# Arachova

A mountain village 10 minutes from Delphi and the base for skiing on Parnassus: 34 km of pistes, lift pass €20 to €35, snowshoeing, the Corycian Cave and tavernas.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/central-greece/arachova · Revisado: 2026-11-12

Arachova is a stone village hanging at 980 metres on the south slope of Parnassus, ten minutes from Delphi and half an hour from the biggest ski slopes in Greece. It has about 3,000 inhabitants, a main street that is the Delphi road, full of shops selling formaela cheese, honey and textiles, and an old quarter of steps and wooden balconies climbing to the clock tower. In winter it is Athenians' mountain resort: at weekends it fills up and prices rise. The rest of the year it is a quiet base for Delphi, Osios Loukas monastery and the routes on Parnassus.

## How do you get there from Athens?

By car, about two hours for some 170 km: motorway towards Lamia as far as the Livadia exit and then the mountain road to Arachova. From the airport, a little over two hours. In winter carry chains and avoid leaving Athens on Saturday at 8:00, when everyone goes.

By bus, KTEL Fokidas leaves from Liosion station in Athens and stops at Arachova before reaching Delphi; few departures a day. For the slopes, from the village, take a taxi.

From Spain, you fly to Athens with direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona and other cities. With a hire car, you can be skiing the same afternoon.

## Can you ski at Arachova?

Yes: the Parnassos Ski Centre is about 25 km from the village, in two areas, Kelaria and Fterolaka. It has 34 km across 23 pistes, seven itineraries and seven links, from 1,640 to 2,260 metres, 17 lifts and a snowpark. The season depends on the snow, normally from December to April; on 12 November 2026 it was closed awaiting snowfall. In 2025-26 the day pass cost €35 at weekends, €30 on Mondays and Fridays and €20 from Tuesday to Thursday; the 2026-27 price table had not yet been published. Equipment hire on the slopes is from Dimitriadis Action Stores, with three shops. If you don't ski, the guided snowshoeing from Trekking Hellas, from €55, takes you up into the snow, and the Livadi plateau, 7 km away, gives you snow for free.

## What is there to see in the village and around?

Climb the steps to the clock tower and the church of St George, at the top of the village, with the view of the valley down to the gulf. From April to November, the climb to the Corycian Cave from Livadi, the sacred cave of Pan and the nymphs, is an easy three-and-a-half-hour route. And Delphi is ten minutes away: sleep in Arachova and go into the sanctuary at 8:00. Half an hour away, the Byzantine monastery of Osios Loukas; 45 minutes away, the port of Galaxidi.

## Where to eat and sleep?

To eat, the Taverna Dasargyris, opened in 1918 on the main street, with kokoretsi and kontosouvli. To sleep, the Anemolia Mountain Resort, four stars, with an indoor pool and chalets with fireplaces on the road out towards Delphi; Afanos, right in the centre, with mountain-refuge-style rooms, and Xenonas Iresioni, seven minutes' walk away, with doubles with fireplaces. In ski season book weeks ahead for weekends.

## How much time do you need?

In passing, an hour for the village. For skiing, a weekend: arrive on Friday, two days on the slopes and back on Sunday afternoon. With Delphi, two nights. You have a plan for the day in the excursion to Arachova and Parnassus from Athens and a two-day one in the getaway to Delphi and Arachova.

