Delos

Delos is a sacred island just a 30-minute ferry ride from Mykonos. This is the mythical birthplace of Apollo & Artemis. The island is a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. Delos was one of the three most important religious centers in Greece and a center of commerce but is now just a bunch of rocks.

Ferries depart from the old jetty in Hora several times a day. There are no ferries on Monday when the site is closed. Roundtrip ferry tickets cost €18 and entry to the site itself costs €5. You can purchase a tour for €40 that includes the ferry ride, entry to the site and a guided tour. It's a good idea to take the tour because there isn't much information in English and it's hard to figure out how to navigate the island.

Terrace of the Lions--the most famous site on the island. These were thought to have been given by the people of Naxos to Delos in the 7th century BC to guard the Sacred Lake. These lions are replicas. Some of the original lions were in the museum on the island.

We climbed Mt. Kynthos, the highest point on the island at 113 m. The climb is beautiful and gives you a nice view of the entire island. You can even see Mykonos in the distance.

Temple of Isis on the way to Mt. Kynthos. This was the best preserved temple on the island.

We took the 10 am ferry and returned on the 1:30 pm ferry. The 10 am ferry was packed and once on the island, it was crowded with tour groups. When we left at 1:30, there was hardly anyone left on the island. If you don't take the tour, you might consider getting to the island on the 11:30 ferry and returning on the 3 pm ferry to avoid the crowds.

There is a concession on the island that sells cold drinks and snacks. The island doesn't have much shade so bring lots of sunscreen.



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