The Mykonos Old Port is the original, picturesque harbour on the western seafront of Mykonos Town, now home to fishing boats, yachts and the excursion boats to Delos, set among the lanes of the Chora near Little Venice, the windmills and Paraportiani church. This guide covers the harbour, what to do, the boats, the area and tips.
The Old Port is the historic heart of the waterfront in the Mykonos travel guide, distinct from the New Port at Tourlos. The sections below cover it in full.
What is the Mykonos Old Port?
The Mykonos Old Port is the original harbour of Mykonos Town, sitting on the western seafront of the Chora. Once the main ferry arrival point, it now belongs to fishing boats, private yachts and excursion vessels, and its main role for visitors is as the departure point for boats to Delos.
The Old Port is the historic, picturesque harbour at the heart of Mykonos Town, the Chora, sitting right on the western seafront among the whitewashed lanes. Through much of the island’s recent history this served as the main port where ferries berthed and travellers first set foot on Mykonos, but that role has long since passed to the larger New Port at Tourlos a couple of kilometres north, which now handles the big ferries and cruise ships. Today the Old Port is a charming, working harbour given over to colourful fishing caiques, private yachts and small excursion boats, and it retains a lovely, authentic atmosphere. For most visitors its most practical function is as the departure point for the boat trips to the sacred archaeological island of Delos and to Rhenia, while the Sea Bus water shuttle also connects it with the cruise port. Right beside the town’s main sights, it is a scenic and central part of any visit, set out alongside the guide to the cruise port. It is the gateway to Delos.
What boats leave from the Old Port?
The Old Port is the main departure point for excursion boats to the sacred island of Delos and to Rhenia, as well as fishing boats and small yachts. The Sea Bus water shuttle also links the Old Port to the New Port at Tourlos, carrying cruise and ferry passengers into the heart of town.
The Old Port’s chief role for visitors today is as a hub for boat trips and small craft. Most importantly, it is the main departure point for the excursion boats to Delos, the uninhabited UNESCO archaeological island that is the mythical birthplace of Apollo and one of Greece’s most significant ancient sites, so anyone taking a Delos tour will set off from here near the Delos ticket area. Boats to neighbouring Rhenia, the uninhabited island with its beautiful swimming coves, and various sunset cruises and day trips also leave from or near the Old Port. Alongside these, the harbour is home to traditional fishing boats and private yachts, adding to its colourful, authentic character. The Sea Bus, a small water shuttle, links the Old Port to the New Port at Tourlos, carrying arriving cruise and ferry passengers into the heart of town in a few minutes. So while the big ferries use the New Port, the Old Port serves the excursions and the short hops, set out alongside the guides to a Delos tour and Rhenia island. The surrounding area is the old town’s heart.
What is there to see and do around the Old Port?
Around the Old Port you can explore the heart of Mykonos Town, with Little Venice, the windmills, Paraportiani church, the museums and Matoyianni Street all close by. The harbourfront has cafes, tavernas and shops, and you may spot Petros the Pelican, the island’s mascot, often seen at the Old Port.
The Old Port sits at the heart of Mykonos Town, so it is surrounded by the island’s best-loved sights and makes an ideal starting point for exploring the Chora on foot. Within a short walk you can reach the romantic waterfront houses of Little Venice, the iconic row of windmills overlooking the sea, the famous sculptural white Paraportiani church in the Kastro quarter, and the museums, including the Aegean Maritime and the Archaeological Museum, which sits right by the Old Port above the bus station. The famous shopping street of Matoyianni and its maze of whitewashed lanes lined with boutiques, cafes, tavernas and bars are also close at hand. The harbourfront itself is lined with cafes, fish tavernas and shops where you can sit and watch the boats, and you may well encounter Petros the Pelican, the island’s beloved mascot, who is often seen wandering around the Old Port. This concentration of sights and atmosphere makes the Old Port area the lively, scenic core of a visit, set out alongside the guides to Little Venice and Petros the Pelican. The atmosphere is best at certain times.
When is the best time to visit the Old Port?
The Old Port is lovely in the early morning when it is quiet and the fishing boats are in, and again in the late afternoon into sunset, when the harbour and nearby Little Venice glow golden. Midday is busiest with day-trippers and Delos boats, so early or late visits offer the most atmosphere.
