Greece · UNESCO Heritage Sites

2-Day Delphi and Meteora Tour from Athens with UNESCO Highlights

2 Days Round trip from Δελφοί 330 54 Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore two top Greek UNESCO World Heritage sites in just 2 days
02 Stroll through the Delphi site, also known as the "navel of the world"
03 Visit two Meteora Byzantine monasteries and enjoy breathtaking views
04 Stop at Thermopylae and marvel at the Monument of King Leonidas of Sparta

Embark on a captivating 2-day journey from Athens through historic locales such as Thebes, Levadia, and Arachova to Delphi, where you will explore the Archaeological Site and follow the sacred way past landmarks including the Athenian treasury, the stoa of Athens, the temple of Apollo, and the theatre. Continue through Central Greece to Kalambaka, nestled beneath the majestic grey rocks of Meteora. On the second day, discover Meteora's cliff-top monasteries and their priceless historical and religious treasures before returning to Athens with a stop at Thermopylae to see the Monument of Leonidas.

Delphi was considered the center of the earth and the universe and played a central role in the classical Greek world.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Athens, Lamia, Thebes, Levadeia, Trikala, Meteora, Kalabaka, Delphi, Arachova

Languages English, French, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Athens to Delphi and Kalambaka via Arachova

Leave for Delphi via Thebes, Levadia, and the picturesque village of Arachova on the slopes of Mount Parnassus.
Arrive in Delphi and visit the Archaeological Site. Delphi was considered the center of the earth and the universe and played a central role in the classical Greek world.
Proceed through the sacred way to:

The Athenian treasury
The stoa of Athens
The temple of Apollo, where the oracle was located
The theatre

Depart through Central Greece and the cities of Lamia and Trikala, crossing the Thessalian Plain.
Arrive in Kalambaka, a small town built at the foot of the majestic grey rocks and crowded by the Meteora Monasteries.

Dinner and overnight stay in Kalambaka.

Day 02

Meteora Monasteries and Thermopylae Return

Savour breakfast in your hotel. Travel to nearby UNESCO-listed Meteora for a tour of the cliff-top monasteries.
Visit Meteora and enjoy the unique and impressive scenery, with ageless monasteries containing priceless historical and religious treasures standing between earth and sky atop huge rocks.
Enjoy a guided tour of two of the six monasteries.
Start your drive back to Athens.
On the way, stop to visit the Monument of Leonidas, where the 300 Spartans fought against the Persian army at Thermopylae (Hot Gates) - a short stop to see Leonidas' Monument across the road.
Continuing your journey, arrive in Athens early in the evening.

Where this trip takes you

Temple of Apollo (Delphi), Mount Parnassus, Monastery of Great Meteoron, Monument of Leonidas

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Δελφοί 330 54 9 cities · 2 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Professional tour guide
Entrance fees
Transfers from/to your hotel or the closest available location
Breakfast and dinner
Hotel accommodation

What's Not Included

Any private expenses
Resilience tax for hotel overnights:
- March - October:
  - Hotels 3*: €3.0 per room/per night
  - Hotels 4*: €7.0 per room/per night
  - Hotels 5*: €10.0 per room/per night
- November - February:
  - Hotels 3*: €1.5 per room/per night
  - Hotels 4*: €3.0 per room/per night
  - Hotels 5*: €4.0 per room/per night

Know before you go

Meteora is considered one of the most beautiful and inspiring areas of mainland Greece, and its monasteries are one of the country's most unique attractions.
The monasteries are perched on top of towers of sandstone, which for centuries provided totally inaccessible retreats for the monks.
It is also the biggest and most important group of monasteries in Greece after those in Mount Athos.
In the past, there were no steps, and the main access to the monasteries was by means of a net that was hitched over a hook and hoisted up by a rope and a hand-cranked windlass to winch towers overhanging the chasm.
Monks descended in the nets or on retractable wooden ladders up to 40 m long to the fertile valleys below to grow grapes, corn, and potatoes.
Each community developed its own resources, and by the end of the 14th century, the Grand Meteoron emerged as the dominant community.
UNESCO has characterised the rock monasteries as a unique phenomenon of cultural heritage.