By Bus
There are usually five KTEL buses daily to Delphi from Athens’ Liosson Terminal B bus station at 260 Liossion (http://www.ktel-fokidas.gr/en/; tel. 210/831-7153 or 210/831-7096). One-way fare is 16€. Warning: Phones at information and ticket offices at the main Athens bus stations are seldom answered.
By Car
If you're setting out from Athens, allowing at least 2 hours, take the National Road toward Corinth and then the Thebes turnoff to take in the monastery of Osios Loukas and the sanctuary of Delphi; try to spend 2 nights in Delphi. Then, head north via Lamia to the Meteora for another night or two, before visiting Mount Pelion and Mount Olympus. Take the Athens-Corinth National Hwy. 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.
To get to Osios Loukas, take the Distomo turnoff and continue 9km (5 1/2 miles). Be prepared to meet tour buses thundering along this road. At the fork in the road in the village of Distomo, bear left. 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 can be seriously unpleasant between Athens and Thebes. 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.
A Nice Break on the Way to Delphi: If you approach Delphi by car along the northern shore of the Gulf of Corinth, you might want to take a lunch-and-swim break at the miniature port of Galaxidi (35km/22 miles southwest of Delphi). One thing to remember: on summer weekends, when Galaxidi's cobblestoned streets, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants are thronged with excursion-loving Athenians, it can be standing room only. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Galaxidi was a center of shipbuilding, and its harbor is flanked with the very good-looking stone homes of 19th-century ship captains and seafarers, many of which have been transformed into restaurants, cafes, and small hotels. Tassos (tel. 22650/41-291) and Omilos (tel. 22640/42-111) both have fresh fish. If you just want a snack, try the amagdalopasta (an almond sweet somewhere btw. a candy and a cookie). Almost every Greek island makes its own version of amagdalopasta, but some connoisseurs think Galaxidi does it best. Athenian friends of mine especially praise those on sale at Mina (tel. 22650/41-1117), just off the waterfront. If you're tempted to stay the night, the eight-unit Hotel Ganimede (www.ganimede.gr; tel. 22650/41-328) is set in a 19th-century sea captain's house with lots of charm, a garden, and wonderful breakfasts with homemade jams and freshly baked bread (one of the two owners makes the jams, the other is the town baker!) doubles start at 70€; book directly with the hotel and mention Frommer's and you'll get a 10% discount.
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 and Arakova. 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 100€for a day trip, from 160€ for a 2-day trip, and from 350€ for a 3-day trip (often including Meteora). Prices are for one person in a shared double room; prices are usually much lower in winter. Sometimes it is possible to get a single room at the same rate, but there is usually a 50€ supplement. An exceptionally well-traveled friend who was leery of the regimentation of a group tour had nothing but praise for her 2-day CHAT excursion, although she would have liked a bit more free time to enjoy the sites.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
