Delphi Day Trips from Athens
Delphi sits on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, about 180 km from Athens. Tours cover the Temple of Apollo, the theatre and the museum, and most stop in Arachova.
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Most day trips from Athens go to Delphi, Meteora, Cape Sounion or the islands of Hydra, Poros and Aegina. Sounion is about 70 km down the coast; Delphi, some 180 km inland.
Delphi sits on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, about 180 km from Athens. Tours cover the Temple of Apollo, the theatre and the museum, and most stop in Arachova.
The Meteora monasteries stand on sandstone pillars above Kalambaka, about 350 km from Athens. It is a long day: around four hours each way by coach, or go by train.
The Saronic islands are the closest to Athens: Aegina is about 40 minutes from Piraeus by fast ferry. One-day cruises call at Hydra, Poros and Aegina, with lunch on board.
Hydra has no cars: donkeys and water taxis get around its harbour of stone mansions. One trip spends the whole day there; the cruises stop for about an hour and add Poros and Aegina.
The Temple of Poseidon stands on the cliffs of Cape Sounion, about 70 km south of Athens along the coast road. Most tours are half-day trips timed for the sunset.
The Corinth Canal is about 80 km west of Athens, a short drive from the ruins of Ancient Corinth. Half-day tours cover both; full days go on to Nafplio or Mycenae.
Mycenae, the citadel of Agamemnon, is about two hours from Athens in the Peloponnese. Most trips pair the Lion Gate with the theatre of Epidaurus and a stop in Nafplio.
Classical Greece tours link sites too far apart for one day: Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi and, on the longer version, Meteora. They take three or four days, hotels included.
Aegina is the closest island to Athens, about 40 minutes from Piraeus by fast ferry. It is known for the Temple of Aphaia and its pistachios; some trips add Agistri and Moni.
Nafplio was the first capital of modern Greece, about 140 km from Athens. Day trips pair its old town and Palamidi fortress with Mycenae, Epidaurus or Ancient Corinth.
Ancient Olympia, where the Olympic Games began, is about 300 km west of Athens in the Peloponnese. It is a long full day, around three and a half hours each way.
Some trips from Athens need more than a day: two or three days in Meteora or in Delphi and Meteora, with hotels, or a short stay on Santorini or the Saronic islands.
