Thermopylae and Delphi Private Full-Day Tour from Athens
Description
A day trip from Athens to see Thermopylae and Delphi is an unforgettable experience. This full-day tour begins by driving north from Athens, we arrive at Thermopylae, the historical Pass of Thermopylae where the battle took place between the Persians and Spartans. Our next stop is going to be the sacred site of Delphi with its Temple of Apollo. Delphi is a UNESCO-recognized archeological site that’s among Greece’s most iconic places. Follow in the footsteps of ancient heroes across the countryside of Greece on an adventure that takes you to the heart of this European country.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pick up from Athens and about two and a half hour drive to reach our first stop.
Leonidas was a king of the Greek city-state of Sparta, and the 17th of the Agiad line, a dynasty which claimed descent from the mythological demigod Heracles and Cadmus. Leonidas was son of King Anaxandridas II. He succeeded his half-brother King Cleomenes I to the throne in 489 BC. Leonidas had a notable participation in the Second Persian War, where he led the allied Greek forces to a last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC) while attempting to defend the pass from the invading Persian army; he died at the battle and entered myth as the leader of the 300 Spartans. While the Greeks lost this battle, they were able to expel the Persian invaders in the following year.
Next to the monument of Leonidas, in the historic Thermopylae, lies the innovative museum of the Lamia Municipality, dedicated to the 480 BC battle that changed the course of Greek history.
The Battle of Thermopylae was fought between an alliance of Ancient Greek city-states, led by King Leonidas I of Sparta, and the Achaemenid Empire of Xerxes I. It was fought in 480 BC over the course of three days, during the second Persian invasion of Greece.
Free time for lunch at a traditional Greek tavern with your friends and family.
The Tholos of Delphi is among the ancient structures of the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia in Delphi. The circular temple, a tholos, shares the immediate site with other ancient foundations of the Temple of Athena Pronaia, all located less than a mile east of the main ruins at Delphi, in the modern Greek regional unit of Phocis. The tholos is part of the Delphi UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Delphi Archaeological Museum is one of the principal museums of Greece and one of the most visited. It is operated by the Greek Ministry of Culture. Founded in 1903, it has been rearranged several times and houses the discoveries made at the Panhellenic sanctuary of Delphi, which dates from the Late Helladic (Mycenean) period to the early Byzantine era. Organized in fourteen rooms on two levels, the museum mainly displays statues, including the famous Charioteer of Delphi, architectural elements, like the frieze of the Siphnian Treasury, and ex-votos dedicated to the sanctuary of Pythian Apollo, like the Sphinx of Naxos.
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 20th century BC and, according to ancient accounts, five different temples were built throughout history. 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.
Free time to take a few pictures before we start our trip back to Athens.
We start our way back to Athens.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your personal driver will pick you up and return you to the same place. In case of a hotel, he will be waiting for you at the hotel lobby. In case of an apartment, he will be waiting for you at the entrance of the building.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Our drivers are not official tour guides, but they are knowledgeable and can provide fascinating commentary in fluent English. Although they will not enter the archaeological sites with you, they can answer all of your questions about the places you visit with this tour.
Reviews(123)
This was an amazing experience and Chris was an extraordinary guide. The personalized trip was what made it so amazing. He had so much history and knowledge that we talked the whole trip. Seeing Thermopylae and Delphi were great, and the lunch was extraordinary over the view of the valley accompanied by amazing food!!! we had time to shop in Delphi, and I bought the authentic jewelry handmade in Greece. It was a beautiful day and would highly recommend!!!
Hello abigailgayg, thank you for your positive review! It make us happy and strengthens our commitment to delivering high-quality services in every travel experience. At LS TOURS, our goal is to ensure that every journey and every excursion in Greece becomes a pleasant and unforgettable experience for our guests. Your trust is the driving force behind our continuous growth and improvement. We look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
Chris was truly wonderful. He was a great driver with lots of great insights and Greek knowledge. I loved this trip and would do it again. The car was comfortable and clean. The sites were amazing. He stopped several times for us to take pictures. We ate lunch in the town of Delphi in a small local restaurant with delicious food. It was truly an unforgettable experience. Lots of historical kmowledge!!!
