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Private Tour: Athens Highlights and Acropolis Exploration
4.9
141 Ratings
Athens
Experience the best of Athens on a private tour, from the iconic Acropolis to the historic Plaka neighborhood. Discover the birthplace of democracy and philosophy in this time-efficient and immersive exploration.
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Acropolis - The Acropolis of Athens and its monuments are universal symbols of the classical spirit and civilization and form the greatest architectural and artistic complex bequeathed by Greek Antiquity to the world. Athens, following the victory against the Persians and the establishment of democracy, took a leading position amongst the other city-states of the ancient world. In the age that followed, as philosophy and art flourished, an exceptional group of artists put into effect the ambitious plans of Athenian statesman Pericles and, under the inspired guidance of the sculptor Pheidias, transformed the rocky hill into a unique monument of thought and the arts.
- Temple of Athena Nike - The temple of Athena Nike (Athena as a goddess of victory) is the smallest temple at the Acropolis in Athens, placed at its southwest corner, at the edge of a high cliff. Built around 420 BC, the temple is the earliest fully Ionic temple. The citizens worshipped the goddesses in hopes of a successful outcome in the long Peloponnesian War fought against the Spartans and allies.
- Parthenon - The Parthenon is a former temple on the Athenian Acropolis that was dedicated to the goddess Athena during the fifth century BC. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the highlights of classical Greek art, an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, democracy and Western civilization.
- Herod Atticus Odeon - Built by Athenian benefactor (and Roman senator) Herodes Atticus in around 161 AD as a memorial to his late wife, Regilla, the Herodion (as it’s commonly called) is one of the most striking Athens monuments and one of the world’s oldest functioning theatres.
- Erechtheion - The elegant building known as the Erechtheion, on the north side of the sacred rock of the Acropolis, was erected in 421-406 BC as a replacement of an earlier temple dedicated to Athena Polias, the so-called “Old temple”. The name Erechtheion, mentioned only by Pausanias, derives from Erechtheus, the mythical king of Athens, who was worshipped there.
- Temple of Olympian Zeus - Temple of Olympian Zeus is a former colossal temple at the center of the Greek capital, Athens. It was dedicated to “Olympian” Zeus, a name originating from his position as head of the Olympian gods. Construction began in the 6th century BC during the rule of the Athenian tyrants, who envisioned building the greatest temple in the ancient world, but it was not completed until the reign of Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD, some 638 years after the its foundations were laid. During the Roman period, the temple, which included 104 colossal columns, was renowned as the largest temple in Greece and housed one of the largest statues in the ancient world.
- Panathinaiko Stadio - The first stadium was built at 330 BC primarily for the Panathenaic Games. It was rebuilt in marble by Herodes Atticus, an Athenian Roman senator, by 144 AD it had a capacity of 50,000 seats. After the rise of Christianity in the 4th century it was largely abandoned. The stadium was excavated in 1869 and hosted the Zappas Olympics in 1870 and 1875. After being refurbished, it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern Olympics in 1896 and it is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble.
- Presidential Palace - The Presidential palace in Athens, is the official residence of the president of the Hellenic Republic. It served previously as the Royal Palace, until the abolition of the monarchy by the 1973 referendum.
- Mount Lycabettus - Lycabettus Hill is the highest point in Athens at a height of 277m. Visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the whole of Athens, the Acropolis and out to sea towards the islands.
- Hellenic Parliament - This imposing, minimalist building served as the Royal Palace until 1909, when it was damaged by fire. Now home to the Hellenic Parliament, the building was erected between 1836 and 1843 for King Otto. Built by Bavarian architect Gurtner, the building served as a luxurious temporary residence to wealthy and influential Athenians during the final phases of its construction – that is, until the summer of 1843 when the Royal Couple finally moved in.
- Plaka - Plaka is often referred to as the “Neighborhood of the Gods” because it is located on the North-Eastern slopes of the Acropolis hill. Its charm comes from its ancient and picturesque cobbled streets lined with beautiful neoclassical mansions and iconic Greek white houses.
- Ancient Agora of Athens - The Agora’s initial use was for a commercial, assembly, or residential gathering place where the great thinkers Sophocles, Socrates, Protagoras, among others, would meet and where ordinary citizens could come and interact with their peers, voice their concerns, agree on solutions and courses of action. Among the agora’s many temples, alters and other shrines, the temple of Hephaestus is one of the best preserved of its type in Greece. Built to honour Hephaistos, the patron of metal workers and Athena Ergane, patroness of potters and crafts in general, it was built around the same time as the Parthenon.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- On-board WiFi
- Bottled water
- Hotel pick up/ Drop off
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Professional English speaking Tour Drivers with in-depth knowledge of History
What's Not Included
- Licensed Guide to accompany you into archeological sites
- Entrance Fees to archeological sites and museums
- Airport pick-up is optional and comes with additional cost
Additional Information
Journey to Athens, cradle of democracy and philosophy! Ascend Acropolis Hill, where the Parthenon, a majestic temple, stands as a testament to a glorious civilization. Feel the thrill of history at the Panathenaic Stadium, birthplace of the modern Olympics, and witness the changing of the guard ceremony at the Presidential Mansion. Marvel at the Temple of Olympian Zeus, a colossal monument to Greek artistry. Finally, lose yourself in the enchanting Plaka, Athens’ charming old town
- Wear comfortable shoes for walking and exploring the various sites.
- Bring a hat and sunscreen, as the weather in Greece can be hot and sunny
- Pre-order your tickets online a few days before your visit: hhticket.gr
- Child seat available upon request
Location
Acropolis
Via Dionysiou Areopagitou Str.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(141 Ratings)
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Margot_s
Aug 29, 2024
Fabulous tour guide - Our private guide was incredibly knowledgable and helped to put together a perfect half-day in Athens for us. He arranged us to see the Acropolis even tho my hisband was in a wheelchair. He dropped us off multiple times and came to pick us up the minute we texted him. It's always good to have a local guide.
Review provided by Viator
Daria_b
Aug 26, 2024
Amazing Athens Expérience with Konstantinos - Truly the passion of our driver Konstantinos. It was evident that he loves his country. We have been to Athens several times but never with this level of knowledge we learned & saw much more than we expected. From the Acropolis & Parthenon to the Agoura & Olympic Statium.
Let me not forget the recommendation if a nice Greek restaurant (where we ate too much)
Please ask for Konstantinos! You will never regret it!
Review provided by Viator
Khk222022
Aug 23, 2024
Definitely Recommend - Fantastic tour. Michael our driver was full of information and facts which he shared. Excellent way to view the featured of Athens hassle free in much needed air conditioning. Michael was excellent and even bought an Athena replica for my wife. Would definitely recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michelle_b
Aug 23, 2024
Amazing - Our private tour of Athens was amazing!
Our driver was very friendly and took us to all the good spots. He was very accommodating in the things we wanted to do. He was an excellent driver and took great care with us! I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see Athens without a large crowd tour.
Review provided by Viator
Mauro_p
Aug 22, 2024
Athens the great - Christos was a fantastic host who knows his history and was very conscience of all his guests and in particular our comfort
The tour was first class and the sites we saw….amazing. Would recommend to all visiting the wonderful city of Athens
Review provided by Viator
Jgensler37
Aug 19, 2024
Great way to see highlights of Athens!! - We had an awesome morning with Ruslan!! He was extremely nice and knowledgeable. He took us to all the highlights, and explained things very clearly on the way to each. We asked for a gyro from a local spot, and he did not disappoint!! Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Choppy
Aug 17, 2024
Athens - Our Guide was great! We saw so much in on this tour. We did the 8am acropolis and he was at our hotel at 7:30 on time to greet us! He really made sure we got to see everthing we asked for. He was very knowledgeable and could answer any questions we had. Highly recommend this tour !!
Review provided by Viator
Cynthia_s
Aug 17, 2024
Great tour guide - Our tour guide was extremely informative and punctual. Make sure to buy your tickets on time, made mistake of buying them on day of, but he was still able to work around that.
Review provided by Viator
Ali_h
Aug 14, 2024
Wonderful! - Michael was very nice and knowledgeable! Would definitely recommend if you are looking for a driver to take you across different Athens sites.
Review provided by Viator
Laura_b
Aug 13, 2024
Best way to see historical sights of Athens - Pericles was very knowledgeable about history and adjusted based on our interests — we were a bit jet lagged but some Greek coffee fixed us up! Acropolis and all the sights were amazing. Easy pickup and drop off. Clean, air conditioned vehicle. Great tour - highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
