Rineia

Rineia — also spelled Rhenia — is the large uninhabited island directly west of Delos in the Cyclades, about 14 square kilometres. Low, rocky, with a jagged coastline, small sandy coves and ancient stone walls, it is separated from Delos by a channel only a few hundred metres wide.

In antiquity it was the necropolis of Delos. When Delos was purified in 426 BC, all graves were moved to Rineia, and no births or deaths were allowed on sacred Delos itself. Today it is uninhabited except for a few shepherds and goats, protected as an archaeological zone, with remains of ancient tombs, farmsteads and Hellenistic buildings, and is visited only by boat for swimming at beaches like Glyfada and Stena.

The big Delos — twin island west of Delos and Mykonos

Rineia or Rhenea Greek Ρήνεια, also known as Megali Delos Big Delos, Megali Dhilos, Nisi Rineia, is a Greek island in the Cyclades. It lies just west of island of Delos and further southwest of island of Mykonos, of which it and Delos are administratively a part, municipality of Mykonos, latitude 37.4090 longitude 25.2290 off Delos. Description island off Delos Greece highlights Delos and Cynthus nearby.

Its area is 14 km2 or 5 sq mi, area only 14 km2 and length coastline 43 km, more than 2 times larger than neighbour Delos which is only 3.43 km2 area yet remained in shadow. It had small population until 1980s but currently uninhabited. Today lands used as pastures, consists of two islets connected by narrow isthmus about 60m wide and does not have significant elevations. A strip of just 1km width separates Rineia from Delos, between them two small rocky islets Mikros Rematiaris in north and Megalos Rematiaris southerner with relics Hellenistic sanctuary and three-aisled early-Christian basilica. In ancient times island subdued by tyrant Polycrates of Samos and dedicated to Delian Apollo, southern half was necropolis of Delos.

FYI — why it matters, who it’s for, and what people get wrong

This is for you if you want secret paradise near Mykonos — many bays, coves and isolated sandy beaches which can be enjoyed by those who own private yacht, luxurious cruise sailing blue waters. Elders still call it Megali Delos while along with Delos they call them Deles plural. It is not for hotels or nightlife — uninhabited, pastures only, goats. People think Delos is big — actually Rineia is big Delos, two times size of Delos, but Delos gets fame for archaeology. Rineia has always been in shadow of Delos. No ferries dock — only private boat stops en route from Mykonos to Delos.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rineia | Greek island Cyclades lies just west island Delos further southwest island Mykonos which it and Delos administratively part area 14 km2 5 sq mi small population until 1980s currently uninhabited
https://www.aegeanislands.gr/the-islands-of-aegean/general-information/1091-rhenia-island.html | many bays coves isolated sandy beaches enjoyed those own private yacht strip just 1km width separates Rineia from Delos between two small rocky islets Mikros Rematiaris north Megalos Rematiaris southerner relics Hellenistic sanctuary three-aisled early-Christian basilica elders still call Megali Delos while along with Delos call them Deles plural
https://brilliant-tourism.com/greece/1157-rineia-island.html | Today uninhabited lands used pastures consists two islets connected narrow isthmus about 60m wide does not have significant elevations area only 14 km2 length coastline 43 km despite fact more than 2 times larger neighbour island Delos area Rineia always remained shadow often called Big Delos
https://latitude.to/articles/287873/rineia | island Cyclades lies just west island Delos further southwest Mykonos administratively part area 14 km2 small population until 1980s currently uninhabited In ancient times subdued tyrant Polycrates Samos dedicated Delian Apollo southern half necropolis Delos

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Last Updated on September 1, 2026 by admin