Hello Virginia_G, thank you for your positive review! It make us happy and strengthens our commitment to delivering high-quality services in every travel experience. At LS TOURS, our goal is to ensure that every journey and every excursion in Greece becomes a pleasant and unforgettable experience for our guests. Your trust is the driving force behind our continuous growth and improvement. We look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
We loved the sights on the way to Delphi and the history of Thermopylea. The archelogical site was impressive and the app gave good information. Bill was great and made the trip fun and unique for us. He really puts his heart into his work, he is a great storyteller and he kept us well hydrated!
Hello Heiko_W, thank you for your positive review! It make us happy and strengthens our commitment to delivering high-quality services in every travel experience. At LS TOURS, our goal is to ensure that every journey and every excursion in Greece becomes a pleasant and unforgettable experience for our guests. Your trust is the driving force behind our continuous growth and improvement. We look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
It was a beautiful and very significant and perfect day for us. The first stop was the Thermopylae, which was very emotional for my husband and me. If one is interested in Greek history, the Thermopylae and the King Leonidas monument are simply a must-see. Unfortunately, the historical significance is often portrayed as less important to the uninformed, which is not the case at all. Therefore, it was all the more important for us that when we traveled to Delphi, the Thermopylae were a must. After that, we went to the museum in Delphi. It was truly indescribable and very, very interesting. It is definitely worth a visit. Following the visit to the museum, one can view the temple ruins. Our driver Chris was very friendly, helpful, and drove us safely and comfortably. We felt completely comfortable and very safe. For that, we extend our heartfelt thanks once again. We can highly recommend everything.
Hello 891nathaliew, thank you for your positive review! It make us happy and strengthens our commitment to delivering high-quality services in every travel experience. At LS TOURS, our goal is to ensure that every journey and every excursion in Greece becomes a pleasant and unforgettable experience for our guests. Your trust is the driving force behind our continuous growth and improvement. We look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
Nikos was a great driver! He taught the adults and kids on the trip so much and took us to a great lunch spot with great food and views! A lot of driving but great things to see!
Hello Nicole_K, thank you for your positive review! It make us happy and strengthens our commitment to delivering high-quality services in every travel experience. At LS TOURS, our goal is to ensure that every journey and every excursion in Greece becomes a pleasant and unforgettable experience for our guests. Your trust is the driving force behind our continuous growth and improvement. We look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
Nikos was a great guide! Safe and efficient driver, gave us lots of great info to learn on the trip. Thermopylae is a short stop- and that’s all it needs to be. Most time spent in Delphi which was so beautiful. Lunch was amazing with incredible food and views of the vista! Loved this day and so glad someone else drove us so we could relax!
Hello W9741NPnicolek, thank you for your positive review! It make us happy and strengthens our commitment to delivering high-quality services in every travel experience. At LS TOURS, our goal is to ensure that every journey and every excursion in Greece becomes a pleasant and unforgettable experience for our guests. Your trust is the driving force behind our continuous growth and improvement. We look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
Great experience! George was fantastic and the tour was amazing. Lovely history, beautiful views, great food. Highly recommend.
Hello Elizabeth_C, thank you for your positive review! It make us happy and strengthens our commitment to delivering high-quality services in every travel experience. At LS TOURS, our goal is to ensure that every journey and every excursion in Greece becomes a pleasant and unforgettable experience for our guests. Your trust is the driving force behind our continuous growth and improvement. We look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
Our guide, Christos, was awesome, courteous, knows his history, and even knew the best local spot with the best views for lunch. Worth it many times over, the personal recommendations really made the trip, and the service makes it feel special. I would book again in a heartbeat!
Hello W1524DHrachelp, Thank you so much for your kind words and positive feedback! We’re truly grateful for your support and look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
This was an excellent experience to Delphi. George Remoundos was our driver, and he did an excellent job of making us feel safe and welcome. I appreciated the insights given, including recommendations for dinner after our tour concluded. The pace for our tour was perfect, and never felt rushed. The lunch location was beautiful, delicious, and a good value. I traveled with my wife and two teenage boys, and we all had a wonderful time. Would recommend getting out of the city to experience the countryside, and this was a pleasant means of doing so.
Hello bradwO6572KO, Thank you so much for your kind words and positive feedback! We’re truly grateful for your support and look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
Great experience, Nikos is the best, he drives perfectly and knows all the history, a must if you want to go to Delphi and Termopylae. Do not miss
Hello pablocemo, Thank you so much for your kind words and positive feedback! We’re truly grateful for your support and look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
