The Mykonos cruise port is the New Port at Tourlos, about 2.5 km north of Mykonos Town, where almost all cruise ships dock. From there the Sea Bus water taxi, shuttle buses and taxis carry passengers quickly into town. This guide covers the port, getting into Mykonos Town, what to do on a port day and tips for cruise passengers.
The cruise port is the gateway for ship passengers in the Mykonos travel guide. The sections below cover it in full.
Where do cruise ships dock in Mykonos?
Cruise ships dock at the Mykonos New Port at Tourlos, about 2.5 km north of Mykonos Town. It is an efficient, well-organised cruise terminal designed to move thousands of passengers quickly, with ticket offices, ATMs, a taxi station, car and boat rental and nearby tavernas, but it is not within walking distance of town.
Almost all cruise ships calling at Mykonos dock at the New Port at Tourlos, located about 2.5 kilometres north of Mykonos Town along the coast. This modern cruise terminal is efficient and well-organised, purpose-built to handle large ships and move thousands of cruise passengers smoothly ashore and back, and larger vessels berth here directly while some smaller ships may anchor and tender passengers in. The port has useful facilities including ticket offices, ATMs, a taxi station, car and boat rental desks and a street of tavernas, restaurants and shops nearby, so you can sort transport and refreshments on arrival. What it is not, however, is within comfortable walking distance of the old town: the roughly 2.5-kilometre route into the Chora has no proper pavement and is not a pleasant or safe walk, so passengers use the dedicated transport links instead. Understanding the port’s layout and distance helps you plan a smooth day ashore, set out alongside the guide to getting to Mykonos. Several easy options link the port to town.
How do you get from the cruise port to Mykonos Town?
From the Tourlos cruise port you can reach Mykonos Town by the Sea Bus water taxi, which links the New Port and the Old Port by town every 30 minutes for about 2 euros, by shuttle bus in 10 to 15 minutes, or by taxi in about 5 minutes for around 10 euros per taxi.
Several convenient transport options connect the cruise port at Tourlos with Mykonos Town, so getting ashore is straightforward. The most popular is the Sea Bus, a small water-taxi shuttle that leaves from directly beside the cruise pier and runs frequently, roughly every 30 minutes, taking only about 8 minutes to reach the Old Port beside Mykonos Town and costing around 2 euros per person; it is wheelchair accessible and scenic. Cruise lines and the port also often run shuttle buses between Tourlos and town, a short ride of about 10 to 15 minutes, typically setting passengers down close to the main bus station at the edge of the Chora. Taxis wait at the port too, reaching the centre of town in around 5 minutes for roughly 10 euros per taxi for up to four people, though the island’s chronic taxi shortage can mean a wait. Each option is quick and easy; the Sea Bus is usually the simplest and most enjoyable. Choosing your transfer in advance saves time on a tight port day, set out alongside the guide to the water taxi. Once in town, plenty awaits.
What can you do on a cruise day in Mykonos?
On a cruise day you can explore Mykonos Town’s whitewashed lanes, the windmills, Little Venice and Matoyianni Street, visit the museums, take a boat trip to ancient Delos, or head to a beach such as Ornos, Platis Gialos or Paradise. The town’s compact size makes it easy to see the highlights in a few hours.
Mykonos packs a lot into a small area, so even a single cruise day allows you to see its highlights. Most passengers head straight for Mykonos Town, the Chora, whose photogenic maze of whitewashed lanes can be explored on foot, taking in the iconic row of windmills, the waterfront houses of Little Venice, the famous shopping street of Matoyianni, the much-photographed Paraportiani church and the harbours, with time for the Aegean Maritime or Folklore Museums. For history lovers, a boat trip from the Old Port to the nearby sacred island of Delos, one of Greece’s most important archaeological sites, is a rewarding half-day excursion, though it needs planning around your ship’s schedule. If you prefer the beach, the closer south-coast and west-coast beaches such as Ornos, Platis Gialos, Paradise and Agios Stefanos are a short bus, taxi or water-taxi ride away for a swim. The town’s compact, walkable layout means you can comfortably enjoy the highlights in a few hours ashore, set out alongside the guides to Delos and things to do. A few tips smooth a port day.
What tips help for a Mykonos cruise day?
Plan your transfer into town in advance, carry cash and small change for the Sea Bus and tavernas, and note the time and last shuttle or Sea Bus back to the ship. Wear comfortable shoes for the cobbled lanes, bring sun protection, and book any Delos trip or excursion ahead to fit your ship’s schedule.
A little preparation makes a Mykonos cruise day relaxed and rewarding. Decide in advance how you will get from Tourlos into town, whether the Sea Bus, a shuttle or a taxi, and note the schedule, particularly the time of the last Sea Bus or shuttle back to the port, so you return to your ship with comfortable time to spare; build in a buffer given possible queues and the island’s taxi shortage. Carry some cash and small change in euros, as the Sea Bus, smaller tavernas and market stalls often prefer it, though cards are widely accepted in shops and restaurants. Wear comfortable, flat shoes for the cobbled, sometimes slippery lanes of the old town, and bring sun protection, a hat and water, as Mykonos is hot and exposed in summer. If you want to visit Delos or join an organised excursion, book ahead and check it fits within your port hours, as the island has fixed boat times and limited opening. These simple steps ensure a smooth, enjoyable day ashore, set out alongside the guide to a Mykonos itinerary. The two ports can cause confusion.
