PortTrip · plain edition of Mykonos cruise port guide · checked October 2026 against 11 sources

Mykonos cruise port guide

Ships either dock at the New Port in Tourlos, about 2.5–3 km north of Mykonos Town, or anchor and tender straight to the Old Port on the edge of town. From Tourlos, the Sea Bus water taxi runs about every 30 minutes to the Old Port in 10–12 minutes for €2–2.50 one way, and many lines also run a shuttle. Be back at the Sea Bus or tender pier 90 minutes before all-aboard.

Mykonos is a small, compact port day once you reach town. The question is only how you arrive: ships that dock at Tourlos are a short boat ride or bus ride from Chora, while ships at anchor tender passengers right into the Old Port. Chora itself is a maze of whitewashed lanes that takes a morning to wander, with Little Venice and the windmills at its southern edge. The other big draw is Delos, the sacred island and archaeological site 30–40 minutes away by boat, which fits into a port day if you take an early departure. Taxis are scarce, so plan around the Sea Bus and the KTEL buses.

When to head back to the ship

For a 17:30 all-aboard. Times count back from all-aboard using the travel times and buffers in this guide. Your ship's daily programme always wins. Re-time this to your own all-aboard.

Leave from	Leave by	How
Old Port (Sea Bus or tender pier)	16:00 (1 h 30 min before all-aboard)	Sea Bus 10–12 min, about every 30 min
Little Venice and windmills	15:45 (1 h 45 min before all-aboard)	Walk 10–15 min to the Old Port, then Sea Bus
Delos	13:30 (4 h before all-aboard)	13:30 boat at the latest for 17:30
Fabrika bus station	15:50 (1 h 40 min before all-aboard)	KTEL bus about 10 min to Tourlos

Where people get Mykonos wrong: Relying on a taxi to get back to the ship, when the island has only a few dozen and waits are long.

Docking and getting to town

Mykonos is both. Some ships dock at the cruise berths in the New Port (Tourlos); others anchor offshore and tender passengers to the Old Port tender pier on the northern edge of Mykonos Town, a 5–10 minute walk from the centre. Which applies is set per call by the port authority and is printed in your daily programme. A new tender pier at the Old Port was completed recently to improve safety. On days with several ships, expect tender waits of 20–45 minutes in the morning.

New Port (Tourlos) cruise berths, 2.8 km to the centre. North of town, shared with ferries. Sea Bus pier a few minutes' walk from the berth. KTEL buses and any cruise-line shuttles leave from the port area. Few toilets and little shade when several ships are in.
Old Port tender pier, 0.5 km to the centre. On the northern edge of Mykonos Town by the old harbour. Tenders land here; the Sea Bus from Tourlos also arrives here. The Old Port KTEL bus station is nearby.

Walkable? Partly, about 35 min. From Tourlos to town is 30–40 minutes on a busy coastal road with no pavement in places and little shade. It is flat but not pleasant; take the Sea Bus or a bus. From the Old Port tender pier, everything in town (Little Venice, the windmills, Paraportiani) is within 10–15 minutes on foot, on mostly level but narrow lanes.

Transport

Sea Bus (Tourlos – Old Port): €2–2.50 one way (2026); 10–12 min. Small water-taxi boats leave from beside the New Port, about every 30 minutes in season, and land at the Old Port near the town hall. Buy tickets at the kiosk on the pier. In strong north winds (meltemi) the boats may stop running; use the bus instead.
Cruise-line or port shuttle bus: Often free; some lines charge – check your daily programme; 10–15 min. Many lines run shuttles every 15–30 minutes from Tourlos to the edge of town near the bus stations. Note the last return time.
KTEL bus New Port – town: €1.50–2.50 one way (2026); About 10 min to Fabrika; about 20 min to Old Port. Buses link Tourlos with Fabrika station (south side of town, beach buses) every 30–60 minutes and with the Old Port station about hourly. Buy tickets at the station kiosk or from the driver in cash. Timetables change each year.
Taxi: Price not published; 5–10 min to town. There is a rank at the New Port, but Mykonos has only a few dozen taxis and waits are long when ships and ferries arrive together. Not a reliable way back to the ship.

