Driving from Delphi to Meteora: Road Trip Itinerary
The best way to go from Delphi to Meteora is by driving. Driving from Delphi to Meteora gives you the freedom to go at your own pace and to check out some sights along the way. However, if you prefer not to drive, there is options of a bus or guided tour.
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Driving from Delphi to Meteora
Driving is the best way to go from Delphi to Meteora (or Meteora to Delphi). This is because driving allows you to be flexible with timing and stop at places that interest you. It’s a great way to truly explore Greece.
Rental Car Information
Unless you are taking a bus or a guided tour to Delphi and Meteora, you will need to rent a car in a bigger city such as Athens. If you are coming from Athens, I recommend renting a car from the Athens Airport as this way you can avoid driving through downtown Athens which is chaotic.
We use Discover Cars to compare prices and reviews for rental cars. We’ve been able to get some awesome deals using them. As with all car rentals, be careful to check the reviews before booking.
What is the Drive from Delphi to Meteora like?
The drive straight from Delphi to Meteora takes around 3.5 hours. The roads are paved and in good condition throughout the drive, making it fairly easy.
The first hour or so coming from Delphi will be on road E65, which goes through the mountains. E65 is paved and well-maintained, but there are some curves and steeper ledges along the way, so just be cautious and drive the speed limit.
As with any drive, it is recommended to check the weather before heading out, as rainy or snowy conditions can make driving difficult in mountainous areas.
After road E65, the majority of the drive will be on road A3, which is a well-kept toll road and is an easy and pleasant drive. There are a couple of toll gates that you may pass through. Typically they can take cash or card at the toll gates. Tolls costs vary, but are typically 1-2 Euros.
Things to See while Driving from Delphi to Meteora
Delphi Archeological Site and Museum
Located at Delphi 330 54, Greece
Of course you can’t miss visiting the Delphi archeological site and museum before leaving Delphi. This UNESCO world heritage site is the home to one of Ancient Greece’s most significant historical ruins. You can book tickets in advance for the site here.
Arachova, Greece
Located at Arachova 320 04, Greece
Arachova is a famous ski town in Greece. Located in the mountains this colorful ski-resort town is located around a 20 minute drive from Delphi. This town is super cute and has incredible views. I recommend heading to the clock tower to see the views from there.
Keep in mind, this Archova is located 20 minutes in the opposite direction, but if you have extra time and love the mountains, it makes for a great lunch stop after visiting Delphi. You can also visit the town on your drive to Delphi from Athens.
Vagonetto-Fokis Mining Park
Located at 51 km National Road Lamia-Amfissa, Amfissa 331 00, Greece
This is an off-the-beaten-path type of tour that takes you into the mine. It is located not to far off from road E65. They have limited opening hours (typically 9am-3pm depending on the season) but it’s best to confirm before heading there.
Thermopylae and the Leonidas Monument
Located at Thermopylae 350 09, Greece
This is a great place for a quick stop on the drive from Delphi to Meteora. Thermopylae was the site of the battle of the 300 Spartans vs. the invading Persians, which is also featured in the film 300.
At Thermopylae, you can view the Leonidas monument for the 300 Spartans. There is also a small historical information center that is open from 9am-5pm.
Thermopylae Hot Springs
Located at GPS coordinates 38.792362, 22.525704
A hidden gem spot to visit is the Thermopylae Hot Springs. This hot spring is located just a few minutes away from the Leonidas Monument. The hot springs is free to visit and so you can park your car and enjoy a nice, warm swim!
Trikala, Greece
Located at Stefanou Sarafi 44, Trikala 421 00, Greece
Trikala is a larger town located around 30 minutes from Meteora. There is a small Byzantine castle ruins located in Trikala that may be worth visiting for history fans. It also makes a good stop to get some lunch.
Palaiokarya’s Stone Bridge
Located at Επαρχ, Epar.Od. Paleokarias-Ropotou, Pili 420 32, Greece
If you are looking to go off the beaten path, check out Palaiokarya’s Stone Bridge and Waterfall. Located around 30-40 minutes outside of Trikala, this beautiful bridge and waterfall is a serene and off the beaten path place to stop.
Meteora
Located at Kalabaka 422 00, Greece
Last but definitely not least is the final destination – Meteora. Meteora is a UNESCO site, and is such a unique place to visit in Greece.
If you arrive before early evening, I highly recommend doing a sunset Meteora tour. Sunsets of Meteora rival that of Santorini, it is truly a must-see. A sunset tour will take you to all the best spots!
Where to Stay in Meteora
I highly recommend spending at least 1-2 nights in Meteora. We chose to spend 2 nights, as it allowed us to relax and enjoy the sunset tour the first night, and then have a full day to explore the monastaries.
Below are some of my recommendations of where to stay near Meteora. You’ll want to stay either in the larger town of Kalabaka or the small village of Kastraki.
📍 Best Hotel with Meteora Views – Hotel Doupiani House
📍 Best Hotel with a Pool -Divani Meteora Hotel
📍 Best Apartment Style – Meteora Boutique Villa A
Other Ways to Get from Delphi to Meteora
Guided Tour
If you prefer not to rent a car, the best way to visit Delphi and Meteora is through a guided tour like this one. This guided tour includes round trip transportation from Athens, a guided tour of Delphi, an overnight stay in Meteora, and a guided tour of Meteora the next day.
If you are short on time, this is a full day guided tour option to Delphi and Meteora from Athens.
Looking for more guided tour options? Check out my full review on the best tours to Delphi and Meteora from Athens.
Bus
It is possible to get from Delphi to Meteora by a bus or a taxi/train combo, but it is complicated and I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are on a strict budget.
Even on a strict budget, you can typically find a great rental car deal through Discover Cars, and it is so much better to have a car for these locations.
If you do take the bus, you’ll want to get on the bus from Delphi headed to Trikala, which takes around 4.5 hours. After that, take another bus around 30 minutes to Kalambaka.
Can you do Delphi and Meteora in 1 day?
No, unless you are on a guided tour and not driving yourself. If you are planning to go roundtrip from Athens, then I don’t recommend doing Delphi and Meteora in just 1 day.
The driving time would be several hours, and that paired with sightseeing all day would leave you too exhausted to drive back to Athens. I highly recommend staying at least 1 night in Meteora for this reason. Delphi also has hotel options, but it is a smaller town.
If you do only have 1 day to see both, there is the option of this full day tour, which includes a private driver roundtrip from Athens. It is a 16 hour day, but by having a private driver you can rest during the car ride and focus on sightseeing.
The Wrap Up: How to Get from Delphi to Meteora
The best way to get from Delphi to Meteora is to drive. Driving gives you the freedom to stop at different sites along the way that are of interest to you and also gives you the best flexibility. Driving from Delphi to Meteora is an easy and convenient way to experience Greece.
Planning a trip to Greece? Check out our guide on Athens for all the reasons Athens is worth visiting, as well as our driving guide from Athens to Meteora!
