Little Venice
Medieval captains' houses lean over the water's edge, their balconies now cocktail bars facing dead west.
- Best forCouples · Nightlife · Photographers
- In January14°C · 12 rainy days
- Ideal stayAn evening, within a 3–4 night Mykonos trip
- Approx. flying time~14h from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageGreek
- Local time14:122h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+30
Why go
A row of eighteenth-century merchants' houses built right at the water's edge in Mykonos town, their wooden balconies overhanging the sea. Waves hit the foundations, spray reaches the tables, and the whole terrace faces west, which explains why it fills every evening without fail. The lanes behind form the oldest part of Chora, whitewashed and deliberately confusing. Above it all stand the Kato Mili windmills, floodlit after dark.
This is an evening rather than a destination, so treat it as one stop within a Mykonos trip based in or near town. Ferries from Athens take between two and five hours, and the airport is ten minutes from Chora. The season runs May to early October, peaking in August when the town is very full and very expensive. Through winter, most of the waterfront simply closes.
- Ideal stay
- An evening, within a 3–4 night Mykonos trip
- The vibe
- Salt-sprayed, showy, sunset-obsessed
From our guides
Sunset here comes with a soundtrack of waves hitting the foundations and ice against glass. Claim a front-row table by 6pm, order something pink, and let the windmills on the ridge behind you catch the afterglow. Splashy, sociable and utterly effective.
Featured in Ten dreamy sunset spots made for a proposal
Things to do
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Kato Mili windmills
Sixteenth-century windmills on the ridge above the water, the standard sunset photograph and a two-minute walk from the waterfront.
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Panagia Paraportiani
A whitewashed cluster of five chapels merged into one sculptural whole, standing on the shore just along from the bars.
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The Chora lanes
Marble-edged alleys behind the seafront, laid out to confuse pirates and still doing the job. Walk them in the morning before the shops open.
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Aegean Maritime Museum
A small museum of Greek seafaring in a nineteenth-century house, with a garden of ships' lanterns and a restored lighthouse lens.
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Delos
Boats run from the old port to the uninhabited island that was one of the ancient world's great sanctuaries. Allow half a day and take a hat.
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Matogianni Street
The main shopping lane through the old town, busy from early evening and the route most people take down towards the water.
Getting there
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Fly to
Mykonos (JMK)
The airport is on the doorstep.
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Then
To Mykonos Town
Mykonos airport (JMK) is about ten minutes by taxi or bus from Mykonos Town. Ferries from Athens Piraeus and Rafina take two to five hours depending on the vessel.
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On the ground
Getting around
Little Venice sits at the western edge of Mykonos Town, a few minutes' walk from the windmills through the lanes; the whole old town is pedestrianised. Buses and taxis serve the beaches further out.
Public transport: Decent in season. Buses run frequently from Fabrika and the old port to the main beaches, and quad or scooter hire fills the gaps.
Flights
Los Angeles Mykonos, Greece
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Roughly 14h in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 14°C in January to 27°C in August. Driest June to September; wettest in January, with rain on about 12 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
January14° · rain 12 daysCool with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — May to October. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Boutique hotels and studios in the town, designer beach resorts on the south coast and a few family-run rooms inland. Almost nothing here is genuinely cheap in season.
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Best base overall
Mykonos Town, or Chora
Staying inside the whitewashed maze puts Little Venice, the windmills and the restaurants on foot, with no taxi needed at sunset. Rooms are small, expensive and noisy until late.
Find stays in Mykonos Town, or Chora -
Best with children
Ornos
A sheltered sandy bay ten minutes from town with shallow water, family hotels and tavernas on the sand. It is busy and the beach fills with sunbeds by mid-morning.
Find stays in Ornos -
Best value
Ano Mera
The island's inland village, with a monastery, ordinary tavernas and rooms at a fraction of the coastal rates. You are driving or bussing to every beach and to town.
Find stays in Ano Mera -
Quietest
Agios Ioannis
A small west-facing bay looking across to Delos, with a handful of hotels and outstanding sunsets. Choice is limited and you will need transport for anything else.
Find stays in Agios Ioannis
Worth knowing before you book: July and August rates are several times the shoulder-season price and book out by spring. Town has no car access, so ask how far the room is from the nearest drop-off point.
Search everything else in Mykonos Town by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Timing
- Tables on the water go from around six in the evening in summer, and sunset itself is standing room only.
- Costs
- Waterfront drinks in Mykonos are priced accordingly. Check before ordering, and note that a cover charge is common.
- Weather
- The meltemi wind blows hard in July and August, and the front row gets thoroughly soaked when the sea is up.
- Getting there
- Ferries from Athens and the neighbouring islands dock at the new port, a few kilometres out, with buses and taxis into Chora.
- Crowds
- The old town is pedestrianised and jams when cruise ships are in. Mornings and after midnight are the calm windows.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Mykonos
Greece · 6km away →
Naousa
Paros, Greece · 37km away →
Antiparos
Greece · 56km away →
Folegandros
Greece · 98km away →
Oia
Santorini, Greece · 109km away →
Milos
Greece · 110km away →Elsewhere in Greece
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Little Venice?
For warm, mostly dry days, May to October. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 14°C in January to 27°C in August. Driest June to September; wettest in January, with rain on about 12 days.
How long should I spend in Little Venice?
Our suggestion: an evening, within a 3–4 night Mykonos trip.
How do I get to Little Venice?
Mykonos airport (JMK) is about ten minutes by taxi or bus from Mykonos Town. Ferries from Athens Piraeus and Rafina take two to five hours depending on the vessel.
Do I need a car in Little Venice?
No. Decent in season. Buses run frequently from Fabrika and the old port to the main beaches, and quad or scooter hire fills the gaps.
What currency and language are used in Little Venice?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Greek. Plugs: type C and F.
Who is Little Venice best for?
Best for couples, nightlife and photographers. In a phrase: salt-sprayed, showy, sunset-obsessed.