Kalafati Beach (also spelled Kalafatis) is a long, sheltered bay on the south-eastern coast of Mykonos, Greece, approximately 12 kilometres from Mykonos Town (Chora). This guide covers how to get there, what facilities are available, water sports, food and drink, accessibility, and practical tips for planning your day.
Guide last updated: May 2026. Several beach guides continue to list the Thalassa beach club as operating on the western end of Kalafati. It has closed, and that section of the beach is now open, free-access sand. Visitors planning around that venue should note it is no longer trading.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | South-eastern Mykonos, Kalafatis area, 84600 |
| Distance from Mykonos Town | 12 km (approximately 20–25 minutes by car or taxi) |
| Admission | Free |
| Parking | Free, ample on-site |
| Public bus | KTEL from OTE/New Peripheral station, Mykonos Town |
| Bus fare | Approximately €1.80–€2.80 one way |
| Sunbed hire | Approximately €30–€40 for two sunbeds and an umbrella |
| Season | Beach facilities operate May to October |
| Typical visit duration | Half day to full day |
Kalafati Beach opening hours
The beach itself is open and freely accessible at all times. Beach facilities — sunbeds, umbrellas, water sports hire, restaurants, and bars — operate seasonally, generally from May through October. Hours for individual businesses vary, but beach bars and tavernas typically open from around 9 AM and remain open into the early evening. Outside of season the beach is quiet and unserviced, though accessible on foot or by car year-round.
5 great Mykonos experiences to book
- 🚐 Small group highlights tour: Take a small group Mykonos highlights tour from the cruise port and avoid the chaos of large coach groups.
- 🏍️ Explore by ATV: Discover hidden beaches and backroads the fun way on an all-terrain vehicle.
- ⛵ Catamaran cruise: Relax on a catamaran cruise with meals, drinks and transport included.
- 🏛️ Delos day trip: Visit one of Greece’s most important archaeological sites on a half-day guided tour to Delos.
- 🍽️ Food tasting tour: Sample traditional dishes and local flavours on a Mykonos food tour.
Getting to Kalafati Beach
The most straightforward way to reach Kalafati Beach is by hire car, quad bike, or scooter, which takes approximately 20–25 minutes from Mykonos Town. Parking at the beach is free and plentiful, though spaces near the entrance fill quickly from mid-morning during July and August.
By taxi: taxis from Mykonos Town to Kalafati take 20–25 minutes. Fares are metered; agree on a price before departure if taking a private transfer. Book return transport in advance, as taxis are harder to find at the beach itself.
By public bus (KTEL): the bus to Kalafati departs from the OTE station (also called the New Peripheral bus station) in Mykonos Town — not from the Fabrika (south) station, which serves the southern beaches. In high season (June–September), buses run roughly every hour from early morning. The journey takes approximately 25–30 minutes. Fares are approximately €1.80–€2.80 paid on board in cash. No water taxi service currently operates to Kalafati.
Cruise ship passengers arriving at Mykonos New Port (Tourlos) can reach the OTE bus station via a short connecting bus from the port, then transfer to the Kalafati service. Alternatively, organised shore excursions provide direct return transport — see the tours section below.
Kalafati Beach admission and costs
There is no admission charge to access Kalafati Beach. The free-access area of the beach has no facilities; visitors bring their own equipment. Sunbed and umbrella hire costs approximately €30–€40 for two sunbeds and an umbrella, depending on row position and operator. Front-row pricing is higher. In high season, sunbeds are often taken by mid-morning; arriving before 10 AM gives the best choice of position.
Admission and pricing information last verified in May 2026.
How long to spend at Kalafati Beach
Most visitors spend half a day or a full day at Kalafati. The beach is long enough that a full morning and afternoon of swimming, sunbathing, and water sports is comfortable without the crowding typical of shorter, busier Mykonos beaches. Visitors combining a beach visit with a stop at Ano Mera village should allow around four to five hours in total.
Accessibility at Kalafati Beach
The main access point to the beach from the road is via a short path with some steps. The beach has a device available to assist people with reduced mobility in entering and exiting the water — ask beach staff on arrival for assistance. Showers and changing facilities are available at beach club sections of the beach. The road-level car park is flat and suitable for most vehicles. Visitors with specific accessibility requirements should contact individual beach businesses in advance, as provision varies.
Inside Kalafati Beach: what to see and do
The beach and swimming. Kalafati is approximately 800 metres long and divided into two informal sections: a calmer western area used primarily for swimming and sunbathing, and an eastern section dedicated to water sports, where more wind and wave activity is common. The seabed is a mix of fine sand and small smooth stones; water shoes are recommended, particularly for entering the water at the rockier sections. The water is clear and visibility is good, with small fish visible around the rocks — snorkelling is worthwhile. Currents can be strong on windier days; check conditions before swimming far from shore.
Water sports. Kalafati is the main windsurfing and kitesurfing beach on Mykonos, owing to the consistent Meltemi wind that blows across the eastern coast from May to September. Windsurfing and kitesurfing schools operate on the beach with equipment hire and tuition available for all levels. Additional water sports available include jet skiing, kayaking, wakeboarding, tube rides, and scuba diving. A PADI dive centre operates near the beach; the waters around the rocky outcrops and the small nearby island of Dragonisi offer diving suitable for beginners and experienced divers alike.
Food and drink. Several tavernas and beach bars operate along and directly across the road from the beach. Options include traditional Greek taverna menus (grilled fish, fresh seafood, salads, grilled meats) as well as beach bar service with drinks and snacks delivered to sunbeds. Prices at Kalafati are generally lower than at the more commercial beach clubs on the western side of the island. An ATM is available near the beach entrance.
