Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Bus -- There are usually five buses daily to Delphi from the Athens bus station at 260 Liossion (tel. 210/831-7096) in Athens, or 22650/82-317 in Delphi.

By Car -- Take the Athens-Corinth National Highway about 74km (46 miles) west of Athens to the Thebes turnoff. The frequently two-lane stretch of road between the National Highway and Thebes is heavily trafficked by trucks and buses. From Thebes, follow signs for Levadia and Delphi. If you wish to stop at the monastery of Osios Loukas, take the Distomo turnoff and continue 9km (5 1/2 miles) to Osios Loukas (be prepared to meet tour buses thundering along this road). At the fork in the road in the village of Distomo, bear left, lest you follow a dead end, but scenic, road to the sea. After visiting Osios Loukas, return to Distomo and continue via Arachova 26km (16 miles) to Delphi. If you are approaching Delphi from the Peloponnese, cross over the Rio-Antirio Bridge to avoid the above drive, which is quite harrowing. Once across the bridge into Central Greece, the coastal road climbs upwards from Itea to Delphi (65km/40 miles). The road is spectacular, but with many curves and almost as many tour buses.

By Organized Tour -- Athens-based companies such as CHAT, 9 Xenophontos (tel. 210/322-2886; www.chatours.gr), and Key, 4 Kallirois (tel. 210/923-3166; www.keytours.com), offer 1-, 2-, and 3-day trips to Delphi. If possible, take the 2- or 3-day trip, which usually includes a bit of the Peloponnese or an excursion to the Meteora. Most tours leave Athens by 8am and arrive at Delphi by 3pm after a stop at Osios Loukas. Day tours get back to Athens by 8pm, while longer trips give you most of your second day in Delphi before heading to their next destination. The price (including transportation, site and museum admissions, guide, hotel, and most meals) is from 95€ for a day trip, from 155€ for a 2-day trip, and from 350€ for a 3-day trip. Prices are for one person in a shared double room. Sometimes it is possible to get a single room at the same rate, but there is usually a 50€ supplement, and prices are sometimes much lower in winter. An exceptionally well-traveled friend who was leery of the inevitable regimentation of a group tour had nothing but praise for her 2-day CHAT excursion.

Visitor Information

Most services, such as the post office, tourist office, and banks, are in the village of Delphi (pop. 2,500), on the obvious main street. Like many streets in Greece, Delphi's main street has several names (King Paul and Queen Frederika, or Karamanlis), but directions are invariably given by landmarks, not street names. The tourist office (tel. 22650/82-900), in the town hall, is usually open Monday through Friday from 8am to 2:30pm, and sometimes reopens from 6 to 8pm in summer, although staff may be of minimal help. The museum and ancient site (signposted) are about 1km (1/2 mile) out of town, on the Arachova Road. If you want an English-speaking taxi driver for a tour of the area, inquire at your hotel or at the tourist office.

Getting Around

Parking spots are at a premium both in the village and at the site. If you can, park your car near your hotel and walk everywhere. If you have to drive to the site rather than walk the 5 to 10 minutes from town, be sure to set off early to get one of the few parking places. Whether you walk or drive, keep an eye out for the enormous tour buses that barrel down the center of the road. Traffic on the lower main street heads toward the site and Arachova; traffic on the upper main street heads out of Delphi toward Itea and the Gulf of Corinth.

The Delphi Tram -- If you want to tour today's Delphi as well as the ancient sanctuaries, check out the free tram that leaves from the Hotel Vouzas and gives 30-minute rides around the village of Delphi daily in the summer and on some off-season weekends.

Fast Facts

Everything you need, including the post office, telephone office, and several banks with ATMs, including the National Bank of Greece, is on the main street. The police (tel. 22650/82-222) are in the town hall. For first aid, call tel. 22650/82-307.