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 sit within a few minutes of each other once you are in town, 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 | Dock or tender |
| Distance to Town | Berth at the New Port (Tourlos), then Sea Bus, shuttle or taxi into 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. |
- New Port (Tourlos) , Where most cruise ships berth, north of Chora
- Mykonos Town , Chora: main square & lanes
- Little Venice , Iconic waterfront quarter
- Platis Gialos , Best accessible beach
Mykonos: New Port (Tourlos) and Old Port · View larger map
Getting From the Port to Town
Walking: The Best Option
Free (once ashore)- Walk time: Sea Bus or shuttle into Chora, about 12 min; then 15 – 20 min on foot to the windmills
- Almost all cruise ships berth at the New Port at Tourlos, north of Chora, and that is not a walk you want to make. The coast road carries traffic and has no proper pavement, so take the Sea Bus, your ship shuttle if one is running, or a taxi. Ships that anchor instead tender into the Old Port, which is on the edge of Chora, and those passengers step straight into the town. Once you are in Chora the lanes are cobbled and uneven, so sandals are fine but heels are a bad idea, and the windmills are a gentle 15-minute stroll 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. Fabrika is about 10 minutes on foot from the Old Port, so from the New Port you need the Sea Bus or a shuttle first. 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, and there is a rank at the New Port. Fares are metered but expect to wait a long time or not get one at all in July and August. Water taxis from the New Port quay to the beaches are often a better option and cost around €10 – €15 per person.
Top Excursions
Tour and Wine Tasting in Mykonian Land
It’s a very distinctive experience and one that will push the boundaries, delivering some resounding benefits and results every time. The commitment is to value and quality, and you will be heavily impressed with the results and the entire process in a professional way. During your tour at our facil
Check AvailabilityMykonos: Brand-New Catamaran Cruise with Meal, Drinks & Transport
Cruise with Nostos Mykonos Yachts in sophisticated chic style and discover the gorgeous waters of the nearby Rhenia island or the famous Mykonian southern coast (itinerary is subject to weather conditions and might be adjusted to ensure safe cruising of passengers). Our brand new sailing catamarans
Check AvailabilityCatamaran Day & Sunset Cruises with meals Drinks and transportation
• Cruise Duration: 5.00 Hours • Choice of a Morning or Sunset Cruise • Swim and snorkeling stop (Snorkeling Equipment Included) • Snap photos of the archaeological site of Delos & Rhenia • Fresh Main Meal served on Board • Drinks Wine, Soft drinks & traditional alcoholic Drinks (Bottled) • Free Tran
Check AvailabilityMykonos Small Group Tour for Cruise Passengers — Port Pickup
Uncover the breathtaking charm of Mykonos during your cruise stop! Discover an authentic way to explore the island with our semi‑private experience, offering the perfect balance of intimacy and personalised service, with only a few guests per tour. For those seeking exclusivity private option is als
Check AvailabilityMore Experiences in Mykonos
Mykonos Shore Excursion with Pickup from Cruise Ship Terminal
Step off your Cruise Ship and into a half-day sightseeing tour that highlights the very best of Mykonos. Our Shore Excursion is designed for travelers seeking an authentic glimpse of the island’s beauty, history, and vibrant local culture. With easy Cruise Ship Terminal pickup service & expert local
Mykonos Sail Cruise to Delos and Rhenia Islands
Hop on board and live a unique cruise experience in Mykonos island. Sail to the ancient Delos, explore this UNESCO World Heritage site, swim in dazzling waters of Rhenia island and indulge in a freshly prepared meat and veggie BBQ on board.