## Dónde está
- Cerca: Delphi (a 7.2 km), Galaxidi (a 20.9 km), Corinth (a 68.8 km), Nemea and its wineries (a 74.7 km)

## Qué hacer
- **Skiing on Parnassus: Kelaria and Fterolaka** (7 h · All levels · 4 beginner pistes with a baby lift · Day lift pass 2025-26: €35 weekends and holidays, €30 Mondays and Fridays, €20 Tuesday to Thursday): The Parnassos Ski Centre is the largest resort in Greece and the one Athenians ski at: it is about 25 km from Arachova and two and a half hours from Athens. It has two areas linked by pistes, Kelaria, the higher and larger one, with the Aphrodite gondola from Kelaria 1750, and Fterolaka, smaller and with a fir forest, reached by the Hera gondola. It is run by the state property company ETAD.
Pistes, altitudes and lifts
34 km over 23 pistes, four of them for beginners with a baby lift, seven routes and seven links. You ski from 2,260 to 1,640 metres, with runs from 300 metres to 4 km. For those seeking fresh snow there are several off-piste descents, and at Kelaria 2200 there is a snowpark with modules for all levels. Four pistes, Iniochos, Iraklis, Odysseas and Vakchos, are FIS-homologated for international competitions.
There are 17 lifts: 13 main ones, including six detachable, with two eight-seater gondolas and three combined gondola-chairlifts, and four baby lifts. In low season, Tuesday to Thursday, only part of it runs.
What it costs
The 2026-27 price list had not been published on 12 November 2026. In 2025-26 the day lift pass cost €35 on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and from 22 December to 7 January; €30 on Mondays and Fridays, and €20 from Tuesday to Thursday. From 13:00 in high season, €20. The family pass, for two adults and a child under 18, cost €40 to €70 depending on the day, and the student and school pass, less. It is bought at the box offices and on the resort's online sales.
Hire and lessons
On-piste hire is run by Dimitriadis Action Stores, with three shops: one at Fterolaka and two at Kelaria, in the Kelaria 1750 building and the Kelaria 1950 chalet. Lessons are given by schools and instructors accredited by the resort, recognisable by the badge on their jacket; the resort's website lists them.
Getting there and parking
From Athens, by motorway to Livadia and then towards Arachova; before the village the resort road leaves at the Skamnos junction to Kelaria. The other climb, via Amfikleia and Polydrosos, reaches Fterolaka. The roads are cleared by the resort's own machines, but bring chains. Every afternoon, shortly after 16:30, the website announces which lifts and pistes will run the next day.
- **Guided snowshoeing on Parnassus** (3 h · 5 km · From age 10, basic fitness · Desde 55 € per person, in a group of 4 to 6): What it is
A three-hour snowshoe outing through the fir forests of Parnassus, starting at about 1,800 metres. The Trekking Hellas guide leads along snowy tracks between forest and high mountain; on clear days you see the Gulf of Corinth. Mid-morning there is a stop for something hot.
Who it is for
Level 2: basic fitness is needed, but not experience. From age 10, with an adult. Bring mountain boots, which are compulsory, layered clothing, a waterproof jacket, hat, gloves, sunglasses and sun cream.
Price and booking
From €55 per person in groups of four to six; €65 if there are three of you and €85 if two. It includes an English-speaking guide, snowshoes and poles, a snack, a hot drink and insurance. It does not include transport to the meeting point, the first car park before the Kelaria station. The departure time changes with the date: confirm it when booking.
- **Hike to the Corycian Cave, the Sanctuary of Pan and the Nymphs** (3 h 30 · 6 km · From age 8, basic fitness · Desde 46 € per person, in a group of 4 to 7): What it is
The Corycian Cave is a large cavern on the slopes of Parnassus, above Delphi, which the Greeks dedicated to Pan and the nymphs; thousands of offerings have been found inside. Trekking Hellas presents it as the Cave of Gaia, Delphi's natural sanctuary. You reach it on foot from the Livadi plateau, above Arachova, along an easy forest track: an hour and a half up, half an hour in the cave, then back.
Who it suits
Level 2, with 300 metres of ascent between 1,050 and 1,350 metres: children from 8 who are used to walking can do it. Bring mountain footwear and a torch for the inside.
Price and booking
From €46 per person in 2026 in a group of four to seven; €56 if there are three of you and €70 if there are two. It includes an English-speaking guide, a snack and insurance. You meet at 9:00 at the Micro Café, on the main road across the Livadi plateau, about 7 km from Arachova.
- **A Walk Around Arachova: the Clock Tower and the Town's Steps** (1 h 30 · All ages; with a pushchair, the main street only · Free): What it is
Arachova hangs at around 980 metres on the southern slope of Parnassus, above the Pleistos valley that runs down to Delphi. The Athens to Delphi road cuts through along the main street, lined with shops selling formaela cheese, textiles and honey. The pretty parts are above and below that street: stone steps, houses with wooden balconies and, on a rock in the centre, the clock tower, the symbol of the town. From its base you can see the whole valley down to the gulf.
Where to go
Climb the steps from the main street to the clock tower, carry on through the upper district to the Church of Agios Georgios and come down another way. An hour and a half at an easy pace, with a stop for a coffee.
- **Church of Saint George, Arachova** (30 min · All ages · Free): What it is
The church of Saint George, Agios Georgios, crowns the upper quarter of Arachova: a stone church with a bell tower reached by a long stairway from the village streets. The esplanade in front is a viewpoint over the red roofs, the valley and, opposite, the mountains on the other side of the Pleistos.
How to get there
On foot from the clock tower, through the upper streets, in ten minutes. Go in with clothing that covers shoulders and knees if it is open.
- **The Livadi plateau, above Arachova** (1 h · All ages · Free): What it is
Climbing from Arachova towards the pistes, about 7 km along, the road reaches Livadi, a high-mountain plain surrounded by the summits of Parnassus. In summer there are flocks and it is the starting point for routes to the Corycian Cave; in winter it is covered in snow and is the first white children see before the resort. There are cafés on the road.
How to get there
By car from Arachova, ten minutes along the Parnassus road. For an aimless walk it is enough to park beside the main road and walk along the tracks on the plain.

