# Day Trip to Arachova and Parnassus from Athens: the Corycian Cave, a Spit-Roast Lunch and the Stone Village A guided climb to the Corycian Cave from the Livadi plateau, kokoretsi in Arachova's oldest taverna and the village up to the clock tower. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/central-greece/arachova/itineraries/parnassus-corycian-cave-and-spit-roast · Revisado: 2026-11-12 ## El día - 06:45 · Salida: 2 h by car (Lamia motorway, Livadia exit and the Arachova road; go straight up to Livadi) - 09:00 · Hike to the Corycian Cave, the Sanctuary of Pan and the Nymphs (Trekking Hellas, meet at the Micro Café in Livadi · from €46) · Trekking Hellas, From €46 per person, in a group of 4 to 7 - 15 min by car, 9 km - 13:00 · Dasargyris Taverna (Kokoretsi and kontosouvli; book on 22670 31291) · Dasargyris Taverna, €€ - Carry on on foot - 15:00 · A Walk Around Arachova: the Clock Tower and the Town's Steps (Steps from the main street) - Carry on on foot - 16:00 · Church of Saint George, Arachova (The viewpoint over the rooftops) - 17:00 · Vuelta (Via Livadia; in Athens around 19:00) Arachova is the mountain of the Athenians: in winter, for the Parnassus slopes; the rest of the year, for the stone village and the paths above it. This plan is for spring and autumn: an easy guided climb to the Corycian Cave, the sacred cave of Pan and the nymphs, a spit-roast lunch in the village's oldest taverna and the afternoon on its stairways. In winter, the switch to skiing is further down. ## The day, hour by hour 6:45 · Leave Athens. Motorway towards Lamia to the Livadia exit, the Arachova road and, before entering the village, the climb to the Livadi plateau. 9:00 · The Corycian Cave. Meet the Trekking Hellas guide at the Micro Café in Livadi. An hour and a half along an easy forest track, from 1,050 to 1,350 metres, half an hour inside the cave with a torch and back. From €46 per person in a group; from age 8. 13:00 · Lunch at Dasargyris. You drive down to Arachova in a quarter of an hour. The taverna opened in 1918 on the main street and has been roasting meat from the morning ever since: kokoretsi and kontosouvli. Book. 15:00 · The village. Climb the steps to the clock tower, with the Delphi valley below, and carry on through the upper district. 16:00 · Agios Georgios. The church at the very top, with the esplanade above the rooftops. 17:00 · Return. In Athens around 19:00. ## In winter With snow, swap the cave for a day at the Parnassos Ski Centre: leave at 6:30, ski from 9:00 to 16:00 and come down to dinner in Arachova. In 2025-26 the lift pass cost €35 at weekends and €20 from Tuesday to Thursday; check the resort status the day before. If someone does not ski, the guided snowshoeing leaves near Kelaria. ## Cómo llegar ### By car 170 km, about two hours, with tolls as far as Livadia. Snow chains from December to March. ### Without a car KTEL Fokidas bus from the Liosion station to Arachova, a few departures a day; to Livadi, a taxi. Better with one night. ## Consejos ### Book the hike ahead The price drops the more people there are in the group. ### A torch in the rucksack The cave has no light. ### Book lunch at weekends Dasargyris fills up. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How long does it take to get from Athens to Arachova? About two hours by car, 170 km. ### Is the climb to the Corycian Cave hard? No: 6 km round trip on a forest track and 300 metres of ascent. From age 8. ### Can you ski in a day from Athens? Yes, leaving early: Parnassus is about two and a half hours away. ### Is Arachova near Delphi? Ten minutes by car.