athens delphi tour photos

Delphi Tour from Athens: The Best 5 Tours for 2024

Taking a Delphi Tour from Athens is a must-do experience on any trip to Greece. Delphi is one of the most historically significant sites of Ancient Greece, and is full of mythology and fascinating history. The archeological site is incredible, and easily one of the best preserved sites in Greece.

Located off the slopes of the views from Delphi are breathtaking. It is the perfect place to escape the crowds of Athens and breathe in some fresh mountain air. Delphi town and the surrounding charming villages such as Arachova add to the appeal of visiting taking a Delphi Tour from Athens.

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Top 3 Picks: Delphi Tour from Athens

Below, you will find information on the 5 best tours to Delphi from Athens.No time to read this entire post? No Problem! Here are the best 3 Delphi Tours from Athens.

#1 TOP PICK

Delphi English Day Trip from Athens ✔️ Explore the Delphi Archeological Site and Museum ✔️ Includes Entrance Tickets ✔️ Expert Guide

Delphi & Arachova Premium Historical Tour ✔️ Historical Tour ✔️ Delphi Archeological Site and Museum ✔️ Expert Guide

Delphi Archaeological Site Full-Day Guided Trip ✔️ Highly Rated Tour ✔️ Delphi Archeological Site and Museum ✔️1.5 Hours in Arachova

Best 5 Tours for a Delphi Tour from Athens

There are so many different options when it comes to choosing a Delphi Tour from Athens. Below, I’ve reviewed the best options for the perfect day trip tour to Delphi from Athens.

Delphi English Day Trip from Athens

⌚ Tour Time: Full Day | ⭐ Reviews: 4.9/5 Stars | ✅ Book Here

☑️ Check Availability for the Delphi English Day Trip from Athens

What is included in the Delphi English Day Trip from Athens Tour ? ✔️Round-trip Transportation with Hotel Pick-up ✔️Comfortable Transport with Air-conditioning and Wifi ✔️Entrance tickets to the Delphi Archeological Site and Museum ✔️Expert, professional guide ✔️Stops at the Picturesque Towns of Arachova and Levadia

Why Take the Delphi English Day Trip from Athens ?

Explore one of Greece’s most significant historical sites on this incredible day trip from Athens.

Start your day by being picked up directly from your hotel, and venturing through the stunning mountains to Delphi, a mystical archeological site that was once home to the Oracle of Delphi.

Explore the UNESCO world heritage site of Delphi with your expert guide and learn more about what made Delphi the center of the Greek world .

Then visit the Delphi museum to admire the ancient artifacts found at this historic site, including the famous Charioteer of Delphi and Sphinx of Naxos.

After lunch in the town of Delphi, head back to Athens and make a short stop at the small villages of Arachova and Levadia . Located in the mountains, these villages are charming and offer stunning views.

This is the perfect option for anyone looking to experience the best Delphi tour from Athens. Delphi is an enchanting place in Greece , and is definitely a bucket-list destination. The views are incredible and the history here is fascinating.

This tour has 1,000+ positive reviews because it is an excellent way to experience Delphi.

🏛️ Click Here to Book your Delphi English Day Trip from Athens

Reviews of Delphi English Day Trip from Athens “This was a great tour. The ride from Athens to Delphi is very scenic through the mountains.” – Alex “Great tour with a very knowledgeable guide. Saw some amazing sites.” – John Read more reviews here

Delphi & Arachova Premium Historical Tour with Expert Tour Guide

⌚ Tour Time: Full Day | ⭐ Reviews: 5/5 Stars | ✅ Book Here

☑️ Check Availability of the Delphi & Arachova Premium Historical Tour with Expert Tour Guide

What is included in the Delphi & Arachova Premium Historical Tour with Expert Tour Guide ? ✔️Round-trip Transportation with Air-Conditioning ✔️Delphi Archeological Site and Delphi Museum ✔️Premium Historical Tour ✔️Small-Group Tour with Expert Guide ✔️Stop at the Beautiful Village of Arachova

Why Take the Delphi & Arachova Premium Historical Tour with Expert Tour Guide?

Perfect for history buffs this tour is the best way to learn more in-depth knowledge about Delphi, which is one of Greece’s most important historical sites.

Explore the fascinating archeological site as your guide tells you the intriguing stories of Delphi’s past.

On the guided tour, you’ll visit the important sites such as the Temple of Apollo . This mystical temple was once home to the Greek prophetess the Pythia, also known as the Oracle of Delphi .

Ancient Greeks would travel far and wide to hear the prophesies that were uttered by the Oracle under divine possession. In fact, the Oracle of Delphi was thought to be one of the most powerful woman in ancient Greece.

Venture around to the other major sites at the Delphi archeological site, including the treasuries of the city-states such as Athens and Sparta . The tour will also take you through the Delphi Museum, which house all of the significant artifacts from ancient Delphi.

Lastly, the tour will take a lunch stop in the beautiful village of Arachova before heading back to Athens.

🏛️ C lick Here to Book your Delphi & Arachova Premium Historical Tour

Reviews of the Delphi & Arachova Premium Historical Tour “Very interesting tour, knowledgeable and pleasant guide. Learned a lot and enjoyed the excursion tremendously” – Nielsen “Excellent. Delphi is a must-see!” – Effie Read more reviews here

Delphi Archaeological Site Full-Day Guided Trip

⌚ Tour Time: Full Day | ⭐ Reviews: 4.8/5 Stars | ✅ Book Here

☑️ Check Availability of Delphi Archaeological Site Full-Day Guided Trip

What is Included in the Delphi Archaeological Site Full-Day Guided Trip ? ✔️Roundtrip Transportation with Wifi ✔️Expert Guide ✔️Visit Delphi Archeological Site and Museum ✔️1.5 Hours in the Village of Arachova

Why take the Delphi Archaeological Site Full-Day Guided Trip ?

Venture to the magnificent site of Delphi on this full day guided tour with roundtrip transportation from Athens.

Take a guided tour around the archeological site and museum with a provided headset to ensure you can hear every detail from your expert guide .

This guided tour is perfect for those that want to spend more time in the charming village of Arachova , which sits on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. Enjoy 1.5 hours of free time here, which is more time than other tours.

Have a coffee or lunch, or wander the picturesque streets as you take in the stunning views of Arachova.

This tour is perfect for anyone looking to see Delphi, but also want to explore a some of the incredible views and spend time at one of mainland Greece’s prettiest villages.

🏛️ Click Here to Book Delphi Archaeological Site Full-Day Guided Trip

Reviews of Delphi Archaeological Site Full-Day Guided Trip “The Delphi trip was fascinating. The guide was full of information and the scenery was breathtaking.” – Lora Read more reviews here

Delphi One Day Trip from Athens with Pickup and Optional Lunch

⌚ Tour Time: Full Day | ⭐ Reviews: 4.5/5 Stars | ✅ Book Here

☑️ Check Availability for Delphi One Day Trip from Athens with Pickup and Optional Lunch

What’s Included in the Delphi One Day Trip from Athens with Pickup and Optional Lunch Tour ? ✔️Round-Trip Transportation ✔️Delphi Archeological Site and Museum ✔️Option of a Self-guided Tour with Transfer or a Fully Guided Tour ✔️2 hours of Free Time in Delphi Town with Optional Lunch

Why Take the Delphi One Day Trip from Athens with Pickup and Optional Lunch Tour ?

This Delphi tour from Athens is very customizable . You have the option to just purchase a round-trip transfer and then explore Delphi Archeological Site and Museum at your own pace, or to take the fully guided tour.

After spending time at the fascinating site of Delphi, enjoy 2 hours of free-time in Delphi town .

Many tours do not stop long in Delphi town, but this charming small town has shops, restaurants, and cafes with stunning views and is worth visiting.

While wandering the town of Delphi, check out the Telescope Café. They have an awesome telescope that you can use for incredible views, and the owners are so friendly!

Another option on this tour is to add a 3-course meal at a Greek restaurant for lunch in Delphi.

🏛️ Click Here to Book Delphi One Day Trip from Athens with Pickup and Optional Lunch Tour

Reviews of the One Day Trip from Athens with Pickup “This was an amazing day tour from Athens.” – Joshua “Delphi is a really beautiful and full of history and this trip showed us the best!” – Alice Read more reviews here

Delphi Full Day Private Tour from Athens

⌚ Tour Time: 8 hours | ⭐ Reviews: 5/5 Stars | ✅ Book Here

☑️ Check Availability for Delphi Full Day Private Tour from Athens

What’s Included in the Delphi Full Day Private Tour ? ✔️Private Transportation ✔️Luxury Vehicle with Air-conditioning and Wifi ✔️Delphi Archeological Site and Museum ✔️Greek Lunch Included

Why Take the Delphi full day private tour from Athens ?

The perfect option for anyone who wants to avoid being on a group tour, but prefers not to drive the winding mountain roads to Delphi is this full day private tour.

Relax in a comfortable, air-conditioned private vehicle as your driver picks you up directly from your hotel in Athens and takes you to the enchanting site of Delphi .

Along the way, your driver can provide you with more information about Delphi or you can take the time to relax and utilize the available Wifi.

In Delphi, you will have time to explore the ancient archeological site and museum. Wander the same steps that the ancient Greeks did as you take in the stunning mountain views .

This tour is highly rated, and is a perfect private tour option for a Delphi tour from Athens.

🏛️ Click Here to Book your Delphi full day private tour from Athens

Read Reviews of the Delphi Full Day Private Tour from Athens “The ruins and museum were some of the best we’ve seen in Greece. Lunch was superb!” -Eddie “This was an excellent way to visit Delphi with limited time.” -Orlando Read more reviews here

FAQ: Delphi Tour From Athens

Is delphi worth visiting.

Absolutely! Delphi is worth visiting. The archeological site of Delphi is one of the best preserved sites in Greece, and it is a fantastic place to visit to explore ancient Greece. Delphi is also one of the most historically significant sites from ancient Greece. Anyone with an interest in ancient history, mythology, or Greek culture will definitely want to visit Delphi. Best of all, visiting Delphi is easy and hassle free by taking a Delphi tour from Athens.

Is One Day Enough for Delphi?

Yes, one day is plenty of time to see the highlights of Delphi. The Delphi Archeological Site and Delphi Museum can be visited within a few hours, or a half day at most. The villages of Delphi town and Arachova are also worth a visit as they are charming and have stunning views over the mountains.

Conclusion: Best Delphi Tour from Athens

Taking a Delphi Tour from Athens is one of the best ways to see the famous Archeological Site of Delphi, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taking a tour allows you to not have to worry about driving through mountain roads, and instead just relax as you take in all the intriguing stories and history of ancient Greece.

Taking an Athens to Delphi tour is also perfect for those who are short on time, but still want to experience one of Greece’s most important sites.

Looking to visit more than just Delphi? Check out this post on the best Meteora and Delphi Tours .

Amber is the owner and author of Get Lost in Wanderlust, a blog that helps travelers plan incredible trips across Europe from bucket list cities to charming hidden gems. She has a Bachelor's Degree in History and Psychology, and enjoys learning more about the culture and historical significance of each place she visits. When she isn't exploring Europe, she loves reading, writing, and planning her next adventure.

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Delphi: A Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Beyond delphi: from ancient ruins to mysterious neighbourhoods, zeus’ eagles to apollo the dolphin: myths of delphi, unveiling the mysteries of delphi with a guided tour.

Venture to the sacred site of the Oracle of Delphi, the archaeological site on everyone's bucket list

BY TRAVEL TEAM

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Experience the magic of the Oracle of Delphi, an archaeological gem that still captivates visitors to this day. Discover the site’s significance to ancient Greeks and their beliefs in communicating with the gods through guided tours, usually, departing from Athens. With knowledgeable guides leading the way, visitors can delve into the mythology and history of Delphi, unlocking the secrets of this remarkable destination. Don’t miss out on the chance to step back in time and witness the awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur of this iconic site

From Athens: Delphi private day tour

Personality Journeys : Immerse yourself in 3,000 years of history, culture, and tradition with a local expert archaeologist guide. Explore the awe-inspiring Delphi archaeological site and the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, one of the most significant museums in Greece. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is situated on the sacred slopes of Mount Parnassus, overlooking the Pleastos Valley. The Sanctuary of Apollo, where people once consulted the Oracle of Delphi for wisdom, is a fascinating site with the ruined Temple of Athena, the ancient Theatre, the Treasury, Castalian Spring, and the stadium where the Pythian Games were held. The private tour concludes in the timeless village of Arachova, with a stroll through cobbled streets to admire the Byzantine architecture and breathtaking mountain views. The laid-back tour includes lunch at an authentic taverna, with traditional Greek cuisine. Prices start at €300 for 2 persons.

Phone: +30 215 215 1629 Website: www.personalityjourneys.com/trip/delphi-private-day-tour

Delphi & Arachova Premium Historical Tour with Expert Tour Guide on Site

tag ATHENS: Delphi archaeological site and museum is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is considered one of Greece’s most significant archaeological treasures. Visitors can marvel at the ancient Temple of Apollo, known as the “Navel of the World,” and explore the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia. In addition, take a leisurely stroll through the charming alleys of the traditional village of Arachova. You’ll also get the opportunity to indulge in a delectable lunch, all while enjoying the stunning view of Mount Parnassus. The tour price starts at €75.30 per adult, making it an affordable and unforgettable experience.

Phone: +30 216 900 3321, Website: www.tagathens.com

Kastraki/Photo: Shutterstock

Kalambaka/ Photo: Shutterstock

2 day private tour of delphi, meteora & thermopylae from athens & corinthia – overnight at kalambaka or kastraki.

AGT: The Hanging Monasteries of Meteora are a must-see attraction in Greece, but they are quite a distance from Athens – about a 360-mile (580-kilometer) drive. This private tour is designed for your comfort and ease, with a personal driver/guide who will navigate the winding mountain roads while you sit back and enjoy the scenery. The tour also includes a visit to Delphi, an ancient temple devoted to prophesy, and provides amenities like onboard Wi-Fi and bottled water. Pickup and drop-off are included, but admission fees and accommodations are not. The tour price starts at €527.12 per adult, and varies depending on group size.

Phone: +30 6976 854 354, Website: www.athensgreecetransfer.com

Meteora/ Photo: Unsplash

Agios Stefanos monastery /Photo: Shutterstock

2-day trip to delphi and meteora from athens.

Chat Tours: Visiting both ancient Delphi and Meteora from Athens can take more than three days by rental car. This two-day tour is perfect for those with limited time in Athens, as it allows you to visit both UNESCO-listed treasures with ease. Travel comfortably by air-conditioned coach and benefit from guided commentary at each site. Enjoy two meals and an overnight stay in a 3- or 4-star hotel. The tour price starts at €197.53 per adult, and it varies depending on the size of your group.

Phone: +30 210 3230827, +30 210 3222886, +30 210 6072158, Website: www.chat-tours.com

Delphi, The Temple of Apollo / Photo: Shutterstock

Ancient Theatre, Delphi/Photo: Shutterstock

Awakening delphi private tour.

AGT: Unleash your inner historian with an unforgettable day trip from Athens to Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the revered ‘Navel of the World.’ Experience the mystique of this sacred site where great kings, emperors, and common people journeyed from across the Mediterranean to consult the Oracle of Apollo. Transport yourself back in time and embrace the ancient rituals that led to self-discovery. After satisfying your hunger with a delightful lunch in Delphi, the day is yours to explore the surrounding area. Choose between visiting and admiring the Hosios Loukas Holy Monastery, another UNESCO site, or exploring the charming traditional village of Arachova. Discover Greece’s rich history and cultural heritage in just one day. Tour prices start from €870 and include transportation, lunch, and entrance fees to select sites.