## Dónde comer
- **Dasargyris Taverna** (Restaurant, Arachova, €€). Qué pedir: the house kokoretsi or kontosouvli, the dishes that made it famous, and something from the pot of the day.

## By car: By Car to Arachova and the Parnassus Slopes
By car you reach Arachova in a little over two hours from Athens and get up to the slopes in half an hour. It is the way to combine skiing with Delphi, ten minutes away, or with Osios Loukas monastery, half an hour away. In winter, carry snow chains and avoid the road on Saturday morning.
Presupuesto orientativo: 80–140 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Anemolia Mountain Resort** (Hotel): The hotel
Anemolia is on the first kilometre of the road from Arachova to Delphi, a walk from the village centre but away from its noise. It is a four-star mountain hotel, in stone and wood, with the Delphi valley in front. It has an indoor pool and spa, a restaurant with a view and a conference centre, and in winter it fills with families coming up to ski.
The rooms
Oak floors, air conditioning, fridge, satellite TV and free wifi. The Mini Suite-Chalets have a double bed and a traditional fireplace; the Family Chalet occupies the attic; the Executive Double and Executive Suite have a balcony or terrace; there are triples with a view of the Delphi valley and a Family Executive Suite for four.
For skiers
It stores skis, snowboards and bikes in a locked, supervised room, rents ski and snowboard equipment and arranges car hire. From December to April it opens a children's games room. The Parnassos Ski Centre is half an hour away.
Getting there
From Athens, two and a quarter hours by the Lamia motorway and the Livadia exit. By bus, KTEL Fokidas stops in Arachova.
- **Afanos Guesthouse** (Small hotel): The house
Afanos is a guesthouse right in the centre of Arachova, a few steps from the main street and the clock tower. It has ten classic mountain-lodge rooms, the ones that have been welcoming skiers for years, and four completely renovated, two of them turned into spacious suites.
The rooms
Each is named after a Greek mountain, Voras, Timfi, Olympus, Athos, Lefka Ori, Liakoura, Ziria, and has its own character. Most are doubles; Kedros, Liakoura, Ziria and Pageo sleep three. Some are in the attic, with exposed wooden beams.
Breakfast
A tray of traditional products that you can have in bed, just like at home.
Getting there
Being in the centre, it suits anyone arriving on the KTEL Fokidas bus from Athens, which stops in Arachova: you can walk out to dinner and for a stroll. By car, park at the entrance to the village; the centre is narrow and fills up in winter.
- **Xenonas Iresioni** (Small hotel): The house
Iresioni is a xenonas, a traditional guesthouse, seven minutes' walk from the centre of Arachova: close enough to go out for dinner, far from the traffic of the main street. It has 19 rooms decorated one by one, with traditional architecture, carefully chosen furniture and a big fireplace in reception that is the heart of the house in winter.
The rooms
There are three types: standard doubles, doubles with a fireplace and duplexes with a loft and fireplace, which suit families or two couples. Simple lines, chosen furniture, traditional details and the warmth of a wood fire.
Getting there
By car, it is easier to park than in the centre. If you arrive on the KTEL Fokidas bus, the Arachova stop is a walk away. Delphi is ten minutes by car and the Parnassus slopes half an hour.

