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    Galaxidi

    Greece

    Galaxidi

    City

    Galaxidi is a small port town on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth, about 30 kilometers southwest of Delphi.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
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    7. Central Greece area
    9. Galaxidi
    Galaxidi is a small port town on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth, about 30 kilometers southwest of Delphi. In the 19th century, it was one of Greece's most important shipping towns, and in the 1860s and 1870s, its merchant fleet comprised over 400 sailing ships. The stone captain's houses from this period still define the townscape today.You come to Galaxidi for a quiet evening at the harbor after visiting Delphi, for the Maritime Museum, and for walks between the two harbors and through the pine forest opposite. On Kathara Deftera, Clean Monday at the beginning of Orthodox Lent, the flour battle Alevromoutzouroma attracts many visitors.

    Sights in Galaxidi

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Agora Harbor and Waterfront Promenade

    1Agora Harbor and Waterfront Promenade

    Agora Harbour is the larger of Galaxidi's two natural harbours and the heart of the town. In the 1860s and 1870s, the town's merchant fleet boasted over 400 sailing ships, and from this era date the stone captain's houses that climb the hillside from the quay. Today, fishing boats, Kaikia, and sailing yachts are moored here. Cafés and tavernas line the quay, and you can reach the western harbour of Chirolakas in a few minutes by crossing the headland.
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    Nautical and Historical Museum Galaxidi

    2Nautical and Historical Museum Galaxidi

    The museum traces its roots back to physician Efthymios Vlamis, who in 1928 initiated the creation of a gallery featuring paintings of local ships. Today, it boasts the largest collection of ship paintings in Greece, primarily 19th-century watercolors and oil paintings depicting Galaxidi's sailing ships. Additionally, there are figureheads, shipbuilding tools, ship's papers and registers, as well as coins from the 3rd century BC. Holding a place of honor is the Chronicle of Galaxidi, a manuscript published in 1865. The building dates back to 1868; in the early 2000s, its collections were restored and re-exhibited.
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    Church Agios Nikolaos

    3Church Agios Nikolaos

    The Church of Saint Nicholas, patron saint of sailors, is the main church of Galaxidi and stands on the highest point of the town, surrounded by tall trees and a large forecourt. The Byzantine-style building dates back to the early 20th century. Inside stands a richly carved wooden iconostasis. From the church square, you overlook both harbours.
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    4Tarsanas (Old Shipyard)

    In Greece, traditional boatyards are called Tarsanas; in Galaxidi, they were on the western harbor, Chirolakas. Wooden sailing ships built here in the 19th century made Galaxidi one of Greece's leading shipping centers. Steam navigation's rise ended the shipyard's importance. Old timbers, a windlass, and a large iron anchor remain on the shore; small workshops still repair fishing boats.
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    Chirolakas, the western port

    5Chirolakas, the western port

    Galaxidi has two ports, separated by the town's promontory. While the tavernas and cafés are located in the eastern Agora Port, the Chirolakas in the west has remained the working port: here, fishing boats are moored, and ships were repaired.In the 19th century, Galaxidi boasted one of Greece's largest sailing fleets, with several hundred vessels registered in the town. This era ended with the transition to steamships, as the local shipyards built with wood while the market demanded iron.At Chirolakas, more of this history is visible than at the tourist port: slipways, workshops, and views of the captain's houses on the slope above. It's a five-minute walk across the headland from the Agora Port.
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    6The Pine Peninsula opposite the harbor

    Opposite the Agora port, a promontory covered with Aleppo pines juts into the water, closing off Galaxidi Bay to the south. A path leads along the shore and then through the forest, past small pebble coves where you can swim.The pine forest is due to reforestation and is why Galaxidi looks green from the water. Benches and fire pits are found among the trees; otherwise, there's no infrastructure.Allow about an hour for the circular path. In the late afternoon, the sun is ideal for views back to the town and the mountains above Itea.
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    City walks in Galaxidi

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Galaxidi: Maritime Flair & Historic Lanes

    Discover charming Galaxidi on a two-hour walk. Immerse yourself in the rich seafaring history, admire elegant mansions and enjoy the idyllic harbor atmosphere of this picturesque coastal town in Greece.

    ~2 Std.
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    Stops (7)

    Restaurants & Cafes

    1

    Skeletovrachos

    The Skeletovrachos is a fish tavern located at the port of Galaxidi. On the menu are grilled fish of the day, seafood, and Mezedes such as octopus.
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    2

    O Bekris

    O Bekris is a tavern in the town center of Galaxidi, a few steps above the Agora Port. The cuisine features Greek home cooking with daily specials and oven-baked dishes.
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    3

    Tarsanas Fish Tavern

    The Tarsanas Fish Tavern is located on the waterfront near Galaxidi's old shipyard, after which it is named. It serves fresh catch of the day, grilled octopus, and seafood, with tables set on the quay overlooking the bay.
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    4

    Kapetan Kosta

    Kapetan Kosta is a tavern at Galaxidi's Agora Port. Fish and mezedes are on the menu, typical for waterfront establishments.
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    Food and Drink in Galaxidi

    Galaxidi is a fishing village that has preserved its character. The tavernas at both harbours serve the day's catch from the Gulf of Corinth, complemented by olive oil and olives from Amfissa, less than twenty kilometres away. In summer, the promenade tables are full in the evenings; in winter, only a few establishments remain open.

