Visiting Delos in 2016

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 Delos island photo by Delos Tours

The “sacred island” of Delos is seen in a photo from the Google+ page for Delos Tours, the firm that runs ferries between Mykonos and Delos. 

 

Delos daytripping: It has been nearly two years since I last wrote about Delos island, and because there have been some noteworthy price changes for 2016, I’ve written this general information article to update my series of Top Delos Posts published from 2012 to 2014. (Apart from ferry schedules and the new prices for ferry tickets and admission to the Delos archaeological site, the information in my previous posts remains current.)

 

 What is Delos?

Here’s a brief background for readers who might not be familiar with Delos. The island, situated just over 2 km west of Mykonos, is one of the most important historic and archaeological sites in Greece. It’s often called “the sacred island” and “the island of light” because, in Greek mythology, it was the birthplace of Apollo, the god of light, and Artemis, the goddess of night light.

During its glory days between 166 BC and 69 BC, Delos was a wealthy shipping hub and one of the world’s leading centers of commerce. Home to more than 30,000 people, the city went into decline after it was looted and razed in two separate attacks; residents gradually left the island, and eventually Delos was abandoned completely and almost forgotten.

 

Delos island

The ruins of the Quarter of the Theater and the island’s once-great commercial port sprawl across the lower slopes of Mt Kynthos on Delos

 

Delos regained international attention when archaeologists began excavating its ruins in 1872. Small numbers of travellers, mainly from Europe, started visiting the island to view the fascinating historic sites that were gradually being unearthed. Over the decades, the trickle of tourists turned into a steady stream of sightseers from around the world, and today Delos is a top tourist attraction drawing more than 100,000 visitors each year. Delos is widely considered a “must see” attraction for people visiting Mykonos, and I personally recommend that visitors schedule a half-day trip to Delos during their Mykonos holidays, especially if it’s their first visit to Greece.

In 1990, Delos was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. A description for UNESCO’s Delos listing says “The archaeological site is exceptionally extensive and rich and conveys the image of a great cosmopolitan Mediterranean port.”

And according to the Delos page on Visit Greece, the official tourism website for Greece, “nowhere else in the Globe is there a natural insular archaeological site of this size and importance. No other island on Earth hosts so many monumental antiquities from the Archaic, the Classical, and the Hellenistic periods, i.e. the centuries of the great Greek art, on a territory used exclusively as an archaeological site.”

 

What’s on Delos?

Delos Terrace of the Lions photo by Bernard Gagnon

The Terrace of the Lions is one of the most popular attractions on Delos island (Photo by Wikimedia contributor Bernard Gagnon)

 

All of Delos is a protected archaeological site, and visitors are not permitted to stay on the island overnight; hence, there are no accommodations (the nearest available lodging is on Mykonos). Besides the extensive ruins, which extend across most of the island, there is a museum that houses sculptures, wall paintings, pottery and thousands of small artefacts discovered during the excavations. A cafe in a separate building sells beverages and light snacks.

Some of the antiquities and sights most popular with tourists include: spectacular floor mosaics in the House of Dionysos, the House of the Dolphins, the House of the Mask, and the House of the Tritons; a marble amphitheater; several different agoras, sanctuaries and temples; the Sacred Lake and the Terrace of the Lions.

 

Delos Tours photo of mosaic in the House of the Dolphins on Delos

A detail of one of the colourful mosaics in the House of the Dolphins (Photo from the Delos Tours website.)

 

Bernard Gagnon Wikimedia Commons photo of Delos theater

The marble theater, seen in another image by Wikimedia contributor Bernard Gagnon, could seat up to 5,500 spectators

 

You’ll see many of the island’s top sights while a narrator describes the history of Delos in this informative 9.5-minute film by Expoza Travel.

 

Please click on the link below to continue reading on page 2, where you’ll find information about Delos ferry ticket and site admission prices, ferry schedules, guided tours, private charters to Delos, and more.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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16 Comments

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  2. Great way to describe the post. Delos the beauty shines in the photo. Great to add this in the upcoming list.

  3. This site is great.
    Helps me a lot of what to expect at Delos and how to get to Delos.

    Thank you so much.

  4. I had visit Delos last summer during a sailing trip in the Aegean. Thrilled by its view. Nice article.

    • I have a question in regards to sailing to Delos. Can we actually use the dock at Delos or anchor? I visited Mykonos a few years back and found it too crowded in the marina, so thought we would sail directly to Delos, dock and do a tour then continue to Naxos.

      • admin

        June 17, 2016 at 12:58 pm

        I have no idea. Try contacting the Mykonos port authority for information.

      • I have just returned from my sailing trip which included a stop to see Delos.
        Anchoring is fine across the bay, they also allow drop off and pick up at the dock. Use your tender to ferry people back and forth. There is no swimming or anchoring in the bay as it is an historic site and not excavated, staff will whistle and wave you out. Hiring a local guide is worth the cost. Bring bottled water and wear a hat.

  5. Thanks for much for the wonderful site and information. This will be my go to site for Delos.

  6. Usually those who go to Mykonos for vacation do not visit Delos! I think it is worthwhile to rent a boat in Mykonos and sail up to Delos! Surely, people want to rent a car in Mykonos for their walks but everyone can find 1-2 hours for Delos!

  7. Has the museum at Delos been newly renovated? Is it open in 2018? Thanks

    • admin

      July 31, 2017 at 2:18 pm

      No it has not been renovated. The museum had to be closed for several weeks in the spring for interior repairs, but not a complete renovation. It will be open in 2018 unless major problems requiring additional repairs arise in the meantime.

  8. Many thanks from a fellow Torontonian for such an interesting and very informative post. I plan to visit Delos (from Mykonos) this October and you saved me a lot of research time!

  9. Do you know if there are afternoon tours of Delos??

    • admin

      August 20, 2018 at 7:09 am

      The only afternoon boat to Delos leaves Mykonos at 5 pm. Guided tours are available to passengers on this departure.

  10. Hey! A great detailed post. On my website I have linked people to this post. You can view it here: https://michaeltindale.co.uk/2019/02/15/greece/

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