About This Trip
This route follows the path of ancient pilgrims who travelled from Athens to consult the Oracle at Delphi, the most sacred site in the ancient Greek world, perched on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. From there you descend into the Pindus mountains, cross through Epirus' wild landscape, and emerge at the Ionian coast.
Parga is one of the most beautiful small towns in Greece: a Venetian castle on a headland, beaches on three sides, and the eerie Necromanteion of Acheron (Oracle of the Dead) just 25 km away on the mythological river Acheron. It's a route of extraordinary contrasts, ancient oracle to Ionian fishing village in four days.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Athens → Delphi (1 night)
Drive: 178 km · ~2h via E962 through Boeotia
- Morning: depart Athens, drive north through the Boeotian plain past the site of the Battle of Thermopylae (optional short stop)
- Lunch: stop in Arachova (10 km before Delphi), Greece's most stylish mountain village. Try the Formaela cheese saganaki
- Afternoon: Delphi Archaeological Site (12€), the Sacred Way, Temple of Apollo, the Oracle chamber, and the ancient stadium
- Evening: Delphi Museum (6€), home of the bronze Charioteer, one of antiquity's greatest surviving sculptures
Delphi → Ioannina (1 night)
Drive: 215 km · ~3h 30min via Amfissa and mountain road
- Option: morning stop at Hosios Loukas Monastery (4€), extraordinary Byzantine mosaics on the way
- Afternoon: arrive Ioannina, walk the castle walls (free), visit Ali Pasha's island (3€) by rowboat
- Evening: Ioannina's famous baklava from the shops near the castle gate
Ioannina → Parga (1 night)
Drive: 92 km · ~1h 20min
- Optional morning: early visit to Dodona Ancient Theatre (6€, 20 km south of Ioannina), oldest oracle in Greece, predating Delphi
- Arrive Parga by midday, check in, swim at Valtos Beach
- Afternoon: walk up to Parga Castle (2€) for views of the bay and islets
- Evening: fresh seafood dinner at the old harbour
Parga day trips + departure
- Morning: visit the Necromanteion of Acheron (6€, 25 km north), the mythological Oracle of the Dead on the River Acheron. Then kayak or swim at the Acheron springs at Glyki village
- Option: drive to Sivota (30 km north) for lunch at this beautiful fishing village
- Depart for Preveza (40 km) or Ioannina (90 km) airports, or continue to Corfu
🏛️ Must-See
🎟️ Book tours & activitiesThe navel of the ancient world. The Treasury of the Athenians alone is worth the trip.
12€The mythological river to the Underworld. Today: kayaking in crystal-clear mountain water.
FreeVenetian castle on a pine-covered headland, sunsets here are extraordinary.
2€Oracle of the Dead on the mythological River Acheron, ancient Greek religion at its most mysterious.
6€💡 Practical Tips
- Delphi: visit in the early morning before coach tours arrive (open from 8am). The site is on a slope, wear comfortable shoes.
- Arachova cheese (Formaela): buy it from a village shop, not tourist stalls. It's a PDO product and genuinely excellent.
- Parga is extremely popular in August, book accommodation months in advance.
- The Acheron springs kayak trip (from Glyki) is one of the most enjoyable half-days in Epirus, well worth the detour.
- Preveza airport (40 km from Parga) has flights to Athens and some international destinations, good end point.