Our Greek programme is two day trips out of Athens, and both go to places that are hard to reach well without a car or a guide. Delphi sits on the slopes of Mount Parnassus about two and a half hours from the city; Ancient Corinth and Nafplio lie the other way, across the isthmus into the Peloponnese. Each runs around nine hours door to door and both depart from the same address near the Acropolis metro station. These are archaeological sites where the interpretation is the whole point. Delphi without a guide is a hillside of foundations; with one it is the oracle, the treasuries and the stadium in sequence. Corinth is the same, and Nafplio at the end of it is a Venetian harbour town that makes the return leg worth having. Both tours are led in English in small groups, twelve travellers on the Corinth trip and up to forty on the Delphi departure. Prices are per person in US dollars.

Athens

Both tours depart from the corner of Chatzichristou and Makrigianni streets, near the Acropolis metro station, and return to Athens the same evening. They are full days, so plan them on separate dates rather than back to back, and keep the Acropolis itself for a day you are staying in the city.

• Ancient Corinth and Nafplio — 9h — from $82
• Delphi Day Trip from Athens — 9h — from $118

When to go

April to early June and September to October are the two best windows: the archaeological sites are open on long schedules, the light is good for the drive, and the heat is bearable at Delphi and Corinth, where there is very little shade. July and August regularly pass 35C and the sites are exposed; if those are your dates, bring water and a hat and expect the walking sections to be slow. Winter, from November to March, is cool and quiet and the tours still run, with shorter site opening hours and a real chance of rain and cloud on the mountain road up to Delphi. Greek public holidays and Orthodox Easter affect site opening times, so check with us if your dates fall near them.

Frequently asked questions

What language are the tours in?

English on both. The guide accompanies the group at the site, not only on the coach, which is the part that matters at Delphi and Corinth where there is little on-site signage. If you need another language, ask us with your dates before booking and we will check availability.

Are the site entrance fees included?

Check the inclusions on each tour page, which list exactly what is covered and what is paid locally. Greek archaeological sites charge admission and the rate changes between summer and winter, so read the inclusions rather than assuming, and ask us if anything is unclear before you book.

How long are the tours and where do they start?

Both run about nine hours and both depart from 21 Chatzichristou Street at the corner of Makrigianni, near the Acropolis metro station in Athens. Departures are early in the morning. You are back in Athens in the evening, so do not book anything else for the same day.

Do you run tours to Santorini, Mykonos or the islands?

Not at present. Greece on our site is these two mainland day trips from Athens, and this page shows both. If you want the islands, write to us with your dates and we will tell you honestly whether we can arrange something through a local partner.

Can children come along?

Yes, and the price categories on each tour page show the child and youth rates. These are long days with several hours in a vehicle and a lot of walking on uneven ancient stone, so they suit older children better than toddlers. Tell us the ages when you book and the guide will plan the site walk accordingly.

Both Greek day trips are bookable directly on their pages, in US dollars. If Athens is part of a wider Mediterranean trip, send us your dates and we will fit these two days around your flights and any Italian tours you are booking.