Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
It is fully organised: loungers and umbrellas run most of its length, with beach clubs and tavernas behind them and watersports at one end.
What it is like
Sand rather than shingle, a wide bay, and water that shelves gently. Because it is long, it absorbs people better than the smaller coves: the middle can be busy while the far end is quiet, and the walk between them takes a few minutes.
The eastern end has long been the island’s best-known gay beach, and Mykonos being Mykonos, that is simply part of the geography rather than a hidden corner. The rest of the bay is mixed.
The lounger economy
This is the part to plan for. On Mykonos beaches the loungers are the business, and prices at the front row of a beach club are a different proposition from the back rows or the unserviced ends.
You are not obliged to rent anything to be on the sand, and our sunbeds and free beaches guide explains what the rules actually are in Greece. In practice on this island, if you want a quiet towel spot, walk towards the ends.
Getting there
Elia is reachable by road across the island, and in season by the sea bus from Platis Gialos, which is the pleasant way to do it: a short boat hop along the coast rather than a taxi.
Buses also run from Mykonos Town in season. Parking exists behind the beach and fills in August. Where to stay in Mykonos covers which bases put you near this coast.
Who it suits
Good for: people who want organised comfort, a long beach to walk, and a calmer day than Super Paradise or Paradise offer.
Less good for: anyone hoping for a wild empty cove, which Mykonos does not really have on this coast, or anyone avoiding paid loungers entirely.
Last checked August 2026. Prices, sea-bus routes and facilities are seasonal - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
Is Elia the biggest beach on Mykonos?
It is the longest sandy beach on the island, on the south coast, and organised along most of its length.
Is Elia a party beach?
No. It is a comfortable, organised beach rather than a party one; the loud beaches on this coast are Paradise and Super Paradise.
Is Elia a gay beach?
Its eastern end is one of the best-known gay sections in Greece, and has been for decades. The rest of the bay is mixed.
How do you get to Elia beach?
By road from Mykonos Town, by seasonal bus, or by the sea bus that runs along the south coast from Platis Gialos.
Are there free areas at Elia?
Yes, particularly towards the ends of the bay, away from the beach clubs that fill the middle.
Next
Read best beaches in Mykonos, Platis Gialos, or where to stay in Mykonos.