Beaches
Beaches on Mykonos fall into two categories: the pulsing music sort, and the quieter, more family-friendly variety. The two main attractions of the first variety are Paradise Beach and Paraga Beach, which are next to each other on the southern end of the island. Both have small rocks rather than sand and are harpooned with reed-covered umbrellas. Top-40 dance tunes blare from speakers throughout the day, but the volume is turned up to 11 after 5pm. Nudity is welcome on these beaches, though not so common among the younger crowd. Behind Paradise Beach, you’ll find a fair number of shops and eateries. By contrast, Paraga Beach only offers a single eatery.
Past these two party beaches are Super Paradise, B. Agrari, and B. Elia. Super Paradise is a small but busy pebbly beach, populated mostly by fit beachgoers in their mid-30s. B. Agrari is a quiet beach geared toward couples, with a floating wooden platform a bit out into the water where lovers can snuggle as the sun sets. B. Elia (}228 90 27 000) is a famous gay beach, with a rainbow flag planted proudly above the sandy shore. The water at B. Elia seems particularly turquoise blue and clear, and has real sand instead of the typical Mykonos pebbles. On the other side of Paradise and Paraga are Psarou and Ornos, which are both fairly quiet and family-friendly. B. Panormos and Agios Sostis are two peaceful beaches on Mykonos’s northern shore, ideal for those who don’t want to be disturbed.