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Athens Tours & Trips

Find the right tour for you through Athens. We've got 1169 adventures going to Athens, starting from just 2 days in length, and the longest tour is 49 days. The most popular month to go is September, which has the largest number of tour departures.

250+ Athens tour packages with 15,837 reviews

Sailing Greece - Athens to Mykonos

We got to sail the Greek Islands on a 51-foot mono-hull and enjoyed every minute.

Sailing Greece - Mykonos to Athens

A professional, relaxed but well run tour ideal for novice sailors and those with more experience

Nafplio, Mycenae and Epidaurus Two Days Tour from Athens

The tour was sold as an opportunity to walk around the ancient city in the afternoon and evening and morning.

• In-depth Cultural

Discovering the Saronic gulf

They go above and beyond all expectations. I cannot recommend this Family run Tour Company enough.

• Mountain Hikes

Peloponnese and Saronic Islands

• Sightseeing
• Christmas & New Year

3 Day Private Tour in Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi with Foof Tasting in Olympia

The sites are all must-see! The hotels, both in Arachova and Meteora, were clean and cozy.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia and Delphi Three Days Tour from Athens

We had so much fun with him and the group. A very professional guide who was able to get the group to gel.

Prehistoric Tour of Greece - 3 days

Beautiful views, great tour guide, fun experience. Would recommend trip, very good value

Three Days Classical Tour from Athens: Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi

Excellent tour, beautiful country. Spectacular ruins.

Athens to Santorini

She showed us parts of Greece that the locals would know. It was clear that she had a genuine interest and passion in doing what she was and had great pride in Greece.

Saronic island hopping + Peloponnese

Greece has such a great balance of gorgeous beaches, amazing historical sites, ancient amphitheaters, museums and wonderful hiking locations.

Greece Historical Tour with Nauplion - 4 Days

We went the 'first class' accomodation and it was. The way the tour was organised was really good.

3 Day Tour in Ancient Peloponnese, Messene, Epikourios Apollon, Olympia

Athens Mythology: Tours to Athens, Epidaurus, Mycenae and Delphi, 5-Day Tour

Radiant Peloponnese

What people love about athens tours.

One of our favourite vacations ever. We got to sail the Greek Islands on a 51-foot mono-hull and enjoyed every minute

Had an amazing time. Can’t recommend it enough. Good balance of relaxing and adventure.

The tour really went well until we were taken out of the town of Nafplio and dropped off at a hotel in the country rather than in Nafplio. The tour was sold as an opportunity to walk around the ancient city in the afternoon and evening and morning. No where were we told that our hotel would be so far from the old city that we would have to taxi in and out each time we wanted to walk around in the featured city. Imagine being told you would be able to stay overnight in a tour supplied hotel and enjoy walking around Sausalito and the afternoon, evening and morning then discover you were being dropped off in San Francisco. One third of the tour was a ripoff.

Top operators

"This part of our 4 week exploration of Greece was the highlight. We had an experience that will long be remembered with fondness in our hearts. We couldn't have hoped for a more wonderful crew and captain who are now friends forever.

G Adventures is an expert in:

"Amazing Tour because of the tour guide, show us amazing spots and dinner areas that made the whole trip one of a kind, thank you Anais!

Intrepid Travel is an expert in:

"The first week was wonderful the 2nd week was good but the van was uncomfortable and not worthy of a 5 star rating! Compared to the 1st week.

Ciconia Exclusive Journeys is an expert in:

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Top Tours in Athens, Greece

Athens tours.

• Skip-the-Line Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Walking Tours
• Archaeology Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Acropolis and Parthenon Guided Walking Tour

2. Athens: Acropolis, Parthenon and Acropolis Museum Guided Tour

3. Greek Food Walking Tour in Athens

4. Athens Full Day Private Tour

5. All Day Cruise -3 Islands to Agistri,Moni, Aegina with lunch and drinks included

6. Athens Half Day Tour, Acropolis, Parthenon, Temple of Olympian Zeus & Hephaistus

7. Delphi & Arachova Premium Historical Tour with Expert Tour Guide on Site

8. Athens All Included: Acropolis and Museum Guided Tour with Ticket

9. Meteora Monasteries and Hermit Caves Day Trip with optional lunch

10. Athens & Acropolis Highlights: a Mythological Tour

11. Athens Coastal Bike and Swimming Adventure

12. Athens Day Cruise: 3 Islands Tour in the Saronic Gulf with Lunch

13. Best of Athens Half Day Private Tour

14. Acropolis monuments & Parthenon Walking Tour with Optional Acropolis Museum

15. Private Tour of Apostle Paul Footsteps in Ancient Corinth

16. Hop on Hop Off Classic tour of Athens, Piraeus & Beaches

17. PREMIUM Semi-Private Athens Afternoon Food Tour & Wine Tasting

18. Private Tour Acropolis and Athens Highlights

19. Delphi, Thermopylae, Corycian Cave 300 Spartans Tour from Athens

20. Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Athens with Traditional Greek Meal and BBQ

21. Cape Sounion and Temple of Poseidon Half-Day Small-Group Tour from Athens

22. Get a Taste of Athens Food Tour

23. Private Temple of Poseidon Tour with a Pickup

24. Athens Greece Full Day private tour

25. Greek Cooking Class in Athens Including Rooftop Dinner with Acropolis View

26. Athens Acropolis and Parthenon Walking Tour

27. Athens 4-Hour Cooking Class with Central Market Visit

28. Biblical Tour Letters To The Corinthians St Paul’s Footsteps

29. Athens Scenic Bike Tour with an Electric or a Regular Bike

30. Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nafplio Full Day Private Tour from Athens

What travellers are saying.

Best Tours & Things To Do in Athens

Greece › Athens › Athens Tours Updated: March 12, 2024 By Santorini Dave

See Also • Where to Stay in Athens • Best Hotels in Athens • Best Family Hotels in Athens • Best Museums in Athens • Best Archaeological Sites in Athens

The Parthenon (the building, pictured above), Acropolis (the entire site, which includes the Parthenon and several other structures), and Acroplis Museum (a stunning modern building, just down the hill from the Acropolis) are the must-see highlights of Athens. The Acropolis Private Tour and the Acropolis Small Group Tour are the best ways to visit and explore these sights.

The 11 Best Tours in Athens Original Greek Food Tour of Athens The single best tour for exploring the urban core of modern Athens. This is a fun walking tour of the best food and restaurants in central Athens. There’s also a stop at the iconic Central Market (fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, spices). You’ll get a good overview of the city’s culture (and a bit of history) while eating some great food with a friendly guide. There’s a 10am morning tour and a 2pm afternoon tour. I know I sound like a broken record on this but food tours are an awesome way to explore a new city. Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Tour with Entry Tickets A 4-hour small-group guided tour of the Acropolis, Parthenon, and nearby Acropolis Museum. Includes entrance tickets to both the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum. (A huge advantage of doing a tour is that you get skip-the-line tickets. When you visit on your own you need to queue for tickets and that line can be insanely long.) The entrance to the marvelous Acropolis Museum, with the Parthenon visible in the background. Athens City Highlights Tour (Private Tour) This is a great private tour of the Acropolis and surrounding area (Parthenon, Erechtheion, Propylaea, Temple of Nike, Dionysus Sanctuary, Odeon of Herodes Atticus, and Ancient Agora) and is the best way to see the highlights of Athens and learn the city’s history. Like all tours, your guide will have access to skip-the-line tickets for the Acropolis which allows you to bypass the long entrance queues. This tour is very flexible with time, duration, and route. Athens Original Street Art Tour Awesome tour of the graffiti and street art of central Athens. Many tours describe themselves as “off the beaten path” that only visit the expected top sights. This one really does explore a side of Athens tourists rarely explore or think about. Very cool and great for families with teens. Traditional Greek Cooking Lesson Great introduction to Greek food and how to make it. Recipes will be sent to you so you can prepare them at home. Very family-friendly. There’s also an excellent Night Food & Wine Tasting Tour . Private Wine Tour and Lunch The best wine tour from Athens with an excellent tour guide (usually Spyros – he really knows his wine). Includes hotel pick up and drop and a good quality lunch at a seaside taverna. Old Town Highlights Electric Bike Tour Fun and easy-going tour of the highlights of central Athens on simple-to-use electrick bikes. The 9 KM route takes in most of the top historic sights and tours Plaka and National Gardens. Tour starts at 10am in an easy-to-find spot in Plaka. A Bike Tour is a great way to see the highlights of central Athens. Athens Eco Tours (6 hours) Bespoke private tours exploring the natural heritage and biodiversity just outside the city, whether hiking, birdwatching, spotting butterflies and wildflowers among the monastaries, or seeking out the elusive Mediterranean monk seal. Tours are led by ecologists, botanists, biologists, and other environmental scientists, depending on the particular excursion. Delphi Day Trip from Athens (10 hours) Hotel pickup (in Athens) and transportation to one of the top historical sites in Greece. Tour guide and lunch included. There’s also a private Delphi tour if that’s what you prefer. Meteora Monasteries (12 hours) The Meteora is my favorite destination in mainland Greece. It’s spectacular. Delphi is great, but you do need to have a keen interest in Greek history to make it worth the trip. The Meteora, on the other hand, will appeal to anyone with a pulse. The dramatic and awesome setting is stunning. It’s very hard to visit the Meteora in one day unless you do a private Meteora tour . With this tour, you’ll get picked up from your hotel (in Athens) and make the 3-hour drive to the Meteora. A stop for lunch and a few other historical sights are built into the itinerary but most of the focus is on seeing the monasteries of the Meteora. There is also a cheaper Meteora tour that involves taking the train; an overnight tour that allows for a complete tour of all 6 monasteries (worth it if you have the time); and a combination tour that visits both Delphi and the Meteora . Full Day Tour & Sailing to Agistri, Moni, & Aegina (10 hours) Great boat tour of 3 wonderful islands a short boat ride from Athens. Lots of swimming and sunbathing. Includes traditional Greek lunch, made and served onboard. Highly recommended!

