a 2.5 hour trip. Our brief tour included a stop by the iconic windmills in Mykonos town and Little Venice.
The windmills of Chora and Ano Mera were used for grinding corn and wheat, etc, that was to be transported overseas. There are sixteen windmills on Mykonos of which seven are on the landmark hill in Chora.
Little Venice is a picturesque area in Mykonos that is known for its colorful balconies that hang over the Aegean Sea. The homes were originally built in the 1800’s for wealthy merchants.
We also took a look at the Chapel of Panagia Partaportiani, which is likely the most photographed church of Mykonos. Interestingly, there are over 1200 churches on Mykonos. Seems that sailors and families built small churches frequently to honor their ancestors or to celebrate a successful voyage.
So why are most of the buildings on Mykonos white? Apparently, during the cholera outbreak in 1938, the government required whitewashing of all buildings. It is said that the paint contained limestone, a very strong disinfectant.
The second day we took another ferry out to Delos to see the archeological site there. It was about a 30-minute ferry ride. A note on Delos: When we went it was pretty hot and dusty, so bring plenty of water, a hat and sunscreen.
The archeological site of Delos is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Delos is the most famous and sacred of all islands in Greek lore, as it was there that Apollo, god of daylight, and Artemis, goddess of night light, were born. No one was allowed to live on the island and this still holds true.
The site is interesting to walk around, however, you do need to use your imagination quite a bit to envision what it may have looked like. The museum has a few, but important artifacts, including the original marble lion statues built around 600 BCE. The lions were originally created to line the walkway known as the Terrace of the Lions to honor the Greek god Apollo and to properly intimidate worshippers.
We did enjoy our quick stop on Mykonos, though we didn’t experience the nightlife. The beaches here are outstanding and an afternoon of sunshine and pampering is never a bad thing!
Where we stayed: San Antonio Summerland hotel. Nice hotel, breakfast included.
How we got there: 2.5-hour ferry ride from Athens.This was part of a 14-day small group tour through Greece including stops at Santorini, Mykonos and Crete.
General Accessibility Information: Major tourist sights, newer hotels, transportation in most major cities are accessible. Even some beaches are accessible. Apps like accessaloo can help you find accessible bathrooms. Call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements. See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.