Phone: +30 698 566 8136, Website: www.greektraveltellers.com

The Lion Gate, Mycenae/Photo: Shutterstock

Ancient Olympia/Photo: Shutterstock

4-day classical greece tour: epidaurus, mycenae, olympia, delphi, meteora.

Chat Tours: Experience the best of Greece’s historical highlights with this comprehensive four-day tour from Athens. Covering a vast area, this tour groups together five of Greece’s most significant sites, including Olympia, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Delphi, and Meteora, allowing you to explore the country’s history and culture in one seamless trip. Immerse yourself in the fascinating ruins of ancient Greece with guided tours at each site, delving deeper into the country’s rich history than you might independently. Accommodation, most meals, and air-conditioned coach transportation provide a comfortable experience throughout the tour. Explore the diverse cultural heritage of Greece, from the birthplace of the Olympics to the monasteries perched atop rocky cliffs. The tour price starts at $567.50 per adult, with the price varying according to the size of your group.

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Delphi One Day Trip from Athens

• Skip the long lines and save time
• Guided tour of the Temple of Apollo and the world famous Oracle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Marvel at the Athenian Treasure, the Athenian Stoa and other important monuments
• Explore Delphi Museum and see the Charioteer of Delphi
• Our Delphi trip is awarded with TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2019 
• Enjoy an enviromentally mindful experience with a carbon neutral tour

Activity info

Enjoy our awarded with TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2019 tour and depart from our terminal for a carbon-neutral one day trip from Athens to explore the UNESCO-listed Archaeological Site of Delphi with an expert guide and learn how the city was considered the ‘Center of the World’ in ancient Greece and today one of the most famous archaeological sites of Greece.  Along the way, you will see the plain of Beotia, an agricultural center  and you will also pass by the city of Theva, the birthplace of King Oedipus. Immerse yourself in the myths and monuments of classical Greece on this full-day tour of Delphi from Athens. 

After meeting your guide in Athens, hear tales about the ancient Greeks and their lives in Delphi while traveling to the town by air-conditioned coach. You will reach Delphi  towards Mt. Parnassos, making a short rest stop outside the town of Levadia.

First stop is a tour of the Delphi archaeological site – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and easily one of the most important digs in Europe.  Avoid and skip the lines of the archaeological site and walk around the evocative ruins with your guide, see famous monuments like the monument of the Argive Kings, the treasury of the Athenians, the Athenian Stoa, the Polygonal Wall, the monument of Platea and  the Temple of Apollo famous for its oracle.

Second stop is  Delphi museum , with it's spectacular exhibits include the frieze of the Treasury of the Sifnians, the Athena Pronaia Sanctuary, the Naxian Sphinx, the Statue of Antinoos the metopes of the Athenian treasury, the famous bronze Charioteer, originally created to commemorate a victory during the 476 B.C. Pythian Games, and many other artifacts. Be sure to check out the bronze Charioteer of Delphi and the Sphinx of Naxos. 

Return to Athens passing by the picturesque mountain village of Arachova , built on the south slopes of Parnassus, well known for its attractive hand-woven carpets, rugs and quilts, as well as for its wine and cheese (short photo stop).

What’s included

• Guided tour in the Archaeological site of Delphi and the Museum of Delphi
• Services of a Professional -  licensed guide
• Transport by luxury A/C bus
• Hotel pick up and drop off service
• Entrance fees (if option selected)
• Lunch (if option selected)
• Free WiFi on coaches
• Gratuities (optional)
• Drinks and beverages

Entrance fees: If you have chosen the option without the entrance tickets, please note that you will need to purchase the tickets before the date of the activity. The timeslot selected for your Delphi Museum visit should be at 13:00-14:00 pm.

Please note that the tour does not include a stop in the Athena Pronaia archaeological site, however if you wish you may visit it during your free time.

The Official starting time for our tour is Key Tours offices at 08:30 am.

Cancellation Policy

Traveller tips.

Bring water and wear comfortable walking shoes that you don’t mind getting dusty as by the end of the day I had walked approximately 10 kilometers (~6 miles)

If you are visiting Delphi during summertime, bring a hat and sunscreen, the Greek sun can be scortching hot.

During your free time, make sure to grab pictures of the breathtaking view of the mountains surrounding the archaeological site.

1455 Reviews

Sophie Switajewski

Get your guide costumer, how far is delphi from athens and how long does the journey take.

The driving distance between Athens to Delphi is 182 km . It takes approximately 2h 30m to drive from Athens to Delphi.

What is the best time to visit the archaeological site of Delphi?

Perhaps the best time to visit Delphi is in the springtime, when temperatures are mild and you can enjoy the area without a large number of tourists about.

Is it possible to request a vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free menu?

Upon request, our menu can include vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options. Consideration is also made for religious diets such as Kosher or halal.

Is the tour adapted for people in wheelchairs?

Unfortunately sections of the archaeological site of Delphi are not wheelchair accessible as the site is placed on a hillside with a steep rocky path with uneven stone steps. However the archaeological museum of Delphi is wheelchair accessible.

What is the policy regarding photographs and videos at the Delphi Archaeological Museum?

Photography is not allowed within the premises of the museum per the policy and regulations of the Greek State. Photography and videos are however allowed in the archaeological site.

Home » Europe » Greece » A Delphi Day Trip from Athens is Like Traveling Back in Time

A Delphi Day Trip from Athens is Like Traveling Back in Time

By Author Lance Longwell

Posted on Last updated: October 4, 2022

No student can get through school without learning about ancient Greece and the famous Oracle of Delphi at The Temple of Apollo. The Oracle is central figure in Greek Mythology and in the history of Greece. Above all else, one of our priorities on our vacation in Greece was the Delphi day trip from Athens.

We weren’t alone in this. Evidently, day trips from Athens to Delphi are the #1 excursion from the Greek capital and The Temple of Apollo is one of the most famous sites in the country. Judging by the number of tour buses we passed on the highway, that assessment was accurate.

But for Laura, who spent six years studying Western Civilizations in school, this was a priority. If you are visiting Greece, how could not visit here?

So on a sunny day, we grabbed a rental car in Athens and headed north in search of Delphi, Greece – arguably the most famous site in the ancient world. Here’s everything we learned about Delphi day trips.

But first…

A Refresher on The Oracle of Delphi

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Stepping back into Ancient Civilizations for a moment, how can you not remember the famous Delphi Oracle?

From the 7th century BC to the 3-4th century AD, the Oracle was the most famous person in the world…and perhaps the most powerful. The high priestess at Delphi (and it was always a woman) was known as the The Pythia and she oversaw the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. But more importantly, she was believed to speak for the Greek god of Apollo on Earth. That’s a lot of power.

For centuries, no major decision anywhere in Ancient Greece was undertaken without consulting The Pythia. People would travel across the known worlds to visit Apollo’s Oracle and receive “divine” guidance.

The Pythia or Oracle at Delphi served up common-sense advice in a simpler time. She offered advice to leaders, settled disputes, and provided practical guidance. In later times, it was rumored she had visions and predictions of the future, although where those legends started, nobody really knows since it is not supported in the writings of the ancient Greeks.

When you visit, you are visiting the Delphi ruins. They are very well preserved, but this is still an ancient site and these are still ancient ruins. On our visit to here, we overhead some tourists grumbling that there wasn’t a recreation or a new Oracle to consult. If you’re looking for a theme park type experience, you might be disappointed.

That said, visiting Delphi is traveling back in time to see the place that was once the center of the known world (and certainly the center of knowledge). Today, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for it’s outstanding cultural contributions. And being located high in the mountains, it is also really beautiful.

On your Athens to Delphi day trip, there are several important sites you’ll want to visit:

The main Delphi archaeological site is located on the main road between the towns of Delphi and Arachova, Greece. We’d wondered if it would be difficult to find. It wasn’t. Just look for all of the cars parked along the roadway.

The Sacred Way

Visiting the archaeological site at Delphi is pretty simple: follow the Sacred Way path as it winds its way up the mountain and to the right. The lower parts of the Sacred Way are lined with trees, which provide shade in the Greek sun, however the upper parts of the path are fully exposed. Before starting the climb, be sure to consult the map just inside the park entrance to get your bearings.

Athenian Treasury

As visitors climb the Sacred Way they pass a number of lesser excavations, including a number of treasuries. These buildings were constructed to house dedications and offerings from dignitaries that came from a specific city-state within Greece. The two most important were the Athenian Treasury and the Siphnian Treasury.

While the Treasury of the Siphnians no longer exists, the Treasury of the Athenians does, having been restored from 1903-1906, and again in 2004. (Note: The signs at the site say “The Stoa of the Athenians,” instead of Treasury, which kind of confused us.)

The reality (as we learned much later) is that the treasuries of Siphnians, Athenians and the Cnidians were collectively scavenged to recreate a single treasury: The Athenian Treasury. Statues, reliefs (called friezes), and other historical artifacts from the others can be found in the Archaeological Museum (see below).

Serpent Column or Serpentine Column

Just before reaching the Temple of Apollo, there’s a black twisted column with the top broken off. This is the Serpent Column. With so many other things to see, this is easy to overlook. It was built to commemorate the defeat of the Persians at the hands of the Greeks in the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC – a battle which was believed to have been influenced by Delphi’s Oracle.

The top of the column is missing. Emperor Constantine had the tri-head serpent removed and relocated to Istanbul in 324 AD as a trophy. And yes, this is a recreation – Constantine took the original.

The Temple of Apollo at Delphi

This is it. This is what you came for.

And yet, upon reaching it, Apollo’s Temple of Delphi is a bit underwhelming. Against the gray cliffs of Mt. Parnassus, the Temple of Apollo at Delphi consists of just six limestone columns atop the ruins of a granite foundation. Long grasses have long ago taken to filling in the voids of the granite blocks. It was from this Temple at Delphi that the Pythian priestess would speak for Apollo and communicate the god’s insights.

My rather limited experience with ancient history left me with a lot of questions. Laura patiently answered all of them. First on my list, “Was this the oracle?” The limited signage (and the sometimes awkward English composition) had me kind of confused. I wasn’t alone in that – a group of Spanish tourists were thoroughly baffled (signs throughout the Sanctuary of Delphi are only in Greek, English and French…and sometimes poorly translated).

But yes, these are the ruins you came to see. We’ve seen more impressive Greek ruins in our travels, but none are more important than this.

The Amphitheater

After seeing the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, many visitors head straight back to the entrance and the museum. However, there are still two other sites to be seen here.

Just above the Delphi temple site is a theater dating from the 4th century BC. The theater was able to accommodate over 2,000 people and hosted performances for visitors. You can’t deny that the view is absolutely spectacular!

The Stadium

Above the theater, the trail winds back and forth up the side of the mountain. High above the main site is the stadium.

A little longer than the length of a soccer field (aka, football pitch) is the Delphi stadium. Here, every four years, the Pythian Games were held to honor Apollo. These games were the precursors to the ancient Olympic Games.

If you choose to hike up to the stadium, you can be assured that you’ll have the site to yourself. Most of the tour buses don’t allow enough time for visitors to make it this far and many turn back because of the heat and steep hike.

We’re not museum people. We love history and information and all that. But we just don’t like museums. But the Delphi museum is excellent!

The museum positions the archaeological site in the proper historical context. It follows Greek history from the late Helladic/early Mycenaean period through Classical Greece and Hellenistic Greece, ending at the Roman conquest and the rise of the Byzantine Empire. Despite the broad period of time covered by the museum, it doesn’t bore or disappoint.

The modern building at the base of the mountain holds the artifacts that were removed from the site. Statues and friezes are the most prevalent artifacts in the museum. The friezes were interesting and are essentially high reliefs around the exterior of buildings.

Truly the statues are inspiring. Some of our favorites were the twin Cleobis and Biton statues, standing regally side-by-side. For many visitors, the towering Sphinx of Naxos is the highlight.

However, the most important piece in the museum is The Charioteer. This priceless original bronze statue is one of the greatest original treasures from ancient Greece. This statue is believed to have originally stood in a place of honor beside the Temple of Apollo and was erected to honor someone’s victory in Delphi’s Pythian Games. The details on the statue are remarkable!

After visiting the archaeological site of ancient Delphi, stop at the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia. This is located less than a kilometer from the main site back in the direction of Athens (it is first parking turnout away from the actual Delphi site).

We recommend visiting here AFTER seeing the main site in Delphi for two reasons. First, in the mornings, the site is terribly backlit and makes for bad photos (the sun will be directly behind the Tholos). Second, the tour buses all stop here first thing in the morning meaning it can be very crowded.

However, in the ancient times, this was first stop for many as they climbed Mount Parnassus. This is why most group tours stop here in the mornings – they want you to experience the site in the way the Ancient Greek’s did.

To be sure, the extremely photogenic round temple of Tholos is a thing of beauty. Originally constructed around 360 BC, it was built to some now-unknown goddess. The site itself is special – a shrine of some sorts has stood on this exact spot since the very earliest days of the Mycenaean civilization.

The ruins of the ancient Delphi Gymnasium run parallel to the road (just downhill) and are between the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia and the main archaeological site. Here athletes trained for the Pythian Games and you can still explore. Unfortunately for us, this site was closed for excavations during our visit.

A final note: Most visitors blow through this area pretty quickly. About 100 meters to the east of the Athena Pronaia is a road that turns to the south (downhill). If you follow that road for about 1 kilometer, you’ll come on some ancient Roman ruins on the right side. Specifically, an ancient Roman sarcophagi site. It’s not overly impressive, but it is old and is something most visitors overlook.

Getting to Delphi is part of the fun. Where is Delphi? It is located about 75 miles (as the crow flies) north and west of Athens on the south side of Mount Parnassus in southern Greece. Unfortunately, due to mountains, it is a distance of about 110 miles driving.

Visitors wishing to come to here really have four main options to get there:

The simplest, fastest, and best way to do your Delphi day trip is by car. There are a number of auto rental agencies in Athens . Although that means driving in Athens, which isn’t pleasant. We recommend taking the train to the airport and renting from there. This way you have all highway driving through the greater Athens metro area. Be sure to check prices on Athens rental cars here .

The distance from Athens to Delphi is about 110 miles and should take you about 2 to 2.5 hours. Much of the drive will be through farmland, which is quite rustic and then you’ll pass through the mountains on the way to Delphi. The route you generally follow is the A6 to the E75 to the EO48 (Note: there are tolls on this road).

Having your own car gives you flexibility in terms of timing as well as the ability to stop off and see things on the way.

If you’re looking for the cheapest Delphi transportation option, that’s the public bus. The KTEL of N. Fokidas SA bus company operates the bus from Athens to Delphi. The bus makes limited stops throughout the Fokida Prefecture (Phocis)

The bus to Delphi from Athens takes a bit longer, but comes with the bargain price of less than $25. The buses do fill up early (and also seem to be canceled or have the times changed frequently), so it is best to book in advance. Book online or check the bus from Athens to Delphi schedule here .

The yellow taxis running all over Athens can take you Delphi! I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. These taxis account for what would be considered a private driver in a lot of other places. However, don’t go hailing a cab on the street.

The best way to get a private driver to Delphi is to make arrangements with a taxi company in advance. There are a number of companies and all seem pretty much the same: George’s Taxi Greece, Athens Taxi Tours, Express Taxi, John’s Yellow Cab, etc.

If you’re thinking about going this route, we’d recommend looking at private car options via a third-party site like Viator. If something should go wrong, you have the weight of a major business behind you to resolve the issue. You can check prices for private taxi tours here .

