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, on the western seafront of the Chora. Once the main ferry point, it now serves fishing boats, yachts and the excursion boats to Delos.
The Old Port is the historic, picturesque harbour at the heart of Mykonos Town, the Chora, sitting on the western seafront among the whitewashed lanes. Through much of the island’s recent history it served as the main port where ferries berthed. Travellers first set foot on Mykonos here. That arrival 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.
The Old Port today is a charming, working harbour given over to colourful fishing caiques, private yachts and small excursion boats. It keeps a lovely, authentic atmosphere. For most visitors its main practical function is as the departure point for boat trips to the sacred archaeological island of Delos and to Rhenia. The Sea Bus water shuttle also connects it with the cruise port. Beside the town’s main sights, it is a scenic, central part of any visit, set out alongside the guide to the cruise port.
What boats leave from the Old Port?
The Old Port is the main departure point for excursion boats to Delos and Rhenia, plus fishing boats and small yachts. The Sea Bus water shuttle also links it to the New Port at Tourlos.
The Old Port’s chief role for visitors today is as a hub for boat trips and small craft. It is the main departure point for the excursion boats to Delos, the uninhabited UNESCO archaeological island. Delos is the mythical birthplace of Apollo and one of Greece’s most significant ancient sites. Anyone taking a Delos tour sets off from here, near the Delos ticket area on the harbourfront.
Boats to neighbouring Rhenia, the uninhabited island with its beautiful swimming coves, also leave from or near the Old Port, along with sunset cruises and day trips. The harbour is home to traditional fishing boats and private yachts too, which add to its colourful character. The Sea Bus, a small water shuttle, links the Old Port to the New Port at Tourlos in a few minutes. So the big ferries use the New Port, while the Old Port serves the excursions and short hops, set out alongside the guides to a Delos tour and Rhenia island.
What is there to see and do around the Old Port?
Around the Old Port lies 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.
The Old Port sits at the heart of Mykonos Town, so the island’s best-loved sights surround it. It makes an ideal starting point for exploring the Chora on foot. Within a short walk you reach the romantic waterfront houses of Little Venice, the iconic row of windmills above the sea, and the sculptural white Paraportiani church in the Kastro quarter. The museums are close too, including the Aegean Maritime Museum and the Archaeological Museum, which stands 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 sit close at hand. The harbourfront itself has cafes, fish tavernas and shops where you can sit and watch the boats. You may well encounter Petros the Pelican, the island’s beloved mascot, who often wanders around the Old Port. This concentration of sights makes the Old Port area the lively, scenic core of a visit, set out alongside the guides to Little Venice and Petros the Pelican.
How far is the Old Port from Mykonos Town and Little Venice?
The Old Port is not near Mykonos Town; it sits within it, on the western edge of the Chora. Little Venice, the windmills and Matoyianni Street all lie within a short, flat walk of a few minutes.
One of the Old Port’s great advantages is its position right inside Mykonos Town. Unlike the New Port at Tourlos, which needs a bus or taxi, the Old Port is part of the Chora itself. Step off the harbourfront and you walk straight into the whitewashed maze of the old town. The main sights cluster within a few hundred metres, so no transport is needed once you are here.
Little Venice lies a short stroll south along the seafront, perhaps five minutes on foot. The windmills stand just beyond it on their low rise above the water. Matoyianni Street and the shopping lanes begin a couple of minutes inland from the quay. The walking is flat and easy along the waterfront, though the alleys of the Chora are cobbled and can twist, so comfortable shoes help. For orientation, pair this with the guide to Mykonos Town.
When is the best time to visit the Old Port?
The Old Port is loveliest in the early morning, quiet with the fishing boats in, and again in the late afternoon into sunset, when the harbour and Little Venice glow golden. Midday is busiest with day-trippers.
Like much of Mykonos Town, the Old Port rewards good timing and offers different moods through the day. In the early morning the harbour is at its most peaceful and authentic. The fishing boats are in, the light is soft and the lanes are quiet before the crowds arrive. This is a lovely time for a stroll and photographs along the waterfront. The middle of the day is the busiest, as the Delos boats depart and return and cruise passengers arrive via the Sea Bus.
The late afternoon into sunset is arguably the most beautiful time. The harbour, the boats and the nearby waterfront of Little Venice glow in the golden evening light. It is a perfect moment for a drink or dinner by the water as the sun goes down. Visiting early for calm, or late for golden light, gives the best of the Old Port. Pair this with the guides to Mykonos Town and when to visit.
What should you know about the Old Port versus the New Port?
The Old Port beside Mykonos Town serves fishing boats, yachts, Delos excursions and the Sea Bus. The New Port at Tourlos, about 2.5 km north, handles the big ferries and cruise ships.
A common source of confusion 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 on the edge of Mykonos Town. This attractive, historic waterfront now serves fishing boats, private yachts, the excursion boats to Delos and Rhenia, sunset cruises and the Sea Bus shuttle. The New Port at Tourlos lies about 2.5 kilometres north of the town.
The New Port is the large, modern terminal built to handle the big inter-island ferries and the cruise ships. You arrive and depart there for Santorini, Naxos, Paros or Athens, or by cruise. The Sea Bus links the two ports, carrying arriving passengers into the town by the Old Port. So a major ferry means the New Port, while a Delos trip or a sunset cruise means the Old Port. Keeping the two straight avoids missed boats, set out alongside the guides to the water taxi and getting to Mykonos.
How do cruise passengers reach the Old Port?
Most cruise ships anchor off the New Port at Tourlos and tender passengers ashore. From there the Sea Bus water shuttle carries visitors straight to the Old Port in a few minutes, dropping them at the heart of Mykonos Town.
