The Acropolis,which dominates the center of modern Athens,was the ancient city's most important and majestic sanctuary,dedicated primarily to its patron goddess,Athena.
Dionysus' Theater or Dionysus' Theater Elefthereos is the most important known open-air theater in ancient Athens and is regarded as the world's first theater.It was about 3 meters above the temple and was part of Elefthereos' sanctuary.Dionysos was the main venue for Attic drama because it hosted the Great Dionysia,Athens' largest theatrical festival.
The magnificent Odeon of Herodes Atticus was the final great structure constructed in antiquity in the Acropolis area.It was a typical Roman amphitheater from imperial times,with a capacity of at least 5,000 people.The monument was renovated in the 1950s and has since hosted cultural events, mostly in the context of the Athens Festival.
A particular main entrance going into the inside is a common feature to religious locations.It was customary in ancient Greek architecture for any significant religious site to have a primary gate.This major gateway,the Propylaia,has taken on a unique significance in Acropolis.It is neither only a gate going into the sacred area,nor is it only an architectural appendage to the main temple complex.The Propylaia play an exquisite and one-of-a-kind role.They represent the magnanimous nature of the Athenian Acropolis.This is why,rather of being a simple gate,the Propylaia is magnificently built as a complex and harmonious public monument.
Parthenon is known as one of the most significant cultural places in the world as a permanent icon of ancient Greece,democracy and Western civilization.It began in 447 BC and work on building in just nine-year period (the season record) and in 438 BC,was finished. The task of embellishment began in 438 and finished in 432 BC.
A temple dedicated to Goddess Athena and Nike on the sacred rock. It was built approximately 420 BC and is the first full ionic temple in the Acropolis.
An exquisite edifice with special attributes and architectural form on the north side of the Acropolis rock.According to legend,it was here that Poseidon and Goddess Athena battled for the city's name.
It's also called the Olympeion or Temple of Olympian Zeus and builted in honor of the father of gods, Zeus who was living at the Mt Olympus summit.
The Hadrian's Gate in Athens is a Roman arch.It was created in honor of him during his stay in 131 AD and provides entrance to the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
One of the most important cultural monuments in Athens and in Greece in general is the Panathinaiko Stadium.It is otherwise known as Kallimarmaro and survives to this day in very good condition.As it is mentioned in its name,at this stage the goddess Athena was worshiped and for this reason competitions were organized in her honor every year.As a project it was completed before the 6th century BC,but in its final form with the precious marble it arrived after a long time.
The Evzones execute the renowned "changing of guard" on Syntagma,in front of the Unknown Soldier monument,every hour.Two Evzones come in front of the monument of the Unknown Soldier to take the place of their colleagues.The Evzones who until then stood motionless guarding the monument,start an impressive gait by stretching their limbs which is a great spectacle.The same steps are followed by the Evzones who are going to replace them.When the show,which lasts about 15 minutes,is over,the Evzones stand still to guard the monument while their tired colleagues return to their barracks to rest.
The monument of the Unknown Soldier is used as a reference point and tribute to the dead Greek soldiers on the two national celebrations of Greece of 25/3/1821 & 28/8/1940
The Greek Parliament is a timeless icon that is part of greek cultural memory today.The structure has evolved,altered,and updated through the years.
Syntagma Square is one of Athens' most central squares,and possibly the largest in the city center.
This building intimately connected with Greek history and served as the Greek National Assembly's first permanent place.
The country's most prestigious research institute was created in 1926 and is supervised by the Ministry of Education.The main building of the Academy is a notable landmark in Athens.
Established in 1837,it is not only Greece's first university,but also the Balkan peninsula as well as an eastern Mediterranean.
It was created by the Danish architect Theophil Hansen as part of his famed Trilogy of neo-classical structures,which also included the Academy and the University building of Athens.
The hill was a rock that the goddess Athena was carrying in her hands and it fell to her in Athens when she heard the bad news that a crow carried to her.At the top of Lycabettus,adorned with the church of Agios Georgios,you will see Athens and the Saronic Gulf.
Ancient Agora was the focal point of public life.On several times,the wide open area drew the attention of the Athenians.
The Museum of the Ancient Agora exhibits a selection of discoveries among the hundreds that have been discovered over the previous 80 years and are related to the functioning of the institutions of the Athenian Republic.
Monastiraki means "small monastery" in Greek,as a major monastery originally existed in the neighborhood's main square.
Wander through the charming alleys of Plaka, the oldest neighborhood in Athens. Nestled at the foot of the Acropolis, it’s a lively blend of neoclassical architecture, quaint shops, and cozy tavernas.