The surrounding coastline. The small beach of Agia Anna (also known as Agía Ánna Kalafátis) is a short walk around the headland to the west of Kalafati. It is smaller and quieter, with a seafood restaurant set into a cliff face that becomes livelier in the evenings.
Organised tours and shore excursions to Kalafati Beach
Visiting on a half-day island tour: if you want a guided introduction to Mykonos that includes Kalafati Beach alongside key sights such as Mykonos Town, the windmills, Little Venice, and the Monastery of Panagia Tourliani in Ano Mera, a half-day tour from Mykonos Town is a practical option. Tours typically run for four hours and include bus or vehicle transport between stops. Book the Mykonos half-day tour on Viator →
Arriving by cruise ship: passengers on a port call at Mykonos with limited time ashore can find shore excursions that include Kalafati Beach as a specific stop, with direct transport from the cruise terminal. This avoids the need to navigate public transport or find taxis independently. Browse Kalafati Beach shore excursions for cruise passengers on Viator →
Practical visitor tips
| Tip |
|---|
| Arrive before 10 AM in July and August to secure a sunbed and parking space; by midday both are in short supply on busy days. |
| Bring cash. Buses are cash-only. Some beach vendors and smaller tavernas do not accept cards, particularly for small transactions. |
| Pack water shoes. The seabed is sandy in places but rocky in others, and the entry to the water involves stepping over stones at most points along the beach. |
| The KTEL bus back to Mykonos Town runs less frequently in the late afternoon; check the return schedule before you arrive so you are not stranded at the beach at closing time. |
| The beach is divided: the eastern section is the active water sports zone, with boats and equipment in the water. Swimmers and families with children are better placed at the western end. |
Frequently asked questions about Kalafati Beach
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Kalafati Beach suitable for children? | Yes. The beach is consistently described as family-friendly. The western swimming section has calm, shallow water and no beach club atmosphere. It is significantly quieter than the party beaches on the south coast. |
| Do you need to book in advance for Kalafati Beach? | No booking is required to visit the beach. For organised tours or shore excursions, advance booking via Viator or a tour operator is recommended in peak season (July–August). |
| Is Kalafati Beach open on Sundays? | Yes. The beach and its facilities operate seven days a week throughout the season (May–October). |
| Is there parking at Kalafati Beach? | Yes. Free parking is available in the road-level car park adjacent to the beach. Spaces fill quickly in high season; arriving before 10 AM is advisable. |
| Is Kalafati Beach sandy or rocky? | The beach has a mix of fine sand and small smooth stones. The seabed is also mixed. Water shoes are recommended. It is less rocky than many Aegean beaches, but is not uniformly fine sand throughout. |
Things to do near Kalafati Beach
Agia Anna Beach – A small, quieter cove immediately west of Kalafati, reachable on foot in around ten minutes. It has fewer facilities but a seafood restaurant built into the cliff that is worth visiting for lunch or an early evening drink.
Ano Mera village – The island’s only substantial inland settlement, approximately three kilometres from Kalafati. The main square contains the Monastery of Panagia Tourliani, founded in 1537, with a carved marble belfry and ornate wooden iconostasis. The village square has traditional kafeneions and tavernas with lower prices than Mykonos Town.
Kalo Livadi Beach – A long, sandy beach approximately two kilometres west of Kalafati, considered one of the most attractive on the island. It is calmer than Kalafati and has high-quality waterfront restaurants and sunbed hire at comparable prices.
Elia Beach – The longest beach on Mykonos, located around four kilometres south-west of Kalafati by road. It has a mix of serviced and free sections and is accessible by KTEL bus from Mykonos Town.
Rhenia Island – A small uninhabited island visible from the beach at Kalafati, reachable by private boat hire or sailing excursions departing from Mykonos Town or Platis Gialos. It has several secluded beaches with no facilities and clear water.
What to visit next: similar beaches on nearby Greek islands
Golden Beach (Chrissi Akti), Paros – Paros is approximately one hour from Mykonos by high-speed ferry. Golden Beach is one of the premier windsurfing and kitesurfing destinations in the Aegean, with consistent Meltemi conditions similar to Kalafati, plus a long stretch of fine sand and multiple water sports schools.
Plaka Beach, Naxos – Reachable in approximately 35–45 minutes by ferry from Mykonos, Naxos has some of the longest and least developed beaches in the Cyclades. Plaka is a wide, dune-backed beach with calm, shallow water that is particularly good for families.
Agios Prokopios Beach, Naxos – Adjoining Plaka, and considered one of the finest beaches in the Cyclades, Agios Prokopios has soft sand, clear water, and water sports facilities without the development of more commercial resorts.
Porto Beach, Tinos – Tinos is approximately 30 minutes from Mykonos by ferry. Porto is a sheltered, double bay with clear water, tavernas, and windsurfing conditions that attract a quieter crowd than Mykonos.
Galissas Beach, Syros – Syros is approximately one hour from Mykonos by ferry. Galissas is the largest beach on the island, with calm, sheltered water in a bay fringed by tamarisk trees. It is notably less commercial than equivalent beaches on Mykonos and Paros.
More Mykonos travel
Other Mykonos travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- The Mykonos to Delos ferry: Times, prices and departure point.
- How close is Mykonos Town to the cruise terminal?
- Where are the original Lions of Delos?
- Is it possible to visit Delos in the winter?
- Is there any accommodation on Delos?