## Car-free: To Arachova by Bus from Athens
Without a car, Arachova works for a weekend of village, Delphi and mountain: the KTEL Fokidas bus leaves from Athens' Liosion station and stops in Arachova before reaching Delphi. For the slopes or the Livadi plateau you will need a taxi.
Presupuesto orientativo: 60–110 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir without a car
- **Afanos Guesthouse** (Small hotel): The house
Afanos is a guesthouse right in the centre of Arachova, a few steps from the main street and the clock tower. It has ten classic mountain-lodge rooms, the ones that have been welcoming skiers for years, and four completely renovated, two of them turned into spacious suites.
The rooms
Each is named after a Greek mountain, Voras, Timfi, Olympus, Athos, Lefka Ori, Liakoura, Ziria, and has its own character. Most are doubles; Kedros, Liakoura, Ziria and Pageo sleep three. Some are in the attic, with exposed wooden beams.
Breakfast
A tray of traditional products that you can have in bed, just like at home.
Getting there
Being in the centre, it suits anyone arriving on the KTEL Fokidas bus from Athens, which stops in Arachova: you can walk out to dinner and for a stroll. By car, park at the entrance to the village; the centre is narrow and fills up in winter.
- **Xenonas Iresioni** (Small hotel): The house
Iresioni is a xenonas, a traditional guesthouse, seven minutes' walk from the centre of Arachova: close enough to go out for dinner, far from the traffic of the main street. It has 19 rooms decorated one by one, with traditional architecture, carefully chosen furniture and a big fireplace in reception that is the heart of the house in winter.
The rooms
There are three types: standard doubles, doubles with a fireplace and duplexes with a loft and fireplace, which suit families or two couples. Simple lines, chosen furniture, traditional details and the warmth of a wood fire.
Getting there
By car, it is easier to park than in the centre. If you arrive on the KTEL Fokidas bus, the Arachova stop is a walk away. Delphi is ten minutes by car and the Parnassus slopes half an hour.
### Servicios
- **KTEL Fokidas Bus from Athens to Arachova**: From the Liosion station in Athens · stops in Arachova on the way to Delphi · a few a day; timetable at ktel-fokidas.gr

## By plane: Fly to Athens, Then Car or Bus to Arachova
You get to Arachova by flying to Athens, with direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities. From the airport it is about 190 km, a little over two hours via the Attiki Odos, the Lamia motorway and the Livadia road. Without a car, take the metro from the airport to central Athens and from there to the Liosion station, where the KTEL Fokidas bus departs.
### Dónde dormir if you're flying
- **Anemolia Mountain Resort** (Hotel): The hotel
Anemolia is on the first kilometre of the road from Arachova to Delphi, a walk from the village centre but away from its noise. It is a four-star mountain hotel, in stone and wood, with the Delphi valley in front. It has an indoor pool and spa, a restaurant with a view and a conference centre, and in winter it fills with families coming up to ski.
The rooms
Oak floors, air conditioning, fridge, satellite TV and free wifi. The Mini Suite-Chalets have a double bed and a traditional fireplace; the Family Chalet occupies the attic; the Executive Double and Executive Suite have a balcony or terrace; there are triples with a view of the Delphi valley and a Family Executive Suite for four.
For skiers
It stores skis, snowboards and bikes in a locked, supervised room, rents ski and snowboard equipment and arranges car hire. From December to April it opens a children's games room. The Parnassos Ski Centre is half an hour away.
Getting there
From Athens, two and a quarter hours by the Lamia motorway and the Livadia exit. By bus, KTEL Fokidas stops in Arachova.
- **Afanos Guesthouse** (Small hotel): The house
Afanos is a guesthouse right in the centre of Arachova, a few steps from the main street and the clock tower. It has ten classic mountain-lodge rooms, the ones that have been welcoming skiers for years, and four completely renovated, two of them turned into spacious suites.
The rooms
Each is named after a Greek mountain, Voras, Timfi, Olympus, Athos, Lefka Ori, Liakoura, Ziria, and has its own character. Most are doubles; Kedros, Liakoura, Ziria and Pageo sleep three. Some are in the attic, with exposed wooden beams.
Breakfast
A tray of traditional products that you can have in bed, just like at home.
Getting there
Being in the centre, it suits anyone arriving on the KTEL Fokidas bus from Athens, which stops in Arachova: you can walk out to dinner and for a stroll. By car, park at the entrance to the village; the centre is narrow and fills up in winter.
- **Xenonas Iresioni** (Small hotel): The house
Iresioni is a xenonas, a traditional guesthouse, seven minutes' walk from the centre of Arachova: close enough to go out for dinner, far from the traffic of the main street. It has 19 rooms decorated one by one, with traditional architecture, carefully chosen furniture and a big fireplace in reception that is the heart of the house in winter.
The rooms
There are three types: standard doubles, doubles with a fireplace and duplexes with a loft and fireplace, which suit families or two couples. Simple lines, chosen furniture, traditional details and the warmth of a wood fire.
Getting there
By car, it is easier to park than in the centre. If you arrive on the KTEL Fokidas bus, the Arachova stop is a walk away. Delphi is ten minutes by car and the Parnassus slopes half an hour.

