Gleaming white, cube-shaped houses set against barren backdrops and the bluest of skies are signatures of the sunny Cyclades. Among the most fabled of all the Greek islands, this scattered archipelago includes Santorini, Milos, Naxos and one of the nation’s biggest names: Mykonos. Famously cosmopolitan, the boulder-strewn, beach-fringed isle is home to a party scene centred on its world-renowned beach clubs, with the pulse relocating to Chora (Mykonos Town) as the sun descends.
Mykonos Town itself is a jumble of whitewashed blocks spilling down to the sea, interwoven with flagstone-paved alleyways lined with restaurants, bars and boutiques. Its most photographed landmarks — Little Venice and the windmills — draw crowds, but the island also has quieter corners that the partying doesn’t disturb. Whether you opt for deep drifts of sand on the south coast or day trips to nearby uninhabited isles dotted with ancient ruins and mosaics, a wealth of experiences awaits. Here are the best hotels in Mykonos from which to discover it all.
Main photo: Myconian Avaton Resort, Elia
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1. Cali Mykonos, Kalafatis
Best for well-heeled wellness warriors
Healthy menus, a decent gym and in-room yoga mats leave few excuses for slackening fitness routines at this luxury Mykonos hotel; but equally there’s little restraint on indulgence. Perched on a hillside above (but discreetly set back from) Kalafatis beach and with steps down to its own sandy cove, Cali’s signature is its fabulous, 130m infinity pool, which acts as a sinuous centrepiece for the resort. Climbing the hillside above it are 40 rooms and suites that, being supremely spacious, peacefully private and beautifully designed, quickly become hard-to-leave sanctuaries. When adventure does call, Cali’s high-powered speed boats depart from a beachside pontoon; or take the complimentary shuttle to Chora, 20 minutes away.
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Spa N
Pool Y
Price £££
2. Nimbus My Aktis, Super Paradise
Best for decadence
Named for the shore (akti in Greek) over which it stands, this place is a cocktail stick’s throw from legendary JackieO’ beach club, at the western end of Super Paradise beach. A proper boutique hotel, it has just 16 rooms and eight villas (the largest of which has six bedrooms) whose style strikes a compromise between minimalism and boho chic. All accommodations come with private hot tubs or shared swimming pools, plus there’s a central infinity pool for when guests might fancy mingling — or perhaps a communal place to crash and recover from last night.
Spa N (but in-room treatments can be arranged)
Pool Y
Price ££
3. Branco Mykonos, Platis Gialos
Best for beachfront beats
There’s no shortage of beach clubs on Mykonos with cocktails, comfy loungers and all-day DJs, but Branco unfailingly plays tunes that make you want to get up and dance in the sand. For music lovers, there’s nowhere better to stay. This super-sleek, 21-room boutique hotel directly on Platis Gialos beach is minimalistic in style. All rooms have at least partial sea views and are tastefully decked out with wood and unpolished marble, with some also featuring outdoor showers and private plunge pools. Guests have complimentary access to the beach club’s loungers; or keep things exclusive at the guests-only pool beside the breezy beachfront bar and DJ booth.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
4. Semeli Hotel, Mykonos Town
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Best for destination dining
A neoclassical mansion provides an elegant environment for this small but perfectly formed, family-run boutique hotel. Located at the top of a path weaving down to the waterfront, Semeli is a Mykonos Town gem with a pool deck that looks over rooftops to the sea. Its jumble of rooms are comfortable and of typically Cycladic style, but it’s the decadent dining that really sets this five-star beauty apart. From reimagined Greek classics at Krama to fine dining at Thioni, dishes are created by a Michelin-star-winning chef and favour Myconian ingredients and local culinary traditions.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
5. Myconian Avaton Resort, Elia
Best for high design
In ancient Greece, the most cherished of places were often named Avaton — which sets rather high expectations for this ritzy retreat above Elia beach. Happily, it more than lives up to the hype. A member of Design Hotels, this luxury resort is all about airy rooms with quality details, bespoke furnishings and custom-carved stone elements, accented here and there with flashes of the property’s signature red. Balconies and private decks offer panoramas of sea and sky that look all the better when immersed in a private plunge pool or Jacuzzi.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
6. Kivotos Mykonos, Ornos Bay
Best for holidaying like a VIP
For a small family-run hotel, Kivotos has had its fair share of big names: Calvin Klein, Shakira and John Legend have all chosen this as the most tempting spot in Mykonos to bed down. And rightly so. There’s a private beach, yacht and a honeymoon-ready dock where guests can fall in love all over again with incredible dishes that are served with a view of Ornos Bay. The boutique hotel feels more akin to a Myconian village, with rooms and suites tucked down cobbled paths with colour-popping doors and sprays of bougainvillea. Breakfast, served on a rooftop that overlooks the yacht-strewn bay, is a real highlight. You’re also just a five-minute drive from capital Chora.
