Opps sorry just read posts more carefully so Hydros is a no go for sure.

You'll probably like Delphi if you like archeological sites. It sits on a mountain side with spectacular views. The drive however is quite a distance from Atehns and is a long winding mountainous drive. It can be very touristy so I would go as early as possible to avoid the crowds.

Public bus and bus tours make Delphi a nearly two hours drive from Athens city center but private cars, especially a driver familiar with the roads can make it in 2+ hours depending on traffic. I would advice to make arrangements for an early morning start, so that you are earlier in Delphi than most bus and private tours. Start from Athens around 7am the lattest, so you'll be in Delphi at 9.30 the lattest. It can make a huge difference even on October.

IF you are content just with the mosrt usual sights/destinations, you can be back in Athens on early afternoon. Having a car and driver, you may customise the trip a bit more, depending on how long a day you want it to be and what your interests are.

Most people add a side track stop to Hosios Loukas monastery on the way back to Athens, this is an UNESCO heritage site too but the thing is that there are many options in the area that people tend to ignore. Those can be anything from a 15 minute visit to the Angelos&Eva Sikelianos museum in Delphi town or a 90 minutes drive to Souvala to visit the Argyriou winery or whatever. It really comes down to research and specifics.

"Public bus and bus tours make Delphi a nearly THREE hours" that should be.

Another big fan of Delphi - especially if you go with a private driver and have friends along. Take your time and enjoy these magnificent ruins.

Delphi was an absolute highlight for me -I stayed in the modern town and after the day bus hoards had gone the ruins were still open and took on a mystical aura.

Corinth and its ruins are an easy day trip too.

Delphi it is, thanks!

I don't think you'll regret your choice, aliced!

Some suggestions:
- bring lots of water and sun protection;
- don't miss the temple to Athena Pronea a bit away from the main site; and
- definitely plan on some time at the museum!

Enjoy!

I can recommend PKTours (or was it travel) for the day trip to Delphi - they also arranged the guide Penny I mentioned. the driver took us to the monestary of Hosious Lucious which was awesome (and featured in a mystery I was reading at that moment). Also took a quick detour to the site of an ancient battle (argg my mind is mush but it ensured the Macedonian conquest) - what was neat was that the driver, Dimitri, knew enough history to take the little detour. Oh, also stopped at a chilling memorial to an entire village murdered by the Nazis. - enjoy your trip

I also found Delphi a little disappointing... but that was (I'm sure) because we had been to Turkey where the ruins are so much more complete and excavated.

I would go to Meteora. It is a long slog (suggest you take a tour like Viatour, etc because you can just relax on an air conditioned bus.) It truly is gorgeous and unlike any other place I've been.

Loved Greece!

If you can manage to fit awesome Osios Loukas into your trp to Delphi, by all means do!

I’ve been very fortunate – I’ve seen what many consider to be the greatest extant Greek ruins – the ones in Sicily, and Paestum, and Turkey – and I visited all of those places before my recent trip to Greece. For me, Delphi did not disappoint. YMMV.

IMO, magnificent Meteora can wait until you actually have time for it. JMO.