Philippi - In the steps of St. Paul Private Experience - 7 hrs
Description
This private guided experience is unique for the North of Greece visitors, who are interested to see and hear where Christianity all started in Europe and the rest of the world. It is a must-see attraction when travelling in the Steps of St. Paul. Philippi site is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage list and excavations are still going on in this vast site. The ancient theatre of Philippi is used in summertime for the summer Philippi festival plays and concerts today. The Baptistry of St. Lydia & St. Paul by the same waterstream where Lydia, the first Christian of Europe was baptised, is a fabulous chapel covered with mosaics and wall paintings telling us the story, as it's found in the Apostles' Act 16 of the Bible. After a short lunch break at Philippi, there is an add-on option to prebooked upon request: Drive to an awarded winery for a tour & tasting at an additional cost for 1,5 hour extra.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You will be guided through the ancient town of Philippi, with remains of all periods of its history, incl. ancient Greek, Roman and early-Christian period. Philippi is one of the largest excavations of Greece and one of the most important for Christians all over the world for its religious connection to St. Paul, who preached here in the year 49 AD.
This beautiful chapel dedicated to St. Lydia - the first Christian baptised by St. Paul in the whole of Europe - and to St. Paul himself is located right next to the stream Angitis, known for St. Paul's baptisings of the Roman period Philippians. It is used for the baptisings of babies today and has unique mosaic and marble decoration.
A photo stop en route to Philippi at the famous 4th c. BCE marble lion memorial by river Strymon for guests starting the tour from Thessaloniki
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please note that private transportation from Thessaloniki city or anywhere else we agree with a professional driver and vehicle is not included in the guiding fee shown. It is paid extra and it depends on the number of participants and the size of the vehicle needed for this private tour. Further contact with the guide about the pick up point and extra transportation costs is required before the booking is confirmed. The starting tour time suggested is between 8.30 and 9.30 AM from Thessaloniki but can always be later if you wish. Please note that the 7-hour tour duration is from/to Thessaloniki. In case of cruise ship disembarkation from/to Kavala port, then the tour including the same sites' visits lasts for 4,5 hrs. Opening times of the Philippi site and St. Lydia's Baptistery are all day till 20.00 during the April to October season, except on Tuesdays.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(23)
Vasilis was very informative and courteous for the day.
Very nice tour with a very competent guide. She gave us a lot of information. Thank you for that.
Vielen Dank! Ich bin froh das privat Philippi Tour hat Ihnen gefallen, liebe Sabine.
We wanted a biblical context which Efi provided. She waa very knowledgeable. Our driver was great. We had a great lunch at a local restaurant. Highly recommend this excurtion with your friends and family.
Thanks a lot, dear Gloryjean! It was my pleasure to be your private guide.
Efi was amazing!! She explained every historical detail and religious significance of our stops in a way of making the experience as if we were there in ancient times. She was very patient and kind with a great sense of humor as well. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience and she made it truly special. If you want a private tour with someone who is a seasoned expert Efi is the perfect choice!
Wow! Thanks for your kind words! I'm really glad you enjoyed my Philippi tour. God bless you!
Ms. Efi was fantastic. She commanded the historical knowledge, and was extremely insightful, not only from Thessaloniki (urban history and culture within the city), but also across the drive from Thess to Kavala, Lydia, and Philippi. Highly recommend this tour. Although Philippi is not as sprawling (excavated as much) as Ephesus, I would imagine it is only 10% uncovered. St. Paul's prison is reachable and well marked, preserved, and maintained. We had lunch there, at a small eatery on the adjacent driveway to the UNESCO Philippi site. A wonderful breeze, lush grassy (shaded) restful location, after slow stroll thru the compound for about an hour (take water on your walk !!). Ensure you visit "Lydia" only 4 mins from Philippi - Lydia is the first person (a woman) baptized in the Western Hemisphere by St. Paul. A beautify Cathedral (St. Lydia), and a beautiful stream in the rear, where she was baptized - a great fascinating place to see. Kavala is a cool town, with a beautiful waterfront - an important strategic and historical port city in many historical contexts... Thank you Ms. Efi for a fantastic journey to the Eastern Edge of Macedonia, walking in St. Paul's footsteps. Highly recommend!! Thank you Ms. Efi. We will be back!
Thank you for your kind words, I'm glad you enjoyed my private tour in the Steps of St. Paul.
It was a great visit to Philippi and Kavala, and the tour guide was excellent. Visiting the sites of St. Paul's missionary journeys has been a lifelong dream, and this trip brought it all to life. I am at a loss for words to describe the personal experience, and the tour guide's explanations made the trip worthwhile.
Great, thanks a lot for your kind words, Peter! Good to hear you had a memorable experience. Efi
Our trip was incredible! Efi was our tour guide and our driver was Dimitris. Efi made our day with her knowledge, insider/local info and her friendliness. We were able to see everything that we wanted to and shared a dinner at the best local seaside. We tried new foods too. Our emphasis was Paul's time in Philippi and we had the BEST guide to fulfil our dream. We are thankful for the extra attention we received! After spending the day together, I feel we parted as friends! We definitely will choose EFI again! Thank you Dimitris for our day of safe driving too!
Wow! I'm really happy you enjoyed your private tour with me in the steps of St. Paul. Local food tasting is always one of the important parts of any tour I'm happy to recommend to my guests.
Efi. was our tour guide and she did a fantastic job explaining where we were going and what we were seeing! We went from Thessaloniki to Philippi and the countryside was beautiful! Our cruise line wasn’t clear how long we would be there until we boarded the boat but she kept in contact with us and was very helpful to insure we could see what we wanted to while there! She also took us to Kavala where we experienced local food near the ocean! I would highly recommend!
Huge thanks, dear Cindy! I'm always happy to have happy guests who enjoy my guided tours!
So happy we decided on this tour. Our guide, Efi was very knowledgeable about the subject matter. She definitely made the tour worthwhile! We were having trouble with lost luggage and she even made calls to help with that. The driver was also very friendly and kept us hydrated with cold bottled water! I would definitely recommend this tour!!!
Thanks a lot for your kind words, dear Elizabeth! I'm happy you enjoyed your private tour with me! I hope the luggage arrived!
We are happy to have had Efi guide us at Philippi and Kavala. She is very knowledgeable, detailed and patient in responding to our questions. Thank you Efi.
Thanks a lot for the great review! I'm happy you enjoyed the trip in the Steps of St. Paul to Philippi & Kavala.
