A Mykonos shore excursion is a tour you book for the hours your cruise ship stays in port. You see Mykonos Town, the beaches and the villages, then return to the ship on time. This page covers the port, the timing, the tour types, the sights, the food and the season. The homepage lists more Greece Tours like this one.
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What is a Mykonos shore excursion and who books one?
A Mykonos shore excursion is an organised tour that a cruise passenger takes while the ship is in port. Passengers book it through the cruise line or with an independent operator. The tour is timed around the ship’s schedule.
A shore excursion is a tour or activity that you do during the hours your ship sits in port. The stop is a port of call, an intermediate stop for a ship on its sailing itinerary. A Mykonos shore excursion is that kind of tour, held on the island and built around one port call.
If you plan to cross into Turkey as well, the homepage also lists Turkey tours.
Round-trip cruises call at ports, and passengers can go on a shore excursion at those stops. Ships that call at Mykonos for the day arrive in the morning and leave in the late afternoon. A tour is timed around the ship’s schedule, so the passenger is back before departure.
A Mykonos shore excursion reaches the passenger by two routes. Cruise lines sell onshore excursions that local contractors offer, so one route runs through the ship. The other route is an independent booking, because a cruise passenger is completely free to organise their own tours.
The island sells these formats to cruise visitors, and one of them can sit inside another. The small-group bus tour includes a walking tour of Mykonos Town. The full list of formats is:
- A van tour of the island highlights.
- A small-group tour in a semi-private bus.
- A walking tour of Mykonos Town.
- A private tour led by a local guide.
- A private 4×4 jeep tour.
- A quad-bike (ATV) tour on off-road paths.
- A boat tour along the south coast.
A semi-private small-group tour is designed for cruise passengers. A private jeep tour is designed especially for cruise ship visitors and runs for one private group. The first has other guests aboard. The second keeps the day to your own party. That is the first choice to make for a Mykonos shore excursion.
Shore excursions range from active ones like hiking to relaxed ones like culinary tastings or museum tours. On Mykonos, a quad-bike tour follows off-road paths that only quad bikes can reach. A walking tour covers the town on foot. A boat tour explores the south side of the island from the water.
The first reason to book a Mykonos shore excursion is the pickup. Four formats include pickup at the cruise port or terminal. These are a small-group bus tour, a private jeep tour, a private discovery tour and a quad-bike tour. Another bus tour tells guests to stay where their ship arrived, because the driver comes to them.
The second reason is the way back. One small-group bus tour brings guests back to the gate of their cruise terminal. A private jeep tour drops guests at the start point, so they reach the ship in time for its departure. A second small-group tour returns guests to the original pickup point. A private discovery tour offers a flexible drop-off.
That bus tour can drop guests in Mykonos Town instead. The traveller then explores further alone and shops. A traveller who skips the tour decides the start, the route and the way back without help. A Mykonos shore excursion hands those three jobs to a driver and a guide.
Why do cruise routes include Mykonos and a Mykonos shore excursion?
Cruise routes include Mykonos because the island sits in the heart of the Cyclades, 150 kilometres east of Athens. It ranks second among the Cycladic islands as a cruise port. A Mykonos shore excursion turns the hours of one port call into a planned tour of the island.
Mykonos is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. The Cyclades group includes it, and it lies between Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos. The island covers 85.5 square kilometres. The census counts 10,704 residents, and the majority of them live in the main town on the west coast.
Athens lies 150 kilometres west of the island. Flights link Mykonos with Athens and Thessaloniki. High-speed vessels reach the island daily from Athens and from the surrounding islands. Cruise ships add one more way in. A Mykonos shore excursion is how a passenger covers the island during that call.
The island is built largely of granite. Its terrain is very rocky, and strong winds have eroded areas of it. There are no rivers, only seasonal streams, and two of those now serve as reservoirs. The island also makes 4,500 cubic metres of water a day from sea water. That water helps meet the needs of residents and visitors.
Against that rocky ground, the town shows small white houses with blue windows and wooden balconies. Its streets are narrow and curving. Windmills stand on a low hill above the town, and they are the island’s trademark. Windmills dot the wider island, but they cluster in the main town.
Mykonos has been a popular tourist destination in the Mediterranean since the nineteen-fifties. International jet-set travellers took to the island in the nineteen-sixties. The rise in visitors gave commercial activity on the island a push to grow. Tourism is a major industry there.
Mykonos is the second top summer destination in Greece. It is widely known for its beaches and its traditional Cycladic architecture. One estimate puts its visitors at 1.5 million a year at least, with room for about 50,000 guests a night.
As a cruise port, Mykonos ranks second among the Cycladic islands, behind Santorini. Cruise lines include it in Eastern Mediterranean itineraries, as they include Santorini. The island lies in the centre of the archipelago. A Mykonos shore excursion is how a passenger turns that stop into a tour of the island.
