Best of Athens: Private Full-Day Tour including the Acropolis & Acropolis Museum

based on 8 reviews

Duration:7 hours (approx.)
Location: Athens, Greece

From $329.44

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This full-day, private tour in Athens is a unique way to see one of the most interesting cities in the world that has been charming visitors for centuries. Travelers who have taken this tour were more than satisfied because it presents Athens as it is: a magical place to visit.

Tour by air-conditioned vehicle includes: the Acropolis (Parthenon, Propilea, Erechthion, Temple of Athens Niki, the Odeon Theater, the Dionysus Theater, Mars Hill / Areopagus), Temple of Zeus, Panathenean Stadium (first modern Olympic Games in 1896), ex-Royal Palace, Changing of the Guards Ceremony, Greek Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Ancient Greek Agora, Hadrian library, Plaka (the old city of Athens) with time for lunch and leisure, the Acropolis Museum or the National Archaeological Museum.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Acropolis
The greatest and finest sanctuary of ancient Athens, dedicated primarily to its patron, the goddess Athena, dominates the centre of the modern city from the rocky crag known as the Acropolis. The most celebrated myths of ancient Athens, its greatest religious festivals, earliest cults and several decisive events in the city's history are all connected to this sacred precinct. The monuments of the Acropolis stand in harmony with their natural setting. These unique masterpieces of ancient architecture combine different orders and styles of Classical art in a most innovative manner and have influenced art and culture for many centuries. The Acropolis of the fifth century BC is the most accurate reflection of the splendour, power and wealth of Athens at its greatest peak, the golden age of Perikles.
2. Acropolis Museum
The monuments of the Acropolis have withstood the ravages of past centuries, both of ancient times and those of the Middle Ages. Until the 17th century, foreign travellers visiting the monuments depicted the classical buildings as being intact. This remained the case until the middle of the same century, when the Propylaia was blown up while being used as a gunpowder store. Thirty years later, the Ottoman occupiers dismantled the neighbouring Temple of Athena Nike to use its materials to strengthen the fortification of the Acropolis. The most fatal year, however, for the Acropolis, was 1687, when many of the building’s architectural members were blown into the air and fell in heaps around the Hill of the Acropolis, caused by a bomb from the Venetian forces. Foreign visitors to the Acropolis would search through the rubble and take fragments of the fallen sculptures as their souvenirs. It was in the 19th century that Lord Elgin removed intact architectural sculptures from the frieze, the metopes and the pediments of the building. In 1833, the Turkish garrison withdrew from the Acropolis. Immediately after the founding of the Greek State, discussions about the construction of an Acropolis Museum on the Hill of the Acropolis began. In 1863, it was decided that the Museum be constructed on a site to the southeast of the Parthenon and foundations were laid on 30 December 1865. The building program for the Museum had provided that its height not surpasses the height of the stylobate of the Parthenon. With only 800 square meters of floor space, the building was rapidly shown to be inadequate to accommodate the findings from the large excavations on the Acropolis that began in 1886. A second museum was announced in 1888, the so-called Little Museum. Final changes occurred in 1946-1947 with the second Museum being demolished and the original being sizably extended. By the 1970s, the Museum could not cope satisfactorily with the large numbers of visitors passing through its doors. The inadequacy of the space frequently caused problems and downgraded the sense that the exhibition of the masterpieces from the Rock sought to achieve. The Acropolis Museum was firstly conceived by Constantinos Karamanlis in September 1976. He also selected the site, upon which the Museum was finally built, decades later. With his penetrating vision, C. Karamanlis defined the need and established the means for a new Museum equipped with all technical facilities for the conservation of the invaluable Greek artifacts, where eventually the Parthenon sculptures will be reunited. For these reasons, architectural competitions were conducted in 1976 and 1979, but without success. In 1989, Melina Mercouri, who as Minister of Culture inextricably identified her policies with the claim for the return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum, initiated an international architectural competition. The results of this competition were annulled following the discovery of a large urban settlement on the Makriyianni site dating from Archaic to Early Christian Athens. This discovery now needed to be integrated into the New Museum that was to be built on this site. In the year 2000, the Organization for the Construction of the New Acropolis Museum announced an invitation to a new tender, which was realized in accord with the Directives of the European Union. It is this Tender that has come to fruition with the awarding of the design tender to Bernard Tschumi with Michael Photiadis and their associates and the completion of construction in 2007. Today, the new Acropolis Museum has a total area of 25,000 square meters, with exhibition space of over 14,000 square meters, ten times more than that of the old museum on the Hill of the Acropolis. The new Museum offers all the amenities expected in an international museum of the 21st century.
