Delphi

Lauren

I have done this with a tour company but it was a long time ago. We did it with Chat tours but Go also do it and, having done other trips with them, are pretty much the same.

The advantages of a tour company are convenience and the fact you get a guide. The disadvantages are cost - currently around 90 euros without lunch - and it all feels rushed. If you decide to do it this way I would really recommend getting the deal without lunch and taking sandwiches. That way you get more time on the site and are spared a bland overpriced hotel lunch.

If you do it yourself you can spend more time on the site which for me would tip the balance. Bus times too and from are here

https://www.ktel-fokidas.gr/gr/delphi

Alan

I've answered this so many times, I've finally come up with an all-purpose answer (see below). I will preface it by saying I did a 1-day tour bus on my first Greece trip 18 years ago & hated it ... then finally in May 2012 I believe, I did a d-i-y overnight (see description below) ... wonderful experience. BTW Athens hotels are VERY used to people "skipping" 1 nite for short tours. But if you can't or won't do that, here's my 1-day DIY strategy:

ONE DAY D-I-Y TRIP
First KTEL (intercity) bus is 7:30 AM(2.5hrs); take 4pm or 6:50pm back. Cost pp €30.20 Rd Trip Bus. Taxi from Ath hotel to/from Liossion KTEL terminal €12 each way; DElphi Site admission €12. BUS SCHED: https://www.ktel-fokidas.gr/en/delphi
PLUSSES vs group - Shorter travel time, arrive 45-60mins before crowds; not forced to leave for group lunch
MINUSSES - Early rising for 1-Day trip & must do your own advance prep & onsite self-guiding.
TRAVEL STRATEGY -
The 7:30 bus CAN sell out; formerly could NOT buy a ticket ahead online. Even now, unsure. Have your Hotel Call & do it for you. If not possible, taxi to Station(20 mins) by 6:30am & you'll be OK. (Do NOT attempt local bus!) Terminal has coffee bars, but if planning picnic, buy stuff the night before near hotel. BUS: All seats numbered - Ask for LH side of bus (less sun). All seats reserved; Get a round-trip ticket; specify last bus back (18:15) then if you decide to go earlier, u can exchange in Delphi (see below). Take care of restroom needs at yr hotel (station restrooms r Grim). However Bus has brief rest stop midway. For day trip, Use a Light day-bag or backpack; you'll be carrying it the whole time.
SITE STRATEGY -
At Delphi by about 10am, bus stops right at Museum/Ruins --you have an hour of quiet before tour-bus crowds. You might do ruins first, then when throngs invade, you hit the museum before they pour in @ 12:30 and jampack it. Then with your lunch you walk 500 yards down the road to Tholos & Castalian Springs for a serene picnic; Fill your bottles with pure mountain water!! After tour crowds depart (mostly by 2 or so), you may be able to re-enter ruins site (check earlier with gate staff). Awaiting your own return bus, you needn't stay by the site; actual final "turnaround" stop is uphill on main street, by a souvenir store. Walk uphill along parapet, gazing down mountainside, there's a nice cafe terrace directly across the street for refreshment with a view (local water, in pitchers, sraight from top of Mt. Parnassus, is Nectar of the Gods!).
IF STAYING OVERNIGHT
Same bus & taxi costs staying overnight. With more time, it’s nice to take the 3 pm bus arrive 6 20, stay on til final stop. IF going May-Oct, Museum is open until 8 pm. In this case right after bus arrives walk a few yards & check into a hotel (I recommend PAN hotel, the back rooms look DOWN the mountain to the sea, costs about €35-40 rm; reserve ahead in June-Sept). From hotel walk downhill along parapet to the museum; u can easily see it in an hour, (Very well signaged) then have dinner. Next AM, get to ruins gate by 8 am and youll have 2-3 hours before bus tours swarm in. Return bus sked to Athens varies, sometmes 1,
MY DELPHI LINKS for ADVANCE PREP & PRINT to TAKE:

• Printable Maps! (Museum, Sacred Precinct, more) – http://www.planetware.com/map/delphi-map-gr-del.htm
• Sacred Destinations - http://www.sacred-destinations.com/greece/delphi Ads, but good info; see menu on side
• http://www.ancient-greece.org/archaeology/delphi-archaeology.html
• Dr J's Delphi – http://people.hsc.edu/drjclassics/sites/delphi/sacredway.shtm
NOTE: click items in SIDE MENU for complete photos & explanatory text. SUPER!
• Wikipedia entry, succinct & surprisingly good --- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphi

If at all possible, stay overnight in Delphi - either taking public transportation or driving. The tourist buses leave around 4ish and you will have the ENTIRE mountaintop of historical sites literally to yourself. Husband and I drove up from Athens expecting do an early afternoon tour (but had booked a hotel as Delphi is more than a 3 hour drive from Athens). To our surprise, even in September, there were several 100's of bumper to bumper tourists so we decided to have a very early dinner (great views down the mountain, across the valley to the sea from where we stayed and at the restaurant!) and came back at 5:30 and there weren't 15 other folks within the entire site - which is half a mountaintop!!! By silent agreement, we all spaced ourselves out and had the experience of "being alone" at Delphi. WOW.