    Fish from the Gulf of Corinth

    At waterfront taverns, the day's catch is weighed and sold by weight. Common are sea bream, red mullet, squid, and anchovies, usually grilled or fried. Ask to see the fish before preparation; it's normal here and not impolite.
    The Grilled Octopus

    The Grilled Octopus

    In several taverns, octopus hangs drying outside the door before it goes on the grill. It is served with olive oil, vinegar, and oregano as a Meze with Ouzo.

    Amfissa Olives and Olive Oil

    From the olive grove behind Itea come large, dark table olives with Protected Designation of Origin. Oil and olives are sold in several shops in the town directly by the producers.

    Wild herbs and Hortopita

    Wild herbs from the slopes behind the village are baked into pita or steamed as horta and served with lemon. In the tavernas, these are offered as a side dish, not a main course.

    Ouzo at the Port

    Before dinner, a glass on the waterfront promenade is a must, usually with a few plates of Meze. In Galaxidi, this stretches well into the evening; a fixed schedule helps little.

    History and Culture

    Antiquity and Middle AgesIn ancient times, Chaleion, a city in western Lokris, was located where Galaxidi now stands. In the Middle Ages, the town was the most important port on the Gulf of Itea, alongside Krissa.The Age of Sailing ShipsGalaxidi experienced its heyday in the 19th century as a ship-owning town. In the 1860s and 1870s, its merchant fleet comprised over 400 ships, built in its own shipyards on the Chirolakas. The shipowners did not make the transition to steam shipping after 1890, and prosperity declined. From this golden age date the captain's houses and the collection of the Nautical and Historical Museum, founded in 1928 at the suggestion of doctor Efthymios Vlamis, which boasts the largest collection of ship paintings in Greece.The Flour BattleOn Kathara Deftera, Clean Monday at the beginning of Orthodox Lent, Galaxidi celebrates the Alevromoutzouroma: Participants, dressed in old clothes, head to the harbour and throw coloured flour at each other until supplies run out. The custom has existed in this form since the mid-19th century, its origin remains unclear.

    Traveling Locally

    Getting ThereBuses from KTEL Fokidas depart from Liosion Bus Station in Athens several times a day for Galaxidi; the journey takes about three and a half hours. By car, the route goes via Livadia, Arachova, and Delphi to Itea, and then continues along coastal National Road 48, which leads further to Nafpaktos.LocallyGalaxidi is small enough to do everything on foot: it's a five-minute walk from Agora Port to Chirolakas, and a short uphill stroll to Agios Nikolaos Church. For excursions to Delphi or Itea, bus connections are infrequent; a private vehicle or a taxi is usually more practical.

    Accommodations in Galaxidi

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    Nearby

    Delphi

    Delphi

    Delphi lies on the southern slope of Mount Parnassus, about two and a half hours' drive northwest of Athens. In antiquity the Sanctuary of Apollo and its oracle was one of the most important cult centres in Greece; today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Sacred Way leads past treasuries to the Temple of Apollo, with the theatre and stadium above, overlooking the Pleistos valley. The museum holds the bronze Charioteer of Delphi. Come early in the morning or late in the afternoon and wear sturdy shoes, as the site is steep and uneven.
    Arachova

    Arachova

    Arachova is a mountain village on the southern slopes of Mount Parnassus, about ten kilometers east of Delphi. In winter, it serves as the main base for the Parnassos ski center, attracting many guests from Athens on weekends. During the rest of the year, it primarily accommodates visitors to Delphi.The village is known for woven goods such as carpets and blankets, and for its Formaela cheese, which holds a protected designation of origin. Away from the main road, steep alleys and stairs wind between stone houses up to the clock tower and the church of Agios Georgios. In spring and autumn, hiking trails on Mount Parnassus begin here.
    Thermopylae

    Thermopylae

    At **Thermopylae**, in 480 BC, a Greek force under the Spartan King Leonidas held back Xerxes' Persian army for three days. Back then, a narrow coastal pass ran here between the Kallidromo Mountains and the sea; today, due to the Spercheios River's deposits, the coast is several kilometers away.Little remains of the pass itself on the terrain. Visitors who stop here will see the Leonidas Monument, the Kolonos Hill (site of the last stand), and the information center explaining the vanished landscape. The stop is easily integrated into a trip between Athens and Northern Greece.
    Central Greece area

    Central Greece area

    Central Greece, in Greek Sterea Ellada, stretches from the Gulf of Corinth, over Mount Parnassus, to the Malian Gulf. Between Delphi's Oracle Sanctuary, Thermopylae Pass, and the mountain villages of Evrytania, lies a landscape many travellers merely pass through en route north. Those who stop find ancient sites without crowds and a mountain range snowy in winter.
    Corinth

    Corinth

    Corinth is situated on the Isthmus, the narrowest point between the Peloponnese and the Greek mainland, and thus controlled traffic between two seas for centuries. The ancient city was destroyed by Rome in 146 BC and re-established as a colony a century later; it was here that the Apostle Paul preached. The Temple of Apollo, the Acrocorinth fortress, and the canal opened in 1893 represent three very different eras in one place.

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