Return timing

Be at the Old Port Sea Bus pier (or tender pier) by 16:00 for a 17:30 all-aboard. The Sea Bus runs about every 30 minutes and takes 10–12 minutes, so a 16:00 start allows for a full boat and one missed departure. If you are tendering, the last tender usually leaves 30 minutes before all-aboard and the afternoon queue can take 30 minutes or more. From Delos, take the 13:30 boat at the latest; the last afternoon return (15:00) leaves little margin.

If you are running late: If the Sea Bus is full or not running, take the KTEL bus from the Old Port station to the New Port (about 20 minutes) or walk 35–40 minutes along the coast road. Call the ship's port agent (number in the daily programme) if you will be late.

A day in Mykonos (all-aboard 17:30)

Assumes docking at Tourlos at 08:00 and a Tuesday–Sunday Delos boat schedule.

08:15 Walk to the Sea Bus pier and ride to the Old Port.
08:45 Buy Delos boat tickets at the kiosk outside the boats by the Old Port (sold from 15 minutes before departure).
09:00 Boat to Delos (30–40 minutes). Take water, a hat and sun cream; there is little shade on the site.
09:45 Explore Delos: the Terrace of the Lions, the theatre quarter and the museum.
12:00 Boat back to Mykonos.
12:45 Lunch in Chora, then walk to Little Venice and the Kato Mili windmills.
14:30 Visit Panagia Paraportiani and the lanes around Matoyianni Street.
16:00 Sea Bus back to Tourlos and be on board by 16:30, 60 minutes before all-aboard.

What to see

Delos: The mythical birthplace of Apollo and one of the largest archaeological sites in Greece, covering a whole island. Temples, houses with mosaics and the Terrace of the Lions. Time: 4 hours including the boat. Cost: €20 boat return + €20 site entry, reduced €10 (2025–2026). On Mondays boats run less often (10:00 out, 13:30 back). Sailings are cancelled in strong winds.
Little Venice: A row of 18th-century captains' houses with balconies built over the sea on the west side of town. Time: 30 minutes. Cost: Free. Go in the morning. It is packed at sunset.
Kato Mili windmills: A row of whitewashed windmills on the low ridge above Little Venice, the island's best-known view. Time: 20 minutes. Cost: Free. Five minutes' walk from Little Venice. Little shade.
Panagia Paraportiani: A cluster of five chapels joined into one whitewashed building near the old harbour, dating from the 15th to 17th centuries. Time: 15 minutes. Cost: Free to view from outside. Close to the Old Port, so a good first or last stop.
Chora lanes and Matoyianni Street: The main shopping lane and the maze of narrow streets around it, built to confuse pirates and wind. Time: 1–2 hours. Cost: Free. Lanes are narrow and fill with tour groups from mid-morning. Note landmarks so you can find your way back.
Archaeological Museum of Mykonos: Pottery and grave finds from the purification pit of Rheneia, near the Old Port. Time: 45 minutes. Cost: €5 full, €3 reduced (2025). Open 09:00–16:00 and closed on Tuesdays in the 2025 schedule.
Old harbour waterfront: The curved harbour front with the small church of Agios Nikolaos, fishing boats and the Delos ticket kiosks. Time: 30 minutes. Cost: Free. This is where the Sea Bus and tenders land; easy to combine with Paraportiani.

Beaches

Agios Stefanos: KTEL bus from the Old Port station, or walk 15–20 minutes north from Tourlos 5 min by bus The closest sandy beach to the New Port. Sunbeds and tavernas.
Ornos: KTEL bus from Fabrika station 5 min Sheltered sandy bay, good in north winds. Buses every 30 minutes.
Platis Gialos: KTEL bus from Fabrika station 10 min Family beach with sunbeds. Buses roughly hourly.
Paradise: KTEL bus from Fabrika station 15 min Known for beach bars and music. Buses every 30–60 minutes.

