When to visit Mykonos?

Mykonos is the Cycladic island of glamour and high-octane fun: its beaches, beach clubs and photogenic Chora put it in a category of its own among the Greek islands. Excellent ferry and flight connections also make Mykonos the easiest possible pairing with Santorini — the Cyclades' default first-time itinerary. The Chora itself is one of the prettiest village centres in the Aegean, and even seasoned travellers usually find themselves taking far too many photos of the same row of windmills.

The downsides are blunt. Mykonos is genuinely expensive — among the priciest islands in Greece — and overtourism in July and August is real. Sun-lounger fees at the headline beach clubs can outpace dinner bills, and the Meltemi wind occasionally ruins a planned day on an exposed beach. The cure: travel in shoulder season (May, June or September), alternate beach-club days with quiet northern coves like Agios Sostis or Fokos, and treat Mykonos as a two-speed island. Done that way, Mykonos delivers exactly what its reputation promises — and quietly throws in a few of its calmer, more authentic surprises for travellers willing to look beyond the beach-club horizon.