Essential Athens Highlights Full-Day Private Tour with Flexible Options

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. PICKUP IN ATHENS. Your friendly Private Tour Driver will be at your Hotel, Cruise Ship or Athens Residence ready to meet you at the agreed time and outline the tour ahead as you make yourself comfortable in one of our new Mercedes Models with complimentary chilled bottled water and Wifi.

   5 min

2. Our day starts with the Acropolis, focus of life in Ancient Athens & surrounded by its amazing cyclopean' wall, ' wall, wall built by the Myceneans thousands of years ago. The Acropolis is home to the Parthenon, but also many other amazing monuments. You will first enter through the giant ‘Propylaia’ behind which once stood a gold encrusted statue of the Goddess Athena. You will also see the Temple of Athena Nike (or 'Viktory') from 420 BC before other important sites such as the mythical Erechtheion, unique in its construction with its iconic statues of the Caryatids, and the World’s oldest Theatre of Dionysus from the 6th Century BC, which would have seen the very first performances of ancient plays by Sophocles and Euripides among others. The impressive & fully renovated Roman theater, Herodius Atticus, completed in AD 161, also in the site, was dedicated to the wife of a rich benefactor and still hosts a vibrant public summer program.

   1 h

3. Considered widely as a masterpiece of science, engineering and culture, the Parthenon was dedicated to the goddess Athena and would have originally housed her impressive statue. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of classical Greek art, some of which can be seen in the nearby Museum.

   10 min

4. Explore the New Acropolis Museum situated adjacent to the Acropolis which houses the many masterpieces from the site. If you prefer you can continue without entering also.

   1 h

5. This Colossal temple at the center of Athens was dedicated to the God Zeus, head of the Olympian gods. Construction began in the 6th century BC and the temple was home to a richly adorned statue, one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World.

   10 min

6. Classic Triumphal Arch built by the Ancient Athenians for the Roman Emperor Hadrian & seen together with the Temple of Zeus in the same location

   10 min

7. Also called 'Kallimarmaro' stadium is one of the highlights of Athens where the classic Marathon ends & the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble

   20 min

8. Main square of Athens housing the Hellenic Parliament building & focus of much of Athenian life & Politics. At the square you will also see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and impressive Changing Of The Guard’s ceremony, with the iconic 'Evzone’s' in their traditional uniform.

   20 min

9. Monastiraki Square at the heart of the Old-Town is a vibrant center of life in the city

   Passes by

10. LUNCH OPTION: (No street food) If choosing our lunch option during booking you will enjoy a Traditional 3-Course Greek Lunch in one of the best local family restaurants. Fish, Meat or Vegetarian options are available together with Greek Salad and Starter or Dessert (daily menu's may vary). If you do not choose the lunch option your driver will still make time for you for a lunch break

    1 h

11. ON REQUEST. We can add this site to your itinerary on request, and as a replacement of one or two of the others on our existing schedule. The Agora was the marketplace of the Ancient Greeks & centre of political & social life in Athens. A significant site home to the philosophers, craftsmen & housing the remains of many important buildings including an on-site museum in a recreation of an ancient market and the Temple of Hephaestus, best preserved ancient temple in existence.

    10 min

12. Recognized as one of the greatest of the world’s museums its exhibits contain the largest collection from Greek antiquity with unmissable and seminal pieces from the Gold 'Deathmask of Agamemnon', leader of the Greeks in the Trojan war, to the 2000-year-old 'Antikithera mechanism' and worlds first computer; the Cup of Nestor referred to in Homer's Iliad, to the 'Ring of Theseus' to Masterpieces of sculpture such as the statues of Aphrodite & Poseidon. Please note that we are able to add a private expert guide for this site on request (additional cost).

    1 h

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 22 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Athens

• Its from-price is 59% above the median of the 4134 experiences we list in Athens.
• It is longer than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 665 of 4134.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Athens

Athens sets the Acropolis above a sprawling modern capital, where ancient ruins, hillside lanes and long taverna evenings sit side by side.

The Parthenon crowns the Acropolis, flanked by the Erechtheion and its porch of caryatids, and the Acropolis Museum at the foot of the hill displays sculpture found on the rock. Around it, the Ancient Agora, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch and the marble Panathenaic Stadium make the classical city easy to walk through.

Top-ranked sights in Athens: Acropolis, Parthenon, Acropolis Museum.

See all 4134 experiences in Athens