Day Trips from AthensOct 30, 2026 · 6 min read

Delphi Day Trip from Athens: How to Get There, How Long to Stay

Delphi is one of the most popular trips out of Athens, and it fits in one day if you plan the timing. This guide covers how to get there, how long to stay, what the ticket costs and what you will see. All site times come from the Ministry of Culture. If you would rather not deal with timetables, our Delphi day tour from Athens starts at your hotel and takes about 8 hours.

How to get from Athens to Delphi

You have two real choices, because no train reaches Delphi. We searched the Hellenic Train booking system and it lists no station at Delphi (Hellenic Train). So the trip means a bus or a car.

Option	Time	Good to know
KTEL bus	About 2.5 hours each way	Fixed timetable, ends at the Liosion bus station in Athens
Private car	About 8 hours for the whole day, with stops	Hotel pickup, adds Arachova and Osios Loukas

Sources: Visit Greece, KTEL Fokidas, our Delphi tour page.

By KTEL bus

Buses from Athens to Delphi leave daily at 08:30, 10:30 and 18:00, and at 15:00 on every day except Saturday. Buses back leave Delphi daily at 11:00, 16:00 and 18:30, and at 14:30 on Sunday (KTEL Fokidas timetable). The national tourism organisation puts the trip at about 2.5 hours (Visit Greece).

For a day trip, take the 08:30 bus, which should reach Delphi around 11:00. The 16:00 bus back gives you about five hours there. Buses end at the intercity station on Liosion Street, so plan your ride to your hotel. Check the timetable before you go, because the operator changes it for holidays.

By car

A car lets you leave when you want and link Delphi with other stops. Our tour passes through Thiva on the way out, then stops at Arachova for lunch and at the monastery of Osios Loukas on the way back. You can read how it compares with other routes in our guide to the best day trips from Athens.

How long to stay at Delphi

Allow two to three hours for the site and the museum together. That is our suggestion, since the Ministry of Culture information page gives no figure. The sanctuary climbs a steep hillside, so you will walk slowly in summer heat. Add time for lunch if you stay in the village or go on to Arachova. With the winter closing time of 15:30, an early start matters.

Opening hours and tickets

Period	Archaeological site
1 November to 31 March	08:30 to 15:30, last admission 15:10
1 April to 31 August	08:00 to 20:00, last admission 19:40
1 to 15 September	08:00 to 19:30
16 to 30 September	08:00 to 19:00
1 to 15 October	08:00 to 18:30
16 to 31 October	08:00 to 18:00

Last admission is always 20 minutes before closing. The site closes on 1 January, 25 March, Easter Sunday, Labour Day, 25 December and 26 December. A full ticket costs €20 and a reduced ticket costs €10, and you can buy either on site or online. Entry is free on the first and third Sundays from November to March, and on a few set dates such as 6 March and 28 October (Ministry of Culture).

What to see at Delphi

The Treasury of the Athenians among olive trees and cypresses on the slope at Delphi — The Treasury of the Athenians.

Delphi lies at the foot of Mount Parnassos, between the twin rocks of the Phaedriades. It held the most famous oracle of ancient Greece, and the Greeks saw it as the center of the world (Ministry of Culture). These are the main things to look for:

Temple of Apollo. This is where the Pythia, the priestess, gave the oracles.
Treasury of the Athenians. It stands on the slope within the sanctuary.
Ancient Theatre. It sits above the temple and has a wide view of the valley.
Delphi Archaeological Museum. It holds the finds from the site.
Castalian Spring and the Gymnasium. Both lie beyond the main sanctuary.
The Tholos. This round building in our main photo stands in the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia.

Arachova and Osios Loukas

Arachova sits on the ridge of Mount Parnassus at about 970 metres, with stone houses and cobbled lanes (Visit Greece). It is a good lunch stop with a view of the landscape. Osios Loukas, on the slopes of Mount Elikonas, was founded in the early 10th century by the hermit Saint Loukas, and his relics remain in the monastery.

Both are hard to fit in by bus. They are the main reason people choose a car for this trip. See what our private Delphi tour includes and ask us what the price covers. The tour page lists a starting price of €500. If you also want to see the rock monasteries, read our guide on going from Athens to Meteora, or contact us with your dates. For other rides in Athens, you can book a car online.

Frequently asked questions

Is Delphi worth a day trip from Athens?

Yes, if you enjoy ancient history. Delphi had the most famous oracle of ancient Greece, and it sits in a dramatic mountain setting. The bus takes about 2.5 hours each way, so you still get about five hours on site if you leave Athens on the 08:30 bus.

How much time do I need at Delphi?

Allow two to three hours for the archaeological site and the museum together. That is our suggestion, not an official figure. Add time for lunch in the village or in Arachova. In winter the site closes at 15:30, so an early start from Athens gives you the most time.

What is the best way to get from Athens to Delphi?

A car is the most flexible way, because it starts at your hotel and can add Arachova and Osios Loukas. The KTEL bus is the budget choice and takes about 2.5 hours (Visit Greece). There is no train. Our guide compares both with their timings.

Can you take a train from Athens to Delphi?

No. The Hellenic Train booking system lists no station at Delphi, so you need a bus or a car. KTEL Fokidas runs buses from Athens to Delphi several times a day, and the first one that suits a day trip leaves at 08:30.

What is the entrance fee for Delphi?

A full ticket costs €20 and a reduced ticket costs €10, according to the Ministry of Culture. You can buy tickets on site or online. Entry is free on the first and third Sundays from November to March, and on set dates such as 6 March and 28 October.

Can you walk around a Delphi archaeological site?

Yes, you walk the site on foot, and the path climbs a steep slope past the Temple of Apollo. Wear good shoes. People with restricted mobility can reach the level of the temple free of charge in a special vehicle, if they tell the Ephorate at least seven days before.

Is Arachova worth visiting?

Yes, it makes a good stop on a Delphi trip. Arachova is a mountain village on Parnassus at about 970 metres, with stone houses and cobbled lanes (Visit Greece). It has traditional shops, cafes and taverns, so it works well for lunch. It is hard to fit in by bus on the same day.