Visiting Delos in Greece requires a ferry journey from Mykonos. Tourists cannot stay overnight on the sacred island. Here’s how to visit…
Why visit Delos?
The island of Delos has a unique place in Greek culture. It is the supposed birthplace of the Greek god Apollo, and the centre of the Cyclades island group.
Regarded by the ancient Greeks as a sacred site, Delos has been a tourist attraction for thousands of years. The island was abandoned in the 8th century AD, but it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The ruins at Delos are extensive and packed with stories.
Is there any accommodation on Delos?
Given this heritage, Delos is a tempting alternative to nearby Mykonos – which is notorious for overcrowding and overpricing. However, there is a problem.
Some people do live on Delos – the island has between 10 and 20 inhabitants, depending on which source you use. All of these inhabitants are there for work. They maintain the island and the archaeological site.
For visitors, however, Delos is not set up for overnight accommodation.
There are no hotels on Delos. Or, for that matter, holiday rentals. Visitors cannot stay overnight on the island.
The nearest accommodation to Delos
The nearest accommodation to Delos is on Mykonos. Almost everyone who visits Delos is either staying on Mykonos or a cruise ship visiting Mykonos for the day.
Getting to Delos from Mykonos
For most visitors, getting to Delos will involve getting on the ferry from Mykonos. Delos Tours runs a Mykonos to Delos ferry service several times a day, leaving from Mykonos Old Port.
This is between April and November. Delos is effectively closed in winter.
Delos ferry ticket prices
The Mykonos to Delos ferry costs €25 euros for a return ticket at the time of writing, although this is subject to change in the future. Ferry tickets for children cost €12.
The ferry crossing to Delos takes 30 to 40 minutes.
Delos guided tours
To make sense of the ruins on Delos, and their history, it’s a good idea to book onto a guided tour. There are several Delos tours available from Mykonos, all of which include the cost of the ferry ticket.
They don’t all include the €20 entry fee to the Delos archaeological site, however. Check that carefully before you book.
Delos guided tours for cruise passengers
If arriving in Delos by cruise ship, be aware that the cruise ship port and Mykonos Old Port are not the same place. The cruise terminal is at Mykonos New Port, 2.4km by road from the Old Port.
To get from the cruise ship to Mykonos Old Port, it’s an uncomfortable 35 minute walk along a road not set up for pedestrians.
Almost everyone, therefore, takes the Mykonos Seabus, which connects the two ports. This large water taxi leaves every half hour. Tickets cost €2.
For cruise ship passengers wanting to visit Delos, it makes sense to book a tour. The tours from the cruise port include all transport between the Mykonos cruise terminal and Delos, as well as a guide on the island.
It will almost certainly be cheaper to book these Delos tours independently than pay for your cruise ship’s marked-up shore excursions.
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