4-Day Classical Greece Tour
Delve into Classical Greece with this 4-day itinerary and visit some of the most prominent ancient cities in the country. If you want to do this tour at your own leisure, you’ll need to hire a car and enjoy driving, since the whole day trip is almost 528 mi (850 km) long.
To do this 4-day itinerary around Athens, we recommend renting a car with GPS (or using your phone’s GPS), as the roads are not always well-marked.
Keep in mind that, depending on the time of year, most sights close by 3 pm, so it’s best to stick to the schedule.
For accommodation, you’ll need to book one night in Olympia, one in Delphi, and one in Kalambaka. Here you can book at the best price:
Day 1: Athens – Corinth – Epidaurus – Mycenae – Olympia
On the first day, we'll leave Athens around 8:30 am to arrive at the Corinth Canal around 10:00 a.m.
Getting to Corinth is very easy. Simply leave Athens on the A75 motorway heading north; you'll see the exit for Corinth very quickly. After traveling about 70 kilometers on the motorway, you'll reach the canal. The best spot to stop and admire it is well signposted and coincides with the exit for Loutraki.
After visiting the canal, we'll continue along the same road to Ancient Corinth, where you can visit the ancient ruins.
Taking the motorway back towards Athens, you'll see the turnoff for Epidaurus in just a few minutes. It will take you a little over an hour to reach the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus. This site is one of the most fascinating in Greece and still serves as a venue during the Athens Summer Festival.
After exploring the area, we'll head to Mycenae. To get there, head towards Nafplio and turn right a few kilometers before arriving. The signs point to Mykines. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes. In Mycenae, don't miss the Acropolis, the Royal Tombs, and the Lion Gate.
The sightseeing will be over for today, and all that remains is the long journey to Olympia. Although it's only about 160 kilometers, it usually takes around 3 hours to travel.
To get from Mycenae to Olympia, take the E65 motorway towards Tripoli and exit at "Ancient Olympia." This road is mountainous and slow, but also quite beautiful. Halfway there, you can stop in Levidi or Lagkadia, the two most beautiful mountain villages along the route.
Especially in the off-season, there's not much to do in Olympia. Take the opportunity to relax with dinner and a drink.
Day 2: Olympia – Delphi
Especially in winter, we recommend leaving early to avoid driving at night, as you'll have noticed on your first day that the roads are quite bad.
At this time of year, it's best to leave the city around noon. Before then, you should visit the ruins, where the first Olympic stadium is located, and the Archaeological Museum of Olympia. The Museum of the Ancient Olympic Games is also very interesting.
To get from Olympia to Delphi, the route is straightforward: head towards Pyrgos and take the highway towards Patras-Athens. Upon reaching Patras and passing through the city, you'll see the Herilaos Trikoupis Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world. After crossing it, take the road toward Nafpaktos, which will lead you to Delphi.
Along this route, there are two spots worth stopping to rest: Nafpaktos Castle, which offers the best views of the coast, and Galaxidi, a charming coastal village with its church and small harbor.
A few kilometers away lies Delphi, a place with a more vibrant atmosphere than Olympia. If you arrive while it's still light, don't miss the chance to have a drink at one of the bars with a panoramic terrace.
Day 3: Monastery of Hosios Loukas – Meteora
Once again, you'll need to get up early to fit in all the visits and still arrive at Meteora with enough daylight for an initial exploration. After visiting the ruins and the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, you will depart the city heading towards Athens.
The first stop, just under 10 minutes away, is Arachova, a charming mountain village offering even more impressive views than Delphi. In winter, it is a popular ski destination in Greece.
Continuing along the same road, a few minutes further, you will see the detour to the Monastery of Hosios Loukas. This visit will take just over an hour and is definitely worth it. Aside from admiring the fantastic frescoes and mosaics, you can also purchase local products such as oils and honey.
After returning to the main road, continue towards Athens/Levadia. Upon arriving in Levadia, take the detour to Lamia. Before reaching Lamia, you’ll notice numerous cafés along both sides of the road. Since the drive is about two hours long, it's a good idea to stop for a coffee and a break.
To reach Meteora from Lamia, follow the signs to Karditsa, Trikala, and finally Kalambaka. Once in Kalambaka, you can begin the scenic drive up to Meteora. The route through the monasteries is easy to follow and absolutely essential.
Kalambaka is larger and livelier than other towns along the route, so you'll find restaurants, shops, and bars open later than in Olympia and Delphi.
Day 4: Meteora – Athens
From Kalambaka, take the scenic route to Meteora again to visit some of the monasteries in the morning. Not all monasteries are open at the same time, so it'll depend on the season and day of the week. Once you get to your hotel, you'll find up-to-date information on which monasteries to visit.
After visiting the mountaintop monasteries and admiring the incredible landscape, return to your car and head back to Athens. You'll first have to drive to Lamia, passing by Trikala and Karditsa, then take the highway E75 to the capital.
Thermopylae, or Hot Gates in English, is very close to Lamia. It was once the battlefield where Leonidas and 300 men fought against the Persian forces. There is a statue of the national hero where the battle once took place.
Once back on the road, take the E75 for a couple of hours until you get back to Athens.
4-Day Tour of Greece
If you prefer a more comfortable option, you can book a tour that will include everything you need (transportation, visits, hotels) so that you only have to worry about enjoying the trip. You can make your reservation through our website here:
