Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
For everyone else, the appeal is simpler: space, and prices that are not south-coast prices.
What it is like
A long strip of sand with organised sections, tavernas and hotels behind it, and open water in front. The bay is exposed to the prevailing wind, so it is livelier than Ornos and less polished than Psarou.
Because it is long and away from the famous names, you can still find room here in August, which is not a sentence that applies to most of this island.
Watersports
Schools here run windsurfing lessons and rentals through the season, and diving operations use the bay as a base for sites around the coast. The wind is most reliable in the afternoon, which is when the boards are out and when swimmers find the water busiest with kit.
Morning is calmer for ordinary swimming.
Getting there
Kalafatis is on the east side of the island, a drive of around twenty minutes from Mykonos Town, with seasonal buses. It is far enough out that most day-trippers do not bother, which is the point.
Nearby, the north-east coast holds quieter coves for anyone who wants to go further, and Ano Mera, the island’s inland village, is on the road back.
Last checked August 2026. Schools, buses and facilities are seasonal - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
Is Kalafatis good for windsurfing?
Yes. It is the island’s established watersports beach, with schools and rentals through the season and reliable afternoon wind.
Is Kalafatis quieter than the south-coast beaches?
Generally yes. It is long, away from the famous bays, and keeps space even in August.
Is Kalafatis cheaper than Psarou or Paradise?
It is not a luxury or party beach, and lounger and food prices reflect that.
How do you get to Kalafatis?
By car in about twenty minutes from Mykonos Town, or by seasonal bus to the east coast.
Is the water calm at Kalafatis?
Calmer in the morning; the afternoon wind that suits the boards makes it choppier for swimming.
Next
Read best beaches in Mykonos, Ano Mera, or where to stay in Mykonos.