Ornos Beach, Mykonos has the vibe of a small fishing village that has been invaded. You can tell this was once a sleepy little town but tourism has taken over and today it’s hot and busy. It’s the closest beach to the town of Mykonos with sun beds and umbrellas for rent on the fine white sand.
We arrive by moped although local transport is available. It’s a beautiful beach with a resort style feel and much of the accommodation has direct access to the beach. The water is clear and blue and in a protected bay – no waves and some very nice boats are moored a little further out.
We park our moped at the far end of the beach and walk back, taking off our shoes and letting the sand get between our toes. My first order of duty is coffee and we find a nice looking restaurant. It’s not lunchtime yet so it’s not too busy and clearly no one is in a hurry. It takes a while to even catch the eye of a waiter to get a menu and then we have to flag someone down again to order. This isn’t an issue though and we’re happy to sit and take it all in.
The coffee is iced, cold and strong and worth the wait. There are people everywhere and yet the relaxed vibe prevails. The restaurant is starting to fill up and a few orders come out that make me think of lunch but we haven’t done anything yet and I’m itching to get out and explore. I take my shoes off and we pay for our coffees and sink our toes into the sand. Considering how many of the sun beds are occupied there are not many people in the water. The shore line is littered with spades, buckets and shells and the children play, building sandcastles with moats. Further up the beach there are groups, laughing, lounging and sipping on cocktails. Everyone is on holidays here.
We walk along the beach enjoying the sun, sand, water and views. I paddle my feet and my husband takes a swim. What better way to do nothing than being at the beach?
Would I Return?
Yes. This is a fantastic little spot for a beach getaway. Everything is at your finger tips without feeling like your in a resort. Beach front accommodation is available as well as quarters that are more rustic. There is a diving school and water activities (water skiing and windsurfing) are available on the beach. There are several restaurants and bars that overlook the beach and more yet a street or two back.
Local transport is available but if you can afford it, hire a moped for flexibility and as a great way to explore the rest of the island.