Delphi & Thermopylae Day Trip Private Tour with Driver

Stand at the Temple of Apollo and walk the mountainside ruins without organizing the logistics

A private full-day tour from Athens to the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Delphi and the ancient battlefield at Thermopylae, traveling in an air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup and a driver fluent in English who provides historical commentary. You choose between lunch included with traditional Greek food or without food, and can arrange a licensed tour guide upon request. Museum entries and lunch are paid on-site or included depending on your option.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Delphi Archaeological Museum1h
2. Temple of Apollo1h

Delphi and Thermopylae full day tour

• Travel from Athens to Thermopylae
• Visit Thermopylae battle site
• See Leonidas statue
• Explore Lamia Municipality museum
• Travel to Delphi archaeological site
• Walk sanctuaries of Apollo and Athena Pronaia
• Visit ancient stadium and theater
• See Tholos of Athena Pronaia
• Tour Temple of Apollo
• Visit Delphi Archaeological Museum
• Enjoy lunch at traditional Greek tavern
• Have coffee break
• Return to Athens

The experience

You're picked up from your Athens hotel or airport and driven north in a private, air-conditioned vehicle for roughly ten to eleven hours total. The driver is not a licensed site guide but speaks fluent English and knows the history well enough to explain what you're seeing on the way. The route itself crosses into central Greece, and you stop first at Thermopylae, the narrow coastal pass where King Leonidas and the Spartans made their stand against the Persian invasion in 480 BC. There's a statue of Leonidas at the site and a museum dedicated to the battle, both worth your time if you want the context before moving on.

Delphi sits high on a mountainside, and the archaeological complex spreads across terraced levels. You have free time to walk through the sanctuaries of Apollo and Athena Pronaia, the ancient stadium and theater, and the Tholos of Athena Pronaia: a circular 4th-century structure with Doric columns that stands as one of the site's architectural standouts. The Temple of Apollo, partially restored, occupies the most prominent position. It's the third temple built there and dates to the 4th century BC. The driver can answer questions about what you're standing in front of, though you'll explore the ruins on your own pace.

The Delphi Archaeological Museum is one of Greece's principal museums, organized across fourteen rooms on two levels. It holds the famous Charioteer of Delphi, the Sphinx of Naxos, architectural fragments like the frieze of the Siphnian Treasury, and thousands of objects from the sanctuary spanning the Mycenaean period through the early Byzantine era. Lunch happens at a traditional Greek tavern. You choose the option with Greek traditional food included or without food when you book, and there's free time to eat or shop. Before the drive back to Athens, there's a coffee break to rest.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with hotel, airport or port pickup and drop-off.
• bottled water and WiFi on board.
• professional driver with deep historical knowledge and fluent English commentary.
• lunch at a traditional Greek tavern (Greek traditional food option) or without food depending on which option you choose.

Options for this experience

2 options

Without foodGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 09:00Lunch: We will stop for lunch regardless, though the meal is not part of the price. Includes pickup

Featuring traditional Greek foodGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 09:00Lunch: Savor genuine Greek dishes and classic local fare. Includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 09:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on site€ 23

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by My Athens Transfers

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Athens and want to see Delphi and Thermopylae without renting a car or navigating between sites: the private vehicle and included pickup mean you travel on your schedule, and the driver handles the route while you focus on the ruins. Choose the option with lunch included if you'd rather not search for a tavern midday. Pick the no-food option if you prefer to eat where and when you choose.

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Top questions

What's actually inside the Delphi Archaeological Museum?

The Delphi Archaeological Museum houses over 2,270 square meters of exhibits across two levels, including the famous Charioteer of Delphi statue, the Sphinx of Naxos, architectural elements like the Siphnian Treasury frieze, and thousands of ex-votos and objects from the sanctuary dating from the Mycenaean period through the early Byzantine era.

Can I hire a licensed tour guide to walk through the sites with me?

A licensed tour guide can be arranged upon request and depending on availability. Ask when you book, as this is not automatic with the standard tour.

Do I need to pay for museum entry separately?

Museum entries at Delphi and Thermopylae can be purchased on-site. They are not included in the tour price.

What does the driver do once we reach the archaeological sites?

The driver is knowledgeable about history and provides commentary on the way to and from Delphi, but does not enter the archaeological sites with you. You explore the ruins and museums at your own pace and can ask the driver questions when you return to the vehicle.

Is lunch included, and what are my options?

You choose at checkout: the tour includes lunch at a traditional Greek tavern with Greek traditional food, or you can book without food and eat on your own. Either way, you have free time to eat or shop during the midday break.

How long is the full day, and what time do I get back to Athens?

The tour runs ten to eleven hours total, including travel time, stops at Thermopylae and Delphi, the museum, lunch, and a coffee break before the return drive to Athens.