Hello,
As a solo female traveler, I'd like to visit Meteora and Delphi from Athens (mid October) but don't want to rent a car. My initial thought is to spend a night in Meteora and a night in Delphi so I can soak in both places a bit more. Visitmeteora has a 3-day trip package from Athens where both nights are spent in Meteora, and Delphi is only visited on Day 3, with an evening bus (public) arriving back in Athens at 7pm. Welcome thoughts on 1) is it necessary/worthwhile to spend a night in Delphi; 2) any thoughts/suggestions on whether to go with an organized tour with VisitMeteora or try to arrange the public(?) transportation on my own (Athens-Meteora-Delphi-Athens) so i can overnight in Delphi, (as far as i can tell, public buses are the only option as trains are no longer running to that area); 3) any recommendations on safe/clean budget-medium hotels/inns in Meteora and Delphi, or ok to just go with Visitmeteora-arranged hotels?
Thanks very much!
Posted by
Walnut Creek, CA
796 posts
Even if you were to take public transportation on your own to Delphi and Meteora, Once you get to Meteora, there is NO public bus that goes from Kalambaka to any of the monasteries.
I highly recommend you take a tour(s) with the tour group VisitMeteora. Take both the day tour and the sunset tour.
They will pick you up from your hotel in Kalambaka or kastriki.
FWIW, I think you are OK taking the 3 day trip package. Delphi isn't worth staying overnight IMHO.
In Kalambaka, we stayed at the Hotel Divani. From here, we could walk to all the restaurants and shops in Kalambaka. We took 2 tours with Visitmeteora and recommend them.
Posted by
France Southwest
3204 posts
Consider an organized tour, you won't be able to easily get from Delphi to Meteora by public bus (at least a 6-hour journey with one bus change in Trikala).
For 3 days, you can also check out Alternative Athens which offers a tour that includes both destinations.
https://www.alternativeathens.com/tours/delphi-and-meteora-discovery-tour-wonders-mainland-greece/
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you Derek and JoLui for your thoughts and suggestions. As I suspected, organized tours are the best way to visit the area. JoLui, do you have any personal experience with the alternativeathens tours/folks (vs. Visitmeteora)? Thx!
Posted by
France Southwest
3204 posts
I don't have any personal experience with these services; I always organize my own tours. However, these are well-known local tour agencies that have been around for years and, in my opinion, would no longer exist if they weren't trustworthy. There are a few others that are certainly also recommendable.
Posted by
TX, USA
5631 posts
If you wind up finding your own lodging in the Meteora area, I love The Stone Forest in Kastraki.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5KcqComwSwhH7UdB6?g_st=ipc