Agios Ioannis holidays

Holidays to Agios Ioannis drop you straight into a movie set-perfect town, which is also home to one of the best beaches on the island.

A star-studded CV

Agios Ioannis was used as the setting for Shirley Valentine – the 1989 box office smash which earned actress Pauline Collins an Oscar nod. The beach reaped the most fame, featuring in the movie’s most iconic scene. Today, the seafront Sunset Taverna seen in the film has been replaced by an ultra-modern spot called Hippie Fish, but you can’t miss the ‘as seen in Shirley Valentine’ sign outside the restaurant.

A small-but-perfect beach

The town’s 250-metre-long belt of caramel sand may not take any top spots for size, but here quality over quantity wins the day. It’s backed by a charming mish-mash of rustic eateries, as well as a stylish steak restaurant serving speciality beef.

Close to Mykonos Town

Seven buses a day run from Agios Ioannis to Mykonos Town, taking around 20 minutes. The town cemented itself as a tourist favourite many moons ago, thanks to its cosmopolitan welcome and lively atmosphere. It’s great for shopping – one-off boutiques selling local goods take centre stage. There’s history here, too – you can visit the Archaeological Museum and the Folklore Museum.