athorp

We planned on doing a day trip from Athens to Delphi. The more I read about the tours the less inclined I am to do one- they sound rushed and Iike cattle calls. So now I'm thinking about taking a public bus, spending the night in Delphi, and returning to Athens the next day.

Anyone with any experience doing that? Are the buses reliable? How hard is it to find the terminal? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

clausar

Taking the public bus to Delphi is very very easy.

Here is the website of the KTEL buses of the Fokis prefecture

http://www.ktel-fokidas.gr/?module=d..._id=29&lang=en

The whole trip is about 2,5 hours.

Buses are leaving from the terminal that is located at Liosion Street, here is the address and tel of the Athens office at the Terminal

Liosion Street 260, 104 45 Αθήνα

Tel : 2108317096 or Mobile phone : 6936648239

Best way to go to the terminal is with a Taxi, your hotel can call you one. Calculate 20 minutes from the centre to Liosion Street.

The buses are very reliable and very modern

colonna

I did it three years ago. The bus to Delphi was comfortable (though the station bathroom was exceptionally disgusting). I took a cab to the Athens station. There was one stop halfway.

Make sure you know where to catch the bus back, and how to buy a ticket, especially if you're going early in the morning, as I did. The Delphi "station" (basically a kiosk) was closed and I waited a long time in the wrong place.


I recommend an overnight, and try to get a room facing the water. The view is unbelieveable. We had dinner overlooking the harbor, and there was a very dramatic storm.

Also, while it was quite hot in Athens, it was a lot cooler on the mountain, especially at night, so bring something warm.

athorp

Thank you. Very helpful information.

neckervd

Delphi is not on the seashore and has no harbour. But anyway, the bus ride is mega easy and the Delphi ticket office is not difficult to find (otherwise ask locals, everybody will help you).
The Athens bus terminal can also be reached by metro plus a short walk

HappyTrvlr

We had a view of the olive groves stretching down to the sea beyond from our hotel room in mountainous Delphi.

Peony88Peony

Have you considered getting a car and driver?

On our recent trip to Greece we hired a car and driver for trips from Athens to the Peloponnese and to Delphi. Both trips worked out very well. We decided on the specific itinerary and were able to stop wherever we wanted. We were very lucky to have had a very knowledgeable and wonderful driver with whom we felt totally comfortable. We would certainly not have been able to access and see all that we did had we been on a bus tour, using a regular bus or even driving ourselves.

The car service we used was Spiros' Taxi Service in Athens which I would recommend very highly. www.athenstaxi.net/reviews

The cost of a car and driver is actually very reasonable when compared to bus tours and car rentals.

clausar

Peony
A driver is not a guide....
He has no knowledge of archaeological sites and other monuments like an official guide. ( they have studied to become guides)

Taking a car with driver to overnight in Delphi, you have to pay for his accommodations and meals too, i don't think this can be lower than a rental car.

Peony88Peony

The drivers are very careful to tell you that they are not guides and do not accompany you into the sites...however, they can be a good source of information.

Unless you want to go west of Delphi, we found that a one day trip from Athens was quite doable. We had three-four hours in Deplhi, some time in the towns of Arachova and Delphi and a stop at the Hosios Lukas Monastery on the way back to Athens.

Depending on the time one has available, a self-drive car or car with driver would give best access to a variety of places.

mariha2912

I think it is a matter of traveling style and stamina (and of course budget) . Many people visit Delphi as a day trip, this is possible getting early public bus from Athens and returning on evening bus from Delphi. Bus is a tad bit slower than taxi, unless you depart Athens earlier than 6 AM or something, arriving in Delphi bus or taxi, you'll fall into busier part of the day. One way bus ticket costs 15.10 euro/perosn right now, I guess a taxi is way more pricey but obviously more comfortable. Background info is not that hard to obtain doing some homework, of course meeting a person in live is different thasn a guidebook, but if someone can spare the money, I suggest a licensed guide inside the site. Depends on persons' point of view I guess.
Adding other places to visit is an other matter. Delphi is a demanding site. Some people feel much tired after a visit there, other people not so much. Other people would choose to spend some more time in Delphi and soak in the ambiance and scenery while other people would choose to add more destinations on the go. There is no right or wrong, just different approaches for different people.

travelerjan

athorp, many years ago I did a 1-day Delphi trip and was disappointed. in early june 2012 (aided by good advice from Mariha), i did an overnight and the experience was transformed! We left our big bags in hotel storage room, took only overnight shoulder bag, taxiied to Lission station (€10-12) and took the 14:30 bus (€15, 3 hrs, 1 rest stop). From station (a storefront) walked up the street to Pan Hotel. Took room at lobby level with trepidation, but back of hotel faces down mountain -- from our balcony, hawks were circling BELOW! Washed up, strolled to Museum (open until 7:30) .. EMPTY! yay! Enjoyed immensely, signage excellent no guide needed, only this super print-out: http://www.planetware.com/delphi/del...-cen-dathm.htm Next AM, entered site at 8 am, used printouts from guidebooks & good Planetware maps: http://www.planetware.com/map/delphi...-gr-delapo.htm -- again, with homework, no need for guides. NOTE: hike to stadium up top is taxing, and disappointing because not allowed onto actual stadium (falling-rocks hazard)... left at 11:30 or so, walked down to Temple of Athena ... lunch & Bus @1500 (3pm) back to Athens in time to relax before sunset & dinner. Total cost, busses/taxis/room = under €90.

Mimar

Depending on the time of year you're making this trip, staying overnight allows you to see Delphi in the late afternoon and early morning, before the tour bus crowds arrive. A great boon in the high season.