Greece › Mykonos › Delos Tours
Updated: January 6, 2026 • By Santorini Dave
See Also
• Best Hotels in Mykonos
• Best Family Hotels in Mykonos
• Where to Stay in Mykonos
• Best Things To Do in Mykonos
The Stone Lions of Delos. A guided tour to Delos is one of the highlights of a Mykonos visit.
The 3 Best Delos Tours from Mykonos
- Guided Boat Tour to Delos
Excellent tour of Delos with a professional guide. The tour leaves from the Old Port in Mykonos Town. Tip: If you are staying outside of Mykonos Town or at one of the beaches, select the option with Hotel Transfer. It makes the day much easier than trying to find a taxi to the port.- Boat Tour to Delos and Rhenia Island
This is a great tour for those who would like to see Delos but don’t want to spend hours there. It takes you to beautiful Rhenia island for swimming, snorkeling, and a BBQ lunch (onboard), followed by a shorter, guided tour of Delos in the afternoon when the site is quieter. Highly recommended.- Guided Delos Tour from Cruise Ship Port
If you are on a cruise and have a limited amount of time, this Delos tour offers pickup and drop-off directly at the cruise ship port (Tourlos).Delos, Greece
In ancient times, Delos was the most important island in the southern Aegean. The Cyclades island group actually gets its name from the fact that the islands form a circle around Delos. It is the mythical birthplace of Artemis and Apollo, and because it was considered sacred ground, ancient laws forbade mortals from being born or dying on the island. Pregnant women and the dying were ferried to neighboring Rhenia or Mykonos. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece.
What to See on Delos
First settled around 3000 BC, the island became a thriving, multicultural center of trade and a major religious sanctuary. As you make your way around the ruins from the Sacred Harbor, sights not to miss include:
- The Terrace of Lions: The iconic row of marble lions dedicated to Apollo (these are replicas; the originals are in the on-site museum).
- The Sacred Lake: Now dry, this is where Leto gave birth to Apollo and Artemis.
- The House of Dionysos: Famous for its spectacular mosaic depicting the wine god riding a panther.
- The House of Dolphins: Another superb mosaic featuring dolphins and griffins.
- Mt Kynthos: If you have the energy, hike to the summit of the island (113 meters) for incredible panoramic views of the Cyclades.
The boat pier on Delos where tours dock and depart from.
Visiting Delos from Mykonos
- The Boat: Boats depart from the Old Port in Mykonos Town (right near the Little Venice side of the harbor). In high season, departures are typically at 09:00, 10:00, and 11:00 am. Returns are usually at 12:00 pm, 1:30 pm, and 3:00 pm. (Always check the chalkboard at the ticket office for the day’s specific times). The trip takes 30-40 minutes.
- Costs: The boat ticket is approximately €25 round-trip. The entrance fee to the archaeological site is €20 (separate from the boat ticket).
- Guides vs. DIY: You can explore on your own, but you will be looking at piles of rocks without context. I highly recommend booking a guided tour which includes the boat, the entrance fee, and a professional guide to explain the history. It is worth the extra money.
- Essentials: There is virtually no shade on Delos. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and good walking shoes.
- Food & Water: There is a small café near the museum, but it is expensive and can get very crowded. Bring plenty of water and a snack with you.
A guided tour of Delos is recommended. Without a guide it’s just a collection of ruins without much meaning or context. With a guide it’s a very interesting introduction to Greek history.
Delos from Mykonos
Tickets for Delos Island can be purchased in advance online or at the ticket booth in the Mykonos Town Old Port.
Boats to Delos are small and fill quickly. In the busy summer season it’s a good idea to buy tickets first thing in the morning or in advance.
The boat trip to Delos from Mykonos takes 30-45 minutes. There is ample seating and drinks and snacks are sold onboard.
View of Delos Island when arriving by boat.
This map shows how vast and well-developed the island’s infrastructure was in ancient times.
After arriving on Delos and paying admission, you are free to explore across the entire island.
There are ruins everywhere on Delos, and few signs; it can be difficult to know exactly what you’re looking at. Taking a guided tour is recommended.
Even without a tour, it is fun and interesting to imagine the homes and buildings as they existed long ago.
Keeping watch over the island’s ruins, the famous stone lions seen here are only replicas.
The original statues are displayed and kept safe inside the island’s small museum.
In addition to the stone lions, the Delos Museum also houses original mosaics from the island…
…as well as ancient frescoes…
and artifacts from the island’s original excavation. There is no additional charge to visit the museum.
Even at its busiest, there’s plenty of room on Delos, and on the more remote parts of the island it can feel like you’ve got the whole place to yourself.
In the springtime, Delos is abloom with wildflowers. These photos were taken in the month of April.
(Yes, those statues are exactly what they appear to be. In Ancient Greece, phalluses symbolized fertility and were thought to protect against evil spirits.)
It’s important to keep track of the time, so you don’t miss the boat back to Mykonos. We don’t know what happens if you’re left behind on the island, and we don’t recommend finding out.
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