Alexa was a fabulous guide! She knew so much about the history and the individual monuments. We were genuinely impressed. She also kept a great pace and continually checked in to make sure we were not too fatigued. She encouraged us to ask questions and was genuine with her answers. I would encourage everyone to only bring what you need. They are serious NO backpacks or large bags in the Acropolis or the Museum, strollers either at the Acropolis. We did not need our ID but we had it just in case. 2 hours was perfect for each location. After our tour of the Museum we had lunch in the café and did some shopping in the book store at the museum. There are 2 book stores be sure and check them both out. 1 is connected to the café the other one is near the main entrance. Another tip is that down the hall from the coat & bag check at the museum is another toilet 🚻. It is to the left as you face the coat check in counter.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Athens Map
- Earsets to better hear the guide
- Professional local licensed guide
- Athens Guide magazine for ideas on things to do
- Skip-the-ticket line service
Excludes
- Acropolis Entry Ticket (unless option is selected)
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off service
- Food and beverages
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- ACROPOLIS MAIN ENTRANCE The meeting point is at the main entrance of the Acropolis, just outside, on the right-hand side as you face the entrance. Our staff, holding the orange Athens Walking Tours sign, will be waiting for you. Please be at the meeting 15 minutes prior to tour departure time.
Itinerary
Perched majestically above Athens, the Acropolis is an ancient citadel on a rocky hill, inviting visitors to explore iconic temples like the Parthenon and discover the birthplace of Western civilization.
The Propylaea serves as the entrance gate to the Acropolis, impressively framed by a marble structure that adds to the grandeur of this sacred monument. With the guidance of your expert tour guide, you'll gain insight into how the Propylaea may have appeared in ancient times, allowing you to visualize the splendor and significance of this iconic gateway.
Positioned prominently to the right of the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike stands as a captivating monument with equally intriguing myths surrounding its creation. On our tour, you'll have the opportunity to learn about the fascinating history and significance of this temple.
Named after the mythical king of Athens, Erechtheus, the Erechtheion is a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. This significant temple holds many secrets and is home to some of the most well-known myths about Athens.
The Parthenon, an unparalleled masterpiece of beauty and unique architecture that has dominated the center of Athens for over 2,000 years. During the tour, our knowledgeable guides will share captivating myths, stories, and historical facts about this amazing building, providing insight into the cultural and architectural significance of the Parthenon.
A Roman theater constructed by Herodes Atticus as a tribute to his beloved wife, Wide Aspasia. But was it solely an act of love or something more? Join us on our tour to uncover the secrets behind this stunning monument
Dedicated to the god of wine and fertility, Dionysus, it holds the honor of being the birthplace of theater. Athenians flocked to this open-air amphitheater to witness plays by renowned Greek playwrights, including Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
This was a great experience. Our guide was excellent. Anastasia was our guide. She was very knowledgeable.
Can’t recommend enough going for the first of the morning tour!! We were able to get amazing pictures without the crowds. Our guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot!! Definitely recommend going with a guide to learn the history. By 9am the Acropolis was filled with large groups of people.
Narrow steps that are slippery when wet. A lot of walking uphill. Large crowds going both ways on paths
It was fantastic to be the first group onto the Acropolis - despite the unseasonably cold and wet weather! Maria looked after us all very well, making sure we were prepared for the rain and for the current lack of toilet facilities on the summit... what an engaging and knowledgeable guide who was able to anticipate our needs and also respond to our random questions. Thank you!
Getting into the Acropolis early is the only way to really enjoy it no crowds easy to walk around and great picture availability. The guide was very informative and gave us enough time so we could enjoy what we wanted to see.
Great experience! Sofia (guide) was awesome! She provided great insight and context to what we were looking at…covering so much at a good level and answering more detailed questions…could not be happier with the tour…so helpful for first time on the acropolis and ancient agora. Thanks!
Yota was an excellent, knowledgeable guide. Highly recommend booking the earliest entry possible to avoid long lines and crowds. We entered the museum with the group but wandered the exhibits on our own including the excavation area.