Greece ranks third among European Union holiday destinations for cruises. Within Greece, Piraeus, Santorini and Mykonos together took more than half of the cruise port calls in one annual count.
A short port call suits a visit to the town alone. Half a day leaves room to add a beach. One four-hour Mykonos shore excursion shows the second case. It links two beaches and a village, then ends with a walking tour of the town.
Tours split the hours of a call in different ways. One seven-hour private tour from the cruise port stays in the town. Its stops name no beach and no village, and it includes three hours of free time. A Mykonos shore excursion built around the town trades breadth for time in one place.
Where does the ship dock before a Mykonos shore excursion and how do you reach the town?
Before a Mykonos shore excursion, your ship either berths at the New Port in Tourlos or anchors in the bay. Tenders then carry passengers to the Old Port in Mykonos Town. Your ship’s instructions tell you which one applies on the day.
The New Port sits on the northwest coast of the island, at Tourlos. The port can accommodate ferries, cruise ships and a marina. The Old Port is the traditional harbour in front of Chora, the island’s main town. A Mykonos shore excursion that starts from a ship therefore begins at one of these two harbours.
Tourlos lies north of the town, roughly two to three and a half kilometres away. The walk between the two takes about half an hour to forty minutes. The route includes sections without pavements, which can be uncomfortable in the heat. Walking all the way is possible but not recommended, so the other ways in matter.
A ship shuttle between the New Port and Mykonos Town runs on certain calls only, and availability varies. Cruise lines can provide their own shuttle, but it is not guaranteed in advance. Ask on board before you plan a Mykonos shore excursion around it. A private transfer with pickup at the cruise port needs no taxi and no shuttle bus.
The sea bus water taxi links the New Port with the Old Port in Mykonos Town. Its station is one of the first things you notice on arrival. A public bus also runs from the port to the town. The northern bus depot, above the Old Port, serves Tourlos and Agios Stefanos.
Taxis are the third option, with a taxi square on the Mykonos waterfront. When the port is busy, an available taxi is hard to find. Waiting times are common when more than one cruise ship is in port. Taxis at the New Port run short on busy days, and the bus is the more reliable option.
If your ship anchors, tender boats take you ashore to the Old Port in about five to ten minutes. The tenders dock at a small quay right in town. The Old Port is relatively shallow and is not equipped for large cruise ships. From the quay, the principal sights lie within walking distance, so a town visit needs no transfer.
Weather conditions and ship traffic decide the port assignment, and the captain announces the tender location. The same port call can use either a berth at Tourlos or tender operations. For that reason, check your ship’s instructions before you go ashore for a Mykonos shore excursion.
A tour with terminal pickup asks you to remain at the cruise terminal after you disembark. Stay where your ship arrived, and the guide comes to you. The pickup point is the New Port or the tender dock, depending on how the ship arrives. The guide holds a sign, so there is no street address to find.
Other formats of the Mykonos shore excursion use a fixed meeting point. One tour meets its group at the New Port, by the cruise ship terminal gate. Another meets tendered guests in front of the police station at the Old Port. A private transfer differs: the driver waits at the cruise port, Old or New, with a name sign.
How much time does a Mykonos shore excursion give you on shore?
A Mykonos shore excursion can last 2 hours, 4 hours or a full 7-hour day. Four hours is the length listed for a half-day bus tour with cruise terminal pickup. Choose a tour that ends well before your ship’s all-aboard time.
Short tours last 2 hours. A van tour of the island highlights lists 2 hours. So does a walking tour of Mykonos Town, which goes entirely on foot. A food walk lists 2 hours as well and counts its walking time within those hours. Pick one of these for a short Mykonos shore excursion.
Three hours and three and a half hours sit in the middle. A private walking and food tour lists 3 hours. A shared bus tour lists 3 hours and 30 minutes, and its stops cover the island and Mykonos Town. That bus tour finishes at the Mykonos Town waterfront.
Four hours is the length listed for a half-day bus tour, a private SUV tour and a private jeep tour. A town walk plus a minivan ride also lists 4 hours: 2 hours on foot and 2 hours by van. Book a 4-hour Mykonos shore excursion for a drive and a town walk in one outing.
Longer days exist. A private discovery tour with cruise port pickup lists 4 hours in its highlights. It offers 4-hour and 5-hour options, with a walking tour on request. A grand tour with pickup at the cruise ship pier lists 6 hours. A private full-day tour lists 7 hours.
The 7-hour private tour holds a 3-hour guided journey and 3 hours of free time in Mykonos Town. It then drives you back to the ship. The tour states that its route and duration in the city depend on the ship’s docking times. For a full-day Mykonos shore excursion, check your ship’s arrival and departure hours first.