What is the difference between the New Port and Old Port?
The New Port at Tourlos is the modern cruise and ferry terminal about 2.5 km north of town where big ships dock, while the Old Port sits right beside Mykonos Town and handles small boats, the Sea Bus and Delos trips. The Sea Bus links the two, carrying cruise passengers from Tourlos into the heart of town.
Mykonos has two ports, and knowing the difference avoids confusion on a cruise day. The New Port at Tourlos, around 2.5 kilometres north of the Chora, is the large, modern terminal built to handle cruise ships and the big inter-island ferries, with the facilities and space such vessels need; this is where your cruise ship docks. The Old Port, by contrast, lies right on the edge of Mykonos Town, an attractive, historic little harbour that now serves smaller craft, including the Sea Bus shuttle, the south-coast beach water taxis and the boats to the sacred island of Delos and to Rhenia. The Sea Bus is the key link between the two, ferrying arriving cruise passengers from the New Port at Tourlos directly to the Old Port beside town in a few minutes. So as a cruise passenger you arrive at the New Port and travel to the Old Port or town, and you would return to the Old Port to catch a Delos boat. Keeping the two ports straight makes navigating the day easy, set out alongside the guide to Mykonos Town. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
When is the cruise season in Mykonos?
The Mykonos cruise season runs mainly from April to October, peaking in the warm summer months, when the island is busiest with both cruise passengers and other visitors. Spring and autumn offer pleasant weather and slightly thinner crowds, while a midsummer port day means heat, queues and the liveliest, most crowded town.
Cruise ships call at Mykonos through the main tourist season, broadly from April to October, mirroring the island’s warm, dry summer and its general visitor calendar. The peak comes in the hot summer months of June, July and August, when the most ships call and the island is at its busiest and liveliest, but also at its hottest and most crowded, so a midsummer port day means strong sun, busy lanes, queues for transport and full beaches, all of which reward an early start and a planned transfer. The shoulder months of late April, May, September and October are appealing for a cruise call, with warm, pleasant weather, swimmable sea and somewhat thinner crowds, making the town and sights easier to enjoy. Outside this window, in winter, few if any ships call and many businesses close. Whenever your ship visits, planning around the heat and crowds of the day ensures a smooth experience, set out alongside the guides to when to visit and Mykonos weather. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
What facilities are at the Mykonos cruise port?
The Mykonos cruise port at Tourlos has ticket offices, ATMs, a taxi station, car and boat rental desks, and a nearby street of tavernas, restaurants, cafes and shops. The Sea Bus leaves from directly beside the cruise pier, so you can arrange transport, money and refreshments easily on arrival.
The New Port at Tourlos is a modern, well-equipped cruise terminal, so passengers find the practical services they need close at hand on stepping ashore. There are ticket offices for the Sea Bus and ferries, ATMs to withdraw euros, a taxi station, and car, scooter and boat rental desks for those wanting to explore independently, making it easy to sort out money and onward transport without delay. Right by the terminal a street of tavernas, restaurants, cafes, mini-markets and shops offers food, drinks, refreshments and last-minute supplies, useful before heading into town or on return to the ship. Crucially, the Sea Bus water taxi to the Old Port by Mykonos Town leaves from directly beside the cruise pier and runs frequently, so the main onward connection is just steps away. The port is designed to move large numbers of cruise passengers smoothly, so it is efficient and well-signposted, though it can be busy when several ships are in. Knowing the facilities are there lets you arrive relaxed, withdraw cash, grab a coffee and hop straight on the Sea Bus into town, set out alongside the guide to the water taxi. With transport and essentials covered, the town awaits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do cruise ships dock in Mykonos?
Cruise ships dock at the Mykonos New Port at Tourlos, about 2.5 km north of Mykonos Town. It is an efficient, well-organised cruise terminal with ticket offices, ATMs, a taxi station and rental desks, but it is not within comfortable walking distance of the old town, so passengers use the transport links.
How do you get from the cruise port to Mykonos Town?
From the Tourlos cruise port you can reach Mykonos Town by the Sea Bus water taxi, which links the New Port and the Old Port by town every 30 minutes for about 2 euros, by shuttle bus in 10 to 15 minutes, or by taxi in about 5 minutes for around 10 euros per taxi.
Can you walk from the Mykonos cruise port to town?
Walking is not recommended, as the New Port at Tourlos is about 2.5 km from Mykonos Town and the route has no proper pavement. Instead use the Sea Bus water taxi, a shuttle bus or a taxi, all of which carry passengers quickly and safely into the heart of town.