Temple of Isis
Temple of Isis
4.5
About
The ruins of an ancient Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Isis.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles46 reviews
Excellent
22
Very good
23
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0

Mairwen1
United Kingdom9,565 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Couples
This is one of the best preserved sights on Delos. It’s worth the climb up the slope of Mt Kynthos to see it.
The temple is only part of the way up so it’s a relatively easy climb.
What you see here is a small Doric temple from the 2nd century BC. It has an intact marble façade, with large fluted columns and the pediment still in place.
What’s left of a large, headless statue of Isis stands at the back wall of the temple. Isis had a variety of roles, mostly she was known as a wife and mother but she was also associated with magical healing.
Interestingly, Isis was an Egyptian goddess and we were curious about what she was doing on this tiny Greek island. Later we learnt that the cult of Isis had become popular after Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 332 BC. Her popularity continued to spread widely throughout the Mediterranean world and she would later come to be worshipped throughout ancient world (for example, one of the best preserved temples of Isis is preserved at Pompeii).
Out the front of the temple are the remains of an altar. It’s not very distinctive and looks like a rough pile of stones. I almost accidentally overlooked it. Little is known about what rites and rituals were performed here. In Greece, Isis became one of the ‘mystery’ goddesses surrounded by a secretive sect, with confidential ceremonies and practices. The little that is known involves a ceremony where worshippers wore colourful clothing, shaved their heads and carried a sistrum (a kind of large rattle). It sounds like it could have been fun but what else took place is anyone’s guess.
We continued on up Mt Kynthos afterwards but even if you don’t go any further than the temple, you’ll still have a good view back down over the port and the archaeological site below from the temple.
DELOS NOTES:
Allow at least a couple of hours to explore Delos but it is worth noting that there is no shade and few facilities. Bring plenty of water and your own snacks if you want them. Toilets are by the entrance. The museum is closed until 2024 (maybe longer).
If you’re not doing a tour, I’d strongly recommend getting your hands on a good guide-book or downloading a self-guided tour beforehand. Free maps are available at the entrance but they only had Greek ones when we were there.
Written August 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia17,760 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021
The Temple of Isis is set further inland on a light elevation compared to Mt. Kynthos.
It is at the foot of Kynthos so it's logical to visit it after climbing it on your way back.
This is a Doric Temple, very picturesque, built in 2 c BC and one of the best preserved with a statue of the god Isis inside.
Written November 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul F
South Carolina146 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2012 • Friends
The Temple of Isis is a Doric Temple which is built on a small hill above the Delos museum. It is a steady 10 minute walk up the hill on an uneven trail with loose rocks. The temple is very picturesque and leads to many of the other sites on Delos. It was built in the second century BC and contains a statue of the god ISIS.

If you have any interest at all in the ancient history of Greece and the Med, Delos is the place to see. A sacred island where everyone from the Delian league came to meet. It's about a 30-40 minute boat ride from Mykonos.

We signed up for a tour thru our hotel and I would suggest that you sign up for a tour so a guide can help you get the lay of the land when you get to Delos and to more easily help you understand what you are seeing. Then after the tour they turn you loose and let you wander and look as much as you want. The site covers 100's of acres.

WARNING -this is no air conditioned museum. It is a rugged and rocky archaeological site. There is a restroom and that is all. No gift shops and no concessions. Walking can be difficult and steep. Take water to drink, wear a hat for the sun, and wear the heaviest walking shoes that you have.
Written June 7, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Christopher P
Santa Rosa Beach, FL270 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2016 • Family
This doesn't take but a moment to see, but just seeing an Egyptian temple in the middle of Greek ruins is worth it. Be warned, this is not an easy journey to get to. It's an uphill walk over some fairly rough terrain but if you can handle that, don't miss the temple.
Written October 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jmichel01
Myrtle Beach, SC445 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
On our recent tour, we had a very good tour guide, but frankly she talked too much on about minor things so we set off on our own. Up by the theater, there are paths and then steps to the top of a small mountain that you can go to on your own. The view is amazing. On that hill is the Temple of ISIS. You won't have time if you stick with your tour guide. You might miss some of the historical information, but the view is worth it. It can be a little challenging but those who made it really enjoyed it. We didn't try it, but there may be a back path down to where you can get to the lions and the Museum after climbing to the top
Written November 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Normand G
74 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Delos is a well preserved island with no habitants . All monuments date back in B.C . You must Mount Kynthos the view is spectacular well worth it you need at least 2 -3 hours to really cover the trip
Written November 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

phat_dawg_21
Alpharetta, GA13,464 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021
We made the loop up the hill after our tour of the park. It is an easy walk, with several points of interest and nice views.
Written November 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David Spiel
NYC190 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2018 • Family
While your kids are dancing at or on the bar in Mykonos, do visit Delos. It's a 30 minute boat ride and well worth it. Delos was the center of The Delian League, which made Delos what it was and is. Look it up! The Temple of Isis is a must see. It is, for the most port, the furthest site from the port and where people generally turn around. Do yourself a favor and walk ten feet further and you will see a unique Greek statue; a headless torso with her arms crossed. I have never seen that in Greek statuary. See the picture.

To see what there is to see here, and all around Greece (many with closed caption explanations), please visit my YouTube channel: Art and Travel by Dave. To determine if this site is for you, see David Does Delos.
Written May 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Charlotte
Kolding, Denmark393 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2018 • Couples
This is the most complete ruin on Delos so you get a good idea of how it looked. It sits on a mountain side overlooking the Island village. There is a great atmosphere here.
Written April 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cyase
Orangeburg, NY592 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2014 • Couples
As you depart the boat and pass by the ticket gate you enter Delos in the main square. To the right would have been the residential part and to the left the commercial. Delos was an important port town and had a lot of commerce which many people from around the world traveled to. Now since this place was visited by many people from the world this island had the freedom of religious worship. Up the hill, behind all the residential houses you would find this temple along with other ruins of various religions.

This is what I learned from my tour guide. There would have been many things missed if my wife and I decided to do a self tour. There are not many signs explaining what the ruins are.

It is worth the 10 minute hike from the museum to see this temple. The sculpture inside this temple is a replica (as told by my tour guide). From the vantage point of temple you could imagine the buzz this once great city had.

It is cheaper to book your own boat ticket and pay your own entrance fee and find a guide on the island. A prebooked tour would cost 40 Euro while finding your own guide cost us 33 Euro.

This is also the largest UNESCO site in Europe.
Written October 21, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 24
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Temple of Isis - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)