The all-aboard time is the deadline for being back, and it falls before the sailing time. One cruise line sets it approximately 30 minutes before sailing and posts it near the gangway. Check the time once on board. Plan your Mykonos shore excursion to finish before that time, not before sailing.
Add a margin on top of the all-aboard time. Aim to be back at least an hour before the set time. A cruise line’s port article says to leave a wide margin for the trip back. Traffic and pickup arrangements can change the journey time.
Return promises are written into the tour wording. A private SUV tour lists a guaranteed on-time return to the cruise port. A private jeep tour lists a guaranteed return to the ship on time. A 6-hour small-group tour lists a guaranteed timely return. Compare this promise on every Mykonos shore excursion.
End points differ, so check them. The jeep tour returns you to the cruise terminal or to a spot that suits you. A 4-hour bus tour brings you back to the terminal gate of your ship. It can drop you in town on request instead.
Be on time at the start. The 3-hour 30-minute bus tour asks guests to be at the meeting point at least 15 minutes early. Its bus departs on time. A food walk treats a guest delayed by more than 5 minutes as a no-show. A jeep tour counts a late pickup as a no-show.
If the return runs late, contact the cruise line. One article on cruise rules advises calling the number in the daily newsletter. The line’s 24-hour number is the other route. Either call tells the ship you are on the way back. A grand tour’s booking confirmation carries instructions for trouble in meeting your guide.
Which kinds of Mykonos shore excursion can you book?
You can book van, small-group, walking, private, 4×4 jeep, quad-bike, food-walk and beach-day tours. Each Mykonos shore excursion differs in group size, vehicle, guide language and inclusions. Two small-group tours cap the group at 18 and 19 people.
The van or minibus tour moves a small group between stops. One version uses an air-conditioned vehicle and an English-speaking guide. It includes transport from pickup to drop-off and a bottle of water, but not food or drinks. It also promises that you are back at the ship on time. It names no head count.
One small-group Mykonos shore excursion caps each vehicle at 18 passengers. It sends two English-speaking guides, one for the minibus drive and one for the town walk. Food, drinks and gratuities are not included. A second, semi-private tour allows 19 people in an air-conditioned bus. It leaves out gratuities and the monastery entrance fee.
One grand tour sits in the standard size class, which it puts at 20 to 50 people. A full-day sightseeing tour includes pickup, drop-off, transport, an escort and lunch. A snack is paid for on the spot. That tour states no vehicle type and no guide language.
Walking tours come in two shapes. One, made for cruise travellers, pairs island stops with a Chora walk. It includes a professional English-speaking guide and the monastery entrance, but not lunch, refreshments or gratuities. A town-only tour is a semi-private Mykonos shore excursion with a local host. It leaves out food, drinks and gratuities.
A private Mykonos shore excursion gives your own party the whole vehicle. One private discovery tour lists an air-conditioned vehicle and a local driver-guide. It includes bottled water, a map of Mykonos and the monastery entrance fee. For groups above four, it adds a second vehicle and guide.
That discovery tour starts from a hotel, a villa, the cruise terminal or another chosen point. Coffee, tea, snacks and lunch are not included. A second private tour is a drive around the island’s highlights with an experienced tour leader and a professional driver. It includes a light snack, bottled water and the monastery entrance fee.
A Mykonos shore excursion by jeep is private too. It uses a new, air-conditioned 4×4 SUV, and the guide speaks English and Portuguese. Wi-Fi, water and soft drinks are included, but lunch is not. The tour suits couples, small groups and families.
A quad-bike tour covers the island from the seat of a quad bike. One quad adventure runs as a private tour, so only the group that booked takes part. Photo-taking is part of the service. Delos is a small island near Mykonos, so a Delos boat tour is a separate trip from every format here.
A food walking tour is a stroll through Mykonos Town with a local foodie. Transport is offered for an extra charge. A beach-day tour includes a local host, a transfer and a reserved sunbed. It leaves out food, drinks and gratuities.
Choose by group size first. A private, jeep or quad tour keeps the group to your own party. A shared Mykonos shore excursion holds up to 18 or 19 people in the two tours that give a number. For language, English is named on the van, small-group and walking tours.
Compare what each ticket leaves out before you decide. Lunch is not included in the walking, jeep and private discovery tours, and it is included in the full-day tour. The monastery entrance is included in the walking, private discovery and island-drive tours. It is excluded from the 19-person tour.
What does a Mykonos shore excursion show in Mykonos Town?
A Mykonos shore excursion in Mykonos Town shows the white lanes of Chora and Little Venice. It adds the Kato Mili windmills, the Paraportiani church, the Old Port front and the town museums. All of them lie in or beside the old centre.
On a Mykonos shore excursion, the first thing you walk into is the lane maze of Chora. The narrow alleys were originally designed to confuse pirates. The houses are whitewashed and cube-shaped. In places, steps climb to colourful verandas. Elsewhere the alleys are so narrow that two groups find it hard to meet.