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Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
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7. Kensho Ornos, Ornos Bay
Best for Instagram-ready good looks
Kensho feels straight out of the pages of a slick lifestyle magazine. Each element has been designed not only to blend in with the environment but to be kind to it; be it the all-natural spa carved out of a cave or the cooling Cycladic stone walls in the 35 individually designed rooms. Expert mixologists shake up Instagram-ready cocktails named after Greek philosophers while chefs prepare ten-course gastronomy masterclasses that are just as beautiful as the hotel decor. Soak up views of the bay from the whirlpool tub on the rooftop, or by the pool as the sun sets and the water starts to shimmer with twinkling starlights below the surface.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
8. The Belvedere Hotel, Mykonos Town
Best for refined poolside partying
Of all the hotels and resorts in Mykonos, this might just be the most legendary. The main complex spreads out from a 19th-century mansion and has expanded to encompass several locations, all within a few minutes’ walk. This gives the property a wider choice of sumptuously styled and generously proportioned rooms, suites and villas. Central to everything is the pool, which is always a hive of activity, either for daytime lounging or spirited nightlife. Destination dining comes in the form of Nobu’s Matsuhisa Mykonos and you can sip cocktails at the Sunken Watermelon bar.
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Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
9. Mykonos Theoxenia, Mykonos Town
Best for old-school glamour
Opened in 1960 as the island’s first luxury hotel, Mykonos Theoxenia fully embraces its jet-set heritage. All 50 guest rooms balance retro elements with contemporary style, while the clean-lined, low-slung mid-century architecture and a pool deck framed by cactuses give the outdoor spaces more than a hint of Palm Springs. Location-wise, it’s right next door to the town’s iconic windmills; but why join the crowds that descend at sunset when you can skip the scrum instead with a cocktail at the poolside bar, just as Jackie Onassis and Brigitte Bardot might well have done back in the day. Fine dining at Apanemi restaurant is also a highlight.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
10. Bill & Coo Coast Suites, Agios Ioannis
Best for privacy
This is the perfect pad for soaking up the buzz of Mykonos Town — a 15-minute drive away — while having an adult-only hideaway to retreat to when you’re ready to detox. The Aegean-facing pool is bracketed by plush daybeds while minimalist rooms are cool and calming with blonde woods, whitewashed walls and fun touches such as Sonos speakers and iPads. Location-wise, it’s a minute’s stroll from Agios Ioannis beach and the chi-chi Beefbar Mykonos serves up some of the island’s most incredible dishes from melt-in-the-mouth beef tacos to fried chicken. Carve out time to soak up some Myconian rays at the private beach lounge — a rarity on the island — or restore inner calm with a visit to the spa at the hotel’s sister property where you can enjoy a range of treatments that use luxurious Swiss brand Valmont.
