Embark | Disembark The Highlights Of Athens - 4 H Private Shore Excursion

based on 24 reviews

Duration:4 hours (approx.)
Location: Athens, Greece

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• 4-hour private shore excursion in Athens
• It is a 4-hour sightseeing private tour of Athens best highlights
• Transfer from/to Piraeus cruise port
• It blends harmoniously the best of modern and ancient Athens (Acropolis, Plaka, Monastiraki, Lycabettus Hill)
• Travelers can customize the tour within the itinerary!

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Piraeus
Pick up from your cruise ship pier at Piraeus port. We will drive along the coastal road of Saronic Gulf to enjoy the Piraeus and Athens riviera. The Port of Piraeus is the chief seaport of Athens, Greece, located on the Saronic Gulf on the western coasts of the Aegean Sea. Piraeus port is the largest port in Greece, home to Europe's biggest passenger port, and as such is a huge draw for cruise ships from around the world bringing tourists eager to explore this centuries-old city, and one of the largest in Europe. But yet another major draw is the fact that it's easy to visit Athens because it's located nearby. The Greek capital city of Athens is just 12 kilometers or 7 miles from Piraeus port. We will drive directly to the Acropolis to admire the Temple of Democracy!
2. Athens
Welcome to Athens, the historical capital of Europe. Welcome to the birthplace of democracy, arts, science and philosophy of western civilisation. Home of Plato, Socrates, Pericles, Euripides, Sophocles, Aeschylus. Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities. It’s recorded history spanning around 3.400 years and it is being inhabited since the 11th millennium B.C. E. Today, under the shadow of Parthenon, the contemporary urban scenery of the sprawling city reflects its exciting history, its multi- cultural modern personality as well as the infrastructure and facilities. The perfect Mediterranean climate with the legendary greek sunlight, the unique combination of glorious history with modern, urban innovation, the coexistence of great culture with astonishing natural beauty, the high standard hotel accommodation,
3. Propylaea
The Propylaea of the Athenian Acropolis was built on the west side of the hill, where the gate of the Mycenaean fortification once stood. The first propylon, or gate, was constructed in the age of Peisistratos (mid-sixth century BC), after the Acropolis had become a sanctuary dedicated to Athena. A new propylon, built-in 510-480 BC, was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC and repaired after the end of the Persian Wars, during the fortification of the Acropolis by Themistokles and Kimon. The monumental Propylaia admired by modern visitors was part of the great Periclean building program. They have erected in 437-432 BC, after the completion of the Parthenon, by architect Mnesikles. The original building plan was particularly daring both in architectural and artistic terms but was never completed. The pie-shaped building of Pentelic marble frames beautifully the entrance to the sacred precinct. The central section, the propylon proper, had an outer (west) and inner (east) facade...
4. Temple of Athena Nike
The temple of Athena Nike stands at the southeast edge of the sacred rock atop a bastion, which in Mycenaean times protected the entrance to the Acropolis. The Classical temple, designed by architect Kallikrates and built-in 426-421 BC, succeeded earlier temples also dedicated to Athena Nike. The first one of these, a mid-sixth century BC wooden temple was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. The eschara, the altar believed to have supported the cult statue of the goddess, dates to this period. Under Kimon, c. 468 BC, a small temple of tufa was erected around the base of the statue and a new altar was built outside the temple. The foundations of these early temples and altars are preserved inside the bastion under the floor of the Classical structure. Pausanias (1, 22, 4) refers to this temple as that of the Apteros Nike, or Wingless Victory, and mentions that the cult statue of the goddess had no wings so that she would never leave Athens. Apart from the cult of Athena Nike other...
5. Parthenon
The Parthenon, dedicated by the Athenians to Athena Parthenos, the patron of their city, is the most magnificent creation of Athenian democracy at the height of its power. It is also the finest monument on the Acropolis in terms of both conception and execution. Built between 447 and 438 BC, as part of the greater Periklean building project, this so-called Periklean Parthenon (Parthenon III) replaced an earlier marble temple (Parthenon II), begun after the victory at the battle of Marathon at approximately 490 BC and destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. This temple replaced the very first Parthenon (Parthenon I) of c. 570 BC from Periklis . The Parthenon was designed by architects Iktinos and Kallikrates, while the sculptor Pheidias supervised the entire building program and conceived the temple's sculptural decoration and a chryselephantine statue of Athena. The Parthenon is a double peripteral Doric temple with several unique and innovative architectural features.
6. Erechtheion
The elegant building known as the Erechtheion, on the north side of the sacred rock of the Acropolis, was erected in 421-406 BC as a replacement of an earlier temple dedicated to Athena Polias, the so-called "Old temple". The name Erechtheion, mentioned only by Pausanias (1, 26, 5), derives from Erechtheus, the mythical king of Athens, who was worshipped there. The sanctuary also contained the grave of Kekrops and the traces of the dispute between Athena and Poseidon for the possession of the city of Athens. Another door on the south facade of the western temple opened onto the porch of the Karyatides, a pi-shaped structure with six female statues instead of columns to support the roof. Created by Alkamemes or Kallimachos, the statues were later named Karyatides after the young women from Karyes of Laconia who danced in honor of the goddess Artemis. Five of them are in the Acropolis Museum and another in the British Museum; those on the building are casts.
7. Hellenic Parliament
The history of the impressive building of the Hellenic Parliament is intimately linked to the history of the Modern Greek state. Initially, the building served as the palace of Kings Otto and George I. It became the Parliament and Senate building a hundred years after it was constructed and still houses the Hellenic Parliament today. Through all those years, the building has undergone a series of changes and has been modernized. From 1836 to 1862; After the selection of Otto, Prince of Bavaria, as King of Greece, and the relocation of the Greek capital to Athens, it was decided to erect the palace on Boubounistra Hill. It proved an inspired choice. The chosen location was in the center of the new capital, easily defendable and cool. On February 6th, 1836 the founding stone was laid at the highest eastern point of the city. The ancient quarry of Pentele was the source of marble. King and queen Otto, and Amalia, took up residence on July 25th, 1843.
8. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a war memorial located in Syntagma Square in Athens, in front of the Old Royal Palace. It is a cenotaph dedicated to the Greek soldiers killed during war. It was sculpted between 1930 and 1932 by sculptor Fokion Rok. The tomb is guarded by the Evzones of the Presidential Guard.
9. Change of Guards
The Presidential Mansion is the place to be to see a Changing the Guard ceremony in Athens,Greece. Changing of the Guard ceremonies take place at the Presidential Mansion and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is off Syntagma Square below the Hellenic Parliament. The Changing the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in particular has become a popular tourist attraction in Athens. The Evzone's, accompanied by a military band march from their barracks, just behind the Parliament Building, along the Vasilissis Sofias Avenue to the Tomb of the Unknown soldier where a ceremonial change of guards takes place every Sunday at 11:00. The Evzone's provides a 24-hour honor guard, with an hourly sentry change, which is carried out in slow motion, that some say is to allow the troops circulation to resume after standing absolutely motionless. Many smiles when they see the pompoms on the boots of the guards in Athens but make no mistake these men are part of an elite light infantry unit..
10. The Academy of Athens
The Academy of Athens was founded with the Constitutional Decree of March 18th, 1926, as an Academy of Sciences, Humanities, and Fine Arts. The same Decree appointed its first Members, who were all eminent representatives of the scientific, intellectual, and artistic circles of that era.
11. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) is a public, self-governed Higher Education Institution, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs. Inaugurated in 1837, it has been the oldest higher education institution in the Modern Greek state and the first university in the Balkan and Eastern Mediterranean area. Since then it has been an internationally competitive, globally-focused, research-led university.
12. National Library of Greece
The National Library forms part of the so-called "Neoclassical Trilogy" of the City of Athens: Academy - University - Library. With a history of over two centuries, containing more than one million books and magazines, and a host of handwritten codices dating from the 9th to the 19th centuries, the National Library of Greece is the custodian of the Greek literary heritage, bridging the past, the present and the future. It was built between 1887 and 1902, based on a study of the Danish architect, Theophile Hansen -brother of Cristian Hansen. Hernest Ziller was the supervising architect who also studied the entrance stairways and the main bookstands. As early as 1858, King Otho had ordered Hansen to make a study for the construction of a Library next to the University, which had already started being built.
13.
Syntagma Square has literally been the very heart of Athens ever since the city became the capital of the modern Greek state, and it's the perfect central location for sightseeing. It is located in front of the 19th century Old Royal Palace, housing the Greek Parliament since 1934. With the Greek Parliament building and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier looming over it, it is rich with history and is the place where most major events of the last two centuries have taken place. Its name in Greek means “Constitution Square,” a name granted by Greece’s first modern royal, King Otto, on September 3, 1843, after an uprising of the people. This was a smart political move since the royal palace overlooked the square.
14. Plaka
In the shadow of the Acropolis and its ancient temples, hillside Plaka has a village feel, with narrow cobblestone streets lined with tiny shops selling jewelry, clothes, and local ceramics. Sidewalk cafes and family-run tavernas stay open until late. Nearby, the whitewashed homes of the Anafiotika neighborhood give the small enclave a Greek-island vibe. Visiting the Plaka district in Athens is an experience that stays with travelers for a lifetime. With its colorful neoclassic buildings and ruins waiting to be discovered around every corner, there is so much to be discovered in Plaka. Plaka is appropriately known as the “Neighborhood of the Gods.” It lies beneath the northeastern slope of the Acropolis and stretches almost all the way to Syntagma Square, in a maze of winding narrow streets laced with shops and dotted with antiquities throughout. Truly, this is one of the most charming and elegant neighborhoods you will encounter anywhere on Earth.
15.
Admire the Kallimarmaro stadium, else Panathenaea stadium where here the first modern Olympic games took place in 1896. It is called Kallimarmaro because is all made of marble. A special marble called the Pentelic marble. Special because it changes color according to the daylight. Cool within the morning and in the afternoon it changes color to bone gold color. The monuments on the Acropolis and the temple of Zeus are made of the same Pendelikon marble.
16. Lycabettus Hill
Mount Lycabettus is the highest point in central Athens, Greece. Known in Greek as Lykavitos Hill, it stands 277 m (909 feet) above sea level, providing spectacular views of the Greek capital and the coastline. The hill is one of the largest green areas in central Athens, located close to the Kolonaki and Exarchia areas. Many Athenians come here for a stroll and go to the top to enjoy the city from above. Lycabettus hill is accessible on foot, by funicular railway, and by car. Thousands of tourists visit every year to climb to the top, see the small chapel of Saint George, and enjoy the cityscape from above. Today Lycabettus hill is a fantastic place to go if you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The peace and quiet are so different from Kolonaki and Exarchia areas right below and the crowded market streets of Monastiraki and Psiri. After our visit to Lycabettus Hill.
17. Piraeus
We will drop you off at the same spot we have picked you up. End of our services. Thank you for choosing us for your tour in Athens!

