Athens & Acropolis Full-Day Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore the Acropolis and Parthenon
- Discover the Ancient Agora ruins
- Visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus
- Enjoy panoramic views of Athens
- Learn about ancient Greek history
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided tour of Acropolis and Parthenon
- Visit to Ancient Agora and Temple of Olympian Zeus
- Round-trip transportation from Athens
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Sightseeing in Athens starts with the hill of Acropolis which will make your day. On the historical hill, you will have the opportunity to see the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Temple of the Athena Nike, the monumental gateway (Propylaea), the Erechtheum and of course the famous Parthenon, the main temple dedicated to the virgin goddess Athena.
Pass by: The Propylaea is the monumental entrances to the sacred area dedicated to Athena, the patron goddess of the city. Built by the architect Mnesicles with Pentelic marble, their design was avant-garde. To the south-west of the Propylaea, on a rampart protecting the main entrance to the Acropolis, is the Ionian temple of Apteros Nike, which is now being restored.
Parthenon, the main temple dedicated to the virgin goddess Athena, the eternal symbol of the Athenian Democracy and the Western Civilization.
Pass by: Temple of Poseidon and Athena, the strangest and most sacred place in ancient Athens.
Pass by: Temple dedicated to the goddess Athena Nike or Wingless Victory.
Pass by: The Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus is a major theatre in Athens, considered to be the world's first theatre, built at the foot of the Athenian Acropolis.
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a stone Roman theater structure located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis of Athens, Greece. The building was completed in 161 AD and then renovated in 1950.
After the Acropolis, we will head towards the Temple of Zeus, the biggest temple in antiquity, devoted to the King of the Godw, by way of Hadrians Arch.
We will visit Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896.
Pass by: The work Dromeas by Kostas Varotsos was constructed for Omonoia square, where it was placed in 1988. The initial version includes fragments of glass that interact with the natural and artificial light, but also water, a version that was supported for a while. Being the first public work of modern art in Athens it sparked a series of discussions and disagreements.
Then moving into the historical center of the city we will drive up the highest hill of Athens, Lycabettus Hill, where you’ll have the best panoramic view of the city, from the hill of Acropolis to the Aegean Sea.
Pass by: The Academy Building constitutes one of three parts in an “architectural trilogy”. It was founded with the Constitutional Decree of March 18th, 1926, as an Academy of Sciences, Humanities and Fine Arts.
Pass by: The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is the largest state institution of higher learning in Greece, and among the largest universities in Europe. The splendid Athens University was designed by the Danish architect Christian Hansen and completed in 1864.
Pass by: The National Library of Greece was built at the end of the 19th century, as the last of the Architectural of Athens, a group of three neoclassical buildings which also includes the Academy and the University. The building was designed by Theophil Hansen.
The Hellenic Parliament, in Greek known as Voulí ton Ellínon is the parliament of Greece, located in the Old Royal Palace, overlooking Syntagma Square in Athens. The Parliament is the supreme democratic institution that represents the citizens through an elected body of Members of Parliament.
We will see the changing of the guard (Euzones) in front of the old palace, which is today Parliament House, above the central square of Athens.
Pass by: Syntagma Square is the central square of Athens. The square is named after the Constitution that Otto, the first King of Greece, was obliged to grant after a popular and military uprising on 3 September 1843.
As you enter the museum grounds, look through the plexiglass floor to see the ruins of an ancient Athenian neighborhood, which were artfully incorporated into the museum design after being uncovered during excavations.This dazzling modernist museum at the foot of the Acropolis’ southern slope showcases its surviving treasures still in Greek possession. While the collection covers the Archaic and Roman periods, the emphasis is on the Acropolis of the 5th century BCE, considered the apotheosis of Greece’s artistic achievement.
Pass by: Pass by the traditional neighbourhood with the narrow streets, that is known as the neighbourhood of the Gods.
You will be feeling hungry by now, so our next stop is going to be a Greek tavern with the authentic Greek Pitta Gyros in the traditional neighbourhood of Koukaki.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for weather conditions.
- Photography is allowed, but tripods are not permitted.
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for uneven terrain.
- Bring a hat and sunscreen to protect against the sun.
- Carry a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Infant Seats Available
- Stroller Accessible
- Wheelchair Accessible
Good to know
- The drivers and leaders are not licensed to accompany you on the Acropolis or inside any other site or museum. If you require a licensed guide to tour the sites with you, you need to hire one additionally. If you have any questions you can contact us on the phone number provided by Viator.
- The duration of the tours is approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
Traveler reviews
A short visit to Athens made better by Olive Sea Travels
The best parts of this tour were the small group size and the itinerary. Nothing was rushed and our driver Manolis was a wealth of knowledge. He had an infectious personality that heightened the experience for everyone in the group. Once we completed our scheduled timing at the Acropolis, the rest of the day was very flexible with the order of the rest of the activities. I would recommend Olive Sea Travel to anyone looking for a tour. I should also mention that the pre tour communications were timely and informative. Overall a 6 star experience.
Awesome trip with an awesome guide
Theodore was very accommodating and helpful. We were not on time for the tour because of immigration from the cruise ship but he was very helpful in helping us meet up with the group at the first stop He was very accommodating and easy to work with. I would highly recommend him as a guide for anyone coming to Athens As our plans changed after the tour, he was very helpful helping us make arrangements to make the rest of our day easier The fact that tickets were pre-purchased allowed us to skip the long to get lines which was great
Awesome experience of Athens
We loved our tour of Athens. It was the perfect length and the right pace for our needs. Our guide Stefanos was very passionate and knowledgeable about Greek culture. We thought the tour was a very good value for everything we saw. The traditional Greek meal at the end of the tour was perfect. We highly recommend this tour.
A great day in Athens
Our driver, Panos, was very informative and courteous. The day was fantastic. All of the attraction tickets were pre arranged, so no waiting in line. Panos provided detailed explanations of the sites we visited, some history, and really went out of his way to make is comfortable. The included lunch was authentic and tasty, but who can go wrong with Greek food? Lol. At the end of the day, I would recommend this tour to anyone who prefers a more personalized experience as opposed to being herded around like cattle in a 50 passenger bus. In my opinion, it is worth the extra money to have a more relaxing, and more importantly, more memorable day in Athens. This delivered all of the above, so I highly recommend it. Thank you, Panos!
WONDERFUL TOUR!
Excellent tour!!!! Our guide, Manos, was very knowledgeable and explained everything with just the right amount of detail. The best part was his passion for his country and desire to share it with us! We got great lessons in Greek history, saw all the important sites, learned about life in Greece and had fun! Manos said by the end we would love Greece and its people…he was absolutely correct!!