Mykonos is one of those places that rewards the unhurried visitor. The whitewashed lanes of Chora, the famous windmills above Little Venice, and the quietly beautiful back streets of the Kastro quarter are all within easy reach of the tender landing, and a few hours spent drifting through the old town tends to produce more memorable days than any itinerary could plan for you.
If you would like your Mykonos day neatly planned in advance, use the Port Day Planner for a quick personalised schedule.
Port Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Port Type | Tender |
| Distance to Town | Tender boat to New Port, then 5-min walk to Chora |
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Language | Greek (English very widely spoken) |
| Best Known For | Iconic windmills, glamorous beaches, and a labyrinthine white-cube old town that is easy to get lost in. |
- Tender Landing , New Port tender dock
- Mykonos Town , Chora: main square u0026amp; lanes
- Little Venice , Iconic waterfront quarter
- Platis Gialos , Best accessible beach
Mykonos: Tender Port (New Port) · View larger map
Getting From the Port to Town
Walking: The Best Option
Free (once ashore)- Walk time: 5 min from tender dock to edge of Chora; 15 – 20 min to windmills
- The tender drops you at the New Port, a short, flat walk along the waterfront into Mykonos Town (Chora). The lanes are cobbled and uneven: sandals are fine, but heels are a bad idea. The famous windmills are a gentle 15-minute stroll from the port end of town, past the main square.
Local Bus
€2 flat fare- KTEL buses run from Fabrika bus station in the south of Chora to the main beaches: Platis Gialos, Paraga, Paradise, and Ornos. It is about a 10-minute walk from the tender dock to Fabrika. Buses run roughly every 20 – 30 minutes in season but queues form quickly. Buy tickets on the bus.
Taxi
€10 – €20 to most beaches- Taxis in Mykonos are notoriously scarce in high season: ranks are at Taxi Square (Plateia Manto) in the old town. Fares are metered but expect to wait a long time or not get one in July and August. Water taxis from the New Port to beaches are often a better option and cost around €10 – €15 per person.
Top Excursions
Milos oneiro-kleftiko west Milos
Tour with a sailing boat like a semi private trip with a small group of people. Our local skipper offers a slow close-up approach of the west coast of Milos and gives you a detailed presentation of what you see. He shares with you the historical and geological significance of the island.
Book This ExcursionPrivate Full-Day Cruise in Rhodes with Lunch and Drinks
We organise daily cruises,along the eastern coast of Rhodes Island.Our trip is one of the most relaxing and adventurous tours on the island.We have three stops,so you can do swimming and snorkelling and you can also enjoy lunch and cold drinks.We take maximum 14 guests. THE DISPLAYED PRICE IS FOR 10
Book This ExcursionSailing trip to the Top Coasts of Crete, Daily/Multi-day
We are the only Sailing Yacht in the area,so you will enjoy isolated turquoise coasts with no crowds.Our daily sailing trip take place in the crystal clear waters of southern Crete. We will visit Loutro village, Marmara beach, Sweet Water beach, Saint Paul and a private spot
Book This ExcursionHalf day adventure to Kleftiko bay and Open Bar with Lunch
Kleftiko Boat Tour an unforgettable journey to Milos' hidden gems, where adventure meets tranquility on the crystal clear waters of the Aegean. Embark on an extraordinary adventure along the stunning west coast of Milos, accessible only by sea, with plenty of opportunities for swimming and snorkelin
Book This ExcursionMore Experiences in Mykonos
Rock Climbing at Kardamili- West Mani
Once in a lifetime experience! Try your vertical steps at the climbing site of Kardamili. Live the experience on a half-day tour even as a first time climber. Climbing for all grades and ages with a spectacular view of the Messinian Gulf.
Private Overview of Santorini: Full-Day Customizable Experience!
Experience an overview of Santorini with a private tour especially focused on the basic attractions of the island. Embrace the scenic views and the postcard blue domed churches in Oia, Visit the ancient town of Akrotiri, one of the most important pre-historic sites in Greece. Continue with a photo s
The Greek Food Experience (Max 8 persons)
More than just a food tour, rather travelling in a mindful way through food, storytelling and genuine conversation. Inspired by our love for the city, good food and meeting new people. On this most delicious tour, you will have the chance to try the BEST local food from the BEST vendors.
