It’s the sun-soaked Greek party island that has hosted a string of A-list celebrities once again this summer, from Nicole Scherzinger to Matt Damon.
But British holidaymakers appear to have had enough of Mykonos, after a study by the consumer group Which? found it is now Europe’s worst coastal destination.
Mykonos Town was ranked last in the survey involving more than 3,500 Britons, with a rating of just 58 per cent and scoring just three stars for its seafront and friendliness.
The overall score was much lower than that of the second-last hotspot of Fuengirola in Spain, with 66 per cent. Third last was Portimão in Portugal with 68 per cent.
Locations were marked on 12 separate criteria, including quality of the beaches, seafronts and marinas, attractiveness, food and drink and value for money.
Visitors to Mykonos had particular criticism for the town’s seafront, marina and value for money – with some reportedly charged €70 (£60) for a sun lounger.
Just last month, one family was hit with a £310 bill for lunch by a rip-off Mykonos restaurant which had claimed they would get free sun loungers if they bought two drinks. It turned out that a milkshake cost €38 (£33) and calamari was €148 (£127).
And a string of foreign tourists have told of being ‘scammed’ at one beach bar after being forced to spend hundreds of euros amid claims the prices were not given in advance and burly waiters then intimidated visitors after handing over the bill.
Nicole Scherzinger posted this picture on Instagram on July 9 of her on holiday in Mykonos
Chris Hemsworth and his brother Liam were seen going for lunch in Mykonos on June 30
Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Barroso on the beach in Mykonos on July 1
According to The Times, one Which? member in the survey said of Mykonos: ‘Choose a different Greek island as there are many more authentic ones.’
Another said: ‘Awful place, wouldn’t recommend anything.’ And a third added that visitors should ‘take twice as much money as they think they need’.
However it remains one of Greece’s most fashionable and popular spots, with stars to have visited this summer including actors Chris Hemsworth and Christian Bale.
Mykonos has also attracted some of the world’s top footballers in recent weeks including Liverpool’s Mo Salah, Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham.
But the island also has a reputation for bad behaviour among British tourists, and hosted Manchester United’s Harry Maguire on a notorious holiday in 2020, when he was convicted of assaulting a police officer and attempted bribery.
The defender was handed a 21-month suspended sentence but his legal team immediately lodged an appeal – which nullified the conviction. Maguire is now due to face a retrial next February, but does not have to attend.
The scale of tourism on Mykonos and overdevelopment have also caused concern for local residents, with an estimated 220,000 visitors in a single week of peak season in July last year.
Last year Marigoula Apostolou, president of the local folklore museum, told the Observer: ‘Our island is full, it has exceeded its limits. Our natural environment has been destroyed, our water and sewage infrastructure cannot cope, and that is before we even talk about the threat to our lifestyle by being branded a party isle.’
The Dark Knight actor Christian Bale is pictured walking on a boat off Mykonos on June 18
Manchester City star Phil Foden does headers with his son Ronnie, four, in Mykonos last month
Model Lottie Tomlinson posted a picture of her in a bikini on holiday in Mykonos last week
However, the Which? study also found that Britons’ favourite coastal destination was Valencia, which beat popular cities such as Barcelona and Lisbon.
Famous for its gothic cathedral and for being the birthplace of Paella, the city in eastern Spain scored 91 per cent – with visitors praising the city’s beaches, rating them a full five stars out of five, and value for money.
It also scored five stars for the quality of its tourist attractions, shopping, friendliness and attractiveness, and scored no less than four stars in any of the remaining categories.
Tied in second place with scores of 88 per cent were Venice and Porto.
While Venice drew criticism for its hefty prices and crowds, with scores of two stars for value for money and peace and quiet, visitors said they were captivated by the ‘magical’ views and unique architecture.
Meanwhile, Portugal’s second city was described as ‘picturesque’, and was rated a full five stars for its marina, friendliness and value for money.
Scores for Spain’s Costa Del Sol and Portugal’s Algarve coast, which are hugely popular for package holidays, varied significantly.
Among the high-scoring destinations on the Costa del Sol were Nerja, a charming low-rise town of white-washed buildings perched on the cliffside, and Estepona, an old-fashioned town with a palm-fringed promenade.
Praised for being ‘unspoilt’, Estepona was awarded five-stars for its pretty seafront and for the opportunity to enjoy some peace and quiet.
Mykonos hosted Manchester United footballer Harry Maguire in 2020, when he was convicted of assaulting a police officer and attempted bribery. The conviction was later quashed
Mykonos Town was ranked last in the survey of 3,500 people by consumer group Which?
Some visitors to Mykonos have been reportedly charged €70 for a sun lounger (file image)
Visitors to Mykonos had criticism for the town’s seafront, marina and general value for money
It also scored four stars for its beach, the quality of the food and drink, accommodation, attractiveness, safety, friendliness and value for money.
Meanwhile, Fuengirola, a town on the Costa de Sol with high-rise buildings on the beachfront, was ranked second from last in the survey, with a score of just 66 per cent.
Tourists scored it just two stars for attractiveness but it was praised its ‘fun, lively atmosphere’.
Tavira, an historic town in the Algarve with quaint seafood restaurants, independent boutiques and pretty cobbled streets, found itself in third place overall with a score of 87 per cent.
Described by one traveller as ‘beautiful and unspoilt’, respondents rated it five stars for its marina, value for money, friendliness, peace and quiet and safety.
It also scored four stars for its attractiveness, quality of its tourist attractions, and food and drink, with multiple respondents praising its ‘excellent restaurants’.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: ‘If you’re planning your next getaway and looking for a slice of sea and sun, our survey results show that it’s well worth looking beyond the biggest name destinations.
‘The Costa Del Sol for example has much more to offer beyond its most infamous resorts, with some of the highest-rated spots like Nerja and Estepona having a more laid-back atmosphere compared to the likes of Fuengirola.
‘Meanwhile, it might be worth switching a city break in Barcelona or Lisbon for one in Valencia or Porto, both of which were top rated by visitors.’