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Posted By : Food_Snob_PA
Theodore was wonderful! Four of us rode in a luxury van that could have held 15 - nice! We saw the sights, had plenty of time to explore on our own as we saw the highlights and some lesser known stops as well. Pretty customizable wrt to how much time to spend where.

Definitely recommend.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-10-31 13:46:24

Posted By : marlen_R
The guide/driver was not pleasant. He did not advised of the tickets to the parks. We waisted our time and could not see the main park. We spend over 30 minutes inline to purchase the tickets and upon getting to the window the staff close the window. The driver was not very friendly not helpful. The tour company wanted to charger us $60 an hour additional to stay longer when we had booked 4 hrs shore excursion. This company did not even call me or text me by whatsapp. I was on a 9 days cruise and all other company call us and text us. Not happy with with company who did not care about tourists. And the driver seemed like he did not wanted to be bothered. Not a good experience went to Athens and could not see the main attractions. Waited my money and we were 7 adults.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-09-13 11:49:08

Posted By : Karen_M
Wonderful tour with Alexander yesterday. He picked us up in a nice sedan right where we exited our cruise ship in Pireaus. He was extremely knowledgeable and an amazing driver in tight spaces as we made our way to all the major sights in Athens. I would recommend booking a time slot for the Acropolis in advance though, as we could not access the top. We arrived at 9 and the next available slots were at 11, but we did get some good pictures anyway. Four enjoyable hours later, we were dropped right at the door to our downtown Athens hotel. Highly recommended.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-09-10 19:20:47

