Chic Greek: Mykonos beach hotels and travel guide

A fabulous hotel on the beach? With character, charm and glamor?

Why not! You’re visiting Mykonos, after all!

We stayed at some awesome Mykonos beach hotels that fit the bill. And we’ve scouted out several more of the best hotels in Mykonos that also boast to-die-for beachfront locations.

Now, Mykonos may not be a secret gem or even one of the most unique places to visit in Greece – but it is one of the most sophisticated Greek islands.

And when you go, you deserve to bed down in one of the best beach hotels in Mykonos, right?

Beautiful Mykonos, Greece, beach hotels (a great reason to visit Mykonos!)

Ever since Homer penned Odysseus’ epic odyssey, Mykonos has enticed travelers.

Today, Mykonos is the chichi island – the one jetsetters and celebs escape to when visiting Greece.

A slice of cool in the hot blue Aegean, it boasts exciting nightlife, sybaritic sandy beaches and seriously hip hotels.

And then there are all the colorful tavernas and great restaurants in Mykonos town. A maze of whitewashed cubist buildings, the town buzzes at night with lively restaurants and bars.

But it’s those beaches that are probably the main reason you’re visiting this wonderful Greek island.

After all, you’ve already checked out the museums, Acropolis and other cultural things to do in Athens.

Now it’s time to chill. So it’s only natural you want a hotel on the beach when looking at where to stay in Mykonos.

(And don’t worry, some hotels are away from the party action, meaning you can immerse yourself in the scene when you want, but also retreat for quiet beach time too.)

Pssst! Do you love posh hotels? Check out these hotels around the world with private pool suites!

Things to do in Mykonos

Before we get to those great Mykonos resorts on the beach, let’s take a closer look at the island’s appeal and some of the best places to visit in Mykonos.

You’re bound to stroll about the cosmopolitan Mykonos town – and inevitably get lost.

It’s an enchanting mix of narrow cobblestone streets, blue-shuttered houses, jewelry shops, chic clothing boutiques and cute cafés.

In the Little Venice area, balconies of the bars and alfresco restaurants hang out over the sea.

Snag a balcony table, and you look out at the landmark Mykonos windmills standing watch over the harbor.

See Super Paradise Beach:

Be sure to take one of the colorful old wooden taxi boats to the south coast beaches of Mykonos.

From Ornos Bay, you can putter along for an hour, past rocky cliffs and idyllic coves, to Super Paradise beach – the beach with the wildest reputation.

Crowding the outside restaurant bars, the bronzed and beautiful drink champagne and nibble on lobster, as music throbs loudly and Taylor Swift lookalikes in string bikinis dance on tables.

At the other end of the beach, nude and gay sun worshipers swim in crystalline waters.

It’s fun to see – even if you don’t join in.

(Garbed in sun-protecting, long-sleeve shirts and pants for walking the beach, we looked a tad out of place. But as die-hard travel writers, and in the name of research, we of course had to see for ourselves what Super Paradise Beach was all about!)

Anyway, you really can’t go to Mykonos and not check out its famous beaches.

Tour Delos:

Down by the harbor, excursion boats leave for half-day guided tours of nearby Delos.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the island of Delos is one huge archaeological site, with ruins dating back to 300 BC.

Here’s a top-rated guided island tour with Delos Travel, which includes hotel pick-up on Mykonos, your return boat ride and skip-the-line tickets.

5 Mykonos hotels on the beach

Okay, now that you have a bit of an idea of what to do in Mykonos, here are 5 of the best Mykonos beach hotels.

1) Kivotos

What started out as a holiday home for a Greek architect/designer and his family is now an exquisite boutique hotel in Mykonos with an enchanting bohemian vibe.

Marble steps wind past garden courtyards, fountains and two swimming pools (where kittens nap on a couch in the sun and budgies chirp in hanging cages) – eventually leading to a private beach area, with cushioned teak sunbeds set on the rock and pebble beach.

