How to Get to the Temple of Apollo Epicurius
Driving to Bassae from Athens and Olympia, the route via Andritsaina, why a car or tour is essential, and how to plan the remote mountain journey.
The Temple of Apollo Epicurius stands in near-total isolation high in the mountains of Arcadia, about 14 kilometres south of Andritsaina and near ancient Phigaleia, which makes reaching it the biggest part of the visit. There is very little public transport, so almost all visitors arrive by car or on an organised tour. From Athens it is around a four-hour drive; from Ancient Olympia, the most common pairing, about an hour and a half. This guide covers driving from Athens, driving from Olympia and the western Peloponnese, why a car or tour is essential, the final mountain approach through Andritsaina, and how to plan the remote journey with confidence.
How do I drive to Bassae from Athens?
Driving is the standard way to reach the Temple of Apollo Epicurius from Athens, and it takes around four hours each way, so most visitors treat it as a full day or, better, part of a longer Peloponnese trip. The usual route leaves Athens on the motorway across the Corinth Canal and down toward Tripoli, then continues west toward Megalopoli before turning up into the mountains via Andritsaina for the final climb to Bassae. The motorway sections are fast and easy, but the last stretch is a slow, winding mountain road, so the driving time is longer than the distance suggests. Our concierge recommendation is to set out early, break the journey with a stop, and aim your timed hourly slot for late morning or midday so you are never racing the light on the mountain roads.
Because the site is so remote, a little preparation makes the drive far smoother. Fill up with fuel before you leave the main towns, as petrol stations are sparse in the mountains, and carry water and snacks, since facilities at the site itself are minimal. A reliable navigation app or offline map is worth having, as mountain signal can be patchy. Given the distance, many visitors prefer not to drive Athens–Bassae–Athens in a single day, instead staying overnight in the mountains or on the western coast and combining the temple with Ancient Olympia. Our concierge recommendation is to plan the Athens drive generously and to consider an overnight, so the long journey to this extraordinary temple feels like part of the adventure rather than an endurance test.
How do I get to Bassae from Ancient Olympia?
The most popular way to visit the Temple of Apollo Epicurius is to combine it with Ancient Olympia, which lies about an hour and a half away to the northwest by mountain road. This pairing links two of the great sites of the western Peloponnese in one journey, and the drive between them, through the mountains and past traditional villages, is beautiful in its own right. Many visitors see Olympia and Bassae on consecutive days, or fit both into a single long day if they start early, using Olympia or the nearby coast as a base. Our concierge recommendation is to book your timed slot at Bassae to fit the drive from Olympia comfortably, allowing for the slow mountain roads.
From the Olympia direction the approach again passes through or near Andritsaina, the main mountain village of the area, which makes a natural stop for fuel, lunch or a look at its historic library before the final climb to the temple. As with any approach to Bassae, fill up with fuel where you can, carry water, and plan to complete the mountain driving in daylight. If you are basing yourself near Olympia, you can see the sanctuary and its museum one day and make the round trip to Bassae the next, giving each site the time it deserves. Our concierge recommendation is to treat Olympia and Bassae as two halves of a western-Peloponnese itinerary, with the Bassae slot reserved in advance to anchor the plan.
Can I get to the Temple of Apollo Epicurius by public transport?
Public transport to the Temple of Apollo Epicurius is very limited, and reaching the site without a car is difficult. There is no train, and while regional KTEL buses serve the mountain village of Andritsaina, about 14 kilometres from the temple, connections are infrequent and there is no regular bus service covering the final stretch up to Bassae itself. Travellers relying on buses would typically need to reach Andritsaina and then arrange a taxi for the round trip to the temple, confirming the return in advance, as taxis are not always readily available in so small a mountain village. For most international visitors, this makes public transport an impractical option compared with driving or a tour.
If you do not want to drive the mountain roads yourself, the realistic alternatives are an organised tour or a private transfer with a driver. Some specialist and small-group tours include Bassae, often combined with Ancient Olympia or a wider Peloponnese circuit, and a private driver can build the temple into a bespoke day. These options remove the stress of the winding mountain roads and the sparse services, and let you enjoy the scenery. Our concierge recommendation for visitors without a car is to arrange a tour or private transfer rather than attempt the trip by bus, and to reserve your timed entry slot in advance so the day is built around a confirmed arrival at the temple.
