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Ninety seconds on Little Venice
From the Old Port, walk west into the lanes of Mykonos Town; the walk takes 10 to 15 minutes. From the New Port, take a bus or taxi to town first, then walk.
In summer the sun sets around 8pm to 8.45pm, latest in June and a little earlier by September. In July and August, aim to be on the shore 30 to 45 minutes before it goes down.
Yes in July and August, when the waterfront at sunset is packed. For a more relaxed evening, come in May, early June, September or October, when the island is usually calmer.
Come for the sunset over the Aegean, watched from a waterfront cafe under painted wooden balconies that hang straight over the sea.
Little Venice is the stretch of Mykonos Town where the houses stand right on the shore at its western edge. Their fronts face the sea, with arches and upper floors that overhang the water, and the waves lap at the foundations.
The walls are whitewashed in the Cycladic way, with the wooden shutters picked out in strong colours. Wealthy ship captains built these houses in the mid-18th century, right at the water's edge. They drew on Venetian style, and the row recalls Venice's Grand Canal.
From the quarter you catch glimpses of the Mykonos windmills. Sunset is the main draw, and this is the most famous place on the island to watch it.
From the Old Port, the scenic way in follows the harbour promenade to the Agios Nikolaos Chapel, then west into the lanes.
Once there, take your photographs of the houses over the sea, then sit down for a coffee or a drink at one of the cafes on the water. Afterwards, walk north for a few minutes to Paraportiani Church, a cluster of five whitewashed churches merged over several centuries, which marks the entrance to the Kastro district.
With more time, walk out to the windmills and back, then browse the back streets of Chora.
If you miss the sunset, come in the evening anyway: the quarter and the windmills make a striking backdrop in the evening hours, even in May.
For a longer stay, have lunch at one of the restaurants on the shore here, and leave the galleries and boutiques of the old town for the morning.
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