On a meltemi day (north wind, most summer days) the sheltered beaches are on the south and town side: Ornos, Psarou, Platis Gialos, Agia Anna, Elia, Kalo Livadi, plus Old Port beach and Agios Stefanos near town. When the wind turns south, the calm side flips to the north coast: Panormos, Agios Sostis and Fokos. One local subtlety: for a day after a strong meltemi ends, leftover swell can keep the north coast wavy even in light wind. The live map at the top of this page accounts for this and shows exactly which beaches are calm right now — with today's top picks named in the headline.

The most family-friendly beaches combine shallow entry, calm water and organized facilities: Ornos, Platis Gialos, Agia Anna by Kalafatis (very shallow, ideal for toddlers), Kalo Livadi, Psarou and Agios Stefanos. Conditions matter as much as the beach itself, so the live list above marks "kid friendly" only when a beach is genuinely calm — the tag disappears on windy, gusty or wavy days, and off-season.

Ftelia is the island's windsurf and kite spot, working best in the meltemi. Kalafatis has a windsurf school, side-shore wind and Blue Flag water; Korfos is the kite bay with strong funneled wind, and Megali Ammos suits advanced riders. Conditions are best around 4–7 Beaufort. On the live map these four are marked with triangles showing wind-sport quality alongside the swimming status. Two cautions: in strong north winds a powerful south-going current runs in the straits around the island (mind drift offshore), and always confirm conditions with the Mykonos Port Authority before going out.

The meltemi is the dry northern wind of the Aegean summer, blowing mainly from June to September, often for several days in a row — typically reaching 6–8 Beaufort and arriving suddenly, which is why Greek sailors nicknamed it "the sleeper". It brings clear skies and cooler air, makes the north coast of Mykonos rough, and leaves the south coast beaches calm — locals simply switch coasts with the wind rather than skip the beach.

In summer the wind usually builds through the morning, peaks in the early-to-mid afternoon (roughly 13:00–17:00) and eases towards the evening. Mornings are often deceptively calm even on meltemi days — the live display above warns when the wind is about to rise, and its guidance follows the midday conditions rather than the morning lull, so you can pick a beach for the whole day.

The Aegean around Mykonos is coldest in late winter at roughly 15–16°C, becomes comfortable for most swimmers from June, and peaks around 24–25°C in August and September — early autumn often has the warmest water of the year. The display above shows today's live sea temperature, including the small difference between the north and south coasts.