a view of an ancient theatre in the mountains

Delphi

Delphi is the ruined sanctuary of Apollo on Mount Parnassus, where Greek cities once consulted the oracle before wars and before founding colonies.

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Delphi is an ancient sacred site on the southwestern slope of Mount Parnassus in central Greece. The ancient Greeks regarded it as the center of the world, marked by a stone monument called the Omphalos. It was the seat of the Pythia, the most consulted oracle of the classical world. The ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site inside Parnassos National Park. The small modern town of Delphi sits beside them on Greek National Road 48, between Amfissa and Livadeia, the capital of Boeotia.

The Sacred Way climbs the hill past treasuries and votive statues that Greek city-states built to thank Apollo. The Temple of Apollo stands at the center of the site, and the ancient theater sits high above it with a view over the valley. The Tholos, a circular temple to Athena Pronaia, lies about 800 m from the main ruins. The Delphi Archaeological Museum holds the Charioteer of Delphi. The site suits anyone interested in ancient religion. Tradition held that the oracle did not speak in winter, when Apollo was believed to be away.

Delphi in five

Arrive at opening and see the site before the museumDelphi gets hot and crowded by midday. Walk the Sacred Way to the Temple of Apollo and the stadium first, then use the museum as a cool break; check current hours on the official page.
Check the combined site and museum ticketThe archaeological site and the museum sit side by side, and entry rules and prices change. Confirm the ticket structure on the official site before you go.Compare tours
Pick the bus, a tour or a car from AthensThe drive is about 2.5–3 hours each way, so a day trip is long. A KTEL bus is cheap but slow, a tour removes the planning, and a car lets you add Arachova or Osios Loukas.Central Greece
Stay one night for the early morningThe site is calmest at opening, before the coaches arrive. A night in Delphi town also lets you see Mount Parnassus and the olive valley below at sunset.
Pair Delphi with Meteora on a road tripMany itineraries run Athens, Delphi, then Meteora, about 3.5–4 hours north. Spend a night at each rather than racing between them.Meteora

Things to do in Delphi

See all attractions in Delphi

Sight · DelphiSanctuary of Athena Pronaia

Historic site · DelphiTemple of ApolloArrive early in the day for the quietest walk, and avoid the midday sun on the open slopes.

Historic site · DelphiThe Ancient Theater of Delphi

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to DelphiPut the places you like in Delphi on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Getting there: About 2.5–3 hours by road from Athens; KTEL bus or organized tour
Getting around: On foot within the site and town; car for Arachova and the valley
Best base: Delphi town, or Arachova for a mountain village stay
Time needed: A long day from Athens; one night is better

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low2°Cool, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Cool, quiet
MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Mild, wildflowers
AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Spring, Easter
MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Warm, ideal
JunePartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Hot, busy
JulyClear4 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Hot, crowded
AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh29°Low20°Hot, crowded
SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Warm, calmer
OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Mild, quieter
NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh14°Low8°Cool, showers
DecemberRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low5°Cool, snow on hills

Average daily high and low in Delphi, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Delphi

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 11°
Humidity: 86%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 75%

Delphi

10:46 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+2

Today11°7°75%Monday: Rain. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 75%.
Tue11°8°98%Tuesday: Rain. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 98%.
Wed12°7°8%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 8%.
Thu8°4°10%Thursday: Rain. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 10%.
Fri8°4°3%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 3%.
Sat7°2°18%Saturday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 18%.
Sun8°2°14%Sunday: Fog. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 14%.

Updated 10:39 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Before you go to Delphi

Delphi guided toursSite and museum with a guideCompare day trips

Rental car from AthensAdd Arachova and Osios LoukasCompare car hire

eSIM for central GreeceSignal fades in the mountain bendsRead the guide

Insurance for a road tripHeat, hikes and rental-car excessRead the guide

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Rules for Delphi, checked

Greece is in the Schengen Area. Check entry requirements on the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (mfa.gr) before you fly.
Non-EU visitors may be fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's EES guidance before you travel.
Call 112 for any emergency in Greece. The police number is 100 and the ambulance number is 166.
Check opening hours and ticket rules for the site and museum on the Ministry of Culture site (culture.gr) before you go.
Greece uses 230 V and plug types C and F. Bring an adapter if your devices use other plugs.

Plan around Delphi

All of Greece

Athens, the islands and the mainland

Read the guide Central Greece

Delphi, Parnassus and Byzantine monasteries

Read the guide Athens

Where Delphi tours and buses start

Read the guide Meteora

Monasteries on rock pillars, a night further north

Read the guide Evia

A big island reached by bridge from the mainland

Read the guide

Delphi FAQ

Is Delphi worth visiting?

Yes if you like ancient history and mountain scenery. The setting is as memorable as the ruins, and the museum has some of Greece's best sculpture. Skip it if you dislike long drives.

Can you visit Delphi as a day trip from Athens?

Yes, with a long day. The drive takes about 2.5–3 hours each way, which leaves four or five hours on site. A night in Delphi relieves the rush and the heat.

How long do you need at Delphi?

Plan 2–3 hours for the site and about an hour for the museum. A full morning is comfortable, and an afternoon adds time for Arachova.

Is it better to go by tour, bus or car?

A tour is easiest and includes a guide. A bus is cheap but slow, and a car gives flexibility for Arachova and monasteries. Check schedules and costs for your dates.

What was the Oracle of Delphi?

A priestess known as the Pythia gave answers attributed to Apollo, and the sanctuary was one of the most important in the ancient Greek world. Visitors came from across the Mediterranean.