Mykonos With Kids: Can The Party Island Be Family Friendly?

It was only after we’d booked our family holiday to Mykonos that we realised its credentials as a party destination. Understandably, with a child in tow, going out all night was no longer on our priority list. We simply wanted somewhere hot, new and relaxing to go on holiday with a baby. My husband had never been to the Greek islands before and my only experience was a girl’s trip to Zante when I was 18. Partying until the wee hours after consuming large ‘fishbowls’ then recovering on the beach was the general theme for the holiday. Yes, this was to be a far different trip to the Greek islands and despite its reputation as a party island, we set out to discover whether Mykonos with kids was a good option.

Mykonos with kids

Once one of the poorest islands in the Aegeon, Mykonos has since cemented its place as a sun-drenched haven for all types of clientèle. It is also one of the more expensive Greek islands along with Santorini which we have also visited with kids. Food and drink, although of a high quality, is on the pricey side, on par with other western European holiday resorts. Its popularity with celebrities such as the Kardashians has helped raise its profile further. 

Is Mykonos Family-Friendly?

Mykonos’ family friendly credentials were immediately apparent as Mrs T – then nine months old – proved an instant hit. The Greeks adore children. She has never been so popular and was treated like an A-list superstar. Us, her parents, were mere body guards. She had locals and tourists alike fawning over her throughout our stay. At our hotel, The Myconian Ambassador, staff went out of their way to welcome her and people would stop on the streets Mykonos town.

Every few metres she was accosted and showered with compliments. All the while she was lapping up the attention and duly smiling back, blowing raspberries and twirling her feet around with her arms outstretched – as she often does when she is excited. She really is a sociable young lady – with the smile, patience and public awareness Tom Cruise would be proud of.

What to do in Mykonos with kids?

Mykonos Old Town with a baby

Mykonos old town, known as ‘Hora’ and nicknamed the Venice of Greece, is a treat to behold. It is a very unusual place – the heart of which is essentially a maze which hugs the waterfront. It is labyrinth of cobbled streets, lined with beautiful white washed buildings adorned with blue painted doors – the epitome of a traditional Cycladic town.

Inside the quaint buildings lie a range of boutique shops, cafes, bars and restaurants serving international cuisine. During our day trip there we had a large, delicious meal at the restaurant Fato a Mano where I will give them extra family-friendly points for giving Mrs T a flashing disney toy (although it was after we had olive oil accidentally spilt on us).

Mykonos town is not a place to be rushed but one in which to relax and savour its uniqueness. Have a wander, pop into the shops and sit down and eat and drink while taking in your surroundings. Most of all, be open to getting a bit lost. The narrow cobbled streets aren’t massively ideal for a pushchair but the attention we received from everyone more than made up for it.

If you go towards the harbour you’ll see the famous Mykonos windmills. Much of the island’s industry used to focus on wheat production and some of the 16th-century Venetian windmills remain on the island.

Even though we hit the town as two cruise ships of people started cluttering up the narrow streets, I would rather have been winding our way through tourists with a buggy in daylight than at night time. For those frequenting the many loud and busy bars the island is renowned for – in particular the waterfront dance bar Jackie O’s – the maze of streets may not be so easy to navigate.

Spot pelicans in Mykonos

Other than the bar named after her, the late Jackie Onassis-Kennedy’s presence on the island lives on in its large, living mascot – the Great White Pelican. It came as quite a shock to us to see one wandering around the cobbled streets but it is something they’ve been doing since becoming a mascot of the island in the 1950s when a wounded pelican, named Petros by the locals, was found off the coast of Mykonos.

After Petros’ death in 1985, Jackie O helped keep the tradition going by donating a pelican called Irene. Since then two others, one of which has been named Petros the second, have been given to the people. They usually wander around by the harbour. We saw the one below close to the church.

Mykonos Beaches

Aside from our trip into the main town we had a rather lazy holiday. We could have hired a car and checked out some other beaches but the one near our hotel was really good.

The sandy beach of Platys Gialos was more than suitable for us: plenty of sun loungers, clean sea, lots of restaurants, a great beach bar and friendly people. What more could you want? The restaurants were very accommodating with high chairs at the ready and lots of attention for her. 

Where to eat in Platys Gialos?

During the day we mainly frequented Yiaolo Yiaolo which has free wi-fi and beach loungers (those further away from the shore were free to use).

Platys Gialos was perfect for us because we could wander down to the beach from our hotel in the evening. Mrs T was usually asleep in her pram so we choose from one of the many restaurants lining the beach.

Our favourite restaurants included the family run, Avli Tou Thodori, which serves good, wholesome Greek food and the sumptuously decorated Bonasta which served delicious sushi and fresh fish dishes (the seafood platter was enormous and divine). The only thing I decided to steer clear of on the trip was the Greek wine which, after persisting with a couple of glasses, decided wasn’t to my taste.

Day Trip to Delos

If we’d felt a bit more energetic we could have taken a day trip to Delos. The tiny island ha an important place in Greek mythology. It is where twins Apollo and Artemis, son and daughter of Zeus and Leto, were born. The island is believed to have first been inhabited around 2,800-2,500 B.C after archaeologists discovered the ruins of a pre-historic settlement.

There are boat trips to the island leaving from Mykonos old town and tours you can which help give historical context to the trip. It’s definitely something we would do if we were to go back – which is highly likely!

Book a tour to Delos from Mykonos

Is Mykonos suitable for families?

We had a brilliant time in Mykonos and would recommend it as a destination to visit as a family. Mykonos is a wonderful family holiday for young and older children. The island has a warm, friendly attitude towards families. The food was delicious and we experienced good service. Despite its reputation as a party island there’s lots to enjoy in Mykonos with kids. If you are looking for a relaxing family holiday, Mykonos ticks plenty of boxes. There’s sandy beaches galore and beautiful scenery.

Weather in Mykonos

The weather in Mykonos when we went in June was perfect for children. We visited Mykonos with a baby  when Mrs T was nine months old). We had sunshine everyday with temperatures ranging from 28 to 32 degrees Celsius. Mykonos also has great  for families whether you are looking to stay in a hotel or villa. We really enjoyed staying close to Platys Gialos. It is a beautiful beach with lots of restaurants and a family-friendly vibe. Find your perfect accommodation in Mykonos.

Interested in visiting other Greek islands with kids? We also visited Santorini with kids. Find out the pros and cons of visiting Santorini as a family and my top tips for visiting Santorini as a family.

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