Athens Greek Cooking Class Pita Gyros from Scratch with a Local
Forget Chefs' Hat! Taste the authentic Mama's Greek Cuisine. Leave formalities out, grab a beer or a wine from the fridge and let's have fun. If you are looking for the real Greek hospitality and customs, you are in the right spot. Have you ever tasted the real tomato from the fields? Do you know
The most popular Mykonos excursions, particularly trips to Delos, are worth reserving before you sail. Compare tours and check availability early.
Things to Do in Mykonos
Mykonos is one of the most rewarding Greek islands to explore independently: the tender port drops you right at the edge of Chora (Mykonos Town), and the historic centre is entirely walkable within minutes of stepping ashore. The labyrinthine whitewashed lanes, windmills, and Little Venice waterfront are all on foot from the tender dock, making a ship excursion unnecessary for most of what the island offers.
Be aware that Mykonos is one of the pricier stops in the Aegean: budget €4 – 6 for a bus ride, €10 – 20 for a beach sunbed, and €15 – 30 for a sit-down meal. Arrive early to beat both the heat and the crowds; the narrow streets of Chora fill quickly on busy ship days, so aim to reach the windmills and Little Venice before 11am.
- Chora’s Kastro & Little Venice. From the tender dock, follow the waterfront path west for roughly 10 minutes to reach the Kastro neighbourhood and the iconic row of 15th-century sea-captain houses that hang directly over the water at Little Venice. No entry fee: walk the narrow lanes of Agiou Ioannou and Mitropoleos streets and soak in the view toward the windmills.
- Kato Mili Windmills. The seven Kato Mili windmills on the Chora hilltop are free to photograph and are a five-minute walk uphill from Little Venice: the island’s most recognisable landmark with a sweeping panorama over the port and town. Go before 10am for the best light and thinner crowds.
- Archaeological Museum of Mykonos. A short walk north of the tender pier, this small museum holds funerary sculptures and pottery from the nearby sacred island of Delos, including a striking 7th-century BC pithos jar with scenes of the Trojan War. Entry is €4 and it is rarely crowded: a cool, easy culture stop early in the day.
- Platys Gialos Beach. Catch the KTEL bus from Fabrika station in southern Chora (10-minute walk from tender dock) for the 15-minute ride to Platys Gialos: one of the island’s most accessible family-friendly beaches with clear shallow water. Fare is around €2 each way; sunbeds rent for €10 – 15 per person, or find a free stretch of sand at the eastern end.
- Ornos Beach. A sheltered, calm bay about 3km south of Chora, reachable by KTEL bus from Fabrika (€1.80, every 20 – 30 minutes) or by water taxi from the old harbour jetty. Slightly less hectic than Platys Gialos with a mix of paid sunbeds and free sand, plus several tavernas directly on the beach.
- Matogianni Street. Mykonos Town’s main pedestrian shopping street winds through the heart of the old town, lined with boutiques, jewellers, and galleries. It connects the harbour to the Kastro quarter and offers some of the best people-watching on the island: worth strolling even if you are not shopping.
- Paraportiani Church. This asymmetric cluster of five whitewashed chapels fused into one structure near the Kastro is one of the most photographed churches in Greece: entry to the exterior courtyard is free. It sits just off Enotikon Street and is a two-minute detour from the path between the harbour and Little Venice.
- Gyros or Souvlaki at a Local Pita Shop. For a budget meal, head to the small pita shops tucked off Matogianni and Zouganeli streets: a loaded gyros pita runs €3.50 – 5 and is far better value than the waterfront tourist restaurants where the same food costs three times as much.
The first tender of the day is almost always the quickest, before queues build. Get to the gangway early, grab a low tender number, and you can be in Mykonos Town before the day-trippers arrive from the hotels. The difference between 8am and 10am in Chora is enormous.