The Best Things To Do in Athens 1. The Acropolis and Parthenon One of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, this ancient hilltop citadel houses the remains of several temples, including the Parthenon. The Acropolis was inhabited from the 4th millennium B.C., though its most recognizable landmarks date to the 5th century B.C. The Acropolis site includes the Parthenon (a temple of Athena, goddess of wisdom, civilization, and war), Temple of Athena Nike (a temple to Athena, triumphant in war), the Erechtheion (temple of Athena and Poseidon – god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses), and more. On the way up to the Acropolis, you’ll see the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and pass by the trail to the Sanctuary of Dionysus, both on the slope of the hill beneath the Acropolis. Tickets to the Acropolis can be purchased on their own or bundled with the Ancient Agora, Hadrian’s Library, Acropolis Museum, the Roman Agora, and more. I strongly recommend doing a guided tour of the Acropolis . Guides will have skip-the-line tickets and lines can often be two hours long. If you’re part of a tour you’ll skip right by the queues. Best Acropolis & Parthenon Tours • Acropolis Tour (small group) • Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Tour (small group) • Acropolis Tour (private) • Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Tour (private) 2. Acropolis Museum This spectacular and relatively new museum is a highlight of a visit to Athens. It’s located a short walk from the Acropolis (head south down the hill towards the Odeon of Herodes Atticus), so the two sites are easy to visit together and complement each other well. (If you have 5 hours or less in Athens then visit the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum.) The museum houses and displays artifacts sourced from the Acropolis and its slopes, and rests upon huge pillars over the excavated ruins of an ancient Athenian neighborhood (which is included in the admission fee). There’s an excellent cafe on site, with terrace seating in the shadow of the Parthenon. Doing a guided tour of both the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum is a great way to save time (as tour guides will have skip-the-line tickets to both attractions). You can also buy skip the line tickets for the Acropolis Museum separately. 3. National Archaeological Museum The single best museum in Greece, loaded with archaeological treasures. It’s one of the few top attractions that isn’t a short walk from the Plaka/Acropolis area so you’ll need to take a taxi (5 minutes), metro (10 minutes, get out at Omonia station), or walk (about 25 minutes from Plaka or Syntagma Square). If you have only one day in Athens you might be forced to miss this. If you have 2 days or more then make an effort to get here. The experience is dramatically enhanced if you get a private tour guide to explain all the history and top exhibits. If you don’t do a tour then you can get tickets in advance here .

Visit the charming and chaotic Central Market on the Original Greek Food Tour of Athens .

4. Plaka and Monastiraki These adjacent neighborhoods at the base of the Acropolis are filled with historical sites like the Agora, Hadrian’s Library, Temple of Hephaestus, and Stoa of Attalos. Largely pedestrianized throughout, Plaka and Monastiraki feature a fun and lively atmosphere that’s great for wandering, shopping, eating, and sightseeing. They’re also two of our favorite areas to stay in Athens , and are home to many of our favorite restaurants and hotels . 5. The Agoras Agora means marketplace in Greek, and there are two archaeological sites in Athens that house the remains and artifacts of these communal gathering spaces. Combination tickets to the Athens archaeological sites are available that include both Agoras, the Acropolis, Hadrian’s Library, the Acropolis Museum, and more. The Ancient Agora lies between Monastiraki and the base of the Acropolis. It’s easy to make out the ancient streets and squares here that were once the haunting ground of Socrates and Plato. This sprawling area includes sites such as the Temple of Hephaestus (shown above), the Stoa of Attalos (which houses a small and interesting museum), and the Byzantine Church of the Holy Apostles. Much of the Ancient Agora dates to the 2nd Century BC or even earlier. The Roman Agora was built during the reigns of Julius Ceasar and Ceasar Augustus in the 1st century BC. It has an impressive entrance (the Gate of Athena Archegetis), but not as much going on as in the Ancient Agora. The most famous structure in the Roman Agora is the eight-sided, marble Tower of the Winds: combination weather vane, water clock, and sundial, built by a Macedonian astronomer in the 2nd century BC. The Roman Agora lies on the border between the Monastiraki and Plaka neighborhoods of central Athens. 6. Changing of the Guard (Evzones) Every hour on the hour, there is a changing of the guard at the Hellenic Parliament building on Syntagma Square. The guards, known as Evzones, stand stock-still before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier until the ritual begins: a slow-motion dance of precision and strength. Usually, the practice involves two guards who are wearing a more understated version of the traditional uniform in khaki, black, and white (shown above). On Sunday mornings at 11am, however, visitors can expect to see many more guards and a more elaborate ritual, with Evzones led by a military band and dressed in the more traditional and colorful uniforms that are reserved for special occasions. (Interesting fact: the kilt of the Evzone uniform has exactly 400 pleats; one for each year of Turkish occupation.) It is free to watch the ceremony; arrive early on Sundays to secure a good view.

See the Changing of the Guard at the Unknown Soldier Monument on the excellent Private Guided Tour of Athens, Acropolis, and Acropolis Museum .

7. The National Garden A short walk from Syntagma Square and the Greek Parliament buildings, The National Garden provides a relaxing break from the chaos of busy Athens. Take a picnic, let the kids run around and watch the ducks and turtles (there’s a nice children’s playground in the garden’s southeast quadrant), or simply relax in the shade for a bit. In addition to the greenery, the National Garden also has some ancient ruins, Corinthian columns, mosaics, and a small botanical museum on site. And it’s free. 8. Temple of Olympian Zeus The Temple of Olympian Zeus dates back to the 6th century BC; it once featured over 100 17-meter columns and was filled with statues of gods and emperors, but after centuries of damage, only 15 columns remain standing. It is the namesake and most prominent feature of the Olympieion archaeological site, which also includes ruins of Roman baths, Classical residences, a 5th century basilica, and a portion of the city’s fortification wall. The well-preserved marble Arch of Hadrian (132 A.D.) sits just outside the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and they’re both only a 5-minute walk from the Acropolis Museum, making them an easy stop in the central area. The Temple of Olympian Zeus is included on the combination ticket of Athens archaeological sites. 9. Eco & Wildlife Tours There is more to Athens than ancient ruins. The city makes an excellent home base for trekking into the wilds of Attica and beyond, a welcome break from the crowds. Natural Greece offers several sustainable tours where travelers can participate in conservation efforts on land or at sea, while led by a team of environmental scientists. Day tours leaving from Athens may focus on birdwatching, wildflowers, butterflies, or hiking. Multi-day tours are best (though day trips are possible) for studying the ultra-rare Mediterranean monk seal (seen above), one of the rarest marine mammals in the world. Private or small group tours available. 10. Athens Central Market A wonderful and lively slice of modern Athens. Meats, olives, feta, spices, olive oil, fruits, vegetables – you name it, it’s here. The adjacent side streets are lined with shops of all kinds. The excellent Original Greek Food Tour of Athens stops here and explains the markets origins and history. Located about 500 meters north of Monastiraki Square in central Athens. 11. Benaki Museum of Greek Culture Established in 1930, this well-curated collection of Greek artwork and artifacts (ranging from ancient to modern) is set in the beautiful neoclassical family mansion of Antonis Benaki, who also donated over 35,000 pieces of his own art collection. Along with paintings and sculpture, the museum houses terrific examples of historic Greek textiles, jewelry, and other cultural artifacts. The Benaki also maintains satellite galleries throughout Athens, which include the Museum of Islamic Art, The Ghika Gallery, and the Toy Museum. Located in central Athens near Syntagma Square, across the street from the Parliament building and the National Garden. Closed Tuesdays.

The Athens’ restaurant scene is lively and fun. The Nighttime Food and Wine Tasting Tour is a great way to explore some of the best dining spots.

12. Monastiraki Flea Market On Mondays to Saturdays, the “Flea Market” adjacent to Monastiraki Square is mostly a collection of narrow pedestrian lanes lined with souvenir and sandals shops, but on Sundays people come from miles around to sell all manner of used, cheap, and antique goods: books, clothing, trinkets, toys, furniture, textiles, home goods, electronics, anything you can think of and then some. It’s crowded and cramped, but fun and free and always interesting; arrive before 11am to avoid the crush. The best stuff is usually found at the stalls crowded into the market’s epicenter at Avissinias Square, with lanes of quirky vendors branching out from there in every direction. 13. National Historical Museum The oldest of its kind in Greece, the National Historical Museum in Athens was founded in 1882, and has found its permanent home in the building that housed the Greek Parliament from 1875 to 1932. The museum’s permanent collection tells the story of Greek culture throughout the ages; corridors and rooms narrate different centuries and periods. Items on display include weapons, personal belongings and memorabilia from historical personalities such as Lord Byron, historical paintings by Greek and foreign artists, authentic manuscripts, and a large collection of traditional Greek costumes and jewelry from various regions of Greece. Located one block northwest of Syntagma Square. General admission fee is 3€, with free entrance on Sundays; closed Mondays. 14. Athens Churches Visiting churches in Athens offers a unique insight into Greece’s deep religious traditions and architectural beauty. From the historic significance of the Byzantine-era Panagia Kapnikarea nestled within Athens’ bustling district to the serene majesty of the Metropolitan Cathedral (pictured above) and it’s diminutive neighbor the “ Little Metropolis “, each distinct church is a testament to Greece’s rich spiritual heritage and artistic achievement. These sacred sites not only serve as places of worship, but also as testaments to the city’s centuries-old history and singular spaces in which art, history, and spirituality intertwine. Note that modest dress is required in Greek Orthodox churches and monasteries, which means avoiding exposed knees and shoulders for both women and men. If you’re wearing shorts, a short skirt, or a tank top, covering up with a wrap before entering is appropriate and appreciated. 15. Outdoor Cinema Watch a movie in the heart of Plaka under the lights of the Acropolis at Cine Paris rooftop outdoor theater. Films are typically American (in english) with Greek subtitles. Beer, wine, and light snacks are available. Tickets are sold at the theater box office only; we recommend queueing up early or buying tickets in advance, as shows often sell out. With theaters generally operating from May to October, outdoor cinema is a highlight of summer in Greece. More great outdoor cinemas in central Athens: Cine Thisio – Another excellent spot with Parthenon views, located on the Acropolis’ western side. Tickets sold at the theater only. Cine Aegli – Atop Zappeion Hall in the National Garden. Wonderful food and service. Tickets sold at the theater only. Cine Dexameni – In Kolonaki, at the foot of Lycabettus Hill. Online tickets available. 16. Hadrian’s Library Built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 132 A.D., this complex once housed three stories of books, as well as areas dedicated to academic instruction, reading, philosophical walks and reflection, and athletic recreation. The site also includes what is believed to be the oldest Christian church in Athens. Hadrian’s Library is located very near Monastiraki Square and is included on the combination ticket of Athens archaeological sites. 17. Panathenaic (Olympic) Stadium Also known as Kallimarmaro , this 50,000 capacity stadium hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, and was built on the site of the original stadium for the Panathenaic Games (330 BC), which were held every 4 years in honor of the goddess Athena. It is the only stadium in the world built entirely out of marble. The stadium continues to hold regular concerts in the summer, as well as host significant cultural, sporting, and ceremonial events. It is the finishing point for the annual Athens Classic Marathon, and during an Olympic Games year, it is the hand-off location for the Olympic flame from Greece. Enjoy impressive views of Mt. Lycabettus and the Acropolis by climbing to the top. Located in the district of Pangrati in central Athens, near the National Garden and the Temple of Olympian Zeus; about a 1km walk from Syntagma Square. Daily runs are held every morning from 7:30am to 9:00am. 18. Benizelos Mansion Located in the Plaka neighborhood, the Benizelos Mansion is the oldest surviving house in Athens, built between the 16th and 17th centuries. The residence’s original occupants were Athenian aristocrats with Byzantine roots, and their 2-story house gives modern-day visitors a sense of the traditions and lifestyles of wealthy Athenians before the Greek revolution against the Ottoman Empire. The house is also known as the House of Saint Philothei, in honor of the couple’s daughter, Revoula, a philanthropist and freedom-fighter for Greek women enslaved into harems by the Ottomans. Severely beaten and later succumbing to death from her injuries, she is revered as a martyr and has been canonized as Saint (Agia) Philothei, which translates to “friend of God”. The Benizelos Mansion is open limited hours, entrance fee is by donation and goes to charity. 19. Mount Lycabettus The highest point in Athens with dramatic panoramic views out over the entire city. Located across Plaka and Syntagma Square from the Acropolis (and shown here on the left), the 300 meter hilltop can be reached by foot or via a funicular tram that travels in a tunnel inside the hill. At the top sits the quaint and beautiful St George’s Chapel, an all-day cafe, and a panoramic fine-dining restaurant. 20. Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounio This ancient site is an 80-minute drive southeast of Athens. It’s super interesting, but only worth the trip if you have 3 days or more in the capital (any less and your time is better spent in central Athens). The excellent Cape Sounion Small-Group Tour with Sunset Viewing includes hotel pick up from central Athens. 21. Voluntourism at Let’s Be S.M.A.R.T. This cat sanctuary south of the city has been caring for Athens many, many stray cats since 2011, nursing them to health and sheltering them until they can be adopted, often into homes abroad. Volunteers and veterinary interns are always needed to assist with daily operations of the shelter, feeding kittens, caring for elderly and infirm cats, aiding nearby feral cat colonies, and more. Multi-day stays at the shelter include accommodations, breakfast and lunch, organized activities, and more. Duties vary according the the volunteer’s or intern’s skill set and shelter needs.

