Private Athens Tour: Historical Walk Including Changing of the Guard

Immerse yourself in Athens’ rich history and vibrant culture on this private 3-hour tour. Witness the Changing of the Guard, explore ancient sites, and experience local life in Plaka and Kolonaki.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Plateia Syntagmatos - Start this historical Athens walking tour by meeting your local guide in Syntagma Square, the most important and crowded square in Athens, surrounded by impressive neoclassical buildings. The best known is the Grande Bretagne, once a royal palace but now a luxury hotel which has housed everyone from Churchill to Madonna.
What's Included
  • Witness the traditional Greek changing of the guard ceremony
  • Receive personalized recommendations for attractions, activities, and dining
  • Enjoy Greek coffee while taking in the blend of ancient and contemporary architecture
  • Explore with an English-speaking local guide on a walking tour
  • Gain insight into both historical and current cultural aspects of Athens
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Metro Ticket
  • Entrance fees
Additional Information

Embark on a private 3-hour journey to explore the distinctive elements of Athens with a local guide. Immerse yourself in the remarkable historical tale of the Greek capital at Syntagma Square, home to the visually captivating Changing of the Guard ceremony. Wander around the border of the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Acropolis of Athens; traverse through the Ancient Agora of Athens; and visit the Panathenaic Stadium. Conclude your tour with a glimpse of contemporary life through the eyes of a local in Plaka — also known as Athens Old Town — and Kolonaki.

  • Children must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Please note that if you wish to tour inside the Acropolis, this will have to be done separately on your own time.
Location
Syntagma Square
Platia Sintagmatos
Syntagma Square, (at the exit of Syntagma metro station), in the middle of of the square, at the fountain. Find the exact meeting point with what3words: ///seaside.debating.drive
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(26 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Margaret_a
Jun 21, 2024
Hidden gems - We had a great guidance who knew the history of the area and was able to show us sights historical sights. We were even able to visit a hidden underground passage under one of the oldest churches.
Review provided by Viator
Bigjim67
Oct 18, 2023
Our time in Athens was wonderful and then some! - Our first trip to Athens in late September/early October was an absolutely wonderful adventure. We flew over on Turkish Airlines, which treated us very well; their customer service, flight crew and Business Lounge (in Istanbul through which which we connected) were exceptional. The car service we used from airport to hotel and back was provided by Welcome Tours; punctual, reasonably priced and very safe driving. Our hotel in Athens was the Grande Bretagne Athens, situated in the heart of the city on Constitution Square, diagonally adjacent to the Greek Parliament (notable for its hourly Changing of the Guard. The hotel is an old-world gem with high-ceilinged rooms and efficient and friendly staff. The concierge staff was especially helpful. During our five-night stay, we benefitted tremendously by having booked three private three-hour tours offered by Context Travel; we've now also used them in Dublin, Istanbul, Paris and Rome and they are simply, hands down, the very best! We toured the Acropolis, Parthenon and Acropolis Museum on our first day of touring; the National Archaeological Museum of Athens on the second; and the Ancient Agora with Plaka Neighborhood on the third. Just outstanding tours led by by totally knowledgeable and super friendly tour guides. Words to the wise: Wear very comfortable shoes and always carry water with you. Lastly our meals: Starting every day with an expansive breakfast buffet at our hotel's Rooftop Restaurant energized our tours of the city. We enjoyed two delicious dining experiences at this same restaurant looking out at the picture-postcard-perfect lit-up Acropolis. Another evening we dined at Tudor Hall in the Grand Bretagne's adjacent sister hotel, the King George; a very elegant, impeccably served and rather pricey restaurant, but a tad more fancy than appetite-satisfying. Cookoovaya was perhaps a more trendy eatery, a little off the beaten path, but with delicious menu, very ample servings and reasonably priced. On our final night in Athens, we were able to get in (reservations way in advance recommended) to Dionysos Zonar's; outdoor dining with a perfect view of the nearby lit-up Parthenon made for a most memorable evening! During our entire stay in Athens, we felt appreciated, safe and very welcome. It's a wonderful city with a truly amazing history and so very, very much to offer!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maria_o
Sep 21, 2023
Great walking Tour of Athens - This was an exceptional tour. Our guide on the day, Babis, was fantastic. Babis, had an incredible breadth of knowledge of Greek history which made the tour so worthwhile. I would thoroughly recommend this tour. Thank you Babis for making our brief Greece stay so memorable.
Review provided by Viator
Garrett_n
Sep 14, 2023
Great tour! Theodore was amazing! - This tour was fantastic! My wife and I had a great time and we visited sites/places we would have never known about without the help of our guide, Theodore. He was a spectacular guide who had such a wealth of knowledge and sense of humor! We learned so many facts about the buildings, people, and stories of Greece and had an amazing time doing so! I would recommend this tour to anyone who visits Athens as it covers so many aspects of Greek culture.
Review provided by Viator
Sharisher
May 24, 2023
The BEST Athens experience!! - I can't say enough great things about this tour and it's all because of our tour guide, George Kontoulis! Visiting Greece was always top of our bucket list George being a professor of Archeology made our experience a memorable and educational one. George is the best guide we have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He is warm, generous and true expert in all things Greece. We look forward to referring him and your company to our family and friends. Thank you for a wonderful experience. Shari and Steve Sherwood May, 2023...
Review provided by Tripadvisor
294madlens
Oct 4, 2022
Finally experience Greece off the typical antiquities tours. - We had an unforgettable tour with our guide Thodoris. The tour is focused on Greek recent history . So finally, you could learn more about Greece off the typical antiquities tours. Thodoris was very communicative and knew how to give us knowledge about life in Greece, politics and historical developments in a very entertaining way. We had a fun time and will recommend to everyone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Malazl2017
Oct 30, 2020
Unforgettable - I checked Urban Adventures tours online and read the great reviews about them so I decided to participate in their Walking Athens tour myself. Our tour guide was Babis, to be honest he is one of the most sweet, funny and very very informed tour guide I ever came across. I would highly recommend booking a tour with him, you’ll be so lucky and you wont regret it. Athens is definitely a beautiful destination and Babis makes it even more unforgettable!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daedalogic
Apr 2, 2020
Knowledge Guide - George was super knowledgeable and very friendly. We had an awesome time! We would definitely do another tour with him in the future.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tereza_moravcova
Feb 1, 2020
Lovely tour Walking Athens with George - George was very full of knowledge and like a local friend to us sharing his interesting stories about Athens and greek culture. Having a small group was such added value as well. Definitely recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Europakiwi
Jan 2, 2020
Great walking tour in Athens - Barbis was one of the excellent guide. He has a lot of knowledge about history and architecture. His explanations were clear. Thanks
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 12 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today