Travel

Greece Diaries: Mykonos

As much as people will tell you that Mykonos is a party island, it really is what you make of it! Luckily for us, we wanted a little bit of both relaxation and partying, and our gorgeous resort was only a 10 min walk to Cavo Paradiso (the best club on the island!) We stayed at Votsalaki Resort which by far is still my favorite resort we stayed at our entire time throughout Greece. I think besides the all white traditional Greek styled rooms, the infinity pool (which I couldn’t resist taking a photo shoot at), and its stunning views, the hospitality is what made it even more incredible. Emmanouela was so welcoming; she provided us with enough information to plan our stay in Mykonos, and by the end of our stay it was hard to say goodbye to both the island and the resort. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants to get off the beaten path and look for a home away from home! It’s a true treasure.

When we had booked our trip we didn’t realize how close we would be to paradise beach, which is known to be the craziest party beach on the island. But luckily we were far enough to be away from the scene but close enough to enjoy the fun music that played throughout the day and ended in the middle of the night.

The first night we ventured past Paradise beach and over the rocks to the other side of the island, known as Paraga. We had an entertaining dinner at Nicolas Taverna (a family owned restaurant); we danced to live, traditional Greek music, among tourists and locals alike. A soon-to-be bride and groom was even celebrating their rehearsal dinner at this restaurant (little did we know that night we would run into the same wedding party at Cavo Paradiso!) Getting passed all the crazy party kids on Paradise beach, and climbing over the rocks was so worth it to enjoy a sunset dinner.

The next day we took our ATV and rode about a half hour north of the island to a hidden gem, Agios Sostis beach and Kiki’s Tavern. We got there early enough to enjoy this hidden beach before it got too crowded. The photos really don’t do it justice, but the waters in Greece are so clear, calm and so blue! It was also the perfect temperature to cool off, and because it was pretty salty it made it easy to float! You’d think by now having been a lifeguard growing up I should know how to float…not the case, but here in Greece I was a pro!

If you go to Mykonos, eating at Kiki’s Tavern is a must! Another family run restaurant, it lies at the top of the beach – they don’t take any reservations, first come first serve. So if you get there early enough the owner will greet you and even serve you water or wine while you wait until it opens (doesn’t open until about 1pm).

Kiki’s offers the freshest fish, delicious Greek dishes and a unique Mykonos Greek Salad. (Heads up – cash only) We were in Greek heaven at this place! : )

The following day we took a day trip to Delos – one of the oldest archaeological sites of Greece. Delos is only about 30-45 minutes boat ride away off the Mykonos port. This island is the home of an old town that is rich in history and full of ruins to explore. I suggest going without a tour guide – roam off on your own, get lost, climb, and enjoy this desert-like island, which once was alive in the 6th century BC.

The perfect photo opp. I love my travel partner ; )

After our long hike to the top of this mountain we had our fun stacking rocks…building our own landmarks!

My other favorite part of Mykonos is the old town port – lined with shops, bars, restaurants, art galleries and more! Just thinking about it makes me wish I was back there, wandering aimlessly and being guided by the music or the smells of grilled octopus. It’s such a fun place to go to whether it’s during the day or at night…