The Best Places to Eat & Drink in Athens

Highly recommended: The Original Athens Food Tour – a great introduction to the city’s food and culture. Visit markets, top restaurants, specialty shops, and trendy neighborhoods.

22. Best Gyros and Souvlaki in Athens Athens is loaded with great restaurants , but for good cheap eats, nothing beats an authentic gyro from a local shop. There’s a strip of good gyro places just off Monastiraki Square (opposite the metro station). Our favorites in central Athens include Kostas and O Thanasis . If you have time, Kavouras in the Exarcheia neighborhood (and not far from the The National Archaeological Museum) and O Elvis in Kerameikos are worth seeking out. 23. Best Restaurant in Athens The best restaurant in the Plaka area is Psarras Taverna . With a magical setting and great traditional Greek food, Psarras (also known as The Old Tavern of Psaras) has been around since 1898 – and for good reason. It’s wonderfully romantic, with a casual vibe, great house wine, and live music on weekend nights. If you only eat at one spot in Athens, make it this one. Reservations are recommended for dinner. (+30 21 0321 8734) 24. Best Bar in Athens Warm and lively Baba Au Rum is my favorite place to get a drink in the tourist center. It’s world renowned for its excellent cocktails and often packed, but staff are friendly and helpful even when it’s busy. 25. Best Rooftop Bar in Athens 360° Cocktail Bar , the rooftop bar of Hotel 360° in Monastiraki, features signature cocktails, regional wine and food pairings, and killer rooftop views to the Acropolis. Go at sunset, but make a reservation in advance to secure a good table. (+30 21 0321 0006) 26. Best Gelato in Athens Coco’s has the best gelato in Athens. It’s worth seeking this place out when you’re wandering through Plaka. La Greche in Syntagma is also really good.

I know I’ve recommended a ton of stuff. If you’re still undecided, then remember the Parthenon and Acropolis are the must-see attractions for first time visitors to Athens. Doing an Acropolis Private Guided Tour is an awesome way to learn and explore.

About Santorini Dave

Dave Love your site If I am interested in the private Acropolis tour with skip the line, are entry tickets included? If not how do we get those? Thanks

Yes, they are usually included in a private tour. And even when they’re not tours have access to a faster ticket line when queueing for tickets.

I have read so much about Delphi and Meteora and would like to join a tour so it is easy for us. Which is the best tour you would recommend and should I just do Meteora or both and should I do day or overnight trips? I looked and saw many tours are either large group or private tours only. Are there any that has a small group-small bus kind?

If I could only do one it would be the Meteora. Absolutely stunning! For both Delphi and the Meteora it’s much better to do an overnight trip and get to the sights early in the morning before the tour buses arrive. (And late afternoon after they’ve departed.) The Meteora tour I listed above is a private tour and very well done. Private tours are just about always worth the extra cost if it’s within your budget.

Dave! Thanks for putting this together.

Would love to do a food tour, unfortunately, the “Original Athens Food Tour” is sold out on our day in Athens. Do you have another recommendation that tours good Greek food and restaurants in Athens?

Taste of Athens also does a very good food tour of Athens. Try them.

Hi Dave, We need your advice on how to go to Delphi from Kalambaka. My plan is to stay 1 night in Kalambaka and the next day we will visit Delphi and back to Athens.

Thanks to you and this blog, it is very helpful!

Getting from Kalambaka (the Meteora) to Delphi involves taking the bus via Trikala. The route is different depending on the day but takes between 5 and 7 hours. The latest you can leave Kalambaka is 2pm. If you’re starting from Athens and want to visit both sights then the Delphi and Meteora tour is good value.

Is there a tour or event that we could see traditional Greek dancing and music in central Athens?

Thanks Santorini Dave!

This is a good tour for Greek dancing . Yes, it’s for tourists but the dancing is great and food very good. It’s a fun atmosphere.

Your blog is very helpful. Thank you. I have a question. I have a spare day in Athens (after covering the Parthenon, Plaka, and area) and I really want to visit Meteora. I know it seems like overkill for one day. The other two options are the tour to Delphi or the 3 islands tour (Hydra, Poros, Aigina). Let me know what you would think about the one day trip to Meteora. Thanks again!

The Meteora is awesome. If you have the interest then definitely bite the bullet and make it happen. Yes, it’s a long day but unforgettable.

Hello Dave,

I will be in Athen from Frankfurt in end of June, my flight landing in Athens @ 9:40PM. Do you think I will have enough time to catch a metro going to Monastiraki? Not sure how long the custom, and how far walking to buy a ticket and find metro. I believe the last metro train from the airport is at 11:30PM. Any tip and information is appreciated.

Yes, you should have plenty of time. It’s a short walk from the arrival terminal to the metro station (2 minutes). Just follow the signs and buy ticket from the electronic kiosk. Then down the stairs to the train. If your plane is late and you do miss the last train then buses run 24 hours a day.

Hi Dave, love your site! Interested in your recommendation to hire a tour guide at the gates of the Acropolis. Do you negotiate a price for the tour or is it a set price?

Generally, the price is set but there is a little room for negotiation (sometimes).

Love your website! My brother used it to plan his honeymoon, now I’m planning a girls’ trip for October. Our initial itinerary: Day 1: Leave US Day 2: Arrive in Athens Day 3: Athens Day 4: Ferry to Milos Day 5: Milos Day 6: Milos Day 7: Ferry to Santorini Day 8: Santorini Day 9: Santorini Day 10: Santorini/ Fly back to Athens Day 11: Fly home Any concerns with that itinerary? Also, since I haven’t booked flights yet, does it matters if the weekend we’re in Greece is in Athens or Santorini. I don’t love crowds, and hopefully going in early October will help that. But is there any concern that things will be closed or extra busy at either location? Sarah

Looks like a great itinerary. Milos will be quiet (but still mostly open). Athens and Santorini will be busy, but not crazy busy.

Hi Santorini Dave, this is the best website on Greece by a wide margin. You’re a legend.

Would you recommend doing a tour of the Acropolis or is that something we can do on our own? Is it easy to get around and see?

I would recommend doing it with a small tour. It’s a totally different experience doing it on your own or doing it with a tour guide. It’s certainly easy to walk around the grounds on your own and look at the buildings (the Acropolis does not cover a large area). But unless you’re a Greek history major (with some art history) 90% of the sights and significance will be lost on you. Even with a detailed book it’s hard to match the insight and intimacy of a good tour guide. As I say, they seem like the same experience, but with a guide and on your own – you might as well be visiting a different attraction.

Hi Dave, I am travelling to Athens, Santorini and Crete this September. I just found out that I am pregnant and I want to make sure I can eat the food (for example: pregnant women can only eat cooked meat and milk products that are pasteurized). Do you know if most cheese over there is made of pasteurized milk? It would be a shame to not be able to eat cheese since it is one of the main ingredients in sallads etc. Do you think “gyros” will be fine ? I think the meat is well cooked (not red), but not sure about hygiene. Any information you have would be much appreciated. Thanks! Lynn

All feta in Greece is pasteurized. The soft goat cheese that you might get at a farm-style restaurant is more likely to be unpasteurized.

The blog is awesome. Thank you for all the suggestions. We are a group of 6 travelling to athens for 3 days in August. We were planning to take the hop-on hop-off bus with a 24 hour validity. Is it worth it or should be instead pick our locations and go there by Metro?

Thanks in Advance. Cheers Vaibhav

Personally, I would not do the hop on hop off bus tours. Most of the top sights in Athens are in the Plaka area and easy to get between on foot (actually the bus will not go near many of them). Most of the hop on/hop off tours do go by the Archaeological Museum which is great and not close to the other sights (but it’s also easy to get to by metro, taxi, or a 30 minute walk). Some tours go by the beaches and Piraeus but I wouldn’t waste time driving out to either in a bus. With only 3 days stick to the central area.

What restaurants do you recommend to eat at when in Athens?

Psaras Taverna in the Plaka is my favorite. Outdoor tables spill down the steps and onto the sidewalk. Great atmosphere, great food. The best restaurant with views of the Acropolis in Athens is Strofi in Koukaki.

My return flight from Santorini stops at Athens for 4 1/2 hours. We get to Athens for 7:30am and my flight leaves at noon. Do you think it’s enough time to go to see the Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens?

Thanks, Julie

It’s possible but there’s some risk too. Assuming you have some luggage you’d have to store that at the airport (arrivals level, turn left out of baggage claim) which will take a few minutes. Let’s say you’re in a taxi by 8pm you could be to the Acropolis by 8:40 if traffic isn’t bad (Saturday and Sunday have lighter traffic). If you hurried you could do a super-quick tour of the sight in 30 minutes. Back in a taxi by 9:30 and back to the airport by 10:15 and you’re ok. But anything goes wrong and you don’t have much buffer room. And also the question of whether you have to check in for your onward flight, check baggage, or can you check in remotely on your phone and only have carry-on. I’m tempted to say, if your flight arrives on time then go for it, but just know you are taking some risk of missing your flight. But heh, the Acropolis – it’s awesome.