Lots of nooks and crannies offer other private spots for soaking up the sun or relaxing.

Housed within white plaster and stone villas, each of the 43 rooms and suites is an individually decorated work of art – more than 2,000 pieces of art in total.

Our delightfully eclectic suite had exposed beam ceilings, Venetian glass chandeliers, a mosaic tiled bathroom with bevelled glass door (and deluxe Bulgari toiletries) and a large stone balcony framed by gauzy curtains.

Settle yourself outside on the terrace or inside on a Louis IV chair at a marble table with sweeping views of the sapphire blue sea – and you have the perfect start to a fabulous day in Mykonos.

From the welcome glass of champagne to the deluxe Bulgari toiletries, Kivotos radiates glam – easily making it one of the best luxury hotels in Mykonos on the beach.

Just don’t go topless at Kivotos. We’re specifically referring to ladies here, of course!

One of the fun facts about Greece is that topless suntanning is allowed pretty well everywhere on Mykonos beaches.

But hotels can prohibit the practice around their pools and private beach areas. And Kivotos would prefer that you keep your bikini top on.

2) Santa Marina Resort & Villas

Traveling with children? Santa Marina is one of the few Mykonos beach resorts that is family-friendly.

In July and August, a free supervised all-day kids program is offered for ages three to 12.

Part of the Luxury Collection (by Marriott), the resort is laid out like a Greek village in cubic white washed buildings.

The 101 guest rooms and suites come with contemporary furnishings, marble or mosaic-tiled bathrooms, super comfy king-size beds (many Mykonos hotels have queen beds only) and lovely sea views.

As well, there are 13 two- to seven-bedroom villas, each with a kitchen and private pool.

But the resort’s most brag-worthy feature? The long curve of private golden sand beach – possibly the best beach in Mykonos.

Tucked away in a sheltered cove, the beach provides an unrivaled spot for swimming and lounging. It’s the only private sandy beach on Mykonos – and it can’t be beat!

Other Mykonos beach resorts

We didn’t personally stay at the following three Mykonos hotels, but from what we’ve read, heard and researched, they come highly recommended!

3) Branco Mykonos

4) Mykonos Blu

Walk down outdoor stone stairs to reach this hotel’s private piece of beautiful Psarou Beach, well-protected from the wind.

And when you tire of the beach – how could you! – settle back on a lounger around the two-level infinity pool offering spectacular sea views.

Cubist in design, the whitewashed Grecotel Mykonos Blu has 103 suites and bungalows with beach-chic interiors. Some have their own private pools.

Exclusive Eau de Grece toiletries are from Grecotel’s own brand of Cretan organic products (made from olive oil, fennel and sage).

Now this 5-star Myconos resort isn’t right on the beach. It’s a 5-minute walk away from Megali Ammos Beach.

But as a Relais & Chateaux retreat, it makes up for that with a ton of deluxe comforts (free breakfast with champagne, thalassotherapy spa and outdoor swimming pool with panoramic views of the Aegean Sea), not to mention its gourmet restaurant.

Some of its luxury suites have private plunge pools too.

The other plus to staying at the Myconian Korali is that you’re walking distance to Mykonos town (15 minutes away) – so you’re close to its hopping nightlife, eateries and legendary shopping.

The hotel’s restaurant, Baos, is the spot for fine dining with great views. The farm-to-table cuisine highlights local ingredients.

Best time to visit Mykonos?

July and August are the busiest months in Mykonos.

In our view, September is the best time to visit Mykonos. The water is still deliciously warm for swimming, and the crowds aren’t as crazy.

How to get to Mykonos

Close to Athens, Mykonos is easy to visit.

From the mainland port of Rafina, high-speed ferries depart daily for Mykonos.

Most deluxe Mykonos hotels (including the first two featured here) provide complimentary transportation to and from the ferry dock or airport.

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