Little Venice is the seafront quarter of Chora, also called Alefkandra. Rows of fishing houses line the waterfront, with balconies hanging over the sea. Early ship captains built elegant houses here. The foundations are lapped by Aegean waves. Art galleries sit in the narrow streets behind, and people gather there at sunset.
The Kato Mili windmills come next on a Mykonos shore excursion that walks the old town. They stand in a row on a hill above the sea, beside Little Venice. Venetians built them in the sixteenth century to mill flour. The row faces the strong northern winds. Today the mills are the hallmark of the island.
The Kastro quarter is the old castle area of Chora. The island came under direct Venetian rule in the fourteenth century. Little remains of the Venetian castle, but the quarter around its gate keeps whitewashed alleys. The Paraportiani church, a landmark of the quarter, stands right beside that castle gate.
A Mykonos shore excursion stops at the Paraportiani church to look at its shape. The whitewashed building is five separate churches joined into one. The chapels sit so tightly together that it looks like a single building. Building took from the fifteenth century into the seventeenth. The name means Our Lady of the Side Gate.
The Folklore Museum stands in Kastro, near the Paraportiani church. It fills an old two-storey captain’s house from the eighteenth century. Six main halls hold old furniture, icons, folk ceramics, embroidery, keys, weights and measures, and model ships. Lena’s House, a branch of the museum, is a nineteenth-century middle-class Mykonian home with old furnishings.
On a Mykonos shore excursion, the Archaeological Museum is the place to meet finds from the nearby islet of Rheneia. The Greek Archaeological Service founded it in the early twentieth century. Its neoclassical building stands a three-minute walk from the Old Port bus station. A large Archaic pithos shows scenes from the fall of Troy.
The Old Port lies in the heart of Chora and keeps the look of an old fishing village. Bars line the waterfront promenade. A pelican named Petros has long been a fixture on that waterfront. The Maritime Museum fills a nineteenth-century mansion in Chora and shows old nautical instruments, tools and maps.
Matoyianni Street is the cobbled pedestrian street of the town’s shops. A stroll along it reveals a lively shopping scene. One walking route links Manto Mavrogenous Square, Matoyianni Street, the Paraportiani church, the windmills and Little Venice. Such a Mykonos shore excursion on foot covers the old centre stop by stop.
Walking is the way to see the old centre, because areas of it are pedestrian-friendly. The streets are cobbled, and the stone lanes between the sights are narrow. Painted white squares mark the paving in the lanes. Whitewashed houses line them, so the walk keeps the same plain Cycladic look from one sight to the next.
Which beaches does a Mykonos shore excursion reach?
A Mykonos shore excursion with a beach stop reaches Elia, Paradise, Super Paradise or Kalafatis. Ornos, Platis Gialos and Psarou lie on the southern side of the island. One tour bundles a reserved sunbed, and another leaves it out.
Start with the map. The southern bus depot runs a regular service to Ornos, Agios Yannis, Platis Gialos, Psarou, Paraga and Paradise. The northern depot serves Ano Mera, Elia and Kalafatis. Small boats link the beaches as well. A Mykonos shore excursion that adds sand picks one of these places.
Ornos lies 2 kilometres from Chora, on the southern tip of the island. It is a bay with sand and clean water, and its tourist facilities are well developed. Psarou lies close by, and water sports are possible in that area.
Platis Gialos is an immense golden sandy beach on the southern side of the island. It is well organised, and boats leave from it for the neighbouring beaches. Psarou sits on the same coast. It is well organised too, and it is extremely popular with visitors.
Paradise lies south-east of Chora, and a regular bus runs to it. It is sandy, well organised and one of the busiest beaches on Mykonos. Super Paradise, also south-east of Chora, is sandy and well organised. You reach it only by private transport or by boat from Platis Gialos. A Mykonos shore excursion with a transfer solves that gap.
Elia is the longest sandy beach on Mykonos, 12 kilometres south-east of Chora. Umbrellas, sunbeds and seaside bars dot the shore. One small-group beach tour gives 2.5 to 3 hours at Elia. It runs six hours in all, uses minivans and takes up to 8 travellers. Sunbeds and umbrellas are not included.
A second Elia tour also gives about 3 hours on the sand and lists swimming and watersports. It then offers optional free time in Mykonos Town. Sunbeds and umbrellas are excluded here too. This Mykonos shore excursion pairs one long beach stop with a walk in town.
A Mykonos shore excursion to Paradise Beach comes as a six-hour semi-private tour in an air-conditioned vehicle. The beach stop lasts 4 hours. A reserved sunbed in the fifth or sixth row is included. A sunbed upgrade costs extra and is arranged on site. Swimming is one way to fill the four hours.