I land in Athens at 4pm on Thursday, 8/31. I’m meeting friends in Mykonos Saturday 9/2 at 2pm, where I will stay until 9/8.

My questions is, how would you maximize the time in between? My 2 options are either stay in Athens Thursday night, and all day Friday. Or to fly to Santorini on Aegean as soon as I land, and then ferry over to Mykonos on Saturday. Which do you think would be the better option in this case?

Thanks so much for your help. Your site is so incredibly informative.

It depends on two things: First, do you have a preference for Athens or Santorini (I’m guessing not or you wouldn’t be asking). I think most people would prefer spending time in Santorini but Athens has plenty of great historical sights. And second, is there an Athens to Santorini flight you can get on Thursday afternoon. If not then I’d just stick with Athens and catch a morning ferry on the Saturday.

Hi Dave – thanks for putting together all of your knowledge here, it’s been super useful. I am going to have a 5 hour layover at the Athens airport and I was wondering how best to use that time. I will have a few days in Athens later, so I was thinking of taking a taxi to one of the smaller coastal towns for a meal. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks! Heather

Glyfada is a trendy (and very Greek) beach town with lots of cafes and restaurants. It’s 30 minutes by taxi from the airport. That’s probably your best bet.

We have four days. I can’t decide between a day trip to Cape Sounio, Corinth, or Delphi. We don’t mind walking or hiking, and each of these seems to have their attraction. Your suggestions? Rachael Sharp

My favorite day trip from Athens is Nafplio (the 3-hour food and walking tour is excellent), second is Delphi, Cape Sounio third.

My sister and I will be travelling to Santorini, Mykonos and Athens this September. We fly in to Santorini quite late (9:00pm) for four nights (three full days). We have booked our accommodation in Santorini, but nowhere else at this stage. Our plan was to then catch a ferry to Mykonos and stay there for three nights (two full days), followed by a 9:00am flight to Athens for one night. We fly to London at 7:00pm the following night, so this would give us nearly two full days in Athens.

After researching flight options, I’ve realised that we could also catch a flight from Mykonos to Athens at 9:00am on the day we fly back to London. This would allow us to spend an extra night on Santorini or Mykonos and leave us with enough time in Athens (arriving 10:00am, departing 7:00pm) to see the Acropolis and Parthenon. I saw in one of your previous comments that it’s possible to store your luggage at Athens Airport.

My question is whether or not you would recommend spending the additional night on either Santorini or Mykonos? If so, which one – 5 nights (4 days) on Santorini and 3 nights (2 days) on Mykonos, or 4 nights on each? Or do you think it would be better to stick with our original plan and stay overnight in Athens? We’d really just be happy to visit the Acropolis and Parthenon, but I’d be interested to know if you would suggest spending the extra time in Athens to do the 5-hour Athens/Acropolis/Museum tour you’ve recommended above.

Thanks in advance for your help and for providing this extremely helpful guide!

Best wishes, Nick

I love Athens so having almost two full days there sounds just right (and Athens is great in the evening when the Plaka restaurants are bursting out onto the sidewalk and there’s a great atmosphere). That said, for most tourists, I think they would enjoy the extra day more on the islands than in the city. If you don’t mind a bit of grit and grime (and lots of graffiti) then spend the time in Athens. If you’re fine with a quick trip through the top sights of Athens then spend that extra day in Santorini.

Hey Dave, My wife and I will be in Athens in mid June, and we were wondering if its possible to tour the Acropolis and museum with an audio guide (we did something similar in Rome and Pompeii in Italy). Or would you definitely recommend having a person guide us?

Thanks! Marc

Personally, I like a real-person guide so would definitely recommend going that way.

I and my partner are planning for a honeymoon in November this year. Our dates are from November 6 to November 15. Is it a good time to travel in November? Jinal Shah

Athens is great in early November. Still warmish weather with little rain. Tourist spots are quieter than summer but everything is open year-round. Local culture feels much more vibrant outside of the tourist high season from May to October.

Hi Dave – our family of 4 are travelling to Santorini (from Australia) in July to attend my brothers wedding. Our return flights have been booked such that we will have approx. 6 hours in Athens, as our flight arrives from Santorini at 10.30am Thurs 6/7 and departs Athens at 6pm (to Dubai). Rather than spending this time hanging out at the airport, is there anything in particular that you suggest that we do? Our 2 daughters are aged 11 and 8, and I was thinking that we hop on a train / bus and travel to downtown Athens for some exploring. However, very happy to be guided by you. Thanks for such a great travel site. Lydia

The highlight of Athens is the Acropolis and Parthenon. I would hop in a taxi and go straight to the Acropolis (ask the driver to drop you as close as possible). A tour guide of the Acropolis is very much worth getting. You can book these in advance or chance finding one at the entrance gate. Afterwards either head down the north side of the Acropolis to the Plaka to wander the narrow streets and get lunch. Or go down to the south side and go to the excellent Acropolis Museum. You’ll probably want to be in a taxi heading back to the airport by 3:15pm. There’s luggage storage at the Athens Airport – when you exit arrivals/customs turn left and go all the way to the end.

Hi Dave, hoping for your valuable input. My friend and I are planning to visit Greece and Italy on August 31st til September 10th. I have been hearing that not much could be done in Athens, thus was thinking of the following itinerary below (I know you might not be able to comment on Italy, but the Greece part would definitely help me).

Thurs – arrive early morning in Athens and spend the day around Athens Friday – Take a flight/ferry to Mykonos Saturday – Mykonos Sunday – Mykonos to Santorini Monday – Santorini Tuesday – take a flight from Santorini to Florence/Rome

Is it even worth it to have both Mykonos and Santorini on our itinerary, or we can just choose one?

Reason why we packed everything together is it’s our first time to visit Greece and may possibly be a long time before we come back.

That sounds like a fine itinerary. But if you’re really not interested in Athens you could save time by flying Italy to Mykonos, ferry to Santorini, fly Santorini to Italy. Mykonos and Santorini are very different so it’s not unreasonable to include both.

Dave: My family and I will be in Athens for 2 and half days, we land on saturday early evening and depart for Crete Tuesday afternoon. I have looked through your suggestions for Athens and plan to see the acropolis, acropolis museum, archeological museum, and the central market or maybe the Sunday market? Can you hire a guide at the acropolis for an informational tour or do you need to book in advance? If you can book there is that advisable and do you pay the guide’s entrance fee too? Which day would you go? Is the acropolis museum open every day? We will be there in two weeks so it will be mid march. We’d like to do more than wander at the acropolis, and feel a guide would be helpful. What do you suggest, we’d also like to avoid the most crowded days, is there a way to predict when it’s the busiest? Thanks Carla

Yes, there should be tour guides at the main gates of the Acropolis. They’re very good and definitely worth getting. You can arrange in advance if having a guide is a must.

Dave, We are planing our trip to Athens, Santorini, and Crete in July 21017. We are planing to rent a car for Santorini and Crete. Would you suggest to book car a head of time or at time of arrival? And what are best rental places on Crete and Santorini? Nataliya

Booking after you arrive will be fine 95% of the time. There are rental companies on every street and they’re all the same: friendly, a little shady, but all’s good in the end. One exception is if you are flying into Santorini it’s often easier to have a rental car reserved for airport pickup so you don’t have to queue for a taxi. More car rental info here .

Hi Dave, we are arriving to Athens at 2 am, our hotel is located in the Syntagma square, two blocks away from the bus station, is it safe to take the bus from the airport at 3 am? or should we take a taxi for sure? Thanks! Can´t stop reading your blog!

The bus itself is certainly safe. You might feel a little anxious as you walk to your hotel from the bus stop. I consider this a safe area but if you take a wrong turn or two you might be thinking, I wish we just took a taxi. So, I’d personally feel fine busing and walking but if you want easy and no-worries then the taxi is the way to go.

Dave, Do you know anything about the Red Bicycle in Santorini?

Lee K Richman

Great little place in Oia. Nice patio and views. Good food but expensive – as most places with a view are. Make reservations.

Are there any bad areas that I need to be aware of in Athens? My hotel is located in the Syntagma Square and the markets and Acropolis are like 20 minutes walking distance. Ashley

Syntagma is a safe busy area and walking between it and the Plaka, Acropolis, or Monastiraki areas is generally fine, day or night. The main artery between Syntagma and Monastiraki is Ermou. Anything south of here feels safe. As you move north of Ermou you’ll encounter areas that feel sketchy. It’s not that they’re that dangerous but, especially as night falls, they’re not an area you want to wander about. If you want to go to the Athens central market (which is to the north) then walk Ermou to Athinas and turn right.

Hi Dave, We are getting ready for our trip to Greece and will be starting in Athens, later Mykonos, Santorini and coming back to Athens for one night and fly home the following morning. We are flying from Santorini to Athens – we decided it’s a better option that taking a ferry back – but it seems the transportation from the airport to the hotel (in Piraeus) that night and morning after would add up to 120 Euros. We are thinking renting a car at the airport that night and returning it the following morning might be a cheaper option. What are you thoughts? Is it safe and easy to drive in Athens? The car rental seems to cost 40 euros and the parking would be 14. What should we be aware if we decided to go with a car rental instead of the private shuttle offered by the hotel. Thanks in advance!! PS: Love your blog!!

Natalia Rios

If cost is a concern then take the X96 bus from the airport to Piraeus for about 3€. Metro train requires a change at Monastiraki station and costs a little bit more – but is more pleasant.

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Acropolis & Parthenon: History, Myths, & Masterpieces, Extended Edition

Escape the crowds and experience the Acropolis like never before! This extended, small-group tour offers early access, expert guidance, and ample time to explore the Acropolis' iconic monuments and capture breathtaking photos.

Early Entry: Acropolis & Museum. Beat the Crowds. Beat the Heat.

Discover the heart of ancient Athens in tranquility. Beat the crowds, beat the heat, and immerse yourself in history with our licensed guides.

Walk with a Local: Athens Orientation Tour with Optional Acropolis Ticket

Just arrived in Athens and at a loss as to where to start? Then this is the tour for you! Find out what Athens has to offer in a bite-sized orientation tour that will get you familiar with the city sights in no time!

Golden Hour Acropolis: Acropolis Museum & Acropolis Tour in the Afternoon Light

Explore the Acropolis Museum at noon, avoiding the heat and crowds, and visit the Acropolis of Athens in the afternoon on a small-group tour with a licensed guide.

First Access Acropolis Tour: Beat the Crowds, Enjoy the Parthenon!

Unveil the Acropolis' history in an intimate tour, away from crowds and heat. Join an enriching small-group experience with a knowledgeable licensed guide.

Acropolis of Athens Tour with Optional Skip-the-ticket line

Even with limited time, you can visit to the famous ancient Acropolis. In under two hours, we’ll guide you through the storied monuments which will also be an opportunity to take incredible panoramic photos of the capital.

