Delos, Birthplace of Artemis and Apollo

A tiny island off the coast of Mykonos, Delos was believed to be the birthplace of Ancient Greek deities Artemis and Apollo. Delos was first settled in the third millenium B.C.E. The once greatly significant island in Hellenic culture was later inhabited by Romans, acting as a significant port within the empire. Evidence also showed a Christian community on the island, along with the Sanctuary of Egyptian and Syrian Gods, which show how significant the island was amongst various cultures during antiquity. However, by 7th century C.E. the island was completed deserted and served as a pirates lair for a few centuries.

Nowadays, Delos is a significant archaelogical site and a recognized UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s only inhabitants are the friendly cats that wander the island. It is a piece of history frozen in time, undisturbed by the pressures of modernization and urbanization that impact other famous ancient sites such as Athens or Rome.

The most common way to see Delos is on a half-day trip from Mykonos. The small island is about 30 minutes from Mykonos’s New Port, making it an easy place for a day trip. We booked our trip to Delos after arriving in Mykonos, directly at the pier. You can also find tours through third-party websites, but we found this was the best option. The boat to Delos cost 25 euros per person, round trip, and the island requires an entry fee that must be paid at the gates. For adults the entry fee is 8 euros, for EU citzens under 26 it is free.

The day we toured Delos was windy and cloudy. The sky threatened storms, but we were lucky not to be rained on while hiking through the ruins. The ancient streets twist and turn through different communities and numerous plaques act as guides to give more information on the excavations. There is a museum on the island as well, but it is temporarily closed. Make sure to check for updates if you are hoping to visit the museum!

Delos is only 6.85 square kilometres, making it possible to cover a large percentage of the island in only half a day. We started by turning left from the port and continuing past the Agora of the Italians until we came across the Naxian Lions. The real marble sculptures are housed inside the museum, but exact replicas remain in the orginial place to preserve the history but maintain the look of the site.

From the lions we turned right and made a small loop back in the direction of the Temple of Isis (the Egyptian god). The path to the temple continues up the hill to the highest point of the island. From here we had a panoramic view of Delos, as well as the western side of Mykonos to the east and Rheneia to the west. While the views at the top were spectacular, so were the winds, so we did not stay on the hill for too long.

After descending the hill, we continued in the direction of the House of Dolphins, named for an intricate mosaic left largely intact in the central room. This area to the west of the hill, immediately south of the port has some of the best preserved mosaics and structures that we saw on the island.

As we made our way down towards the port, we passed the Ancient Theatre of Delos, and finally the House of Cleopatra, a villa owned by a wealthy Athenian couple. Here two statues stand at the building’s entrance.

We spent about 2 hours touring the island. Most tours offer 2-2.5 hours on Delos, with a 30 minute ferry to and from Mykonos. Our ferry ride back took longer as the weather turned worse and the boat had to fight the waves. Don’t forget to take motion sickness prevention if you are prone to seasickness, as many other passengers were unexpectedly suffering on the trip back due to the rough weather.