A second six-hour tour goes to Super Paradise Beach. It gives 4 hours by the sea and lists a reserved sunbed and the transfer as included. Sunbathing and swimming fill the stop. The same tour covers sights in Mykonos Town, so the day mixes streets and sand.
Kalafatis sits on the east coast, 13 kilometres east of Chora. It is a golden sandy beach with clean water. One four-hour bus tour with a cap of 19 guests gives Kalafatis a 30-minute stop. The stop is there for the sand and the breeze.
Agios Stefanos is the exception to the southern rule. It is a small, protected, sandy cove 5 kilometres north of Chora. It is well organised. Check the stop list of any Mykonos shore excursion before you count on a swim there.
Compare the sunbed line before you book. Two of the beach tours above include a reserved sunbed, and two others list sunbeds and umbrellas as not included. The Elia, Paradise and Super Paradise tours give between 2.5 and 4 hours on the sand. The Kalafatis stop lasts 30 minutes.
Why do island tours on a Mykonos shore excursion stop in Ano Mera?
Island tours on a Mykonos shore excursion stop in Ano Mera because it lies in the centre of the island. The village holds the monastery of Panagia Tourliani, and a square, farmland and a second monastery sit close by.
Ano Mera sits near the centre of Mykonos, between six and eight kilometres from Mykonos Town. A Mykonos shore excursion by van or bus reaches it by driving across the middle of the island. The village is peaceful and built in the typical Cycladic style.
Panagia Tourliani is the main attraction of Ano Mera, which is why a Mykonos shore excursion stops there. The all-white monastery stands right in front of the village’s central square. Tradition says fugitive monks from Paros founded it in the sixteenth century, on the base of an older church.
The marble belfry and the fountain carry relief decoration. Both are examples of traditional Cycladic marble carving. Inside, the three-aisled church holds a wood-carved baroque iconostasis. It is 10.20 metres long and covers all three aisles. An iconographer from Corfu made its icons.
Belief ascribes the miraculous icon of the Panagia to Luke the Evangelist. Tradition says it was found by the sea. A church museum inside the monastery shows icons, gold-embroidered epitaphs and the first bells of the monastery. A big festival takes place there on the fifteenth of August.
The square is a second reason to stop. Early in the twentieth century the monastery gave land freely. A kindergarten, a primary school, a square and a spiritual centre were created on it. Today the square is pedestrianised and lined with traditional cafes and tavernas. A Mykonos shore excursion can combine the square and the monastery in one stop.
A second monastery, Paleokastro, stands on a hill close to Ano Mera. It is a women’s convent beside the remains of the Gizi castle. The name Paleokastro means old castle. The hill gives panoramic views of the Mykonos countryside. The site lies in one of the greenest spots on the island.
Ano Mera is also where a farm-based Mykonos shore excursion turns to the land. On one three-hour farm tour, the bus crosses the island to the village. A short walk then leads to the farm. The farm’s superintendent explains the organic growing methods. Visitors can pet the farm animals and sample produce from the farm.
The farm-lunch format adds a meal to the same route. A private Mykonos shore excursion of three and a half hours visits Ano Mera and the monastery. It then leaves the tourist trail for a family-run farmstead in the countryside. The tour runs in an air-conditioned van for one to ten people.
The lunch is freshly prepared with locally sourced ingredients. The menu names homemade moussaka, tzatziki and a Greek salad with feta and local olive oil. Farm-baked bread, seasonal sides, local wine and dessert complete the meal. The setting is rustic and relaxed.
Ano Mera is known for its wine production. One farm north-west of the village leases part of its land from the monastery. The monastery’s historic vineyard was cultivated since the nineteenth century, then abandoned for decades. The farm’s owner replanted it from scratch and watered the vines for three years before the first wine.
What does the north coast add to a Mykonos shore excursion?
The north coast adds a lighthouse, sandy bays and dirt roads to a Mykonos shore excursion. It is the quieter side of the island. The private 4×4 tour from the cruise port is the format that reaches it.
A Mykonos shore excursion that turns north leaves the white lanes of the town behind. The island is made of granite for the larger part, and its ground is rocky. In places, strong winds have worn the rock away. A 4×4 SUV suits that ground, because it can handle off-road paths.
The Armenistis lighthouse stands in the north-west of Mykonos, above a bay of the same name. From its cape you look across the strait between Mykonos and Tinos. The tower is 19 metres tall. A long, winding road leads to it from Agios Stefanos, and the last stretch is dirt.
A shipwreck explains the lighthouse. A British steamship was wrecked off the north coast, and 11 crew members died. The lighthouse was built four years later. Keepers lived in the cubic building beside it with their families. They worked day and night shifts for almost a century.