Acropolis of Athens & the Acropolis Museum Tour with optional Skip-the-ticket line

In a few hours, see two of the city’s most visited sights. Explore the Acropolis and take panoramic photos. See the famous marble sculptures and works elegantly housed at the marvelous Acropolis Museum.

Athens City Tour & Acropolis Tour with Optional Skip-the-ticket line

Explore the most significant modern and ancient sights with our knowledgeable guides. Watch the Changing of the Guards and visit the Acropolis (including the Parthenon, the Nike Temple and more).

Athens City Tour, Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Tour with Optional Skip-the-ticket line

This tour sweeps through the historic city center, stopping at three of the most loved sights. Experience a visit to the Temple of Zeus and The Acropolis, then head to the Acropolis Museum to admire the marble masterpieces uncovered at the Acropolis.

Athens Cooking Lesson & Dinner

The flavors of Greece will come alive as you cook some of the country’s most loved dishes. With expert guidance from a local cooking instructor, you’ll prepare a Greek Sunday dinner – then dine with your classmates under the majestic site of the Acropolis!

Private Athens Cooking Lesson & Dinner

You will be initiated into the Greek cuisine, learn valuable cooking secrets and take a wonderful lesson with plenty of “hands on” preparation and cooking. After the lesson you will enjoy the dinner you prepared.

Private Acropolis, Acropolis Museum and Zeus Temple

This private tour is a history buff’s delight! It covers the three top "must see" landmarks of Athens, the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum and the Zeus Temple. It is the perfect tour for visitors with limited time.

Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Agora and the Agora Museum Tour

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Athens Old Town Food Experience

Immerse yourself in the tastes and aromas of Athens on this delightful food tour. Led by a knowledgeable local host and food specialist, explore the bustling Athens Central Market and discover the must-try flavors of Greece, from traditional coffee and savory spanakopita to rich olive oil and creamy Greek yogurt.

Private Acropolis, Panathenaic Stadium and Plaka

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Private Acropolis Museum Tour

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Private Acropolis Tour

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Private Athens Food Tour

The Most Delicious Food Tour of Athens. Enjoy this unique private tour, in the non-touristy area of Athens and acquaint yourself with Greek cuisine in the company of your food specialist guide.

Private Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Tour

Visit the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum with your expert licensed guide

Private Acropolis and Athens City Tour

This private tour covers most major monuments of Athens including a visit inside the Acropolis, with your friendly, knowledgeable and helpful guide! Let the Myths, the history, the beauty, the culture and the modern life of Athens be revealed to you on this fascinating tour.

Private Athens Top Attractions & Mythology Tour

A private tour for all mythology lovers! Embark on a journey to discover the links between the believable and the unfathomable on this fascinating private tour!

Private Athens Ancient Agora & the Agora Museum Tour

Inclusions:  Private Local licensed guide Skip-the-line service Exclusions:  Entrance fees Hotel pick-up and drop-off service Food and beverages Gratuities (gratuity rates in Greece are around 10% of service cost) What You Will See

Athens Street Culture & Food, off-the-beaten path, afternoon

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Acropolis & Athens Highlights with Food Tasting

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Private Athens City Tour, Acropolis, Ancient Agora & the Agora Museum Tour

A private tour that covers the major archaeological sights of Athens, such as the Acropolis, the Zeus Temple and the Ancient Agora.

Athens Food Tour

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Avoid the Crowds: Acropolis Afternoon Tour with skip-the-ticket line service (Optional: include entrance ticket)

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Shore Excursion: Acropolis, City Tour & Acropolis Museum with Transfer

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Shore Excursion: Athens Food Tour & Free Time in Plaka

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Acropolis Museum Tour

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Shore Excursion: Acropolis, City Tour & Free Time in Plaka with Transfer

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Private Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Agora and the Agora Museum Tour

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Private Acropolis & Athens Food Tour

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Private Acropolis, Monastiraki & Plaka, the Athens Old Town Tour

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Private Athens Street Culture & Food, off-the-beaten path

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Private Best of Athens Tour

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Private National Archaeological Museum Tour

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Private Benaki Museum Tour

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Fotini was a fabulous tour guide. Very knowledgeable and she offered to take photos of all the groups, very kind. We highly recommend this experience!

Rebecca and family | May 24 | Rebecca and family

It’s was one of the best guided tours I have experienced. Everything was perfectly organised and of top of that - our guide Niobe! Her way of sharing the history was very inspiring and I had such a tremendous time with her and gained much knowledge and new insights. Thank you!

Inga | May 24 | Acropolis of Athens & Museum Tour

Excellent choice. Our tour guide was fantastic, very knowledgeable, kind, sympathetic and embraced the history of Greece with quite interesting and rich presentation. Will definitely recommend it. 2-thumbs-Up !

Sergio del Lupo | May 24 | Acropolis of Athens Tour

Amazing walking tour! Antonis was friendly and very knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend this to anyone coming to the city.

Perry Mucci | May 24 | Acropolis of Athens Tour

We enjoyed our Acropolis tour with Maria and our food tasting tour with Fotis very much. Highly recommend this tour to get a close-up view of the history and background of the Acropolis area and Athens, and enjoy some delicious food as well. Excellent in every way!

Jenny | Apr 24 | Acropolis & Athens Highlights with Food Tasting

Wow! what an amazing tour and wonderful guide!If you are lucky enough to get Sissi as a guide you will have an amazing experience.She is full of knowledge and interesting stories. best thing we did in athens so far!

Cindy | Apr 24 | Acropolis of Athens Tour

A fantastic day! Both Georgina and Marina were so knowledgeable and made the tour such fun! The communication and planning was perfect! Everyone met us on time and we learned so much! HIGHLY recommend this company and our lovely guides!

Linda Payne Smith | Apr 24 | Private Acropolis & City Tour

Our guide, Fotis, was excellent. He was very knowledgeable and charming and ran the tour efficiently. It was interesting to see the different areas as we walked and to taste the food. We saw a different side of Athens and I heartily recommend this tour.

Beverley | Apr 24 | Athens Old Town Food Experience

Nikki was an incredibly kind, charming, and helpful teacher! This was one of the best cooking classes I have taken. Also, there was so much food with a beautiful view of the acropolis! Highly recommend.

Pooja | Apr 24 | Athens Cooking Class

Giannis was wonderful on the city walk and Acropolis tour. Very well educated and informative. Highly recommend him. I wish we would have also booked the Acropolis museum with him.

Lindsey | Apr 24 | Athens City Tour & Acropolis Tour

Tinatin was an excellent guide for this private exploration of the Acropolis and the Agora. She was so knowledgeable and could answer every question our group of 7 asked her, she was fun, and was dedicated to our education and enjoyment during the tour. Bravo! The check in was smooth and professional, thanks to the staff for making this so easy.

Scott S | Apr 24 | Acropolis, Ancient Agora & Museum Tour

Margarite was awesome! Very fun and knowledgeable. A great tour experience, thank you so much!

Ruth L | Apr 24 | Athens City, Acropolis & Museum Tour

Natasha was our guide for the Acropolis tour and Muesum tour - she was fantastic! Her knowledge really enhanced the experience. I definitely recommend taking the time to do the museum in addition to the Acropolis, it's beautifully done.

Kaitlyn | Apr 24 | Acropolis of Athens & the Acropolis Museum

Highly recommended especially to try and miss the crowds. By the time we came down at about 9.30am it was already very busy (and this is April apparently before “the season” has started). Tina our guide was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, friendly and informative and we got a good overview of the Acropolis and Parthenon and history.

Veronica | Apr 24 | First Access Acropolis Tour

Excellent tour, our guide Sissy made the experience interesting and related to current everyday life. She made what I thought would be a difficult walk up to the Acropolis very manageable with plenty of stops to share her knowledge of the Acropolis and Greek culture . Highly recommend!

Missy | Apr 24 | Acropolis of Athens Tour

Real Greek Experiences

Greek Culture, Travel Information, Itineraries, Life in Greece

The Best Tours In Athens Greece To Take In 2024

A guide to some of the best tours in Athens Greece. Includes guided tours of the Acropolis, food tours, street art tours, the great outdoors, and many more activities when you are in Athens.

The Best Tours To Take In Athens Greece 

Athens in Greece is a city famous for its rich history and culture. At the same time, it’s a modern metropolis that never sleeps, a foodie’s paradise, and is surrounded by a long, beautiful coastline. 

For visitors who want to get a better feel of the Greek capital, there are several companies offering an array of tours catering to every interest. From ancient landmarks to culinary delights to contemporary culture to outdoors activities, there’s something for everyone.

I’m Vanessa from Athens, and I love my city! I’ve picked out some of the best tours Athens has to offer, providing practical insights to help you make the most of your visit to the Greek capital! 

The Best Acropolis Tours In Athens

Many visitors choose to take a guided tour of the magnificent UNESCO site of the Acropolis . This is one of the most popular tours in Athens, and one that is absolutely worth it.

While it’s possible to visit the ancient site on your own, a guided tour will definitely enhance your experience and your understanding of Ancient Greece.

You will learn more about the Acropolis complex, and the individual landmarks inside the site. These include the temple of Parthenon, the Erechtheion with the Caryatids statues, the Propylaea Gate and the theater of Dionysus.  

There are also tours including both the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum , where you will learn more about life in Ancient Athens.

Tip: If you are visiting Athens during summer, it’s best to either select the early morning option (8 am), or an evening tour. Avoid the hottest hours of the day as it can get TOO hot up on the Acropolis hill. Plus, after 9 – 9:30 am, cruise boat passengers arrive, and the site gets extremely busy.

If you have children, you can opt for a mythology tour for families , which is tailor-made for younger visitors – and not only.

Or, for something entirely different, have a look at the women in Ancient Greece tour , where you will see Ancient Athens through a woman’s eyes… it’s pretty fascinating! 

Food Tours And Culinary Delights In Athens

Everyone loves Greek food! If you only have limited time in Athens and Greece, a food tour is always a great idea. You will get to taste several popular foods, such as spanakopita , souvlaki, loukoumades and koulouri .

Alternatively, you can opt for a tour that guides you through the Athens food market . You will get to taste local products like cheese, wine, honey, olives and olive oil, while exploring the backstreets of the most vibrant market in Athens, called Varvakios.

Or, you can take a Greek cooking class . At the end, you will get to taste everything you have prepared, with a view of the Acropolis!

Explore Modern Athens: Walking Tours

Did you know that Athens has lots of street art? And, did you know that – whether we like it or not – street art is, in fact, a form of expression?

In this exceptional street art tour with an artist guide , you will learn a lot about modern Athens, its vibrant art scene, and the various social movements. Bring comfortable shoes and an open mind, and get ready to explore a side of Athens that few visitors get to see.

Or, you might be interested in the Athens: city of rebellion walking tour . Here, you will find out more about the Greek capital’s most recent history, from the time of the Greek Revolution in 1821 to the present.

