MYKONOS TOWN
The capital of Mykonos is also called CHORA, as often happens when no specific name exists. In the bright light of the Mediterranean Sea lies one of the most beautiful harbors of the Aegean Sea. The town impresses and enchants the visitor with its unique position, Cycladic architecture with its winding lanes paved with stone, whitewashed houses with their blue, red or turquoise shutters, wooden outside stairs, small hidden places, numerous tiny chapels and  unexpected and colorful gardens enclosed by high stone walls. A labyrinth of lanes, places and corners in which you still get lost on your third day of exploration.
Mykonos town caters for all the demands of the tourist.  Countless taverns, cafés, bars and shops  offer nearly unlimited choice.  From April to October a party atmosphere pervades the congested lanes, which are free of cars, because they are so narrow.

The old town - Palea Chora
The old town spreads out behind the harbor and is the real centre of Chora. It goes back to the 14th cent. AD and with its typical small lanes and roads is the center of tourist activity, a dense concentration of restaurants, shops and art galleries. MATOYANNI STREET is the main market street of Mykonos that one can walk all the way from the harbor to the inner part. At its end and on the right is ENOPLON DYNAMEON STREET, then we meet MITROPOLEO STREET and turning right, it ends in LITTLE VENICE.

“Little Venice” - Mikri Venetia
Little Venice is one of the most picturesque places in the Aegean Sea and is located west of KASTRO. The houses here are built right by the sea and the colorfully decorated; balconies and terraces have been built just above the surface of the sea. This quarter, although the name is reminiscent of the Venetians, was established during the Turkish occupation.
The advantage was that goods could be brought directly by boat into the houses. Today one finds the best known bars and restaurants in Little Venice, from whose terraces the visitor can enjoy an especially nice sundown.

Kastro – The Castle
Kastro goes back to the Venetians who established their fortress on this peninsula. Unfortunately almost nothing is left of this castle of the 13th century. The Old Town continues nearly unnoticed in the Kastro quarter. The difference becomes evident only when the visitor walks through the winding lanes of Kastro as opposed to the straight lined streets of the Old Town (Palea Chora).
The church of PANAGIA PARAPORTIANI is the place of most interest here. The name arose from its position beside the gate of the medieval Kastro. It was designed during 17th century, but the earliest parts go back to the Middle Ages. The church consists of five chapels which are integrated into this domed building. The chapel called Panagia (Virgin Mary) is on the first floor.
The asymmetrical facade attracts many architects, students and artists from all over the world, making this church unique not only in Mykonos, but in the whole of Greece.

Alefkandra
Alefkandra lies between Little Venice and the windmill mountain and it was where women used to wash and bleach their laundry. Lefkos = white.

Lower windmill mountain – Kato Myli
There used to be two dozen windmills on this small hill southwest of Chora but today only seven have survived.  They are much in evidence on postcards.

Higher windmill mountain – Ano Myli
To the north, above the town, we find the Bonis Windmill close to the by-pass road. From there one has a wonderful view of the whole town and the sunset.

Petros – The Pelikan
A really unique specimen of Mykonos and a legend.  A fisherman found and took care of the bird after a storm in 1957.   Since then the harbor has been his home and has come a tourist attraction and characteristic of Mykonos, illustrated on numerous postcards. Petros lived on the island for 33 years.  One of his descendants is still to be found on the promenade and is a popular photo for many visitors.

Museums
The ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM, located alongside the harbor, was built circa 1900. It shows finds from the cemetery of Rhenia and a large collection of Cycladic ceramics from the beginning of the Geometric period.  Unique is the “Pithos of Mykonos”: a large jar made in a workshop in Tinos in the 7th cent. B.C., richly decorated with bas – relief depicting various scenes from the Trojan War. (Tel: 22890 – 26246).
The MYKONOS FOLKLORE MUSEUM is located in an old, two-storey, captain’s house in Kastro in Mykonos town, a few meters away from the proud Paraportiani church. It exhibits a collection of antique furniture, traditional ceramics, decorative prints, embroidered and hand-woven fabrics, weights and measures, a well kept collection of model boats, and other historical artifacts. There are also important archives of manuscripts and printed matter, photographs, maps and a significant library.  (Tel: 22840 22591).
The AEGEAN MARITIME MUSEUM is located by the Three Wells, next door to Lena’s House. This museum displays a collection of nautical instruments, models of various rowing boats, sailing vessels and steam-powered ships There is also a rich collection of maps and other engravings, as well as the tower with the mechanism of the Armenisti Lighthouse, which had been in use for over 90 years.   (Tel: 22840 22700).
LENA'S HOUSE
Lena’ s House is situated near the Three Wells and it is a charmingly preserved, authentic 19th century Mykonian middle-class dwelling, which is fully furnished and equipped with antique furniture and house utensils.
AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM - BONI WINDMILL
The AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM - BONI WINDMILL, located on the edge of the town at Ano Mili, is an outdoor museum which exhibits the traditional Mykonian agricultural equipment used for the production and processing of farm products: the threshing floor, the well, the oven, wine-press, etc. The museum’s centerpiece is the Boni Windmill, which is in full working order and may be visited.

ANO MERA
The second most traditional place on Mykonos is ANO MERA, a former, remote farm workers’ and miners’ settlement situated away from the center of Mykonos, about 6 km from Chora. It was build around the fortress-like cloister of PANAGIA TOULIANI. Its construction started in 16th century and was expanded in the 18th century. The bell tower was done skillfully and decorated with relief pieces of Tinian marble.  Big celebrations take place on the 15th and 23rd of August.
Although affected by tourist development, Ano Mera remains relatively quiet. Around the main square we find a variety of restaurants, taverns and cafés.

KLOSTER PALEOKASTRO
Coming into the town of Ano Mera from Chora, the Kloster is 1km further on the left.
Open daily from 9-12 o'clock. It is inhabited only by an older nun.

LIMNI MARATHI
The so-called „ lake of Marathi “ is to the west of ORMOS PANORMOU on the way to the beaches PANORMOS and AGIO SOSTIS.  This man made water reservoir provides water supply. The water is transported by means of TRUCK. You can go round the lake on a dirt road.

TOURLOS
Here there are moorings for yachts. Below the street there is a long, narrow sandy beach.

AGIOS STEFANOS
Just behind TOURLOS one finds the sandy bay of AGIOS STEFANOS – 4 km from Chora. A small church at the end of the sandy beach gives her name to the bay. Hotels, taverns and cafés right on the sandy beach, nice view over to Chora and the sunset.

Continuing north you reach the bay of CHOULAKIA, known for its pebble beach.

ORNOS
The bay of ORNOS is open to the south and, hence, sheltered from the wind. Many hotels and rooms to let are to be found in this area.

AGIOS IOANNIS
From here one has a wonderful view to the west – to Delos.  Agios Ioannis is accessible on an asphalt road from Ornos,  passing over a low chain of hills –  the “Diakofti”. In this area the Hollywood film "Shirley Valentine" with its impressive scenery was shot in the year 1988. On the left there is an approx. 200 meter long sandy beach, on the right a small church with red barrel vault, consecrated to St. John (Agios Ioannis).

PLATYS GIALOS
Platis Gialos is one of the best known regions on Mykonos' south coast, very well developed touristic infrastructure – approx. 4.5 km from Chora. Good bus connections and boats to other beaches.