After many years of experience in tourism this is the best selling option so you can get a full taste of the city of Athens, guided by an expert, fluent in English Athenian driver. He CANNOT enter the sites with you. You will be provided with quality commentary along the way. Learn the history of ancient and modern Athens and the fascinating mythology behind it. Start with going 2500 years back in history by visiting the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora. Explore the different neighborhoods of Athens and all the points of interest. Your driver can give you many useful tips. Visit one of the best museums in the world, the Acropolis museum or the Archeological museum. Explore Plaka, the neighborhood of the Gods. Eat the best fresh local Greek food after discussing your choices with your driver. This tour is PRIVATE so there is flexibility if you desire to remove or add something as long as it doesn't exceed the duration of the tour. We will make sure you will have the most amazing day!
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Pick up from your Athens Hotel, Airbnb or Cruise ship.
✔ Expert Athenian driver fluent in English, quality commentary. CANNOT enter the sites with you.
✔ Comfortable transportation. All cars with WiFi, A/C, Bottled Water
✖ Airport transfers or pickup locations outside of Athens (Additional cost)
✖ Licensed Tour guide upon request, depending on availability. Extra cost ~300 euros paid to the guide
✖ Gratuities
✖ Lunch
✖ Tickets to the sites (Acropolis-Ancient Agora-Zeu's Temple 30 euros pp Acropolis Museum 15 euros pp)
Pickup Locations
1. Foivos Hotel Athens
2. Alter Athens Hotel
3. Ruby Rooms Athens
4. Zenith Hotel
5. Athens City Plaza
6. Wyndham Athens Residence
7. Apollo Hotel
8. Titania Hotel
9. Athens Zafolia Hotel
10. Philippos Hotel
11. The Editor Athens Hotel
12. Vision Omonia
13. Anixis
14. Crowne Plaza Athens - City Centre, an IHG hotel
15. Novotel Athenes
16. Hotel Tier Collection
17. Hotel Bryon
18. Bob W. Eolou Athens
19. Ambrosia Suites
20. Exarchion Hotel
Additional Info: Pick up and drop off included from your accomodation. However please note that pick up and drop off from and to the Airport and areas far away from Athens will have an additional cost.
Itinerary
1
Acropolis
First stop the Acropolis hill. A bucket list visit for milions around the globe. Witness from up and close the most perfectly designed building in history and the most copied one. The Parthenon, or in Greek Parthenonas meaning the temple of the virgin goddess Athena, the daughter of Zeus the god of the Gods. This is the cradle of the Western civilization, where the foundation were put and where democracy was born. Learn the fascinating history behind the Acropolis and the ancient myths related to it. Admire also the temple of Athena Nike, the Propylea, and last but not least the Erechtheon with its beatiful 6 maidens statues. On the slopes of the Acropolis there is probably the oldest theater in the world from 600 BCE and also a Roman odeon used to this day.
Duration: 1.5 hours
2
Ancient Agora of Athens
Next stop the ancient Agora of Athens. The center of political, financial and social life. A site brought to light by the American school of classical studies. A beatiful site where you can admire probably the most well preserved ancient Greek temple dedicated to Efestos, the blacksmith god that makes all the weapons of the gods, the son of Zeus and Hera. On site there is also a beautiful reconstraction of an ancient 2 storey shopping mall. Today the ground floor houses the museum with the findings of the agora excavation which is still going on. Beautiful pottery, ancient coins, ballots, water clocks and a lot more. Yes, there was a shopping mall with 42 shops 2500 years ago. Apart from that the site has many ruins of goverment buildings, temples, court houses, parliament, theater, statues. Socrates the famous philosopher stepped on this ground. Mostly flat and covered in trees. A must visit site after the Acropolis.
Duration: 60 minutes
3
Monastiraki
Pass by the very busy square of Monastiraki with the flea market, the antique market, shops, restaurants and also some archaeological sites. Your driver will help you navigate and provide tips for each area.
4
Central Market
Pass by the central meat and fish market of Athens. Smell all the herbs and spices sold in the cute small shops in the front of the market. If you desire and it's possible for the driver to safely park the car so you can hop off and get a look inside this loud and busy market. Get the feeling of every day Athenian life.
5
The Academy of Athens
Pass by the most beautiful neoclassical building in the world. Amazing design reminding ancient temples. Beautiful statues of Greek gods and philosophers. Next the first univercity of Greece and the old national library. This is called the trilogy and all where built around late 19th century.
6
Plateia Syntagmatos
Witness the changing of the president's guards. A ceremony taking place every hour on the hour in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier where we pay respect to all the Greek soldiers lost in battle and their bodies never returned home. Their traditional uniform is full of symbolisms behind them, related to our recent history. A very important thing to see to understand the pride and discipline of the young Greek soldiers doing their duty for 1 year like every other Greek male over 18 years old.
Duration: 20 minutes
7
The temple of the Olympian Zeus. The largest temple in antiquity completed finally by the Roman emperor Hadrian in the second century AD. Look at the size of these enormous columns and the famous Hadrian's arch at the far end of the site.
Duration: 20 minutes
8
Kallimarmaro
The olympic stadium, built for the 1896 first modern Olympic games. Unique because it is all built by beautiful pure white marble from Pendeli mountain as the Acropolis, 10 miles from the city. Every year this is the finishing line of the authentic Marathon run where it was born.
Duration: 10 minutes
9
Mount Lycabettus
Now the million dollar view. Admire the city from the best view point up in Lycabetus hill. Get a real sence of the size of this big city.
Duration: 15 minutes
10
Acropolis Museum
Built in 2009 and voted among the best museums in the world several times. On the foundation of the building a real excavation of an ancient Athenian neighborhood found during the construction, incorporated with the building. Amazing collection of findings from the Acropolis. Many replicas of artifacts stolen by Europeans few centuries back. Not to be missed while in Athens to have a complete experience of the Acropolis. Full of glass that illuminates the sculptures and also you are able to see the Acropolis high up.
Duration: 1.5 hours
11
Plaka
An alternative for the Acropolis museum. The old part of the city on the foothill of the Acropolis. Beatiful historical neighborhood of Athens. Picturesque alleys, nice shops, cafes, restaurants. Good option for lunch also. Always very vibrant day and night.
Duration: 60 minutes
12
National Archaeological Museum
The most incredible museum that covers 8 milleniums of history. Golden treasures, statues, murals, pottery and many more. A trip back in time. This can be an option instead of the Acropolis museum or Plaka.
Duration: 60 minutes
13
Microlimano
If you feel you saw enough and don't want the museum choice or Plaka and want a break from the busy city you can spend some time in this beautiful small port and have a nice ice cream by the blue water. All your available choices will be discussed with your driver. This is a private tour and there is flexibility but within the tour duration.
Additional info
• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Travel time is already included to the total duration.
