A Traveler’s Guide
(Ed. note, updated Aug 09′)
Tours of Athens, Greece are high on the to-do list of travelers to Greece. A tour of Athens in Greece enables a traveler to soak in the modern as well as the classical aspects of Greek civilization. Embarking on a tour of the capital city of Greece is the best way to learn about its culture and all the Athens tourist attractions.
This Guide Covers:
- Athens Driving Tours
- Athens Walking Tours
- Athens Limousine, Yacht, & Helicopter Tours
Many tour operators offer tours of Athens and it is up to you, the traveler, to select a tour that suits your tastes, budget, and schedule. Tours usually follow a fixed pattern with pick-up from the hotel or a pre-decided point; the mode of conveyance could either be a taxi or a luxury bus.
The sites that you will visit on your tour of Athens, Greece will depend upon the tour operator selected. You can also have an entire day devoted to a particular site, for example Delphi is a popular location for one-day tours when in Athens. There are also many 3-day Athens tours and 2-day Athens tours. One of the more popular trips is the Athens Ephesus Tours.
Athens Driving Tours
Your evening dinner/tour begins with a pleasant scenic drive through the illuminated boulevards of Athens, as far as Piraeus, Greece’s principal commercial port. Continue to Marina Zea, one of the busiest yacht harbours in the Mediterranean and home port to many luxury pleasure yachts belonging to Greece’s ship owners and international jet-set communities.
From here, a short drive to Mikrolimano, another picturesque yacht and fishing boat harbour, home to the ex Royal Yacht Club and many fine waterfront seafood restaurants. We finally return to Athens and the renowned “Plaka” district, located around the base of the Acropolis, for dinner with live floor show at a typical Greek taverna. [More . . .]
Starting from Athens we drive westwards along the scenic coast, until we reach the Corinth Canal with its breathtaking views (short stop).
Shortly thereafter we reach the ancient town of Corinth (visit) where St. Paul lived and preached for two years. Back in the ancient times Corinth was amongst the richest cities and this is quite evident by its remains, including the huge “agora” (market place) and Apollo’s Temple (6th B.C). Pass from the ancient port of Kechreai where St. Paul disembarked. [More . . .]
Athens Walking Tours
No 1. The Acropolis Tour: An exciting trip through history
3-Hour Tour, 45 minutes of walking
This tour starts inside the Syntagma metro station where your guide will show you the very interesting archaeological exhibits of the station. You will then see the House of the Greek parliament then, walking through the Syntagma Square, the heart of the city, you come to a Byzantine church, which you are going to visit (either Sotira of Lycodimos or the Kottakis Church (depending on which is open).
You continue strolling through Plaka, the old town of Athens and you come to Lysicrates Monument from the 4th century BC and to the Hadrian’s Arch. Afterwards, a ten-minute walk up the beautiful Dionyssiou Areopagitou pedestrian walkway will bring you to the Acropolis with its spectacular views over the city below.
Your guide will give a detailed explanation of the history of the glorious monuments of the Acropolis (Parthenon, Erechtheion, Propylaia, Nike Temple) and the surrounding monuments of the Acropolis as well (Dionysos sanctuary, Philopappos Hill, Mars Hill, Pnyx Hill, Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Ancient Agora) and many more. [More . . . ]
No 2. The Best of Athens
3-Hour Tour, 60 minutes of walking
This walk is designed especially for those who have a little more time, staying in town for at least a couple of days In one morning you will criss-cross the centre of the city, taking in its modern and ancient history. You will first make a short visit to the archaeological displays at Syntagma Metro Station, and then you will see the impressive House of Parliament, with the Monument to the Unknown Soldier and the Evzones – the presidential guards.
Then you cross the National Gardens to the Presidential Residence and the marble Panathenaic Stadium, where the first Modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. The walk continues to the beautiful neoclassical Zappeion Hall, in front of which tower the remaining columns of the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch, both Roman monuments. Then you come to the most famous neighborhood of Athens – Plaka, the neighborhood of gods – at the foot of the Acropolis and to Lysicrates monument. This tour ends at Mitropoleos Square, home to Athens’ two Greek Orthodox Cathedrals. [More . . . ]
No 3. The National Archaeological Museum
3-Hour Tour, 30 minutes of walking
The tour starts with an explanation of the archaeological exhibits of the Syntagma metro station. Then you see the House of Parliament with the monument to the Unknown Soldier and the Evzones – the presidential guards.You walk down the El. Venizelos str. (Panepistimiou), where you see the Mansion of Heinrich Schliemann housing the numismatic museum of the city today.
Then you see three beautiful neoclassical buildings: The Academy of Sciences, the University and the Library all decorated with beautiful statues and sculptures. You take the metro from Panepistimio Station to Victoria.
From Victoria station you walk ten minutes and you reach the National Archaeological Museum, the largest and most representative archaeological museum in Greece. You will enjoy a professional and profound explanation of the most interesting exhibits and get acquainted with the different periods of the Greek History and Art. [More . . .]
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More Athens Walking Tours:
No 04. Ancient Agora – Plaka and Monastiraki Monuments
No 5. The Benaki Museum
Limosine, Yacht, & Helicopter Tours
If you’re ready to splurge, an amazing way to enjoy Athens Greece is by a tour from a limousine, yacht, or helicopter. More from Convecta Tours.
Tour operators promote and advertise various packages for tours of Athens, Greece. You can gather relevant information regarding your tour to Athens if you spend some time surfing online. You can learn about morning tours, night tours, cruise tours, day tours, special packages, payments. You can view online brochures to get a feel of the places on offer.
Very often it pays rich dividends to visit a tour-related forum and read about first-hand member experiences regarding their tours of Athens, Greece. Once informed, you can book your Athens tour online; some tour operators offer private shuttle transfer to and from hotels. You can select such a tour operator if it fits in with your plans.