Half-Day Delos Tour from Mykonos
Seize the opportunity to take a trip back in time and visit the island of Delos, the most famous and sacred of all islands in antiquity. According to Greek mythology, Apollo, god of Light – the sun, and Artemis, goddess of the moon, were born on Delos – infamous birthplace of Light, which the Greeks
Mykonos Sail Cruise to Rhenia, Guided Tour of Delos, Lunch&Drinks
Visit with licensed guide the natural insular archaeological site of Delos and enjoy swimming and snorkeling to a secluded cove off the uninhabited island of Rhenia on a 6-hour yacht cruise with a yummy lunch and complimentary drinks. Experience the great combo of leisure and history in one single d
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 cruise berth sits at Tourlos, north of the town, so the day starts with a Sea Bus ride, a ship shuttle or a taxi. Ships that tender instead land at the Old Port, right on the edge of Chora. Once you are in Chora the historic centre is entirely walkable: the labyrinthine whitewashed lanes, the windmills and the Little Venice waterfront are all a few minutes apart, which makes 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 Old Port, 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 along the harbour front from the Old Port, 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 €5 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 minutes on foot from the Old Port) 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.
Chora at 8am and Chora at 10am are two different places. Get off early, take the first Sea Bus or shuttle you can, and you will have the lanes largely to yourself before the day-trippers arrive from the hotels. If your ship is at anchor instead, the first tender is almost always the quickest, before the queues build.
Eating Near the Cruise Port
- Dock (Tourlos) or Tender
- Sea Bus or shuttle from Tourlos, about 12 min
- Euro (€)
What to eat in Mykonos
Kopanisti is the island cheese and it’s the only PDO cheese in the Cyclades: soft, peppery and sharp from its own ripening, spread thickly rather than sliced. Mostra is the way to eat it, on a barley rusk with tomato and oil. Louza is the winter-cured pork loin, spiced and air-dried, sliced very thin. Beyond that it’s Cycladic cooking, so fresh fish, capers and tomatoes, and prices that reflect where you are.
What to drink
Mykonos grows wine inland, away from the beaches most visitors see, and Assyrtiko and Malagousia are the grapes to look for. The Vioma vineyard at Ano Mera, in the middle of the island, is organic and does tastings. Ouzo and tsipouro are the standard spirits, both taken with food and water rather than neat. Mykonos is the most expensive island in Greece to drink on.
Where to find it
Almost all ships berth at Tourlos, so you reach Chora by Sea Bus, shuttle or taxi rather than on foot. Once in town, the waterfront tavernas at Little Venice charge heavily for the sunset. The lanes behind the Kastro and the streets away from the harbour front are better value and quieter. Ano Mera, the inland village, is where Mykoniots eat.
Good for a short port call
Factor the transfer into Chora at both ends before you plan lunch. Once in the lanes, eating is quick; getting back to Tourlos in the late afternoon is not.
Getting Around
Getting back is the part people underestimate. The Sea Bus runs every 30 minutes, taxis are scarce and the late-afternoon queues build at both ends, so allow an hour from Chora to the ship rather than the 12 minutes the crossing takes. If your ship is at anchor, check the last tender time on the daily programme and be at the landing well before it. Ships have sailed with stragglers still ashore.
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
Usually they dock. Almost all cruise ships berth at the New Port at Tourlos, north of Chora on the coast, and you reach the town by Sea Bus, ship shuttle or taxi. Some ships anchor off instead and tender passengers into the Old Port, which sits on the edge of Chora. The two arrivals feel completely different, so check your daily programme the night before.
The Sea Bus is the simplest option. It runs between the New Port at Tourlos and the Old Port at Chora, takes about 12 minutes, costs EUR 2.50 one way and departs every 30 minutes through the season. Many ships also run their own shuttle bus, and taxis wait at the port. Walking is not realistic: the coast road has no proper pavement.
Not from the New Port, but easily once you are in Chora. Take the Sea Bus or a shuttle in first, and from the Old Port it is a flat, pleasant 15 – 20 minute walk along the waterfront and through the old town to the 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.
Ships berth at the New Port at Tourlos, north of Chora. Take the Sea Bus, a ship shuttle or a taxi into town, about 12 minutes; the windmills are then 15 – 20 minutes on foot.
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 early, leave more time for the trip back than the crossing itself takes, 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