Paradise Beach

Paradise Beach sits on the south coast of Mykonos, about 6 km from Mykonos Town, and it is the island's original party beach. A crescent of sand and fine shingle backed by clubs and tavernas, it draws day visitors by bus, quad and water taxi, and yachts that anchor offshore for the afternoon.

The shoreline is divided between beach bars and clubs, each running its own rows of sunbeds and umbrellas. Tropicana sits on the sand, Paradise Club at the eastern end, and Cavo Paradiso on the cliff above the bay; music starts around midday and runs into the night. Anyone after quiet swimming should treat Paradise as an afternoon stop rather than a place to lie at anchor overnight.

Wind and Sailing Conditions

The season here runs from May to October. The dominant summer wind across the Cyclades is the meltemi, which blows from the north and typically averages 15-25 knots, gusting considerably harder through July and August. Because Paradise faces south and has hills behind it, the bay stays comparatively sheltered when the meltemi is up. That is why the south-coast beaches - Ornos, Psarou, Platis Gialos and Paradise - fill up on windy days while the north of the island is unusable.

Beyond the headland the picture changes fast. Crews should expect the full weight of the meltemi once clear of the lee, with the wind accelerating around the capes and through the channel towards Delos. Check the forecast before committing to an afternoon passage, when the wind usually peaks.

Anchoring

Yachts anchor off the eastern and western ends of the beach, outside the swimming buoys, on sand with patches of weed. Room is tight in July and August, when tenders and water taxis run constantly between the shore and the boats lying off, so arriving before midday makes a real difference. Paradise is one of the anchorages you'll visit on a private gulet charter from Mykonos, usually taken as a lunch or sundowner stop before the boat moves to a calmer bay for the night.

Swimming and Snorkeling

The water warms from late June, holding above 22°C into early October and peaking near 24°C in August. The bottom is sand and pebble, so swim shoes are optional. Snorkelers working the rocky edges of the bay will find seagrass beds and the usual Aegean reef fish - bream, wrasse, the occasional octopus - rather than the corals of tropical water. Gear can be rented on the beach, though bringing your own is more reliable.

Operators on the sand rent windsurf and kitesurf equipment and run diving trips. The beach also has a long-standing tolerance of topless and nude sunbathing at its quieter ends, which is worth knowing before you land guests here.

Paradise is crowded through July and August and busy on shoulder-season weekends. If the party is not the point of the day, Mykonos has quieter alternatives within a short sail: Kalafatis on the east coast, or Agios Sostis and Fokos in the north when the meltemi allows.