Mykonos was the first Greek island to be ‘discovered’ in the 1950s, and its main town rapidly gained a reputation as the Cyclades’ most picturesque harbour. With its perfectly curved bay, its tangle of white-washed alleys and those much-photographed windmills, it became a must-see for any island-hopper. Today, trendy clubs and fashion boutiques attract a more colourful, pan-European crowd of the young and beautiful, including a vibrant gay scene.
Near the top of town - and of its accommodation range - the Belvedere positively oozes style and glamour. With a sushi restaurant courtesy of Nobu (where Japanese cuisine meets the Aegean Sea), a 5,000-bottle wine cellar, an in-house DJ playing poolside, and bar drinks mixed by the man who founded the American Cocktail Museum, its credentials are as impeccable as the guests' tans. The town centre is near enough to stagger back from a night on the dancefloor, yet far enough to sleep in relative peace when you get in. And when you wake, there's that picture-postcard view (and a bumper breakfast buffet till noon). So, if you feel like a sybaritic salad of sunshine, shopping and sashimi, place your order here!
Highs
- The panoramic pool with its white-leather loungers is the meeting point for the island's glitterati
- The acclaimed Matsuhisa Mykonos - the first open-air Nobu restaurant in the world
- From Bosé speakers to muscle-soothing jacuzzis, everything is designed to indulge
- This is a great place to make new friends, and most rooms can accommodate (even unexpected) extra guests
- Service is smiling and unfaltering, from fixing jeep hire to swopping your Korres toiletries for Bulgari
Lows
- Standard rooms are fairly simple and smaller than you would expect for the money; side-facing rooms don’t get much of a view
- In summer the poolside party continues till the early hours - don't try and beat 'em, just join 'em
- Part of the fun is to see and be seen: if that's not a priority, try another hotel (or another island)
Best time to go
Mykonos is full to bursting throughout July and August (it receives nearly a million visitors a year, half of them in these two months). If you can come in May, June or September, you will probably enjoy yourself much more – the clubs are open but not packed; the tavernas and boatmen are pleased to see you; the sea is warm enough to swim; the hotels are more likely to have space. From October to April, Mykonos is half closed, but if you don’t mind this, it’s a great time to wander through the deserted alleys and beaches. And it's a lot cheaper.
Our top tips
If you're thinking of hiring a moped on Mykonos, don't. There are hundreds of accidents every year, due to rough roads, dodgy brakes and (let's be honest) drunk drivers. Hire a jeep instead. Or push the boat out - literally - and hire a fishing caique.