Best Restaurants in Mykonos
D'angelo – Italian Restaurant Mykonos
D'Angelo is an Italian Restaurant in Mykonos, located just steps away from the famous Windmills of Mykonos. Its white-washed walls and colorful decor invite you into a relaxing atmosphere. In the cool, shaded outdoor area, you're offered a myriad of tastes from a traditional Ital
#12 of 229 Places to Eat in Mykonos Town
View on TripAdvisorKaravaki Restaurant
Welcome to an Exciting Dining Adventure. Overlooking the Aegean Sea and the mesmerizing chromatic blend mirrored on the water, at Karavaki Restaurant, you are welcome to enjoy splendid culinary treasures from the Mediterranean in an outstanding environment.
#9 of 229 Places to Eat in Mykonos Town
View on TripAdvisorKrama Restaurant
Authentic Greek cuisine by Michelin awarded chef Ioannis Parikos. From the earliest times, the Greeks have always celebrated life to its fullest. It is this celebration and feeling that we at Krama want to bring to you. Greek cuisine has been influenced by many cultures and civilisations.
#17 of 229 Places to Eat in Mykonos Town
View on TripAdvisorRatings & reviews powered by TripAdvisor
Getting Around
Always check the last tender time posted on the ship’s daily programme and aim to be at the New Port at least 30 minutes before it. In peak season, tender queues back up badly in the late afternoon and ships have been known to depart with stragglers still ashore. Do not cut it fine.
Essential Travel Tips
If you want a beach day, water taxis from the New Port quay directly to Platis Gialos, Ornos, and Paradise Beach are often faster and more pleasant than the bus. A return trip to Platis Gialos costs around €10 – €12 per person and drops you right on the sand.
Mykonos is one of the most expensive islands in Greece. A sunbed and parasol on a beach club beach can cost €30 – €50 per set, cocktails are €15 – €20, and even a basic restaurant lunch will rarely come in under €25 a head. If you are on a budget, buy supplies in the small supermarkets in Chora and head to a free stretch of beach.
Nearby cruise ports: Santorini and Athens (Piraeus).
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes: Mykonos has no deep-water quay capable of taking large cruise ships, so vessels anchor offshore and passengers are ferried ashore by tender. The tender landing is at the New Port, a short walk from Mykonos Town (Chora).
The tender ride itself is about 10 – 15 minutes each way, but you also need to factor in the queue for your tender ticket on the ship. In high season (July – August) the full process can take 30 – 45 minutes in each direction, so plan accordingly.
Yes, easily. From the New Port tender landing it is a flat, pleasant 15 – 20 minute walk along the waterfront and through the old town to the famous Kato Myli windmills. The walk takes you through some of the most photogenic streets on the island.
Platis Gialos is the most popular and easily reached: buses run from Fabrika station and water taxis leave from the New Port. Paradise Beach is livelier (and louder). For something quieter, Agios Sostis in the north is beautiful but requires a taxi or hire car.
Mykonos Town is very walkable and easy to explore independently, so excursions are less necessary here than at some other Greek ports. That said, a guided tour of Delos, the tiny sacred island a short boat ride away, is well worth booking as you need a guide to make the most of the ancient ruins.
Mykonos town (Chora) rewards a slow walk through the whitewashed lanes, the famous Kato Mili windmills, and Little Venice on the harbour edge. None of these cost anything beyond the time it takes to enjoy them. The Kastro quarter behind the windmills is the quietest and most photogenic corner of the old town.
Ready to Explore Mykonos?
Mykonos is dazzling, expensive, and unlike anywhere else in the Aegean. Even on a busy summer cruise day, the old town repays every minute spent drifting through its lanes. Get ashore on an early tender, leave plenty of time for the return, and book any Delos excursions before you sail as places fill up quickly in peak season.
How We Verify Port-Day Details
We aim for practical, low-risk guidance. Before publishing and during updates, we check core planning details against official sources and current operator information.
What We Check
- Berth and terminal details, including whether the port is walkable or requires a transfer
- Transport options and realistic return timing for different port types
- Details that change frequently, such as fares and schedules, with up-to-date notes where relevant
Typical Sources
- Official port authority and terminal updates
- Cruise line port notes and day-of-call instructions
- Local transport operators and official tourism resources