Mykonos, one of the top tourist destinations

Mykonos or Myconos is a Greek island and one of the top international tourist destinations, famous around the world for its cosmopolitan character and its intense nightlife. The island is part of the Cyclades, lying between Tinos, Siros, Paros and Naxos. It spans an area of 105.183 square kilometers and rises at an elevation of 341 m at its highest point. The island is composed primarily of granite. It has little natural fresh water and relies on the desalination of sea water in order to meet its needs. There are 9,320 inhabitants most of whom live in the largest town, Mykonos, also known as Chora, i.e. the Town in Greek, a common denomination in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town, which lies on the west coast. Archaeological finds indicate that the Ionians settled on Mykonos in the early part of the 11th century BC. More recent discoveries have uncovered remnants in Ftelia beach from the Neolithic Kares tribe dating back to as far as 3000 BC. In Greek mythology, Mykonos was the location of the battle between Zeus and the Gigantes, and the island was named in honor of Apollo's grandson Mykons. During these ancient times, Mykonos, due to its proximity to the highly populated island of Delos, situated about 2km away, became very important as a supply island and possibly as a getaway location for Delian citizens.

Today, Mykonos is one of the world's most cosmopolitan islands, having become increasingly popular especially during the last 50 years due to the numerous international jet set visitors that spend their holidays on the island. It is widely known for its extremely rich, diverse and often intense nightlife featured by a vast number of bars and nightclubs. Mykonos is also distinctive for its sandy beaches, offering everything from crystal clear waters, windsurfing potential, sea side tavernas, bars featuring 24hour loud music and even full nudity in some cases. Many Greek and international celebrities have summer residences in Mykonos and can often be seen walking the white washed roads or having dinner at a small street side table of an expensive restaurant or a taverna. The island is also one of the most upscale areas of Greece, and its real estate is very expensive. The popularity of the island has given rise to a wave of real estate development with the construction of private homes, villas, and hotels. This has raised some concerns that the island may be gradually losing its character. In order to prevent this, the island's zoning requires all new buildings to abide by the rules of the Cycladic architectural style.

The nightlife of Mykonos is marketed as among the best in Europe.
1. Mykonos is rated among the top clubbing destinations in the Mediterranean, along with Ibiza, Ayia Napa and Rimini. Mykonos also attracts world famous DJs to its clubs and beach bars, the most well known of which are Paradise, Super Paradise and Paranga. In addition, Mykonos is a gay friendly resort area during the summer, featuring several gay clubs.
2. Mykonos nightlife focuses mainly on bars rather than clubs, yet a number of notable clubs can be found throughout the island.
3. Additionally a number of non Greeks have recently taken up residency in Mykonos coming mainly from Albania and the Balkan republics which is said to have created an uptick in petty crime.