Both these tours offer a perspective on contemporary life in Athens, and they are great even if you’ve visited the city a few times already – or even if you live here.

Discover The Coastline Of Athens

Attica, the region where Athens is located, has a very long coastline. You can easily take a taxi, or even the tram, to coastal areas like Faliro, Glyfada and Voula. These are some of the nicest beach areas to visit for a few hours.

However, you can also explore these areas by sea, on a catamaran sailing cruise from Athens . If you are only taking a short break to the Greek capital but want a sailing experience, this is ideal.

Alternatively, you can take a sailing trip to three of the Saronic islands : Aegina, Agistri, plus the uninhabited and pristine Moni. This leisurely cruise combines everything – swimming, walking, cycling, culture, and lots of nice Greek food! 

Note: There’s another popular cruise which combines the better known islands of Hydra, Poros and Aegina . In my humble opinion, this tour tries to cram in too much in just one day. While you will get a taste of each of the three islands, it’s probably too much running around and I wouldn’t recommend it.  

Another option is to visit one of the Saronic islands, Agistri, Aegina, Hydra or Poros, for a day trip on your own. You will need to take a ferry from Piraeus port. You can check routes and book your ferry tickets on Ferryscanner or Ferryhopper .

This is also a more affordable option, though you’ll have to work out the logistics of the trip on your own – but this is part of the fun!

Outdoors Activities In Athens And Nearby

Athens might be a big city, but it also has tons of outdoors activities to offer! 

A cycling tour around Athens is an unexpectedly rewarding way to see the city in a very different light. I took this tour a few years ago and was surprised with the fact that Athens can  be bicycle-friendly!

If you like the outdoors, nothing can beat a sea kayaking adventure to explore the coastline of Athens. This activity is great for families, and is suitable for beginners as well as people with some experience in kayaking.

Finally, if you enjoy sea activities, you can go snorkelling , or even try scuba diving ! There’s a whole new world to explore underwater!

Day Trips From Athens

I hope this article has given you some ideas of the tours and activities that are available in Athens. Please have a look at these other guides for more inspiration: 

• The best day trips to take from Athens – Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, city of Nafplion, Ancient Delphi and more 
• 30 best things to do in Athens
• 15 free things to do in Athens 
• 20 best museums in Athens

• Facebook page and this very active Facebook group
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Top Tours in Athens, Greece

Athens tours.

• Skip-the-Line Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Walking Tours
• Archaeology Tours
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Acropolis and Parthenon Guided Walking Tour

2. Athens: Acropolis, Parthenon and Acropolis Museum Guided Tour

3. Greek Food Walking Tour in Athens

4. Athens Full Day Private Tour

5. All Day Cruise -3 Islands to Agistri,Moni, Aegina with lunch and drinks included

6. Athens Half Day Tour, Acropolis, Parthenon, Temple of Olympian Zeus & Hephaistus

7. Delphi & Arachova Premium Historical Tour with Expert Tour Guide on Site

8. Dinner Show in Plaka

9. Athens All Included: Acropolis and Museum Guided Tour with Ticket

10. Meteora Monasteries and Hermit Caves Day Trip with optional lunch

11. Athens & Acropolis Highlights: a Mythological Tour

12. Athens Day Cruise: 3 Islands Tour in the Saronic Gulf with Lunch

13. Best of Athens Half Day Private Tour

14. Acropolis monuments & Parthenon Walking Tour with Optional Acropolis Museum

15. Private Tour of Apostle Paul Footsteps in Ancient Corinth

16. Athens: Acropolis Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour

17. Hop on Hop Off Classic tour of Athens, Piraeus & Beaches

18. PREMIUM Semi-Private Athens Afternoon Food Tour & Wine Tasting

19. Private Tour Acropolis and Athens Highlights

20. Delphi, Thermopylae, Corycian Cave 300 Spartans Tour from Athens

21. Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Athens with Traditional Greek Meal and BBQ

22. Cape Sounion and Temple of Poseidon Half-Day Small-Group Tour from Athens

23. Get a Taste of Athens Food Tour

24. Athens Greece Full Day private tour

25. Greek Cooking Class in Athens Including Rooftop Dinner with Acropolis View

26. Athens Acropolis and Parthenon Walking Tour

27. Athens 4-Hour Cooking Class with Central Market Visit

28. Biblical Tour Letters To The Corinthians St Paul’s Footsteps

29. Athens Scenic Bike Tour with an Electric or a Regular Bike

30. Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nafplio Full Day Private Tour from Athens

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Following my undergraduate studies at the Faculty of History and Archaeology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and my postgraduate studies in the Ancient History and Classical Archaeology I became a tourist guide certified by the Ministry of Tourism.

The experience accumulated by my studies is relevant to the career of a tourist guide. In my estimation, the common ground between the two is that learning, adventure and exploring “new” lands, never end.

My curiosity and adventurous spirit which had me exploring and visiting many challenging and exhilarating paths and corners of Greece, led me to Athens. I would be glad to share my passion and knowledge regarding the remarkable legacy of the Greeks with travelers from all over the world, in Greece, where history comes alive.

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I was born and raised in Athens. However, after finishing school I decided to study Economics in London, which was a great experience, but also made me realize once more that I am a very fun person and Economics are too serious for me.

When I was studying in London I realize my passion to explore the city and not just pass my time there like a visitor. So, I decided to share my passion with others in my own hometown, Athens were I lived for all my life and I love with all my heart. This city still manages to amaze me since you will never get bored in Athens, which has such a rich and layered history spanning over 2500 years.

For this reason the Capital really hooked me in and drove me to try to learn as much about the city as possible and to impart that knowledge to visitors. We travel to see and experience something different. If you’re going to visit Athens, expect the people, food, customs, stores, and interactions to be different and unknown. I would like to be your guide to this new journey and show how to experience my city like a local.

Of course the history and beauty of Acropolis demands a visit from anyone visiting Athens, but my favorite think to do in the city is to walk around the Capitals historic center and discover new places to eat or get a drink so I became an expert on that field.

My name is Costas and I am a licensed tourist guide. I have studied history and Balkan studies and I have a master’s degree on Middle East Studies. Greece is like a never ending palimpsest, with many layers of history and human activity going back to the past

As an instructor of modern Greek language, history and culture to immigrants and other foreign people, I understood that the knowledge delivered wouldn’t have been fruitful, unless the beneficiaries visited the places, touched the Athenian sacred stones and tasted the food. As an internal immigrant in Athens, born and raised in Trikala, a picturesque city of Central Greece, I was in their shoes for a long time and I am glad that I managed to show them that past and present intermingle almost in every step in this magnificent city.

Anthropologically speaking intercultural socializing with people from other countries makes me better as a human being especially when I have the opportunity to share my knowledge on history and anthropology of Greece, for as Thucydides has written the human nature does not change.

As a saying goes, your name speaks of who you are, and mine is Christos, which is Chris, in English — meaning "the annointed one," and, by extension, the Chosen One.

I invite you to a once in a lifetime experience, a dive deep into History, a tour to discover Greece's glorious, ancient past, and it's ever-lasting legacy in our time.

Hi, I am Gregory! I was born in Thessaloniki and studied History and Ethnology in Komotini,Thrace. Then I did my Master's degree on Byzantine Studies at University of London. After coming back home, I spent a decade teaching History.

I felt so excited when I got the Tourist Guide License which had been a dream since my childhood. Living in Athens, a very rich city in culture and monuments, I am ready to share the rich experience of discovering the treasures of Greece with you. My communication skills and great sense of humor will make you witness a unique experience!

Orestis Ermidis studied History for more than 7 years, and then, wanting to spread and popularize the knowledge and understanding of History, he became a tour guide.

Hello there,

I am Ioanna, a licensed tourist guide, born and raised in Athens.

I graduated from Athens Law School and had my master degree in the Netherlands. After having pursued a career in Law, I decided to follow my heart and become a tourist guide, in order to share with our guests and visitors, my passion for the history and the human stories behind our magnificent monuments. So let’s explore the landmarks and the beauties of my country and especially of Athens!

Having worked as a tour guide since the year 2000, I realize that this is the love of my life.  Meeting people from all different places around the globe and doing my best to make sure they have a wonderful day, it's so compensating.  Welcome on board!

I have always been fascinated by Greek history & mythology. I remember myself being the kid that always came home with dirt on its knees, a spoon in the pocket (the ultimate “digging tool”) and many stories to recount about what I had unearthed! So, I pursued my dream and here I am now, a licensed guide & archaeologist, enjoying every moment of being an “ambassador” of the rich past & present of Greece, sharing knowledge & experiences with travelers who visit my country.

I have also studied History and Archaeology in the University of Athens, oriented to history. In addition I am a holder of a Master’s degree in Political Science and Sociology. In 2021 I received a Certification as an expert in Cultural Tourism in Europe and I cooperated with the Hellenic Cultural Center by making a series of lectures for promoting Greek History and Culture. I love history and stories, art and culture and everything that is related with the human beings of the present and the past.

If you are looking for a big dive in history, a journey back in time and to our roots by a multi-dimensional look of the ancient ruins, I am the right person for you.

You will guide me in order to guide you better!

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Best Guided Tours in Athens, Greece

• by Marco Polo

In addition to the Acropolis, you can visit Kerameikos (ancient kiln), Kerameikos Archaeological Museum, the Temple of Zeus, and the National Archaeological Museum.

Marco Polo Guided Tours earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Your support is much appreciated.

From Athens, explore the beautiful Greek islands of Hydra, Poros, and Aegina. Spectacular views of the Greek shore and islands can be enjoyed from a premium cruise ship's vast open deck.

Take a sea kayaking trip in the Aegean Sea to get away from it all. After learning the basics from your instructor, paddle through the beaches of eastern Attica.

A full-day Delphi tour will take you to the heart of ancient Greece. At Delphi, the oracle, the amphitheater, and the Temple of Apollo once stood on the summit that now serves as the epicenter of classical Greece.

The Acropolis, Roman Agora, Ancient Agora, and more are all within easy reach with skip-the-line entry via the Athens Pass.

Sail on a lovely wooden sailing boat is the perfect way to spend a wonderful day at sea. The Saronic Sea is a beautiful place to sail. Swim in the crystal clear waters of Moni or Metopi on the islands of Agistri and Aegina (depending on the weather).

A luxurious minivan takes you on a 5-hour panoramic tour of the Meteora rock formations, taking you to all six of the monasteries. Visiting three different monasteries is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

As you tour the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum with an archaeologist, you'll hear stories that bring ancient Greece to life.

Enjoy an evening trip to the astonishing Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion, and admire the sunset over the Aegean Sea. Learn about the Athens Riviera and immerse yourself in local Athenian life.

