Mykonos, known as the “island of the winds”, is Greece’s top destination. Plus when visiting off-season it can be Muslim friendly as well. Around half a million tourists visit the island each year, among them many celebrities. Though it is considered one of Greece’s best party islands, as a Muslim traveller you might think that Mykonos is not Muslim friendly. However, you will be far from the truth.
The Island has a lot to offer to every tourist regardless of their religion and several places offer historical value as well. It is all about knowing where to go.
Mykonos has a few places that you’ve probably seen somewhere on the internet before, like Little Italy and the windmills.
These areas are some of the most photographed ones in Europe.
Many people think that Mykonos is just for partying, getting drunk and living wild, but that’s certainly not all of it.
Mykonos is a Muslim friendly destination as well. There you can enjoy a peaceful swim, a remote villa, and even private boat tours.
Mykonos has a lot of things to do and see in general thus, you never run out of enthusiasm! This article will be your best guide for halal travel in Mykonos
A Brief History of Mykonos
According to mythology, when Hercules fought and beat the giants in Delos, he threw them into the sea, forming what we today call Mykonos.
That means Mykonos is nothing more than a giant’s dead body.
The actual history is kind of different. Mykonos was always in the shadow of its neighbour, Delos. Whenever Delos prospered, Mykonos would too. Agriculture was not developed in Mykonos because the island has always been very rocky.
Ionians, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Minoans, Turkish, and even Russians have ruled over Mykonos. In 1207 the island came under Venetian rule and in 1537 under Turkish rule.
During the Greek War of Independence, Mykonos played a critical role. Many ships were given from the island’s inhabitants with a crew and many cannons. A character essential to Greece’s Revolutionary, Manto Mavrogenous, was also from Mykonos.
After the revolution, Mykonos went through rough times and saw development only with textile production.
Of course, Mykonos, as we know it today, is much different. It is one of the top tourists’ choices in the entire world. Many big celebrities visit Mykonos every year, attracting more tourists to the island. As a result, the island’s economy solely depends on tourism.
Best Time to Visit visit Mykonos
If you are looking for a Muslim friendly experience Mykonos then we would recommend you visit during the non-busy periods.
If you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy the island to its best, we suggest you visit between April to June and Sept to Oct. This way, you will avoid the peak season of tourists and the majority of parties going on on the island. Plus accommodation will be cheaper.
If you want to explore Santorini and Mykonos, you can take a boat to Santorini, around 2hrs.
Best Places to Visit in Mykonos
Here are our top suggestions of things to do in Mykonos as a Muslim traveller that you can still enjoy the island.
This part doesn’t just include the best places you can find and mentions the best things you can do in Mykonos.
Little Venice
Everyone that visits Mykonos pays a visit to Little Venice. It’s situated on the western edge of Chora and was constructed during the 16th and 17th centuries.
This neighbourhood is actually one of the most photographed places in Europe.
Little Venice consists of a row of colourful, two-storey houses that face the sea. They are Venetian-styled, and they look 100% like real Venice.
In Little Venice, you can enjoy yourself in two ways. You can visit the beachfront cafes and restaurants with spacious terraces that often get hit by the sea’s waves, and the aura there is very unique.
But you can also get deeper into Little Venice by visiting its neighbourhood. Many artists hang out there, and its galleries are one of a kind.
Little Venice is depicted in many expensive artworks and paintings because it inspires artists. At least that’s what many of them say…
Last but not least, the sunset! It is just magical seeing the sun sinking into the deep blue while having an amazing view of the eccentric houses.
Windmills
Mykonos is also called the “island of the winds”, and that’s because it gets really, really windy. More specifically, these winds are called “meltemia”, and they blow powerfully and constantly in all the Cyclades.
There are 16 windmills in Mykonos, and they serve as a great tourist attraction on the island. Over time, these windmills stopped being operational and were abandoned. But, they got renovated and are the attraction we admire today.
They are painted white and have a spherical shape. Their roofs are cylindrical and made out of the finest wood.
All these mills are located in Pano Mili and Kato Mili. Pano Mili refers to the mills situated at the top of a hill at the edge of Chora. While Kato Mili refers to the mills situated near the port of Alefkandra.
The oldest mill out of all 16 of them is the Geronymos mill. It was built in the 1700s, but it got renovated very recently. Unfortunately, the inside is not open to the public. But you can always admire and walk around it!
Kato Mili mills lay on top of a hill across Little Venice and have an amazing sunset view.
Delos
Your journey to Mykonos must include a visit to the nearby island of Delos. With an incredible archaeological site, Delos will certainly leave you open-mouthed.
Here’s something crazy about Delos. It is said that the god Apollo and goddess Artemis were born in this place. No one was allowed to be born or die in Delos to honour the gods. Women close to giving birth and people close to dying would be taken away from the island. That was a law even when Delos was at its highest peak.
Nowadays, Delos is the only natural insular archaeological site of this size and importance in the entire world. People who go there don’t sign up for an educational trip but a lifetime experience.
It is the only island in the world with that many ancient monuments from the Archaic, the Classical and the Hellenistic periods. This island, these rocks are history by themselves.
Delos is only 3 miles away from cosmopolitan Mykonos and can be accessed from the nearby islands of Mykonos, Paros and Naxos.
