Written by Santorini Dave
See Also
• Where to Stay in Athens
• Where to Stay in Delphi
• Where to stay in the Meteora region
• Guide to Mainland Greece
The mystical site of Delphi and the awe-inspiring Meteora Monasteries perched on natural stone formations are two of Greece’s most incredible locales. Both are on the mainland and are easy to visit on a guided tour or independently using public transit or a rental vehicle from Athens, provided a day or two is allotted in the itinerary. While Delphi can readily be done in a single day (but is a lovely place to overnight), we highly recommend allocating at minimum one night in Meteora for the full experience.
Table of Contents
Visiting Ancient Delphi from Athens
Situated on olive tree dotted slopes of Mount Parnassos, the UNESCO listed historic place of Delphi from the 8th century BC is a major archaeological destination in Greece. Once thought to be the focal point of the world, it is renowned for the Temple of Apollo where pilgrims sought divine insight through the Delphic Oracle conveyed by resident priestesses. The Apollo Temple complex also showcases an amphitheater, athletic field, and later marketplace, with an onsite museum providing important context for artifacts. Within walking distance of the main site you`ll also discover the serene Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia and remnants of an ancient athletics facility.
The neighboring hamlet of Delphi is small and easily navigable on foot – essentially two narrow primary streets (one ascending, one descending) lined with Greek tavernas, shops, and boutique hotels that overlook the picturesque Amfissa Valley and cater to more contemporary 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 visiting Delphi on a day trip is possible, spending a night in the quiet village is a lovely experience – and one that is recommended.
- Highly Recommended Hotels in Delphi
- Top eateries in Delphi
- Top attractions to explore in Delphi, Greece.
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.
- Day Trip to Delphi and Arachova: Small group tour, lasting 10 hours. It includes visits to the archaeological sites and museum at Delphi plus the picturesque village of Arachova. Round-trip transportation is provided on a bus along with narration during the journey.
- Full Day Independent Tour: Private, 9 hours. This includes hotel retrieval and return, as well as a more adaptable schedule and personal, cozy experience.
- Delphi & Thermopylae: Private, 10 hours tour. Visits Delphi and the storied site of the Spartan king Leonidas’ 480 AD struggle at Thermopylae. Includes optional stop in Arachova.
- Delphi, Corycian Cave, Thermopylae, Arachova: Private, full-day. The maximum that can be seen and experienced in a day from Athens. Great for those interested in ancient history, archaeology, and mythology.
Downtown lodgings are best for visitors attending Washington State Convention Center events, and the farther from the waterfront, the closer you’ll be. (Look for hotels located on or near 6th, 7th, or 8th Avenues.) Belltown and Pioneer Square hotels are within a 10-15 walk
Athens to Delphi by Bus or Train
Travel between Athens and the ancient site of Delphi did not occur via train, but buses ran regularly and with ease. Most often, coaches journeyed this route five to six times in a day and could reliably be depended on for transportation. Transport to Delphi left Athens from the KTEL Bus Station, located in the area of Liosion, which was approximately a 10 to 15 minute taxi ride from Monastiraki Square or a 10-minute walk from the Agios Nikolaos metro station (green M1 line). The trip`s total time was around 3 hours, with a brief 10-minute stop along the way permitted for nourishment, using restroom facilities, or stretching the limbs.
Tickets are able to be obtained online, at the station in Athens, or directly on the bus in Delphi. (Obtaining on the bus necessitates cash, preferably in coins or small bills.) It’s a wise idea to purchase in advance if able, specifically if traveling during the busy summer months, as the buses can and do become fully occupied. Tickets are typically released for purchase online a few weeks before departure.
Public transport buses have air conditioning and comfortable seating, with a large storage area below the seats. Especially in summer, this route becomes very busy, so we recommend arriving early at the station. Even if you have purchased a ticket in advance, a seat is not guaranteed; if the bus is full upon your arrival, you will need to wait for the next one and buy another ticket.
For a return shuttle journey from Delphi to Athens, we undoubtedly suggest obtaining your admission beforehand online. It’s possible to buy tickets at the minute shuttle station in Delphi (truly only a ticket counter), but while it’s simple to find, situated precisely at the entrance to town, it is regularly shuttered.
The alternate is to pay in cash to the driver upon boarding, or if the station is closed you can sometimes obtain a bus ticket in advance at the restaurant “In Delphi,” which is situated next to the bus stop, but also maintains irregular hours. No matter which approach you opt for, be certain to arrive a bit early to the bus stop so as to secure a seat.
Driving Yourself from Athens to Delphi
Traveling from Athens to Delphi takes approximately two and a half to three hours along well-built and plainly marked (in Greek and English) roadways that are in good repair. While much of the drive is along level and even highways, Delphi is placed in the hills, where the terrain is winding and hilly; if you are not relaxed with driving in these conditions you may prefer taking the bus or an escorted tour instead. Also note that the route to Delphi includes toll roads, so it’s wise to have some easily obtainable cash on hand before setting out.
In addition to greater flexibility in your schedule, self-driving offers an expanded ability to explore the countryside. The area surrounding Delphi contains some particularly delightful stops for a mainland Greece road trip, like 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.
If you’re borrowing a car in Athens, we advise doing so at the Athens Airport, instead of in the city center, so you can easily access the main highways and avoid dealing with the urban streets. It’s also wise to book your rental ahead of time, particularly if you don’t drive a manual transmission and will require an automatic.
Visiting the Meteora from Athens
The Meteora is an impressive large rock formation and a UNESCO World Heritage Site found in central Greece. Though the tall limestone pillars creating the Meteora landscape are stunning on their own, travelers to the region are mainly drawn to the collection of centuries-old monasteries perched atop them. Of the original 24 monasteries, 6 remain active and open their doors for the public to explore. In addition to the grand monasteries, smaller religious sites and interesting hermitages built within the rocks can easily be visited through 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 located) 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 Day Tours from Athens
Note that none of the tours below cover monastery entrance fees or guided tours within the monasteries themselves.
- The 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.
- Train Tour to Meteora from Athens: Small group, 14 hour tour. It involves interior visits to 3 monasteries as well as hermit caves with pre-booked train travel from Athens to Paleofarsalos and bus transfer between Paleofarsalos and Kalambaka.
- Private Meteora Tour from Athens: Private, 12 hour excursion. Includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, transport by private vehicle, a stop at the battlefield location of Thermopylae, and a visit to 3 monasteries.
Athens to Meteora by Train
Travel between Meteora (Kalambaka) and Athens allows for a variety of daily options involving rail transportation. Train trips depart from the central Athens train station known as Larissa Station, situated a short drive north of Monastiraki Square, or accessible via the subway from Syntagma Square using the red M2 line.
The primary routes connecting Athens and Kalambaka via rail usually require transferring at the station in Paleofarsalos. The transfer itself poses little difficulty, and even if there is small time between arrivals, the subsequent train often waits should the first experience delays. (Many passengers traveling by train will be undertaking the same transfer.) The entire journey, with the transfer included, takes between three to four hours.
- Best Budget Hotels: Peradays Hotel – Pera Imperium Taksim
Upon arrival in Kalambaka, the simplest way to visit the monasteries if planning to stay just one day is to reserve a motorized transport tour between the train terminals. If staying overnight in Kalambaka or Kastraki, one can tour the monasteries independently using guided excursions, public buses, or ambulation. We outline these alternatives in our Meteora Monastery Guide.
Please be aware train travel may experience disruptions and partial bus substitutions along these routes through late 2023 due to flooding damage in the area.
Athens to Meteora by Bus
It takes approximately 6 hours to travel from Athens to Kalambaka by bus. Buses to Trikala depart Athens from KTEL Bus Station B, Liosion, located about a 10 to 15-minute taxi 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-connected to most prominent mainland Greece destinations. Bus timetables can be viewed tickets can be purchased ahead of time online.
Local buses run three times daily from the Kalambaka bus terminal 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 terminal. 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 single-way trip to the Meteora monasteries by taxi costs a maximum of €10.
Driving Yourself from Athens to Meteora (and Delphi)
Driving from central Athens to Kalambaka along the direct route takes around four and a half hours, passing through Lamia and bypassing Karditsa along the way. The roads on this route are well-built and well-marked, and the natural landscape is not overly challenging to navigate. Some sections require toll payments, so it`s wise to have small change available before departing.
- Suggested accommodations: The Zenit Valencia hotel has a restaurant, bar, gym, sauna, and is located a few blocks from Casa Roberto. Another good nearby option is the Ilunion Aqua 4 next to the City of Arts & Sciences .
This alternate option allows travelers to go somewhat farther west through Delphi instead of the easier route. This path, requiring around 6 hours from Athens to Meteora, passes through some curvy mountain terrain with sharp turns. While the roadways are paved and kept up well, there are edges with steep drops and sharp bends, so take care while navigating. With sights to see at Delphi and Meteora in addition to the longer drive, attempting to pack it all into one day is too rushed. If choosing this route, we strongly advise remaining overnight in either Kalambaka/Kastraki or Delphi village to avoid hurry.
Regardless of the route chosen, we find that it is easiest to hire a car at the Athens Airport, rather than in the city center, as that enables you to bypass the more complicated tangle of urban streets, and just stick to the primary roads. It’s also a wise idea to reserve your vehicle ahead of time, particularly if you demand 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 inconvenient transfers and will end up taking most of a day. We do not recommend it.
The optimum choice for individuals seeking to explore both locations without a rental car involves either (a) signing up for an organized tour covering both destinations or (b) utilizing public transportation between Athens and Delphi or Meteora, reserving a car service like Daytrip for travel between Delphi and Meteora, then returning to Athens by bus or train.
Highly rated guided sightseeing excursions of Delphi and Meteora from Athens.
- Delphi & Meteora 2-Day Tour: This includes bus transport, accommodation in a 3 or 4-star hotel, dinner & breakfast, and admission to monasteries and Delphi site (but not the museum).
- 4-Day Sightseeing Tour of Classical Greece: Includes visits to Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi, and Meteora along with 4-star hotel accommodations; breakfasts and dinners; entrance fees; and guided tours.
