Mykonos has a reputation for being one of Greece’s most expensive islands, with luxury beach clubs, boutique hotels and eye-watering restaurant bills often dominating social media. But is it really impossible to visit on a budget? And even if you can, is it worth bothering?
To put this to the test, I spent 24 hours in Mykonos with a £50 budget, followed by another day with £500 to play with. Both days had to include my hotel, food, drink and activities so here’s exactly what I did, how much it cost and whether splashing the cash was really worth it.
We pay for our own stays
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My Budget £50 Day in Mykonos Itinerary
For the £50 day, every penny mattered. I had to find somewhere to sleep, eat properly and still experience enough of Mykonos to make the day feel like a holiday, rather than simply an exercise in spending as little as possible.
The challenge was not just whether I could stay within budget, but whether I could create a day I would genuinely recommend.
Each day started around 2PM, so let’s begin with checking in to the accommodation.
My budget accommodation in Mykonos
£46 a night / £23 each
We stayed at Alana Pension, a budget guesthouse tucked away in the heart of Mykonos Town. There was no reception, with our entry code sent via WhatsApp before we arrived, making check-in really easy – once I’d realised that’s where the info was!
On opening the door, James looked horrified. The bed appeared to look directly onto the shower, making for one of the strangest hotel layouts I’ve ever seen. But after a proper look around, we realised it was actually a surprisingly well-finished room for the price. There was air conditioning, a coffee machine, free bottled water and a comfortable bed – all perks I wasn’t expecting for £46 a night (£23 each). A downside was the lack of natural light, with just two small doors letting any daylight in.
The location is the real selling point. You’re right in the middle of Mykonos Town, making it easy to explore on foot, although that does come with one drawback. A nearby bar blasted music until around 1am, so I’d definitely recommend packing earplugs.
Would I recommend it?
If you’re simply after a clean, comfortable base in an unbeatable location with the plan to be out most of the day – absolutely. But if you plan on spending any more time than sleeping and showering in the room, then I’d recommend stretching the budget a little further.
A Late Lunch With a Greek Classic
Gyros at Snack Bar Leonidas - €5 / £4.27
We needed to fit three meals into our daily budget, so after dropping our bags at the accommodation, it made sense to kick things off with a Greek classic.
A gyros is one of the best-value street food options in Greece, made with meat, salad, chips and tzatziki all wrapped up in a fluffy pitta.
Snack Bar Leonidas was just a minute’s walk from where we were staying, but I’m delighted to say proximity was not its only charm. The gyros was absolutely delicious.
There were a few tables outside, although they were all taken when we arrived, so we perched on a nearby step to eat before eventually managing to bag one.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. It was cheap, filling and one of the tastiest things we ate during the challenge.
SeaBus to the Beach
Our next stop was Agios Stefanos beach, and to get there I decided to take the SeaBus from Mykonos Old Port to the New Port. It runs every 30 minutes and, while I could have walked the route in around 35 minutes, it was hot, the roads are not especially pedestrian-friendly and I will always take an excuse to get on a boat.
Unfortunately, I had slightly misjudged the final part of the journey. The beach looked close to the New Port on the map, but reaching it involved walking up a steep hill with no pavement. Not my finest bit of route planning.
Would I recommend it?
If you need a quick and easy way to travel between the Old Port and New Port, especially if you are arriving by cruise ship, then yes. But if you are heading to Agios Stefanos beach, I would take the bus instead. It is cheaper and drops you off much closer.
An Afternoon at Agios Stefanos Beach
Free
All beaches in Greece are technically public spaces, but many in Mykonos are taken over by vast beach clubs that charge you an arm and a leg for a lounger and parasol.
Agios Stefanos felt different though, and whilst there were a couple of paid lounger areas, most of the beach was open for casual lounging, so all we needed was a towel.
There was a lovely mix of locals and tourists, with children playing in the sand after school, and we spent a couple of hours swimming and relaxing. The water was a little chilly in May, but I got used to it surprisingly quickly and ended up enjoying it so much that James practically had to drag me out.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. It’s a great option if you want a relaxed beach day without feeling pressured to pay for a sunbed.
Snacks on the beach
Mythos beer – €1.80 / £1.54
Calippo – €2.90 / £2.48
There was a snack bar on the beach, but we headed to Agios Stefanos Beach Market instead, which was very well stocked with drinks and snacks.