A 1.5-hour walking tour of the Acropolis of Athens will introduce you to the intriguing world of Ancient Greece. A qualified tour guide will let you explore the UNESCO-listed archaeological site. You'll have some time on your hands after you reach the top to explore on your own.

Indulge your curiosity in Delphi and its legendary Oracle. Parnassus's rugged beauty is stunning. If you prefer a more intimate encounter, you can choose a private tour.

This two-day guided tour from Athens includes a visit to the Delphi archaeological site and the awe-inspiring cliff-top monasteries of Meteora. Visit Delphi's Temple of Apollo and two of Meteora's monasteries, which are set on cliffs overlooking the surrounding area.

With a hop-on, hop-off ticket for four separate bus lines, you can explore Athens, the Port of Piraeus, and the Athenian Riviera at your own pace. You may see the historic city, relax on Agios Kosmas' beach, and do a lot more.

Athens' Acropolis is a great place to relive the glory days of Ancient Greece. The Parthenon, the city's highest point, is a must-see. Athens' ancient ruins and modern cityscape may be seen from the top of the Acropolis.

It is possible to visit the Mycenae UNESCO World Heritage Site in Greece. Observe the most famous ancient theater of Epidaurus, and then head to the beach city of Nafplio for some modern architecture.

You won't want to miss out on this half-day sailing adventure and the chance to see the stunning coastline. On board a sleek sailing yacht, you can swim, snorkel, and sample some of the area's specialties.

The itinerary includes three monasteries and Badovas hermit caves, as well as beautiful vistas of the Greek countryside. Visit Kalambaka, a small town in the region.

Visit the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and the Ancient Agora, three of Athens' most important ancient sites. With three separate e-tickets and audio tours on your phone, you may have a complete attraction experience.

Explore Athens from the top of a double-decker open-top sightseeing bus. If you want to include a stop at Piraeus, you'll get the opportunity to take in the best of the Greek capital's famed landmarks while listening to an audio guide's commentary.

Greece's Argolis region includes the stunning Argolis. It is in the famous Peloponnese region, which is known for the beauty of its nature and the amazing things that have been found there.

Indulge in a whopping 20 tastes on this small-group culinary tour of Athens' famous food market, with a limit of only eight people. Explore Varvakios Central Municipal Market and the cafés around it to sample cheese, fruit, honey, coffee, yogurt, cold cuts, olives, olive oil, spanakopita (spinach-feta pie) and bougatsa (custard pie). A sit-down dinner with meze (tapas) and dessert is the perfect way to end the night.

This full-day private chauffeured tour of Athens will help you get the most out of your time in Greece. It is a great opportunity to learn about the history and culture of a thriving Mediterranean metropolis from a local. As you tour the city, stop by the Olympic Stadium, Hadrian's Arch, the Temple of Zeus, and the New Acropolis Museum to learn about the history of the city. Take a coastal road journey to the stunning clifftop Temple of Poseidon after watching the changing of the guard at the parliament. On this tour, you'll be able to move at your own pace because it's flexible.

Set sail for the Saronic Islands aboard a roomy Greek sailing ship and get away from the bustling city of Athens for the day. While visiting Agistri, Moni, and Aegina, choose your favorite seat on the deck to soak in the Mediterranean sun. From historic temples and wild peacocks to stunning beaches, each site has something to offer. You may swim and snorkel directly off the boat, and you can eat a fantastic Greek lunch while you're at it.

This full-day Delphi excursion from Athens will allow you to immerse yourself in the old Greek mythology and monuments. Get up close and personal with ancient Greece's 'Center of the World', Delphi, on this UNESCO-recognized archaeological site. The Temple of Apollo is amazing, and the Delphi Archeological Museum is full of ancient treasures like the Charioteer of Delphi and the Sphinx of Naxos.

From Athens, take a full-day train journey to the Meteora monasteries, where you'll see stunning scenery along the way. When you arrive by train in Kalambaka, your driver will meet you and transport you to the UNESCO-listed medieval monastery complex set high on sandstone cliffs. One of Greece's most breathtaking and off-the-beaten-path cultural treasures can be discovered in this way.

Discover some of Greece’s greatest treasures and the best of modern Athens on this morning or afternoon Athens sightseeing trip. On a guided coach tour of Athens, you'll visit the Greek Parliament and the Panathenaic Stadium, the location of the first modern Olympic Games.

Take a mythical tour of Athens to get the most out of your time there. As you see the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus, you'll learn about the fascinating myths surrounding each site from your lively tour guide. Hear tales that combine myth, folklore, and historical fact, and gain significant insight into the culture of modern and ancient Greece on this instructive trip.

Delve into Greece’s rich history on this 4-day journey from Athens. Discover the UNESCO-listed classical monuments of Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, and Delphi; and pay a visit to Meteora to see its beautiful rocktop monasteries. Take a guided walking tour at each site to learn about its past and see other top sights, like the Corinth Canal.

Explore the sights of Athens in a private vehicle on this full-day tour. Depart from your hotel and make your way to the Acropolis, where you may wander through the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Propylaea, the Erechtheum, and the Parthenon. Take in views from Lycabettus Hill and visit the areas of Plaka and Monastiraki.

Experience Greek island life without a hotel reservation on a day cruise from Athens. Sail into the Saronic Gulf and make stops at three of the most stunning islands within easy reach of Athens before returning to the city.

You and your small group will go to the Acropolis after meeting your guide at a local metro station. The trip offers a unique opportunity to interact with some of history's most important artifacts, one that cannot be replicated by a book or audio guide.

Eat dinner in a spinning restaurant suspended in the sky during this exhilarating experience in Athens. From a bird's eye view at 165 feet (50 meters) in the air, get views of the city of Athens lit up at night, including the illuminated Acropolis, while the table gently spins. With 22 dining mates, feast on a 6-course supper of modern and traditional Greek meals with unlimited wine, beer, and soft beverages. Choose from a Sunset Dinner or a City Lights Dinner.

Drink in the stunning landscapes and waves of the Athens Riviera from a catamaran on this half-day, small-group tour. Relax and take pleasure in the surroundings and the company of an experienced captain and crew. Step onboard your beautiful craft, take a welcome drink, and enjoy the warm breezes as you sail over the lovely coastline.

Take a 4-hour gourmet tasting tour of Athens to satisfy your inner foodie. Take to the streets for a walking tour of Athens’ cafés, marketplaces, delicatessens, and street food haunts. Discover the mysteries of Greek cuisine and the history of the city's culinary legacy with the help of a private food expert tour.

Discover three lovely Greek islands on this full-day cruise from Athens. Sail to Poros, Hydra, and Egina in the Saronic Gulf and have free time on each island to roam, sightsee, and shop as you like.

Customize your own tour of Athens and explore the landmarks that are of more importance to you on your customized experience. Choose from a number of significant sights like the Royal Palace of Athens, the Temple of Zeus, the Archaeological Museum, and get skip-the-line admission to the Acropolis.

This is an excellent option for history buffs who wish to explore the highlights of Athens in a single day. With a pre-arranged schedule and round-trip transportation, you can see Greece's capital with ease.

Follow in the footsteps of historical heroes and legends with a full-day excursion from Athens to Delphi, a UNESCO-recognized archaeological site that’s among Greece’s most renowned destinations.

See the major monuments of Athens in a new light during a late afternoon tour of the Acropolis, escorted by a professional archaeologist. You’re guaranteed to escape any huge wait lines with this walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Make the most of your holiday by transforming it into something amazing!

We work with the largest and most reputable travel companies to provide you with a list of curated guided tours for your convenience. We get a small affiliate commission if you decide to purchase any of them without any additional cost to you.

Table of Contents

Check Out Travel Guides To Athens, Greece

• Reasons to visit Athens, Greece at least once in your lifetime
• Best & Fun Things To Do + Places To Visit In Athens, Greece. #Top Attractions

What are guided tours?

Guided tours are often all-inclusive group travel experiences guided by a local travel guide and following a predetermined schedule centered on a particular tourist attraction or local activity. Numerous sightseeing guided tours, skip-the-line tickets to major tourist destinations, group day/night trips, food/wine tastings, and even airport transfers are available.

Should I use guided tours on my vacations?

Explore and experience your destination like a local.

See everything! The best way to get the most out of your trip is to get personalized advice before and during your trip. Experience your travel destination as if you were a local. Then, find all the hidden gems!

Avoid scams and pay better prices

Avoid con artists! Numerous local brokers abroad hike up costs exorbitantly in order to take advantage of tourists. Reserve your guide excursions in advance!

I have a tight budget, can I still buy a guided tour?

Whatever your budget, there is almost certainly a guided tour for you among the huge range available.

Save time, and Get the most out of your trip.

Don’t waste a moment on your trip! Memories aren’t made while standing in line. Book ahead and skip the lines at the world’s biggest attractions.

If you have a pre-planned trip itinerary, you know precisely what you’ll be experiencing on each day of your holiday.

Check reviews before buying a guided tour

Overwhelmed with options and unsure which guided tour to take? Check out other user reviews to see which activities are a better fit for you.

No risk to you. Free cancellation

Many of the guided tours allow you to change your mind and cancel your booking up to 24 hours before the date of the activity. There is no charge if you do this. As soon as your travel plans change at the last minute, this will be very useful for you.

Meet people all over the world, make new friends on your next vacation

It’s wonderful to meet people from all around the world on your guided excursions!

Types of guided tours available for your vacation

Depending on the city you are traveling to, there are just about any guide trips and activities for everyone. There are outdoor guided tours, water activities, Nature trails, Music celebrations, Local food tours, Workshops and Classes, Arts Performances, Hidden Gems expedition, beer or red wine drinking and tasting trips, special TV & Movies tours, romantic couple tours, kids’ activities, trips to Parks and Gardens, Island expedition trips, check out famous landmarks, Museum guided tours and tickets, Airport transfer services, Memorials for you to explore to under the local culture and history, go up Towers & seeing platforms to get a birds-eye view of the landscape, shopping tours, theaters and concert halls, come by ports and harbors, sightseeing cruise, bikes for rental, helicopter flights, ferryboat tickets, Jeep and SUV for rental, yacht services and sailboat rental.

16 Must-Visit Athens Historical Sites: Guide to the City's Ancient Ruins

Want to check out the best Athens historical sites?

As you wander the charming streets of the Greek capital of Athens, memories of high school history seep back into mind. From the towering Acropolis to the winding alleys of the Plaka neighborhood, this city is a living, breathing museum of ancient civilizations. And it’s pretty cool to finally put a real-life image to old textbook readings. 

Walk in the footsteps of mythic gods and legendary philosophers as Athens has been a cultural center for over 3000 years.

In this post, we’re exploring the must-visit historical sites in Athens, Greece. After spending more than a week roaming around Athens, by choice and because of an emergency root canal, I’ll take you through some of the most iconic Athens landmarks and lesser-known gems.

