Mykonos Day Trip Itinerary: Beaches, Ano Mera & Chora

This is post 10 of our “Greek Isles Cruise and Rome Adventure”, we dive into a Mykonos day trip itinerary, discovering the island’s beaches, a monastery, and the iconic streets of Chora.

This article is part of the Greek Isles Cruise and Rome Adventure series. You can view the full series here.

Off to Mykonos

We departed Kusadasi and set sail for Mykonos, cruising into an early evening wrapped in warm air and a soft Mediterranean sunset. There’s something remarkable about ship life: having dinner, stepping outside to hear the water moving beneath you, feeling the breeze against your face, wandering into a show or the casino, and knowing that by the next morning you’ll wake up in an entirely different country. It’s travel without transitions.

Being new to cruising, we felt compelled to book excursions at every port—part curiosity, part fear of missing out. But when it came to choosing one for Mykonos, we hesitated. By the time we finally made a decision, many of the better options were sold out. The Ano Mera and Scenic Drive excursion was still available, so we grabbed it. It was a morning tour, roughly 3.5 hours, leaving us the afternoon free to explore Mykonos Town on our own. This would become our morning Mykonos day trip itinerary.

The tour promised a “best of Mykonos” sampler: a coastal drive to a well-known beach, a visit to a historic monastery in a traditional village, and a small spread of Greek mezes with ouzo.

Thalassa Beach

We boarded the coach at 9 AM as our guide shared a relaxed overview of the island. Thalassa Beach was our first stop, though it wasn’t entirely clear why. The nearby taverna was closed, and aside from the attractive shoreline, it felt more like a brief photo opportunity than a destination.

Still, the morning light was soft and pretty. Coarse sand warmed underfoot, and the water moved quietly in pale blue ripples. We did get our first sighting of a church and some old windmills on the hillside. A single island cat lingered around the shuttered taverna, hopeful for snacks. After a short stroll, we headed back to the bus.

Elia Beach

Our next stop, Elia Beach, had an entirely different energy, more vibrant, more alive. Even early in the day, it was clear why it’s considered the island’s most popular beach. Rows of cushioned sunbeds stretched toward the shoreline, each with a menu between them for anyone wanting coffee, cocktails, or lunch delivered right to their umbrella.

The Aegean here was spectacular: a gradient of turquoise to cobalt so smooth it looked almost surreal. At that hour, it was calm and quiet—just us and a few other excursion groups soaking in the scene.

Demi and I sat briefly on a pair of sunbeds, thrilled by the view. Eventually, a resort employee approached to ask if we had a reservation. We didn’t, so we laughed, stood, and wandered back to the bus.

Ano Mera Village

Leaving the coastline behind, the scenery shifted to rugged hills dotted with whitewashed homes and occasional windmills. Within minutes, we were in Ano Mera, one of the oldest and calmest villages on Mykonos. It was refreshingly unlike the Mykonos most travelers picture.

The village square held a few tavernas, a church, and a scattering of locals going about their day. It felt authentic, grounded, and unhurried.

Monastery of Panagia Tourliani

The highlight of Ano Mera was the 16th-century Monastery of Panagia Tourliani. There was a quiet elegance to its exterior: whitewashed walls glowing in the sun, a marble bell tower carved in intricate detail, and gentle accents of red.

Inside, the atmosphere shifted. It was cool, serene, and deeply reverent. Gilded icons caught the light; silver hanging lamps swayed gently; the carved wooden iconostasis—crafted by Florentine artisans—was stunning in its detail.

Inside the monastery, we also explored a small museum that displayed a fascinating collection of religious artifacts. Among the items were rings worn by previous priests, ornate crosses, ceremonial jewelry, and other adornments that spoke to centuries of island history and devotion. Each piece had its own story, and seeing them up close added a layer of connection to the visit.

After exploring, we gathered in the courtyard for a simple spread of Greek mezes: olives, local cheese, fresh bread, tomatoes. Each of us received a small glass of ouzo, a crisp, celebratory touch. We found more cats relaxing, taking in the sights, including a lizard.

Back to the Ship & Mykonos Town

The drive back traced more rugged coastline and rolling stone-lined hills. By the time we reached the harbor, we were ready for a short break before heading into Mykonos Town (Chora). Once back on the ship, we went to our room, relaxed, and freshened up.

Chora sits at the old port; cruise ships now dock at the new one. Several options connect the two, but we chose the ferry, quick, inexpensive, and sold as a round trip. We walked straight up to the kiosk with no wait, boarded, and within ten minutes the boat was full. The short ride gave us a calm, breezy view of the town from the water.

I know it sounds cliché, but stepping into Chora felt like walking into a postcard. Narrow whitewashed alleys twisted in every direction, accented with bright blues, reds, and greens. Bougainvillea spilled over balconies in vivid pinks. Smooth stone pathways echoed underfoot as we wandered deeper into the maze.

No Plan – No Itinerary – Just Take It In

We explored without a plan—browsing small shops, admiring ceramics and jewelry, drifting into quiet courtyards hidden behind turns. Near the waterfront, waves slapped the seawall, and the iconic windmills stood in clean silhouette against the sky. We came across a “sweet” cat looking very relaxed among all the candy at one of the many small kiosk-type stores.

For lunch, we stopped at Pelican for a spread of mezes and spanakopita: fresh, salty, simple, and satisfying. Sitting in the shade, watching locals, tourists, and an occasional island cat strolling by, felt like the perfect late afternoon pause.

Mykonos is famous for its nightlife, but in the afternoon, it felt relaxed and unhurried, a softer contrast to its party-island reputation.

As the day cooled, we made our way back to the ferry. There was a line, as expected, with many people returning to the ship, but several ferries were running and it moved quickly.

Once back aboard, we felt we’d gotten a surprisingly full picture of Mykonos. Even though the excursion wasn’t our first choice, it revealed a quieter, more grounded side of the island, one we were grateful to have seen.

A Taste of the Island

Mykonos wasn’t the port we had mapped out in our minds. But it became one of those days that stays with you. There’s not really a single landmark that comes to mind, but there was a decent mix of beach moments, quiet walks, and history. We didn’t plan it this way, but from the beaches to the small-town visit to the charming, winding alleys of Chora, we let the island slowly reveal itself. And as with any cruise, you have to remind yourself that you can’t see everything or capture the whole experience of a cruise in a single day. What you can get is a genuine taste, enough to feel the rhythm of somewhere new and to take satisfaction in the simple fact that you spent meaningful time there. It ended up being one of those travel days that reminds you to keep an open mind; sometimes the “second choice” turns out to be exactly the experience you didn’t know you were looking for.

Thanks for following along! Our Greek Isles adventure comes to a close, and next we sail on to Naples, ready to step back in time at Pompeii.

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