## As a family: Children's First Snow and a Village of Steps

Arachova is where Greeks bring their children to see snow: the Parnassus resort has four beginner pistes with a baby lift and a family lift pass, and the Livadi plateau gives you snow for free. In spring and autumn, the Corycian Cave is a walk with a reward.

### What works best
The Parnassus beginner pistes, with baby lift

Playing in the snow on the Livadi plateau

The hike to the Corycian Cave, from age 8

The village steps up to the clock tower

### Where to stay
Anemolia Mountain Resort, with an indoor pool and a games room from December to April

Xenonas Iresioni, with attic duplexes

### Where to eat
Dasargyris Taverna, roast meat and stews

### Bear in mind
In 2025-26 the family lift pass cost €40 to €70 for two adults and one child

In winter, snow clothing even for Livadi

The village centre is steep: a backpack beats a pushchair

### Qué hacer as a family
- Skiing on Parnassus: Kelaria and Fterolaka
- Hike to the Corycian Cave, the Sanctuary of Pan and the Nymphs
- A Walk Around Arachova: the Clock Tower and the Town's Steps
- Church of Saint George, Arachova
- The Livadi plateau, above Arachova

## With teenagers: Snowpark, Snowshoes and Pan's Cave

For a teenager, Parnassus is the biggest resort in Greece, with a snowpark at Kelaria and off-piste runs; out of season, snowshoes or a climb to the cave where the Greeks worshipped Pan.

### What works best
The snowpark at Kelaria 2200

Guided snowshoeing, from age 10

The Corycian Cave with a torch

### Where to stay
Anemolia Mountain Resort, with an indoor pool

### Where to eat
Kokoretsi and kontosouvli at Dasargyris

### Bear in mind
The schoolchildren's lift pass is cheaper: bring their ID

Snowshoes call for mountain boots

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- Skiing on Parnassus: Kelaria and Fterolaka
- Guided snowshoeing on Parnassus
- Hike to the Corycian Cave, the Sanctuary of Pan and the Nymphs
- The Livadi plateau, above Arachova

## Consejos

### Ski from Tuesday to Thursday
The lift pass drops to €20 and there are no queues.

### Check the resort's website the day before
It publishes every afternoon, around 16:30, what opens the next day.

### Park at the entrance to the village
The centre is narrow and in winter it jams.

### Try the formaela
Arachova's cheese, fried, in any taverna.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How far is Arachova from Athens?
About 170 km, two hours by car. By KTEL Fokidas bus from Liosion, a little longer.

### How much does the Parnassus lift pass cost?
In 2025-26, €35 at weekends, €30 on Mondays and Fridays and €20 from Tuesday to Thursday. The 2026-27 price table had not been published in November 2026.

### When does the Parnassus ski resort open?
When there is snow, normally from December to April. Check the status at parnassos-ski.gr.

### Arachova or Delphi to sleep?
Arachova if you are going to ski or want atmosphere at night; Delphi if you want the sanctuary first thing and quiet. They are ten minutes apart.

### What is there to do in Arachova without snow?
The old quarter and the clock tower, the Corycian Cave on foot from Livadi, Delphi and the monastery of Osios Loukas.