Hi Greece experts!!

My husband and I are planning a 2 1/2 week Greece and Turkey trip in mid-September. First time to those places. We plan to fly into Thessaloniki since it looks to be closer to Meteora than flying into Athens. We then will work our way down to Athens stopping in Delphi. We then will spend a few days in Athens and fly to an island (or 2) for relaxation before heading to Istanbul. Some questions:

1) Is this an advisable route?
2) Can you rent a car at one place and return at another?
3) Are driving conditions pretty safe and well marked?
4) Good suggestions for any other quick stops for photos along the way?
5) Approximate times needed to see and enjoy Meteora & Delphi without feeling rushed?
6) English speaking guide at Delphi?

Thank you!

Yes, it is doable.. and yes you can rent a car in Thessaloniki and and return it in Athens ( compare prices though, as most companies charge different fees for that)

Driving conditions are safe, there are signs everywhere, and driving is not a problem at all.
Of course avoid driving at night, and being in a foreign country, drive always with care. ( which i am sure you will do )

Distances are :

Thessaloniki -Kalambaka 230 km
You will drive on the Egnatia Odos highway ( 150 km), and take a local road from Grevena to Kalambaka ( 80 km)

Kalambaka - Delphi 200 km
This is a very scenic drive, that i am sure you will enjoy very much, there are lots of spots on the way for pictures
especially as you will approach Delphi.

Delpi - Athens 185 km
Stop for a coffee in nearby Arahova, visit the Osios Loukas Monastery . (A Unesco World Heritage site, one of the most important Byzantine monasteries of Greece)
You could also stop for lunch in Livadia, at the marvelous Krya, a nice area with running water, an old windmill and a small gorge. The city of Livadia is on your way to Athens

Have never used a local guide in Delphi, in my organized visits we always had a guide from Athens, so i cannot answer your question....

Happy Planning

You could easily spend an entire day in Delphi. The archaeologicla sites are fabulous and then the little town of Delphi is lovely too.

The monasteries at Meteora are fantastic. We had no idea what to expect and absolutely loved them. As well as being extremely beautiful, they are also very spiritual. You will need to wear very modest clothing to enter the monasteries. Full length pants or a long skirt for the ladies and long pants for the men. Short sleeved tshirts etc are ok, but not sleeveless.


A tip for you at Meteora..... we went there on a little 4 day bus tour and it was the ONLY place where we were warned not to attempt to use the restrooms. One chap did and was horrified. So, use the bathroom at your hotel.

I loved Meteora! Have a wonderful trip!

After leaving Thessaloniki, on the Via Egnatia (an old Roman road), you will go through Veria and pass close to Vergina.

Veria has a modern mosaic altar to St. Paul, who preached there. There are also some picturesque areas such as the old Ottoman Quarter of Barboúta.

At Vergina you will find the Royal Tombs Museum and the Great Tumulus, burial site of Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. The museum is very impressive. Across the road is a Taverna, Taverna Philippeion, that had great moussaka.

The monasteries (and convents) at Meteora are amazing and gravity-defying. If ladies don't wear skirts that are at least knee-length, they will give you a sarong-type wrap skirt. I had been warned but saw others getting them. Convent Agiou Stefanou is pretty easily accessible. Varlaam requires lots of stairs. Try and visit Agia Triada; the setting is stunning and was featured in a Bond movie.

I stayed in Arachova before visiting Delphi. It is very charming. There is a church (Agios Giorgios) at the top of the town, reached by many steps, that has wonderful views.

Thank you everyone! Very helpful. Boosting my confidence for driving. However, it looks like now we may be driving from Igoumenitsa after visiting Corfu to Meteora. Does any one what that route is like? Thank you!

It is pretty much the same....
From Igoumenitsa you will take the Egnatia Odos Highway till the exit of Panagia, and then the local road to Kalambaka.
The distance is 170 km.

Now you will be driving through one of the most beautiful green areas of Greece, Epirus. There's so much to do and see there...

24 km from Igoumenitsa there is the village of Syvota, a village with amazing beaches and small islands, where you can swim all alone.. ( i am always there about the same time as you)

On the Highway you can visit the capital of Epirus, Ioannina, a very beautiful city on Pamvotis lake.
The city is so nice to stroll and see the old houses, especially in the old part, there is also a cave in Perama that you can visit, one of the most interesting ones of Greece with stalagmites etc.

Dodoni, is just a small detour from the highway, famous for the oracle of Dodoni, one of the important arcaeological sites of Greece.

Metsovo is a mountain village on your way, an amazing place where nature looks like Switzerland.. ( as in many parts of Greece...lol)
It'a a very romantic village, ideal to take pictures, and if you happen to be there on a Sunday you will see the locals wearing their traditional costumes.

I would overnight in Ioannina and dedicate 2 days to this amazing area, if you have the time !!!!

If you will be on Corfu before, try a day trip to Paxi - Antipaxi, nice small traditional island ( Paxi) with amazing cristal clear water ( Antipaxi)....

There's so much more to see in that region... i won't even mention it...
But one thing.. do not take any tour to Sarande Albania... one of the most disappointing places i have been to....

sorry to top an old thread but bookmarking for driving suggestions.

@ aussiedreamer -- I drove this route in reverse last May. You might find some useful information in my trip report -- just click on my screen name to find it.

Thank you