Some of the most famous sightseeings are the Terrace of the Lions, Cleopatra’s House, and the House of Dionysus. In Delos, you can also see a dry lake!
Visiting Mykonos but not Delos is like visiting Santorini without watching the sunset. Definitely try it out!
Chora
The main town of Mykonos is called Chora, and it’ll remind you of a typical Cycladic village. With whitewashed houses and blue windows and doors. Just one main thing differentiates Chora from the other Cycladic villages.
It’s the intense nightlife. Mykonos is very famous for its parties and continuous clubbing.
Despite that, the vivid nightlife is not the only thing you’ll find in Chora. Peace and quiet are also part of the village.
Chora is closed to traffic, so you can walk safely and enjoy every tiny bit of the island. During the morning hours, there are not many people walking down the narrow paths because most of them either sleep or are at the beach.
That makes it a great time to go for a coffee or enjoy shopping. Chora consists of numerous cafes, chic boutiques, souvenir shops and fine jewellery shops. Even though it is a small town on a small island, Chora has much to offer.
The capital also has an archaeological museum. There you’ll find ancient vases, sculptures and figurines from nearby Delos and Rhenia.
Little Venice and the windmills are also part of Chora. We talked about them before, but we have to once again mention how beautiful and breathtaking they are.
Last but not least, Chora has its own native celebrity, Petros the Pelikan. Petros is usually found in Little Venice and always enjoys being photographed. Don’t hesitate to go around looking for him. He’ll make a great addition to your Mykonos photo gallery.
Best Sunset Options in Mykonos
Before we recommend you the best sunset spots for Mykonos, we have to mention that Little Venice and the Windmills are indeed great sunset spots, and you should definitely try them.
But because we talked about those before, they won’t be mentioned in this part. Just keep in mind that they offer amazing sunset views.
Sunsets can look amazing from the beach. That’s why Agios Ioannis and Choulakia beaches are some well-known places to watch the sunset from. Agios Ioannis is organised and small, so privacy is not its forte.
On the other hand, Choulakia beach is not so famous. Some say it is a hidden gem. Therefore, you can enjoy swimming away from the crowds and admire the amazing sunset in peace.
Last but not least, boat tours are also a great option. They’ll literally take you in the middle of the Aegean Sea just so you can see the sunset. They also drop you off in Delos and Rhenia.
Halal Food in Mykonos
I visited Mykonos last October with my daughter and there is a halal restaurant in Mykonos Town serving souvlaki. The chicken was halal so you can actually try the Greek souvlaki which is a must when visiting.
The place was called Souvlaki story located Enoplon Dinameon 37, Mikonos 846 00, Greece.
Salt Bae Nusret’s restaurant in Mykonos says that they indeed serve halal food, they’re just not certified yet.
It is a pricier establishment but their halal steaks are mouth-watering and definitely something to consider if you have the budget.
Halal food in Mykonos is not widespread as in many other Greek islands. You won’t find as many halal restaurants in Mykonos in a similar fashion you might find in Malta for example but there is choice and the fact you can try souvlaki was not an option 10 years ago.
This is what the power of Muslim travellers do when it comes to more offerings when there is demand.
But since you are in Greece, how about trying some Greek cuisine?
You’ll find many restaurants with traditional Greek seafood. Most of them are qualitative, and their meals are fresh. Vegetarian restaurants are also an option.
There are many seafood and vegetarian restaurants, so you won’t have a problem finding halal food in Mykonos.
Overall, Mykonos is a great place for many types of people. It’s great for young people who want to have fun, artists, and culture-interested and even history-interested people.
Visiting Off Season as a Muslim
If you are looking for something more low-key than busy summer and expensive prices, we recommend visiting in October when the weather is still warm but prices are lower. You will also have the ability to enjoy more of the island without the party goers and this in our opinion makes it Mykonos Muslim friendly.
Also if going in peak season consider renting a villa or a hotel further away from the Chora this will minimise the noise and parties.
As a Muslim traveller, Mykonos in our opinion is definitely Muslim friendly since you can enjoy the peace and quiet but also experience history, and culture and of course take some amazing photos around the island.
Muslim-Friendly Hotels in Mykonos
Here are our best hotel recommendations for Mykonos, if you have specific requirements such as honeymoon we encourage you to email the hotel directly to request these. Swimming with a burkini in Greece is not a problem and all hotels and beaches allow this.
Panormos Bay Suites Luxury Resort
Luxury resort with private hot tub or pool. There is an option to request halal food as well if you email the hotel directly prior to arrival.
Luxury resort with private villas. You can request halal food options prior to arrival by emailing the hotel.
Luxury resort with halal food nearby and spa facilities which are available to women. Email the hotel prior for more confirmation.
We stayed at AK Mykonos which is next to the coach station and very convenient 10min walk to the Wind Mills of Mykonos and Little Venice. I highly recommend it if the price is right.
Prices in Mykonos
Mykonos can be an expensive place to visit.
A taxi from Mykonos airport to the city which is only 10min away costs 20 euro. You can also take a bus, which is much cheaper around 5 euro.
A portion of the halal souvlaki I had cost 20 euro per person.
If going in peak season I would imagine this to be even higher. Budget around 100 euro per day for two to be on the safe side.