Full -Day Private Tour of Athens

based on 144 reviews

Duration:8 hours to 9 hours (approx.)
Location: Athens, Greece

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Our tours and services are flexible and can be adapted to the customer’s needs.
All our professional drivers have the required certifications and are fluent in English. Their experience will help you feel safe and at easy in one of our well maintained, comfortable vehicles.
You will have the added benefit of visiting archaeological sites at different times from the large tour buses and groups of visitors, thus enabling you to experience the wonderful monuments and learn their history at a time of the day when they are not overcrowded.
The cost of hiring our services is smaller than purchasing individual tickets from large tour and excursion companies.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Acropolis
At Acropolis you will see the Parthenon, the temple on the top of the sacred rock devoted to Goddess Athena, the Goddess of wisdom, the Propylaea, the entrance to the sacred rock, the Temple of Wingless Victory which was devoted to Goddess Athena-Nike, the Erechtheum, the most sacred and mythical of all the temples of Athens with its famous Caryatides (female featured statues), the 5000-seat Odeon of Herodes Atticus which was carved into the rock and is still used for music festivals, the 3000-seat theater of Dionysus where the Athenians listened to the immortal works of Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripides and Aristophanes.
2. Temple of Olympian Zeus
The 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 envisaged building the greatest temple in the ancient world, but it was not completed until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD, some 638 years after the project had begun. 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 cult statues in the ancient world. The temple's glory was short-lived, as it fell into disuse after being pillaged during a barbarian invasion in 267 AD, just about a century after its completion. It was probably never repaired and was reduced to ruins thereafter. In the centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire, it was extensively quarried for building materials to supply building projects elsewhere in the city. Despite that, a substantial part of the temple remains today, notably sixteen of the original gigantic columns, and it continues to be part of a very important archaeological site of Greece
3. Panathenaic Stadium
The Panathenaic Stadium or Kallimarmaro "beautiful marble" is a multi-purpose stadium in Athens, Greece. It's of the main historic attractions of Athens and it is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble. A stadium was built on the site of a simple racecourse by the Athenian statesman Lycurgus at 330 BC, primarily for the Panathenaic Games. It was rebuilt in marble by Herodes Atticus, an Athenian Roman senator, by 144 AD and 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 after being refurbished, it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern Olympics in 1896 and was the venue for 4 of the 9 contested sports. It was used for various purposes in the 20th century and was once again used as an Olympic venue in 2004. It is the finishing point for the annual Athens Classic Marathon. It is also the last venue in Greece from where the Olympic flame handover ceremony to the host nation takes place.
4. Mount Lycabettus
Mount Lycabettus is a limestone hill in Athens at 300 meters (908 feet) above sea level. Pine trees cover its base, and at its two peaks are the 19th century Chapel of St. George and a theater. From a certain spot (balcony) you’ll have the best panoramic view of the city, from the hill of Acropolis to the Aegean Sea.
5. Hellenic Parliament
The Hellenic Parliament 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.
6. Changing of the Guard Ceremony
The Presidential Guard is a ceremonial infantry unit that guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Presidential Mansion in Athens, Greece. The unit is distinguished as the last unit of Evzones in the Hellenic Army, and is closely associated with the traditional Evzone's uniform, which evolved from the clothes worn by the Greeks in the Greek War of Independence. The most visible item of this uniform is the fustanella, a kilt-like garment.
7. The Academy of Athens
The Academy of Athens is Greece's national academy, and the highest research establishment in the country. It was established in 1926, and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. The Academy's main building is one of the major landmarks of Athens and was designed as part of an architectural "trilogy" in 1859 by the Danish architect Theophil Hansen, along with the University and the National Library. Funds had been provided by the magnate Simon Sinas specifically for the purpose, and the foundation stone was laid on 2 August 1859. Construction proceeded rapidly, after 1861 under the supervision of Ernst Ziller, but the internal tumults during the latter years of King Otto's reign, which resulted in his ousting in 1862, hampered construction until it was stopped in 1864. Works resumed in 1868, but the building was not completed until 1885, at a total cost of 2,843,319 gold drachmas, most of it provided by Sinas, and, after his death, by his wife Iphigenia. The Greek Neo-classical sculptor Leonidas Drosis sculpted the principle multi-figure pediment sculpture, on the theme of the birth of Athena, based on a design by painter Carl Rahl. This brought first prize at the Vienna Exhibition of 1873. Drosis is also responsible for the figures of Athena and Apollo with lyre on the Academy's flanking pillars, and the seated marble figures of Plato and Socrates, which were executed "by the Italian sculptor Piccarelli". The eight smaller pediments in the Academy complex are the Terra-cotta work of Austrian sculptor Franz Melnitzky. Interior murals and paintings were done by the Austrian artist Christian Griepenkerl. On 20 March 1887, the building of the Academy was delivered by Ziller to the Greek Prime Minister, Charilaos Trikoupis. In the absence of a national Academy, the building was used for housing the Numismatic Museum in 1890, and in 1914 the Byzantine Museum and the State Archives. Finally, on 24 March 1926, the building was handed over to the newly established Academy of Athens.
8. Ancient Agora of Athens
The Ancient Agora of Athens is the best-known example of an ancient Greek agora, located to the northwest of the Acropolis and bounded on the south by the hill of the Areopagus and on the west by the hill known as the Agoraios Kolonos, also called Market Hill.The Agora's initial use was for a commercial, assembly, or residential gathering place. The ancient Athenian agora has been excavated by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens since 1931 under the direction of T. Leslie Shear, Sr. They continue to the present day, now under the direction of John McK Camp. After the initial phase of excavation, in the 1950s the Hellenistic Stoa of Attalos was reconstructed on the east side of the agora, and today it serves as a museum and as storage and office space for the excavation team. A virtual reconstruction of the Ancient Agora of Athens has been produced through a collaboration of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and the Foundation of the Hellenic World, The museum is housed in the Stoa of Attalos, and its exhibits are connected with the Athenian democracy. The collection of the museum includes clay, bronze and glass objects, sculptures, coins and inscriptions from the 7th to the 5th century BC, as well as pottery of the Byzantine period and the Turkish occupation. The exhibition within the museum contains work of art which describes the private and public life in ancient Athens. In 2012, new sculpture exhibition was added to the museum which includes portraits from Athenian Agora excavation. The new exhibition revolves around portraits of idealized gods, officially honored people of the city, wealthy Roman citizens of the 1st and 2nd century AD, 3rd-century citizens and finally on work of art from private art schools of late antiquity. At the north-west side of the Agora of Athens, on top of the Agoraios Kolonos hill is located the Temple of Hephaestus,a Doric peripteral temple. Hephaestus was the patron god of metal working, craftsmanship, and fire.
9. Plaka
Old neighborhood located at the base of the hill topped by the Acropolis. Narrow streets, traditional houses, taverns and coffee shops. Free time for lunch and shopping.
10. Acropolis Museum
The new Acropolis museum is under the south slope of the Acropolis and contains mostly pediment sculpture, reliefs, and statues found on the sacred rock of Acropolis, which formed most of its decoration. Among these statues, the well-known female figures with the characteristic archaic smile called ‘Korai’ such as the Kore of Naxos, the Kore of Chios, and the Kore of Lyons etc. There are also sphinxes, consecrated reliefs such as that of Athena in Medication and consecrated sculptures such as the Moschoforos (a man who is carrying a calf across his shoulders), the Boy of Kritias etc.

