Mykonos

There’s a certain dryness and brightness in the air on Mykonos. On this wind-battered granite rock, ancient mariners once stopped en route to Delos, a holy sanctuary that is now an archaeological treasure. Three thousand years on, artists and celebrities have since anchored, entranced by a light that blends austere beauty and sensual charm.

Yet Mykonos is far more than a party island. It’s the gleaming white houses of Chora, its 16th-century windmills overlooking Little Venice. It’s an octopus drying in the sun, a measured glass of ouzo, a slice of local louza (cured pork) in an unnamed taverna… On the southern beaches, most notably Paradise, slip effortlessly from sun lounger to dancefloor at any time of day. Then discover a quieter Mykonos over in Ano Mera, with its Panagia Tourliani bell tower, village squares, shopping streets and rows of fig trees. When exploration beckons, sail to Tinos, island of marble workers, or Syros, the Cycladic capital with its striking blue domes. Or simply stay put and make the most of Kalafati’s crystal waters. Mykonos sparkles – with sunlight on sea, laughter and voices celebrating pure, unbridled freedom.