Greece Classic: Athens, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi & Meteora (Self-Launched)
7 days · Mainland Greece
Fez Travel charges £1,265
No-markup version: ~£540 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Fez Travel's 7-day "Greece Classic" coach tour — same headline sites (Athens & the Acropolis, Corinth Canal, Mycenae, Nafplion, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi and Meteora), but done with public buses, the narrow-gauge Peloponnese railway and local KTEL coaches instead of a 50-person tour bus. You'll stay in well-rated hostels and family guesthouses rather than 4* hotels, book site tickets yourself (or join a small GetYourGuide walking tour for the Acropolis and Delphi), and get far more free time than the reviews suggest the group tour allows. Note this is a fast-paced route — much of it is travel day — so if you can, add a spare night in Athens and Meteora. All costs are rough per-person estimates in GBP and assume shared dorm or budget double accommodation; solo travellers in private rooms should add roughly £15–25/night. Visiting in late spring or early autumn means fewer crowds and cooler walking weather; book Meteora monastery visits around their opening days and dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered).
Day-by-day
Arrive in Athens — Plaka & Anafiotika wander
Athens
Land at Athens Airport and take Metro Line 3 (€9 airport ticket, ~40 min) or the cheaper X95 airport bus (€5.50, ~60 min) to Syntagma or Monastiraki. Check into a hostel or budget hotel in Plaka/Monastiraki/Koukaki. Spend the late afternoon getting your bearings: walk through Plaka's lanes, climb into Anafiotika for the best free Acropolis views, and watch the sunset from Areopagus Hill or Philopappos Hill. Buy your Acropolis ticket online for tomorrow's early slot (€30 summer / €15 low season, timed entry) and grab a souvlaki dinner (£7–10).
🚌Airport Metro Line 3 €9 or X95 bus €5.50; everything else on foot
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Plaka/Monastiraki (~£22–30 dorm; £45–60 private double)
- →Plaka & Anafiotika walking
- →Areopagus Hill sunset
- →Pre-book Acropolis timed ticket online
- →Souvlaki dinner in Monastiraki
Acropolis, ancient Athens & Syntagma
Athens
Be at the Acropolis gate for opening (8am) to beat the heat and the tour buses. The ticket covers the Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion and Parthenon; a GetYourGuide/Klook small-group Acropolis walking tour costs about £25–35 if you want the history explained, otherwise download a free audio guide. Afterwards do the ancient Agora (€10 or included in the €30 combined ticket) and the Temple of Olympian Zeus with Hadrian's Arch. Walk the Panathenaic Stadium (€10 to enter, free to view from outside), then the National Garden to Syntagma for the Evzones changing of the guard on the hour. Evening: rooftop drinks or a taverna dinner in Psyrri (£12–18).
🚌On foot + occasional metro single ticket €1.20
🛏Same Athens hostel/guesthouse (~£22–30 dorm)
- →Acropolis & Parthenon (€30 combined ticket)
- →Optional GetYourGuide Acropolis tour (~£30)
- →Ancient Agora
- →Temple of Olympian Zeus & Hadrian's Arch
- →Panathenaic Stadium
- →Changing of the guard at Syntagma
Peloponnese loop: Corinth Canal, Mycenae, Nafplion, Epidaurus
Nafplion / Olympia
Take the 7:30ish suburban Proastiakos train or KTEL bus from Athens to Corinth (€8–10, ~1h15). Walk the Corinth Canal footbridge and, if you're lucky, catch a barge transiting the isthmus. Local bus from Corinth to Mycenae/Fichti (€3–5); the archaeological site with the Lion Gate, Cyclopean walls and royal tombs is €12. Continue by KTEL bus to Nafplion (€5–7, ~45 min): climb to Palamidi Fortress (€8) for the view over the Argolic Gulf and lunch in the old town. Late afternoon bus to Epidaurus (€4–6) for the ancient theatre (€12, or free on many first Sundays) — check the last return bus times, then overnight in Nafplion rather than pushing on to Olympia (this is the one place to deviate from the coach itinerary; the group tour's Olympia-to-Delphi day is brutally long).
