realistic time frame to see Delphi and athens

I visited Greece in November, and it was an amazing trip! You should probably plan for a full day in Delphi. It's about 3 hours from Athens, so I'd recommend spending two nights in Delphi in order to be able to take in everything. (The town is nice!) We spent two and a half days in Athens and I would encourage you to spend at least two days. There is so much to see - the Acropolis with all its ruins, the Acropolis museum,the ancient Agora, and the National Archaeological Museum are all important to see if you're interested in ancient history. There are other smaller museums dedicated to ancient history, as well. We also did a lot of walking around the city and there is so much to see-the Plaka, the ancient Roman Forum, the Church of Kapnikarea (medieval but so lovely!), and ancient artifacts in surprising places like the metro stations! Do you plan to go to Mycenae or Olympia? Both were fascinating as well. Have a wonderful time!

Thank you for the advice. I would love to see Mycenae and Olympia, but I’m trying to balance the trip with things my wife would enjoy as well. I figure she deserves at least half (if not more) of the trip comprised of her main interests. This is why I’m panning on visiting naxos and santorini for 5-6 days. Mycenae and Olympia will be an excuse for the next trip 😀.

A full day was plenty to see the two Delphi sites, a quarter mile apart from each other, but by the time we'd finished, the museum had closed, so you might want extra time there. And then it takes time to get to and from Delphi.

Athens needs 3 days to see essential sights if you love ancient history. Maybe 3 days and 2 nights in Athens, 1 day and 2 nights in Delphi?

I think you can really appreciate Delplhi in about a day &a half ... the key is to go mid-day or a bit later, arrive late afternoon .. return to Athens afternoon the next day. You can D-I-Y if you're a classical history/archeology buff like me, read up in advance, use some good websites, take a good map ... it's totally worth doing advance prep. True confessions, on my First trip to Greece (1999) I took a tour bus day-trip -- AWFUL experience; bored stupid guide, mob scene on site & in museum-- group dragged away after too-short time for unwanted lunch WE paid for (kickback?) and souvenir shop (kickback). Awful! 10 years later, returned end of May... total turnaround.

Some notes from that trip:
Take the KTEL (Intercity) bus from Liossion TErminal -- taxi from a center city Hotel about €13-15. Bus takes about 2.5 hrs, rest-stop half-way. There's a 10 am & 3 pm The latter bus arrive 5 30, , don't get off at Ruins/Museum site, stay on til final stop about 1 km uphill on Main Street. Before you go to the ancient site -- walk a few yards & check into a hotel (I recommend PAN hotel, the back rooms look DOWN the mountain to the sea, room rate about €35-40 rm; reserve ahead if in high season). From hotel walk downhill along parapet to the museum -- it’s open until 8 pm u can easily see it in an hour, (Very well signaged). then have dinner on an outdoor terrace back near hotel -- there's a nice little one right across from final bus stop. (NOTE: do NOT miss sipping local water-- it comes straight from Snow-Melt atop Mt. Parnassus and is Nectar of the Gods!! Seriously, best water in Greece).

Next AM, get to ruins gate by 8 am and you'll have 2-3 hours before bus tours swarm in... by then you'll be high high up in the site ahead of the crowds. Either the evening before, or after your site-crawl, walk farther down the road to the Castalian Spring (fill your water bottle) and the famous round Temple of Athena (shown on all postcards). Have a nice lunch, walk around town, 3pm bus.
MY DELPHI LINKS for ADVANCE PREP & PRINT to TAKE:

• Printable Maps! (Museum, Sacred Precinct, Wider area) – 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

Thanks for the advice everyone. It’s very helpful.