Athens Half-Day Private Tour: Explore Ancient Greece's Landmarks with Flexibility and Comfort
5.0
10 Ratings
Athens
Embark on a half-day private tour of Athens and immerse yourself in the ancient magic of Greece. Explore iconic landmarks, enjoy flexibility and comfort, and experience the birthplace of democracy and philosophy.
Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Acropolis - The Athens sightseeing tour begins with a visit to the impressive naturally fortified hill of the Acropolis. This tour includes a walk that takes visitors back in time through one of the world’s oldest cities, considered the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of philosophy, theater, and democracy.

Passing through the monumental gate of Propylaea, you’ll see the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and the Parthenon. Enjoy panoramic views of Athens and the port of Piraeus. At the base of the Acropolis hill, you’ll find the ancient theater of Dionysos (the world’s oldest theater), the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, and the Areopagus (Mars Hill).

  • Temple of Olympian Zeus - The Temple of Olympian Zeus is one of the most ancient, as it was a place of worship for Zeus from the dawn of history. Peisistratus the tyrant aimed to construct a grand temple around the end of the 6th century BC, but his plans were halted when tyranny fell and democratic Athens took over. A century later, the democratic Athenians, who despised Peisistratus’ regime, refused to complete a project that reminded them of his tyranny. The materials were instead used to build the Themistoclean walls. Finally, Roman Emperor Hadrian completed the temple about 700 years after Peisistratus had erected the first massive columns, which were 7 feet 10 inches in diameter. The temple was inaugurated in 121 A.D. The 104 Corinthian marble columns of the Roman sanctuary were a third smaller, yet the temple remained the largest in Europe, measuring 354 by 135 feet.
  • Presidential Mansion - The Presidential Palace, formerly known as the New Palace, now houses the Presidency of the Hellenic Republic and serves as the official residence of the President of the Hellenic Republic in Athens. Before the monarchy was abolished by the 1974 referendum, the building was the official palace of the Kings of Greece. Here, you can see the presidential guards, a ceremonial infantry unit that guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Presidential Mansion in Athens, Greece.
  • Plaka - The Plaka area is the old historical neighborhood of Athens, located under the Acropolis, around the northeastern slopes of the Sacred Rock, between Syntagma and Monastiraki metro stations. Its village-like atmosphere, neoclassical buildings, quaint cafes, souvenir shops, and museums make it a favorite among visitors and Athenians who stroll along its narrow streets. Plaka attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists year-round.
  • Monastiraki - Monastiraki (literally “little monastery”) is a flea market neighborhood in the old town of Athens and one of the main shopping districts in the city. The area is home to souvenir shops and specialty stores and is a major tourist attraction in Athens.
  • The Academy of Athens - The Academy of Athens was established by the Constitutional Decree of March 18, 1926, as an Academy of Sciences, Humanities, and Fine Arts. This building is a replica of the Propylaea of the Acropolis.
  • Mount Lycabettus - Lycabettus Hill is the highest point in central Athens. Thousands of Athenians and tourists climb to the top every year to enjoy the view from a height of 277 meters.
  • Panathenaic Stadium - The Panathenaic Stadium offers a unique opportunity to see what an ancient stadium from the 4th century BC looked like. Unlike typical archaeological sites, there are no ruins here. The stadium was not rebuilt in modern times, but during the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, its marble covering was renovated, funded by Georgios Averof. The current shape of the stadium is the same as it was in the 4th century BC.
  • Parthenon - The Parthenon, dedicated by the Athenians to Athena Parthenos, the patron of their city, is the most magnificent creation of Athenian democracy at its peak. It is also the finest monument on the Acropolis in terms of both design and execution, built between 447 and 438 BC.
  • Propylaia - The Propylaea, the monumental gateway of the Acropolis, was designed by the architect Mnesikles and constructed between 437 and 432 BC.
What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off for seamless travel
  • Travel in air-conditioned vehicles with onboard Wi-Fi
  • Knowledgeable professional drivers (Note: drivers are not licensed tour guides)
  • Complimentary bottled water provided
What's Not Included
  • Entrance fees
  • Food and drinks
  • Licensed Tour guide
Additional Information

Eager to delve into the mystical antiquity in utmost security, private, adaptable setting? We are here for you. Join us in discovering the cradle of democracy and philosophy. Traversing Acropolis, Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, Erechthion, the Parthenon, the Roman Odeon, Areopagus, and the illustrious Dionysos theater. Witness the Panathenaic Stadium, where the inaugural contemporary Olympic Games unfolded in 1896. Marvel at the Presidential Mansion, the erstwhile Royal Palace, and indulge in the customary Change of the Guards. Visit the triad of wisdom edifices - the University, the Academy, and the National Library, along with the Parliament building, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Ancient Greek Parliament. Explore the Roman Agora at the renowned Plaka situated on Lycabetus Hill, where you can behold the tower of the winds and Adrian’s library. Lastly, a stroll through the buzzing Monastiraki flea market adjacent to Plaka will conclude our journey.

