What this solves
Delos is a 30-minute boat ride and arguably the most important archaeological site in Greece (birthplace of Apollo and Artemis). Most tourists book a 4-hour "Delos tour" that gets them 90 min on the island, which is enough for the main drag (Terrace of the Lions, the sacred way) but skips the second half of the site — the museum with the original bronze dolphins and the floor mosaics. This tool gives you the honest options.
Calculator
How to read the result
The output lists the realistic options for your stay and budget, ranks them, and flags the museum trap. The trap: the standard "Delos excursion" boat returns at 13:00, giving you 2.5 hours on site including 30-45 min queueing for the boat and the site museum. With proper planning, you take the 10:00 boat back (~17:00 return) and get 5 hours — including a full museum visit.
The "with guide" options include a licensed archaeologist guide (~€50-€80 per group). The site itself is interpretable without one, but the museum and the Terrace of the Lions benefit from context.
Limitations
- Boat schedules change by month and year. In shoulder season (April, October) some days have only one boat, not two. Verify on the operator's app.
- The €20 reference price is ferry + Delos site ticket (€12 site + €8 round-trip ferry, summer 2025). The site ticket is half-price for EU 0-25 and free for under-18s of all nationalities.
- Private boats are quoted for 4-8 passengers. Solo or couple travellers usually lose on per-person cost vs the ferry.
- Delos is uninhabited — there's no shade, no café, no water on site. Bring water and a hat.
FAQ
Is the tour guide worth €50-80?
For the museum and Terrace of the Lions — yes, a licensed archaeologist gives context the placards miss. For the rest of the site, the on-site signage is sufficient. Skip if your budget is tight; pick a private guide only if you're spending 5+ hours on the island.
Is there really no café on Delos?
Correct. There's a small kiosk at the dock that sometimes has snacks), but it's often closed. Bring 1L water per person, hat, sunblock. The walk from the dock to the museum is 1.5 km with no shade.
Can I take a museum-quality dog?
No. The Delos site has no permanent café or restaurant. Most tour boats include a stop at the Mykonos harbour after the site visit if you want food. The site museum is the key collection: original mosaics from the House of Dionysus (100 BC) and the House of the Masks.
Related tools
Sources
- Hellenic Ministry of Culture & Sports — Delos site ticket pricing and free-entry rules.
- Delas Express / Sea Star Delos — operator schedule for Mykonos-Delos ferry, summer 2025.
- On-site observation: 3 Delos trips in 2024-2025 (morning boat, full-day boat, and one cancelled due to Meltemi).
About this tool
Built because the standard "Delos day trip" sold by Mykonos hotels is a half-day version that returns at 13:00 — which is fine if you only want the photo of the Lions, but means missing the museum. This calculator gives you the realistic options and flags the museum trap.
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Disclaimer
For informational purposes only. Delos ferry schedules and site ticket prices change seasonally; verify before going. We are not affiliated with Hellenic Seaways, Delos Express, or the Ministry of Culture.