Athens Full-Day Private Tour

Best for Inner City History Buffs | Rated: 5/5 (940+ Reviews)

• 2023 Viator Experience Awards Winner
• See all the most significant ancient sites in Athens
• Enjoy the flexibility of a private guide

Tips for Visiting Athens Historical Sites

Ticket admission fee.

Tickets can be purchased online here or at the entrance to each fee site. I recommend buying the combined ticket if you plan to visit the Acropolis and at least two other archaeological sites in Athens. This ticket type is valid for 5 days, costs around 30 euros, and grants entry to seven fee areas throughout the city.

Save time and money with this Skip-The-Line combo ticket !

Breeze past the lines at 7 of the city’s best archaeological sites. Save up to 50% and skip the queues at the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Temple of Zeus, Aristotle’s School, Hadrian’s Library, and Kerameikos Ancient Cemetery.

How to Get Around Athens

Start in the city center at Syntagma Square, Acropolis, or Monistiri Square, where the most famous monuments are relatively walkable.

Otherwise, the metro or bus is the most convenient and cost-effective way to get around central Athens or from Glyfada or the ferry port, with fares starting at €1.20. All public transportation methods will only accept euros pre-paid from the teller machines. Official taxis are also readily available and can be called through Uber or Freenow.

Best Historical Sites in Athens

One of Greece’s most famous historical sites is the Acropolis, a hill that overlooks the city and is home to several ancient buildings, including:

• Erechtheion
• Temple of Athena Nike 
• Odeon of Herodes Atticus
• Theatre of Dionysus
• Statue of Athena Promachos
• Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis is more than just a beautiful collection of buildings, dating back to the 5th century BC when it was constructed as a fortress to protect Athens from invaders. Once the center of Athenian life and culture, the Acropolis played a crucial role in the development of Greek civilization.

Travel Tip! Yup, you’re summiting that thing, and it is as unshaded as it looks. It’s best to go early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid crowds and a sunburn. The last entry is at 7:40 pm. 

You always learn more with an English-speaking Greek guide at historical ruins. Book this Athens Acropolis and Museum Cultural Guided Walking Tour .

1. Parthenon

By far, the most famous building on the site is the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. This structure is an architectural masterpiece, featuring impressive columns and intricate carvings depicting Greek mythology scenes.

Unfortunately, it got blown up in recent history, like in 1687, so instead of being fully recreated, it will just be restored. Surprisingly, there is a full-scale model in…Nashville, USA ? Strange, but true. 

2. Propylaea

The Propylaea is the monumental gateway that serves as the entrance to the Acropolis. The purpose of this grand doorway was to impress visitors and act as a symbol of the power and wealth of Athens.

3. Erechtheion

The Erechtheion is a temple dedicated to several Greek gods, including Athena and Poseidon. Notice the famous architectural elements, Porch of the Caryatids, which features six sculpted female figures that serve as columns. The Erechtheion played a crucial role in Athenian life, serving as a site for religious festivals, state ceremonies, and political events. 

4. Theatre of Dionysus

On the way up to the summit, you’ll pass the Theatre of Dionysus. The Theatre of Dionysus was initially made of wood, but was later renovated with stone. It can surprisingly seat up to 17,000 spectators.

This ancient theatre is known as the birthplace of Greek drama and was the venue for the famous dramatic competitions held in Athens during the festival of Dionysus. In the Roman era, gladiators and animals fought for their lives.

5. Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis, this ancient theater was built by Herodes Atticus in 161 AD in memory of his wife. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus was used initially for musical events, competitions, and other performances.

Today, the Theatre of Dionysus hosts performances for the Athens Festival, symphonies to famous DJs. 

Ancient Agora of Athens

Ancient Agora was the heart of ancient Athens for centuries, where people gathered to discuss politics, trade, and socialize. Here are some of the highlights to look out for when you visit:

6. Temple of Hephaestus

The Temple of Hephaestus is one of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples. It was dedicated to the god of metalworking, Hephaestus. The temple is made of marble and features 34 Doric columns. Inside, you’ll find a statue of Hephaestus and his wife, Athena.

7. Stoa of Attalos

The Stoa of Attalos is a long-covered walkway used as a shopping center and a place for people to socialize. The stoa was destroyed in the past, but one of the few fully restored historical ruins in Athens. In the center, it houses a small Museum of the Ancient Agora , which displays artifacts found in the area, and you can see the first democratic voting ballot box.

8. Roman Agora

Right next door, the Roman Agora was built to mimic the style of the Athenian Agora. It was once the center of commerce and trade, but there is not too much left, but a couple of columns. 

One of the most notable buildings in the Roman Agora is the Tower of the Winds, an octagonal tower used as a weather vane, sundial, and water clock.

Another important building is the Gate of Athena Archegetis, a gate dedicated to Athena and served as an entrance to the Agora.

9. Hadrian’s Library

This ancient library was built by the Roman emperor Hadrian. It used to be a vast complex of reading rooms, lecture halls, and an extensive library with thousands of scrolls, combining Roman and Greek architectural styles.

The library was one of the most important intellectual centers of the ancient world, attracting scholars and philosophers from all over the Mediterranean.

10. Temple of Olympian Zeus

Even though it is almost entirely covered by scaffolding currently, the Temple of Olympian Zeus is pretty impressive. You know, back in the day. Today, only a few of the columns remain standing, but each one is over 17 meters tall, and there used to be 104 of them.

This temple dedicated to Zeus took centuries to build and was designed to be one of the biggest temples ever. Entirely made of Pentelic marble, this temple showed the power and wealth of Athens. 

The Temple of Olympian Zeus wasn’t totally finished until the 2nd century AD when the Roman emperor Hadrian decided to throw tons of money and energy into the temple’s completion, adding a massive statue of Zeus and a giant pool right in front of the temple.

11. Panathenaic Stadium

Imagine this ancient stadium seated with 50,000 spectators, cheering at the runners, jumpers, and wrestlers of the first Olympic games ever. 

Once one of the largest in the ancient world, the stadium has been restored beautifully and remains the finish line for the original Athens Classic Marathon that runs from the town of Marathon to Athens. 

12. Kerameikos Cemetery

Walk amongst the ancient dead through the Kerameikos Cemetary. Dating back to the 12th century BC, this was the primary burial ground for Athens until the Roman times. The cemetery was divided into two parts: the inner Kerameikos reserved for the elite and the outer for the common folk.

One of the most striking features is the 10 meter wall built to protect the cemetery from invaders and to keep the dead inside. Also, several notable monuments are housed inside, like the Tomb of the Marathon Warriors and the Dipylon Gate.

13. Lykeion

You may have heard the name Aristotle before. Well, he founded the Lykein, also known as the Lyceum, to be a philosophical and scientific research school in 335 BC.

As you explore the Lykeion, stroll through the remains of the main hall, lecture rooms, and a colonnade. The site also has a large garden used for philosophical discussions and contemplation.

14. National Archaeological Museum

Not really a historical site, but if you want to put all the pieces together, this museum houses the most extensive collection of Greek antiquities in the world, with over 11,000 exhibits, including sculptures, pottery, jewelry, and more.

Explore the various galleries, each dedicated to a different period of Greek history, from the prehistoric era to the late antiquity period. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, lectures, and educational programs.

Many famous philosophers and scientists, including Aristotle, studied and taught there. The school was known for its emphasis on logic, metaphysics, and natural philosophy, and its teachings influenced Western philosophy for centuries.

Historical Sites Near Athens, Greece

15. archaeological site mycenae.

Located 150 km southwest of Athens, the Mycenaean civilization left behind a rich archaeological record, which includes impressive fortifications, palaces, and tombs. 

Mycenae was a major center of power in the eastern Mediterranean from around 1600 to 1100 BCE. The most famous are the Lion Gate, the entrance to the Citadel of Mycenae, and the Treasure of Atreus, a massive Tholos tomb. 

Take a day trip to famous ancient sites like Mycenae and Epidaurus with transport and entrance ticket included.

16. Archaeological Site of Sounion

About 70 kilometers away from the city of Athens, the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion is the site’s main attraction. Take a wild guess who it is dedicated to. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea, the temple is said to have been a landmark for sailors, who could see it from far out at sea.

Aside from the temple, the site also features the remains of the fortifications, the sanctuary of Athena, and the ancient theater. 

Skip renting a car or figuring out the bus by booking a private trip to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon to watch the sunset!

Where to Stay in Athens

If you’re visiting Athens for a few days to enjoy the city’s historical sites, everything from budget-friendly guesthouses to luxury hotels with excellent views are available. You just have to be careful what neighborhood you end up in. I’m one to know, because turns out picking the cheapest place meant we saw some real sketchy stuff on the sidewalks.

Electra Metropolis

  RATING: 9.1 out of 10 Stars (6300+ reviews) |  $$$

Seconds away from Plaka and Ermou and minutes away from Acropolis, the location and service couldn’t be better than  booking 5 Star Electra Metropolis Hotel . Their modern-elegant rooms feature plush bedding and stunning views of the Acropolis. Eat a gourmet meal in-house or dip in their rooftop pool with panoramic views.

14 Reasons Why Hotel Athens

  RATING: 9.1 out of 10 Stars (700+ reviews) |  $$

If you’re looking for trendy decor and neon signs, 14 Reasons Why Hotel Athens delivers that vibe. This contemporarily-designed boutique hotel offers modern amenities and a cool atmosphere in the heart of downtown Athens. Enjoy spacious rooms with cozy beds, fast Wi-Fi, and an exceptional complimentary breakfast each morning. 

Bedbox Hostel

  RATING: 9.1 out of 10 Stars (1500+ reviews) |  $

Stay in Athen’s Psiri neighborhood in the popular backpacker Bedbox Hostel . Sleep soundly in their minimalist-style, comfortable dorms just steps from the coolest bars and restaurants. But for those looking to save, use their communal kitchen to cook up a meal and make new friends in the common area. 

Final Thoughts: Best Historical Sites in Athens, Greece

If nothing else, Athens is full of fascinating historical sites for hours of exploration. From the Acropolis of Athens to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, famous landmarks of ancient cemeteries, traditional Greek food tours in marketplaces , and stadiums abound. 

Where Next in Greece?

I spent almost two months going around all of Greece. Check out these other posts to see if any of these destinations pique your interest. 

• 16 Must-Visit Athens Historical Sites
• 8 Delicious Food Tours in Athens
• 11 Best Athens Private Tours
• Koufonisia Island Travel Guide
• Amorgos Island Travel Guide
• 7 Best Mykonos Private Tours

Have Travel Questions About Greece? Maybe I’ve Answered Them

• Is Mykonos Expensive?
• Do They Speak English in Greece?
• Can you Drink the Tap Water in Greece?
• Currency in Greece: What Currency in Used in Athens?
• How to Travel From Athens to Glyfada
• Nudity In Greece: A Guide To Naturalism Etiquette & Nude Beaches

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