How did Mykonos Get so Famous?

History & Culture

14.07.2023

Mykonos is one of the most popular islands in the world. Hollywood actors, famous athletes, and lovers of wild nightlife all flock here. They are seeking the sun, the beautiful seas, and the party atmosphere. Why did the island of Mykonos become so popular, and what makes it different from the other islands in the Aegean?

Mykonos is a fairly small island, and it is found between the Greek islands of Tinos, Syros, and Paros. There are 10 thousand permanent residents on the island, but the population swells by a factor of ten in the high season. The main town is called “Chora.” Historically, Mykonos had residents since the 11th century before Christ, and it had a simple agricultural system. It was an important stopping point for traveling merchants who passed through the Aegean.

1930s

Mykonos was put on the map by the discovery of ancient sites in Delos. Mykonos is the closest island to Delos, so some used Mykonos as a home base to see the archaeological sites.

1950s

In the 50s, the island of Mykonos was mostly self-sufficient. Pictures by American photographer Robert McCabe capture the simplicity of the island before it gained its fame. The most common sights were fishing boats in the harbor and handcrafts. Karamanlis, the Greek Minister of Public Works at the time (and eventually the Prime Minister of Greece), aimed to turn the islands into glamorous tourist spots. To achieve this, Karamanlis created a series of hotels that would help the country recover from World War 2.

"Xenia" Hotels

His hotels were called “xenias” after the Greek word “filoxenia” - hospitality. Mykonos was the location of one of the largest xenia constructed in Greece. With the introduction of the xenia program, the annual visitor count to Greece started at 33,000 per year in the 1950’s, and was boosted by over 1000% in the coming decade. Today, 60 years since the opening of the first xenia, 3 times the number of people visit Greece in one day compared to a whole year in the 1950s. Xenia hotels were constructed by some of the best architects of the time and were designed to attract wealthy travelers who already spent time holidaying in Cannes and Acapulco. Famously, in 1954, Queen Frederica of Hanover took a cruise to the Greek islands and invited other princes and princesses in Europe to tag along.

1960s

By the 1960s, the island of Mykonos started to attract international figures like Jackie Kennedy, former US first lady, who came with her second husband Aristotle Onassis. Grace Kelly, Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren followed soon after. The island soon became a hub for creatives and freewheeling characters, who enjoyed the progressive identity of the island. Among the most famous were Italian painter Pierro Aversa, who opened a local bar along with local fisherman Andreas Koutsoukos. Pierro’s, as it is now called, was designed to mimic the exclusive bars of New York, and it is still a popular bar in Mykonos today. Mykonos was successful at attracting famous and wealthy young entrepreneurs because the island felt like it had no rules. Tourists wanted to go to paradise, to have a break from their work-dominated routines, and to take advantage of the hippy and bohemian lifestyle. At this time, the beaches of Mykonos still didn’t have sun beds or beach bars like we see today.

1970-2000

Gradually, super-wealthy travelers to Greece began to drop anchor at Psarou Bay, which became a popular harbor for superyachts because the water is deep and the location protected boats from the powerful Meltemi winds.

Mykonos Today

Today, Mykonos is a far cry from its humble fishing village roots. Luxury bars on the beach are known to sell champagne for over 100,000 Euros per bottle, boutique shops sell luxury jewelry and 20,000 Euro Rolexes, and tourists come in droves. However, it still keeps some of the old architecture, with some of the most beautiful white buildings in Greece. It's no wonder the Greek island of Mykonos is now the undisputed holiday destination for the super-rich. Most recently, football stars Luke Shaw, Declan Rice and Mason Mount, and movie stars Demi Moore, Amber Turner, and Montana Brown, were seen vacationing on the beaches of Mykonos.

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