Mykonos Cruise Port: One Day in Mykonos From a Cruise Ship
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Enjoy a day on the Greek Island from your cruise ship.
Mykonos Cruise Ship Port: (Jump To)
Planning a cruise to multiple Greek Islands? Check out our Guide to the Cruise Ports of Greece!
Where Does the Cruise Ship Dock in Mykonos
When visiting Mykonos you will most likely have to tender to shore. That’s a fancy cruising term for when your ship anchors near the shore and you take a smaller boat from the ship to the shore. The tenders will take you directly to the old town area.
There is a cruise port called Tourlos that is 1.2 miles (3.5 km) from the main town). If you dock there you can take a 12-minute bus ride to the city center for about €2. You can also walk along a relatively busy street, the walk takes about 30 minutes. It’s a beautiful shoreline walk, but the street traffic and the narrow shoulders make the walk a little undesirable.
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How to Get Around Mykonos
The town is best navigated on foot. The narrow passageways are lined with people and shops. If you plan to leave the old town area, it is best to book a taxi in advance. While there is Uber on the island, the services are very limited. When loads of passengers arrive on the small island, the prices for ride-shares surge and there is no way to guarantee there will be a ride back at the end of the day.
What to See in Mykonos
The old town area is the most visited area of the island. It’s the easiest thing to see and do if you don’t want to spend any money going on shore excursions. The harbor area is filled with shops, cafes, and restaurants. You can easily spend a casual half-day slowly wandering the famous passageways.
Where to See Windmills in Mykonos
The most famous site on the island is the iconic Greek windmills. The most popular row of windmills is a six-minute walk from the old town docks. There are signs around directing you to them. The windmills are along the ocean with views out to the sea.
The interior of one of the windmills is typically open to exploring. It’s free to enter with an optional donation. You climb up the narrow staircase to see the inner workings of the windmills. It’s a cute little place for a quick selfie.
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A less popular windmill, Boni’s Windmill, is situated on top of a hill overlooking the city. It’s a slow but steep climb to the top, but when you get there you will have a full view over the city and out into the ocean. It’s also much less crowded there than the aforementioned easier-to-access row of windmills near the docks.
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Where is the Beach in Mykonos
The easiest beach to get to is Paralia Choras Mikonou. It is right in the main old port area. There is a small patch of sand and crystal-clear water waiting for you there. It’s a busy area. If you’re looking for a more tranquil spot Paralia Megali Ammos is a fifteen-minute walk away. To reach any other beaches you would need to take a bus or taxi. Paralia Platis Gialos Beach is recommended, and Elia Beach is the gay beach on the island.
Museums in Mykonos
The island is home to a few small museums that could be of interest. Lena's House Folk Museum features a traditional island home with furniture, clothing and dress displays, and lots of folk art pieces. Right next door is the Aegean Maritime Museum housing a small collection of nautical artifacts and tiny ship models. The most noteworthy museum on the island is the Archaeological Museum of Mykonos, it's worth a visit if you’d like to learn more about the earliest inhabitants of the islands. It’s a lot of old pots and statues.
Admission to any of these museums costs under €5 per person.
What to Expect in Mykonos
If you’re visiting on a cruise and you can do it, you should wake up early and get to the town as soon as you can. The quaint tiny alleys can clog up with other fellow cruise ship passengers during the day. If you’re there on a day trip, plan to visit the town in the early evening when the cruisers have set sail for the night.
What to See in Mykonos, Greece
The Windmills of Mykonos
Boni’s Windmill
The alleys and shops of Old Town
The beach
Aegean Maritime Museum
Lena’s Folk Art Museum
Archaeological Museum of Mykonos
The Best Beaches in Mykonos, Greece
Paralia Platis Gialos (best overall)
Elia Beach (best for LGBTQIA+)
Paralia Choras Mikonou (easiest to get to for cruisers)
Paralia Megali Ammos (harder to get to, but worth the walk)
