How to Get to Delos
The boat from Mykonos, the crossing time and schedule, cruises from other islands, and how to time the trip to a shadeless, uninhabited island.
Delos is reached only by boat — there is no bridge, no airport and no overnight stay on the uninhabited island. The usual route is a passenger boat from the Old Port of Mykonos, a crossing of about 30 to 45 minutes, with departures concentrated in the morning and returns in the early afternoon; in season, organised cruises also run from Naxos, Paros and Tinos. You book the crossing separately, and we reserve your timed island entry to match. This guide covers the boat from Mykonos, the schedule and crossing, cruises from other islands, what to bring for the sea and the sun, and how to plan Delos as a half-day trip.
How do I get to Delos from Mykonos by boat?
The standard way to reach Delos is a passenger boat from Mykonos, which lies just across a narrow channel from the sacred island. Boats depart from the Old Port, near the heart of Mykonos Town, and cross to the jetty on Delos in roughly thirty to forty-five minutes depending on the vessel and the sea. Sailings are concentrated in the morning, with the first boats the best choice for beating the heat and the crowds, and return sailings run in the early afternoon; the exact timetable changes by season and operator, so it is worth checking in advance and arriving at the Old Port in good time before your chosen departure. You buy the boat ticket separately from your Delos entry, and we reserve your timed island slot to match the crossing you plan to take.
Because the island has no town and the boats are limited, the crossing is the part of a Delos trip that needs the most thought. Note that departures leave from the Old Port in Mykonos Town, not the New Port where the big ferries and some cruise ships dock, so allow time to reach the right harbour. On the island itself there is a small ticket office and café near the landing but few other facilities, so the return boat is effectively your deadline for the visit. Our concierge recommendation is to take an early crossing, confirm the last return sailing when you buy your boat ticket, and set your timed island entry to the hour your boat lands, so you can step off the quay and go straight to the gate.
What is the crossing and schedule like?
The crossing from Mykonos to Delos is short but exposed, taking around half an hour to forty-five minutes across open water that can be calm in the early morning and choppier once the wind picks up. Most operators use small passenger boats, and in summer the Aegean meltemi wind can make the channel lively, so if you are prone to seasickness it is worth taking an early, calmer crossing and coming prepared. The schedule is firmly morning-weighted: several departures cluster in the first part of the day, with the last return boats in the early-to-mid afternoon, which is why a Delos visit is naturally a half-day rather than a leisurely all-day affair. Timetables shift with the season, and boats can be cancelled in strong winds, so always check before you travel.
Planning around this schedule is the key to a smooth visit. Our concierge recommendation is to choose one of the first departures of the day, which gives you the coolest, quietest hours on the island and the widest choice of return sailings, and to leave a comfortable buffer to reach the Old Port and board. When you book your crossing, note the last return boat carefully and treat it as the firm end of your visit, keeping an eye on the time as you explore. Because your Delos entry is a timed hourly slot, we set it to match the boat you intend to catch, so the ticketing and the sailing line up; if your boat plans change, contact our team and we will help adjust the slot within the operator's rules.
Can I reach Delos from other islands like Naxos, Paros or Tinos?
Yes — while Mykonos is by far the most common gateway, in season there are also organised cruises and excursions to Delos from other nearby Cycladic islands, including Naxos, Paros and Tinos. These are typically longer day-trips that combine the crossing to Delos with a guided visit and often a stop in Mykonos, and they can be a good option if you are based elsewhere in the central Cyclades and want to see the sacred island without relocating. Because the sailing distances are greater, these excursions spend more of the day at sea and follow their own fixed timetables, so they suit travellers who want the trip handled end to end rather than the flexibility of the short Mykonos hop.
Whichever island you start from, the essentials are the same: Delos has no town and is reached only by boat, the visiting window is set by the sailing schedule, and the island is exposed with no shade. Our concierge recommendation is to confirm exactly what the cruise from Naxos, Paros or Tinos includes, how long it gives you ashore on Delos, and when it returns, then set your timed island entry to match the time you will actually land. If you are staying in or near Mykonos, the direct boat from the Old Port remains the simplest and most flexible way in; from further afield, a well-timed seasonal cruise brings the same sacred island within reach for the day.
