Essential Athens Full Day Private Tour - Best Shore Excursion

based on 90 reviews

Duration:8 hours to 9 hours (approx.)
Location: Athens, Greece

From $186.21

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Do you have a limited time in Athens? This tour is the perfect way to see as much as possible in a day! Whether you have a short stay in the city, staying in a hotel/apartment, or if you are just visiting Athens for the day during a cruise, this private tour is the best choice.

Athens is a city of great cultural interest. Built in layers over the centuries, glimpses of life in ancient times pop up among modern buildings. Ancient and modern co-exist in a surprising way.

Visit remarkable monuments and great historical places such as the Acropolis, Parthenon, Agora, Temple of Zeus, the first Olympic stadium and many more! Find out about how life was then and now and how surprisingly similar things are between ancient and modern Athens, a lively metropolis then and now!

Avoid noisy crowds and the bustle of the city. Travel in safety and comfort in your own luxurious private vehicle.

Your dedicated private driver will ensure a comfortable personalized experience throughout the day!

WHAT'S INCLUDED

✓ Luxurious transportation: sedan Mercedes E-Class car or taxi, Mercedes minivan or Mercedes minibus.
✓ Experienced, knowledgeable, professional English speaking driver.
✓ All vehicles are fully A/C
✓ Service animals allowed
✓ FAMILY FRIENDLY For family groups our tours can be modified to cater to the needs of the children
✓ Private tour. Personalized service adjusted to your needs and wishes.
✓ Athens & Piraeus Hotels / residence or Piraeus cruise port pickup & return
✓ Flexible pick up time on request
✓ Skip the line service to purchase the tickets
✓ All Fees and Taxes
✓ Child seats available upon request
✓ Chiled bottled water

✗ 30 Euros combined ticket (including the Acropolis, Temple of Zeus, ancient Agora, Museum of Agora)
✗ 15 Euros Acropolis Museum
✗ Llicensed tour guide for guiding inside the sites, upon request/availability (Additional cost 300€)
✗ Food and drinks unless specified

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Acropolis
We start the tour by visiting the so called “sacred rock”, The Acropolis. Here you will see: - Parthenon that was dedicated to goddess Athena (Parthenos) - Propylea, the monumental entrance to the sacred area - The Temple of Athena Nike which was dedicated to Athena-Nike - The Erechtheion with its famous female figures-statues - The Caryatides or Maidens dedicated to both goddess Athena and god Poseidon - The Odeum of Herodus Atticus - The the Theatre of Dionysus, the first theatre in the whole world - The Areopagus (Mars Hill)
2. Temple of Olympian Zeus
The temple of Olympian Zeus (124-132 AD) had three rows of eight columns (tripteral octastyle) on the two narrow sides and two rows of twenty columns (dipteral eikosastyle) on the long sides. It once housed the chryselephantine (gold and ivory) statue of Zeus and the statue of the emperor. Sixteen of the temple's columns survive today, thirteen of them, on the east side, intact. Of the remaining three on the west side, one collapsed in 1852.
3. Panathenaic Stadium
It was originally a natural hollow part of the ground between the two hills of Agra and Ardettos, over Ilissos river. It was transformed into a stadium by Lykourgos in 330-329 BC for the athletic competitions of the Great Panathinaea Festivities. Between 140 and 144 AD, Herodes Atticus restored the Stadium, giving it the form that was found at the 1870 excavation: the horseshoe construction with a track 204,07 meters long and 33,35 meters wide. It is believed that the Stadium had a seating capacity of 50.000 people. Separating scales were built between the tiers and on the base of the sphendone there was a portico with Doric-style columns; another portico was placed in the stadium's facade. At Roman times, the Stadium was used as an arena, with the addition of a semi-circular wall on the north that was corresponding to the splendor of the southern side.
4. Arch of Hadrian
The triumphal arch lies on an ancient street that led from the old city of Athens to the new, Roman section, built by Hadrian. It was constructed by the Athenians in A.D. 131, in honor of their benefactor emperor. Two inscriptions are carved on the architrave, one on each side: the first, on the side towards the Acropolis reads "This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus"; the second, on the other side, facing the new city reads "This is the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus".
5. Lykavittos (Mount Lycabettus)
Lycabettus Hill (Lykavitos) is the highest point of Athens, 277m above sea level. From Lycabettus Hill you will enjoy the best panoramic view of the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Ancient Agora and the whole metropolis! You will also be reminded that Athens is surrounded by sea with spectacular views across the Aegean. On the top of the hill, you will find the Greek Orthodox church of Agios Georgios (St. George).
6. Plateia Syntagmatos
Also known as Constitution Square, Syntagma Square (Plateia Syntagmatos) is a huge public plaza stretching out in front of Athens’ parliament building. Gleaming with white marble and beautiful statues, it’s a great place for people to watch. Many of the city's most important streets begin here, including Ermou Street and Vassilissis Sofias Avenue.
7. 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 House of the Greek Parliament. 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 24-7 by the Evzones (Presidential Guards)
8. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, usually referred to simply as the University of Athens, is a public university in Athens, Greece
9. The Academy of Athens
The Academy of Athens is Greece's national academy, and the highest research establishment in the country. It was established in 1926, and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. The Academy's main building is one of the major landmarks of Athens.
10. National Library of Greece
The National Library of Greece is part of the famous Trilogy of neo-classical buildings in the city centre, including the Academy of Athens and the Athens University.
11. Ancient Agora of Athens
The Agora was the heart of ancient Athens, the centre of political, commercial, administrative and social activity. The religious and cultural centre, and the seat of justice. The first excavation campaigns were carried out by the Greek Archaeological Society in 1859-1912, and by the German Archaeological Institute in 1896-97. In 1890-91, a deep trench cut for the Athens-Peiraeus Railway brought to light extensive remains of ancient buildings. In 1931 the American School of Classical Studies started the systematic excavations with the financial support of J. Rockefeller and continued until 1941. Work was resumed in 1945 and is still continuing.
12. Museum of the Ancient Agora
The Museum of the Ancient Agora is housed in the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos, originally erected during the 2nd cent. BC as a gift of the king of Pergamon, Attalos II, to Athens. The exhibition in the Museum gallery holds archaeological finds coming from the systematic excavations of the American School of Classical Studies in the area and dated from the Neolithic to the Post-byzantine and Ottoman periods.
13. Monastiraki
Monastiraki is famous for the Flea Market. An area full cute cafes and shops selling a great variaty of souvenirs. The surrounding streets are crammed with traditional Greek tavernas and restaurants, many with great Acropolis view!
14. Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum, one of the most important museums in the world, focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece.

