Before you spend a penny on a shore excursion, here’s my top tip for Mykonos: don’t book one.

One of the best things about this beautiful Greek island is how easy it is to explore independently. With a couple of inexpensive local buses and the brilliant SeaBus, you can see many of the highlights for a fraction of the cost, with the freedom to spend as long as you like wherever takes your fancy.

As soon as you step off the ship, you’ll see organised tours and taxis waiting, but I’d walk straight past them and head for the Mykonos SeaBus instead. For just €2.50 each way, it takes you from the New Port to the Old Port in around 10 minutes. Arriving into Mykonos Town by sea is a lovely way to start the day too, with the whitewashed buildings gradually coming into view as you approach.

Honestly, I can’t think of many better ways to spend €2.50.

If it’s your first visit to Mykonos, I’d spend a good chunk of the day exploring the town itself. Forget the map and just wander. The maze of whitewashed streets seems to go on forever, with colourful doors, tiny churches, blue-domed chapels, boutique shops and little squares appearing around almost every corner.

You’ll almost certainly get lost, but that’s part of the appeal. Some of my favourite moments came from taking a wrong turn and ending up somewhere I hadn’t planned to visit, before finding another beautiful alleyway or a quiet square away from the busiest streets.

Keep an eye out for the island’s famous pelicans too. They’ve become local celebrities over the years and wander around the Old Town as though they own the place, often drawing as much attention as some of Mykonos’ better-known landmarks.

Alongside the designer boutiques, you’ll also find independent galleries, artisan jewellery shops and small stores selling locally made gifts, so it’s a good place to pick up something a little different from the standard holiday souvenir.

Make sure you find your way to Little Venice, which quickly became one of my favourite spots on the island. The colourful balconies hang right over the water and it’s a great place to stop for a drink and watch the waves come in. If you’re there on a windy day, you may also find the sea making a fairly determined attempt to join you.

Just around the corner are Mykonos’ famous windmills. You’ve probably seen them hundreds of times in photographs, but they’re still worth seeing in person, and the views back across the town and out to sea are excellent.

If history is more your thing, I’d seriously recommend taking the half-day boat trip to Delos. Boats leave regularly from the Old Port and, in less than 30 minutes, you’ll arrive at what was once considered the most sacred island in ancient Greece.

What struck me most was the contrast. One minute you’re in the busy streets of Mykonos, the next you’re walking through the peaceful ruins of Delos. That sudden change of pace was one of the things I enjoyed most about the visit.

As your boat approaches, the marble lions of the famous Terrace of the Lions stand guard over the island and provide a fitting introduction to a place with thousands of years of history behind it.

According to Greek mythology, Delos is the birthplace of the twin gods Apollo, the god of light, music and the sun, and Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and the moon. Legend has it that their mother, Leto, fled here after Hera forbade any solid ground from offering her refuge, before Poseidon anchored the once-floating island so she could give birth.

Such was Delos’ religious importance that, for centuries, nobody was allowed to be born or die on the island. Women close to giving birth and those who were gravely ill were instead taken to neighbouring Rineia, preserving Delos as a place dedicated to the gods.

Today, you can wander among ancient temples, remarkably well-preserved mosaics, theatres and centuries-old ruins. There’s enough still standing to give you a real sense of the scale and importance of the settlement.

One piece of advice, though: go prepared. There’s very little shade on Delos, so if you’re visiting during the summer, take a hat, wear plenty of sun cream and carry more water than you think you’ll need. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

If you’ve seen Mykonos on social media, chances are you’ve also seen Paradise Beach. It’s home to some of the island’s best-known beach clubs and, if that’s your sort of holiday, it’s definitely worth seeing for yourself.

The good news is you don’t need to book an expensive excursion to get there. Simply hop on the local public bus from Mykonos Town for around €3 each way.

I’ll be honest, while it was fun to see what all the fuss was about, it wasn’t my favourite part of the island. I’d much rather spend my time wandering through Mykonos Town than lying on a packed beach. But that’s one of Mykonos’ strengths: you can make the day as lively or as laid-back as you want.

There is, however, one thing Mykonos did exceptionally well. I’m not going to lie, I think I had the best piña colada I’ve ever had there. I certainly wasn’t expecting that to become one of the highlights of my day, but there I was, sitting by the sea wondering whether I really needed another one.

It took a fair bit of willpower not to order a second.

One word of warning, though: Mykonos definitely knows how to charge for a cocktail. The same goes for taxis, which can be eye-wateringly expensive, and that’s another reason I’d stick to the SeaBus and public buses wherever possible. They’re easy, reliable and leave you with far more money for the things you’ll actually enjoy.

If your ship doesn’t sail until later in the evening, try to find a spot around Little Venice and watch the sun begin to set before making your way back onboard. It’s a lovely way to finish the day, particularly after the crowds have started to thin.

If someone asked me whether they should book a shore excursion in Mykonos, I’d still say no. Spend €2.50 on the SeaBus instead, wander through the Old Town, take the boat to Delos if history is your thing or hop on the local bus to Paradise Beach if beach clubs are more your style.

For me, that’s pretty much the perfect cruise day in Mykonos. It’s relaxed, easy to explore and doesn’t require spending a fortune ashore.

Sometimes it’s better not to over-plan it. Mykonos is one of those ports where you can get off the ship, see where the day takes you and still fit plenty in.