Car hire in Mykonos
Explore this jewel of the Aegean with Avis
Mykonos is a small Greek island with a massive reputation. Hugely popular with tourists and revellers, there’s a lot more to see beyond the usual beaches and clubs. Get the freedom to explore the other sides to this island with Avis car rental.Whatever your holiday plans entail, Avis car rental is a great way to get around the island. We’re conveniently located and you’ll find our usual range of car hire services: Avis Preferred, out-of-hours return and breakdown assistance. Child seats are available as an option. Book now
Popular car hire locations in Mykonos
Lazy days and sleepless nights
Chora
A dazzle of white between blue sea and sky, the harbour at Mykonos Town, or Chora, as it’s also known, is the archetypal image of a sleepy Cycladic idyll. It’s a different story when the sun starts to set and the volume starts to rise. Since the days of antiquity, this particular island was one of the poorest and most neglected of the Cyclades. Everything changed in the mid-1950s with the advent of modern tourism. Still home to more than 400 churches and shrines, the island is now famous for its more hedonistic places of devotion.
Beaches
The main attractions are the soft southern beaches with both beautiful people and the sun in plentiful supply. Most beaches have their own tavernas, and are equipped with deck chairs and parasols. Water sports are on offer if desired, but most prefer to lie and sizzle. The southern beaches are generally most popular as they’re sheltered from the northern wind. The question of which is best is a matter of taste but there are lengthy waiting lists for sunbeds and umbrellas in the upmarket Psarou, while Super Paradise has a well-earned party reputation.
The Harbour
Back in Chora, the famous 16th century windmills look out over the island’s main town. As you stroll down to the harbour, you’ll find a pleasant vernacular style punctuated by whitewashed alleyways that lure the traveller to explore. At the water’s edge, balancing precariously, are the cafés and galleries of Little Venice. The signature building is the Church of Panagia Paraportiani, one of the most famous architectural structures in Greece.
Entertainment is the main stock-in-trade and there are lots of restaurants and stylish bars to choose from. By the time evening arrives, the day has only just begun at the numerous clubs that reverberate around Chora and Paradise Beach on the south coast.
Things to do in Mykonos
DelosWhen you’ve had your fill of the party scene, take the short boat trip to the more contemplative islet of Delos. The mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, this was a major religious sanctuary in antiquity. Now uninhabited, it is one of the most important historical and archaeological sites in Greece. Among the many highlights of this UNESCO World Heritage Site are the temples of Apollo, the Terrace of the Lions and, remarkably, the oldest known synagogue in the Jewish diaspora. Take the short climb to the top of Mount Kýnthos for a sweeping view of the surrounding islands.
The Archaeological Museum
Back on Mykonos, the Archaeological Museum has pottery, grave statues, stelae and urns, most of which date from the 1st or 2nd centuries BCE. Other museums on the island include the Folklore Museum, with the working Boni Mill, and the Aegean Maritime Museum.
Water Activities
Edification complete, it’s time for more fun on the many other beaches around the island. On the east coast, head for Kalafati for windsurfing, jet skiing and more. In the north, Fokos is extremely secluded and its only facility is the one that really matters: an excellent taverna. Over on the west, try Agios Ioannis, a great sunset beach and the setting for ‘Shirley Valentine’.
The Aegean Sea is renowned for its sailing and the waters around this island are no exception. There are lots of ways to get on the water, from hiring a dinghy to chartering a yacht. You can also go scuba diving off the southern coast or take a glass-bottomed cruise for a drier exploration of the seabed.
Feasts & Festivals
The religious calendar is important in Greece and there are feasts and festivals all year round. The many local churches hold their own festivities with food, wine and lots of traditional Greek dancing.
There are also many more secular events during the summer months, including open-air concerts, theatrical performances and exhibitions. If you're visiting in September, then you’ll be just in time for the ancient feast of the grape harvest.