This tour is a great opportunity to visit the most famous and significant sites of ancient and modern Athens. Early in the morning, we will visit Acropolis hill where we will admire its historical monuments. Then we will visit the contemporary museum of Acropolis, one of the most important contemporary works of architecture in Athens. Afterwards, we will move towards the Columns of Olympian Zeus and to the Panathenaic Stadium or Kallimarmaro where the first contemporary Olympic Games took place in 1896. After that, we will see the changing of the Presidential Guard in front of the Hellenic Parliament. Then we will continue towards Panepistimiou Street where we will see the neoclassical buildings of the trilogy of Athens. Afterwards, we will drive up to the Mount Lycabettus, where we will appreciate the spectacular panoramic view. We will continue with a stop for lunch and with a delightful walk to the picturesque neighborhood of Athens, Plaka, and to the Ancient Agora.
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ On-board WiFi
✔ In-vehicle air conditioning
✔ Transfer in new, luxury non-smoking cars
✔ Hotel pick-up and drop off
✔ Luggage service
✖ Lunch
✖ Snacks
✖ Admission ticket for museums & attractions
✖ Guided Tours (only upon request)
Departure & Return
Return: End right where it started.
Itinerary
1
Acropolis
The Acropolis hill (άκρον: the highest point and πόλις: city), also known as the “Sacred Rock” of Athens, is the most important site of the city and one of the most famous monuments in the world. It is the most significant reference point of ancient Greek culture, as well as the symbol of the city of Athens. In the 5th century BC, the Greek statesman of the Athens golden Age, Pericles, coordinated the construction of the site's most important remains, including the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike. The Parthenon and the other monuments were seriously damaged during the 1687 siege by the Venetians during the Sixth Ottoman-Venetian War.
Duration: 1.5 hours
2
Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum is one of the most significant contemporary works of architecture in Athens designed by the architects B. Tschumi and M. Fotiadi and was completed in 2007. It hosts valuable findings of Acropolis monuments −4,000 exhibits− which represent the history of Ancient Athens. Some of the most significant exhibits are: The Moschoforos, Alexander the Great, Sculptures decorating the Parthenon, the Caryatids, the daughter of Antenoros and the Archaic Kores.
Duration: 3 hours
3
Tempio Di Zeus Olimpio
The Temple of Olympian Zeus, also known as the Columns of the Olympian Zeus, is a former colossal temple in the center of Greek Athens, dedicated to the Olympian god Zeus. The construction of the Temple began in the 6th century BCE by the tyrant Peisistratos, but was completed after almost 700 years by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 131 AD. During the Roman period, the temple, which included 104 colossal columns, was renowned the largest temple in Greece and hosted one of the largest religious statues in the ancient world. Today, however, only 16 of the columns exist, with one of which is lying on the ground.
Duration: 30 minutes
4
Panathenaic Stadium
The Panathenaic Stadium or Kallimarmaro is one of the main historic attractions of Athens and] it is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble. It was built in the 4th century BC by the Athenian statesman Lykourgos (Lycurgus), primarily as a venue for the Panathenaic Games. It was rebuilt in marble by Herodes Atticus, an Athenian Roman senator in 144 AD and had a capacity of 70,000 seats. After hundreds of years of abandonment, the stadium was completely restored in 1895 by a wealthy Greek benefactor, Georgios Averof. The Stadium hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It was once again used as an Olympic venue in the Olympic Games of 2004.
Duration: 30 minutes
5
The Academy of Athens
The Athens Trilogy of neoclassical buildings includes the Academy of Athens, the University of Athens and the National Library of Greece, designed by the Danish architect Theophil Freiherr von Hansen. The Academy of Athens was established in 1926 and its objective is the cultivation and advancement of the Sciences, Humanities and Fine Arts, together with the communication of the Foundation with other Academies. Today, the Academy has 14 research centers, seven research offices and the "Ioannis Sykoutris" central library. The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is a public University and was established in 1837. It is the oldest institution of higher education in the contemporary Greek state and the first contemporary university in the Eastern Mediterranean. Today, it is placed among the largest Universities in Europe. The National Library of Greece was designed by Theophil von Hansen and was founded by the Greek governor, Ioannis Kapodistrias. It was designed as a Doric temple and was built almost entirely with Pentelic marble. The construction of the National Library started in 1887 and was completed fifteen years later. It has 4,500 Greek manuscripts, one of the greatest collection of Greek scripts, as well as, many archives of the Greek Revolution.
Duration: 20 minutes
6
Hellenic Parliament
The Guards or the Evzones in front of the Hellenic Parliament are the members of the Presidential Guard, a ceremonial unit that guards the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Parliament of Greece. They stand motionless and they change hourly. Evzones are known for their distinctive uniform, which is based on the clothes of the klephts, -mountain fighters who fought during the Ottoman occupation of Greece. The most distinguishing item of this uniform is the fustanella, a kilt-like garment. This uniform turned the Evzones into a popular figure of the Greek soldier.
Duration: 15 minutes
7
Standing 277 meters above the sea level, Lycabettus Hill is the highest point of Athens. The name Lykabettus appears in various legends. It is said that it was once the refuge of wolves, (Lycos in Greek), which is possibly the origin of its name. At the top of the hill, there is the Greek whitewashed church of Saint George, an ideal spot where you can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of Athens surrounded by the Aegean.
Duration: 60 minutes
8
Plaka
In the heart of Athens is the picturesque neighborhood of Plaka which has a village feel, with narrow beautiful streets and many shops selling jewelry, clothes and local products and with plenty of cafes and restaurants around the area. Nearby, the whitewashed houses of the Anafiotika neighborhood with Cycladic architecture give a Greek-island vibe.
Duration: 60 minutes
9
Ancient Agora of Athens
The Ancient Agora was the heart of ancient Athens, a place where political, commercial, social, religious and cultural activities took place. It was the place where the famous philosopher, Socrates, had discussions with his students. In the 6th century, in the years of Solon, the Agora became a public area. The ancient Athenian agora has been excavated by the American School of Classical Studies in Athens since 1931 and the work continues until today. In the 1950s, the Hellenistic Stoa of Attalos was reconstructed on the east side of the agora, and today it serves as a museum and as a place for the excavation team.
Duration: 30 minutes
Additional info
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