Spa N (guests can use the spa at the hotel’s sister property)
Pool Y
Price £££
11. The Wild Hotel, Kalafatis
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Best for bohemian chic
Forget champagne and caviar: today’s most valued luxuries are privacy and seclusion, both of which are abundant at this hideaway where all 40 of the rooms, suites and villas overlook the Aegean. Located on the side of a cliff in the southeast of the island, the hotel has its own private beach and an unpretentious taverna, plus sophisticated sushi at RAW, where the tables cascade down the cliff face. Some of the rooms feature private plunge pools; all share tasteful interior decor that leans on earthy colours, handmade lamps and artisanal objects for authenticity, making the Wild feel akin to the Mykonos of long ago.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
12. Katikies Mykonos, Agios Ioannis
Best for Cycladic style
White-on-white decor defines this chic hillside retreat above Agios Ioannis beach. Its 35 suites drop down the slope towards the Aegean and are simply but elegantly decorated in bright whites with splashes of blue. Most rooms have their own private pools on sun-soaked, sea-facing terraces, and there’s a larger pool if guests seek to leave their personal sanctuaries. Alfresco dining at the two on-site restaurants earns extra brownie points thanks to the hotel’s location on the side of the island that’s sheltered from strong summer winds.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
13. Myconian Ambassador, Platis Gialos
Best for traditional luxury
The best Myconian beaches are scattered along the island’s south coast. Overlooking sandy Platis Gialos is Myconian Ambassador, a Relais & Chateaux property that sets the bar high for luxury. This is a place for kicking back and being pampered, and has one of the most impressive swimming pools in Mykonos. The sea-centric Thalasso Spa will tease away any aches and pains, and the commitment to wellness continues in Efisia restaurant with plot-to-plate dining. Nammos and Scorpios beach clubs are nearby for when something a little livelier appeals.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
• Best luxury villas in Mykonos
14. Bill & Coo Suites & Lounge, Megali Ammos
Best for couples
Located within walking distance of Mykonos Town, this haven is perfect for dipping in and out of the action. All 32 suites and three villas are large, light and airy, with some also benefiting from private pools and hot tubs. The see-and-be-seen central pool terrace shares space with the sophisticated Sunset Lounge Bar, and there’s fine dining to be found at destination restaurant Gastronomy Project. Other facilities include the relaxing sanctuary of Valmont Spa, and guests have priority access to the brand’s private beach club around the headland at Agios Ioannis.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££
15. Santa Marina, Ornos Bay
Best for an exclusive escape
Only a clutch of Mykonos hotels have a private sandy beach, making Santa Marina a great bet for escaping the crowds. That said, it’s still only a ten-minute drive from the restaurants, bars and buzz of Mykonos Town. Set on a peaceful peninsula overlooking Ornos Bay, the hotel’s guestrooms and villas echo island architecture and are decorated in a tastefully pared-back, beach-chic style. Facilities include the renowned spa, more than one infinity pool and Mykonos Social, British chef Jason Atherton’s first restaurant in the Med.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££
16. Kalesma, Aleomandra
Best for privacy
Traditional architectural touches meet cutting-edge style at this high-end retreat. Located a short walk from Ornos Beach, Kalesma’s 25 suites and two villas each come with private pools along with aspects offering sunrise and sunset views across the sea. The units themselves are typically Cycladic — think whitewashed walls and gentle curves — but inside they’re sleek and minimalist. Dressed in earthy tones and island materials, each is a sumptuous sanctuary with the odd piece of statement furniture for added interest, plus original art, private patios and outdoor showers.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££
17. Destino Pacha Mykonos, Agios Stefanos
Best for Balearic beats
Only Ibiza rivals Mykonos for its Mediterranean party scene, so it’s no surprise that Pacha Group chose the Cyclades for its first hotel outside Spain. The 34-room property sits on the cliffs above Agios Stefanos and is more brightly decorated than is typical for the island. Really setting it apart, though, are resident DJs and showpiece events at the lively on-site beach club. With views across the Aegean to distant isles, it’s a space for lounging on daybeds or dancing to the Destino beat.
Spa N
Pool Y
Price ££
18. Ostraco Hotel & Suites, Drafaki
Best for style on a budget
Staying in Chora is expensive, but prices drop on the fringes of town and Ostraco offers affordable digs if you still want to be close to the action. The 22-room boutique hotel has stirring views over rooftops to the island-studded sea, plus a bar and pool area for lazy lounging or evening cocktails. When Chora’s bars and clubs beckon, it’s an easy walk downhill to the waterfront, with a slightly more challenging uphill return — handy for clearing your head.
Spa N
Pool Y
Price £
19. Osom Resort, Korfos
Best for hiding away
This hotel’s name — an acronym that stands for Other Side of Mykonos — suggests that things are done a little differently here . . . and they are. With only 12 suites, Osom Resort is intimate and unpretentious, and its luxurious take on hospitality makes this a super-chilled-out hideaway. The vibe is laid-back, the sea views are endless and the nearest beach — Ornos, an amble away — is less crowded than many others on the island. Mykonos Town is easily reached by bus, cab or scooter ride.
Spa N (but treatments can be arranged)
Pool Y
Price £
20. Myconian O Hotel, Ornos
Best for a beachfront bolt hole
This Myconian Collection property introduces the family-owned brand’s trademark sense of luxury to Ornos Bay. Those familiar with its sister properties at Elia and Platis Gialos will know to expect fine dining, spot-on service and Cycladic design — here executed in wood, stone and marble, with all 65 rooms equipped with verandas and balconies (some even have private pools). Unlike its siblings, however, this one is situated beachfront, with direct access to Ornos beach and its collection of shops, bars, dining and water sports.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
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Additional reporting by Lucy Perrin
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