Delphi

190km from Athens

The center of the world

Delphi in legend previously called Pytho, in ancient times was a sacred precinct that served as the seat of Pythia, the major oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world.

Available Tours to Delphi

Archaeological site of Delphi

Explore sanctuaries of Apollo and Athena Pronaia, and ancient stadium and theater.

The oracle

The oracle had origins in prehistory and it became international in character and also fostered sentiments of Greek nationality, even though the nation of Greece was centuries away from realization.

Omphalos

The ancient Greeks considered the center of the world to be in Delphi, marked by the stone monument known as the omphalos (navel).

Temple of Apollo

The Temple of Apollo, god of music, harmony, light, healing, and oracles occupied the most important and prominent position in the Delphic Panhellenic Sanctuary. The edifice with the partially restored colonnade visible today dates to the 4th century BC; it is the third temple built at the same place. The famous oracle, the Pythia, operated inside the temple, the location chosen, according to one tradition, due to a sacred chasm beneath the site emitting vapors, which were inhaled by the Pythia. Some ancient writers state that the Pythia then entered a state of delirium and uttering inarticulate cries, which were then turned into equivocal oracles by the priests. This interpretation is controversial, and has been challenged by scholars such as Joseph Fontenrose and Lisa Maurizio, who argue that the ancient sources uniformly represent the Pythia speaking intelligibly, and giving prophecies in her own voice.

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Trip Advisor Reviews

Wonderful day exploring Ancient Corinth, Epidaurus, Nafplio full day private tour from Athens. Everything was just perfect and our guide was fabulous!! So Knowledgeable about everything that we saw. It was a wonderful day truly enjoyable thank you!

DanaB

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29/11/2022

We had Tom as our driver and had a very enjoyable day. We saw everything as described and it was amazing. Tom was good about helping my mother with walking disabilities get around and still see everything. We had as much time as we needed to see everything and still have lunch by the water. Thanks for a wonderful day!

CherylIndiana

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11/10/2021

Awesome day tour to Thermopylae and Delphi! Getting out of Athens and seeing the mountains with a beautiful view along the drive was great. The battlefield at Thermopylae is a good sight for those with knowledge of the battle to overlook, but not much other than the monument and small museum. Worth the detour on the way to Delphi for any fan of 300. Delphi was a great historical site with lots of ruins and artifacts. The lunch and town were fun to see as well. The drive all around Greece was also unbelievable as the countryside is beautiful. Highly recommend!

jason h

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17/10/2022

This tour was excellent and George, our guide was very professional, polite and informative. The museum at the ancient city of Corinth was very interesting and the canal was impressive.

FurryCanines

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17/10/2022

This was by far one of the most interesting and informative tours I have ever received, all thanks to our amazing tour guide Panos! He was extremely knowledgeable in terms of Greek History, as well as World History. He graciously answered all our questions in great detail. We will always remember this awesome tour not only because of the amazing sites and history, but also Panos’s company and humor.

Saad R

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29/12/2022

Our driver and Greek philosopher, Notis, was a pleasure to spend the day with. He is so knowledgeable about all things Greek. We visited three monasteries in the sky — all had incredible views of the cliffs. You don’t have to be religious to appreciate the contemplativeness of this holy place. Thank you, Notis, for creating a memorable experience!

lorenzo

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11/10/2022

My husband and I were on a full day tour with Panos. He picked us up at the port and gave us a detailed description of what we would be doing that day. My favorite thing about Panos is his ability to make you immediately feel like you’re his best friend in town on holiday. He gives great cultural explanations and I feel like I learned so much more than I did on my previous tour of Athens where I just received a basic historical tour. I really appreciate Panos’ ability to be flexible and adjust the tour when we were feeling tired. As someone who has health issues and never knows quite how they will feel each day, I appreciate his kindness. We would wholeheartedly recommend this tour!

Morgan W

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15/07/2022

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