Just remember, in Greece , drivers are not guides. They cannot enter the archaeological site with you and their knowledge may be limited.

Finally, if you really don’t want a private tour and don’t want the freedom and flexibility of doing your own thing, you can sign on to one of the many day trips from Athens to Delphi. There are a bunch of them. You can check prices for tour options here .

We were surprised at how hot and sunny it was here. The entire archaeological site is on the southern face of Mount Parnassus. That means full sun throughout the day. While there are a few trees and some shade, it is hot!

We strongly recommend coming prepared for a hot day:

• A water bottle – there is a drinking fountain near the entrance and ticket kiosk where you can fill up your bottle. We found only one drinking fountain inside the park itself (near where the trail heads to the top of the theater and the stadium).
• Sunscreen – this is absolutely mandatory!
• A hat or umbrella
• Comfortable shoes – the site can be rocky and dusty, so bring shoes where you’ll be comfortable doing lots of walking.

Note: The archaeological site is rustic. That means there are no concessions, vending machines, or anything else inside the entire park. If you think you might need it, bring it with you.

The best local restaurant is a matter of opinion, but there are really two main contenders: Taverna Vakchos and Epikouros. Both serve up great Greek food…at tourist prices. And both are common with the big bus tour groups. As for which one is the best restaurant in Delphi, we really don’t have a strong opinion:

Epikouros is popular with tour groups, features stunning views of the valley and the sea. There’s a multi-season glass terrace and they feature locally grown ingredients. The meatballs are fantastic! They are open all day, which makes it a great stop if you eat at off hours like we tend to do.

Taverna Vakchos is popular with the private tour guides. The restaurant has a nice terrace with good views and features heavier meat dishes, including delicious stews of local meats. They close in the afternoons for several hours each day.

Both restaurants in Delphi are extremely popular with tour buses, which makes them kind of predictable. If you want something a bit more local, get out of town and head back to the town of Arachova, Greece. There are a number of great restaurants in the town along the main square…and no tour buses in sight! In the winter, Arachova fills with skiiers (yes, there is skiing in Greece!), but the rest of the year, it’s a nice town with great views and solid services.

First of all, you can absolutely visit both the archaeological site and the museum in the same day. And you can do both on a day trip. There’s really no reason to overnight here. However, when we were first looking into the trip, we checked out the local hotels.

The three top contenders for best hotel in Delphi are:

Hotel Varonos – Located in the heart of Delphi town and features stunning views. A quick walk to the archaeological site. ( Check prices and book a room )

Amalia Hotel – Located a bit out of town and features great views and a pool. ( Check prices and book a room )

Nidimos Hotel – Just outside of the main town is the best rated hotel in the area and has fantastic views. ( Check prices and book a room )

Lance Longwell is a travel writer and photographer who has published Travel Addicts since 2008, making it one of the oldest travel blogs. He is a life-long traveler, having visited all 50 of the United States by the time he graduated high school. Lance has continued his adventures by visiting 70 countries on 5 continents – all in search of the world’s perfect sausage. He’s a passionate foodie and enjoys hot springs and cultural oddities. When he’s not traveling (or writing about travel), you’ll find him photographing his hometown of Philadelphia.

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Friday 19th of August 2022

Excellent post, thanks so much! We found the site unbelievably majestic. The smaller temple of tholos was closed the day we went. Your post was so helpful, thanks!

Thursday 28th of April 2022

this was by far THE most fantastic post with exactly what one needs to know.... many thanks

Michael Embry

Saturday 13th of April 2019

Enjoyed your post. I'll be in Delphi next week so you've given me a great heads-on on what to expect. Safe travels!

The 7 Best Delphi Day Trips From Athens [2024 Reviews]

A pilgrimage to Delphi is essential for anybody interested in Ancient Greek history and culture. The Ancient Greeks believed Delphi was the center of the world, and the Temple of Apollo was their most sacred site. Essentially, this was their equivalent to Vatican City.

The priestess, called the Oracle of Delphi, was the most powerful woman in the ancient world. Rulers, Generals, and important figures in the ancient world approached her for prophecies and sage advice.

There are many excursions to Delphi and I’ve selected top-rated Delphi tours. I believe any one of these tours would provide you with the experience of a lifetime!

Be sure to see our reviews of Meteora Day Trips , Acropolis Tours and Athens Boat trips .

Best Delphi Tours From Athens

Quick answer: the 7 best tours of delphi from athens for 2024.

• Best Value Tour: Delphi Full-Day Tour From Athens
• Best Private Tour: Full Day Private Tour of Delphi From Athens
• Best Full Day Tour: Ancient Delphi Full-Day Tour From Athens
• Best Multi-Day Tour: Meteora and Delphi Private 2-Day Tour
• Best Guided Tour: Full-Day Tour to Delphi with Licensed Guide
• Best Budget Tour: Delphi Guided Day Trip From Athens
• Best Small Group Tour: Delphi Small-Group Day Trip From Athens

We have reviewed the top rated Delphi tours from Athens providing overviews and highlighting the details of each. We also make recommendations on staying in Athens in our guide section.

Delphi Tour Reviews

1. best value tour: delphi full-day tour from athens.

• Departure Point : Hotel Amalia , Syntagma Square, Athens
• Departure Time: 8:30 AM
• Duration : 11 hours
• Includes : Expert guide, transportation to Livadeia, Arachova, & Delphi, entrance fees to the museums and temples, free Athens & Greece map, and Wi-Fi on the coach

This is a great tour if you want to explore the mountainous region north of Athens and pick up some unique and cultural gifts. But the focus is, of course, the fascinating archaeological site at Delphi, and this tour includes an experienced guide.

An air-conditioned coach will transport you from central Athens to the mountains 70 miles away to the north.

The first stop on the tour is Livadeia, where you’ll have the opportunity to wander around this provincial capital and admire the surrounding mountainous landscape.

The next stop is Arachova, which is renowned for its colorful carpets, bright textiles, woodcut creations, and black wine. Here’s a great place to pick up some local handicrafts or specialty wine for your folks back home or your own collection.

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And then comes the highlight of your day—the tour of Delphi. The archeological site and ruins here are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The temple at the base of Mount Parnassos was the holiest in Ancient Greece and a place for pilgrimage. The extant ruins date to the 4 th -century BCE, though the original temple complex was built in the 8 th -century BCE.

The Temple of Apollo is where the famous Oracle of Delphi received petitioners inside a restricted and sacred inner room. These pilgrims visited the oracle, the most powerful woman in Ancient Greece, for her sage advice. It was believed Apollo granted her the gift of prophecy.

You’ll see many other impressive structures, such as the Tholos and the theater. The Tholos is a circular building originally consisting of 20 columns surmounted by a dome. The nearby amphitheater was built to seat 4,500 spectators in 35 rows.

The Archaeological Museum of Delphi holds a collection of amazing treasures, like the bronze charioteer statue cast in 478 BCE. With its rich collection of priceless exhibits, it’s no surprise this is one of the most visited museums in Greece.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience, other experiences you may enjoy:, 2. best private tour: full day private tour of delphi.

• Departure Point : Choose hotel pick-up or meet at Piraeus Cruise Terminal
• Departure Time: 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM or 10:00 AM
• Duration : 1 day
• Includes : English-speaking driver, intimate group tour, and transport to Delphi & Arachova

If you want to visit Delphi as part of a small group, maybe just your family and friends, then this is the best tour for you. With no guide, you have ultimate flexibility as you wander around the ruins.

An air-conditioned limousine, van, or car will pick up your group from your hotel or, if you prefer, from a central location or the Piraeus Cruise Terminal. You’ll travel in this small group with an experienced, English-speaking driver.

Your driver will take you straight to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Delphi, once the center of the Ancient Greek world.

There you can visit the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, the Temple of Apollo, the Tholos, and the ancient theater at your own pace.

You’ll also visit Arachova, where you can wander around and admire the traditional Greek homes in this mountainous town. This town is famous for its handmade craft goods, so it’s a great place to buy souvenirs of your visit to Greece.

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3. best full day tour: ancient delphi full-day tour from athens.

• Departure Point : Hotel pick-up
• Departure Time: 7:00 AM
• Duration : 8 hours
• Includes : Experienced guide, transport to Delphi & Arachova, 3-course meal & wine or beer, and museum & temple entrance fees

If you want to explore the mountainous countryside north of Athens, this is a great tour for you. Your tour will take you through the towns of Levadeia and Thebes and past the Castalian Spring to Delphi.

The Archeological Museum of Delphi is one of the most visited museums in Greece. There you can see the incredible Naxian Sphinx.

This monumental marble sculpture stands 7-feet-tall and once guarded the Temple of Apollo atop a 40 feet column and base.

The UNESCO World Heritage site of Delphi, with its 4 th -century BCE theater, the Temple of Apollo, the Tholos, and other ancient monuments, is the center of the Ancient Greek world.

As you walk around these magnificent ruins, you can imagine the splendor of this complex when it was the holiest shrine in Ancient Greece.

Once you’ve built up an appetite wandering around those ruins, you’ll enjoy the delicious 3-course meal included in this tour. Wash your food down with a ½ liter of wine and some beer.

This tour also includes a visit to Arachova, which is a great place to buy hand-crafted souvenirs of your time in Greece. Arachova is famous for its black wine, vivid rugs, and colorful textiles.

4. Best Multi-Day Tour: Meteora and Delphi Private 2-Day Tour

• Departure Point : Hotel/ AirBnb/ Port pick up & drop-off
• Departure Times : 8:00 AM
• Duration : 2 days
• Includes : Expert guide, transport to Delphi, p rivate transportation between attractions , Overnight stay in Meteora, buffet breakfast

This tour is perfect to see two of Greece’s two most important sites: Delphi and Meteora.

During the scenic drive to Meteora, you’ll pass through Thebes, the city where King Oedipus famously married his mother and murdered his father, according to Greek mythology.

You will have plenty of time to explore Meteora and have a guided tour of the monastery. Here you will spend the night and be treated to a buffet breakfast before heading to Delphi.

With your private driver you can stop anywhere you want for picture taking or just taking a break to enjoy the scenery.

Enjoy the beautiful mountain views as you pass the towns of Arachova and Livadeia. In Delphi, your expert guide will explain the significance of the Oracle of Delphi.

This priestess features in many Greek legends and historical events, including King Oedipus’ tragedy, where she provides the key prophecies in the story.

Learn about the importance of the Oracle of Delphi and the Temple of Apollo to the people of Ancient Greece.

You’ll see the Temple of Apollo, where petitioners met with the Oracle in her private sanctuary. Other important ruins include the ancient theater, the Treasury of the Athenians, and the Temple of Athena Pronaia.

The Archaeological Museum of Delphi is one of the most visited museums in Greece. Several of the most important relics of Ancient Greece are displayed there, including the Charioteer of Delphi and the statue of Aghias.

After you’ve visited the archaeological marvels of Delphi, head into the modern village of Delphi to enjoy a traditional Greek meal in a local restaurant.

On the return trip to Athens, you’ll stop briefly in Arachova to stretch your legs and perhaps take a few snaps of this scenic town and the surrounding mountains.

5. Best Guided Tour: Full-Day Tour to Delphi with Licensed Guide

• Departure Point : Hotel pick-up or meet at a central location of your choice
• Departure Times: 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM
• Duration : 7 Hours
• Includes : Expert tour guide and transportation to Delphi

This is a great tour if your main interest is the history of Delphi and you want to enjoy a traditional Greek meal. This intimate group tour whisks you directly to Delphi and places you in the capable hands of a licensed tour guide.

You’ll be taken on a fact-packed guided tour of the ruins, including the Temple of Apollo, the ancient theatre, and the Tholos. During your tour, your expert guide will entertain you with facts and stories about this sacred site which the Ancient Greeks called the “navel of the world”.

This tour is a top-rated tour amongst visitors who love Greek history. Your tour will end at the Archeological Museum of Delphi, so you can explore this popular museum at your leisure.

Here you can view some of the precious treasures donated to the temple by worshipers, including a silver bull statue.

There also you can see the 6 th -century chryselephantine statues of Leto, Artemis, and Apollo, draped in gold vestments and jewelry.

You’ll be picked up from the museum and taken to a local restaurant in Delphi village which features views across the mountain valley. There you can enjoy some delicious traditional Greek food (at your own expense).

6. Best Budget Tour: Delphi Guided Day Trip From Athens

• Departure Point : Choose hotel pick-up or meet at tour supplier’s office
• Departure Times : 8:30 AM
• Duration : 10 hours
• Includes : Professional guide, transport to Delphi & Arachova, entrance fees to site and museum, lunch in a traditional restaurant, and Wi-Fi on the air-conditioned coach

Most people who have enjoyed this tour rave about the fantastic guide. She provides a thorough and fascinating commentary on the surrounding mountainous region during the drive to the site and is knowledgeable about the ruins and museum.

The highlight of the tour is the guided visit to the various ruins in Delphi, including the Athena Pronaia Temple, the Temple of Apollo, and the ancient theater. Inside the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, you’ll be amazed by the well-preserved bronze charioteer statue.

Your professional guide will bring the ruins to life, helping you to understand their central role in Ancient Greek ideology. You’ll come away from this tour with a profound understanding of Ancient Greek mythology and culture.

After touring the archaeological sites and museum, you’ll be transported to a local restaurant to enjoy traditional Greek food. During the drive back to Athens, you’ll visit the picturesque town of Arachova for a photo opportunity.

7. Best Small Group Tour: Delphi Small-Group Day Trip From Athens

• Includes : Expert guided tour and transportation to Delphi

If you’re curious about the history of the Oracle of Delphi, this is a great tour for you. You’ll learn all about the Oracle and her power within the Hellenic world.

Your tour will take you past the Castalian Spring, where Apollo is said to have slain Python, a monstrous serpent. This is where participants in the Pythian Games bathed and drank to purify themselves before entering the temple complex.

Within the ruins of Delphi, you’ll see the Athenian Treasury, the Stoa of the Athenians, the polygonal retaining wall, and the focal Temple of Apollo, where pilgrims went to seek help and advice from the Oracle of Delphi.

After your guided tour of Delphi, you may spend some time in the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, where you’ll be amazed by such well-preserved exhibits as the statue of Antinoos, the Treasury of the Sifnians, and the renowned Naxian Sphinx.

Finally, you’ll have time to look around Delphi village and maybe eat a late lunch before the drive back to Athens. On the way back, you’ll pass through the scenic town of Arachova.

Athens Travel Guide

Athens is the origin of much that we take for granted in everyday life. It’s the birthplace of democracy, classical architecture, philosophy, and the Olympic Games.More through good luck than planning, many stunning structures survive from Greece’s Golden Age, so visiting Athens becomes a journey to the very roots of Western Civilization.

There’s much more to see and do in Athens than I can squeeze into this brief travel guide, but I hope it will provide a good starting point as you plan your visit.

Airports & Entry

Athens International Airport is the busiest airport in Greece and the 27 th busiest in Europe. It handles around 24 million passengers a year. Since the airport was only opened in 2001 and expanded in 2018, you’ll find the 2 terminals and all the facilities modern. An underground moving sidewalk connects the original main terminal to the new satellite terminal.

What’s unusual about Athens Airport is the presence of an art gallery and 3 museums. If you get bored waiting for your flight, they provide lots for you to see. The Art & Culture Exhibition Area is found on the Arrivals level. They host regular photography and painting exhibitions, book signings, and cultural events.

In the main terminal, the Acropolis Museum features classical Greek exhibits from the Acropolis. On the Departures level, the Eleftherios Venizelos Exhibition displays relics from Greek aviation history in the. In the same area, you’ll find the Exhibition of Archaeological Findings.