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : HalFeldman
Frank was incredibly accommodating. We had two wheelchairs with us and getting around was challenging. Frank did everything with a smile.
He was knowledgeable, on time, and had a great personality. The combination made this an unforgettable experience for us. Definitely use Frank!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-25 00:40:53

Posted By : Edward_P
Most memorable parts of my trip were seeing the Parthenon and climbing the Acropolis, as well as viewing the city of Athens at night from the top of Lycabettus.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-24 17:15:57

Posted By : RonneySue
We were a family of 10 with 2 handicapped people with wheelchairs and one with a cane. We take family trips every year. Frank Kotsiopoulos was our very experienced driver for 2 days, the best we ever had.

Frank was very helpful and accommodating. He helped my parents on and off the van. His center console had a never ending supply of cold water bottles. He offered wipes and charging cords.

First of all, he’s an expert driver! He easily navigated through streets that seemed to have no designated lanes, with many motorcycles and idiot drivers. He effortlessly threaded the van through narrow streets with cars on both sides.

While driving he unpacked the history of Greece, explained what we were passing with interesting facts and even answered questions about places we just pointed out that we wanted to have answered. He even taught us some key words and phrases with a preprint sheet for easy practice and refreshing.

We also needed to get my handicapped parents much closer than a regular entrance and he negotiated for us passage.

At lunchtime, he listened to what we wanted and called ahead to restaurants for reserved seating for 10.

We were all very pleased with Frank and give him an A+. Definitely hire this man! He introduced us to his country and taught us well before we left on our 7 day cruise.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-21 15:33:49

Posted By : 258barbaraj
We had an amazing day in Athens with our driver/guide Mike. I couldn’t recommend this tour more, and I have traveled extensively.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-17 15:48:20

Posted By : Nicole T
We recently went on a three-day tour with Hellenic Tours, and it was an exceptional experience! Our tour driver, Jimmy, was incredibly knowledgeable and truly outstanding. He was thoughtful, always ensuring my family's comfort, and exhibited the best hospitality.

Every morning, Jimmy greeted us with our favorite coffee and surprised us with delicious breakfast pastries, adding a personal touch that made our tour even more enjoyable. His dedication and attention to detail made our tour experiences truly remarkable.

We had a wonderful time exploring the Acropolis, Corinth, Delphi, and Meteora. Jimmy took us to authentic restaurants to try local food. I highly recommend! Jimmy made our journey unforgettable! My kids ages 8, 10, and 11 years old also give Jimmy
5 stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟!

Thank you so much for making our first time in Greece, an unforgettable one.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-08 05:22:01

Posted By : Betty O
What a lovely day spent with Yanis! He was on time to pick us up, the van was very nice, he was full of knowledge about Athens
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-06 08:15:19

Posted By : FarAway825576
We had just a short time to spend in Athens, but our guide packed it all in for us! We got to see everything that we wanted to see. We even squeezed in a delicious lunch at a sidewalk cafe. He shared history with us along the way and also gifted us with a book about Greece. Highly recommend this tour!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-05 14:49:41

Posted By : Necia
Fantastic quick view of all of the wonderful historical sites in Athens. Our guide even directed us to a sidewalk cafe where we had a delicious meal. He drove us everywhere, got us close to the door, shared some history, and sent us in! He even gifted us with a book about Greece. Delightful experience.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-05 14:28:14

Posted By : pctress
We actually used this company for not 1 but 2 tours! They were also our transportation from the airport and to our cruise ship. I can’t recommend them enough. Very professional and communication through out was amazing. Our guide Jon was right on time and took us to see everything we wanted and recommended a fabulous restaurant for lunch. I highly recommend if you’re ever in Athens!!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-05 10:51:05

Posted By : Sally_B
Great day spent with Alex. He was very knowledgeable and allowed us plenty of time to explore at our leisure. I highly recommend this company (and Alex) for a private tour of beautiful Athens.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-01 16:31:43