What to do on a city break to Mykonos

Long-running daytime dance party crew Morning Gloryville run chaotic, booze-free raves for a pre-work crowd out of a wonderful new venue at Hoxton Docks. Get your healthy hedonism out of your system bright and early, before breakfast at London City Airport. Flying out of City means you can start your day with a rave in East London, and finish your day raving on a beach in Mykonos.

With its windmills on the overhead ridge (which were fully operational until the mid-Sixties) and Cycladic architecture along narrow lanes, the Hora (main town) of Mykonos is a joy to get lost in. This harmonious mishmash of white cubic adobe houses, cobblestone streets, whitewashed windmills and blue-domed churches makes a great beginner’s guide to Cycladic architecture. The most Instagrammed spot in town is the charmingly lopsided, four-chapels-in-one Paraportiani in Kastro, beyond the west jetty.

Alefkantra, or Little Venice, is named for its arcaded, balconied medieval houses looming over the water’s edge, and these streets contain a large number of the town’s independent boutiques and artsy cafés. The most charming spot for coffee is Kastro’s – order a side serving of amygdalota, a traditional almond sweet.

This heritage house museum, right next to the Aegean Maritime Museum, offers an authentic taste of a Mykonian middle class family home of the 19th century. It hosts a collection of European and local furniture from the 19th century, and provides a fascinating glimpse of local social history.

Covering an area of 33 sq miles, Mykonos is one of the smallest of the Cycladic islands, yet it has a lengthy menu of adrenalin-spiking activities on offer. Dive Adventures at Paradise Beach is one of the oldest established PADI dive centres in Greece, and nearby dives include two wrecks, some caverns and various reefs.

Locals flock to this homely restaurant to snack on louza (Cycladic ham), garlic mushrooms, kopanisti (fermented cheese dip) and chunks of bread, but more sophisticated fare such as pork tenderloin (psaronefri) and herby meatballs is on the menu as well. This Mykonian institution isn't really one for vegetarians, but for a meat-based hearty meal, the owners knock it out of the park.

Beach clubs, sultry sunset bars, glamorous hotel lounges, and world-renowned nightclubs luring big-name DJs – all flavours of fun are found here in Mykonos, the Aegean’s party island. Paradise Beach is its premier party beach, offering watersports by day and clubbing on the adjacent headland after dark. In just over 12 hours, you’ve travelled from London to Mykonos, from dawn until dusk, and from party to party.

With a central location and check-in just 20 minutes before departure, you’ll have plenty of time to fit in a morning rave before you fly from London City Airport.

British Airways flies five times a week from London City Airport to Mykonos during the summer months. Find out more at ba.com/londoncity