What should I bring and know before I sail to Delos?
Delos asks for more preparation than most archaeological sites, because it is an exposed, uninhabited island with almost no shade and only minimal facilities. Bring plenty of water — there is little to buy beyond a small café near the landing — along with a wide-brimmed hat, high-factor sunscreen, sunglasses and sturdy closed shoes for the rocky, uneven paths and the steep climb toward the theatre and Mount Kynthos. A light long-sleeved layer helps against both sun and the sea breeze on the crossing, and a small day bag is all you need, as there is no luggage storage and large bags may be restricted on the boats. If you are sensitive to motion, take something for the crossing and choose a calm early sailing.
It also helps to know how the day is shaped before you go. The boat timetable, not the site's closing time, is what really governs your visit: you land, explore for the two to three hours until your return sailing, and leave, all on an island with no town, no accommodation and few services. Delos is a seasonal site, normally closed on Mondays, so check the season, the closed day and the boat schedule together when you plan. Our concierge recommendation is to listen to the short audio history we send you on the crossing, so you arrive already oriented, and to keep the return-boat time firmly in mind as you explore, since the sailing is your deadline and the sacred island is not a place to be stranded after the last boat has gone.
Is Delos a good day-trip, and how do I plan it?
Delos makes one of the most rewarding half-day trips in the Cyclades, and it pairs naturally with a stay in Mykonos. The short morning crossing, the concentrated richness of the ruins and the early-afternoon return mean you can see one of the greatest sanctuaries of the ancient world and be back in Mykonos in time for lunch and a swim. For history-minded travellers, the combination of the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Terrace of the Lions and the mosaic houses on a UNESCO World Heritage island, all reached by a scenic boat ride, makes Delos a highlight of any Cyclades itinerary and an easy excursion to build into a Mykonos holiday.
The smoothest plan is to treat the morning as Delos and the afternoon as Mykonos. Our concierge recommendation is to take an early boat from the Old Port, set your timed island entry to match, and walk the sanctuary, the Terrace and the merchant houses while the ground is cool, finishing in the shaded island museum before your return sailing. Back in Mykonos, the afternoon and evening are free for the beaches, the windmills, Little Venice and the town's lanes. Keep a flexible day in reserve during the windy summer months in case the sea disrupts the crossings, and always confirm your return boat. Booking your timed entry in advance, matched to an early sailing, is what lets you plan the day-trip around the coolest, quietest hours on the sacred island.
Frequently asked
How do I get to Delos?
Only by boat. The usual route is a passenger boat from the Old Port of Mykonos, a crossing of about 30 to 45 minutes, with departures mostly in the morning and returns in the early afternoon. In season, cruises also run from Naxos, Paros and Tinos. You book the crossing separately from your entry ticket.
How long is the boat crossing from Mykonos to Delos?
About 30 to 45 minutes each way across open water, depending on the boat and the sea. Crossings leave from the Old Port in Mykonos Town, not the New Port, so allow time to reach the right harbour and board before your departure.
Does my ticket include the boat?
No. Your ticket is admission to the archaeological island of Delos only. You arrange the boat crossing from Mykonos separately with a boat operator, and we reserve your timed island entry to match your chosen sailing so you go straight to the gate on landing.
What time do the boats to Delos run?
The schedule is weighted to the morning, with several departures early in the day and the last return boats in the early-to-mid afternoon, which makes Delos a half-day trip. Timetables change by season and operator, so check in advance and note the last return sailing.
Can I get to Delos from islands other than Mykonos?
Yes, in season. Organised cruises run to Delos from Naxos, Paros and Tinos, usually as longer day-trips that combine the crossing with a guided visit. Mykonos remains the closest and most flexible gateway with the short direct boat from the Old Port.
Can the crossing be cancelled by weather?
Yes. Strong Aegean winds, especially the summer meltemi, can lead operators to cancel sailings. Keep a flexible day or two in your Mykonos plans in the windy months, choose a calm early crossing, and check conditions when you book your boat.
Can I stay overnight on Delos?
No. Delos has no hotels, no town and only minimal facilities, and it must be visited as a day-trip governed by the boat timetable. You return to Mykonos (or your cruise's home island) on the same day, so always keep your return sailing in mind.