A visit to Delphi in Greece remains a must. It’s easy to get to from Athens, and a day trip can easily be planned. And yet, we strongly suggest that you take a two-day trip to Delphi rather than a single day. This allows you to take your time and avoid too many journeys on a single day.
What’s more, we loved combining the mountains and the sea. For Delphi is located on Mount Parnassus, but just 40 minutes from the sea (on the Gulf of Corinth). Here are just a few of the steps we recommend. For this tour, you’ll need a vehicle. You can compare prices and rent your car at RentalCars.
Arachova
Ten minutes before reaching Delphi, you’ll pass through this pretty mountain village. It boasts beautiful views over the valley and numerous cafes, bars and restaurants. This village is the chic winter sports resort of Athens. The Mont Parnasse ski resort is just a few kilometers up the road. Here are just a few of the places where we like to stop.
- First to the Papastathis patisserie , offering delicious desserts.
- At the To Tsoukali restaurant , which serves cuisine based on regional produce. One of our favorites.
- For a drink, there are numerous cafes in the charming village square along the main street.
The Delphi site
Of course, you’ll want to stop off at Delphi and its museum. The location of this sanctuary dedicated to Apollo is magical. Today, it overlooks a valley of olive trees that stretches all the way to the sea.
- Information about the site, its museum, opening hours and prices
- How to visit the site: on your own or with a guide?
An original idea for discovering the Delphi site in a different way: a paragliding flight over the Temple of Apollo. A privileged and unforgettable moment!
Galaxidi
To complete this two-day excursion to Delphi, after your visit to the site and the museum, you can continue westwards and head back down along the Gulf of Corinth. Here, the sea is warm and you’ll find plenty of beaches. We recommend a stop at the charming little port of Galaxidi. There’s plenty of accommodation here, making it an ideal stopover. We particularly recommend staying at the Hotel Ganimede located in a beautiful private mansion.
Things to do in Galaxidi:
- A drink along the harbour
- Take a walk from the port to Giannakis beach for a swim
- Visit the pretty little naval museum
Osios Loukas monastery
The monastery of Osios Loukas is one of the most beautiful Byzantine monasteries in Greece. It impresses not only with its size, but also with the richness and precision of its decorations. Its mosaics on a gold background are simply magnificent. It would be a shame to go to Delphi without making a stop along the way.
Dedicated to Saint Luke, it was built in the 11th century. It includes not only a church, but also a number of surrounding buildings that can be visited. Even today, a few monks live there year-round and welcome visitors.
Two days in Delphi… and why not more: Athens-Delphi-Meteora
Delphi is about halfway between Athens and Meteora, so some agencies offer to combine the two over three or four days. Personally, I think it’s a lot of driving, but if you don’t have much time, you can visit two of Greece’s most beautiful sites in just a few days.
Sophie B.
Updated 26 January 2024
