Ornos Holidays

Ornos is only a shoulder width away from the island capital, Mykonos Town, but it has developed in to a large, self-contained family resort in its own right. Its coarse sandy beach loops around a wide bay, which is sheltered from the island’s strong northern summer winds. Looking back, the view takes in a big range of shops, restaurants, and smart hotels. And behind them, the sugar lump-like houses on the surrounding low hills are watched over by 16^th-century windmills – all part and parcel of the Mykonos landscape.

A wide arc of sand, pricked with palapos and wooden loungers, and a gentle shelf in to the sea, makes Ornos Beach a great find for young families. For more grown-up tastes, there’s no shortage of things to do, either, whether it’s water-skiing or windsurfing, or taking it easy with a cold drink at a beach bar.

To one end of the bay there’s a small fishing harbour where visiting yachts drop anchor and water-taxis ply their trade, shuttling passengers back and forth between the south coast beaches. Caiques also stop here en route to the UNESCO-listed islet of Delos, which is swamped with ruined temples and statues dating back to the days of Apollo and Artemis.

The island’s capital is practically on the doorstep – a 5-minute bus ride away. Its haul of bars and clubs and its 2 beaches playing around-the-clock beats have earned it a reputation as a see-and-be-seen party HQ. But it’s also got bags of charm. Whitewashed buildings – shiny as a new pin – line a maze of slender streets. The area known as Little Venice, meanwhile, is flooded with art galleries and chic restaurants tucked between tall Venetian houses.