Mykonos Town

Mykonos Town (also known as Hora or Chora), the capital of the island of Mykonos, is regarded as Greece's most glamorous and expensive destination. The old town is a labyrinth of narrow winding cobbled streets, lined by whitewashed cubic houses with flat roofs and blue wooden shutters and balconies. Bougainvillea, geraniums and pots of basil add splashes of colour, as do the gossip-magazine celebrities who turn up here through summer - recent visitors include American heiress Paris Hilton, American rock star Madonna, and French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier. The island is also a favourite destination of the gay set, who are drawn here by its reputation as Greece's see-and-be-seen party destination, and its countless tastefully designed bars, tavernas, boutiques and art galleries. Mykonos Town's hallmarks are its distinctive skyline lined by four white windmills and the resident pelican that lives in the harbour.

From Easter to late-October, Mykonos Town attracts the young and beautiful, ranging from film stars and artists to backpackers and wannabes. It is exceptionally busy July to August, when rooms are at a premium, but more laid back September to October. Its chic image and party vibe make it a firm favourite with the international gay community. Cruise ships touring the Mediterranean also moor up here for a day's sightseeing.

Mykonos Town lies on the west coast of the island of Mykonos, in the Cyclades, Greece. The town is 4km (2.5 miles) from Mykonos Airport (JMK). It is the island's main ferry port and lies 177km (110 miles) southeast of the mainland port of Piraeus, Athens.

Built into gentle slopes overlooking a picturesque harbour, the Mykonos skyline is dominated by a hill lined with four white windmills and backed by a rolling, arid interior. The town faces west and therefore enjoys stunning sunsets.

The best sand beaches lie on the south coast, with the most talked-about being the twin party beaches Paradiso (very developed, lined by beach bars playing 24-hour music, watersports facilities and a diving centre) and Super Paradiso (less developed than Paradiso, popular with male gay nudists). Closer to Mykonos Town, Ornos is a family-orientated beach with a Blue Flag, 2.5km (1.5 miles) to the south; Agios Ioannis lies in a dramatic bay and featured in the film ‘Shirley Valentine', 4km (2.5 miles) southwest; and Plati Gialos is a well-equipped resort beach, 4km (2.5 miles) southeast.

Landmarks in Mykonos Town include the picturesque waterside area of Little Venice, the 18th-century whitewashed Church of the Paraportiani (Little Venice area, near the seafront), the Archaeological Museum (near the harbour) and the Nautical Museum (Enoplon Dinameon Street). The island's second largest settlement, Ano Mera, which lies 7km (4 miles) east of Mykonos Town, is worth visiting to see the 16th-century Monastery of Panagia Touliani, home to a collection of Cretan icons.

Mykonos Town, renowned for its hedonistic nightlife and glamorous gay community, is not particularly geared towards families with children. However, the more family-orientated beaches are Ornos and Plati Gialos, both complete with watersports facilities, and there is a water park called Watermania near Elia Beach.

With its illustrious visitors and see-and-be-seen attitude, Mykonos Town is packed with classy little boutiques stocking bohemian-chic summer clothing and outrageously priced designer swimwear. For a special gift, visit Lalaounis (14 Polykandrioti) known throughout the country for fine reproductions of ancient Greek and Byzantine gold jewellery.

Many visitors come to Mykonos first and foremost for its exuberant nightlife. In Mykonos Town, top venues include Pierro's (Matogianni), a much-loved gay bar, and Caprice (Little Venice), one of the island's oldest and best-known cocktail bars. Open-air clubbing takes place on the beaches of Paradiso and Super Paradiso; for after-hours and international DJ's, head for Cavo Paradiso (website: www.cavoparadiso.gr) above Paradiso beach.

Upmarket Mykonos Town is packed with sophisticated ethnic-chic tavernas serving classic Greek dishes with a twist. The emphasis is on seafood, with favourites such as Sea Satin Market (on the harbour front, below the windmills) serving up delicious platters at romantic waterside tables. Sushi connoisseurs should try the Matsuhisa Mykonos sushi restaurant in the Belvedere Hotel (School of Fine Arts district), opened by celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa, founder of Nobu in New York and London.

The compact town centre is pedestrian only. To explore the island further, there is a decent bus service. Taxis are cheap by European standards. It is also possible to hire jeeps, mopeds and boats. Most beaches on the south coast can be reached by taxi boat from Mykonos Town.

Through summer, excursion boats depart from Mykonos Town harbour, taking visitors on day trips every morning Tuesday to Sunday (journey time - 25minutes) to the nearby island of Delos, believed by the ancients to have been the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, and home to an archaeological site with sanctuaries and temples. While on the boat, look out for dolphins.

Book in to the whitewashed Belvedere Hotel (School of Fine Arts district) (website: www.belvederehotel.com), a member of ‘Small Luxury Hotels' and one of Mykonos's most luxurious boutique hotels. Centring on an outdoor pool with a sea view, it has 31 rooms, eight suites, a gym, massage therapies, and is also home to the prestigious Matsuhisa Mykonos sushi restaurant.

Mykonos Airport (JMK)