10 Best Things to Do in Delos

A visit to Delos Archaeological Museum adds some vital relevance to the sites you will go on to see during your day of exploration on the island. Most of the artefacts inside were unearthed from archaeological digs surrounding the museum, which makes the statues, mosaics and pottery on display feel more culturally significant.

The 9 rooms can be viewed within an hour, although avid archaeologists could spend the entire morning here. The museum is not air-conditioned so it can get very hot inside. Visit early in the morning for cooler temperatures.

The Sacred Way (also known as The Sacred Precinct) is a paved area that was once lined with shops and stalls, like a modern-day marketplace. The grand avenue is 13 metres wide. You enter the Sacred Way through collonaded porticos, which lead to a series of ruined temples dedicated to the god Apollo.

Many of the grand statues that once stood here have been destroyed or removed, but you can still see several inscribed plinths that date from the 3^rd to 2^nd centuries BC. You'll find carved lion heads all along the Sacred Way that once spouted water and still survive in their faded glory.

The House of Cleopatra is the recently excavated ruins of the former residence of a wealthy couple called Cleopatra and Dioscurides. The house was large and spacious, befitting a rich couple of the time, but is not to be confused with the house of the Egyptian queen.

Many tours include a visit to this noteworthy site of Delos for a sense of the history of the time. Here you’ll find various statues, including (now headless) statues of the couple themselves. You’ll also find Doric columns, which are an important part of historic Greek architecture.

Of all the sites and ruins on Delos, the Terrace of the Lions gives you the most evocative feeling of what it would have been like to be here in its heyday thousands of years ago. Not all of the lions are original – many of them have been placed in museums for safekeeping – but the reproductions have been made of the same white marble you'll find all over the island.

The Ancient Theatre of Delos is an impressive historic landmark that began construction in 314 BC. The theatre was made of marble and originally seated around 7,000 people. It was separated into different tiers, and the very front row was the only row with back support, as it was reserved for visitors of high importance.

Some minor restoration work was carried out in the 2010s, where the koilon (auditorium space) was restored. Some other protection was added to avoid further deterioration. You can stand at the top of the stadium and imagine how the audience might have felt in your place all those years ago.

The Temple of Isis is one of the best sites on Delos because its collonaded façade has been rebuilt to its former glory. It was once a hugely important temple for the ancient Athenians. The temple sits on a small hill above Delos Museum. The view from the top of the hill is impressive and is a popular photo spot. A headless statue of a Greek goddess stands in front of the temple ruins.

Many tour guides won't take you to the Temple of Isis but it's worth spending the extra time to make it up the hill. An information board explains historical information in English and Greek.

The House of the Trident was once a luxurious villa on Delos. It remains one of the most impressive sights on the island thanks to many intact Doric mosaics, including one of a trident – which is how the site was named – and another of a dolphin that is remarkably well preserved.

The entire site is in good condition. It’s easy to imagine how the ancient people of Delos lived when exploring this ruin. Due to some ornamental bull and lion heads in the porticos of this house, it’s believed that this house once belonged to a Syrian merchant.

Mount Kynthos (also spelt Cynthus) stands at 120 metres, making it the highest point on Delos. The hike to its summit needs some preparation but is achievable as long as you’re wearing closed footwear and bring enough water. The view from the top is impressive because the island is only 3 sq km – you can also see the surrounding islands of Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Syros, and Rhenia.

The mountain is the mythological birthplace of the Greek god Apollo – god of medicine, music and poetry – and his twin, Artemis.

The ancient ruins known as the House of Dionysus are easy to spot, thanks to the towering columns that extend above the walls of the house. The ruin was so named due to a large mosaic of Dionysus – god of wine – riding a tiger with wings outstretched, carrying a wreath of ivy and a vine of grapes around his neck.

The excavated ruin would have been a mansion back when it was built and you can read more about it on an information board written in English and Greek.

The Sanctuaries of the Foreign Gods is split into 2 sections and is dedicated to Egyptian and Syrian gods that were revered during the times of the ancient Greeks. Among the treasures excavated here was a statue of Poseidon, god of the sea. Located south-east of many of the ruins on Delos, on the slope heading up to Mount Kynthos, you'll likely visit this site if you book a tour with a guide.