The first lantern mechanism came from a French firm and won an award at an exhibition in Paris. It ran until a modern electric unit replaced it. The old machine now stands in the garden of the Aegean Maritime Museum in Chora. The tower flashes a white light once every ten seconds.
The private 4×4 jeep adventure from the cruise port is the Mykonos shore excursion that stops at this lighthouse. The tour lasts about four hours and starts at the cruise terminal. Its vehicle is an air-conditioned 4×4 SUV. Agios Sostis beach is another stop on the same tour.
Agios Sostis is a sandy beach on the north coast, facing east onto its bay. A church of the same name stands above the bay, and the beach takes its name from it. There are no sunbeds or umbrellas on the sand. A tavern stands on the beach, and no public transport serves it.
Panormos lies on the road that leads to Agios Sostis. The drive passes the Marathi water reservoir. Panormos is a sandy beach, and a beach bar has put sunbeds and umbrellas on one part of it. The sea can be a little rough when the north wind blows. Even so, you can find a bit of protection.
Fokos is a wide beach on the northern side of the island. It lies after the artificial lake of Marathi, and past the reservoir the road becomes a dirt track. A taverna stands on site. Check the stop list before booking a Mykonos shore excursion. The private 4×4 tour names the lighthouse and Agios Sostis, not Fokos.
Dry-stone walls cross the Mykonos countryside. The municipality says the local wall type was invented to mark out grazing areas. Builders stack unprocessed stones without shaping them. The walls slow down erosion, retain water and define property boundaries. Red-roofed chapels stand out in the same countryside, and rural farm units called horia add to the view.
Wind shapes this side of the island. Mykonos has the nickname Island of the Winds because of its very strong winds. The meltemi is the dry north wind that crosses the Aegean in summer. Lighthouse notes advise a visit to Armenistis at sunset. The wind is part of what a Mykonos shore excursion meets on this side of the island.
- Armenistis lighthouse, 19 metres tall, above the strait between Mykonos and Tinos.
- Agios Sostis and Panormos, two sandy north-coast beaches on the same road.
- Fokos, a wide beach reached by a dirt track past the reservoir.
- Dry-stone walls and red-roofed chapels along the country roads.
What food and drink come with a Mykonos shore excursion?
A Mykonos shore excursion brings food in two ways: tasting stops on a food walk or a farm lunch. Menus on these tours cover pies, cheese, almond cookies, souvlaki, local wine and ouzo. Each tour lists its own menu, so read the inclusions.
Kopanisti is a salty, spicy cheese with protected designation of origin. It is made across the Cyclades, and it has been produced in Mykonos for more than 300 years. It belongs to the blue cheese category. It needs the right pairing, because it is not a cheese to eat alone.
Louza is cured pork, prized as the delicatessen product of the island. It is seasoned with spices, pepper, oregano and olives, then dried in the open air for half a month. Traditionally it is one piece about 1 metre long. Local sausages are chopped coarsely and air-dried as well.
Amygdalota are almond cookies tied to the Cyclades. They can be sweetened with honey and flavoured with orange flower water or rose water. Local sweets also include almond pastries, biscuits called ergolavoi and small baskets called kalathakia.
Drinks are local too. The island has a small wine production, and a local microbrewery adds prickly pear to certain labels.
The food walk is the tasting-led Mykonos shore excursion. One walk through Mykonos Town has six stops. Its tastings include baklava, spinach pie, Greek coffee, hummus with fresh bread and feta. The list goes on with tomato, cucumber and olives, almond cookies, a souvlaki wrap and a Greek shot.
Another Mykonos shore excursion on foot has four tasting stops and takes a maximum of 14 guests. It serves pastries, baklava, meze spreads, feta, a souvlaki wrap and Greek coffee. A food tour for families tastes cheese, spinach and onion pies. It adds almond cookies with rose water, souvlaki and homemade desserts.
A small-group Mykonos shore excursion for cruise travellers includes a round-trip transfer from and to the cruise port. It adds a traditional baked treat and a glass of ouzo with tomato, cucumber, olives, dolma and cheese. One stop is a Venetian oven, where freshly baked Mykonian pies are tasted.
A private Mykonos shore excursion built around wine visits a traditional farm for a tasting of three local Greek wines. One is a naturally sweet dessert wine. Meze come with the wines. They include a kopanisti cheese dip with yoghurt, aged Naxos gruyere with honey, Mykonian louza, bread and salad.
Tasting stops cover beer and olive oil as well. One private countryside tour lists a beer, wine or olive oil tasting as an option. Another private tour adds a guided beer tasting, then a farmstead stop that explains olive oil production. There the meze-style meal brings fresh cheeses, olives and homemade jams, plus Greek salad and souvlaki.