Common mistakes

Walking from Tourlos to town on the main road Take the Sea Bus or the bus. The road is busy and has no pavement in places.
Turning up for Delos on a Monday expecting the full schedule Monday has fewer boats. Check the kiosk times the day before or take the 10:00 sailing.
Relying on a taxi to get back to the ship Mykonos has only a few dozen taxis. Use the Sea Bus or the bus and leave a buffer.
Staying in Little Venice for sunset on a short call Check all-aboard first. If you sail before sunset, see Little Venice in the morning.
Forgetting the Greek cruise fee Mykonos has the highest rate: up to €20 per passenger from June to September and €12 in October (2026), charged by your line.

Safety and scams

Mykonos Town is safe by day. The main risks are traffic on the narrow roads outside town (many have no pavement and quad bikes are common), sunburn and heat on Delos, and pickpocketing in crowded lanes and on full buses. Strong meltemi winds in July and August can stop the Sea Bus and Delos boats and make tender transfers rough.

Waterfront and Little Venice restaurants that serve seafood priced by weight without showing the weight or price. Ask for the price per kilo and the weight before it is cooked.
Unlicensed drivers at the New Port offering rides into town at high flat rates. Use the Sea Bus, the bus or a marked taxi.
Bars and restaurants adding a large service charge or charging for items you did not order. Check the bill against the menu.

Accessibility

If your ship docks at Tourlos, the Sea Bus is described as wheelchair accessible, and the Old Port waterfront is flat. Chora's lanes are narrow, uneven and partly stepped; Little Venice and the windmills are reachable on level-to-gentle routes from the Old Port, but expect cobbles. Tendering requires stepping into a moving boat and depends on the crew's decision on the day. Delos has rough paths and no step-free routes.

If it rains

Rain is rare from May to September. Wind is the more common problem: in strong meltemi the Delos boats and the Sea Bus may be suspended. On a bad day, use the bus into town, visit the Archaeological Museum near the Old Port, and spend the time in Chora's cafés and shops.

Crowds

Mykonos can have several ships and ferries in on the same day. The Old Port and Matoyianni Street are busiest from 10:00 to 13:00; Little Venice is busiest at sunset. The early Delos boats are the calmest. Go to the windmills before 10:00 or after 15:00. If you are docked, take an early Sea Bus before the shuttle queues form.

Questions cruise passengers ask

Is Mykonos a tender port?

Sometimes. Some ships dock at the New Port in Tourlos; others anchor and tender passengers to the Old Port in town. Your daily programme says which.

How do I get from Mykonos cruise port to Mykonos Town?

From Tourlos take the Sea Bus (€2–2.50, 10–12 minutes, about every 30 minutes), a cruise shuttle if offered, or the KTEL bus. Tenders land directly in town.

Is Mykonos walkable from the cruise port?

From the Old Port, yes. From Tourlos it is 30–40 minutes on a busy road without pavement in places, so the Sea Bus is better.

Can I visit Delos from a cruise ship?

Yes. Boats leave the old harbour at 09:00, 10:00 and 11:30 (Tuesday–Sunday) for €20 return, plus €20 site entry. Return by the 12:00 or 13:30 boat on a normal call.

What can I do in Mykonos in one day from a cruise ship?

Delos in the morning, then Chora, Little Venice and the windmills in the afternoon. Or skip Delos and take a bus to Ornos or Platis Gialos beach.

Beaches near Mykonos cruise port?

Agios Stefanos is closest to Tourlos. Ornos, Platis Gialos and Paradise are 5–15 minutes by bus from Fabrika station.

What is the Greek cruise passenger fee for Mykonos?

€20 per disembarking passenger from June to September, €12 in April, May and October and €4 from November to March. It is charged by your cruise line.

Is Mykonos safe?

Yes. Watch for traffic on roads without pavements, pickpockets in crowds and bills with unexpected charges.

Sources

Emergency number: 112. Checked October 2026. Full interactive guide, map and planner.