Mykonos Shore Excursion

The focus of this Mykonos shore trip is a walking tour for you to learn about Mykonos and get an orientation to the old town. You walk through the old town including Little Venice, see the famous windmills and visit the Mykonian Archaeological Museum (closed on Mondays).

After meeting your guide, you drive along the harbor front until you reach the old town. Mykonos is probably the most well-known and talked about of all the Greek islands. After many years as a quiet fishing village, the island was rediscovered as a beautiful location for filming. This brought movie stars, artists and jet setters. Your walking tour will reveal both the lifestyle and the true history of this unique town.

During your tour you walk through the narrow whitewashed streets, where you will appreciate the fact that its confusing layout was designed to foil the attacking pirates. Your guide will explain the tradition of the painted houses, colorful doors and whitewashed sidewalks which make the town so unique in Greece. You stop to see a traditional 15th century bakery which is still operational today and is one of the few bakeries in Greece which still uses wood burning ovens.

You stroll through picture-perfect Little Venice, so called due to its striking resemblance in design to the famous canal city. The buildings in this area are built right at the sea's edge and they have balconies which hang over the water. It is said that these buildings were used by ships for quick loading and unloading in the days of pirates. Today some of the most popular caf̩s in Mykonos offer visitors the chance to dine at the seafront.

On the western edge of town you will see the famous windmills, an island trademark, which offer a wonderful photo opportunity. These windmills date back to the 16th century when Mykonos was a major trading stop between Venice and Asia. The mills were used to refine grain and their location was ideal for the wind and for it's close proximity to the old port.

You also visit the Mykonian Archaeological Museum which houses vases, statues and other treasure from the uninhabited island of Delos. While you are here, your guide will explain the history of Delos which was once the religious center of the entire Aegean. According to mythology it was the birthplace of Apollo, the god of music, light and beauty.

You end your tour in the old harbor where hopefully you have the chance to see Petros the Pelican. The pelican was found here after a storm left him stranded. He has become a local resident and a popular site for the tourists over the last 50 years.

At the end of your walking tour you will drive back to the ship. If you prefer, it is about a 20 minute walk along the harbor to return to the pier so you can choose to stay in town on your own if you wish.

Mobility: NO wheelchairs