Mykonos Yacht Anchorages: The Complete Guide

Mykonos has the highest yacht traffic of any Greek island, and the anchorages reflect that demand: the famous bays fill by 11am in July-August, side-anchorages are increasingly important, and Meltemi routing matters.

This guide covers every meaningful Mykonos anchorage with the practical detail captains and charterers need - depth, holding quality, shelter direction, what's ashore, and our honest assessment of which work in peak vs shoulder.

All coordinates are approximate centre-of-anchorage.

Captains will use updated chart data for the precise anchor drop.

Depths are normal sand-bottom anchorage depths; rock or weed patches exist in most Cycladic bays.

On the Greek Charter Index island ranking, drawn from what clients ask this desk for, Mykonos is first, and the distance table makes it the natural base of a Cyclades week: 90 nautical miles from Alimos and 75 from Lavrio, then 25 to Syros, 30 to Paros, 30 to Naxos, 80 to Santorini, with Delos and Rhenia 10 miles off the harbour.

The island's real advantage is not the beach clubs but the lees.

Every south-coast bay, Ornos six to twelve metres over sand, Psarou eight to fifteen, Platis Gialos six to ten, Paranga eight to twelve, Paradise ten to fifteen and Super Paradise twelve to eighteen, is sheltered from the north, so on a Meltemi day of 25 to 35 knots the yacht still swims; Kalafati on the east coast, six to ten metres over sand, is the best Meltemi shelter on the island and the captain's escape when the south coast is full.

The week this desk writes from here runs north to south with the wind behind it, Mykonos first and Santorini last.

The yachts that carry the Cyclades wind comfortably are the 20 metre and larger catamarans and the 26 metre and larger motor yachts: on the Index a 20 to 22 metre sailing catamaran runs EUR 31,500 to 43,500 a week, a 23 to 24 metre EUR 54,900 to 90,000, a 26 to 31 metre motor yacht EUR 35,900 to 75,000, per yacht before VAT and APA.

Six guests was the most common party in the 68 enquiries this desk logged in the 2026 season, and the Cyclades and Mykonos were the cruising grounds named most after Athens.

Where can a yacht anchor at Mykonos?

Mykonos has 8 anchorages in this guide: Ornos Bay, Psarou Beach, Platis Gialos, Paranga Beach, Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach, Kalafati Beach, Delos Anchorage (off Delos Island). Each entry below gives depth, holding, shelter direction and what is ashore.

Which Mykonos anchorages are sheltered from the meltemi, the summer north wind?

Ornos Bay: Excellent from north (Meltemi). Open to south winds (rare in summer). Psarou Beach: Excellent from north, exposed south (rare issue). Platis Gialos: Excellent from north, open south. Paranga Beach: Good from north, open south.

How deep are the anchorages at Mykonos?

Ornos Bay 6-12m typical; Psarou Beach 8-15m; Platis Gialos 6-10m; Paranga Beach 8-12m; Paradise Beach 10-15m; Super Paradise Beach 12-18m; Kalafati Beach 6-10m; Delos Anchorage (off Delos Island) 10-18m. Depths are typical sand-bottom anchoring depths; the captain drops on current chart data.

What is the holding like at Mykonos?

Ornos Bay: Good (sand with weed patches). Psarou Beach: Good (sand). Platis Gialos: Good (sand and pebbles). Paranga Beach: Good (sand). Paradise Beach: Good (sand). Super Paradise Beach: Good (sand). Kalafati Beach: Good (sand). Delos Anchorage (off Delos Island): Variable (sand with rock patches).

Which Mykonos anchorage is best for a family charter?

Ornos Bay (First-Mykonos visitors, families wanting beach club access); Platis Gialos (Families with children, casual lunch ashore); Paranga Beach (Families and groups wanting the south coast without the crowds).

When is the best time to anchor at Mykonos?

Peak July-August: every Mykonos south-coast anchorage is busy by 11am. Captains arrive early for prime position or accept side-anchorages. Shoulder seasons (June, September): plenty of space, no queues. October: most beach clubs closed, anchorages essentially empty.

What does the captain plan around at Mykonos?

On Meltemi days (north winds 25-35 knots), all south-coast anchorages are usable. Kalafati on the east coast is the back-up if south coast is full. The captain should pre-check Nammos and JackieO reservations 48 hours before the planned visit day.

Cyclades

Saronic

Ionian

Sporades

Dodecanese

Crete