Category: Blog

Contrast may be a be a great source of creativity and innovation. Take Mykonos, for instance: the reason why, for decades now, it has gained the reputation of the No. 1 party island in Greece, is not only because of its notorious clubs and DJ parties, but also because of its local, traditional festivals that take place every summer in different locations and are a must-go for visitors!

Contrast is a strong element of Mykonos’s DNA. One can recognize it in every step; from the 5-star luxury villas and resorts to the super clean, recently whitewashed “chez l’ habitant” rooms to let, located in small houses with blue-painted windows and pink bougainvilleas. Or, from the extravagant, sophisticated Michelin-starred restaurants to the humble fish taverns and food trucks. Whatever you think of, you’d better be ready to meet its complete opposite, as this blessed Aegean island features a perfect blend of a top luxury, rocking tourist destination with a place where local traditions are also very much alive!

Of course, the same applies for having (huge) fun in Mykonos! Especially in the heart of the summer, dancing day and night includes not only attending champagne showers at popular beach bars, jazz nights at exclusive bars, international rock festivals and parties with DJs, but also local festivals with traditional music and dances, tsampounas (local musical instruments), mouth-watering food and oceans of wine!

In addition to the above, you don’t need an invitation to attend the feast. Locals will be delighted to welcome you and make you part of their crowd.

In Mykonos, as everywhere in Greece, festivals have mostly to do with religious holidays and are a way of life, connected with local traditions and the loud Greek temperament. Food-wise, the festival menus usually include boiled lamb, traditional pies, ‘kopanisti’ cheese and the famous ‘louza’ cold cuts.

Some of the most exciting local summer festivals are:

• Feast of the Virgin Mary in Tragonisi, in June. The feast takes place after the service but only men are allowed!
• Also in June, the feast of Saint Kyriaki in Delos. It is the only day in the whole year when people are allowed to stay on the sacred the island in the afternoon. The feast starts after the evening service and the blessing of the bread.
• The festival of Saint Panteleimon in late July, which takes place in Marathi, in the medieval monastery.
• The festival of Panagia Tourliani, on the day of the Assumption of Mary (August 15th) in Ano Mera, in front of the Monastery.

Among the many hundreds of thousands of people who fly in every summer in Mykonos to swim in its transparent blue waters, spend long hours of sunbathing or dancing in its notorious beach bars, taste the best delicacies of the Mediterranean cuisine and indulge into the temptations of its rocking night life, there are a few eclectic connoisseurs who come to this precious gem of the Aegean Sea for totally different reasons.

To them, Mykonos with its spectacular coastline and landscape, its hundreds of white-washed churches and chapels hanging like eagles’ nests from sharp cliffs where the only sound comes from the roaring waves hitting the shore below and its vibrant energy, is the perfect place for unwinding and finding the true meaning of Zen.

The main reason for the mystical side of this beautiful place, that lists as one of the top world’s destinations for luxury travelers, is that Mykonos is neighboring with Delos Island; a sacred rock in the middle of the Cycladic archipelagos, famous for its high energy magnetic field and for making its thousands of visitors every year feel overwhelmed by a strong sensation. Delos, birthplace of the God of Light, Apollo, has been known as a holy island from the ancient times. According to a local legend, it is a place of huge concentration of energy due to a star that appears in the summer sky, in the center of a ring of stars above Delos.

Spending a day in Delos to meditate, practice Yoga, or do Tai Chi exercises is a soul-lifting experience that will leave you full of energy and spiritual fulfillment. The boat ride from Mykonos’ old port to the sacred island takes approximately 20 minutes. Just beware to leave before dark, as you cannot spend the night there. What you can, though, is stay long enough to watch the sunset — an experience that will leave you breathless.

Back to Mykonos, you can visit one of the emblematic luxury spas or ask for home-spa services, widely available along with yoga sessions to stretch your spine, improve your posture and metabolism, strengthen your bones, calm your nerve system, help you sleep well, relieve depression, help you relax and bring harmony to your mind. Apart from Yoga you can also book Pilates lessons and Massage sessions.

Whatever you need to fully unwind from the frantic reality we all live in, reach a high level of inner serenity, and find your Zen balance, accepting things as they are without constantly trying to interpret them, Mykonos can offer it, beautifully ‘wrapped’ in the amazing blue, white and golden shades of the Cycladic colors!

It isn’t common to be mentioning Mykonos as a business traveler’s destination. Worldwide references to this spectacular Aegean rocky island are usually about its amazing golden sandy beaches, azure blue clear waters, top gastronomy, and endless partying! But now, with our world rapidly changing, there is a bright new value added to this exceptional island, as it is becoming a preferred spot for luxury digital nomads.

If your lifestyle includes long hours of working on your pc and teleconferencing; if you are a writer, journalist, business consultant, architect or practice any profession that doesn’t require your physical presence, think of Mykonos as your next and much envied “office” in the Mediterranean.

This new ecosystem of online working freelancers and executives represents a lifestyle that is becoming very popular among people around the world who perform best when they can regulate when, how and where they want to work. To them, avoiding a daily routine in some rainy, freezing cold city helps them be much happier and more productive.

So, when it comes to choosing a destination that fulfills the expectations of luxury digital nomads, it is no surprise that Mykonos scores high on the list for many different reasons. First, due to its location on the world map, Greece is a meeting point, bringing together different people from different cultures. Mykonos, besides being a recognized earthly paradise, is an island that has a lot to offer to demanding travelers, almost throughout the year, its most quiet and “deserted” period being between late November and middle March:

• A mild climate that allows its residents the winter luxury of an outdoor lunch or a long relaxing walk along its stunning golden beaches
• A convenient time-zone as the country is seven hours ahead of EST
• A 12-month daily connection with Athens; the capital of Greece
• A high-speed network for a smooth internet connection. It’s worth mentioning that, during the last 3 years, Greece has been making a digital leap, constantly improving its technological infrastructure
• A wide range of private villas for rent that offer spectacular views, private pools and premium amenities.
• Also, an equally wide range of eating out choices, from international restaurants to picturesque fish taverns and a plethora of cafes and bars
• A most friendly community that consists both of locals and of foreign residents.
• Many interesting sites to visit, like ancient ruins, Byzantine monasteries and churches, museums etc.