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Mykonos Windmills and Little Venice: A History & How to Visit!

Last Updated on 23rd January 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

If you were to picture Mykonos in your mind’s eye, you would likely conjure up images of cool waters, a salty sea breeze, and white Mykonos windmills gracing the rocky landscape. Here’s a quick guide to the history of the thatched structures, where to see them, and the best time to go!

Mykonos Windmills: History, Little Venice & How to Visit! A quick guide to seeing some of the best things on the island of Mykonos, Cyclades, Greece

Mykonos lies in the Cyclades, a group of clustered Greek islands centred around the once thriving isle of Delos (a place which, in antiquity, was thought to have been the birthplace of Apollo).

So-called because the Cyclades form a circular shape, some of the most popular of the collection of islands include eternal Santorini, and of course, historic Mykonos.

Mykonos Windmills: History, Little Venice & How to Visit! A quick guide to seeing some of the best things on the island of Mykonos, Cyclades, Greece

A quick history of the Windmills on Mykonos

Once upon a time, much of the industry on Mykonos was focused on grain production, specifically wheat. And today, although Mykonos is probably best-known for its nightlife (and strong winds), some of the ancient mills still exist as a testament to the rich past and history of the island.

The windmills were first constructed by the Venetians at some point during the 16th-century. Like many of the islands in modern day Greece, Mykonos once lay on an important trade route and its windy weather was perfect for operating windmills.

In use for centuries, the windmills ceased to mills grain at some point during the 20th-century when grain production became less valuable. Now, much of industry in Mykonos and Mykonos town (which is also known locally as ‘Chora’) is focused on tourism.

Mykonos Windmills: History, Little Venice & How to Visit! A quick guide to seeing some of the best things on the island of Mykonos, Cyclades, Greece

Now, sixteen windmills survive on Mykonos. Of these, seven are located within Mykonos town and five are concentrated on a straight strip of land which sits high above the crashing waves below and the pretty district of Little Venice a few hundred metres away.

The 5 together are known collectively as ‘Kato Myloi’ (lower windmills) and offer beautiful views of the island. Within the main harbour, the Bonis Windmill now houses a local museum dedicated to the history of the Mykonos Windmills, as well as that of agriculture in the area. Though privately owned, the oldest windmill on the island is Geronymos Mill and dates back to the 18th-century.

Mykonos Windmills: History, Little Venice & How to Visit! A quick guide to seeing some of the best things on the island of Mykonos, Cyclades, Greece

Little Venice

Just below the windmills, the picturesque houses that form ‘Little Venice’ lay alongside the glittering waters and are best viewed at sunset.

As you may well have guessed, the bars, bistros, cafés, and houses which sit on this area of Mykonos are so called because they (very mildly- honestly I’m a little dubious!) resemble the Italian city of Venice.

And the Venetian connection doesn’t end there. Instead, during the 14th-century, Mykonos lay under the direct rule of the Venetians. This carried on right up until the 18th-century when the island fell into the hands of the Ottoman Empire.

Many of the buildings within Little Venice were actually built during the Middle Ages and were once the preserve of wealthy merchants and sea captains. Today, the beauty of Little Venice easily makes it one of the most Instagrammable places to visit in Mykonos.

Mykonos Windmills: History, Little Venice & How to Visit! A quick guide to seeing some of the best things on the island of Mykonos, Cyclades, Greece

How to visit the Mykonos Windmills

The windmills are best seen during golden hour, preferably sunset. Should you opt to rise early and visit the mills at sunrise, you’ll likely get fewer people within your photos.

However, sunset presents the real draw as the sun sets on the horizon of the Aegean Sea, producing beautiful colours and a sky to remember for days and weeks to come…

Elsewhere in Mykonos town, small fully pedestrianised streets are populated by doorways and staircases painted in pops of colour as plenty of cats roam about freely. Truth be told, you could easily spend a couple of hours meandering the narrow lanes and allowing the town to reveal itself to you.

While the windmills themselves lie just above Mykonos town and are fairly easy to visit, Mykonos can be a little harder to reach in an affordable way due to the astronomic cost of air travel within Greece.

As such, one of the best ways to see iconic Mykonos sights such as the windmills, waterfront bars, and Little Venice is island hopping (yes, this surprised me too!) across the Greek islands. For more Mykonos ideas, check out our one day in Mykonos itinerary.

You will surely not be disappointed should you opt to visit Greece, though there are a number of things to consider while planning your trip, such as the best time of the year to visit and other travel considerations. Check out our guide to the best of Greece tips for more information and inspiration!

Mykonos Windmills: History, Little Venice & How to Visit! A quick guide to seeing some of the best things on the island of Mykonos, Cyclades, Greece

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Mykonos Windmills: History, Little Venice & How to Visit! A quick guide to seeing some of the best things on the island of Mykonos, Cyclades, Greece

Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.

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Ian

Friday 20th of August 2021

Just below the windmills, the picturesque houses that form ‘Little Venice’ [lay] LIE alongside the glittering waters and are best viewed at sunset.

Ian

Friday 20th of August 2021

...unless you intend to use the past tense of "lie", but I believe the houses are still there. :-)

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