Ornos and Agios Ioannis: resorts made in Mykonos

Just 2.5 kilometres from Chora, the capital of Mykonos, Ornos couldn't be better placed to attract people. And every year, this is exactly what happens in this major seaside resort of Mykonos: entirely dedicated to tourism, it welcomes huge numbers of holidaymakers.

Although recently developed, Ornos, like the rest of the island, has managed to preserve its Cycladic architecture, which gives it a certain local charm. There are a few supermarkets, plenty of cafés, restaurants and bars where you can go out in the evening... No one settles in Ornos just for its old stones! Here, holidays are Mykonos-style, lively, sporty and never far from the beach.

Ornos even has two beaches! To the south, Ornos beach boasts all the assets of the southern coast of Mykonos: a crystal-clear, shallow sea, calm and sheltered from the wind (hence the frequent presence of luxury yachts at anchor), with comfortable blonde sand, only a few square centimetres of which are not covered with deckchairs.

The beach bars have been around for a long time, but the atmosphere is still more of a family affair, and although Ornos is lively, this is not the place to party the most in Mykonos.

This is one of the reasons why Ornos is so popular: the resort is literally made up of hotels, flats and studios for rent. Ornos is a great place to relax after a night out in Chora: with regular bus links, it's easy to get back and forth even without a car, and taxis aren't too expensive to get back!

The unique geography of Ornos, situated on the inlet that marks the entrance to the Agios Ioannis Diakoftis peninsula, means that the resort also has a north-facing beach: Korfos.

A completely different atmosphere awaits you, and with good reason: in the Cyclades, a powerful northerly wind, the Meltem, blows strongly across the islands in summer, so Korfos is particularly exposed! Here, sun loungers are replaced by sails and kitesurfing: Korfos is one of the most famous spots in the whole of Mykonos.

Beyond Korfos begins the Agios Ioannis peninsula: for a long time, this hilly area was occupied only by shepherds. Now, along the narrow roads, you'll come across only the latest holiday rentals and a few large, gleaming resorts, often 5-star, made in Mykonos. Just opposite the island of Delos, they have a front row seat to one of the most beautiful sunsets on the island, facing due west!

If you don't have any rooms booked, all is not lost: head for the beach at Agios Ioannis (named after the little chapel at the head of the bay), for lovers of sun loungers and facilities, or a little further on, to Kapari beach, which is undeveloped and frequented by locals.