Some landmarks live up to the hype. The windmills of Mykonos are one of them. Whether you see them from the ferry as you pull into port, or stumble across them at sunset while wandering through Chora, they have a way of stopping you in your tracks. Whitewashed, circular, wooden-roofed, and perched above the sea: they are, quite simply, the image of Mykonos.

A bit of history

During the 16th century, when Mykonos was under Venetian rule, the island became an important maritime hub in the Aegean: a central point for trade between Europe and Asia, especially in wheat and barley. The island’s near-constant winds made it an obvious location for grain mills, and at their peak, over 20 windmills operated across Mykonos, grinding agricultural products for the island and for passing trade ships.

A total of 16 windmills survive today on the island, standing well preserved, with some now turned into private homes. The most famous cluster is the Kato Myloi (the Lower Windmills): five cylindrical structures with conical thatched roofs, lined up on a hill southwest of Chora with the sea directly below them. They’re the ones on every postcard, and they deserve the attention.

The Upper Windmills of Hora and the mills of Ano Meria served the local residents and surrounding countryside, while the Lower Windmills were traditionally used for grinding products that came from outside the island, a distinction that reflected how central Mykonos was to Aegean trade at the time. Building near the mills was strictly forbidden, as any structure nearby would have disrupted the wind flow and damaged the rotating mechanism.

The Bonis Windmill

The most iconic individual windmill is the Bonis Windmill, now a museum showcasing traditional milling techniques and Mykonian life. You can visit it from June to September, in the evening hours, from 4pm to 8pm. On the ground floor you can see where the flour was weighed; upstairs is where supplies were stored. It’s a small museum but a genuinely interesting one, and the climb up to it alone is worth it for the views over the island.
The Geronymos Mill is another one worth knowing about. Though privately owned, it’s the oldest windmill on the island and dates back to the 18th century. It operated until the 1960s and much of its original mechanism is still intact — a remarkable level of preservation for a structure of its age.

When to visit the windmills of Mykonos

Without a doubt: at sunset! The light on the whitewashed walls at golden hour is exactly as good as it looks in photos: which, on Mykonos, is saying something. That said, should you opt to rise early and visit the mills at sunrise, you’ll likely get fewer people in your photos. In peak season the windmills area can get genuinely crowded, particularly when cruise ships are in port.

The area is free to peruse, though you might be encouraged to part with your euros should a drink, snack or trinket catch your eye.

What to combine them with

The windmills sit right next to Little Venice, a district famous for its seaside houses with colorful balconies and lively atmosphere, which makes combining the two a great choice. The bars and restaurants along the waterfront are perfect for a post-windmill drink as the sun goes down. The nearby Paraportiani Church, one of the oldest and most architecturally unique churches on the island, is also within easy walking distance and worth a look.

Organized tours

The windmills are easy enough to reach on foot from Chora, but if you want to see more of the island in one go, half-day island tours include stops at the Kato Myloi windmills, Little Venice, Panagia Tourliani Monastery, and Kalafatis Beach, with local guides who add context you wouldn’t get wandering alone. For cruise ship passengers, shore excursion options are widely available with port pickup included.

Where to stay

If you want to have easy access to the windmills (particularly if you want to take photos at sunrise), staying in Mykonos Town (Chora) is the best choice. You’re a short walk from the windmills, Little Venice, and everything else the town has to offer.

For something quieter while still being central, the area around Ornos and Agios Ioannis on the south coast strikes a good balance: close enough to walk or take a short taxi into town, far enough to escape the late-night noise.

If budget isn’t a concern, the clifftop hotels around Psarou Beach are where Mykonos does luxury properly, with the kind of sea views that make it very hard to leave your terrace in the morning.

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The view from the sea

One last tip: if you’re arriving or leaving Mykonos by ferry, get yourself to the deck as you approach the port. Catching a glimpse of the windmills from the water, lined up on the hill, white against the sky, is one of those travel views that that should be on your bucket list. Don’t miss it.

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