On a different tour, the farm lunch is optional. It brings spinach pie, cheese pie, tzatziki, salad and bread. The main dish is soutzoukakia in tomato sauce with yellow rice. Dessert is yoghurt with spoon sweet. Farm wine, white or rosé, is unlimited, and bottled water is served.
Water is part of the package on certain tours. A six-hour private tour includes bottled water and lunch, plus private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle. A private countryside tour lists water among its inclusions but excludes meals and beverages. A private barbecue tour serves one glass of wine or beer with soft drinks and water.
Dietary needs are handled on request. The cruise-passenger tour lists accommodation of dietary needs among its inclusions. The family food tour can be adjusted to dietary restrictions. Another food walk asks guests to contact the operator about restrictions and allergies. It cannot promise every strict restriction at every stop, so tell the operator before your Mykonos shore excursion.
Which Mykonos shore excursion suits families, older travellers and walkers?
A Mykonos shore excursion in a van or bus suits families and older travellers. The vehicle covers the long distances. A walking tour of Mykonos Town suits walkers in flat shoes who can climb steps. Wheelchair users have a private accessible van tour.
Before you choose a Mykonos shore excursion, look at the ground it crosses. A cruise-port access review describes uneven pavements and hills in Mykonos Town. It rates the hills from easy to challenging, and none is too steep to manage with help. Certain streets have steps, and steps lead into shops along the harbour.
A shared bus tour covers the long distances for you. One shared half-day bus tour that collects you at the cruise terminal runs in an air-conditioned bus. It has a walking portion and needs moderate fitness. The tour is not advised for wheelchair users or guests with walking disabilities. Eating and drinking are not allowed on the bus.
Fitness lines differ between tours, so read the line for the exact Mykonos shore excursion you book. One four-hour small-group tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels and uses drive-through stops. The half-day bus tour above asks for a moderate level. Those with heart problems or serious medical conditions are told to avoid it.
A walking tour of Chora is the choice for fit walkers. One two-hour walk calls for comfortable shoes on cobbled streets and uneven paths, at a relaxed pace. A small-group walk of about two hours adds steps. It warns that travellers with mobility difficulties, or those who prefer minimal walking, can find it challenging.
Another two-hour town walk carries a moderate activity rating. A fair amount of walking is required, and full flights of steps are possible. Guests must be able to walk over paved, gravel and packed-dirt surfaces. That walk is not wheelchair accessible. A different two-hour walk is not suitable for electric wheelchairs or scooters.
Shoes come first when you pack for a Mykonos shore excursion that includes the old town. One walk recommends sensible, flat-soled walking shoes, and another calls walking shoes essential. One walk tells guests to cover shoulders and knees for churches. A Greek heatwave guide advises light dress and no dark colours.
A Mykonos shore excursion on a hot day needs a sun plan. Greek doctors advise holidaymakers to drink plenty of fluids and avoid the sun between noon and 4 pm. They also advise a hat, and sunscreen on the beach and when hiking. One two-hour walk lists sunscreen and sunglasses. Seek shade when outdoors in the heat.
Child and baby rules differ by tour, so check them before booking. One small-group van tour with a beach stop requires infants to sit on an adult’s lap. Another small-group tour lists specialised infant seats. One half-day bus tour has no age limit but needs a moderate level of fitness. A private tour is exclusive to your own party.
For wheelchair users, a Mykonos shore excursion starts with the port. A cruise-port access review says ships that dock are too far from town to walk or roll. Transport is arranged in advance, and an accessible van with a driver is its named option. Tender restrictions for disabled passengers exist on cruise ships, so confirm with your cruise line.
One private four-hour tour uses an air-conditioned wheelchair-accessible van, with room for one wheelchair user plus four others. Its route is step and curb free, yet it warns of cobblestones and uneven ground. Another private tour of about three hours is designed for limited mobility. Full-time wheelchair users need a ramp vehicle there.
Which months and weather suit a Mykonos shore excursion?
From late spring to September, a Mykonos shore excursion meets dry, sunny days. Long-term daytime highs run from 22 to 27 degrees Celsius over those months, and monthly rain stays under 20 millimetres. July and August are the hottest, windiest and busiest.
The traditional cruise season on Mykonos runs from late spring to September. Port calendars also list calls from March into December. A Mykonos shore excursion can therefore fall in a cool month or a hot one. The weather of that month decides what you wear and how long you stay outdoors.
A Mykonos shore excursion in July or August gets the sunniest and driest weather of the year. The long-term daytime high is 27 degrees Celsius in both months. Sunshine runs to 14 hours a day in July and 13 in August. Rain falls on 2 days in each month: 4 millimetres in July and 3 in August.
In April and late spring, a Mykonos shore excursion runs cooler. The long-term daytime high is 18 degrees Celsius in April, with 9 hours of sun a day. In late spring it climbs to 22 degrees and 11 hours of sun. Spring on the island is mild and quite sunny, but it is also windy.