3. Temple of Olympian Zeus
Located in southern Athens, between the Acropolis and the Ilissos river, the Olympeion was the sanctuary of Olympian Zeus. Here stands one of the greatest ancient temples of Zeus and, according to Vitruvius, one of the most famous marble buildings ever constructed. The sanctuary's foundation is attributed to mythical Deukalion. The site also comprises the temple of Apollo Delphinios - the sanctuary of Apollo Delphinios was traditionally associated with Theseus - and a tripartite building with a south courtyard of ca. 500 BC. The latter has been identified as the Delphinion Court, which was allegedly founded by Aegeas.
4. Panathenaic Stadium
The Panathenaic Stadium is located on the site of an ancient stadium and for many centuries hosted games in which nude male athletes competed (gymnikoi agones) in track events, athletics championships as we would call them today. The games, which since antiquity had been held in an area far from the city, were included in the programme of the Panathenaia festival celebrations in 566/565 BC. When the orator Lykourgos assumed responsibility for the finances of Athens, in 338 BC, he included in the public works carried out in the city the building of a Stadium. The ravine running between Ardettos Hill and the low height opposite, extra muros of the city and in an idyllic setting on the verdant banks of the River Ilissos, was deemed to be an ideal location. This was private land but its owner, Deinias, conceded it to the State for the construction of a Stadium. Major earth-removal works transformed the ravine into a space for contests, with the features of the Greek stadium: parallelogram shape with entrance at one narrow end and room for the spectators on the earth slopes of the other three sides. Lykourgos’ stadium was used for the first time during the celebration of the Great Panathenaia in 330/29 BC, when games in which nude athletes competed were held.
5. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located in front of the Parliament building
6. Hellenic Parliament
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.
7. Plaka
It is the oldest district in Athens (it is also mentioned as "Gods' district") with outstanding scenery. The moment you start walking on its paved narrow lanes you get the feeling that you travel back in time. Nobody knows where the area took its name from. According to the most prevalent opinion, Plaka took its name from a large stone slab that was found in the area near to Aghios Georgios Alexandreias church, next to Dionysus ancient theater. You will be mesmerized by the beauty of the houses with neoclassic colors, the architecture, the well preserved gardens, the elegance and the atmosphere of the whole area. Even Plaka's air is different: Softer, clearer and full of scents, like a gift from gods. If you decide to walk around the area, make sure you have a map, because Plaka is like a labyrinth and you will probably get lost in its lanes.
8. Arch of Hadrian
Hadrian's gate is a monumental gateway of Corinthian order and in architectural form a combination of the Roman type of triumphal arch with the Greek propylon. The arch was erected in 131-132 AD by the Athenians as a tribute to the Roman emperor Hadrian. Built over an ancient road, the arch marked the division between the old city and the new regions in Roman Athens, the building itself bearing testimony to that. There are two inscriptions on the arch, facing in opposite directions: The inscription on the NW side, facing towards Acropolis, was this is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus, while the inscription on the SW side towards Olympieio read this is the city of Hadrian, and not of Theseus. During the Byzantine era, the triumphal arch of Hadrian was renamed Gate of the princess in honor of an empress, possibly Eudokia who came from Athens. In the 18th century, the Ottoman defensive wall incorporated Hadrian's arch, which thus became the second gate of the city walls.
9. 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.
10. National Library of Greece
The National Library of Greece (Greek: Εθνική Βιβλιοθήκη) is situated near the center of city of Athens. It was designed by the Danish architect Theophil Freiherr von Hansen, as part of his famous Trilogy of neo-classical buildings including the Academy of Athens and the original building of the Athens University. It was founded by Ioannis Kapodistrias.
11. Monastiraki
One of the most typical areas in “old” Athens full of narrow lanes and small buildings, representing the Ottoman and Byzantine influence on the city. In the open-air stands and in the small shops, located on central streets (Andrianou, Ifaestou, Theseiou, Aghios Fillipos, Astiggos and Ermou), you can buy everything: shoes, clothes, old and new furniture, old books and magazines, souvenirs, jewelry, hats, bronze items, new and second hand records and cd’s, traditional Greek music instruments (bouzouki, cymbal etc). Shopping or just walking around Monastiraki is an amazing experience you do not want to miss. You will be amazed by the quality and quantity of products and you will definitely be tempted to buy something.

