“Seby, it’s 1am – time to go to the church!”
My Frenchman looked at me funny wondering if my drink had been spiked…
I was serious! In Mykonos, the church is where all the gay boys head to in the evening. Specifically, to the rocks surrounding the Church of Panagia Paraportiani in “Chora” (the main town of Mykonos). ‘Cause right here, on those sacred rocks, you’ll find plenty of gay lads, on their knees, deep in worship…!
Mykonos has long been not only one of the top gay destinations in Europe, but in the world! This is especially true in August during the XLSIOR Festival when around 30,000 hot gay guys from all over descend on this Greek island to party. XLSIOR is considered by many as a staple in the gay European calendar together with Madrid Pride, Circuit Barcelona and Tel Aviv Pride.
XLSIOR is, of course, just one small side to gay Mykonos. Whilst it has a worldwide reputation for being a gay party island, we also found a tranquil and really pretty side to it, which is what makes it so appealing to all gay men regardless of interest, budget or age. The beaches here are stunning, with a mix of busy party beaches, nudie beaches and remote, laid-back beaches. In terms of accommodation, there is something for all budgets, from the many lavish luxury hotels, to affordable local guesthouses. Finally, “Chora“, the main town, is where the bulk of the gay scene is, especially Jackie O’, Babylon, and the infamous cruising area around the Church of Panagia Paraportiani where I tried to get Seby to visit with me (strictly for research purposes of course!).
We’ve been to Mykonos for holiday several times, both for partying and for a relaxing beach getaway. We always have a blast every time we come! We’ve put together this detailed gay guide to Mykonos based on all our many trips here, featuring the best gay beaches, bars, clubs, events and more.
When trying to define the ultimate gay summer holiday, one place often springs to mind: the world-known destination of Mykonos! Even though civil partnerships for same-sex couples has only recently become legal in Greece, this small Mediterranean country and friendly, vibrant and fabulous Cycladic gem is proud to be one of the global landmarks of gay travel.
But why is Mykonos so popular with gay travelers? Over the past decades, Mykonos has developed a distinctive gay-friendly attitude, that cannot be compared with any other destination.
The island manages to preserve many of its traditional elements, however the culture of local people has grown to become naturally friendly to any kind of diversity — and of course, to gay and lesbian travelers from all over the world, who choose Mykonos for their summer holidays.
I visit Mykonos every year in June or July for the guaranteed sun, the clear cool water and for the smell of fresh chargrilled fish that seems to hover in the warm air all over the island in the summer. Hot bright days linger into balmy evenings and the party atmosphere is evident on every beach. There is enough going on all over the island from April through to October to satisfy even the hardest party person – and that’s without even venturing into the town to find the restaurants, clubs and bars in the maze of labyrinthine alleys and streets.
Over the years I’ve watched some of the beaches go through various stages of trend and style. All of them have had their high and low times when it comes to being on-trend, something very important on a hedonistic Greek island.
When I first discovered the restaurant and bar on a crest at Super Paradise Beach it was the place to be seen, buzzing with energy and colour and fun. The following year it was so out of fashion it was empty of a single person. It all depended on the different owners and various name changes and management styles.