This is the perfect moment to slow down and enjoy a delicious lunch, savoring authentic Greek flavors while soaking in the timeless atmosphere of old Athens
We had a great day. Our guide, Nasos, was very knowledgeable with both the history of the area as well as how to navigate the city most effectively. One example was the changing of the guard ceremony. Rather than go to the most popular spot, he knew of another one that was much less busy where we got to be quite close to the guards. He had a definite plan for the day but was flexible.
Great way to see the best of Athens in one day. Our guide was outstanding and very knowledgeable about his city.
Aristotle is an outstanding guide! He is a student of history and archeology and it shows! We saw the best of Athens in a day well spent. We highly recommend this tour and our fantastic guide.
My husband and I together with another couple recently booked a Full Day Private Tour in Athens Greece with Xenon Travel. We’ve done a lot of traveling all around the world and our tour guide on this one Dionisis provided us totally with the best tour we’ve ever been on. A very knowledgeable guy plus friendly and funny. A real delight. We all agreed that he went out of his way to make our experience memorable. Don’t hesitate to ask for him. You won’t be sorry.
Dionisis was an exceptional guide! His timing was perfect, he was always prompt, and his passion for Greek history was contagious. With skip-the-line tickets arranged, everything flowed seamlessly. Before visiting each site, including the Acropolis, Parthenon, Theater of Dionysus, and Ancient Agora, he provided fascinating historical context that brought these remarkable places to life. He then left us at an excellent restaurant with time to explore the charming Plaka neighborhood. But the highlight was his final surprise—watching the Evzones, Changing of the Guard at the Presidential Palace! What made it even more extraordinary was discovering that Dionisis himself had once served in this prestigious position. What a special and personal connection to Greek history! His knowledge, enthusiasm, professionalism, and genuine love for his country's history made this an unforgettable experience. Beyond phenomenal! We couldn't recommend Dionisis more highly!
Good driver and very knowledgeable about Athens. Nice guy
My husband and I came to Athens for the first time and Aristotle was our tour guide and let me just say we couldn’t have asked for a better one! He was so kind, educated, informative and overall passionate about his home town. He took us to the most amazing places and recommended the most delicious food. We would 10/10 recommend this to anyone coming to Athens. Ask for Aristotle as your guide, he’s the BEST!
It was an absolutely wonderful day and tour! Andreas was such a good driver and so knowledgeable. I can’t give enough acolytes on the tour and especially to Andreas. Best tour ever!
Sunday (Kyriakos) was a super wealth of knowledge and energy, and is a darn good driver. We saw a great deal with his full compliment of knowledge & history of an amazing culture.
We had an exceptional trip with our guide, Dionisis!! The vast historical and local knowledge he shared with us made the trip soooo enjoyable!! Thank you again, Dionisis!!!!!!
Our tour guide, Andreas, was exceptional. He obviously loved his home town of Athens, and he presents it with energy and pride. His knowledge of the history behind what we saw was very helpful. What made the tour great was his willingness to adjust the tour to meet what we wanted to see in Athens. Not only did we get to see all the key attractions, but he took us to areas we didn’t even know about. These were places he thought we would enjoy based on what we said we were interested in. As an example, we asked to go to a Greek bakery for a desert after lunch. Andreas brought us to a great local bakery and we had a fantastic desert. Overall, a great experience.
Our tour guide, Andreas provided an exceptionally enjoyable tour of Athens. Not only did he cater to our requests for specific areas of interest, but he provided an enjoyable viewpoint of his city. He obviously loves Athens, and it showed in how he presented the city. He went out of his way to insure we saw all the key things we knew of, and he also brought us to places that he felt we would enjoy based on what we were interested in. An example, when we said we wanted true Greek bakery deserts, he brought us to a fantastic Greek bakery where the deserts were out of this world. Can't say enough about how enjoyable he made the visit, and I would highly recommend him to anyone wanting to see a true view of Athens and its people.
Andreas Michaelides was a wonderful tour guide and I highly recommend him and this tour to anyone visiting Athens. He picked us up at the hotel and we did not need to search for a meeting spot. Andreas was knowledgeable, funny and genuinely cared about each of us. You will leave the tour with a new friend. He expertly drove around Athens and shared pertinent facts and anecdotes everywhere we went. This tour is well worth any amount you pay as you will leave satisfied when it concludes. Big thumbs up!!!
Great private tour with very detailed information by tour guide Dem! The one-on-one interaction with a private car is the only way to go! Dem did a great job of describing each of the sites and was obviously very well versed in Greece's history. His lunch recommendation was spot on and right across the street from the Acropolis Museum. We would highly recommend this tour.
Our driver Elias was very knowledgeable about the history of the Greek culture. He was very personable and friendly. The vehicle was clean.