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : deb p
We had only one day to see Athens, and this tour was the perfect way to accomplish it! Our guide George was a wealth of knowledge, kind, friendly, and very attuned to our needs and requests. He made the day a fun adventure of learning and experience. The van was comfortable and in pristine condition, and all the communication with Nikos and the staff was straightforward and easy. This was the by far the best tour we had of many during our two weeks in Greece, highly recommend! These memories will last a lifetime!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-19 17:25:14

Posted By : Mark6798
What a fabulous day! Nikos was our contact in setting up the tour; he was responsive and helpful. Dominik took us on the tour; he was friendly, funny and incredibly knowledgable. He guided us through our choices and was very flexible and helpful. We highly recommend them when you’re in Athens!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-12 08:49:14

Posted By : matthewdD5190HS
What a wonderful adventure and trip! Our guide George was absolutely amazing. He spoke fluent English, was kind, thoughtful towards my elderly mother. Who he helped up and down some of the steps, uneven terrain. He was on time always, managed time very well. Parked the van nearby, had cold water ready, and even showed us where to get the best local food. During our visit we had specific needs and he met every criteria. I don't usually write reviews but this experience is worth a review. Thank you P.G.T tours.

From Canada, and will visit again!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-28 04:22:00

Posted By : silviarK3953BX
We visited the acropolis and its splendid museum with a guide who brings together everything that a professional in the sector should have: profound competence, affability and adaptability to the customer. We thank and recommend Giorgios Bitsakis (giobits67@hotmail.com) to everyone, hoping to meet him again to be guided by him!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-03-31 08:30:31

Posted By : Meander27340512063
I’m so glad we booked this tour. It was a highlight of our holiday. Such a nice way to see the sights and enjoy quality time together. Our driver Dominic was fantastic, the right balance of history, tips and fun stories, without overloading us when we were getting tired.
Nikos was super helpful with the booking and all the information provided to make our day go smoothly.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-12-26 21:20:41

Posted By : 648angelinef
Mr Loukas the owner, our guide Katerina and our driver were all absolutely top notch. This is a very professional group that did an outstanding job for our group of 12. Do not hesitate to use them.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-12-06 23:45:00

Posted By : RayTate
Great tour guide very knowledgeable and friendly highly recommended him and tour.Had a great day thank you
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-11-19 00:14:54

Posted By : Juliana_D
We stopped in Athens for 2 days to acclimate to time before going on to our final destination for a 15 day trip. We had never been to Athens, and thought we’d stop to get in and be as active as possible for the 2 days. For our second day we decided this full day tour should do the trick.

The van and driver Lambros picked us up promptly at 8am at our hotel to beat the crowds at the Acropolis and then picked up our guide Kathryn on the way. We had a snafu of not purchasing the entrance tickets prior that Kathryn quickly coordinated us through for no delay. We beat the crowds to have a full 90 minutes on the Acropolis before moving on seeing the throngs of people coming and it starting to get hot. Kathryn asked what we had done the day before and customized the rest of the day to avoid duplication. We caught the Ancient Greek Marketplace, Changing of the Guard (it was a Sunday), Museum, and a few other things. Kathryn kept us on a quick pace which suited us while succinctly and clearly laying out the rich and long history of Athens. No question of ours was unanswered. She selected a great Greek restaurant for our lunch and a local artist art store for a quick stop. She offered to take pictures of us along the way so we would have some great memories and she did a great job with a variety of angles and cropping. During the day she coordinated with Lambros the pickups and we never waited more than a few minutes. All in all it was a day well spent and we got everything we had expected and more.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-11-07 16:51:43

Posted By : Tracy_K
Very informative. George was Fantastic. Friendly and very accommodating. Highly recommend this tour!!!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-10-29 12:02:35

Posted By : V9177TZbeverlyh
We took this tour on the advice of friends who came to Athens earlier in the year. Tolis was our amazing guide. We had a full day of sightseeing which started with the Acropolis! We got to stay as long as we wanted and Tolis was ready to pick us up as soon as we were ready. He timed our arrival to see the Changing of the Guards, which was incredible. Tolis took us to a perfect local Greek Cafe for a quiet, delicious lunch, and tailored our tour to our interests. I highly recommend seeing Athens with Private Greek Tours and ask for Tolis!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-10-25 06:23:19