🚌Proastiakos train Athens–Corinth €8–10; KTEL/local buses Corinth–Mycenae €3–5, Mycenae–Nafplion €5–7, Nafplion–Epidaurus return €10–12
🛏Family guesthouse or hostel in Nafplion old town (~£30–40 double; dorms ~£20)
- →Corinth Canal crossing/footbridge
- →Mycenae archaeological site & museum (€12)
- →Nafplion old town & Palamidi Fortress (€8)
- →Epidaurus ancient theatre (€12)
Over the mountains to Olympia
Olympia
Take the morning KTEL bus from Nafplion to Tripoli, then connect to Pyrgos or directly to Olympia (total €15–20, roughly 3.5–4.5 hours depending on connections). Check into a guesthouse in the village of Ancient Olympia. Afternoon: the Olympia archaeological site — Temple of Zeus and Hera, the Olympic flame altar and the ancient stadium where you can run the original track (combined site + museum ticket €20 summer / €10 winter). Don't skip the Archaeological Museum for the Hermes of Praxiteles. Evening taverna dinner in the village (£10–14).
🚌KTEL buses Nafplion–Tripoli–Olympia €15–20
🛏Guesthouse in Ancient Olympia village (~£30–40 double; budget rooms ~£22)
- →Ancient Olympia site & stadium (€20 combined)
- →Archaeological Museum of Olympia
- →Village taverna dinner
Rio–Antirrio Bridge & on to Delphi
Delphi
Morning bus from Olympia to Patras (€8–10, ~2h), then cross the spectacular Rio–Antirrio cable-stayed bridge — local bus or suburban rail from Patras to Rio, then the bridge-crossing bus to Antirrio (€2–4 total). From Antirrio take a KTEL bus toward Nafpaktos/Itea and connect up to Delphi (€10–15 total, 2–3 hours). This is a long transit day; pack snacks. Arrive in Delphi (modern village of Arachova is a pricier alternative) and check into a guesthouse. Sunset over the Pleistos valley from the village edge is free and gorgeous.
🚌KTEL buses Olympia–Patras €8–10; Rio–Antirrio crossing €2–4; Antirrio–Delphi via Itea €10–15
🛏Guesthouse in Delphi village (~£28–38 double; dorm beds limited, so book ahead in summer)
- →Rio–Antirrio Bridge crossing
- →Nafpaktos harbour stop if connections allow
- →Delphi village sunset walk
Delphi sanctuary & museum, then Meteora
Kalambaka / Meteora
Be at the Delphi site gate at 8am (site + museum €12 summer / €6 winter, or free on some first Sundays). Walk the Sacred Way past the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and up the stadium, then the museum for the Bronze Charioteer. Mid-morning bus from Delphi toward Lamia/Trikala and connect to Kalambaka (€18–25, 4–5 hours with changes — check Hellenic Train for a rail option via Livadeia/Leianokladi which can be similar in price). Arrive at the foot of Meteora, settle into a hostel/guesthouse in Kalambaka and eat well — tomorrow is a big walking day.
🚌KTEL/local buses Delphi–Lamia–Trikala–Kalambaka €18–25
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Kalambaka (~£20–30 dorm; £35–45 double)
- →Delphi archaeological site (€12)
- →Delphi Museum & Bronze Charioteer
- →Sacred Way & stadium walk
Meteora monasteries on foot, return to Athens
Kalambaka / Athens
Walk the old mule path up from Kastraki to the monasteries (free, ~30–45 min steep climb) — far better than a bus and it's what the group tour can't do. Each monastery charges €3 entry (Great Meteoron, Varlaam, Rousanou, St Stephen's, Holy Trinity); note the midweek closing days and that Rousanou and St Stephen's have the easiest access. Dress modestly — women need skirts (often provided at the door) and everyone needs covered shoulders. Descend for a late lunch, then take the afternoon Hellenic Train (Paleofarsalos line) or KTEL bus back to Athens (€20–25, ~4–5 hours train, ~5h bus). Evening free in Athens; add an extra night here if your flight allows.
🚌Hellenic Train Kalambaka–Athens €20–25 (one change at Paleofarsalos) or KTEL bus ~€22
🛏Athens hostel near Monastiraki/Syntagma (~£22–30 dorm) or onward flight
- →Meteora monasteries hike (€3 per monastery)
- →Kastraki old path
- →Great Meteoron & Varlaam
- →Optional sunset viewpoint if staying another night
Self-launched vs. Fez Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Fez Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£540 | £1,265 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £725 per person (57%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Fez Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£540
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Greece Classic: Athens, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi & Meteora (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £540 per person for 7 days in Mainland Greece. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Fez Travel?+
Yes — Fez Travel charges around £1,265 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £540 — a saving of roughly £725 (57%) per person.
How long is the Mainland Greece trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Mainland Greece.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, backpacker, budget trip through Mainland Greece, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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