A huge fridge at the back was packed with alcoholic drinks and, while the cheapest beer was actually €1.60, we decided to treat ourselves to a Mythos. They also sell cheap pastries, pizza and other quick bites if you want something more filling.
Would I recommend it?
Yes. It’s an easy way to keep costs down without missing out on a beach beer or snack.
Bus Back to Mykonos Town
€2.10 / £1.80
Having learnt from our SeaBus mistake, we took the bus back to Mykonos Town instead.
It comes roughly every hour and the journey only takes around 10 minutes, although it is worth checking the timetable as services can change depending on the season.
Would I recommend it?
Definitely. It was cheaper, quicker and far more direct than our route there and the buses are a great way to explore the island.
A Free Sunset With a Cheap Beer
Large beer – €3.50 / £3.00 (£1.50 each)
We headed to the famous Windmills of Mykonos, where there’s a low wall you can perch on and watch the sunset for free. There was something very smug about knowing that everyone sitting at the bars nearby had paid for the privilege.
That smugness faded slightly when I saw them sipping cocktails, so I ran to the nearest shop, Savvas Finest Greek Goods, and picked up a large beer for James and me to share. At €3.50, it felt a little steep, but we were paying for convenience and it was still far cheaper than ordering a drink at one of the bars.
Sadly, the clouds ruined the sunset, but the same could be said for everyone who had paid for a prime seat. The weather does not care whether you’re travelling on a budget or not.
Would I recommend it?
Yes. The windmills are one of the best free sunset spots in Mykonos, and bringing your own drink makes it feel like much more of an occasion.
A Cheap Dinner in Mykonos Old Town
Chicken gyros at Snack Bar Fani’s – €6 / £5.14
If you’re travelling around Mykonos on a tight budget, you’re going to find it hard to escape a gyros. Thank goodness we love them enough to eat one for the second time that day.
We headed to Snack Bar Fani’s, where a chicken gyros cost €6. The big win with these snack bars is that you order and collect the food yourself, so there’s no table service and no pressure to tip, but you still often get tables and chairs. It’s a budget traveller’s dream.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. It’s filling, central and one of the easiest ways to eat cheaply in Mykonos Town. Though I actually preferred the cheaper lunch option!!
A Budget Bar Near Mykonos Old Town
Beer at Cafe Vero – €5 / £4.28
It’s not a holiday without a nightcap, but after walking around Mykonos Town trying to find an affordable drink, I was about ready to throw in the towel.
Several of the supposedly cheaper places I’d researched were charging €8 for a beer, which was still too expensive for our budget. But I knew there had to be a bargain somewhere.
There was, but the answer lay just outside the Old Town.
A five-minute walk away, we found Cafe Vero, a tiny bar playing loud rock music. We liked the vibe instantly, and like turned into love when the bartender handed us a menu with beers for €5. Wine was the same price too.
Would I recommend it?
Definitely. It felt far more local than the bars in the centre, and had the best vibe!!
Breakfast at Artisti Προζύμ
Spanakopita – €4 / £3.42
With only £4.27 left to spend, I knew breakfast would have to come from a bakery. What I wasn’t expecting was to find one with seating too.
At Artisti Προζύμ, I ordered a spanakopita, a flaky spinach and feta pie, while James went for ham and cheese. Mine was warm, filling and exactly what I needed to finish the budget challenge without blowing the last of my money.
Would I recommend it?
Yes. Bakeries are one of the easiest ways to find a cheap, filling breakfast in Mykonos, and having somewhere to sit made it feel like much less of a compromise.
A Self-Guided Walking Tour
Free
To finish our £50 day, we took ourselves on a self-guided walking tour of Mykonos Town.
All you need to do is search for a self-guided tour of the place you’re visiting, then save the suggested stops to Google Maps. It’s one of my favourite ways to explore because you can wander at your own pace while still ticking off the main sights.
We saw the windmills again, Little Venice, the Holy Church of Panagia Paraportiani and Mykonos Castle, before getting happily lost in the winding streets of the Chora. Mykonos may be known for its prices, but walking around its old town costs nothing, and it really is stunning.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. It’s free, flexible and one of the best ways to see the highlights without watching the clock or your budget.
Watch my YouTube video
Want to see exactly what we got up to, this is both the £50 and £500 day.
€500 day in Mykonos
Having had a brilliant budget day, I was feeling a little perplexed as to why I was now multiplying my budget by ten!
However, Mykonos is known for being expensive, so I did wonder whether being flash with my cash would unlock a whole new range of experiences.
And the big question was: would it be worth the money?
My Luxury Accommodation in Mykonos
€220 / £188 per night
To kick-start our luxury day, we checked into Kove Mykonos, a five-star boutique hotel near Ornos Beach.
We arrived a good hour before check-in, but the staff were super warm and invited us to sit down and enjoy a welcome drink. We were then told we could access our room early – result! I was slightly surprised that it was just off the main lobby, but it is a small hotel after all.
Given that this was our luxury day, we had splurged on a Design Suite with Sea View & Outdoor Jacuzzi. It came with a king-size bed, huge bathtub, rainfall shower and even a swinging basket chair in the corner.
Whilst the minibar wasn’t free, I was delighted to find complimentary wine, local chocolates and a small bottle of sweet wine waiting for us.
Stepping outside delivered the real luxury though: a private terrace and hot tub overlooking the hotel swimming pool, with the bay in the distance.
Overall, it was a very nice room, but given the £366 a night price tag, it was also what I expected. Whilst I have nothing to complain about, I had secretly hoped the jump in price might come with a slightly bigger wow factor.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, though perhaps not this room. It’s not that the room wasn’t lovely, but £366 a night is a huge amount of money and, if I’m going all out, I want decadence!
I’d probably opt for one of the hotel’s cheaper rooms instead, of which there were plenty, especially as the shared pool area was really nice.
Relaxing in a Private Cave Spa
€51 / £43.60
To continue our luxury experience, I booked James and me into the hotel’s spa.
For €60, you get a 20-minute Hammam followed by a 25-minute ‘Dive into the Cave’ experience, where you get to chill out in their very cool cave spa with a huge jacuzzi all to yourself. As we were staying at the hotel, we got 15% off the price, bringing it down to £43.60 each.
The cave area was really cool and, if you’re someone who wants to get some photos for social media, this would definitely be the place to do it! However, I’m still not entirely sure what the pod chairs did, and a couple of the jets weren’t working.
Would I recommend it?
This one is just about a yes. It was a fun way to make the hotel stay feel more luxurious, and having the cave spa completely to ourselves was a nice touch. I’m not sure I’d have paid much more for it, but at the discounted hotel rate, I thought it was a fun activity.
A Very Expensive Gyros for Lunch
€34 / £29
I had hoped to venture to the beach for lunch, but sadly a migraine struck me down! So instead, we opted to eat at the hotel and, following two incredible gyros the day before, I had to give the pork gyros a go. After all, surely this one had to be even better?
Well, I was sorely disappointed.
Whilst the portion was huge, the gyros came ‘deconstructed’ – in the way that food often does in luxury establishments. Because of this, it felt a bit dry and, quite frankly, too damn healthy. Give me a bit of grease and a huge dollop of creamy tzatziki any day!
The worst bit? It cost £29. Honestly, I was reeling.
Would I recommend it?
No. It wasn’t bad, but having eaten two much cheaper and much tastier gyros the day before, I simply couldn’t justify the price. Give me the €5 version wrapped in a pitta any day!
A Cheaper Taxi Alternative in Mykonos
€15 / £12.84 each
After a nap, I was ready to crack on with our luxury day and, for our next activity, we needed some wheels.
Getting a taxi in Mykonos is a whole headache in itself because no matter where you want to go, every journey seems to cost at least €40. It’s crazy! However, I’d found a local recommendation for iMove, a ride-hailing app that brings the minimum fare down to €30.
The unintentional added perk? Every car I booked through the app – and I used it four times during our trip – ended up being a party bus-style minivan complete with a huge sound system. I’m not sure if that’s normal, but I absolutely loved it!!
The only downside was that the user experience wasn’t the best, and the predicted pickup times left a lot to be desired. But if you’re not in a rush, I thought it was a pretty good compromise.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely!!! Either ask your driver to stick on some tunes or see if you can connect to the Bluetooth. The party-bus experience was a fun bonus, but even better was saving at least €10 on every ride.