Cruise ships are far too large for the small Old Port, so they use the deep-water New Port at Tourlos. Larger vessels often anchor offshore and bring passengers in by tender, while others berth alongside the pier. Either way, the arrival point is the New Port, a couple of kilometres from the Chora. From Tourlos, the quickest and most scenic way into town is the Sea Bus, a small water shuttle that crosses the bay.
The Sea Bus drops passengers directly at the Old Port, in the middle of Mykonos Town, so cruise visitors step ashore right beside Little Venice and the shopping lanes. A shuttle bus and taxis also run between Tourlos and the town for those who prefer the road. For a fuller picture of cruise logistics, timings and the tender process, see the dedicated guide to the Mykonos cruise port, which sits alongside this harbour guide.
What can you photograph at the Old Port?
The Old Port offers colourful fishing caiques, moored yachts and whitewashed lanes, with Little Venice and the windmills close by. Early morning light and the golden hour before sunset give the best photographs of the harbour.
Photographers love the Old Port for its layered, authentic scenes. The colourful wooden fishing boats bob against the whitewashed backdrop of the Chora, and nets, ropes and painted hulls add texture along the quay. Petros the Pelican, when he appears, is a favourite subject. Looking one way you frame the harbour and moored yachts, and looking the other you catch the sugar-cube houses climbing the hill behind.
The light matters as much as the subject here. Early morning gives soft, clear tones and empty lanes for clean compositions. The golden hour before sunset warms the stone and water, and it flows naturally into the famous sunset views at nearby Little Venice and the windmills. Reflections on calm water at dawn or dusk reward patience. For more on the classic sunset spots a short walk away, see the guide to Little Venice.
Where can you eat and drink around the Old Port?
The Old Port harbourfront is lined with cafes, fish tavernas and bars, with more choices in the lanes just behind and along the seafront towards Little Venice. Fresh seafood and a coffee by the water are the classic choices.
Eating and drinking is part of the pleasure of the Old Port, where tables spill out onto the quay beside the boats. The waterfront tavernas specialise in fresh fish and Mykonian dishes, and a plate of grilled seafood by the harbour is a fine way to spend an evening. Cafes along the quay serve coffee and cold drinks through the day, ideal for watching the caiques and the comings and goings of the excursion boats.
Just behind the harbourfront, the lanes of the Chora hide many more tavernas, ouzeries and bars, from simple family kitchens to smart restaurants. A short walk south brings you to the seafront bars of Little Venice, famous for cocktails at sunset. So the Old Port works for a quick coffee, a long seafood lunch or an evening drink with a view. It pairs naturally with a wider tour of Mykonos Town and its dining scene.
Who is the Mykonos Old Port best for?
The Old Port suits almost every visitor, from Delos day-trippers and cruise passengers to photographers, seafood lovers and anyone wanting the authentic heart of Mykonos Town. It works as both a departure point and a scenic place to linger.
Travellers heading to Delos or Rhenia start here, so the Old Port is essential for anyone taking those excursions. Cruise passengers arriving by Sea Bus land at this quay, making it their first taste of the Chora. Photographers come for the caiques, the whitewashed backdrop and the golden light along the water.
The Old Port also rewards those who simply want to slow down. You can sit with a coffee or a plate of fresh fish, watch the boats and feel the working, lived-in side of Mykonos that sits behind the glamour. Families appreciate the flat, open waterfront and the chance of spotting Petros the Pelican. Pair it with the wider Mykonos Town guide.
Is the Old Port accessible and easy to visit?
Yes. The Old Port is a flat, open waterfront in the heart of Mykonos Town, free to walk and always open. The quay itself is level, though the surrounding lanes of the Chora are cobbled and can be uneven.
The harbourfront is one of the easier parts of the old town to explore. The quay runs flat and open along the water, so strolling the length of the Old Port is straightforward, with plenty of cafe tables and low walls to pause at. There is no ticket and no gate; the harbour is a public seafront that stays open day and night. Benches and shaded spots let you rest and watch the boats between walks.
Behind the quay the character changes, as the Chora is a maze of narrow, cobbled alleys that twist and occasionally step up or down. Wheeled luggage and strollers can find these lanes awkward, so travel light when you can. Cars are kept out of the old town, which keeps the harbourfront calm and walkable. For arrivals and onward transport, the bus station and taxis sit close behind the port, and the wider guide to Mykonos Town covers moving around the Chora.
What is the history of the Mykonos Old Port?
The Old Port is the island’s original harbour, where ferries once docked and travellers first arrived for generations. As Mykonos grew, the New Port at Tourlos took over the big ferries, leaving the Old Port to fishing boats and excursions.
The Old Port carries the history of Mykonos’s long 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. Ferries docked here, goods were traded and travellers first set foot on the island at this quay. It was 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.
The island’s fishing and seafaring traditions, celebrated in the nearby Aegean Maritime Museum, were anchored here. As Mykonos became a major international destination, with ever-larger ferries and then cruise ships, the small Old Port could no longer handle the traffic. 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 become the charming harbour of today, given over to fishing boats, yachts and the Delos boats, set out alongside the guides to the Aegean Maritime Museum and Mykonos Town.
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.
Can you walk from the Old Port into Mykonos Town?
Yes. The Old Port sits on the edge of Mykonos Town, so you step straight from the quay into the whitewashed lanes of the Chora. Little Venice, the windmills and Matoyianni Street all lie within a short, flat walk of a few minutes, with no bus or taxi needed once you are at the harbour.
Do Delos boats leave from the Old Port or the New Port?
The excursion boats to Delos leave from the Old Port, right beside Mykonos Town, near the Delos ticket area on the harbourfront. The New Port at Tourlos is for the large inter-island ferries and cruise ships, so for a Delos or Rhenia trip you head to the Old Port in the heart of the Chora.