Delphi day trip from Athens: Private tour with driver

Stand at the Temple of Apollo where ancient Greeks sought prophecy, then descend to mountain springs and a clifftop village

A private day tour from Athens to Delphi, the UNESCO World Heritage Site and ancient spiritual center of Greece, with hotel pickup and return. Your English-speaking driver takes you to the Temple of Apollo and the Archaeological Museum, stops at Mount Parnassus for views across olive groves, visits the Krya Springs in Levadia (known in antiquity as the springs of Forgetfulness and Remembrance), and pauses in the hilltop village of Arachova before returning to your hotel after roughly nine to ten hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each4 stops

1. Mount Parnassuspassing by
2. Temple of Apollo1h
3. Delphi Archaeological Museum1h
4. Herakleidon Museumpassing by

Delphi and Surroundings Private Tour

• Depart from Athens
• Arrive in Livadeia and visit Krya Springs
• View Mount Parnassus scenery
• Stop at Arachova village for photos
• Visit Temple of Apollo in Delphi
• Explore Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia
• See the Tholos of Athena Pronaia
• Tour the Archaeological Museum of Delphi
• Lunch at traditional Greek taverna in Delphi
• Return to Athens and drop off at hotel

The experience

The drive north from Athens takes about an hour and a half to reach Levadia, where the Krya Springs sit along the Erkyna river: one of only two rivers in Greece with a female name. The site is shaded by age-old plane trees, crossed by small bridges, and marked by waterfalls and old watermills. It's family-friendly and paved, with benches throughout. From there, Mount Parnassus rises above, sacred in Greek mythology to Apollo and the Muses, offering views across the countryside before you arrive at Delphi roughly 45 minutes later.

At Delphi, the Temple of Apollo stands where Pythia, the high priestess, delivered Apollo's prophecies to Greeks and foreign leaders who traveled from across the world to seek divine counsel. The Archaeological Museum nearby holds architectural sculpture, statues and minor objects from the sanctuary, spanning from the eighth century BC through Late Antiquity. The Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia sits close to the Castalian Spring, and the Tholos (a circular Classical masterpiece of unknown purpose) rises nearby. Your driver provides commentary en route but does not enter the archaeological sites. If you want a licensed guide to walk you through them, that can be arranged for an additional cost depending on availability. Lunch happens at a traditional Greek taverna with views toward the Corinthian gulf.

On the return, you stop in Arachova, the hilltop village built amphitheatrically at 960 meters on Parnassus's south slope, before the two-hour drive back to your Athens hotel or residence. The vehicle is air-conditioned and fully insured, sized to your group. Child seats are available on request, and the tour is suitable for all fitness levels. Hotel pickup and return are included, as is skip-the-line ticket service to purchase entrance tickets in advance.

What’s included

• Hotel or residence pickup and return in Athens.
• skip-the-line ticket service to purchase entrance tickets in advance.
• air-conditioned, fully insured vehicle sized to your group.
• English-speaking professional driver.
• child seats available on request.
• chilled bottled water.
• parking fees.
• all state taxes and VAT.

Before you book

Lasts 9h–10h, runs every day at 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00, from € 260 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 08:30 and 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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 20

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Private Greece Tours

Is this one for you?Your driver speaks fluent English and provides commentary throughout the drive, so you follow the history and geography comfortably without needing to read a guidebook. If you want a licensed guide to walk you through the archaeological sites themselves at Delphi, that's available as an add-on depending on availability.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, and why was it so important in ancient Greece?

The Temple of Apollo at Delphi was the site of the most prestigious oracle in ancient Greece. Pythia, the high priestess, delivered Apollo's prophecies to Greeks and foreign leaders who traveled from across the world seeking divine guidance on important matters of state and personal affairs. Ancient Greeks believed Delphi was the Navel of the Earth, a spiritual focal point for the entire civilization.

What will I see at the Krya Springs in Levadia?

The Krya Springs sit along the Erkyna river, one of only two rivers in Greece with a female name, in an area known in antiquity as the springs of Forgetfulness and Remembrance. The landscape features age-old plane trees, small waterfalls, watermills, and stone bridges crossing the river. The site is paved and shaded, with benches throughout, making it suitable for families with children.

Does the driver enter the archaeological sites with me?

Your English-speaking driver provides commentary during the drive but does not enter the archaeological sites themselves. If you want a licensed guide to escort you through the Temple of Apollo, the Archaeological Museum, and the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, you can arrange one for an additional cost, subject to availability.

How long is the full day, and what time does it end?

The tour runs nine to ten hours total, including the drive from Athens, stops at Levadia and Arachova, and time at Delphi's archaeological sites and museum. You're picked up from your Athens hotel or residence in the morning and returned there at the end of the day.

What is Arachova, and how much time do we spend there?

Arachova is a picturesque hilltop village built amphitheatrically on Mount Parnassus's south slope at 960 meters altitude. The tour includes a short stop there on the return journey for photos before heading back to Athens.