Delphi was ancient Greece's sanctuary of Apollo and the seat of its most famous oracle, built on a steep slope of Mount Parnassus overlooking the Pleistos valley and olive groves running down to the Gulf of Corinth. A visit means walking the Sacred Way past temple ruins and treasury foundations, then descending to a purpose-built museum that holds work of a different order than the walls outside. It rewards a full day rather than a rushed stop between other sights, since the site and museum together take several hours to see properly.
| Distance | 180 km from Athens city centre |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 2 hr 15 min by car; 3 hours by KTEL bus |
| Getting there | Car via E65 motorway from Athens; or KTEL bus from Athens Liosion terminal (tickets at ktel-fokidas.gr, €14/~$15) |
| Address | Archaeological Site of Delphi, Delphi 33054, Greece |
How to get there
- Car (E65 from Athens — most flexible; parking at Delphi site is free)
- KTEL Fokidas bus from Liosion terminal, 260 Liosion St, Athens (€14/~$15 each way)
Location
Archaeological Site of Delphi, Delphi 33054, Greece
38.4824, 22.5011 View on map
Highlights
- Temple of Apollo - the ruined columns mark where the Pythia delivered oracles that shaped decisions across the ancient Greek world
- Delphi Archaeological Museum - houses the bronze Charioteer of Delphi, one of the best-preserved large bronzes to survive from antiquity
- Ancient Theatre of Delphi - sits above the temple with a view down the Pleistos valley toward the Gulf of Corinth
- Tholos at the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia - a circular structure of uncertain original purpose, the most photographed ruin at Delphi after the temple
- Castalian Spring - the spring where visitors to the ancient oracle were required to purify themselves before entering the sanctuary