Getting back to the modern world, you’ll find mobile charging points around the airport, and free Wi-Fi on the “ATH Free Wi-Fi” network. The free Wi-Fi only lasts 45 minutes, but you can log-in again as often as you like.

If you’re traveling with kids aged 18 months to 7-years-old, you’ll find a children’s play area in the main terminal landside on the 2 nd floor. It’s open from 9 am to 9 pm. There are baby rooms and diaper changing facilities throughout the airport on both landside and airside.

With 20 food outlets, you won’t have any problem finding something to eat. Many are open 24 hours. The airport also has a mini market on the Arrivals level, landside and duty-free shopping on the Departures level. Many of the stores in the airport operate 24 hours.

ATMs are located all around the airport on both Arrivals and Departures levels. There are also multiple currency exchange kiosks operated by ONExchange. You’ll find full banking services at the Alpha Bank on the Arrivals level landside, open from 8 am to 6 pm weekdays and 9 am to 4 pm on weekends and bank holidays.

If you have a medical problem, there’s a pharmacy on the Arrivals level, landside, open from 6 am to midnight. Urgent emergency care is available at the airport first aid station provided by qualified members of the National Center for Emergency Care.

The easiest way to get into Athens from the airport is on the Metro . The airport train station is connected to the city via Metro Line 3. The journey takes 40 minutes and there’s a service every ½ hour. There are also services to other cities and archaeological sites provided by the Athens Suburban Railway .

The city bus company, Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA ), provides even more frequent services into the city. 4 bus services (X93, X95, X96, and X97) operate from the Arrivals level between Exits 4 and 5. The buses run 24/7 and the X95 to Syntagma (Athens City Center) takes around 40 minutes and departs every 15 to 20 minutes.

Alternatively, the major vehicle rental companies (Hertz, National, Europcar, Budget, Avis, Sixt, and Alamo) have desks on the Arrivals level.

And there’s always the taxi stand, found on the Arrivals level, Exit 3. During the day, the fare into the city center is around €48 but increases to €54 after midnight until 5 am.

Planning Tips

Athens is one of the most fascinating cities in the world, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy your stay. Just to ensure you do, here are 5 tips to help you plan your visit.

Tip #1: Watch your purse and your pockets

Pickpockets and purse-snatchers love Athens. The crowds of oblivious tourists admiring stunning architecture provide great prospects for any unscrupulous thief to get rich quick. Watch out for thieves everywhere, especially in the Metro system, around all the tourist attractions, and Omonia Square.

Tip #2: Book tickets in advance, especially during summer

Athens is a popular destination, so tours frequently sell out. Consider booking in advance so that you are assured of the excursions you want to take. Most reputable tour operators offer full refunds for trips canceled with reasonable notice. Just check the refund policy when you book any tours.

Tip #3: Go during spring or fall

Many of the most important attractions in Athens are outdoor, so you’re exposed to the sun. Because Athens is the second hottest capital city in Europe, the summer heat can become unbearable. If you’re traveling with young kids or elderly relatives, you certainly shouldn’t take them during summer.

Personally, I would prefer not to visit Athens in the summer. Not only is it too hot to appreciate the beauty of the city in the middle of the day, but it’s also when the city and its many attractions are most crowded. If you want warm rather than hot weather, go in spring or fall.

Tip #4: Buy unique souvenirs

Pop over to the Plaka neighborhood for some unique souvenirs. Spoons and ladles carved from olivewood, unique Greek products, as well as the usual range of T-shirts and less cultural souvenirs are found in the many gift shops in its labyrinth of old-world alleyways.

There are also many specialist jewelry shops in the Plaka neighborhood, where you can purchase custom-designed and unique items. Many of these stores are owned by artists, like the popular jewelers, Byzantino .

Tip #5: Cash is king

Greece is not a cashless society. You may be used to sticking all your restaurant and transport bills on a credit card, but this probably won’t work so well in Athens. A surprising number of busy restaurants and large stores don’t accept electronic payment methods, so you must be prepared to carry cash.

Because of the pickpockets mentioned above, consider methods to protect your cash. A fanny pack may look unattractive, but it beats getting your restaurant bill and discovering your wallet isn’t where it should be.

Restaurants & Eating Out

Because Athens is a Mediterranean port city, the local food is typically Mediterranean, with frequent use of fish and olives. In fact, a founding myth about the city claims that when competing to become the patron god of the city, the god Poseidon gave them a saltwater spring and the goddess Athena gave them their first olive tree.

Breakfasts typically consist of pastries from one of the many bakeries and a cup of coffee. Common breakfast pastries include the savory feta or spinach pastry, a flaky phyllo pastry, or the sweet Bougatsa custard pastry. Although it is not a traditional Athenian breakfast food, some cafés also sell Greek yoghurt due to tourist demand.

Athens’ streets are riddled with tavernas and cafés. Lunches are long and leisurely. Like in Spain, dinner is typically eaten late. Restaurants usually get busy at around 10 pm. Food is ordered for the table (the group of people sitting together) rather than the individual. This means that portions are often large because they are designed to be shared rather than eaten by one.

The tavernas offer a variety of hors d’oeuvre called a mezedes, which is a small dish of hot or cold food with dips. Mezedes are often eaten while drinking ouzo, a strong anise liquor. My favorite mezedes is saganaki, which is great for any cheese lover. It’s a hard cheese fried to create a crunchy crust and sprinkled with lemon juice. Tomatokeftedes (tomato balls) are another popular appetizer, sweet, soft, and full of herbs and tomato. Mezedes are typically served with a yoghurt dip.

Alongside mezedes, Athenians eat salad. Horiatiki salata (Greek salad) is tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, spicy shallots, and olives, all splashed with virgin olive oil and topped with feta cheese. Because the salad portion is designed to be shared, one person can make a filling meal out of a single serving of salad and some crusty bread.

Perhaps the most famous main dish in Athens is moussaka. This is an oven-baked dish consisting of mincemeat layered with either potatoes or eggplant and topped with bechamel. It’s not an exclusively Greek dish, but the currently popular version originated in Greece. Moussaka tastes best when seasoned with nutmeg and cinnamon.

A common variant of moussaka is pastitsio. This is another oven-baked dish with mincemeat and topped with bechamel, but this time layered with pasta and tomato sauce.

Being next to the sea, fish soup is popular in Athens. Different kinds of fish appear in the soup depending upon the season. It’s usually a rich broth with lots of fish, vegetables, and flavored with lemon.

But my favorite main dish is pastitsiopanakopita. This spinach and cheese pie is baked in a filo pastry and heavily seasoned. Unfortunately for me, it’s a messy dish. The filo pastry is crumbly and goes everywhere!

When it comes to desserts, Athenians get messy. Their sweet dessert pastries are drenched in honey or syrup. But these sticky treats are delicious when freshly baked. The most popular variety is baklava, which is layers of filo dough stuffed with chopped nuts, usually almonds or pistachios. Another common variety is kataifi, which looks like Shredded Wheat but is fine strands of pastry wrapped around a chopped nut center, usually almonds or walnuts.

Nightlife & Entertainment

While Athens may not have the reputation for wild nightlife found in other parts of the Mediterranean, like the Balearic Islands, you can still find vibrant nightclubs and lively bars. The different areas of the city tend to attract different crowds, so let’s run through them.

If you’re into clubbing, Kerranmeikos is the place to go. This is where you’ll find the new super-club opened by Lindsay Lohan, simply called LOHAN . With Hollywood financing and Greek knowhow, this club features internationally renowned DJs using the highest quality sound and light equipment. It’s a club dedicated to dance parties. In the same area, you’ll find a selection of popular bars, such as The Blue Parrot and Bios .

The neighboring Gazi area is the place to go for live Rebetiko venues, which is a kind of Greek urban blues music. So, if you want to try something uniquely Greek, then you could skip the super-club and head straight for a Rebetiko bar and spend the night listening to Greek blues and drinking ouzo.

If you’re looking for lively bars, Exarchia is the area favored by young Athenians. There are many popular bars along Emmanouil Benaki Street. But Exarchia is also an area known for graffiti and anarchy. In 2008/9, riots brought conflict between youths and police on these narrow streets. However, that’s only a footnote in modern history. Sandwiched between the University of Athens and the polytechnic, the area is filled with trendy cafés and bars aimed at Bohemian youths.

But if you prefer more sophisticated cocktail bars and hipster hangouts, the two areas to go are Psyrri and Koukaki. Psyrri is a high-class area with lots of bars and a small but lively nightclub called Cantina Social. The most interesting bar to check out is Six d.o.g.s, which is a unique bar with DJs, live music, club nights, and art exhibitions! And if you’re into wine, Materia Prima Wine Bar in Psyrri has a fantastic reputation.

Getting Around

In central Athens, many of the attractions are close together, so walking is a viable option. However, to really see the city, public transport is the best option. You can use the Metro, buses, or trams. To use public transport , you’ll need an ATH.ENA Card .

The Metro is the easiest and quickest way to travel around Athens. The signs and maps can be confusing since some are only in Greek, but the network is simple. There are only 3 lines, and once you get a feel for the system, it becomes easy.

The main Metro station in the center of Athens is Syntagma. This is in the same area as the Greek parliament building and the main city square. Much like the airport, this station also holds a museum. In this case, the museum displays the archaeological treasures unearthed when the station was built.

The buses in Athens are not as comfortable or as quick as the Metro. Also, the bus times tend to be unpredictable and the routes confusing. Bus stops are often difficult to find, and you might need to ask a local for directions. Some of the buses are “trolleys”, which are the same as regular buses except that they run on electricity.

The trams are modern and environmentally friendly. There are only 3 tram services, and they all connect Syntagma Station with coastal resorts and beaches.

Taxis are always an option, but you’ll find them expensive compared to public transport and not as quick as the Metro.

Accommodations

Athens is an extremely popular destination for anybody interested in classical history, Greek language and culture, or simply sunny beaches. Because so many visitors crowd the city every year, you’ll find a broad range of hotels suitable for every budget and taste.

If you’re interested in history, the best areas to stay are around the city center near the Acropolis, like Makrianni, Monastiraki, Plaka, Syntagma, and Thission. The Plaka area is arguably the most desirable location because it’s nestled between the Acropolis and Syntagma Square (main square and central Metro station). Plaka is the quietest and most peaceful area of Athens.

Because of the problem of pick-pockets in Athens, you’ll want to make sure your hotel room has a safe. Whenever you go out, leave anything you won’t need in your safe. Any important documents, credit cards you won’t need that day, and spare cash should be left safely behind.

There are a few very seedy hotels in Athens that you’ll want to avoid. My advice is to check reviews on more than one hotel-reviewing site before booking. You’ll find some cheap hostels and basic hotels around Omonia Square, but the area is renowned for purse snatchers and seediness, as well as legal brothels.

A friend booked a night at the Athens House Hotel on booking.com because the reviews there looked positive, and she wanted to stay somewhere cheap and basic. When she arrived, the hotel’s hygiene standards were abysmal. When she later looked on TripAdvisor, she found the same hotel had a rating of 2 out of 5 stars and featured some extremely alarming reviews!

But, to be fair, the Athens House Hotel is great for economy backpackers. With last minute rooms at $10 or $20 a night, you can put up with bad service and a bit of grime!

If you’re made of money and want to sample the high life, check out the Hotel Grande Bretagne (GB) . A basic suite in the GB will cost around $300 a night, but you get what you pay for. This luxury hotel overlooks Syntagma Square, and you can even watch the changing of the guards in front of the Greek parliament building from your balcony.

The GB has one pool in the basement and another on the roof. There’s also a fully-equipped spa in the basement. The exclusive Alexander’s Bar inside the GB was voted Best Hotel Bar in the World by Forbes magazine, and the GB Roof Garden Restaurant & Bar provides the best views of the Acropolis you’ll find in the city.

If you’re traveling on a tighter budget, check out the Hotel Attalos . It’s not quite so central as the GB, but it also has a roof garden café with fantastic views of the Acropolis for around $125 a night.

The Hotel Attalos is a 15-minute walk to the Acropolis and the same to central Syntagma Square. It’s only a short walk to the Monastiraki Metro Station, so it’s convenient for rapid public transport to all the main attractions. It gets fantastic reviews and ratings on both TripAdvisor and Booking.com.

But when I take my family to Athens, I avoid the crowds and pollution in the city center altogether. Not far from the city, there are dozens of clean and modern hotels along the coastline of the Athenian Riviera. With the great tram connections to Syntagma Square Station, they’re only a short ride away from all the main attractions.

Most coastal hotels are walking distance to the beach, and sometimes their buildings even segue into the sand. They typically offer more spacious and better-equipped rooms for a fraction of the price of city center hotels.

For example, consider Maison 66 in Alimos. This modern hotel is 6 miles from Syntagma Square, which means 25 minutes in a car or 45 minutes on a tram. That might sound like a lot of traveling, but Maison 66 offers a beautifully decorated room with a sea view, furnished balcony, air-conditioning, flat-screen TV, en-suite bathrooms with shower cabins, and free Wi-FI for only $80 per night.

Maison 66 is rated 9.1/10 on Booking.com and 5/5 on TripAdvisor! If your family wants to split their time between the beach and the cultural attractions, this hotel or others like it in coastal beach resorts offer you spacious, clean and modern accommodation for a fraction of equivalent hotels in the center of Athens.

Athens is the second hottest capital city in Europe. It experiences mild winters and long, dry, and hot summers. July and August are extremely dry, and most rainfall occurs between October and April.

Because the weather is relatively fine all year long, you can visit Athens at any time. However, I’d recommend you visit Athens in spring (late March through early June) or fall (late September through early November) if possible.

Spring and fall are when the weather isn’t too hot but still warm enough to enjoy the sun. Winter can be chilly and wet, and summer is just too hot for me. Most tourists visit during summer, which means the streets, attractions, and public transport are all crowded.

In summer, it grows too hot in the middle of the day for comfortable sightseeing. If you plan to visit the Acropolis, the best time of day is the early morning before the midday heat bakes the ground. Alternatively, visit in the last two hours of the site’s opening times. In August, average temperatures range from 73 0 F to 89 0 F.

It’s still pleasant and sunny in the fall, so this is a great time to wander around the Panathenaic Stadium. However, there’s more rain than during summer, especially in November. In November, average temperatures range from 54 0 F to 66 0 F.

Athenian winters are mild, but December sees the most rain. Despite warm average temperatures, snow isn’t uncommon, and it can get chilly on occasions. January’s average temperatures range from 45 0 F to 57 0 F.

Rainfall rapidly decreases between April and June, and the days become warmer. The average temperatures in April range from 53 0 F to 67 0 F.

Attractions

99.9% of visitors to Athens have the Acropolis at the top of their “must-see” list, but there’s more to Athens than its citadel. It’s the capital of a modern nation and the center of Greek culture. But, I’m not going to swim against the crowd right now. The Acropolis is top of my list, too!

The Acropolis looms over Athens and is the most famous attraction in Greece. Archaeological evidence shows the hill has been settled since as early as 4,000 BCE, and the Acropolis as we know it began to take shape in the 13 th -century BCE when it was fortified with a wall that still forms part of today’s complex monument.

Most of the structures we see on the old citadel date from the 5 th -century BCE. That’s because a helpful group of Persian invaders leveled many of the pre-existing buildings in 480 BCE during the Greco-Persian Wars.

There are many ancient temples atop the hill, including the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and the Brauronion. But none is more famous or iconic than the Parthenon . Built in 438 BCE and dedicated to Athena Parthenos, this is the most awesome example of Ancient Greek architecture in existence.