Like much of Mykonos Town, the Old Port rewards good timing, offering very different moods through the day. In the early morning the harbour is at its most peaceful and authentic, with the fishing boats in, the light soft and the lanes quiet before the crowds and day-trippers arrive, a lovely time for a stroll and photographs along the waterfront. The middle of the day is the busiest, as the Delos excursion boats depart and return, cruise passengers arrive via the Sea Bus and visitors fill the cafes and lanes, giving a lively but crowded atmosphere. The late afternoon into sunset is arguably the most beautiful time, when the harbour, the boats and the nearby waterfront of Little Venice glow in the golden evening light, perfect for a drink or dinner by the water as the sun goes down. Visiting early for calm and authenticity, or late for golden light and atmosphere, gives the best of the Old Port, set out alongside the guides to Mykonos Town and when to visit. A few tips help your visit.
What should you know about the Old Port versus the New Port?
The Old Port is the original harbour beside Mykonos Town, serving fishing boats, yachts, Delos excursions and the Sea Bus, while the New Port at Tourlos, about 2.5 km north, handles the big ferries and cruise ships. Knowing the difference avoids confusion, as the two ports serve different boats.
A common source of confusion for visitors is the existence of two ports, so it is worth being clear about the difference. The Old Port, described here, is the original, smaller harbour right on the edge of Mykonos Town, an attractive, historic waterfront now used by fishing boats, private yachts, the excursion boats to Delos and Rhenia, sunset cruises and the Sea Bus shuttle. The New Port at Tourlos, by contrast, lies about 2.5 kilometres north of the town and is the large, modern terminal built to handle the big inter-island ferries and the cruise ships, so this is where you arrive and depart if travelling to Santorini, Naxos, Paros or Athens, or by cruise. The Sea Bus links the two, carrying arriving passengers from the New Port into the town by the Old Port. So if you are catching a major ferry you want the New Port, while for a Delos trip or a sunset cruise you head to the Old Port. Keeping the two straight avoids missed boats, set out alongside the guides to the water taxi and getting to Mykonos. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
What is the history of the Mykonos Old Port?
The Mykonos Old Port is the island’s original harbour, the historic heart of the town’s seafront where ferries once docked and travellers first arrived for generations. As Mykonos grew, the larger New Port at Tourlos took over the big ferries and cruise ships, leaving the Old Port to fishing boats, yachts and excursions.
The Old Port carries the history of Mykonos’s relationship with the sea, which has always been central to island life. For generations this harbour on the western edge of the Chora was the main port of Mykonos, the place where ferries docked, goods were traded and travellers first set foot on the island, making it the historic gateway and a hub of activity at the heart of the town. The whitewashed houses, churches and lanes of the Chora grew up around this working waterfront, and the island’s fishing and seafaring traditions, celebrated in the nearby Aegean Maritime Museum, were anchored here. As Mykonos transformed into a major international destination in the second half of the 20th century, with ever-larger ferries and then cruise ships, the small Old Port could no longer handle the traffic, and the modern New Port at Tourlos was developed a couple of kilometres north to take over the big vessels. This left the Old Port to evolve into the charming, picturesque harbour of today, given over to fishing boats, private yachts and the excursion boats to Delos, while keeping its historic character and central role in the life of the town, set out alongside the guides to the Aegean Maritime Museum and Mykonos Town. Standing on the harbourfront where generations of Mykonians and travellers came and went, you can still sense the island’s long bond with the sea beneath the present-day bustle of yachts, fishing boats and day-trippers. Its layered history adds real depth to its picturesque charm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mykonos Old Port?
The Mykonos Old Port is the original harbour of Mykonos Town, on the western seafront of the Chora. Once the main ferry arrival point, it is now home to fishing boats, private yachts and excursion vessels, and its main role for visitors is as the departure point for boats to Delos and Rhenia.
What boats leave from the Mykonos Old Port?
The Old Port is the main departure point for excursion boats to the sacred island of Delos and to Rhenia, plus fishing boats and small yachts. The Sea Bus water shuttle also links the Old Port to the New Port at Tourlos, carrying cruise and ferry passengers into the heart of town.
What is the difference between the Old Port and New Port in Mykonos?
The Old Port is the original harbour beside Mykonos Town, serving fishing boats, yachts, Delos excursions and the Sea Bus, while the New Port at Tourlos, about 2.5 km north, handles the big ferries and cruise ships. Knowing the difference avoids confusion, as the two ports serve different boats.