Over the past quarter of a century, the low-lying, sun-drenched island of Mykonos in the Aegean has been considered one of the most elegant island holiday destinations in Greece. For years, the Cycladic island has welcomed the jet set, and anyone who likes to party past sunrise will adore Mykonos.

APOLLONIA BAY HOTEL
(00 30 22890 27891; email: funkygm@hotmail). Situated above the beach at Agios Ioannis, this is a quiet alternative. It has spacious rooms and suites, a swimming pool, restaurant and a relaxing atmosphere. £

BELVEDERE
Mykonos town (00 30 22890 25122; www.belvederehotel.com). The Belvedere has rooms and suites, gardens and a pool, but is by a busy road. £££

ELYSIUM
Mykonos Old Town (00 30 22890 23952; fax: 23747; www.elysiumhotel.com). The Elysium, on a hillside 300m above Mykonos Old Town, is the smartest gay hotel, with gardens, swimming pool, gym, views and a very relaxed atmosphere ('straight-friendly' owner Vassilis Chouliaras says). ££

KIVOTOS CLUBHOTEL
Ornos Bay (00 30 22890 24094/25795/6; fax: 22844; www.kivotosclubhotel.gr). Located on the magnificent Bay of Ornos, 10 minutes from Mykonos town, this is the best out-of-town hotel - a lovely complex of suites built around gardens, water courses and swimming pools. The 40 rooms and suites have been individually decorated by famous artists and local craftsmen. £££

MYKONOS THEOXENIA
Kato Mili, Mykonos, Greece (00 30 22890 22230; fax: 23008; www.mykonostheoxenia.com). When the Mykonos Theoxenia reopened its doors in June 2004, the most glamorous of all the Greek islands once again had a hotel to reflect its cool sophistication. Originally built in 1960 by architect Aris Konstantinidis, the hotel attracted such glitterati as Jackie and Aristotle Onassis. But time took its toll and the hotel was down at heel when interior designer Angelo Angelopoulos began to transform it into a shrine to the 1960s. The low-rise building stands on a prime slice of real estate next to the island's famous windmills and across the bay from Little Venice, and the jet set has once again begun to sashay up its runway-style drive, which is spectacular at night when floodlit. The bold interior features miles of stone-clad walls and retro orange-and-turquoise hessian-covered furniture. In the 52 rooms and suites, smoked-glass walls enclose white bathrooms stuffed with luxuries; slippers are emblazoned with his-or-hers 'Dude' and 'Cilla' logos. The central pool area, with its curtained four-poster beds, provides a very good excuse to ignore the beach. Cutting-edge chic predominates throughout, not least at The Plate restaurant, where gourmet Mediterranean fare is best eaten on the terrace overlooking the sea. Mykonos Theoxenia was featured in The Hot List 2005. £££

SANTA MARINA
Ornos Bay (00 30 22890 23220; fax: 23412; www.santa-marina.gr). Situated across the bay from the Kivotos on a private peninsula overlooking Ornos Bay and the Aegean, this is a comfortable, luxurious complex with swimming pool, restaurants and its own helicopter. The Santa Marina has played host to many visiting celebrities, including Calista Flockhart, Mel Gibson, Sharon Stone and Linda Evangelista and is a member of The Luxury Collection and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. £££

SEMELI
Mykonos town (00 30 22890 27466; fax: 27467; www.semelihotel-mykonos.com). Semeli is a quiet and beautiful sea-themed hotel with swimming pool, restaurant and friendly staff. ££

NIKOS
Mykonos town (00 30 22890 24320). A busy and efficient taverna which spills out into the square behind the town hall.

NOBU
Belvedere Hotel, Mykonos town (00 30 22890 27362; www.belvederehotel.com). Open mid-June to end September. The Mykonos outpost of Nobuyuki Matsuhisa's international sushi empire is just as popular and starry as the London restaurant.

PHILIPPI
Mykonos town (00 30 22890 22294). For more traditional Greek food, this is the place to go - a beautiful garden restaurant with balconies and friendly young staff.

SEA SATIN MARKET
Mykonos town (00 30 22890 24676). Located below the windmills, beyond the small beach adjacent to Little Venice, this is one of the quietest spots in town. Go at sunset and eat mezedes in the relaxed setting.

BARS
CAPRICE
Mykonos town (00 30 22890 24767). The beautiful people have been coming to Caprice in Little Venice for twenty-five years. It's the oldest and hottest bar on the island.

CLUBS
ASTRA
Mykonos town (00 30 22890 24767). Here you'll find modernist Mykonos décor and some of Athens's top DJs.

CAVO PARADISO
Mykonos town (00 30 22890 27205; www.cavoparadiso.gr). Set 300m above Paradise Beach, this late-night club kicks off at around 2am and hosts top international DJs. Open May to August.

REMEZZO
Mykonos town (00 30 22890 24100). A starry club featuring lounge and dance for a more relaxing scene. It is a starry hangout favoured by Claudia Schiffer and other celebrities.

SPACE DANCE
Mykonos town (00 30 22890 24100). A house-music club run by the same team as Remezzo.

The beaches on the south shore of the island have the best sand, views, and wind protection, but are exceedingly popular. A few, including the famous Paradise beach, are known as party beaches, others, such as Platis Gialos and Ornos, are quieter and more popular with families. At Psarou beach, head to N'Ammos taverna for lobster and cocktails. South Paradise, once notorious for its gay scene, is nowadays fairly sedate. Mykonos also has some beautiful seaside hideaways, such as Agios Ioannis and Ftelia.

The must-do excursion is via the various morning ferries to the nearby archaeological site of Delos. Its many attractions include the ruins of a temple dedicated to orgiast Dionysius, the entrance to which could have you scouring your dictionary for the meaning of the word 'orchidaceous'.

AIRPORT
Mykonos has an airport serviced by domestic flights from Athens. There are at least five daily flights to and from Athens to Mykonos.

AIRLINES FROM THE UK
British Airways (0870 850 9 850; www.ba.com) flies daily from Heathrow to Athens and easyJet (www.easyjet.com) flies from Gatwick and Luton to Athens. Olympic Airlines (0870 606 0460; www.olympicairlines.com) flies to Mykonos.

Wimco Villas (0870 850 1144; www.wimco.com).

The height of the season is July and August, but things are already hotting up in early summer when the fresh produce is better and there are less crowds. The best month is June.

Mykonos has no tourist office. When you get off the ferry, you will see a low, numbered building with four offices. No 1 is the Hotel Reservation Department, No 2 is the Association of Rooms & Apartments, No 3 has camping information and No 4 houses the tourist police.