What Is Mykonos Known For?

Mykonos built its modern reputation on nightlife, but the island's oldest symbol has nothing to do with parties at all, standing instead as a working reminder of how residents once ground their own grain.

Mykonos is known first for its windmills, sixteen of them built by Venetian rulers in the 16th century to harness the island's near-constant winds, which earned Mykonos the old nickname island of the winds. Most cluster near Little Venice, the neighborhood where houses hang directly over the water, and while none still grind grain, several have been restored, including the Bonis Windmill, now converted into a small museum tracing that history.

The island is equally known for its nightlife, a reputation that took root in the 1970s and 80s when Mykonos became a haven for hippies and one of the earliest LGBTQ-friendly destinations in the Mediterranean. That early culture of openness laid the groundwork for the island's later shift toward luxury tourism, celebrity visitors, and a party scene now recognized as one of the most significant in Europe, centered around beach clubs like Paradise and Super Paradise.

Mykonos is also known, more unexpectedly, for its pelicans. The tradition traces back to 1958, when a local fisherman rescued an injured pelican later named Petros, who became the island's unofficial mascot, and successors still wander the streets of Chora among restaurant tables and harbor crowds today.

The island's position near Delos, the uninhabited archaeological site considered the mythological birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, adds a layer of ancient significance most visitors don't expect, reachable by a short boat trip and holding one of the most important collections of classical sculpture in the Aegean, connecting Mykonos to Tinos and Syros for anyone extending the trip.