September keeps the feel of summer. The long-term daytime high is 24 degrees Celsius, with 11 hours of sun a day. October turns cooler and wetter. Its high is 20 degrees, with 7 hours of sun and 47 millimetres of rain. The rainy season on the island runs from October to March.
The sea warms slowly. Its long-term temperature is 16 degrees Celsius in April and 24 degrees in August. It sits between 21 and 22 degrees in June and between 23 and 24 degrees in September. February and March are the coldest sea months, close to 15 degrees.
In summer, a Mykonos shore excursion meets the meltemi, a north wind. Its season lasts from late spring until mid-September, and the wind is cool and dry. It blows for long periods, especially in July and August. Gusts can exceed 70 kilometres an hour. The wind and the surrounding sea keep summer days relatively cool.
Wind affects a Mykonos shore excursion by sea. From late spring into early autumn, the wind can delay high-speed ferries and cancel small craft. On the Beaufort scale, the meltemi reaches force 7 or 8 at times, and it is strongest in the afternoon. Force 7 is a near gale, and walking on an exposed quay is hard work.
August is the busiest month on the island, and July is the other of its two busiest. June and September are quieter, and the island is not bustling. With two or more large ships in port, plan Mykonos Town for early morning or later in the day. Keep midday movable on a Mykonos shore excursion.
Photographers get steady light in summer. Clear skies prevail then, and cloudy days are very rare in the high season. In winter, sunny spells alternate with cloud and rain. Autumn is warm and sunny at first, then it gradually turns cooler and rainier.
Heat advice for Greece is to wear a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and light clothing, preferably cotton. It also says to drink plenty of water. The wind adds a second need. In July and August, people who feel the cold can feel a little cool in it.
- A hat with a broad brim, for shade on the face, neck and ears
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Light cotton clothing and water to drink through the day
- A light layer, such as a sweatshirt, for the wind
- A waterproof layer for October, with rain on 4 days
How do you book a Mykonos shore excursion and what do the rules say?
Book a Mykonos shore excursion online before the ship arrives. The tour pages offer a mobile ticket and free cancellation until a day before the start. Read the refund rules and the meeting point before you pay.
You can book a Mykonos shore excursion online before you leave home. A tour page can display real-time availability for your date. Other pages carry a check-availability button instead. A tour page can also show a tour as sold out, so book ahead rather than at the pier.
Instant confirmation is a feature that one booking page lists for a pickup tour. It means you receive the booking voucher immediately. The terminal-pickup bus tour, the half-day highlights tour and the one-hour private transfer each list a mobile ticket.
A Mykonos shore excursion can carry the reserve-now, pay-later option, but only select activities do. It holds your spot without a payment on the day you book. The card is charged 72 hours before the activity. Cancelling before that moment costs nothing.
The cancellation wording for a Mykonos shore excursion is short. A full refund needs a cancellation made 24 hours or more ahead of the departure time. A cancellation inside 24 hours earns no refund. The cut-off is counted in the local time of the experience, so count in Mykonos time.
Changes follow the same 24 hours. No change is accepted inside the final 24 hours. A guest who fails to show up gets no refund, and a guest who leaves partway through gets none either. A health-based refund claim needs a valid medical document.
Check the ship-cannot-dock line before you book a Mykonos shore excursion. The terminal-pickup bus tour promises a full refund if the ship does not arrive as scheduled. The refund applies when the tour cannot be rescheduled. A small-group tour and a private tour each promise a full refund if the ship cannot dock.
A tour can need a minimum number of travellers. When the group stays under that minimum, the operator cancels the tour. The page then offers another date or experience, or a full refund. The terminal-pickup bus tour is for cruise passengers only. Local ferry passengers cannot join it.
Group size and guide language sit on each tour page. A jeep tour is private for up to 4 people, and a larger group needs a separate booking. The terminal-pickup bus tour is shared, so other participants join. Both pages name an English-speaking local guide. Compare these lines for every Mykonos shore excursion on your list.
The ship’s excursion desk is the other way to book a Mykonos shore excursion. One cruise line says guests need not book an excursion and are free to explore alone. It guarantees that the ship waits if a tour booked through it runs late. The same line says the ship will not wait for a guest faring on their own.
That line also says it is the guest’s responsibility to be onboard before the ship’s scheduled departure time. The wording comes from one line, so read your own line’s rules before you book outside the ship’s desk.
Bring a photo ID ashore, because cruise lines handle entry requirements in advance. A tour page asks you to wear comfortable shoes because of the walking portion. A small-group tour page says the order of stops can change with traffic, weather or port conditions.
- The free-cancellation line and its 24-hour cut-off
- The refund line if the ship cannot dock
- The group size, the guide language and the meeting point for your port
- A photo ID, comfortable shoes and the voucher on your phone