Delphi & Hosios Loukas Monastery tour from Athens: Private

The Oracle's temple sits on a mountainside where ancient priests once interpreted prophecies for all of Greece.

A private full-day tour from Athens to Delphi and Hosios Loukas Monastery includes hotel or airport pickup, transportation, a knowledgeable driver, and lunch at a traditional Greek tavern. You'll walk the Temple of Apollo and the ancient stadium and theater at the archaeological site, tour the Delphi Archaeological Museum to see the famous Charioteer sculpture, and visit the 10th-century Byzantine monastery on the slopes of Mount Helicon, then return to Athens by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each5 stops

1. Herakleidon Museum10m
2. Hosios Loukas Monastery30m
3. Mount Parnassuspassing by
4. Delphi Archaeological Museum1h
5. Temple of Apollo1h

Delphi and Hosios Loukas private tour

• Pickup from Athens accommodation
• Pass by Livadeia town
• Visit Hosios Loukas Monastery
• Pass by Mount Parnassus
• Pass by Arachova town
• Arrive at Delphi archaeological site
• Walk sanctuaries, stadium, theater
• Visit Delphi Archaeological Museum
• Explore Temple of Apollo
• Lunch at traditional Greek tavern
• Coffee break in Arachova
• Return trip to Athens

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Athens hotel, airport, or port, then heads northwest toward the mountains of central Greece. Your driver (fluent in English and steeped in local history) handles the route while you watch the landscape shift from the city toward the foothills. The first stop is Hosios Loukas Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site founded in the early 10th century near the town of Distomo. The walled complex sits on the slopes of Mount Helicon and ranks among the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture. The main shrine holds the relics of St. Luke, whose tomb draws visitors into the quiet courtyards and frescoed chambers.

From there, the tour climbs toward Delphi, passing through the mountain town of Arachova with its steep cobbled streets and views across the valleys. At Delphi itself, you have free time to walk the archaeological site on your own: the Temple of Apollo, where the Oracle once delivered prophecies from a sacred chamber, the ancient stadium and theater carved into the mountainside, and the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia. The Delphi Archaeological Museum sits nearby and holds the discoveries from this Panhellenic sanctuary spanning from the Mycenaean period through the early Byzantine era, including the famous Charioteer statue and the Sphinx of Naxos. Your driver can answer questions about what you see, though they won't enter the sites with you.

Lunch happens at a traditional Greek tavern. The tour includes a meal with Greek traditional food, or you can choose the option without food and eat elsewhere. There's also free time for coffee before the return drive to Athens, arriving in the evening. The whole day runs roughly nine to ten hours from pickup to drop-off. Bottled water and WiFi are on board, and the air-conditioned vehicle accommodates infants (specialized seats available) and suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel, airport, or port pickup and drop-off.
• a professional driver with deep knowledge of Greek history and fluent English.
• bottled water and WiFi on board.
• lunch at a traditional Greek tavern with Greek traditional food (depending on the option you choose).

Options for this experience

2 options

Without foodGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 09:00Includes pickup

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

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

Before you book

Lasts 9h–10h, runs every day, 5 start times, from € 204.50 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

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€ 24

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 if you're combining Delphi and Hosios Loukas Monastery in one day and prefer a private vehicle with pickup from Athens over public transport or self-driving.

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Top questions

What exactly is inside the Delphi Archaeological Museum?

The Delphi Archaeological Museum houses the discoveries from the Panhellenic sanctuary of Delphi, spanning from the Mycenaean period to the early Byzantine era. The collection includes the famous Charioteer of Delphi statue, the Sphinx of Naxos, architectural elements like the frieze of the Siphnian Treasury, and thousands of votive offerings dedicated to Apollo. The exhibition spans more than 2,270 square meters across fourteen rooms on two levels.

Can I enter the Temple of Apollo and the monastery on this tour, or do I just see them from outside?

You can enter both sites. At Delphi, you have free time to walk through the Temple of Apollo, the ancient stadium, theater, and the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia at your own pace. At Hosios Loukas Monastery, you tour the walled complex and its interior chambers. Your driver does not accompany you inside the archaeological sites but can answer questions about them beforehand and after.

What is Hosios Loukas Monastery, and why is it on this tour?

Hosios Loukas is a 10th-century Byzantine monastery near Distomo on the slopes of Mount Helicon, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture and art. It was founded by the hermit Luke of Steiris, whose relics are kept in the monastery's main shrine. The monastery is included because it represents a different era and spiritual tradition from the ancient Greek sites at Delphi, giving the tour a fuller picture of Greek history and culture.

Does the tour include lunch, and what if I have dietary restrictions?

Yes, lunch at a traditional Greek tavern is included with the Greek Traditional Food option. If you prefer to choose your own meal or have dietary needs, you can book the option without food. You'll have the same free time at lunch to eat elsewhere. Either way, you have time to find food that suits you.

How long is the drive from Athens to Delphi?

The full tour runs nine to ten hours from pickup to drop-off, including the drive, time at both sites, lunch, and the return to Athens. Delphi lies roughly 120 kilometers northwest of Athens in the mountains, so the drive itself takes a couple of hours each way, with stops and time at the sites filling the rest of the day.