A boat trip is the other half of a Mykonos holiday. The island’s best-known beaches sit on the south coast, the water is clear and warm in summer, and the easiest way to see several coves in one day is from the deck of a boat rather than in a queue of taxis. This five-hour catamaran cruise includes a meal, drinks and transport, so it is set up as an easy day out: you are collected, taken to the boat, fed and watered, and brought back. Cruises of this kind from Mykonos usually head along the south coast and towards Rhenia, the empty island beside Delos, stopping in sheltered bays for swimming. The catamaran’s wide, flat deck makes it steadier than a small speedboat, and there is room to sunbathe, shelter in the shade or sit with a drink and watch the whitewashed town slide past. It is a seasonal product: the cruising season runs from about April to October, and departures are only offered in those months.
How it works
You choose a date when you book and meet the crew at the pick-up point, with transport to the boat included in the ticket. The cruise lasts about five hours, with a meal and drinks on board. Check the exact start time, the pick-up point and the route on your ticket, because skippers change the plan to suit the wind and sea, and the boat does not necessarily land at Delos.
If you want to walk around the Delos ruins you need to buy the site ticket and take a separate boat, which is a different trip.
Season and weather
Catamaran cruises run in the warm season, roughly from April to October, with the most departures in June, July, August and September. Dates are published when the season opens, so check availability for your month before you plan around it. Mykonos is a windy island, and in summer the north wind can be strong.
If the sea is too rough the skipper may shorten the trip or swap bays, and a sailing that cannot go ahead is usually rescheduled or refunded, so read the cancellation terms when you book. Morning cruises are usually calmer than afternoon ones.
Making the most of it
Bring a swimsuit, a towel, sun cream, a hat and sunglasses, and wear shoes that are easy to take off on deck. Eat a light breakfast, because a day of sun and a little swell can unsettle some stomachs, and take a tablet if you are prone to seasickness. Keep valuables to a minimum and use a waterproof pouch for your phone. Ask the crew before you jump, and keep children within reach on deck.
What to expect
The experience
A five-hour catamaran cruise with a meal, drinks and transport included, with stops for swimming in sheltered bays.
Best time
A morning or midday departure in June, July, August or September, when the sea is warmest and the wind is usually gentler before the afternoon.
How long
Five hours on the boat, plus transfer time at each end.
Tips
Bring a swimsuit, towel, sun cream and a hat, check the start time and pick-up point on your ticket, and expect the route to change if the wind is strong.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Sun-and-sea travellers, couples and groups of friends who want to see several beaches without driving.
- Families
- Children who can swim and enjoy boats will love it, but it is a long day in the sun, so bring shade, snacks and a lifejacket for small ones.
- Couples
- Sea, sun and a long lunch on deck is an easy romantic day, and a sunset sailing, where one is offered, is the most atmospheric.
- Pair with
- Delos on a separate morning, and an evening in Chora or at Little Venice.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
When does the Mykonos catamaran cruise run?+
Cruises run in the warm season, roughly April to October.
What is included?+
The ticket includes the five-hour cruise, a meal, drinks and transport. Delos entry is not part of this trip.
Does the catamaran go to Delos?+
Not necessarily. Boats on this kind of cruise usually head along the south coast and towards Rhenia for swimming. To walk around the ruins you need a separate Delos boat and a site ticket.
What happens if the weather is bad?+
Mykonos can be very windy. The skipper may change the route or the bay, and a trip that cannot sail is normally rescheduled or refunded, so read the cancellation terms when you book.
What should I bring?+
Bring a swimsuit, a towel, sun cream, a hat, sunglasses and easy shoes, plus a waterproof pouch for your phone. Take seasickness tablets if you are prone to it.
