Day 1
You will be greeted at your hotel and will make your way to the very historical center of Athens and begin your tour with a visit at the Acropolis Hill (first thing in the morning to avoid heat and crowds). The visit takes you through the Propylaea, its monumental gate, to the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, to the Erechtheion, a site associated with some of the most ancient and holy relics of the Athenians, and the small temple Athena Nikeprotecting the gate of the citadel.
From the Acropolis, you can also look down on the Ancient Agora, Tower of the Winds, Herodes Atticus Theatre, and the Theatre of Dionysos.
You will then continue on to visit the Temple of Zeus the largest in ancient Greece, taking over 700 years to build. Moving on you will proceed to the Panathenaic Olympic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. From here, you will continue on to Lycavettus Hill (the highest hill of Athens) for great photo opportunities (this stop is not available for groups over 19 passengers).
Next you will see the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknwon soldier in front of the Greek Parliament. From here, you will continue on to the Ancient Agora.
After a stop for a traditional Greek lunch, you will head over to the New Acropolis Museum before making your way back to your hotel.
Day 2:
After you are greeted by your English speaking driver at your hotel, you will make your way to Kerameikos, the biggest and most important necropolis in Athens.
After your visit to Kerameikos ends, we start our drive towards western Attica (optional short stop at Plato’s Academy along the way) to reach the Athenian suburb of Eleusina, one of the most important archeological religious sites in the world as it was the home of the Eleusinian mysteries, as well as, the birthplace of Aeschylus, the father of Tragedy and Drama.
After a lunch break, we will drive back to Athens to our next destination, the National Archeological Museum of Athens which is the largest Archaeological museum in Greece and one of the most important museums in the world devoted to ancient Greek art.
After that we make our way back to your hotel.
- Entrance fees into the archaeological areas of Athens (Acropolis, Temple of Zeus, Ancient Agora, and Kerameikos) are 30 Euro total pp (combined ticket obtained at the ticket office of any site).
- Entrance fees into the Acropolis Museum are 5 Euro pp
- Entrance fees into the Eleusina archaeological area are 3 Euro pp.
- Entrance fees into the National Archaeological Musuem are 7 Euro pp.
Free admission for:
- Journalists
- Persons under 18 (with current identification to prove age)
- University students from Greece and the E.U
Free admission (for all) on the following dates:
- 6 March
- 5 June
- 18 April
- 18 May (International Museums Day)
- The last weekend of September annually (European Heritage Days)
SUMMER PERIOD: 1 April – 31 October
WINTER PERIOD: 1 November – 31 March
Opening hours for the archeological sites of Athens:
- Winter period: 8:30am – 15:00
- Summer period: 8:00am – 19:30
Opening hours for Acropolis Museum:
Winter period:
- Monday to Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Last admission: 4:30 p.m.)
- Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Last admission: 9:30 p.m.)
- Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Last admission: 7:30 p.m.)
Summer period:
- Monday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Last admission: 3:30 p.m.)
- Tuesday to Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Last admission: 7:30 p.m.)
- Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Last admission: 9:30 p.m.)
Opening Hours for the National Archaeological Museum:
- Monday: 13:00 – 20:00
- Tuesday to Sunday: 09:00 – 16:00
Opening hours for Eleusina Archeological area
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday-Sunday: 08:00-15:00
Special Notes
- Comfortable clothing and sensible, flat-soled walking shoes are recommended. Sun glasses and sun screen are suggested.
- Walking: Difficult-To climb up to the Acropolis, guests must be able to walk over paved, inclined paths, some with steps, then climb a series of steps to reach the Propylea. The walking surfaces on top of the Acropolis are uneven.
- The order of the sites may change due to crowds, traffic and demonstrations.We do our best to ensure that every stop described is available for your visit. There are some times when a site or building is closed at the last moment with little to no warning. We assume that those in charge make those decisions based on external information and for the visitors’ safety and we apologize when this causes inconvenience and disappointment.
Tips
- Our prices are much better in comparison to those of the cruise companies or onboard, because we are ourselves the tour operator and we do not use third party providers.
- It’s always a great idea to bring a bottle of water and sunscreen with you because in the warmer months it becomes quite hot and sunny.
- A hat to protect your head and shade your face is also recommended when spending a significant amount of time in the sun.
- The area around the Acropolis Hill and Syntagma Square (changing of the guards) can become quite crowded, especially during the peak travel months, so be aware of your surroundings and keep your belongings close to you.
- Do not accept ‘gifts’ from street vendors approaching tourists. They may offer you roses, but if choose you accept, you will be expected to pay or give a tip for them.
More details about the attractions you visit
- Acropolis Hill
- Temple of Zeus
- Panathenaic Stadium
- Changing of the Guards
- Eleusina Archaeological Site