Fantastic Tour, knowledgeable guide
Nathos is an excellent tour guide. He has a strong passion for Greece and it is very evident with all the knowledge he shared. We had a wonderful day. Nathos is personable and polite and most of all a lot of fun. Highly recommend.
Our guide could not have been better. Elias’ exceptional knowledge of architecture combined with being a native Athenian was the perfect combination for our private, day tour. We will definitely recommend Viator and Elias to any friends visiting Athens.
Aristotle was a well-spoken, wonderful tour guide who went out of his way to give us a spectacular tour of the city. It was quite obvious that he loves his job because of the enthusiasm and energy he displayed throughout the day . His knowledge of the history of the city, as well as his education in archeology, gave us insights to the history of Athens. At several locations, he identified the spot where we should stand in order to get the perfect picture. He was correct every time and now we have some unique photos that we will always treasure. His warm personality and friendliness, along with his professionalism and expertise, made an ideal day for both of us. Out of all the tours we’ve been on over the years, Aristotle was the best tour guide we’ve ever had and we give him the highest recommendation
Such an amazing way to see all the history and highlights of Athens. Our guide Andreas was fantastic so much knowledge about the area, highly recommend Andreas and the tour
Private tour with many options on how you want to experience Athens. Our driver Dennis was funny knowledgeable and extremely helpful in every way. We went with is recommendations which were dead on...no waiting on line, and lesser crowds. Vidts a bit more but well worth it.
Our guide named Sunday, was very knowlwdgeable on the area. He was very flexible with the stops and time. The entire tour was very enjoyable and informative. Absolutely would recommend.
Aristotle was EXCELLENT!!! He was a reliable, welcoming, well-informed, and competent guide for our Athen's full day tour. His past experiences from his educational background, his being part the royal guard, and his love of Greece and Athens made us feel that our experience in Athens was authentic and gave us a true understanding of this vibrant city. We were blessed to be part of his tour. This comment is no reflection on the tour itself. We would that Viator clarify the part that discusses lunch in the tour. We misunderstood and thought lunch was included. Maybe revise to say time will be allocated during time for participants to buy a lunch at a recommended restaurant. Thank you, Aristotle, for the great tour and good luck and fortune on the upcoming birth of you baby girl!
Dem was a wonderful guide! His knowledge of history was incredible. We are so glad that we had him for our guide. His charm and personality made it that much more enjoyable.
Aristotle was one of the best tour guides we have ever had. He is clearly passionate and enthusiastic about history and is a proud Athenian. He gave us a local’s experience and we could not have asked for a better day. We learned and saw more than we could ever imagine. Best humor and best kept secrets were shared with us :)
Aristotle was unbelievable. He is so knowledgeable and passionate about all periods of Greek history and gave us a perfect day seeing all Athens has to offer. I wouldn’t book with anyone else. Best guide in Greece 💯.
An incredible way to see Athens! We don’t like big bus tours and this was exactly what we were looking for. Nasos met us right at the port for our private tour. He was friendly and knowledgeable and shared information in an interesting manner. This was way more than just a “dates and facts” tour, this was like having a friend in the city give you a tour for the day. What a wonderful experience! Highly recommend! We take lots of private tours, and this was one of the best! A day to remember!
Nasos was a fantastic guide. The tour was organized and informational. He provided excellent direction at each stop and navigated the city with ease. We were rarely in any heavy traffic. Highly recommend Nasos and the private tour experience.
Alexander was extremely knowledgeable about the city and Greek history. He provided thorough information about each of the stops and gave us pointers on how maximize our experience. We appreciated his skill in navigating the city streets. A great way to spend our first day in Athens!
This was a great private tour. We only had one day in Athens and this was the best way to spend it. Our guide, Nasos, was wonderful. We learned so much about Greek history and culture. He shared not only standard historical knowledge but also lessor known history. It was obvious that he loves what he does and it showed in every aspect of the tour. Not only was Nasos a great guide but he also showed great professionalism and was extremely kind and respectful. Nasos deserves more than 5 stars! We highly recommend.
Dionisis “Dennis” was an awesome guide. He is extremely friendly and knowledgeable about Athens and its history! I especially enjoyed the Greek mythology review! We enjoyed new sites this time! So much to see! I had been to Athens many years ago and was not excited about coming back. He made me want to return!! I would ask for him again and recommend him to others!
Elias did a great job of guiding our 8 hr tour. He’s well informed, personable, punctual, and polite. We highly recommend this tour to get a full day of information and experiences about Athens and Greek history and modern day life here today!
Nicely paced tour that navigated around the somewhat long ticket lines. Our young guide Dionisis, a former palace guard, was friendly, funny, and fact-filled. Van was comfortable and its AC worked well. Pickup and drop-off at our hotel was an added perk. Strongly recommend.