Also inside the Acropolis is the Acropolis Museum . This incongruous, modern structure stands 3-stores-high, right beside the Parthenon. However, it does effectively display the artifacts recovered by archaeologists from excavations atop the hill. The highlight is the Parthenon Marbles exhibition on the top floor.

Don’t miss the Theatre of Dionysus. Situated at the foot of the Acropolis and carved into the southern cliff, this is believed to be the oldest surviving theater in the world. The site has been a theater since the 6 th -century BCE, but the present structure is 4 th- century BCE. If you ever had to read Greek tragedies in school written by Euripides or Sophocles, this is where those famous plays premiered! To fully appreciate the Acropolis, take a guided tour .

The last ancient monument in the city I’ll specifically recommend is the Panathenaic Stadium . Not only is this the only athletic stadium in the world constructed in marble, but it’s also the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games .

The stadium began life in antiquity as a racecourse and was transformed into a stadium in 330 BCE. The current marble structure dates to 144 CE and was designed to seat 50,000 spectators. The first modern Olympic Games were held here in 1896.

But Athens isn’t all about ancient antiquity. The heart of the modern city isn’t atop the Acropolis. It’s Syntagma Square. Not only is this where you’ll find the main Metro station, but it’s the central square and location of the Greek Parliament building.

The Parliament building is guarded by Evzones, who are parliamentary guards. Evzones wear special handmade shoes and uniforms and perform an hourly changing of the guards. There is an especially elaborate changing ceremony at 11 am every Sunday.

Pop over to the Plaka neighborhood to see charming houses decked with flower baskets and colorful cafés with outdoor seating. You’ll definitely need your camera as you explore this picturesque area.

The Plaka neighborhood is a great place to sample traditional Greek food and buy unique souvenirs. And if you’ve always wanted to try a traditional Turkish Bath, you can enjoy a steam bath and a relaxing massage at Al Hammam .

And if you want to see where the Athenians shop, check out the Varvakeios Central Food Market . This is where you can get a feeling for the heartbeat of Athens. This market is a great place to sample authentic Greek fresh foods and drinks. Why not try some strong Greek coffee made just how Athenians like it? But note that this market, like many grocery businesses in Greece, is closed on Sundays.

Getting out of the center, consider ascending Lycabettus Hill . This is the highest point in Athens. Sunset is a great time to visit for spectacular views across the city lit by the dying sun. At the top, you’ll find St. George’s Church and Orizontes Restaurant . The restaurant’s rooftop terrace provides stunning views.

You can spend a month in Athens and not see everything, but some people like to explore the wider context and travel to other parts of Greece. Also, in summer, getting out of the capital city helps you escape the relentless heat.

If you want to visit more of Greece, Athens makes a great base. Various Mediterranean islands, such as Aegina, Moni, Agistri, and Santorini, are popular destinations for longer day trips. Or you can enjoy a simple cruise along the Athenian Riviera and enjoy fantastic views of the Greek coast.

Tour Guides

The Delphi Full-Day Tour from Athens is our Editor's Choice with its combination of guides, sites seen and value.

Robert Baker

Related articles, the 5 best stonehenge tours from london [2024 reviews], the 5 best wine tours from florence [2024 reviews], the 7 best vatican tours ⛪ [2024 reviews], the 5 best seine river dinner cruises [2024 reviews].

Visiting Delphi and Meteora from Athens

The iconic Tholos at Delphi’s Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia. Ancient Delphi is easy to visit from Athens by car (2 1/2 hours), bus (3 hours) or guided tour (so many options – the best are listed below).

See Also • Where to Stay in Athens • Where to Stay in Delphi • Where to Stay in the Meteora • Mainland Greece Travel Guide Mystical Delphi and the awe-inspiring Meteora Monasteries are two of Greece’s most incredible destinations. Both are located on the mainland, and if you’ve got a day or two to spare in your Athens itinerary, are easy to visit on a guided tour or on your own via public transportation or rental car. While Delphi can easily be done on a day trip (but is a delightful place to spend the night), we really recommend spending at least one night in Meteora if at all possible. Visiting Ancient Delphi from Athens

Located on the olive-studded slopes of Mount Parnassos, the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site of Delphi dates back to the 8th century BC and is one of Greece’s most significant archaeological destinations. Once viewed as the epicenter of the world, it is famous for the Temple of Apollo, where pilgrims sought insight from the gods through the Delphic Oracle, delivered by resident priestesses. The Apollo Temple complex also features an amphitheater, gymnasium, and Roman Agora, with an on-site museum offering essential context for the relics. Within walking distance of the main site you’ll also find the serene Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia and the remains of an ancient gymnasium. Traditional taverna in Delphi village. The adjacent village of Delphi is small and easily-walkable – essentially two narrow main streets (one up, one down) lined with Greek tavernas, shops, and boutique hotels that overlook the picturesque Amfissa Valley and cater to more modern Delphic pilgrims. During midday, Delphi village can be thick with tour bus crowds, but in the morning and evening hours it is a quiet and charming mountain perch that can make a welcome change from urban Athens. While you can visit Delphi on a day trip, spending a night in the quiet village is a lovely experience – and one that we recommend. Best Hotels in Delphi Best Restaurants in Delphi Best Things to Do in Delphi Best Day Tours from Athens Note that none of the tours below include site/museum entrance fees or guided tours within the archaeological sites themselves. Delphi & Arachova Day Trip : Small group, 10 hours. Visits the archaeological sites and museum at Delphi and the picturesque mountain village of Arachova. Includes round-trip bus transportation with historical narration en route. Delphi Day Trip : Small group, 10 hours. Similar to the above tour; visits Delphi with a shorter stop at Arachova, but with many more bus pick-up and drop-off options offered in Athens, so may be more convenient. Full-Day Private Tour : Private, 9 hours. Includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, plus a more flexible itinerary and comfortable, personalized experience. Delphi & Thermopylae : Private, 10 hours. Visits Delphi and the storied site of the the Spartan king Leonidas’ 480 AD battle of Thermopylae. Includes optional stop in Arachova. Delphi, Corycian Cave, Thermopylae, Arachova : Private, 12 hours. The most you can do and see in a day from Athens. Great for ancient history, archaeology, and mythology buffs. Athens to Delphi by Bus or Train There is no train route between Athens and Delphi, but bus travel is frequent and convenient. KTEL buses from Athens to Delphi run 5-6 times daily and are generally reliable. Buses to Delphi leave Athens from KTEL Bus Station B, Liosion , located about a 10 to 15-minute cab ride from Monastiraki Square or a 10-minute walk from the Agios Nikolaos metro station (green M1 line). The entire trip takes about 3 hours, and includes a brief 10-minute stop for snacks, to use the restroom, or to stretch your legs. The Liosion Bus Station in north central Athens. Tickets are available online , at the station in Athens, or directly on the bus in Delphi. (Buying on the bus requires cash, preferably in coins or small bills.) It’s a good idea to buy in advance if you can, especially if you’re traveling during the busy summer months, as the buses can and do fill up. Tickets are generally released for purchase online a couple of weeks before departure. Tickets can be purchased at the station, but we recommend buying online in advance, especially for summer. The Delphi route has its own ticketing desk, seen here on the left. The desk on the right sells tickets to Trikala, which is the bus route you take to get to Meteora (explained below). Buses are air-conditioned and comfortable, with a large luggage storage compartment beneath the seating area. Especially during summer, this route gets busy, so we advise arriving early to the station. Even if you have bought a ticket in advance, seating is not guaranteed; if the bus is full when you arrive, you’ll need to wait for the next one and buy another ticket. The Delphi bus departs from Bay 7. It’s a good idea to plan to be at the station about 20-30 minutes before your scheduled departure. Luggage is stored underneath the bus, in the cargo hold. For a return bus trip from Delphi to Athens, we definitely recommend buying your ticket in advance online. It’s possible to buy tickets at the tiny bus station in Delphi (really just a ticket counter), but while it’s easy to find, located right at the entrance to town, it is often shuttered. The tiny bus station at Delphi is generally open only when a bus is due to arrive or depart. The alternative is to pay cash to the driver as you board, or if the station is closed you can sometimes purchase a bus ticket in advance at the restaurant “In Delphi,” which is located next to the bus stop, but can also keep odd hours. Whatever method you choose, be sure to arrive a bit early to the bus stop in order to get a seat. A bus loading for departure to Athens from Delphi. You can see the open bus station doorway in the background. The restaurant “In Delphi” (look for the bold signs advertising “Pita-Souvlaki Pizza” and “Cafe Pizza Restaurant”) often sells bus tickets when the bus station ticketing desk is closed.

Driving Yourself from Athens to Delphi Driving from Athens to Delphi takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours, along well-paved and well-marked (in Greek and English) roads that are in good condition. Although most of the drive is along flat and level highways, Delphi is located in the mountains, where the terrain is winding and hilly; if you are not comfortable with driving in these conditions you might be better off taking the bus or a guided tour. Also note that the route to Delphi contains toll roads, so it’s a good idea to have some easily-accessible cash on hand before you set out. The entrance to Delphi village by car, with the road looking out to the south over the beautiful olive groves of the Amfissa Valley and out to the Gulf of Corinth. Aside from greater flexibility in your schedule, driving yourself offers an expanded ability to explore the countryside. The area surrounding Delphi contains some particularly delightful stops for a mainland Greece road trip, including the lovely mountain village of Arachova, the picturesque port town of Galaxidi, and the 11th-century Byzantine monastery of Hosios Loukas – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The charming mountain village of Arachova – just 12 km from Delphi – makes a picturesque stop to stretch your legs in the summer. In the colder months, it’s a stylish snowsports haven, sometimes referred to as “winter Mykonos.” If you’re renting a car in Athens, we recommending doing so at the Athens Airport, rather than in the city center, so you can jump right onto the main highways and avoid dealing with the city streets. It’s also a good idea to book your rental in advance , especially if you don’t drive a sick-shift and will require an automatic transmission. Visiting the Meteora from Athens

The Monastery of Varlaam

The Meteora is a spectacular giant rock formation and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Greece. Though the towering limestone pillars of the Meteora landscape are stunning in themselves, the main draw for travelers to the area is the collection of jaw-dropping, centuries-old monasteries that top them. Of the 24 original monasteries, 6 are still active and open to the public to tour. In addition to the grand monasteries, there are also a smattering of smaller monasteries and fascinating hermitages built into the rocks, easily visited on guided hikes and tours. Because it takes between 3-6 hours to get between Athens and Meteora, we recommend spending at least one night there. There are two main areas to choose from: the town of Kalambaka (where the train station, bus station, and most shops and restaurants are) and the village of Kastraki (a charming small village with boutique guesthouses and small tavernas). Both areas are served by buses and taxis, and it takes only about 15 minutes to walk between the two, making it easy to stay in one location and visit the other. Best Hotels in the Meteora Best Restaurants in the Meteora Meteora Monastery Guide Best Day Tours from Athens Note that none of the tours below include monastery entrance fees or guided tours within the monasteries themselves. Meteora Bus Tour from Athens : Small group, 14 hours. Visits interiors of 3 monasteries, plus hidden hermit caves and lunch in charming Kastraki village. Departs from and returns to Athens Larissis railway station. Meteora Train Tour from Athens : Small group, 14 hours. Visits interiors of 3 monasteries, plus hermit caves with pre-booked train travel from Athens to Paleofarsalos and minibus transfer between Paleofarsalos and Kalambaka. Private Meteora Tour from Athens : Private, 12 hours. Includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, transport by private car, a stop at the site of the battlefield of Thermopylae, and a visit to 3 monasteries. Athens to Meteora by Train Travel between Meteora (Kalambaka) and Athens is pretty easy by train, with a few trips offered daily. Trains depart from central Athens’ Larissa Station, which is located about a 5-10 minute drive north of Monastiraki Square, or easily reached via Metro from Syntagma Square (red M2 line). The Athens Larissa train station. There is a metro station just below Larissa train station, making it very easy to access from Syntagma Square. Most train routes between Athens and Kalambaka involve a transfer at the town of Paleofarsalos. The transfer itself is easy, and even if there’s not much time between the two trains, the second train will usually wait if the first train is running late. (Many people riding the train will be making the same transfer.) The entire journey, including the transfer, takes 3-4 hours. The train station in Kalambaka. The Kalambaka station is very small, and has only one platform. Most train trips between Athens and Kalambaka require a transfer at the station of Paleofarsalos. The Paleofarsalos station is not large, but there are multiple platforms, and the train you transfer to may be scheduled at a platform across the tracks. To access the other platforms, enter the station and use the underground pedestrian tunnels. There is one daily direct route that travels between Kalambaka and Athens, but it’s usually slower than the Paleofarsalos transfer option, taking around 4 1/2 hours. Train tickets can be purchased online in advance of your trip (we recommend this), with schedules released about a month ahead of travel. Upon arrival in Kalambaka, the easiest way to visit the monasteries if you only plan to stay for a day is to book a train-to-train minibus tour . If you plan to stay overnight in Kalambaka or Kastraki, you can visit the monasteries by guided tour, public bus, or on foot. We outline these options in our Meteora Monastery Guide . Note that since the fall of 2023, train travel may be disrupted along these routes and supplemented in part by bus service, due to area flood damage. Athens to Meteora by Bus It takes about 6 hours to get from Athens to Kalambaka by bus. Buses to Trikala leave Athens from KTEL Bus Station B, Liosion , located about a 10 to 15-minute cab ride from Monastiraki Square or a 10-minute walk from the Agios Nikolaos metro station (green M1 line). Kalambaka’s small, street-corner bus station is a subsidiary to the larger and modern Trikala bus terminal, 23 km away. Most/all routes to and from Kalambaka will involve a change of bus at Trikala, which is well-linked to most prominent mainland Greece destinations. Bus schedules can be viewed tickets can be purchased in advance online . The Kalambaka bus station is located just a couple of blocks down from the village’s main square, near lots of hotels and eateries. Local buses run three times per day from the Kalambaka bus station to all 6 Meteora Monasteries (stopping at Kastraki village in between). A single ticket is 1.80€, a full-day ticket is 5.50€; tickets are issued on the bus or at the bus station. Departure times are 9am, noon, and 2:30pm; returning buses depart from St. Stephen monastery at 11am, 2pm, and 4:30pm. Alternatively, you can walk two blocks north of the bus station to Town Hall Square, where there is a taxi stand outside of Babistas Bakery. Taxis are available to hire for Monastery tours for €20 per hour. A one-way trip to the Meteora monasteries by taxi costs a maximum of €10. Taxi stand and Meteora Tour Taxi outside of Babitsas Bakery. If there are no cars waiting for passengers at the taxi stand, they can be dispatched using one of the numbers advertised on the board.