What is the final mountain approach like?
The last part of the journey to the Temple of Apollo Epicurius is a genuine mountain drive, and it sets the tone for the whole visit. From Andritsaina the road climbs steadily for around 14 kilometres into the high country, winding along the mountainside with wide views opening over the peaks and glens of Arcadia. It is paved but narrow and twisting in places, so the going is slow and demands unhurried, attentive driving, especially in mist or after rain. For most visitors, though, this climb is part of the magic: the sense of leaving the everyday world behind and ascending to a temple set deliberately apart, high and alone, is exactly what the ancient builders intended.
At the top, a small car park sits a short walk from the temple within its protective shelter. Facilities are minimal — this is an isolated site, with no museum and few services — so arrive self-sufficient with water, warm layers and sturdy shoes for the exposed, uneven ground. Because you are at over a thousand metres, be ready for cooler, windier or mistier conditions than lower down, whatever the season. Our concierge recommendation is to allow extra time for the final climb, drive it in daylight, and treat the approach as the opening act of the visit rather than a chore, arriving within your booked hourly slot to a confirmed, open gate.
How should I plan the journey to Bassae?
Planning is what turns the long journey to the Temple of Apollo Epicurius from a worry into a highlight. Because the site is remote and the daily opening window is short, start by booking your timed hourly slot, then build the day's driving around it, aiming to arrive within the hour with a comfortable margin for the slow mountain roads. Decide in advance whether you are making a round trip from a base such as Olympia or the coast, or an overnight in the mountains at Andritsaina, and check the operator's hours for your date, as they are shorter in winter and mountain weather can intervene. Letting us handle the operator's ticketing portal in your own language removes one more variable from a trip that already asks for careful timing.
On the practical side, treat Bassae like any remote mountain destination: fill up with fuel before heading into the hills, carry water, snacks and warm layers, keep an offline map in case of patchy signal, and plan to finish the mountain driving in daylight. Combining the temple with Ancient Olympia, and perhaps a pause in Andritsaina or a look at ancient Phigaleia below, makes the long drive doubly worthwhile. Our concierge recommendation is to reserve your Bassae slot first, plan the route and any overnight around it, and set out prepared — so the journey to one of Greece's most remote and rewarding temples goes smoothly from start to finish.
Frequently asked
How far is the Temple of Apollo Epicurius from Athens?
It is around a four-hour drive from Athens, high in the mountains of Arcadia about 14 km south of Andritsaina. The motorway sections toward Tripoli and Megalopoli are fast, but the final mountain climb via Andritsaina is slow and winding, so allow generous time.
How do I get to Bassae from Ancient Olympia?
Ancient Olympia is about an hour and a half away by mountain road, making it the most popular pairing. Many visitors see the two on consecutive days, often passing through Andritsaina, which makes a natural stop for fuel or lunch.
Can I reach Bassae by public transport?
Only with difficulty. There is no train and no regular bus to the temple itself; regional KTEL buses reach Andritsaina about 14 km away, from where you would need a taxi. For most visitors a car, an organised tour or a private transfer is essential.
Do I need a car to visit the Temple of Apollo Epicurius?
In practice, yes — a car is the most flexible way to reach this remote mountain site. If you would rather not drive the winding roads, an organised tour that includes Bassae or a private transfer with a driver is the realistic alternative.
Is there parking at the site?
Yes. There is a small car park a short walk from the temple. Facilities are otherwise minimal, so arrive self-sufficient with fuel, water and warm layers for the exposed, high-altitude site.
What is the final approach to Bassae like?
From Andritsaina the road climbs about 14 km into the mountains, paved but narrow and winding, with wide views over Arcadia. The going is slow and demands careful driving, especially in mist or rain, and is best done in daylight.
Should I combine Bassae with other sites?
Yes — Ancient Olympia, about an hour and a half away, is the classic pairing. A stop in the mountain village of Andritsaina and a look at ancient Phigaleia below the temple can round out the journey through the western Peloponnese.