Mykonos Villa Complex With Stunning Sea ViewsN°001
Mykonos Town, Greece
Private PoolSpa
From $32,436 per night
Mykonos at a gentler pace, on the windsurfing coast
Kalafati, often written Kalafatis, is a long sand-and-pebble bay on the southeast coast of Mykonos, prized by windsurfers, divers and families who want the island without the crush of its famous beach clubs. Villas here climb the low hills above the bay, with private pools, Aegean views and a sense of space rare on Mykonos, while Mykonos Town and the celebrated south-coast beaches remain an easy twenty-minute drive.
- One of the best windsurfing bays in the Cyclades, with reliable summer meltemi wind
- Diving and snorkelling in clear water along the southeast coast
- A long, relaxed beach far from the party clubs, with tavernas at the sand's edge
- Ano Mera village and the Panagia Tourliani monastery ten minutes inland
- Hillside villas with private pools, sea views and full concierge service
Known forWindsurfing and watersports, diving, a long uncrowded beach and a quieter side of Mykonos near Ano Mera
Best time to visitMay to early July and September for warm seas without peak crowds; July and August for full-summer energy
Nearest airportMykonos (JMK), around 20 minutes by car
Ideal forFamilies, watersports enthusiasts, couples and groups seeking privacy near, not in, the Mykonos scene
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554homes available
1–38bedrooms
up to 72guests
442with a pool
Events not to miss in Kalafati
- April or early May
Greek Orthodox Easter
The most important celebration in the Greek calendar, marked on Mykonos with candlelit processions, midnight fireworks and feasting. A moving, authentic time to be on the island before the summer season.
- 15 August
Feast of Panagia Tourliani, Ano Mera
The monastery village ten minutes from Kalafati celebrates the Dormition of the Virgin with services, music and shared food, one of the island's most traditional festivities at the height of summer.
- June to September
Summer panigiria across Mykonos
Small church feast days around the island bring local food, wine and live Greek music to village courtyards and country chapels; your concierge can point you to the nearest one during your stay.
Kalafati through the seasons
- Spring (April – May)
Wildflowers, Easter and empty beaches
The island greens over, Easter fills the villages with candlelight and Kalafati's long beach is at its most peaceful as the season warms up.
- Early Summer (June)
Warm seas before the peak
Settled sunshine, swimmable water and open restaurants without the August crowds make June a near-perfect villa month on the southeast coast.
- High Summer (July – August)
Meltemi winds and full island energy
The steady meltemi turns the bay into a windsurfing playground while Mykonos runs at full glamour, with your hillside pool as the calm counterpoint.
- Autumn (September – October)
The warmest sea and softest light
September keeps summer's warmth with half its visitors, and October winds down gently, ideal for swimming, diving and long taverna lunches.
The Area and Where to Stay
Kalafati occupies its own quiet corner of Mykonos, a broad bay facing the islet of Tragonisi on the island's southeast shore, beyond the reach of the day-trip circuit. The beach is long and uncommercialised by Mykonos standards, backed by a watersports scene rather than beach clubs, and the neighbouring coves of Kalo Livadi and Lia are minutes away. Villas sit on the hillsides above the bay and around agios-dotted farmland towards Ano Mera, the island's only inland village, whose square and monastery give a glimpse of pre-jet-set Mykonos. Staying here means waking to open sea views and swimming before breakfast, then choosing your dose of the island: Mykonos Town's boutiques and nightlife are about twenty minutes away, and your concierge can arrange drivers, boats and beach-club reservations on demand.
Things to Do
Kalafati is the watersports capital of Mykonos. The bay's steady summer meltemi makes it the island's premier windsurfing spot, with equipment and instruction available on the beach, and the clear, protected water suits wakeboarding, paddleboarding and sailing. Dive operators run trips to reefs, walls and caverns along the southeast coast, among the better diving in the Cyclades. Beyond the water, visit the whitewashed Panagia Tourliani monastery in Ano Mera, walk the coastal paths to Lia and Kalo Livadi, or take a boat excursion to the sacred island of Delos, one of Greece's most important archaeological sites, reached via Mykonos Town. Evenings might mean a sunset in Little Venice or a quiet taverna dinner by the water; the concierge arranges yacht charters, private guides and tables at the island's famous restaurants.
Food and Local Flavour
The Kalafati side of Mykonos eats well and unpretentiously. Tavernas on and around the bay grill the day's fish and serve Greek classics with their feet almost in the sand, while Ano Mera's village square is known among locals for traditional spit-roasted meats and honest island cooking. Seek out Mykonian specialities: kopanisti, the island's peppery soft cheese, louza cured pork and almond sweets. For contrast, Mykonos Town and the southern beaches host some of Greece's most glamorous dining, from celebrated seafood tables to international names, all within a short drive. A private chef at the villa is the favourite arrangement for families and groups, and the concierge can source provisions, wine and sought-after reservations.
When to Visit
The season runs from late April to October. May, June and September are the connoisseur's months: warm seas, open restaurants and far fewer people, with September's water the warmest of all. July and August bring peak energy, peak prices and the meltemi wind at full strength, which is exactly what windsurfers want and what makes Kalafati's sheltered villa terraces so pleasant. Greek Easter, in April or early May, is a moving time to be on any Cycladic island. Outside the season the island turns quiet and many businesses close, though the light and emptiness have their own appeal. A private pool villa keeps every month comfortable.
Getting There
Mykonos Airport (JMK) receives direct seasonal flights from across Europe and year-round connections through Athens (ATH), and lies about twenty minutes' drive from Kalafati across the island's spine via Ano Mera. Ferries and fast catamarans from Piraeus and Rafina dock at the New Port near Tourlos, roughly twenty-five minutes away, and connect Mykonos with Santorini, Paros, Naxos and the rest of the Cyclades. On the island, a hire car or arranged driver is the practical choice for the Kalafati side. The concierge organises airport and port transfers, car hire delivered to the villa and private boat transfers for island hopping.