Posted By : fifi24Falkirk
We were onboard the Norwegian Gem cruise ship and were disembarking in Athens. Our flight home wasn't till 17.00 hours so we decided to book a tour of Athens. We were met at the Cruise port by Jorge at 8.30am. He took us on a sight seeing tour of Athens which included the Acropolis and Parthenon. We had an hour and a half there which we needed as it was so busy. Jorge picked us back up and took us to St. George's Hill which is so high up and has an amazing view over Athens. We didnt realise just how massive a city Athens is with a population of over 3 million. He drove us around and pointed out so many attractions and was so informative about the city. He then drove us to the airport. We were with him for around 4 1/2 hours. It was a great sightseeing tour and would recommend it to anyone we would defo use them again if we ever return to Athens
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-09-07 02:32:09

Posted By : davidkQ9794CQ
The driver/guide was great and took us places a normal tour bus could not go. I highly recommend this tour.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-08-25 11:21:38

Posted By : William_L
We were a group of 7 and had a private air conditioned Mercedes van. Our driver Theodore picked us up right at the exit of the cruise port and communications with the tour operator was instantaneous! Theodore was Super friendly and accommodating to all our little special requests whenever possible. He took us to the best spots in Athens and did a great job considering our limited time at this port. I must say having done many tours on this trip, having a private tour was definitely the best way to go instead of being packed like sardines in a big bus! The price was totally worth it for a private tour! I highly recommend this tour!!!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-08-18 22:01:17

Posted By : john_m
Peter was our tour guide. What an amazing experience seeing Athens with a wonderful guide who grew up in the country. Peter was informative, knowledgeable and made simple things we would never of notice come to life. We had lunch at a wonderful restaurant! Best money we spent the entire trip!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-08-14 05:17:46

Posted By : 972mikaell
Excellent four hours excursion which really exceeded our expectations. Our guide/driver was very helpful and had brilliant knowledge of both Greek history and the current day places worth visiting in Athens. We really got a lot out of our brief visit thanks to him. The car (minivan) was also brand new and well equipped!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-07-08 12:39:14

Posted By : Rose H
This tour is the best way to see Athens in a short period of time. The traffic in Athens is overwhelming especially at the tourist spots. Theodore was our driver. He was very knowledgeable about the history and arranged our stops to beat the crowds from the buses. If you are going to Acropolis I would recommend you purchase your tickets ahead of time on line. We were lucky and the ticket line wasn’t very long when we arrived. When we were leaving the line was well over an hour+ wait. Be prepared as with any tourist spot it was crowded and it wasn’t even peak season yet. This tour was very well organized and well worth the money. I would definitely recommend Theodore.
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Posted On : 2023-05-26 03:54:30

Posted By : Britta_A
Great excursion! We had Theodore and he was wonderful! Took us to see a few sites driving to the Acropolis and tailored the whole drive to us. There wasn’t a ton of communication ahead of time, but the driver was there when promised (and we had only booked a few days ahead). Everything went perfectly!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-05-12 03:25:27

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Tickets

Embark | Disembark The Highlights Of Athens - 4 H Private Shore Excursion

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Piraeus

2. Athens

3. Propylaea

4. Temple of Athena Nike

5. Parthenon

6. Erechtheion

7. Hellenic Parliament

8. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

9. Change of Guards

10. The Academy of Athens

11. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

12. National Library of Greece

13.

14. Plaka

15.

16. Lycabettus Hill

17. Piraeus

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Partner Resources

How it works

Travel

Insurance

Adventure

Contact

Retrieving available

Tickets

Embark | Disembark The Highlights Of Athens - 4 H Private Shore Excursion

WHAT'S INCLUDED ⟱

WHAT TO EXPECT ⟱

1. Piraeus

2. Athens

3. Propylaea

4. Temple of Athena Nike

5. Parthenon

6. Erechtheion

7. Hellenic Parliament

8. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

9. Change of Guards

10. The Academy of Athens

11. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

12. National Library of Greece

13.

14. Plaka

15.

16. Lycabettus Hill

17. Piraeus

ADDITIONAL INFO ⟱

CANCELLATION POLICY ⟱

Partner Resources

How it works

Travel

Insurance

Adventure

Contact

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY