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Mycenae and Corinth Canal half day private tour from Athens
4.5
8 Ratings
Isthmia
Embark on a half-day private tour from Athens to explore the ancient wonders of Mycenae and the iconic Corinth Canal. Discover the rich history and grandeur of the Mycenaean civilization, visit the impressive citadel of Mycenae, and marvel at the Lion Gate and beehive tombs. A journey through time in the Peloponnese region of Greece.
Duration:
6 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Corinth Canal - The Corinth Canal links the Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It traverses the narrow Isthmus of Corinth, effectively separating the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, and arguably turning the peninsula into an island. The canal, dug at sea level, has no locks and spans 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) in length and 21.4 meters (70 feet) in width at its base, making it too narrow for many modern ships. From a high vantage point, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the isthmus and admire the steep limestone walls while watching vessels navigate the canal below.
- Mycenae - The fortified citadel of ancient Mycenae was the seat of the legendary King Agamemnon. This impressive and well-preserved site lent its name to an entire civilization. Visitors can marvel at landmarks such as the Tomb of Clytemnestra, the iconic Lion’s Gate, and the Cyclopean walls, while learning about their bloody history. In the second millennium BC, Mycenae was a major center of Greek civilization, a military stronghold that dominated much of southern Greece, Crete, the Cyclades, and parts of southwest Anatolia. The period of Greek history from about 1600 BC to 1100 BC is known as the Mycenaean era, named after Mycenae. At its zenith in 1350 BC, the citadel and lower town had a population of 30,000 and covered an area of 32 hectares.
- Archaeological Site Mycenae - The archaeological site of Mycenae includes the fortified acropolis and surrounding burial and habitation sites, mainly located to its west and southwest. Most of the visible monuments date back to the site’s peak from 1350 to 1200 BC. The acropolis, almost triangular in shape, is encircled by massive Cyclopean walls and accessed from the northwest through the renowned Lion Gate, a symbol of Mycenaean power. The gate is named for the two opposing lions carved in relief and set into the relieving triangle, a typical feature of Mycenaean architecture, above the entrance.
- Lion Gate - The Lion Gate served as the main entrance to the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae in southern Greece. Constructed around 1250 BC, it is located on the northwest side of the acropolis and is named for the relief sculpture of two lionesses or lions in a heraldic pose above the entrance. The Lion Gate is the only surviving monumental piece of Mycenaean sculpture and the largest sculpture from the prehistoric Aegean. It is the sole monument from Bronze Age Greece to feature an iconographic motif that remained above ground and the only relief image described in classical antiquity literature, making it well-known before modern archaeology.
- Archaeological Museum of Ancient Mycenae - The archaeological site of Mycenae includes the fortified acropolis and surrounding burial and habitation sites, mainly located to its west and southwest. Most of the visible monuments date back to the site’s peak from 1350 to 1200 BC. The acropolis, almost triangular in shape, is encircled by massive Cyclopean walls and accessed from the northwest through the renowned Lion Gate, a symbol of Mycenaean power. The gate is named for the two opposing lions carved in relief and set into the relieving triangle, a typical feature of Mycenaean architecture, above the entrance.
- Citadel and Treasury of Atreus - The Treasury of Atreus, also known as the Tomb of Agamemnon, is a large tholos or beehive tomb on Panagitsa Hill at Mycenae, built around 1250 BC during the Bronze Age. The stone lintel above the doorway weighs 120 tons and measures approximately 8.3 x 5.2 x 1.2 meters, making it the largest in the world. The tomb was used for an unknown period and was mentioned by the Roman geographer Pausanias in the 2nd century AD. It was still visible in 1879 when German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered the shaft graves under the “agora” in the Acropolis at Mycenae.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Knowledgeable professional drivers
- Complimentary on-board WiFi
- Bottled water provided
- Climate-controlled vehicles
- Convenient pickup and drop-off at hotel, airport, or port
What's Not Included
- Licensed tour guide (upon request and depending on availability)
- Entry or admission fees for archaeological sites
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Journey beyond the borders of Athens, where the landmarks of the Peloponnese await. Traverse the Corinth Canal as you depart mainland Greece, immersing yourself in Mycenae – a civilization steeped in antiquity and known for its mythical ruler, King Agamemnon. This region, which was fated to bear the Mycenaean civilization, one of the most significant of the ancient world. The ‘cyclopean walls’ of the Mycenae citadel, remarkably preserved to this day, reflect the peak of this culture uncovered by Heinrich Schliemann. This civilization nurtured the ancient tragedians who went on to influence Western thought. Such proofs of this civilization’s grandeur are found in the Lion Gate, an exceptional instance of Mycenaean art; grave circle A, home to shaft tombs and gold death artifacts; the citadel’s palace flaunting its throne room; the ornately decorated underground water storehouse; and the beehive tombs (‘tholos’). Each stand as testament to the enduring impressions this era left.
- Our drivers are not official tour guides, but they are knowledgeable and can provide fascinating commentary in fluent English. Although they will not enter the archaeological sites with you, they can answer all of your questions about the places you visit with this tour.
- Third party activities and especially extreme sports are not allowed during the tour. This can be a cause for immediate cancellation of the tour.
- Airport pick-up/ drop-off upon request (additional charge)
Location
Corinth Canal
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.5
(8 Ratings)
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Mark_b
May 13, 2024
Do it! - Excellent tour. Our guide was exceptional with deep knowledge of everything associated with Mycenae and any topic of Ancient Greece, and a great pleasure to converse with. Many great memories.
Review provided by Viator
Karenfi6834rh
Feb 19, 2024
Spiros was the most informed tour guide we’ve had on our trip - Our trip today with Spiros was excellent. He knew so much about everything we were driving past, pointing out many sites along the road. He was definitely the most informed tour guide we have had during our visit. Mycenae itself was interesting, from the Lion’s Gate to the ruins of the Palace to the spectacular vistas that were visible in all directions. The museum on the site had a nice collection of pottery, jewelry, and coins and was well worth the visit. The treasury of Atreus nearby was an amazing structure and an incredible feat of construction for ancient times. I recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nathanwi7989yl
Oct 1, 2023
Great tour! Great driver/tour envoy! - Outstanding tour. Our tour envoy/driver Ruslan was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and professional. Although it was only a half day tour, it was definitely the best of our trip. Would recommend to anyone, and would definitely book Ruslan again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carina_c
Apr 30, 2023
Great sights and friendly tour guide - Mycenae archeological site was impressive. Our tour guide/driver, Thanos, was very knowledgeable and very friendly. He took us to a small village for lunch at a local restaurant which we really enjoyed.
Review provided by Viator
Chris
Sep 8, 2022
Great trip with Dimitri - We booked on TripAdvisor and communicated ahead of time about where we would meet our driver. Everything went very smoothly with the pickup and Dimitri was very friendly. He shared interesting information about his life, how he grew up, Greek history, mythology and more. He has a very nice Mercedes taxi, and it was a very smooth comfortable ride. We stopped at the Corinth Canal and then had about an hour and 15 minutes at the Mycenae site. He recommended a popular souvlaki place when we returned to Athens and overall it was a great half day trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lekz
Feb 22, 2024
A good day trip from Athens - Good communication from the time we booked, good vehicle and a great driver/guide George who made the trip worthwhile. We didn’t know that although it was a clear day in Athens, it would rain in Mycenae. Given this was a private tour, they could have informed us, we could have at least taken umbrellas, if not opted for a different day. The van didn’t have seats facing each other like in the website photos, which wasn’t a big problem for us but it’s misleading. Also when stopping at the canal, the convenience store that was recommended was a big tourist trap - highly overpriced and bad quality food.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jitendranath_l
Apr 12, 2023
Great - Our driver, Takis, was fantastic. We felt safe and secure with Takis. He was on time, drive safely and gave us lots of information. Our tour guide was great and gave us clear and concise information regarding the Mycenaean civilization.
Review provided by Viator
David
Oct 27, 2023
Ok but not worth the money. - Was very unimpressed with the start of trip for cost. Our driver was ok however he started. By saying he was only a driver and wasn't a guide and his English wasnt good.so not happy. Also very little time in Corinth trip got better Mycenae so that why a 3 star.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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