Mykonos

In July and August, the Cyclades are crowded and less personal and more expensive than they are at other times of the year. Walkers, nature lovers, and devotees of classical and Byzantine Greece would do better to come in spring and fall, ideally in late April through June, or September through October, when temperatures are lower and the islands are less tourist-riddled. In late March the islands begin to burst with thousands of varieties of wildflowers, and sprightly crimson poppies dapple stern marble blocks; the sea begins to warm up for comfortable swimming in late May. Autumn's days are shorter, but the sea remains alluringly swimmable well into October. Autumn travel to the islands also brings rustic pleasures: grapes are pressed in September, and zesty olives are gathered and fields plowed in October.

Content provided by Fodor's Travel. Copyright © Fodor’s Travel, a division of Internet Brands, Inc. All rights reserved. Fodor’s is a registered trademarked of Internet Brands, Inc.

• Mykonos Windmills : These seven windmills were built to mill grain that was offloaded in the harbor hundreds of years ago. One of the most photographed sites on Mykonos.

• Archaeological Museum of Mykonos : A modest museum, which has a large collection of ancient ceramics.

• Beaches : Sunbathing and swimming are top pursuits at beaches around the island, such as Agios Sostis Beach, which is quiet and will not have the large numbers of tourists. For a livelier atmosphere, go to Elia Beach, Kalo Livadi Beach and Kalafatis Beach.

• Alefkandra (Little Venice) : An area lining the Western side of the Old Harbor, the restaurants and tavernas are perched right next to the sea and the sunsets are impossibly beautiful.

• Take a ferry to Delos : Greek mythology lists this island as the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. The excavations here are a declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is also a museum nearby housing many artifacts.

Content provided by Costco Travel experts. Copyright © Costco Travel. All rights reserved.