Visiting Delos in Greece: tips and practical information

Located in the heart of the Cyclades, the island of Delos is one of Greece’s major archaeological sites. Along with Delphi, it was the main sanctuary of ancient Greece. In fact, the island of Delos is one of the 20 sites in Greece listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. The place is absolutely unique: an open-air “museum” between sky and sea. The island is uninhabited, with not a soul to be seen, just some extraordinary remains. Disembarking on the island, you feel out of time and are dazzled, both literally and figuratively, by this ancient city of gleaming marble. Delos has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Here are our practical tips for visiting Delos.

How to get to Delos

The Greek island of Delos is uninhabited and accessible only by boat. It can usually be visited from Mykonos. Indeed, the easiest way to reach Delos is by boat from the fishing port in downtown Mykonos.

Pour accéder à Mykonos, il faut prendre un ferry depuis les ports du Pirée ou de Rafina. La durée de la traversée varie entre 3h30 et 5 heures. Vous trouverez les horaires et tarifs des traversées ICI. Le petit aéroport de Mykonos est également relié à Athènes par avion tous les jours. Pendant la saison touristique, il y a deux ou trois vols par jour.

To get from Mykonos to Delos, you can rent a motorboat or take a seat on one of the caiques that carry many tourists. There are several boats in the morning and the return trip is usually in the afternoon. Crossing time varies from 45mn to 1h30 depending on sea conditions. We disembark at Delos near the ancient Sacred Port, now silted up. When the sea is too rough, the caiques land at Gourna cove, near the northeastern tip of the island.

Various companies operate between Delos and Mykonos. The crossing costs around twenty euros. You can buy your tickets here:

• directly in the agencies on port Mykonos
• online at GetYourGuide. The big advantage is the ease with which you can book online in just a few clicks, and above all the free cancellation option: cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Here’s the direct link to the website (in French) to find out more and book .

There are also connections to Delos from Paros and Naxos.

Visit the island of Delos in Greece: prices and tickets

Rates

Tickets for the Delos site cost :

• 8€ full price
• 4€ concessions
• Free for under-25s from EU countries on presentation of ID

The price of a ticket to the archaeological site of Delos does not include the price of a ferry ticket from Mykonos or any other island. If you arrive by shuttle bus (and not as part of an organized tour), you can buy your tickets to visit the site directly on the island.

Where can I buy tickets?

• You can buy your tickets directly on arrival on the island
• You can also buy an entrance ticket coupled with a guided tour (in French) on the GetYourGuide website. Here’s the link. In addition to avoiding queues, these tickets are also cancelable and 100% refundable if cancelled up to 24 hours in advance. Very practical!

Opening hours and days

In summer, the site is usually open from 8am until 6:30pm or 7:30pm. In winter, closing times vary between 4pm and 6pm. Please note that timetables are subject to change, notably due to staff restrictions. Be sure to check the official website a few days before your visit.

The best time to visit Delos is in spring, when the island is green and dotted with wild flowers.

Free admission days :

• April 18 (International Monuments Day)
• May 18 (International Museum Day)
• The last weekend of September each year (European Heritage Days)
• Every first Sunday from November 1 to March 31

Should you visit Delos on your own or with a guide?

There are four main groups of ruins on Delos:

• The religious city of Apollo or Hieron (sanctuary)
• The Sacred Lake region
• The Cynthe sanctuaries and the theater district
• The merchant port and small sanctuaries

To visit the site, allow at least 3 or 4 hours, including the climb to Cynthe.

The information panels on the site are extremely succinct, which is a pity. It’s really not easy to visit (and understand) the Delos site on your own. We regret it. Visiting Delos in Greece with a guide is definitely a plus. This allows us to really understand the site, its architecture and its importance in ancient times.

Travel agencies in Mykonos offer guided tours. But it’s not always easy to find a guided tour in French. We searched and found
this French tour of Delos
with excellent commentary.

A guided tour costs between €50 and €60 and includes the crossing, entrance tickets to the site and the guide’s services.

If you’re visiting the site without a guide, we recommend you read our article “All you need to know about Delos: legend, history, monuments, site and museum“. Written by an archaeologist, this comprehensive guide will give you the keys to understanding what you’ll see on site.

Practical tips for visiting Delos in Greece

• The island is uninhabited. There’s a cafeteria on site, but with little choice and high prices. So it’s best to bring water and a snack.
• Take some sun protection. A hat is highly recommended in summer, as there’s no shade and it gets very hot.
• Remember to bring sunglasses as the site is made of marble and visitors are dazzled by the sun’s reflections.
• Choose sneakers or closed-toe shoes. There may be snakes on site.
• Please note: smoking is strictly prohibited on the site due to the risk of fire.
• What time of day should I visit the site? In July and August, we personally recommend that you visit the site in the afternoon (make sure you check the closing times before coming, as it closes early in the off-season) and take the last boat back to Mykonos. This allows you to escape the morning crowds and visit Delos at your leisure.
• How long does the visit last? It all depends on the world and your interest in the site. Allow at least three hours on site.

Legend, history and monuments of Delos

To find out more about Delos, read our article“All you need to know about the island of Delos in Greece: legend, history, monuments and museum“. Written by an archaeologist, it provides a wealth of interesting facts about the island and its remains.

• Telephone: +30 22890 22259
• Email : efakyk@culture.gr
• Website

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We hope you enjoy your visit to the Greek island of Delos.

_{Laure M.}