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : 75kayi
I contacted Kivitos by email 8 moths before we travelled. Told them basically what I thought I wanted and they did the rest. Despina was amazing, tips and tricks on how to see and get around. Accomodation was top notch all arranged by her.
Saw everything we thought we wanted to see and beyond. Just a phone call and extras were arranged.
Couldn’t get better service anywhere.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-09-23 03:31:15

Posted By : tamarakB2389RC
You must do this tour in Athens. We had the most amazing tour guide who made Athens and its history even more fascinating!
Despina our travel agent could not have done a better job with hotels at different islands and all the details she arranged made our trip perfect.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-09-02 13:15:00

Posted By : A2601IEbriank
What a wonderful experience working with Panos and Kivotos Travel! Panos responded to all communications with quickness and professionalism! The entire trip was seamless! Great selection of hotels and point of interests to visit while on Greece and Italy! I would highly recommend Kivotos Travel!!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2022-10-14 16:54:21

Posted By : Kathleen_E
This tour was very expensive, compared to others that were similar, but sold out but we wanted an overview of the highlights of Athens so we signed up for it. The car and driver provided a comfortable and convenient way to get around Athens and reach key landmarks like the Acropolis , Temple of Zeus, etc. Our guide was very pleasant and gave us a little commentary on what we were passing in the car but didn’t go with us to see any of the landmarks and didn’t even seem terribly knowledgeable about them so she didn’t add a lot to our day. They did take us to a nice local restaurant for lunch, which we really enjoyed. However, overall, the “tour” was little more than transportation around the city, where we were usually just dropped off, with the comment that, “we will meet you back here in 3 hours” or “we will meet you back here in an hour”. It appeared from the paper work that the guide only received a fraction of the $179 per person we paid for this tour (for 4), so someone else is making a lot of money for a pretty average, uninspiring tour. We would not recommend this tour company to others.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2019-09-15 02:44:54

Posted By : 632larrys
Our driver Panos met us at the dock on time in a luxury sedan. He asked what we wanted to see in our tour and and With his suggestions came up with a plan for the day. We went to the Acropolis early which was a great idea on his part as we were able to get in-and-out of there before the crowds began to build. He then took us to see other sites before taking us to lunch at a local Greek restaurant. The food was spectacular and we even had Panos join us for lunch. Not only do we get to learn more from him but he knew everything about Greek food and was able to get us a tasting m. It was more food than the 3 of us could eat parrot he then took us back to the boat with time to spare. I highly recommend his tours
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2019-08-22 09:20:08

Posted By : Doug W
Panos from Kivotos of Aegean Athens Greece Tours provided my wife, sister and myself with a full day private tour of Athens Greece. This included transportation, licensed professional guide and driver . We did this during the off season in November to avoid the crowds and extreme summer temperatures. Our tour Guide Dorina, who speaks great English, picked us up at the Electra Palace Hotel in the Plaka district at 9am. The vehicle was a newer Mercedes 9 passenger van with a speaker system for the guide to narrate the tour. The tour included the Acropolis, Parthenon, Acropolis Museum, Temple of Zeus and the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We were also supposed to tour the Ancient Agora but traffic became an issue because of local demonstrations that day and we decided to eliminate that venue. While sitting in traffic Dorina, our guide, suggested abandoning the van and taking the Metro to the Museum to save time, great idea and it saved us from sitting in traffic. It was fun to travel the Metro with someone that knows their way around the city. She also had us stop for lunch at a local Greek fast food luncheon spot to try a traditional pork Gyro sandwich. Glad I don't live in Greece, I'd weigh a ton.

Being a licensed guide enabled Dorina to enter all of the ancient sights including the museum. When guiding us through the museum we able to completely absorb all of the history and learn about the exhibits because of her expert narration. We would have been lost trying to do this on our own.

Our tour ended around five and we were dropped off at the hotel. I can't say enough about our guide and driver. Both of them were pleasant, professional and full of information. Very personable and friendly too. They helped us take pictures and much more. We learned so much about Athens and Greece that day and had so much fun, thanks to them.

A few tips: Hiking up and around the Acropolis is not easy. Lots of uneven ground and stairs of stone. It was raining lightly in the morning and the stone stairs and walking areas were slippery and it was also very windy at the top, which didn't help. There are restrooms at the top and bottom of the Acropolis for comfort breaks. I don't think this venue is handicap friendly due to it's age. We walked quite a bit on our tour so be ready.

Thanks Panos for putting this together.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2018-12-08 11:13:07

Posted By : Jeff K
I cannot emphasize enough the consistently high quality of service we received from this company, in arranging several different tours for us while we were enjoying our vacation in mainland Greece, as well as the Greek Islands of Santorini and Crete. Unfortunately, both my wife and I fell ill with the flu, for one day each, during our trip. The firm was tremendously kind, considerate and helpful in rearranging our schedule to rejoin our group as soon as we were well again. They covered all related expenses and accommodations they could control and were so gracious and caring in helping us rejoin the tours ASAP, with little to no inconvenience or expense to us.

Beyond this, the accommodations, information and historical data we received on the trip were of the very highest class. It is my great privilege to recommend this firm in the highest way possible, with special recognition to Panos Zafiriou, who took care of us every step of the way!

Jeff & Kim Keisler, Iowa, USA
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2018-06-19 12:44:19

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Tickets

Best of Athens: Private Full-Day Tour including the Acropolis & Acropolis Museum

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Acropolis

2. Acropolis Museum

3. Temple of Olympian Zeus

4. Panathenaic Stadium

5. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

6. Hellenic Parliament

7. Plaka

8. Arch of Hadrian

9. The Academy of Athens

10. National Library of Greece

11. Monastiraki

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Partner Resources

How it works

Travel

Insurance

Adventure

Contact

Retrieving available

Tickets

Best of Athens: Private Full-Day Tour including the Acropolis & Acropolis Museum

WHAT'S INCLUDED ⟱

WHAT TO EXPECT ⟱

1. Acropolis

2. Acropolis Museum

3. Temple of Olympian Zeus

4. Panathenaic Stadium

5. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

6. Hellenic Parliament

7. Plaka

8. Arch of Hadrian

9. The Academy of Athens

10. National Library of Greece

11. Monastiraki

ADDITIONAL INFO ⟱

CANCELLATION POLICY ⟱

Partner Resources

How it works

Travel

Insurance

Adventure

Contact

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY