Delphi Full Day Private Tour from Athens

Embark on a full-day private tour from Athens to Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the ancient ruins, visit the Temple of Apollo, and discover the rich history of this fascinating archaeological complex.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Athens - You will get picked up from your hotel, apartment, Airbnb, Athens airport, or Piraeus port.
  • Delphi - Arrival at the archaeological site of Delphi after a 2,5 hours trip.

Free time for a walk at:

  • sanctuaries of Apollo and Athena Pronaia
  • ancient stadium and theater
  • Livadia - Livadeia is a town in central Greece. It is the capital of the Boeotia regional district.
    The area around Livadeia is mountainous, with farming activities mainly confined to the valleys. The area has traditionally been associated with the production and processing of cotton and tobacco, as well as the cultivation of cereal crops and the raising of livestock. The city is also known for having participated in the War of Troy in allegiance with Mycenae.
  • Mount Parnassus - Mount Parnassus is a mountain in central Greece that towers above Delphi, north of the Gulf of Corinth.
    Mount Parnassus offers many advantages to the population of Greece. In peace, it possesses scenic views of the countryside and features olive groves and rolling hills. The mountain is also the location of historically, archaeologically, and culturally significant places of interest (such as Delphi). Recreationally, the slopes of Parnassus provide a medium for hiking (in the three warm seasons) and are skied in winter. Its melting snows provide water to the surrounding communities, reaching out as far as Athens. The mountain is composed of limestone, and its rock contains bauxite, ore that is rich in aluminum. In war, Parnassus has been a center of resistance if need be, providing cover and refuge to partisans.
  • Arachova - Arachova is a mountain town and a former municipality in the western part of Boeotia, Greece, originally called Karyai (also spelled Caryae). Its name is of South Slavic origin and denotes a place with walnut trees. It is a tourist destination due to its location in the mountains, its traditions, and its proximity to the town of Delphi.
    Arachova has a panoramic view, uphill small houses, and the cobbled streets show a picturesque architecture. The town center includes a huge and steep cliff, the Bell Tower, covered with dense ivy. At the top of the tower is a large 10m height clock. Arachova is famous for its black wine, its “brusque”, the colorful textiles, carpets and rugs, handicrafts, and woodcut creations as well.
  • Delphi Archaeological Museum - Delphi Archaeological Museum is one of the principal museums of Greece and one of the most visited. It is operated by the Greek Ministry of Culture. Founded in 1903, it has been rearranged several times and houses the discoveries made at the Panhellenic sanctuary of Delphi, which dates from the Late Helladic (Mycenean) period to the early Byzantine era.
    Organized in fourteen rooms on two levels, the museum mainly displays statues, including the famous Charioteer of Delphi, architectural elements, like the frieze of the Siphnian Treasury, and ex-votos dedicated to the sanctuary of Pythian Apollo, like the Sphinx of Naxos. The exhibition floor space is more than 2270m2, while the storage and conservation rooms (mosaics, ceramics, and metals) take up 558m2.
  • The Tholos of Delphi - Αn intriguing architectural marvel nestled within the archaeological site of Delphi. Tholos provides us with a window into the ancient world and the rich tapestry of beliefs and traditions.

The Tholos of Athena Pronaia is a circular building with a distinctive architectural design, featuring a ring of Doric columns surrounding a central chamber. Built in the 4th century BCE, this unique structure served as a sanctuary dedicated to Athena Pronaia, a variant of the goddess Athena worshipped in Delphi.
Stand before the elegant columns and intricate stonework of the Tholos and imagine the awe and reverence it inspired in ancient worshippers. In the shadow of Mount Parnassus and overlooking the sacred precincts of Delphi, this sanctuary would have been a focal point for religious rituals, offerings, and oracular consultations.

  • Temple of Apollo - The Temple of Apollo, god of music, harmony, light, healing, and oracles occupied the most important and prominent position in the Delphic Panhellenic Sanctuary. The edifice with the partially restored colonnade visible today dates to the 4th century BC; it is the third temple built at the same place. The famous oracle, the Pythia, operated inside the temple, the location chosen, according to one tradition, due to a sacred chasm beneath the site emitting vapors, which were inhaled by the Pythia. Some ancient writers state that the Pythia then entered a state of delirium and uttering inarticulate cries, which were then turned into equivocal oracles by the priests. This interpretation is controversial, and has been challenged by scholars such as Joseph Fontenrose and Lisa Maurizio, who argue that the ancient sources uniformly represent the Pythia speaking intelligibly, and giving prophecies in her own voice.
  • Delphi - Free time for lunch at a traditional Greek tavern with your friends and family or shopping.
  • Arachova - Free time for a coffee before we start our trip back to Athens.
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Bottled water
  • On-board WiFi
  • Knowledgeable drivers
  • Greek traditional lunch option
  • Air-conditioned vehicles
  • Skip-the-line access upon request (tickets not included)
  • Complimentary pick-up/drop-off service
What's Not Included
  • Licensed tour guide (upon request and depending on availability)
  • Entrance tickets - €12 per person for Delphi site and Museum (pre-purchase upon request)
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Embark on a private, full-day excursion from Athens to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Delphi, where you’ll discover the famed 4th-century-BC Temple of Apollo.

  • Travel in the comfort of private, air-conditioned vehicles, allowing your group to explore all the sites within the extensive mountainside archaeological complex that pique your interest before returning to Athens in comfort.
  • While your guides are not official site guides, they are knowledgeable and can provide insightful explanations about the sites along the journey to and from Delphi.
  • Highlights of the trip include visits to the Delphi ruins, the Temple of Apollo, and the Delphi Archaeological Museum, where you’ll delve into the rich history of the region.
  • Experience the awe-inspiring sanctuaries of Apollo and Athena Pronaia, ancient stadiums, and theatres as you uncover the wonders of Delphi.
  • Our drivers are not official tour guides, but they are knowledgeable and can provide fascinating commentary in fluent English. Although they will not enter the archaeological sites with you, they can answer all of your questions about the places you visit with this tour.
  • Third party activities and especially extreme sports are not allowed during the tour. This can be a cause for immediate cancellation of the tour.
Location
Athens
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(315 Ratings)
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Emmajq3325th
Jul 23, 2024
Delphi day trip - Our tour guide Costa made us feel very welcome and informed us on history while keeping the trip fun. Overall, he created a great environment for tourists like ourselves.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marian_k
Jul 21, 2024
Highly recommend Private Day-trip to Delphi - We thoroughly enjoyed our private day tour to Delphi. The flexibility of the tour allowed us to explore each location at our own pace, taking as much time as we needed. Our driver was incredibly accommodating, adjusting the schedule when we lingered longer than expected at certain sites. He was friendly, helpful, and pointed out a few interesting sights along the way.
Review provided by Viator
123321446
Jul 16, 2024
Great private trip to Delphi - We had an amazing day! Everything was perfect! Picked up early at the Piraeus cruise port to beat the crowds. It’s a long drive but totally worth it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
60pramodm
Jul 15, 2024
Great Experience - Panos was our driver and guide. He was very nice person that enhanced our experience for the day. He shared stories from the Greek mythology and life in Greece in general. He was helpful with all of our needs. We used AthensTransfers for other transportation needs while in Athens and always had a good experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Broniahertz
Jul 7, 2024
Simply the best! - Why give Notis, our driver and overall day-tour engineer, 5 stars? He was amazing! His knowledge of Greek mythology and Greek history was much appreciated by my daughter who is a Greek mythology buff and my Dad who loves anything to do with history. Notis took great pride in showing us his beautiful country! He was also flexible with us and never made us feel rushed. Notis took into account the different needs of our group which ranged in age from 10 to 66. He arrived on time, had a very clean and new van ready and cooled for us. We all appreciated that he scheduled a bathroom break on the journey up because it’s 2.5 hours from Athens. He gave us clear instructions as to how to contact him and where he’s pick us from the statue of Apollo, and even though we didn’t quite end up at the pick up sight, he said “no worries, I’ll find you”, which he did. Lunch. Lunch! This was very special! Notis reserved a table for us at an excellent restaurant in Delphi. We had a prime table overlooking the mountain side into the Aegean Sea. The view was stunning, the breeze wonderful, the service excellent and the food delicious. We made one last stop on the way back into Athens to shop at a small mountain town, and then napped on the way back. It was a perfect day delivered by a professional! I can’t recommend Notis more!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marinahftz
Jul 5, 2024
Fantastic and family friendly tour with Kosta - We were driven by Kosta, who was incredibly friendly and accommodating. He was very flexible and easygoing with whatever we needed and he was very knowledgeable about the different areas and history. Thank you so much for this incredible day trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Martine_c
Jul 4, 2024
Don’t miss Delphi on your next trip to Athens - Amazing day driving to the Sanctuary of Athens and Temple of Apollo. Our driver and guide Petros was fantastic and so knowledgeable. We had an incredible lunch at a local restaurant overlooking mountains and olive trees. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
32catherinez
Jul 3, 2024
Day to Delfi with Casto! - The views were amazing! Casto was extremely kind and taught us about lots of information during the tour. The car was nice and clean, the ride was comfortable and pleasant.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lachlan2078
Jul 3, 2024
Fantastic day trip to Delphi - We travelled with Costa who was a super-informative guide, well-versed in everything from history to trivia. Lunch was at a great spot with fantastic views and authentic cuisine. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Doug_w
Jul 12, 2024
Rent a car instead? - The Delphi Full Day Private Tour isn't really a tour. The "tour" includes only a private car ride (which was a really nice Mercedes van) to the sites. There is a few things the driver will point out on the way (the driver was great), however, the driver does not take you through any of the sites...you are on your own (you buy the tickets on site too). If that is what you are looking for and don't mind driving, renting a car would be a whole lot cheaper. We did include the lunch option...which was a restaurant in Delphi that was really good and had an awesome view. Overall, I gave it a 3 for awesome sites and food, but really lacks any supporting tour through the sites.
Review provided by Viator
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