Plaka: Delphi: Practicalities

To the east of Delphi, some 10 km is the city of Arachova, worth shopping for handcrafts there. Also, the city has some cheap hotels.

West and south is Galaxidi, a picturesque fishing village. This was once a bustling seaport in the age of steam and sail but is sleepy now. Some low cost hotels here as well.

Also worth a look is the monastery of Holy Luke (Osiou Loukas). This is via a side road from Distomo, which is east of Arachova. This is a Byzantine-era monastery with significant icons and frescos.

The general area of Delphi is mountainous and there are ski resorts that are active in the winter--as this stamp from 1979 celebrates.

Between Itea and Galaxidi are massive olive groves. Bauxite (aluminum ore) is mined in this area also.

If you wish, you can keep going west on the road past Galaxidi and eventually come to Antirio where there now a stunning new bridge to take you across to Rio on the Peloponnese. From there you can go to Patra and points south or back east to Corinth and Athens.

What else to do? There is a European Cultural Centre at Delphi as well as the Sngelos & Eva Sikelianos Museum and hiking trails. One of these trails leads north of the village to the Corycian Cave used for religious rites in antiquity. Sadly, I've not explored any of those as yet.

Where to stay in Delphi? There are numerous hotels with great views over the valley. I'm only going to mention the two I've stayed at (and liked both).

The Hotel Acropole I've been to four times. It has nice clean rooms with unimpeded views from balconies over the valley. It is down a street from the main drag so it is quiet but you do then have to walk a block uphill to get to the main restaurant street. Prof. Michael Scott, author of two books on Delphi, also endorses the place.

I've only been to the Villa Apollonia once and that was some years ago so i don't remember much about it but I liked it. Also has balconies with views. Is on the main drag (up one street from the Hotel Acropole) and so very walkable to places to eat. More street noise. Note: as of Jan. 2020 I can't find a dedicated website for this place, but it is on the travel sites. Google away.