Driving Yourself from Athens to Meteora (and Delphi) It takes about 4 1/2 hours to drive from central Athens to Kalambaka along the most direct route, passing through Lamia and bypassing Karditsa on the way. Roads on this route are well-maintained and well-marked, and the terrain is not very challenging. There are some toll roads, so it’s a good idea to have some change handy before you set out. En route, make a stop at the Leonidas Memorial at the battle site of Thermopylae outside of Lamia. It serves as a poignant tribute to King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans, who made a legendary stand against the Persian Empire in 480 BC; now celebrated as one of history’s most iconic instances of courage and self-sacrifice in the face of overwhelming odds. These days there’s not a lot to see, but it makes a great spot to stretch your legs and take a look around. Memorial to the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae Either instead of this easier route, or as an alternate return route, you can opt for a course that takes you a bit further west through Delphi. This route, which takes a total of about 6 hours from Athens to Meteora, travels through some winding mountainous terrain with hairpin turns. While the roads are paved and well-maintained, there are some drop-offs and hairpin turns, so proceed with caution. Between sightseeing at Delphi and Meteora, plus the longer drive, it’s too much to pack into one day. If you choose to go this route, we definitely recommend staying overnight in either Kalambaka/Kastraki or Delphi village. Whatever route you choose to take, we find that it’s easiest to rent a car at the Athens Airport, rather than in the city center, as that allows you to skirt the more confusing tangle of urban streets, and just stick to the main roads. It’s also a good idea to book your car ahead of time, especially if you require an automatic transmission. Getting between Delphi and Meteora on Public Transportation There is no train that runs between Delphi and the Meteora, and no direct bus route since the Covid-19 pandemic. While it is technically possible to get from Kalambaka to Delphi (or vice-versa) on the bus, it involves multiple time-consuming transfers and will end up taking most of a day. We do not recommend it. The best option for those who want to see both sights without a rental car is either to (a) take a guided tour that includes both or to (b) take public transportation between Athens and Delphi or Meteora, book a car service like Daytrip to get between Delphi and Meteora, and then take the bus or train back to Athens. Best Guided Tours of Delphi & Meteora from Athens Delphi & Meteora 2-Day Tour : Includes bus transport, 3 or 4-star hotel accommodation, dinner & breakfast, and admission to monasteries and Delphi site (but not museum). 4-Day Tour of Classical Greece : Visits Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi, and Meteora. Includes 4-star hotel accommodations in Olympia, Delphi, and Kalambaka; breakfasts and dinners, attraction entrance fees, and guided site tours. Read More Athens – Travel Guide Athens – Where to Stay Athens – Best Hotels Athens – Best Restaurants Athens – Best Things to Do Athens – Getting Around Delphi – Best Hotels Delphi – Best Restaurants Delphi – Best Things to Do Meteora – Best Hotels Meteora – Best Restaurants Meteora – Best Things to Do Mainland Greece Travel Guide All SD Where to Stay Guides

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Delphi Day Trip from Athens: A One Day Itinerary

Last Updated on February 12, 2024

by Olivia Ellis

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Planning a Delphi day trip from Athens is one of the best ways to see some incredible historic sites within easy reach of the Greek capital.

While visiting the capital city of Athens , you may crave to dig deeper into the history of Ancient Greece, and one of the most popular options is to visit the UNESCO archaeological site of Delphi, located in the southern part of mainland Greece .

Table of Contents

How to Get from Athens to Delphi

By organised tour.

When planning for your day trip to Delphi, you may decide that you’d much rather visit the site with a group.

Both this full-day tour and this full-day tour include transportation from Athens and an archaeologist tour guide to show you the sites of Delphi as well as stopping at the village of Arachova, so it’s great if you want to visit Delphi and Arachova together.

Other options are this full-day tour and this guided day tour which include entrance tickets, an expert guide while you visit the archaeological site of Delphi and time in a few charming local towns before heading back to your hotel in Athens.

Those who would rather have a guided tour to themselves and have the cash to spend will love this private day tour which takes you from Athens to Delphi. A private tour to Delphi is great for visitors who don’t want the fuss of public transport or self-driving but still want some independence.

Finally, if you want to visit both Delphi and Meteora, it is possible to take this two-day tour that visits both sites and is a great option for those looking for a longer tour from Athens.

If you’re hoping to use bus transportation for your one day in Delphi, you’re in luck. Bus transportation from Athens to Delphi is pretty straightforward, not too long, and with pretty frequent daily routes. 

The bus system that you’ll be using to get from Athens to Delphi, is the KTEL bus system. They’re pretty much regional buses connecting Greece, mainly in part due to the lack of a thriving train system. 

All of the buses from Athens to Delphi leave from the KTEL Bus Station B at 260 Liossion Street . This bus station is conveniently located just about a 10-minute walk from a metro station (Agios Nikolaos), so it’s not too difficult to reach the bus station if you’re taking metro transport. Tickets are available for purchase online , at the station, or on the bus.

It’s important to keep in mind that the summer season gets busy on the KTEL buses (especially the Athens/Delphi route), so you’ll want to arrive early. Once the bus is full, there’s no more room to purchase tickets.

Even if you’ve purchased a ticket online, you’ll, unfortunately, lose your spot if you’re not there early enough to secure your seat before early ticket buyers purchase at the station or on the bus.

There are typically around 5-6 buses a day leaving from Athens to go to Delphi as well as from Delphi to Athens. You can expect the bus ride to be around 3 hours depending on traffic and the driver will usually stop at the midpoint of the ride so you can use the toilet and purchase snacks or lunch. 

Unfortunately, there isn’t a feasible train journey option for those traveling from Athens to Delphi. While Greece does have a train system throughout the mainland, it’s not what most travelers are used to when compared to the majority of European train systems.

Delphi is in more of a remote area and surrounded by small towns, so the only option would be to take a train to a city about an hour away from Delphi and then take a taxi to the site.

Due to the difficulty, cost, and lack of access directly to Delphi, I wouldn’t recommend taking the train for a day trip.

In my opinion, the ideal way to reach Delphi from Athens is by driving. While taking a bus for a day trip to Delphi from Athens isn’t too long or too costly, driving to Delphi is the quickest option and also gives you the most flexibility for your Delphi itinerary or for extending your trip to the Peloponnese . You can browse car rental options on Rentalcars.com which compares prices across several providers.

There are a few different routes to take when driving from Athens to Delphi and the one you choose will ultimately depend on the amount of time you have and if you’re interested in making other stops along the way.

Traffic is typically the same for all routes but it’s usually busier on Sunday evenings and during post-work rush hour in the late afternoon.

Route 1 is the shortest, taking around 3 hours. The scenery for this route is mainly rural farmland, passing through small villages before arriving at the stunning Mount Parnassus area and then Delphi.

Route 2 is ideal if you’re looking to get more out of your Delphi itinerary. This route will take around 5 hours and tolls are far more expensive. You’ll drive through the Gulf of Corinth and have opportunities to stop at the famous Corinth Canal and the Ancient archaeological city of Corinth.

From there, you’ll drive on the Rion-Antirion Bridge, the bridge with the largest, continuous suspended deck in the world, then head to Delphi on a singletrack road, passing directly through the heart of rural Greece.

While this route is lengthy, it is possible to do it in a day if you’re up for it, but I recommend it if you have a night to stay and take your time on the journey. 

There’s no specific parking lot or surveilled parking at the sites of Delphi, it’s just street parking. So it’s definitely best to arrive as early as possible to make sure that you’ll be guaranteed parking.

Delphi Day Trip Itinerary

Delphi is easily one of the most monumental locations to visit in Greece, and that in turn makes it the most popular excursion site for a day out from Athens.

For the Ancient Greeks, Delphi was the most important spot where people would travel to consult with the famous Oracle, Pythia.

Delphi was also known as the “center of the world” and in the modern day, an estimated 500,000 tourists flock to this UNESCO World Heritage Site yearly to understand the importance of Delphi.

Archaeological Site of Delphi

Visiting the Archaeological Site of Delphi is the main thing that you’ll be doing on an Athens to Delphi day trip. The archaeological site itself begins with the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, a temple devoted to worshipping the goddess Athena in Greek Mythology.

Next on your Delphi archaeological tour, you’ll make your way down the “sacred way” and through the ruins of Delphi. From here, you’ll find yourself at the Temple of Apollo, a temple devoted to the Greek God, Apollo, and also where the famous legend, the Oracle of Delphi would deliver her prophecies to Ancient Delphi. 

In the archaeological site, you’ll also find the theater and stadium of Delphi (which is higher up and usually void of tourists as the trek is quite long and tours tend to be too short to visit).  

The area itself is incredibly dense with ruins, remnants, and monuments built by the most popular and wealthy Athenian families during Ancient Greece.

Because of this, even if you aren’t taking part in a tour, I highly recommend having your own audio guide or brushing up on the importance of Delphi before your visit. It enhances your time in Delphi especially since information at the site is pretty sparse and vague.

Tickets for the Archaeological site of Delphi include the Archaeological Museum of Delphi next door. You can buy skip-the-line tickets here.

Both the Archaeological Site and Museum are open daily with free admission days throughout the year as well as holidays closed or with reduced hours.

Archaeological Museum of Delphi

The Archaeological Museum of Delphi is located directly next to the archaeological site and is the perfect spot to visit afterwards (or beforehand if you’d rather see the artifacts before the ruins and site).

This museum is one of the most important museums in Greece and is home to the discoveries made and artifacts found at the Archaeological Site of Delphi. 

The museum displays many famous statues; from the Charioteer of Delphi to the Sphinx of Naxos . You’ll also witness pieces found from the Treasury of the Athenians as well as pieces from the late Hellenistic and Roman periods.

The museum is made up of two floors and follows a timeline from the early Greek periods until the most recent that’s represented in the museum. 

Tickets to the Archaeological Museum are included with entrance to the ruins and operating hours are the same for both the museum and archaeological site. 

Arachova Village

After spending most of the day in the mystical ruins of Delphi, a great way to wrap up your one day in Delphi is to head to the nearby village of Arachova. Arachova is located about 12km away from Delphi and is undoubtedly one of the most wildly beautiful villages in central Greece.

Sitting within the hills of Mount Parnassus at an altitude of 960 meters, Arachova is a true winter destination but also a lush and lively place to visit throughout the warmer months. 

Wander around the main Lakka Square and its many shops while taking in the stunning scenery and decorations. Maybe even take the long walk up to the Holy Church of Agios Georgios for outstanding views of Delphi and Parnassus. 

If you’re visiting in winter , skiing is the main activity of choice and Arachova is a bustling small town throughout the winter months.

Looking for something to eat in Arachova before heading back to Athens? I recommend the restaurant, Skala , located in the center of Arachova. The food is highly rated, local, and with moderate prices in comparison to the high quality of the dishes. 

Have More Than One Day in Delphi?

If you have more time to spend in the region, central Greece is full of treasures to discover no matter the time of year. It’s an entirely underrated part of the country that has so much history and beauty worth your time to explore

Hosios Loukas Monastery

The Hosios Loukas Monastery is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in the area located around 38km from Delphi and close to Arachova. The monastery’s church is one of the most well-preserved small churches from the Middle Byzantine era.

This church was established by the famed Greek monk Loukas and is the only known church in Greece that was built in the 10th century. Inside you’ll find relics to showcase the Byzantine period as well as the wealth and history of the monastery. 

Meteora 

Although it’s another 3 hours away by car, another destination in the area that without a doubt is worth the visit is Meteora . Here you’ll find the most monumental Greek Orthodox monasteries built on top of some of the most uniquely extravagant and inspiring rock formations in the world.

Nearby, you’ll also find Theopetra’s Cave, which is believed to be the home of the oldest human construction on earth!

Where to Stay in Athens

Athens Ivy Suites – Mid-range visitors to Athens will love this centrally-located hotel. They have clean, bright and comfortable rooms to choose from. There is also an on-site bar and a gorgeous terrace with incredible views over the Greek capital.

The Modernist Athens – This luxury hotel will ensure that you have all you need to make sure you’re well-rested. They have beautiful rooms to choose from and plenty of amenities to ensure your stay is a great one.

101 Adrianou Apartments – For those who would like their own space while basing themselves in Athens , this aparthotel is a great option. There are a range of flats available depending on your group size and it has a great location for exploring the city.

City Circus Athens – This hostel is an excellent option for those visiting the Greek capital on a tight budget. They have both private rooms and dorms on offer, good self-catering facilities and they organise social events for visitors, as well.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Athens hotels!

It’s very clear why Delphi is one of the most visited locations in Greece and visiting for yourself will undoubtedly give you a good understanding of why. From tales of Ancient Oracles to relics from the beginning of Democracy, a day trip from Athens to Delphi will surely be a magical day that you’ll find hard to forget.

Are you planning to spend a day in Delphi? Have any questions? Let us know in the comments!

Related Posts:

The Ultimate 2, 3 or 4 Days in Athens Itinerary

Is Santorini Expensive? A Santorini Trip Cost Guide

The Perfect 5 to 7 Day Peloponnese Road Trip Itinerary

About Olivia Ellis

Olivia is a writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from Michigan, USA, she is currently living in Athens, Greece exploring Europe and filmmaking. When she’s not travelling or writing, Olivia can be found cooking delicious new recipes from around the world, reading, and spending time outdoors.

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Delphi Guided Day Trip from Athens

• Short Description
• Tour Information

Adults: 89€

• Visit accompanied by your guide – archaeologist to the Center of the ancient world – Delphi Archaeological Site & Temple of Apollo.
• Skip the lines entrance tickets of all sights of Delphi
• Explore the majestic Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia – “Tholos”.
• Marvel at the artifacts in Delphi Archaeological Museum and be astonished by the body structure of the bronze Charioteer.
• Enjoy a delicious meal in a traditional Greek taverna.

                                                                                         Delphi museum

Please meet with our licensed Tour Guide at Chatzichristou str & Makrigianni str (corner), 50 meters away from the metro station ”Acropolis”. – Look out for the BLUE umbrella at the meeting point. And depart for Delphi archaeological site with our air-conditioned vehicle. Drive through Boeotia plain, hearing tales about ancient Greek Mythology, King Oedipus, God Apollo, and find yourself being immersed in the myths and monuments of Ancient Greece.

Our main stop is at Delphi Archaeological Site. Marvel at some of the most important and unique archaeological monuments, such as the Athenian Stoa, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Polygonal Wall, and the Temple of Apollo. After that, visit the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, which hosts globally known artifacts like the Naxian Sphinx, the frieze of the Treasury of the Sifnians, the bronze Charioteer and the statue of Antinoos. Our professional licensed tour guide will ensure you notice everything and make the most out of the tour.  (2h 30 min)

Our final stop is the picturesque village of Arachova. We suggest you have your lunch in one of the many traditional restaurants of the town, take a walk around its narrow alleys, marvel at the hand-woven carpets, and buy local delicacies, such as Formaela cheese. Get back in the vehicle and return to Athens late in the afternoon.

Operates: Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Saturday at 08:20 am from Chatzichristou 21 Street 

Duration: 10 hours 

Additional Info

• Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible
• Near public transportation
• Infants must sit on laps
• An adult must accompany children.

Air-conditioned luxurious Coach

Licensed Tour Guide

Vat and all legal taxes

Entrance tickets of Delphi and Delphi museum

Not Included

Meals and Drinks

Cancellation Policy

Up to 24 hours before the scheduled tour departure time, there is no cancellation fee.Within 24 hours of the scheduled tour departure time, there is a 100% cancellation fee.

Pick Up/ Drop Off from/ to hotel

From Our Gallery

Meeting point: 21 chatzichristou str & makrigianni str, athens 11742, 50 meters away from the metro station ''acropolis''., you will also like, ancient athens tour: acropolis, parthenon & acropolis museum, acropolis afternoon tour – skip the line, athens gourmet food tour, acropolis tour morning, athens cooking class with acropolis views dinner, acropolis monuments, parthenon, plaka and monastiraki square, athens nightlife: sightseeing, spirits, and food.

Private tour

Acropolis and Ancient Agora

Delphi tour: full-day tour from athens.

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A Date with Destiny: The Oracle of Delphi

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The enigmatic site of the famous oracle of Delphi makes a great day trip from Athens. And there’s plenty more to see along the way.

By Diana Farr Louis

Delphi was not one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. But when it came to status and importance, few sites were as powerful as Delphi, an easy two and a half hour road trip from Athens. For a thousand years, people rich and poor, kings and peasants from across the Mediterranean and Asia Minor, visited and venerated the sanctuary of Apollo. Its oracle was the spiritual centre of their world. 

Delphi was a place you went to foretell your future: from questions about marriage and planting crops, to weighty matters of state like whether to go to war. The fortune teller—a middle-aged, devout village woman— is thought to have entered her trance by chewing bay leaves or perhaps something mildly poisonous. Her prophecies were famously obscure and open to various interpretations. Among the most celebrated was the advice given to Themistocles when he asked how to defend Athens against the Persians: “Trust in your wooden walls.” Themistocles set about reinforcing his fleet, which trounced the Persians in the naval battle of Salamis in 480 BC. The cryptic oracle thrived for centuries and those who came seeking answers made offerings as payment, turning Delphi into one of the Hellenic world’s wealthiest shrines.

Here lived an ancient teller of fortunes.

Of myths and mountains

Delphi would surely have also made the list of antiquity’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. Even today, its setting alone makes it worth the pilgrimage. The ruins run horizontally and vertically on the south-facing slope of Mount Parnassos, one of Greece’s highest mountains, and overlook one of its largest olive groves, with the Gulf of Corinth in the background. The pilgrims would purify themselves in the famous Castalian spring at the foot of the dizzying red-gold cliffs of Phaedriades.

Myths abound as to Delphi’s origins as a sacred nexus: from other-wordly fumes rising from a chasm that induced the uttering of prophecies; to Zeus releasing two eagles from separate ends of the earth and declaring the place where they met to be the omphalos (navel) of the world. (You can see the rather homely boulder that was the ‘belly button’ in the museum, which lies a few metres south of the main entrance to the ruins).

Getting site specific

The oracle was originally dedicated to Mother Earth. But by Homer’s day (8th century BC), Apollo, the god of prophecy and light, had made it his domain. Walk up the Sacred Way that zigzags to his temple and you will pass the bases of the various treasuries donated by Greek city states and colonies (models of these are on display in the museum too). The temple itself is much ravaged, but enough has been restored to give you some idea of its former might. As they approached it, worshippers would have seen two famous commands at either end of the massive foundation: “Know thyself” and “Nothing in excess”. Words to still take to heart.

The ruins of the Temple of Apollo.

An ancient Greek site is nothing without a theatre.

Above the temple lies a perfect small theatre and, above that, the stadium where the Pythian Games (only slightly less important than the Olympics) were held every four years. Believe it or not, so much of Delphi was once pillaged, buried by earthquakes or built over, that once upon a time this stadium would have been all you could see here. But French archaeologists in the late 19th  century went to work. After persuading the villagers to relocate to the new town nearby, built specially for them, the archaeologists gradually peeled back the layers of these astounding ruins, revealing sculptures, inscriptions, and offerings to Apollo and his spokeswoman, Pythia. The place from which Pythia uttered her advice has not been found, though it was thought to be under the temple.

Before you start wandering about this riveting site, visit the museum, where you’ll find models of what it was like in its heyday, as well as maps and information to help you find your way around. The prize attraction, in a room of its own, is the so-called Charioteer, a masterpiece in bronze whose glass eyes and beautiful toes will mesmerise you. Don’t forget to explore below the road, too. You’ll find the temple of Athena and a delightful tholos—or circular monument—in pink and white marble. 

Don't leave without visiting the museum.

Courtesy: Nataliia Sokolovska : Shutterstock.com

The Athenian Treasury is the most intact structure of the site.

Good to know

Delphi is a terrific place to visit off-season. Most people say they can sense a certain “something” in the air here and that tangible feeling is stronger when there are fewer visitors around. Exploring ancient Delphi in milder weather - or first thing in the morning, if you’re there in summer - also makes for a more comfortable experience. A map and a guidebook should be more than adequate for poking around Delphi on your own. But if you’re the kind of person who likes to drill deep and leave the scheduling to someone else, you can always book one of the many Delphi tours from Athens. Alternative Athens and Athens Insiders are two operators providing good packages.

Things to see and do in and around Delphi

The most impressive thing about the modern town of Delphi are the dramatic mountain and sea views you’ll catch from the balconies of its many hotels and restaurants. You might even spot Zeus’ eagles in flight below you. For a seaside lunch, you could drive about half an hour through splendid olive groves to the coastal town of Itea , directly below the site. Or from there head 7 km west to photogenic Galaxidi , a serene port that was surprisingly busy during the age of sail.  Or stick with the mountain theme and drive just east of Delphi for a traditional taverna lunch at Arachova . This rustic village, famed for its upscale boutiques and cheese shops, is a popular alpine escape for fashionable Athenians, with ski lifts and lodges nearby. Hikers wanting to explore the trails on this majestic mountain also use Arachova as their base.

The town of Galaxidi spreads towards the sea.

The mountain village of Arachova is a year-round destination.

If you have your own car, do stop at the Osios Loukas monastery before you get to Arachova. Founded in the early 10th century by a hermit who was also blessed with prophetic powers, you’ll see some remarkable frescoes and mosaics – among the finest in Greece. Nestled in a grove of almond trees, this Unesco World Heritage Site is especially wondrous in early spring.  Osios Loukas lies a bit beyond Distomo , the site of one of Greece’s most brutal massacres. In 1944, the Nazis slaughtered 214 men, women and babies in reprisal for the death of three German soldiers at the hands of guerrillas. You can visit the commemorative monument bearing the names of all the victims and a small museum. If only the Nazis had considered the words of the Delphic Oracle when the Spartans, victorious over Athens in the final battle of the decades-long Peloponnesian Wars, asked if they should raze the city to the ground. The answer was clear: “It is not your duty to destroy the central hearth—and undying fire and flame—of Hellas.”

Delphi Tour

65.00 €

Visit Delphi one of the most important archaelogical places of Greece and perhaps of all over the world, where the most famous oracle of the ancient Greek world operated. Tour Departure from the Syntagma Square area at 8:30 AM and return at 19:00 PM.

Description

Tour Itinerary

• 08:20 am: Please be at the Meeting Point depicted in the confirmation
• 08:30 am: Departure for our full day Delphi Tour
• 10:00 am: A short rest stop
• 11:00 am: Arrival at Delphi
• 1:30 pm: A short walk to the village of Delphi, you will have free time to relax and enjoy lunch, shopping and to explore this delightful mountain village
• 3:30 pm: Depart Delphi, on the way back we will have a short rest stop
• 7:00pm: Arrival at the tour drop-off point Syntagma Square

N.B: Times may change due to unforeseen circumstances.

• Adults: 65 €
• Child (4-12): 45 €
• Infants: Free

Terms & Conditions

• Reservations should be made in advance, at least 12 hours before
• You can change the date of your tour, with at least 24 hours notice
• Each guest will be responsible for his/her own personal effects

Cancellation Policy

• Refund 100% up-to 24 hour notice
• Within 24 hours, 100% non-refundable

An amazing day out of Athens to explore one of the most famous archaeological sites in Greece, “Delphi – The Sanctuary Of Apollo”.

We drive north out of Athens, towards the very heartland of Greece, we pass Marathon, the site of one of the most famous battles in history. While enjoying the interesting narration of Greek history, mythology and traditions, we enter the scenic countryside of the agricultural plain of Viotia were you will see the modern town of Thebes, the ancient city of Cadmus and birthplace of King Oedipus.

After a short rest stop near the village of Livadia, we continue through Arachova, a mountain village famous for its local cheeses and carpet weaving. In the winter season, Arachova becomes a pilgrimage for skiers and snowboarders as one of the most significant ski centers in Greece.

Delphi Archaeological Site

A short drive after Arachova, we enter Delphi, perched on the southern slope of Mount Parnassos, one of the most spectacular landscapes in all Greece. With it’s powerful energy and restless nature, never fails to have an immediate effect on the visitor. We pass on the lower shelf of the mountain on the left, just before the main archaeological site, the Temple of Athena Pronaia and the Gymnasium. To the right Kastalia spring, the place of purification both for the Pythia (the oracle priestess) and pilgrims.

Entering the main site, you will walk the Sacred Way in the footsteps of the ancient Greeks, admiring The Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple Of Apollo and the beautiful Theater of Dionysus. If you wish to explore, further up the site is the Ancient Stadium that was rebuilt by the Romans.

Delphi Archaeological Museum

In the Museum, you will have the chance to admire superb sculptures and artifacts such as the Naxian Sphinx, the famous Bronze Charioteer, as well as many other treasures dating from the late Mycenaean to the early Byzantine period found during excavations at the site and surrounding area.

Delphi Village

Delphi has a population of just over 1000 inhabitants and has an elevation of 632m (2,073ft) it is one of many picturesque villages of Mt. Parnassos. Exploring it’s narrow streets with amazing views over the Gulf of Corinth and surrounding mountains. The village nowadays has many options to offer to all visitors such as coffee bars, workshops, souvenirs as well as some of the most pleasant taverns in all Greece, the village is truly an attraction itself!

Additional Info

The archaeological site is perched on a hillside, be prepared for an Acropolis type walk and you will be rewarded with stunning photo opportunities all over the site. Our main concern is for everybody to enjoy their time at Delphi, you may follow our program or, you can explore on your own within the allocated time.

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Delphi Full Day Private Tour From Athens

Home > Private Tours > Delphi Tour – Full Day

From: € 389 8 Hours (Customizable ) ⓘ   with Private Vehicle ⓘ

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Description:

Our Delphi tour begins from your Athens location (hotel, airport, cruise ship etc.) and we will drive through beautiful wide-open plains and cotton plantations of the Boeotia region .

Heading towards the town of Arachova , the landscape gradually changes as we are gaining altitude through green mountain hills with tall pines and spruce trees, providing you an astonishing scenery.

The beautiful town of Arachova is a popular destination among tourists and locals due to its location on Mount Parnassus , its tradition and its panoramic view. Arachova is also famous for its black wine, colorful carpets, handicrafts and woodcut creations.

Afterwards, we will arrive at the ancient sanctuary of Delphi where the oracle Pythia was consulted about important decisions by important people of the ancient Greek history. Delphi was considered the “ center of the world “. According to the legend, Zeus let two eagles fly from the ends of the world to find the navel of the Earth and the sacred birds met at Delphi . It is also recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

The first site to be seen is the Tholos of Delphi in the Temple of Athena Pronaia which was constructed between 380 and 360 BC and it is the most widely recognized building on the site because of the color of the marble and the fact that it is a round temple, not all that common in Greece.

The Sanctuary of Apollo , situated in the center of the site, is a Doric temple where Pythia used to sit and pronounce her prophecies.

The Athenian Treasury , a marble building, was built to hold the rich offerings made to Apollo and to celebrate the victory at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC.

The ancient theatre at Delphi was built in the 4th century BC further up the hill giving spectators an amazing view of the valley below. Further above is the large stadium which was famous for its chariot races and was renovated by Herodes Atticus .

Finally, our Delphi tour ends with a stop at Arachova to take photos of the amazing view and enjoy a meal before we return to Athens.

• Pickup from your location
• Tholos of Delphi
• Sanctuary of Apollo
• Athenian Treasury
• Delphi Ancient Theatre
• Delphi Stadium
• Drop off to your location
• Transfer in new, luxury air-conditioned vehicle
• Pick up / drop off from your location (hotel, airport, cruise ship etc.)
• Professional local English speaking driver/guide
• Bottle of water
• Food and drinks
• Entrance fees at any point of interest
• Tips (optional)
• The drivers are not licensed to accompany you on your walk to the top of the Temple or inside any other site or museum. (Licensed guide Available on request )
• Entrance fees: Tickets are available for sale at the Ticket Desk
• A moderate amount of walking is involved; comfortable shoes are recommended
• Sunscreen and hats are recommended for visits during the summer months
• Private tour can be customised to meet your interest. Please inform the driver/guide
• Free Cancellation up to 48 hours in advance

Visit Frequently Asked Questions >

Our private tour pricing is based on per vehicle or car, not per person. This means you can enjoy the experience with a group of friends or family without incurring additional costs for each person. The price covers the entire vehicle, offering you a cost-effective and personalized way to explore your destination.

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Delphi Tour Details

Delphi  (Site and Museum)

Hosios Loukas  Monastery

Besides Greece UNESCO sites, you visit :

Arachova Village

Modern Delphi Village

Krya Livadia Springs

As this is a private tour, our guests enjoy luxury travelling,  with photo stops-as-you-go. To get you more acquainted with the local ways and Greek culinary delights, we offer a 3-course lunch option in selected traditional Greek taverns (please enquiry).

Read our full itinerary below.

Departure & Return Location

Your Hotel, Athens Airport , Piraeus Port

Meeting Time

10 Minutes Before Event Time

Price Includes

• Free chilled mineral water
• Private and Exclusive Luxurious Transfer
• Brand new luxury vehicles with WiFi and A/C
• Live commentary by your professional driver
• Baby seat,Booster (upon request)

Price Excludes

• Licensed Guide. Available on request.
• Any Personal Expenses
• Airport pick up and return. Arranged with a surcharge.
• Admission fees into archaeological sites, museums
• Your tour driver can not escort you into the sites.

Useful Information

• Good to have: Sunscreen, T-Shirt, hat, comfortable, non-slippery footwear
• Baby boosters & child-seats available at no extra cost
• Most travelers can participate, no health restrictions

Delphi Tour Itinerary

Departure 7.30am (flexible).

Your driver will meet you at a convenient early morning time to pick you up and start your tour to Delphi.

Visit the Monastery of Hosios Lucas - UNESCO Site

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hosios Loukas Monastery (alongside the monasteries of Daphnion in Athens and Nea Moni in Chios island).  Hosios Loukas was actually a military saint who prophesized the re-conquest of Crete.

The Hosios Loukas Monastery is one of the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine art and architecture founded in the 10th AD by monk Loukas.

The Monastery complex,  set in a serene imposing natural environment, includes buildings and cells next to the two churches, a large collection of Byzantine sculptures and fantastic frescoes such as the top gold mosaic of the saint.

Info on entrance fees to the Monastery

Delphi Archaeological Site and Museum - UNESCO Site

As soon as you reach the mystical site of Delphi, you will walk through the ‘Sacred Way’ uphill to all the Temples and Sites. Some of the sites that you will walk by are:

The Τemple of Apollo, The Theatre, The Stadium, The sanctuary of Athena Pronaia with the Tholos and the Kastalia. 

Afterwards, you will stroll to the beautiful alley, a short distance towards the adjacent Museum with permanent rich collections of findings from the site:

The famous bronze Charioteer, The Sphinx of Naxos, Friezes of the Siphnian Treasuries and The Statue of a philosopher said to be Plutarch or Plato.

There are public facilities if you would like a coffee or tea and plenty of time for your photos before we proceed to our next stop.

Info on entrance fees for the site and museum

Modern Village Delphi

After the Museum visit, your driver will transfer you to the modern Delphi village where you will enjoy your lunch in a Greek traditional restaurant. 

We have found that the restaurant “To Patriko mas”, a restaurant of high-quality Greek food and service, using only local products, offers spectacular views to the Corinthian Gulf, Galaxidi town and the vast olive tree forest. 

Please let us know if you wish us to book a table for you with a 3-course meal.

Village of Arachova

We will continue our Delphi Tour at the picturesque village of Arachova.

You will have time to stroll at Arachova beautiful village with the many handcrafted local production little shops. In the shops, they sell the famous local formaela sheep cheese and many handmade knit and embroidered local fabrics.

In this beautiful environment, you will see the legendary oracle of Trofonios Zeus and if there is enough time, you can visit the medieval castle upon the hill.

There is no entrance fee.

Later on, your driver will take you back to Athens to drop you off at your residence, or airport (surcharged). 

Our goal is for our guests to have unique, memorable experiences with us and we hope we will always succeed in that! 

