Planning Your Time

A week in this region would allow plenty of time for exploring, letting you hit the major archaeological sites of Delphi and Sounion as well as traverse Marathon at less than breakneck speed. Short on time? In two to three days, you can explore Attica's coasts and visit a few key sites. The ancient Greeks believed Delphi was the center of the world, so you could do worse than making it the focus of a trip. With stunning mountain scenery, a world-famous archaeological site, and an excellent museum, touring Delphi can easily take up two days. (Note: Although it's possible to drive from Athens to Delphi and back in a day, we don't recommend it. A night in the crisp mountain air is a pleasant alternative to falling asleep behind the wheel.) If you do need to see Delphi in a day, however, be sure to leave Athens early (it's a three- to four-hour trip). A second day could be spent hiking around the mountain village of Arachova, or even skiing (in season). Or head to the pretty port town of Galaxidi.