When you think of the gorgeous Greek isle of Mykonos, what springs to mind? Luxury? Expensive? Inauthentic?

I’d already visited a few Greek islands, so Mykonos wasn’t high on my list because of its luxury reputation. But my mum and I wanted to plan a trip to our favourite country, Greece, and since we were flying in from different places, our choices were limited to Mykonos or Santorini. We’d already been to Santorini, and flights to Mykonos were cheaper, so the decision was easy. Return flights from Geneva in September were only €80!

Budget Accommodation in Mykonos

Mykonos is not typically known for its budget options. Fancy 5* hotels line the entire coastline which were totally out of our price range. A deep dive on Booking.Com led me to find Pension Alexandra which cost us €493.20 for 8 nights for a twin room with a private courtyard. At around €30 a night each, it was a steal! It included a free pick up from the airport on arrival and the use of the sunbeds on the rooftop. Breakfast is an optional extra and they had a bar too. Our room was on the bottom floor, quite close to the reception, and I was worried it would be loud, but it was not a problem at all.

The room was basic but perfectly functional and clean. It was deep cleaned every day and we had tea making facilities, a fridge, a safe and a wardrobe to share. The location was just outside of Mykonos town, halfway to Tourlos, across the road from Zuma.

The Mykonos Vegan Food Scene

When I checked the HappyCow app before arriving, I was initially worried about where we could eat out, especially because my mum isn’t vegan, but there are a few hidden gems:

• Rhino Mykonos – this place was a life saver and a MUST visit. It’s the only vegan restaurant in Mykonos Town and it’s truly epic. I’ve had many a vegan gyros, but these were the best with a huge menu to choose from. The original was my favourite and you can sit outside, enjoy a glass of wine and people watch (which is amazing in Mykonos!)

• Cookie Smart Bakery – you’ll find this bakery by Fabrika bus station and it usually has a queue. It’s not 100% vegan but sells a huge selection of vegan items ranging from sweet and savoury. Every time I over ordered but their cookies were insanely good.

• Snow Gelato – For a sweet treat whilst wandering around the winding streets, this little ice creamery has a few dairy free options, but the best part is their outside seating area is in Little Venice so you can enjoy the views of rich people getting splashed by waves.

• Souvlaki Story – there are 2 locations of this restaurant and we ate at the slightly smaller version tucked away behind Mykonos dock. It’s a good restaurant if you’re travelling with an omni eater as the menu is mixed with meat options but also a good selection of vegetarian and vegan choices like falafel, meatless burgers and wraps and a vegetarian platter.

• Niko’s Taverna – a short walk from the windmills is the traditional Greek restaurant called Nikos with what seems like hundreds of tables with red gingham tablecloths. There are a few vegan options to choose from here and I had the lentil soup which was so delicious. Service is so slick here and it has a nice fun atmosphere.

• Supermarkets – AB supermarket is located at the top of Mykonos Town off the main road which has a few vegan items like dairy free milk, hummus and snacks. There was a Mini Market near Tourlos marina which also had similar Greek products that were accidentally vegan like breadsticks, crisps and stuffed vine leaves.

Beaches and Boats

Our local beach was Agios Stefanos which was a 20 minute walk from Pension Alexandra. Be aware that you are walking along a busy road and the Mykonos drivers are not that pedestrian conscious. You can also take the bus from Mykonos town but I found it just as easy to walk. It is a beautiful, sheltered beach that is used by locals and a few tourists. There is a minimart close by so you can be rehydrated with a cold can of Mythos.

In Tourlos, from the new port you can get a water taxi to Mykonos Town old port. It is a 12 minute cruise leaving every 30 minutes and it costs only €2 per person. It’s a cheap and enjoyable way to view Mykonos from the sea and if you time it right for sunset then you get one of the best views!

Our trip to Mykonos was super chilled and really enjoyable. I’m really glad we stayed outside of Mykonos Town in Tourlos as it gave us the option of walking to our favourite beach and being able to use the water taxis. The narrow streets in the old town did feel like authentic Greece to me, especially if you wandered off the beaten track away from Little Venice. You stumbled upon locals sat around chatting and quiet areas where you could soak up the sun and chill. Oh and also, Mythos Lemon Radlers are my new favourite drink!

Memories from Mykonos…