Location
Acropolis
Via Dionysiou Areopagitou Str.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(10 Ratings)
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Kastarrh
Aug 30, 2023
Great Tour! - This was a great way to beat the heat during the heat wave and see a lot of Athens. We didn’t feel like we missed anything. Alex was so much fun, he really made the trip so much better. We definitely recommend this tour and ask for Alex. You won’t regret it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Steve_p
Jun 23, 2023
The guy who gave us the... - The guy who gave us the tour made extra stops that were not in the itinerary. He explained the history of different things and had visuals, i.e a map, photos. He got us tickets for the Acropolis before the tour which really helped. Along with that, he gave us postcards and a book about the stops we were making.
Review provided by Viator
Andrew195
Oct 26, 2022
Well informed and pleasant experience - Our half day tour, with tour guide, Alex, was exhilarating, and very enjoyable. Alex speaks very fluent, English, and, as is extremely knowledgeable regarding the things that tourists need to see in such a short time. I could never have planned a tour as intense and unique without Alex‘s guidance and suggestions. This completely exceeded any and all expectations that we had before the tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W4187uusantiagof
Jul 28, 2022
Amazing Day in Athens! Highly recommend! - Wow we spend the day with Alex and he and the tour was amazing! He took care on every detail to make an unforgettable experience. Also Andreas is a very kind person who was attentive whole the time of our booking. Definitely I would take another tour with them. 100% recommended.
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Howello
Jul 20, 2022
Short Layover - Andreas is a true proffesional. On the way to Santorini my family and I had a 5hr layover in Athens. Andreas was able to show us the sites and give us history on abbeautiful city. We also had time to get a bite to eat that was fantastic. Don't second guess hiring him. The difference in cost vs others is well worth it.
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Sarah
Jul 3, 2022
Custom and Perfect - Kostas was the man! He picked us up from the port, hit all the tourist spots and then drove us to the airport. The whole time he was sharing fun facts and history that was actually interesting, not just reading from a script. The tour was absolutely perfect, his knowledge of the city is unmatched. Booked this two days out and were relieved to get a confirmation quickly after sending the request. The tour was customized to fit exactly what we wanted to see in the amount of time we had so we never felt rushed or like we were missing out. Will absolutely go with this tour company when we come back to Greece.
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725lorie
Oct 26, 2021
Outstanding service! Highly recommended! - We spent 6 hours with Kostas and had the time of our lives! We drove from downtown Athens to the coastline, visited the Temple of Poseidon, and learned all about Athens history and culture along the way. We are a family of 4 and fit comfortably in a very clean, well-maintained Mercedes. One of the highlights of our day was stopping for lunch at a local restaurant called 5F on Main Street in Antiparos. The chef, also named Kostas, prepared the best meal we had during our time in Greece. Many thanks to Kostas (both of them!) for making our day incredible and for Andreas for agreeing to pick us up at 415am the following day to get to the airport. I highly recommend Athens Tours 365!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robertmt4836vb
Oct 2, 2021
As good as advertised - I had asked some Greek Heritage friends in the U.S. for recommendations of the best private tour of the Athens area. Their family in Greece agreed that Athens Tours 365 was the best in the business so I arranged a 6 hour tour in their luxury SUV. All was well and I had numerous email communications with them leading up to the day before our arrival. Unfortunately my wife became ill and at 5:30 AM the day of the tour I had to cancel our plans. I was treated better than I deserved in that unfortunate event and I am very grateful Athens Tour 365 was as good a group as advertised. I hope to return and finish the tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wagner_ralf
Oct 3, 2020
Great Day in Athen - great day in Athen, nice local food at a good restaurant. Great driver. Many Thanks to Jack. Booked 1/2 day but took 6 hours at the end. Picked is at Piraeus, sightseeing in Athen + HardRock Shopping + dropoff at Hotel
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paulmanuk
Sep 16, 2020
Excellent Tour around interesting city - We did a very enjoyable half day Athens tour with Andreas. He also did our airport transfers. Andreas is very knowledgeable about his city and very friendly. He brought water for us at the start of a very hot day. It was interesting seeing the perspective of the city in a car and how the neighbourhoods differ. It included a trip to the amazing Panthetic stadium that hosted the first modern Olympics. You can image the crowds as you sit this all marble stadium. We then continued to the Athens riviera and some beautiful sights there. Including Lake Vouliagmeni. We definitely plan to go back and see more one day. Especially when the covid-19 crisis is over. I thoroughly recommend doing a tour.
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