Greece's best-known gay island: the bars of Mykonos Town (Chora) and Little Venice, the gay-popular Paradise and Super Paradise beaches, and the XLSIOR festival in summer. Sun, sea and partying in the Mediterranean.
Mykonos is the undisputed gay capital of Greece and one of Europe's premier LGBTQ+ destinations. The heart of it all is the Chora (Mykonos Town): a whitewashed maze of narrow lanes originally laid out to confuse pirates, which every evening turns into something close to an open-air gay festival. The gay venues cluster around the old harbour, close enough that the crowd spills out into the alleys. The anchor is Jackie O' Town Bar, with Porta and Lola alongside it.
By day, the action moves to the beaches on the south of the island. Elia is the main gay beach: sunbeds and a beach bar with a party vibe at the front, then a clothing-optional cove further along to the right, and beyond that the rocks where things get very cruisey. Super Paradise draws the afternoon and evening crowd to the Jackie O' Beach Club, while neighbouring Paradise is the party beach with clubs like Cavo Paradiso. Both are a 20–30 minute drive from town; renting a car or scooter helps, as buses and taxis are scarce.
Mykonos is expensive and unapologetically glamorous: champagne-service beach clubs, designer boutiques, chic boutique hotels. If you want the spectacle, come in August for the XLSIOR festival, when up to 30,000 gay men descend on the island. If you prefer it calmer, come in June or September: same light, same white Cycladic houses, far gentler prices and quieter beaches.
Map
Why it's a gay destination
Mykonos's reputation as a gay island dates back to the 1960s and 70s. Jackie Kennedy Onassis put it on the map, visiting with her entourage and establishing it as an aspirational destination for the international jet set, which included a growing gay community seeking a sophisticated, accepting environment. Over the years more gay-friendly hotels and guesthouses opened, and although Greece is an Orthodox Christian country, Mykonos came to embrace its big-spending LGBTQ+ visitors.
The leap from seasonal beach parties to an internationally recognised circuit destination came in 2009 with the launch of the XLSIOR festival, founded by Anastasios Kapetanias. It positioned itself as an upscale, premium event with major DJs, elaborate production and week-long programming across multiple venues. Today the island's gay festivals draw tens of thousands of visitors every year.
Gay districts
What to do
- Bars and nightlife in Chora and Little Venice.
- Paradise and Super Paradise gay beaches with beach parties.
- XLSIOR Mykonos festival in August.
- Sunset in Little Venice and strolls through the whitewashed alleys.
Points of interest
Kato Mili (Die Windmühlen / The Windmills) — The row of five 16th-century whitewashed windmills above town is Mykonos's signature landmark and the classic sunset photo spot.
Little Venice (Alefkandra) — Colourful houses with balconies hanging straight over the sea; come at sunset for the waterfront bar terraces.
Panagia Paraportiani — A dazzling white church formed from five merged chapels — one of the most photographed buildings in the Cyclades.
Delos (UNESCO) — Sacred island and mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, 2 km west; a boat-trip open-air site of temples, houses and mosaics.
Archäologisches Museum Mykonos / Archaeological Museum — By the harbour; famous for the vase depicting the Trojan Horse and finds from Delos and Rhenia.
Aegean Maritime Museum — Small museum in the town centre with ship models spanning from the pre-Minoan era to the 19th century.
Ano Mera & Kloster Panagia Tourliani / Monastery — Mykonos's second traditional village, inland, built around a 1542 monastery with an intricately carved icon screen.
Beaches
Elia BeachGayThe main gay beach: party vibe and a beach bar at the front, a clothing-optional cove to the right, cruising rocks beyond.
Super ParadiseGayAfternoon and evening hub around the Jackie O' Beach Club, which hosts a gay party every evening.
Paradise BeachMixedThe island's party beach with clubs like Cavo Paradiso; music all day and a beach-party atmosphere.
Agrari BeachNudist / FKKQuiet bay next to Elia, popular when it fills up; more relaxed and clothing-optional.
Notable events
- XLSIOR Mykonos Festival20–25 Aug 2026The island's flagship international summer gay festival: up to 30,000 attendees, major DJs and multi-day programming across several venues.
- When to go
- Summer (June–September); peak in August with the XLSIOR festival.
- Getting there from Switzerland
- Direct summer flights from Zürich (about 3h); otherwise via Athens.
Updated: 2026-06-23
