Mykonos

For decades, Mykonos has been considered one of the most famous queer destinations in the Mediterranean. With its open atmosphere and nightlife that attracts international travelers, the Cycladic island also combines whitewashed island architecture. If you come in midsummer, you will encounter a very mixed scene from all over Europe and beyond.

Trendy district

Queer life is concentrated in Mykonos Town, the Chora, and there especially in the harbor district of Little Venice. In the narrow, whitewashed alleys, bars, cafés and small shops are lined up close together. In the middle of the old town, the Jackie O' Town Bar has long been a permanent fixture. A lot of things take place here rather on foot, you don't have to cover long distances in the center.

Nightlife

Often, going out begins in the late afternoon on the beaches and shifts to the city at night. Near the waterfront are two well-known places to go, the Jackie O' and the Babylon. A central program item is the XLSIOR Festival in August, to which thousands of queer guests from all over the world travel. If you want to sleep early, Mykonos is rather out of place in summer, as many parties drag on until the early hours of the morning.

Beaches

On the south coast are the island's classic gay beaches. The most famous meeting place of the scene is Super Paradise Beach, plus Elia Beach a little further east. There are loungers, beach bars and daytime DJ sets on both beaches. They can be reached by bus, taxi or with the small boat shuttles that run along the bays in summer.

Best time to visit

The high season lasts from June to September, when the weather is reliably warm and the entire scene is open. Around the XLSIOR festival, August is the peak, but also the most expensive and crowded. If you like it a little quieter and cheaper, go in June or September. Outside of these months, many bars and beach bars close, and island life becomes much quieter.

Arrival

Mykonos has its own airport (JMK), which is served directly from many European cities during the summer; out of season, a lot goes through Athens. Alternatively, you can reach the island by ferry, for example from the port of Piraeus near Athens or from neighboring islands such as Naxos and Paros. From the airport and the new port, you can get to the centre by taxi or bus. If you want to head for the more remote bays, a rental car or scooter is worthwhile.

Safety & LGBT Rights

Since the introduction of same-sex marriage in 2024, Greece has been one of the more legally advanced countries in southern Europe. Mykonos has long been geared towards queer guests, and open discrimination is rare in everyday tourist life. As at any busy party location, the usual advice is to pay attention to valuables and drinks. Outside the island, sentiment can be more conservative in more rural regions of Greece.