Mykonos › Mykonos Town and Ornos Bay
Two of Mykonos’s best-known luxury hotels, with very different moods. Cavo Tagoo is a cliffside design hotel just outside Mykonos Town, famous for its infinity pool and aquarium bar. Santa Marina is a beach resort on its own peninsula in Ornos Bay, with a sandy cove, villas and the first Buddha-Bar Beach. The right one depends on whether you want town and a pool scene, or sand and space.
Last checked: October 2026 · Based on official hotel information and recent reviews · We may earn a commission
At a glance
Design hotel near town
Cavo Tagoo
€€€€ · Tagoo, near Mykonos Town
- About 80 rooms, suites and villas, many with a private pool
- Long saltwater infinity pool with an aquarium bar
- Spa with indoor pool, sauna and hammam
Private sandy beach
Santa Marina
€€€€ · Ornos Bay peninsula
- 105 rooms and suites plus 12 villas
- Sandy cove with shallow water
- Buddha-Bar Beach, Elais and the Ginkgo Spa
Which fits what you want?
If you want to be near townCavo TagooMykonos Town is a short ride or walk awayIf you want a real beachSanta MarinaIts own sandy cove in Ornos BayIf you want a pool sceneCavo TagooInfinity pool with an aquarium barIf you travel with childrenSanta MarinaPlayground and a family poolIf you want a big villaSanta Marina12 villas with pools and butler serviceIf you want your own poolCavo TagooMany rooms and villas have one
Amenities side by side
| Amenities | Cavo Tagoo | Santa Marina |
|---|---|---|
| Sea view | Most rooms | Many rooms |
| Private pool | Many rooms and villas | Villas |
| Beachfront | Beach nearby | Private sandy cove |
| Main pool | Saltwater infinity pool | Infinity pools |
| Spa | Indoor pool, hammam | Ginkgo Spa, hammam |
| Gym | Fitness centre | Technogym gym |
| Fine dining | Meraki | Elais, Buddha-Bar Beach |
| Families | Ask the hotel | Playground, family pool |
| Near town | Short ride or walk | Shuttle or car |
What each one does best
Cavo Tagoo: a design hotel built in an old quarry
Cavo Tagoo opened in 1985 on the site of an abandoned quarry in Tagoo, just north of Mykonos Town, and has been renovated several times since. It has about 80 rooms, suites and villas in whitewashed Cycladic style, many with a private pool or hot tub, and most with sea views.
Life centres on the long saltwater infinity pool, with an aquarium built into the bar and DJ sets at sunset. There is a spa with an indoor pool, sauna and hammam, plus the Meraki restaurant. The old port is about 500 metres away and the airport about 10 minutes by car.
Check Cavo Tagoo prices and availability → · Read the hotel story
Santa Marina: a beach resort on its own peninsula
Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, sits on a private peninsula at the southern tip of Ornos Bay, about 3.5 km from the airport. It is designed like a Mykonian village sloping down to the sea, with 105 rooms and suites and 12 villas with their own pools, kitchens and butler service.
Its sandy cove has calm, shallow water, and the resort was home to the world’s first Buddha-Bar Beach. Elais serves modern Greek cooking, the Oasis infinity pool is for adults only, and the Ginkgo Spa has a hammam and sauna. Families get a shaded playground.
Check Santa Marina prices and availability → · Read the hotel story
Where they are
Who should skip both
If you want a quiet, traditional village stay or a modest budget, look elsewhere: both hotels sit in Mykonos’s top price bracket and are busiest in July and August. If you want to be inside the old town’s lanes, neither is right in the centre.
The choice is yours
Two very different Mykonos stays
Choose Cavo Tagoo ifyou want a design hotel near town, a famous pool scene and sea views towards Mykonos Town.Choose Santa Marina ifyou want a sandy beach, room to spread out, a villa, or a trip with children.
Which would you choose?
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Sources: Marriott: Santa Marina, Journal des Palaces: first Buddha-Bar Beach, Virtuoso: Santa Marina, The Luxury Travel Expert: Cavo Tagoo, Five Star Alliance: Cavo Tagoo, Greece Travel: Cavo Tagoo. Facts change: please confirm details with the hotel when booking.