Delphi & Hosios Loukas Monastery Private Minivan Tour from Athens

Delphi's Temple of Apollo and Byzantine monastery in one day, without the tour bus crowds

A private full-day tour from Athens to Delphi, the ancient oracle site on Mt. Parnassus, and the 10th-century Hosios Loukas Monastery, with hotel pickup and an expert English-speaking driver. You visit the Temple of Apollo, the ancient theater, and the Delphi Archaeological Museum to see the bronze Charioteer and other classical Greek treasures, then explore the Byzantine monastery's frescoed churches before returning to Athens.

Options for this experience

3 options

From € 208 per person, depending on the option and date you choose. See options & prices

Tickets not included 7 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 10:00 Guide in English or Greek Entrance fees to archaeological sites and museums are not covered by the tour price and must be paid on site. Duration: 9 hours. Private transportation. Pickup is included.

Tickets included 7 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 10:00 Guide in English or Greek The tour price covers all entrance fees to the archaeological sites and museums on the itinerary. Duration: 9 hours. Private transportation. Pickup is included.

Tickets and lunch included 7 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 10:00 Guide in English or Greek Duration: 9 hours. The tour price covers lunch and all entrance fees to the archaeological sites and museums on the itinerary. Private transportation. Pickup is included.

None of these options right for you? See 4 alternatives ›

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Delphi and Hosios Loukas Monastery

• Pass by Livadeia town
• Visit Hosios Loukas Monastery
• Explore Delphi archaeological site
• Consult the Oracle at Delphi
• Visit Delphi Archaeological Museum
• See Temple of Apollo ruins
• Visit Arachova village
• Optional: Enter sites with tickets
• Optional: Lunch stop

Stops and time spent at each 6 stops

1. Livadia passing by
2. Hosios Loukas Monastery 45m
3. Delphi 1h
4. Delphi Archaeological Museum 1h
5. Temple of Apollo 1h
6. Arachova 45m

What’s included

• Hotel or Airbnb pickup and drop-off in Athens.
• private minivan or luxury sedan transport depending on group size.
• expert English-speaking driver with historical knowledge.
• WiFi, air conditioning, and bottled water in the vehicle.
• depending on your chosen option, entrance tickets to Delphi, the Delphi Archaeological Museum, and Hosios Loukas Monastery.

Times

• Every day 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00

Information

Private full-day tour from Athens to Delphi and Hosios Loukas Monastery with hotel pickup, expert English-speaking driver, and minivan or sedan transport for groups of 1–7.

Group Private

Live guide English and Greek Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. See the pickup points

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

Good to know

Low physical effort Stroller-friendly Infant seats available Pets welcome

More information The pickup points, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 6 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

Delphi sits on the slopes of Mt. Parnassus in a landscape that has changed little since ancient times. The Greeks believed this was the navel of the earth, the spiritual center where the priestess Pythia delivered Apollo's prophecies to leaders and dignitaries from across the ancient world. The Temple of Apollo, rebuilt around 330 B.C. after an earthquake destroyed its predecessor, still stands at the heart of the sanctuary. You'll walk past the ancient theater, which once held up to 5,000 spectators and dates to the 4th century B.C., and explore the ruins of the sanctuaries of Apollo and Athena Pronaia spread across the mountainside.

The Delphi Archaeological Museum holds the most significant finds from the site, arranged chronologically across fourteen rooms. The bronze Charioteer, a masterpiece of classical Greek sculpture dedicated to Apollo, is the museum's centerpiece. You'll also see the Sphinx of Naxos, the Statue of Antinoos, and treasures from the Siphnian Treasury. On the drive between Athens and Delphi, you pass through Livadeia, a town in central Greece with roots in the Trojan War, and stop at Hosios Loukas Monastery near the village of Distomo. This 10th-century Byzantine monastery, founded by the monk Loukas around the mid-10th century A.D., features two magnificent churches adorned with golden-background mosaics and frescoes from the 10th–11th century. The monastery still functions today and houses the relics of Saint Loukas, which were stolen by Crusaders in the 13th century, kept in the Vatican for centuries, and finally returned.

Your driver is an English-speaking expert with extensive historical knowledge who will guide you through the day's route and context at each stop. Transport is by minivan for groups of 4–7 people or a luxury sedan for groups of 1–3. Hotel or Airbnb pickup and drop-off in Athens are included, along with WiFi, air conditioning, and bottled water in the vehicle. Entrance fees to Delphi, the museum, and Hosios Loukas Monastery are paid directly on site. Depending on which option you choose at checkout, tickets may be included in your booking or purchased separately. Lunch stops are scheduled along the route, though meal costs are separate.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Greek.

What was the Oracle of Delphi and why did ancient leaders travel there?

The Oracle of Delphi was the most prestigious oracle in ancient Greece, where the priestess Pythia delivered the prophecies and divine advice of Apollo to mortals who sought his will on important matters. Foreign leaders and dignitaries from across the ancient world traveled to Delphi to consult the Oracle, believing it was the spiritual center of the Hellenic world and the navel of the earth itself.

What can I see inside the Delphi Archaeological Museum?

The Delphi Archaeological Museum houses the most important finds from the sanctuary, displayed chronologically across fourteen rooms. The highlights include the bronze Charioteer, a masterpiece dedicated to Apollo; the Sphinx of Naxos; the Statue of Antinoos; the frieze of the Siphnian Treasury; and numerous bronze figurines and votive offerings spanning from the late Geometric and early Archaic periods onward.

What is Hosios Loukas Monastery and when was it built?

Hosios Loukas Monastery is a 10th-century Byzantine World Cultural Heritage Site founded around the mid-10th century A.D. by the monk Loukas. It features two magnificent churches adorned with frescoes and mosaics with golden backgrounds from the 10th–11th century A.D. and still functions as an active monastery today, housing the relics of Saint Loukas.

How long is the ancient theater at Delphi and what was it used for?

The ancient theater at Delphi was built in the 4th century B.C. and features 35 rows with space for up to 5,000 spectators. It was used for performances and religious ceremonies as part of the sanctuary complex until it was destroyed by Emperor Theodosius I in 390 A.D.

Will the driver accompany me inside the archaeological sites?

Your English-speaking driver has extensive historical knowledge and will guide you through the day's route and provide context at each location, but is not licensed to accompany you inside the archaeological sites themselves. You'll explore Delphi, the museum, and Hosios Loukas Monastery on your own or with a local guide if you arrange one separately.

Operated by Transfer To Athens. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago