Day 8: Galaxidi - Visit the Osios Loukas Monastery in Greece - Arajova - Delphi
Today we are going to visit the Hosios Loukas Monastery in Greece, before passing through Arajova, a small town, well known in the winter time for its ski resort, and ending the day in Delphi, for which predictably, this will be a quiet day on this trip to Greece in 32 days .
Having a more relaxed day ahead, we decided to rest a little more and when it is 8 am to go down to breakfast at the terrace of the Hirolakas Pension, our accommodation in Galaxidi tonight, where we enjoy a very correct and varied breakfast, Included in the price of the room.
With the bags loaded in the car, we decided that before we go to visit the Osios Loukas Monastery, it is necessary to spend some time to say goodbye to Galaxidi, this small fishing village that has welcomed us only a few hours, but without knowing very well how, it has become one of our favorite places in Greece.
Galaxidi
The walk we take aimlessly, dedicating ourselves today to the high part, where we get lost by its charming little streets, full of flowers, which give it a special beauty and that as we commented in Instagram stories, continue to surprise us, marvel at us and without place to doubts, recommending them, since we believe that it is a place in which it is very worthwhile to make a stop, even if only for a few hours.
Several minutes past 10 in the morning when we leave Galaxidi towards the Osios Loukas Monastery, located about 65 kilometers and approximately 1 hour away, depending on the traffic we find.
The tour is almost entirely along the coast, surrounded by incredible landscapes, which remind us of some of the reasons why we love to travel and for which we feel so incredibly fortunate to be able to live from the blog and be able to live the life that we carry.
Landscapes on the way to Osios Loukas Monastery
After a journey of the quietest, we arrive at the Osios Loukas Monastery when it is 11 am, where we leave the car right in the front, where there is a parking lot enabled for it, which is free and from where we access what will be the first visit of the day and one of the most important places to see in Greece.
More practical information to prepare your trip to Greece
- 10 essential places to see in Greece
- The best tips for traveling to Greece
- The 10 best Greek Islands
Tips for visiting Osios Loukas Monastery
- First of all, keep in mind that Osios Loukas Monastery, you can find it written in this way or as Hosios Loukás Monastery, something to contemplate when looking for information of the place.
- Once you reach the site, you can leave the car in the parking lot and enter the Osios Loukas Monastery through some stairs.
- The schedule of the Osios Loukas Monastery is from 8 in the morning to 7 in the afternoon and is closed between 2 and 6 in winter (check dates).
- The entrance fee is 4 euros per person and is paid once you are inside the Osios Loukas Monastery.
- Keep in mind that you can only enter with short sleeves. It is forbidden to go into suspenders and shorts, provided that the knees are visible, so it is best to go with some short-sleeved and long-legged pants and women if you want to go in suspenders, with a foulard for the Shoulders you will not have problems.
- The visit lasts about an hour and a half, stopping in all the rooms and making the visit with tranquility.
- The enclosure is quite small, so it is nothing tired to make the visit and we have to say, contrary to what we initially thought, that it is highly recommended whenever it is on your route.
- Inside the enclosure there is a small shop where they sell sweets, which we have read are very good, although we have not tried for the hour, in addition to a small shop of religious objects.
- Right in front of the store there is a small space with tables and chairs, which we recommend you enjoy for a while after buying a coffee in the cafeteria, which is really delicious.
Osios Loukas Monastery
What to see at the Hosios Loukas Monastery
The Hosios Loukas Monastery, a World Heritage Site, is one of the most recommended visits in this area of Greece, known for being also one of the churches with the best Byzantine frescoes in the country.
As we mentioned before, the enclosure is not very large, but it is worth taking it easy and enjoy the visit, since the two churches that are inside, Agia Loukas and Agia Panagia, are really interesting, in addition to all stays that can be visited.
Hosios Loukas Monastery
Hosios Loukas Monastery
Interior Agios Loukas at the Hosios Loukas Monastery
In addition to visiting the Hosios Loukas Monastery, we recommend you enjoy the terrace directly in front of the souvenir shop, from where there are really spectacular views.
Hosios Loukas Monastery
It's 12:30 we can finish the visit to the Hosios Loukas Monastery, going to the second visit of the day, which is none other than Arajova, 25 kilometers from here and 30 minutes away.
We arrive at this small town of Parnaso when it is 1 noon and we leave the car directly on the main street, with free parking, from where we take the opportunity to take a walk through this little town, which from what we have read, has become very fashion as a place for winter holidays among the Greeks, for its well-known ski resort.
Arajova
Arajova main street
Being only 10 kilometers from Delphi, this can be a recommended stop to eat and take a walk along its main street, where there are many restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops, which, as we see, reduce their hours in the hotter months, and even some close, since as we mentioned earlier, this small town, receives most visitors in the coldest months of the year.
Arajova
After a walk of just over an hour, we approached lunch at the To Arhontiko restaurant, with fantastic views of the surroundings, where we ordered a plate of grilled vegetables, grilled feta, spicy cheese and a salad of eggplants plus glass of wine, water and two coffees for 27 euros. A more than adjusted price for which we enjoy a meal and a perfect desktop.
To Arhontiko Restaurant
After eating and to lower the food a little, we take a new walk through the town, although we have to confess that the temperatures at this time of the day become quite exhausting, so being over 32 degrees, we decide that it has arrived the time to go to the Hotel Orfeas, which will be our accommodation in Delphi tonight and where we arrive when they spend a few minutes from 4 in the afternoon and after traveling the 10 kilometers that separate us from one of the most incredible places in the country , which we will meet tomorrow early in the day.
Taking into account the hot day that has arisen, we take the opportunity to take a shower and rest for a couple of hours, then go out to the small town of Delphi, where we focus on walking along the main street, full of restaurants and tourist places , where after charging energy with a coffee and a beer for six euros, in a cafeteria with spectacular views, where we have to confess, we spend the next two hours, only enjoying the place and relax, now with a much more temperature nice.
It's 8 o'clock when we approach the Dion taverna, one of the most recommended restaurants in Delphi, where we enjoy a Greek salad and a souvlaki, plus water, for 17 euros.
Dinner at Taverna Dion
After visit the Hosios Loukas Monastery and make a stop at Arajova, before going to Delphi, where we are staying, we have to say that although we have found both visits very interesting, in case of having a smaller day, this could be a expendable day, being able to go directly from Galaxidi to Delphi, to make the visit that same day and follow the tour of Greece for free.
Route of the day visiting the Hosios Loukas Monastery in Greece
Today's route will take us to visit the Hosios Loukas Monastery, spend a few hours in Arajova, to end the day in Delphi, which we will visit tomorrow.
Day 9: Visit the Oracle of Delphi in Greece - Thermopylae - Meteora Monasteries