Nasos our driver was amazing and we so enjoyed the entire day! I would highly recommend him! It was a great day!
Nasos was an awesome guide. Seamless navigation to all the highlights of Athens, even rearranged for a day the city had some protest concerns. His deep knowledge and love for the city was very apparent. The restaurant he selected for lunch was a perfect match to our tastes. Even allowed for some time to grab souvenirs for our kids since we moved through things efficiently.
Dionisis was a great guide! Very knowledgeable and personable.
Dionisus was very energetic with great stories and side experiences. We like the way he got us tickets so we could skip the lines. Totally satisfied and would recommend without any reservations.
What an incredible day! We were lucky enough to have Andreas as our tour guide. His love for this City showed and his knowledge of everything Athens was appreciated. My husband has health issues and he adapted to our needs. We seen the changing of the Guards ceremony, Acropolis, Parthenon, Temple of Athena and so much more. We had wanted to see St George Chapel on Mount Lycabettus and Andreas made sure we had a beautiful view. I highly recommend this excursion to anyone who would like a private tour of Athens. And if your lucky enough to get Andreas even better.
Custom, private tours are the way to go. Andreas, our driver and guide was the best ever. Warm, congenial, informative, knowledgeable, personable, and jovial. Need I say more? We had crafted an itinerary beforehand, but he topped it by taking us to destinations at times to beat the crowds and took us to his favorite seaside restaurant for a fabulous lunch. Traveling to Greece in October was perfect weather-wise.
Elias was remarkable and made the entire day in Athens memorable. His knowledge of the venues was exceptional and his humor added to the experience.
Andreas was incredible! Kind, funny, informative, conversational and found the most amazing restaurant overlooking the Agean Sea! Wow! So Grateful! We also arrived SO early at the Acropolis we almost had the historic site to ourselves!! Marti Z
We had a great trip to Athens and our driver and tour guide was a large part of the trips success. Andreas was fantastic, would highly recommend using him
We had a wonderful day touring Athens with Dem. He was a great host ad we got to see everything we wanted. Highly recommend.
Nasos was a knowledgeable, enthusiastic and enjoyable tour guide of Athens, Greece for my husband and I. He arrived right on time and made every effort to make our tour a five star experience. I highly recommend asking for Nasos!
Oh, my goodness. You have got to book this adventure. Aristotle was the most passionate, patient, efficient guide we have ever had for anything we have done. I felt like had a tour with a family member. He was constantly asking us if we were going too fast while walking, if we were cool enough, if we understood what he was saying, etc. He is very easy to understand and has a vast English vocabulary. He is proficient in the language. He was always thinking ahead to decide where the best spots were for pictures, shade, and the best views. He even had some surprise stops for us at the end that were some of our favorites!! DO NOT MISS THIS TOUR!! In a 1 out of 5 stars, Aristotle was a 10!!
Absolutely loved our tour of Athens. Our guide Dionisis was awesome . I would rate him a 10 out of 10. Dionisis was very knowledgeable as well as funny. I would highly recommend this tour.
Andreas was amazing!!! We are 3 couples and only had one free day in Athens before jumping to the islands. I could not imagine a better day or a better guide. Communication and pickup was flawless. It felt like we spent the day with an old friend showing us around his hometown. If you have one day or one week, do yourself a favor and book a tour or tours with Andreas.
Excellent Tour & Guide!! We had such a fun time and our guide Dionysus “Dennis” was outstanding! His very interesting, witty & informative guidance gave us so much to enjoy about seeing Athens fully. He gave us a wonderful lunch suggestion as well to make our day completely a true Greek experience we surely will not forget!!!
Aristotle was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable, extremely friendly, fun to be around all day! We all had a great time with him
My husband and I were led on an all-day guided tour by Dionysios after our disembarkation from our Mediterranean cruise. He picked us up directly at the port and arrived well before we managed to gather our luggage. This tour consisted of a journey to the Acropolis, the ancient Agora, all around Athens, up to the most beautiful (and hidden) scenic location, the changing of the royal guards, and a visit to the Olympic stadium. All of this was accompanied by deep historical facts, great comedic timing, and genuine joyous explanations. My husband and I had just finished our honeymoon cruise and had our fair share of excursions. This was, far and away, the best local experience we had out of everything. From how the itinerary was scheduled, to the insightful historical overview, and the top notch service. We would recommend this tour with Dionysios specifically to anyone who enjoys having a good time, wants to learn about the deep history of a beautiful land, and appreciates excellent service. When we return to this beautiful city we will contacting Dionysios again and will be signing up for another tour.
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