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Neighborhood · Mykonos, Egeu Meridional
Chora de Mykonos
Historic center of the island: a maze of white lanes with colorful doors, domed churches, Matogianni Street and the old port, where the mascot pelicans are found.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Chora de Mykonos
Chora is the main town of Mykonos and the reason many people come to the island. It's a maze of narrow stone-paved lanes with white-painted joints, among cubic houses, external staircases, wooden balconies painted blue or red and dozens of small churches. The confusing layout was designed to confuse pirates and break the wind. Cars do not enter.
Matogianni Street is the commercial spine, with designer shops, jewelers, galleries and bars; from it branch quieter alleys toward the Kastro, the oldest quarter, and Little Venice. Near the old port is Manto Mavrogenous square, with the statue of the heroine of the Greek independence born on the island, and the three Tria Pigadia fountains from 1722 in the heart of town.
Pelicans circulate around the old port, mascots of the town for decades, descendants of the first Petros, adopted by fishermen in the 1950s. Boats to Delos and water-taxis to the beaches leave from there. On the quay are the fish tavernas and the benches from which you can see the whole Chora.
The Chora is explored on foot and the charm is in getting lost. Early in the morning the lanes are empty and washed; at night bars and restaurants are lit and the activity goes on late in summer.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
2 to 3 hours for a complete walk; the town merits repeated strolls at different times of day.
Best time
Early morning, for empty lanes and photos, and late afternoon into the evening for the buzz. On cruise days the Chora fills from mid-morning to late afternoon, June through September.
How to get there
On foot from anywhere in town; from the new port of Tourlos, where ferries arrive, it's about 2 km along the waterfront by bus or boat-bus. From the airport, 4 km by taxi or bus. Cars are left in parking lots on the outskirts.
Tip
Closed, comfortable shoes: the paving is uneven and slippery. To orient yourself, use the sea as a reference: going downhill gets you to the old port or Little Venice. Pelicans should not be fed.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Chora de Mykonos
Can you drive in the Chora?
No. The center is pedestrian and the alleys are narrow. Cars are left in the parking lots on the edge of town, near the old port and the Fabrika bus station.
Who are the pelicans of Mykonos?
They have been the town’s mascots since the 1950s, when a fisherman adopted the first one, called Petros. Today there is more than one, and they roam the old port and the Pequena Veneza.
What is Matogianni Street?
The main shopping street of the Chora, with designer shops, jewelers and bars. The surrounding alleys are quieter.
Is the Chora safe to walk at night?
It’s a small, lively town and well lit in summer. Be cautious of uneven paving and alleys that end in stairs.