Dinner at Scorpios Beach Club
€84.71 / £72.39 each
After partying in our taxi, we were ready for our evening at Scorpios, a famous Mykonos beach club known for its big Sunday nights, DJ sets and eye-watering prices.
The opening party had been just the night before, but on the Monday we visited, things were much more chilled. We’d opted to book a table for dinner, which is a great way of getting into the club on busier nights because, once you’re in, you can stay for the evening and the DJ set. It does, however, mean paying for dinner too.
We were seated under a huge outdoor tent with views across the sea in the distance, and it did feel pretty special. They even brought over a tiny table just for my bag. Bougie!
Then I opened the menu and knew we were in trouble. Yep, even with our mega budget, we still had to watch the pennies here.
Quickly turning away from a lamb dish costing €190, we settled on sharing half a chicken, a lemony courgette pasta dish and two sides, which came to £50.99 each. Add in a spicy margarita for good measure – another £21.40 each – and the costs were quickly racking up!
That said, the portions were generous, the food was good and my cocktail was delicious – although, for that price, I’d certainly hope so.
Would I recommend it?
If you really want to visit Scorpios and soak in the whole experience, it’s a good stress free way to do it without worrying about whether you’ll get in or not since you can book a table in advance. However, the food – whilst tasty – is the sort of thing you could order in any restaurant all over the world! So bear that in mind.
Staying for the DJ Set at Scorpios
Martini – €28 \ £23.97
After dinner, we had the option to stay and, since we’d made the effort, I wanted to get the full Scorpios experience!
When it’s busy, you’d usually have to commit to a minimum spend to grab a table down by the DJ – that’s if they’re not already booked. Otherwise, your options are to stand or sit by the bar.
However, on a Monday night in the early season, things were much more relaxed and they let us sit down with a drink we bought at the bar.
Would I recommend it?
Yes. If you’re already at Scorpios for dinner, I’d definitely stay for a drink afterwards and soak up the atmosphere. I actually loved it. There was something very nice about watching a DJ outside, drink in hand, whilst still being able to hear what the person next to you was saying! But don’t get carried away with ordering!!
A Party Bus Back to the Hotel
€33.50 / £14.32 each
Then it was back in the party bus for the journey home and, finally, a luxury five-star sleep!
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. Cheaper than a regular taxi and far more fun.
A Five-Star Hotel Breakfast
Included in the room price
Thank goodness breakfast was included in the price of the hotel!
It was served down at the restaurant and included barista coffees, hot dishes made to order and a huge buffet. The perfect set-up for our final few hours of luxury.
Would I recommend it?
Yes! There was loads of choice, and when you’re paying that much for a hotel, a great breakfast included in the price is exactly what you want.
A Luxury Catamaran Cruise to Rhenia Island
We pay for our own trips
£129 each
For our final activity, we were picked up by minibus and taken down to the water to board our luxury catamaran cruise.
For five hours, we got to lounge around on a modern catamaran as it sailed through the blue waters towards Rhenia Island.
The cruise included food and drink and, whilst the captain explained that it wasn’t technically bottomless, I also never saw them stop offering anyone beer or wine! He also happened to be the chef and whipped up a three-course meal of bruschetta and salad, pasta and a chocolate biscuit dessert, which was really good considering it had all been made on board.
About two hours in, we dropped anchor, giving us plenty of time for swimming and snorkelling in the incredibly clear water. It was cold, but really refreshing.
Overall, it was such a lovely, chilled way to spend the morning.
Would I recommend it?
100%! This was the standout experience from our luxury day and the one thing that genuinely exceeded my expectations. I absolutely loved it.
Our Final Thoughts
This budget challenge really proved that you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a great time in Mykonos.
I honestly loved our £50 day and would happily do it again with just a couple of tweaks – namely spending a little more on the hotel and perhaps allowing myself a few extra drinks at the bar!
As for the £500 day, some of the pricier experiences simply didn’t feel worth the splurge. The one exception was the catamaran cruise, which was easily our favourite part of the luxury day.
So my perfect Mykonos trip? Mostly budget, with a slightly nicer hotel and one big splurge on the catamaran.