Know Before you Book

Our Vehicles

All our vehicles are brand new – luxury sedans, minivans, sprinters, and coaches, privately owned by us.

For groups up to 3, we use Mercedes or Audi sedan

For groups up to 7, we use Mercedes Minivans

For groups up to 19, we use  Mercedes Minibuses

For large groups, we use luxury new coaches

Payment, Deposits

Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price).

COVID-19 health and safety measures

Face masks provided for travellers

Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff

Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas

Gear/equipment sanitized between uses

Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized

Guides required to regularly wash hands

Delphi Tour Photos

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Unlocking Delphi: Your Ultimate Guide on How to Get from Athens to Delphi and Discover Hidden Treasures

• Last Updated on: Jan 25, 2024
• Read Time 10 mins
• Published: Apr 3, 2020

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If you love Greek history and philosophy, then you’ve probably heard of the Oracle at Delphi, also known as the Pythia. This mysterious figure is said to have advised famous Greeks from the Athenian philosopher Socrates to Oedipus’ doomed father.

But if you are interested in visiting the site of the ancient oracle for yourself, first you need to know how to get there.

So, in this article, we will show you the best ways to get from Athens to Delphi and some ideas about what to see there.

How to Get From Athens to Delphi

First, let’s make clear that Delphi has no airport or railway line, so planes and trains are out of the question. The only way up Mount Parnassus to the site of Delphi is by driving or being driven from Athens.

How far is Delphi from Athens?

The physical distance between Athens and Delphi is only around 120 kilometers or 75 miles, but with the winding roads and mountain paths, the driving distance is closer to 190 kilometers or 117 miles .

Private transfer ( read more about taxi services, Uber or Lyft in Athens ) is the most comfortable way to travel and should only take around 2.30 – 3 hours to drive from Athens to Delphi.

Of course, you could also drive yourself from Athens to Delphi, either in your own car or using one of the many rental car services in Athens.

If you’re planning to make the drive from Athens to Delphi on your own, we strongly recommend booking a car well in advance to secure a much better price. You can check out your options for any kind of vehicle and find a good deal here .

Private driving is a good way to travel if you plan a private tour of Delphi and want to explore at your own pace.

The main highway between Athens and Delphi is the E75, but you will also have to take many narrow and difficult mountain roads to travel between the two cities.

If you are driving yourself, you must be careful in the mountains to avoid dangerous roads or reckless drivers. If you want a cheaper option to travel from Athens to Delphi, you should consider taking a public bus.

Nevertheless, the best option by far is booking a guided trip from Athens to Delphi with a private transfer.

This way, not only will you not have to worry about finding your way up the winding roads of the Greek countryside, but you’ll also get the most out of your visit by enjoying a guided tour of the archaeological sites with an expert tour guide.

Take a trip to the center of the Ancient Greek universe on a full-day tour of Delphi.

How long is the bus ride from Athens to Delphi?

The main intercity bus line between the two cities is what locals commonly call the KTEL.

They run between 5 and 6 buses from Athens to Delphi daily with tickets (costs 15€) available online, at the station, or on the bus.

The trip by bus takes slightly longer, around 3 hours, including a 10-minute rest stop.

The bus station that runs transit from Athens to Delphi is the KTEL Bus Station B at 260 Liosion Street.

The nearest metro station in Athens is a good 10-minute walk from Bus Station B so factor that into your plans before leaving.

If you like to learn more about how to get around Athens, please read our detailed guide here .

If you choose to take the bus from Athens to Delphi, be careful when you decide to take the trip.

The Greek tourist season is highest in summer, so buses and stations will be more crowded, and tickets will be harder to get. Be sure to arrive at the station early to guarantee you get a seat on the bus.

Even if you buy a ticket in advance, the bus will leave without you if it fills up before you arrive, so be sure to check timetables and station schedules before your trip.

What to See in Delphi

Delphi is one of the most visited sights on the Greek mainland. According to legend, Zeus sent out two eagles to find the earth’s center, and the eagles met over Delphi.

From the 8th century BC to 393 AD, Delphi was known as the most important oracle in the world.

Kings and common people alike would pay tribute in return for the wisdom of the god Apollo, transmitted through the oracle at his Delphi temple.

A priestess made the actual prophecy, the Pythia , who was seated inside the temple and inhaled vapors from the rock. This put her in a trance, believed to make her able to receive messages from Apollo himself.

The travelers weren’t allowed to see the Pythia, but a priest would ask her questions and interpret the answers she gave.

The result was that the answer would be based on knowledge of the day’s politics, what the traveler would expect to hear, and a little guesswork.

In addition, the answer was often worded ambiguously.

The best-known prophecy was given to King Croesus of Lydia, who asked what would happen if he went to war against Persia.

The answer he received was that a great empire would be destroyed. The king took this as a good sign, but as it turned out, his own empire ended.

The Sacred Way

When you enter the area known as The Sanctuary of Apollo, or The Sacred Precinct, you’ll walk up the Sacred Way to reach the Temple of Apollo, just like the ancient travelers did.

On the sides were 3000 statues and a series of treasuries that held the riches donated by various city-states.

On the north side of the Sacred Way, you can see a reconstruction of one of these treasuries.

Temple of Apollo

The temple was originally erected in the 6th century BC, but the remains currently there are from the 4th century BC. The French archeologists who found the temple in 1892 also made some reconstructions on the temple.

As a result, you can get an impression of the scale of the temple.

Above the Temple of Apollo lies a large theatre that could hold 5000 people and almost rivals the great theatre in Epidaurus.

Delphi held a festival every eight years to honor Apollo’s killing of the great snake, Python. The festival included poetry and music performed at this theatre.

From 582 BC the music festival was called the Pythian Games, held every four years, and athletic competitions were added.

Many of the athletic competitions were held in this stadium, which is almost 200 meters long, and can hold 7000 spectators. The current seating is from Roman times.

Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia

Southeast of the Sanctuary of Apollo lies the so-called marble quarry (Marmaria Precinct), where the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia is.

It contains the remains of two temples dedicated to Athena, built around five centuries BC. Between the two temples is a circular tholos.

It is unknown what it was used for, but the three columns re-erected in 1938 have certainly made it the most easily recognizable building in the sanctuary.

This is where the athletes bathe and exercise. The Castalian spring further supplied only cold water to the baths until the Romans added hot water in the 2nd century AD.

East of the baths is the training area, surrounded by remains of exercise and changing rooms.

Poets and philosophers would also use this area to lecture. In addition, there’s also a covered track, which made it possible to have athletic events even if the weather was too bad for the stadium.

Delphi Museum

The nearby Delphi Museum has a collection of sculptures and artifacts that is only surpassed by the ones found at the Athens Acropolis . The museum has a total of 13 rooms, with a statue known as The Charioteer, a life-sized bronze statue.

Another notable piece is a Roman copy of a navel, Omphalos, which marked the earth’s center. There’s also a model of the temple of Apollo.

Tips and useful information on traveling from Athens to Delphi

Surprisingly, out of the thousands of travelers that visit Athens every year, many look into nearby destinations to plan a short escapade.

Inevitably, while researching, most come across Delphi as one of the best places for a day trip from Athens. And so, many questions are dropping in our emails frequently here at Athens By Locals about Delphi and how to plan a day trip there.

We’ll try to answer some of them below to save you some time.

Is Delphi a day trip from Athens?

Yes. Delphi is located only about 3 hours away from Athens. The drive might be slightly longer than other day trip destinations, but it’s easily feasible. Plus, the sites and views at Delphi will surely compensate you for the trip.

Is Delphi worth the trip?

Delphi is a one-of-a-kind destination in Greece. It’s not only the archaeological sites, the museum, and the history. It’s also the magnificent scenery within the lush green nature of the countryside.

How much does it cost to visit Delphi?

You can get a ticket to both the archaeological site and the museum for 12 euros. Admission is free for children younger than 18 years.

How long do you need in Delphi?

2 or 3 hours should be enough to walk through the most important Delphi sites and visit the archaeological museum. When planning your itinerary, however, make sure to leave some time free to enjoy nature. We are certain you will need it.

What is the most sacred site at Delphi?

Delphi is full of altars, treasuries, and sacred sites. The most significant among them is the Temple of Apollo, where political leaders and other important figures consulted the famous oracle Pythia. Ancient Greeks considered Delphi to be the navel of the world.

Why was Delphi considered the center of the Earth?

According to Greek mythology, Zeus released two eagles from the easternmost and westernmost points of the world and asked them to meet in the middle. The place they met was Delphi. What is interesting is the fact that Delphi, the Acropolis of Athens, and Ancient Olympia form an almost perfect isosceles triangle.

Which part of Greece is Delphi in?

Delphi is located in the region of Phocis on the western slope of Mount Parnassus, within the Parnassus National Park and next to a small town of the same name. Delphi is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What does Delphi mean in Greek?

Delphi takes its name after Delphyne, the legendary she-serpent who called it home until Apollo killed her.

To sum it up, Delphi is a perfect destination for a short break from Athens if you want to combine history with nature and culture with outdoor walks.

Its marvelous backdrop against Parnassus Mountain, the fascinating sights, and the exhibits of its museum will not disappoint you.

Follow our tips, start planning your own day trip from Athens to Delphi and prepare to be amazed.

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Delphi Tour From Athens

As travelers embark on the journey from Athens to Delphi, they are symbolically stepping into a realm where ancient tales and majestic landscapes converge.

The tour promises not just a mere transportation from one point to another, but a curated experience that unravels the secrets and history of Delphi.

From the moment the tour kicks off at 08:30 AM to the final return, every aspect is meticulously planned to ensure a seamless and unforgettable adventure.

Join the discussion to discover more about this intriguing expedition that blends history, culture , and natural beauty into a single, captivating day.

Just The Basics

• Inclusive pickup service from central Athens hotels at 08:30 AM
• Professional tour guide for immersive cultural and historical experience
• Full refund for cancellations made 24 hours in advance
• Tour ends back at meeting point for easy return and transition

Here's some more nearby activities we've reviewed

• Athens E-Bike Small-Group Tour With Acropolis, Hadrians Arch (Mar )
• 3-Day Classical Greece Tour: Epidaurus, Mycenae, Nafplion, Olympia, Delphi
• Athens Airport Private Departure Transfer
• Athens: Acropolis, Parthenon & Acropolis Museum Guided Tour

Pickup Information

Regularly, visitors can take advantage of the inclusive pickup and drop-off service offered from a variety of central Athens hotels when embarking on the Delphi tour. This complimentary service ensures a hassle-free start to the day trip.

A selection of pickup points is available, providing convenience for travelers staying in different areas of central Athens.

The tour starts promptly at 08:30 AM, making it essential for participants to be at the designated pickup points on time. It’s worth noting that the activity will conclude back at the meeting point , offering a seamless travel experience.

Plus, a full refund is possible if cancellations are made 24 hours in advance, emphasizing the tour operator’s commitment to customer satisfaction.

Activity Logistics

When it comes to the Delphi tour’s activity logistics, participants can expect a seamless experience from start to finish, ensuring a stress-free and enjoyable journey. The logistics planning for this tour has been meticulously crafted to enhance travel experiences and provide convenience for all participants. Below is a table highlighting key aspects of the activity logistics:

These logistics are designed to optimize the tour experience, offering a blend of comfort, organization , and educational value for all travelers.

Refund Policy

Crafted with traveler convenience in mind, the refund policy for the Delphi tour ensures clarity and fairness for all participants. Refund eligibility is straightforward: a full refund is granted if the tour is canceled at least 24 hours in advance.

However, cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time aren’t eligible for refunds. Plus, changes to bookings can’t be accommodated within 24 hours of the tour’s commencement.

To initiate the cancellation process and request a refund, participants must adhere to the specified timeline. This policy aims to balance the need for flexibility with the tour’s operational requirements, ensuring a seamless experience for all involved.

Start Time Details

Ensuring a prompt start to the day’s adventures, the Delphi tour kicks off promptly at 08:30 AM.

To give you a glimpse of the tour schedule and time management , here are some key points to keep in mind:

• Punctuality Matters : The tour operates on a strict schedule, so being on time is crucial to make the most of the experience.
• Efficient Time Management : Each stop along the way is optimized to balance exploration and travel time effectively.
• Professional Guidance : The knowledgeable guides ensure that the tour stays on track, providing insights without compromising the schedule.

With these details in mind, travelers can look forward to a well-organized and memorable journey through Delphi.

End Point Information

The tour concludes back at the meeting point, providing a seamless end to the day’s exploration of Delphi. Travelers will be returned to their original pickup location in central Athens, ensuring convenient transportation arrangements for their journey back.

This return to the meeting point allows for easy access to any personal belongings left behind earlier in the day and serves as a familiar spot for all participants to regroup before heading off to their next destination. Whether travelers choose to continue their adventures or head back to their accommodations, the meeting point offers a central and well-known location for a smooth transition.

Traveler Photos

Upon completing the enlightening journey through Delphi, travelers have the opportunity to browse through a selection of captivating traveler photos capturing the essence of the experience.

Check out these highlights:

• Memorable Moments: Witness the beauty of ancient ruins and stunning landscapes in Delphi.
• Cultural Immersion: Dive into the rich history and mythology of Delphi through the lens of fellow travelers.
• Shared Experiences: Feel the spirit of exploration and discovery as you view snapshots of Delphi memories captured by others.

These traveler photos offer a glimpse into the magic of Delphi, allowing visitors to relive their own adventures and treasure the moments shared in this historic destination.

Here's a few more nearby tours and experiences we have reviewed.

• Athens Electric Bike Small Group Tour
• Visit of the Acropolis With an Official Guide in Spanish
• Greek Cooking Class in Athens Including Rooftop Dinner With Acropolis View
• Athens 4-Hour Cooking Class With Central Market Visit
• The Ultimate Food Tasting Tour of Athens Greece-Small Group
• Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Private Tour With Licensed Expert

Additional Notes

For those looking to enhance their Delphi experience with valuable insights and practical tips, the following notes provide essential information to make the most of your visit.

Delphi, known for its historical significance as the home of the famous Oracle, offers visitors a chance to explore ancient Greek history.

While exploring this archaeological site, take a moment to savor the local cuisine at nearby restaurants, where traditional Greek dishes add a flavorful touch to your journey. From moussaka to souvlaki, the region’s gastronomy is a treat not to be missed.

Understanding the historical context of Delphi will enrich your visit, as you appreciate the importance of this ancient sanctuary in Greek mythology and history.

Here's more of our most recent tour reviews happening neaby

• Private Transfer From Vouliagmeni-Varkiza-Glyfada-Alimos-Faliro to ATH Airport
• 5 Days Winter in Greece – Nafplion, Olympia, Delphi, Meteora From Athens
• Ancient Olympia Private Day Tour
• Lavrio Private Airport Transfer
• Private Transfer From Athens/Piraeus to Lefkada or Vice Versa
• 2-hour Street Food Tastings in Athens
• Explore Sounion & Lavrio: Culture, Walking & Swimming Day Tour
• Private Helicopter Transfer From Athens to Milos
• Private Transfer From Athens Airport (Ath) to Syvota
• 2 Days Private Tour in Delphi-Meteora
• Ancient Corinth Saint Paul Step and Thermal Spa Day Trip

Experience the magic of Delphi on a seamless tour from Athens. With convenient pickup points, complimentary transfers , and a punctual start time, this journey promises a hassle-free exploration of ancient wonders.

Enjoy the flexibility of a clear refund policy and learn about the history and beauty of Delphi with this meticulously planned tour.

Don’t miss out on this enriching experience that will leave you with unforgettable memories.

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