This early access tour was fabulous! Nice an early our tour guide Magda (I think that's how you spell it) was just beautiful so informative took the time to ensure everyone was included at all times. Her knowledge was exceptional especially being an archeologist. It was definitely one of the highlights of the trip! Would certainly recommend.
Excellent to get in before the crowds, Buy ticket through Pastor too. So easy co & just a little more.
I totally recommend this tour. The guide was very informative and explain everything very well. Was awesome the early entry so we can visit with few people at the beginning.
Got there early and it was so worth it. Guide very knowledgeable. Loved it. Dream come true love love
Excellent! Apollon was the best! Very knowledgeable and thoughtful!! Would recommend 12/10. Thanks!!
The in-depth history lessons make the entire tour informative and meaningful. I felt connected to ancient human culture.
Our guide was Sophia and she was fabulous!! Extremely knowledgeable and definitely knew the places to hit at the right times. Going early was the way to go and definitely a cheat code. We got to the top early before the crowd and when we were going back down the horde of people were headed up. Having the guide was the way to go, providing the history, context, and so much information. Can’t imagine going to see the Acropolis and Parthenon without it.
Our tour guide Niobe was amazing. She had a lot of information to give and had a book she made with pictures to help visualize what it would have been like. Definitely do the earliest tour as the place fills quickly and it is harder to take pictures.
This experience was perfect. The early timing meant it was less hot and fewer crowds. Nikki was our tour guide and she knew the best places to stand in the shade and gave us our own time to explore and take photos at different stops. Be warned that the entrance up to the Acropolis attraction (the meeting point) may be hillier than expected so allow extra time to arrive.
Great to get in before the crowds. They provided rain jackets, which was greatly appreciated. The guide was great. Very knowledgable.
Great tour; the tour guide very knowledgeable and we had headphones to hear her. Good to have the history explained. Views amazing!
This tour was worth getting up early for. We did the first entry time slot to beat the heat and the crowds. Highly recommend!!! Our tour guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and the entire experience was smooth. Touring Acropolis is a must-see especially for first-time Athens visits!!
Absolutely. The right time of day to take the tour of the Acropolis. We beat the majority of the crowds, by the time we left the place with crawling people.
The early bird 7.45 meet up was excellent. We were the second group in. Cool and no crowds. Our tour guide Electra was excellent and informative. We ordered an uber to get us from the hotel on time. Well worth the 8 euros instead of 3 metro stops and a walk. The Acropolis was way better than I’d expected and lucky for us, the scaffolding to the front had been removed 2 months ago. For the first time in 25 years.
Rina was a great tour guide. Very knowledgeable. Location has an awe inspiring history and beautiful scene.
Absolutely worth it to do the early entrance to the Acropolis. The crowds and the heat were terrible by the time we left and this was September. Elektra was lovely. Very knowledgeable and kind. Please note: there is an elevator if you have a medical condition but you must have a doctors note or medical verification. We didn’t know that and it was difficult for my sister who did not know that so plan ahead! Otherwise it was a great experience a
Great experience and one should take advantage of the early morning opportunity. Our guide Hoda was amazing!
Worth it! Got some amazing pictures and our tour guide was perfect. Very happy I chose this tour. 10/10
Do yourself a favour. Beat the crowds’ Great guide, so informative and a great way to beat the heat.
Sofia F was friendly, engaging and knowledgeable. She even gave recommendations for restaurants and other activities of interest in Athens. Seeing the Acropolis first thing in the morning was absolutely the best time. The museum allows you to see the figures on the Parthenon and other temples, and so much more.
If you want to beat the crowd and the heat, this is the tour for you. The tourguide gets there early to make sure the group is one of the first to get in as soon as the gate is open at 8AM. Our guide, Niobe, gave us an overview of the Acropolis and then we quickly got up there before the crowd. Niobe was experienced and genuinely interested in sharing her vast knowledge. BTW - buy the tickets from the tour when you book or in advance. The onsite ticket office opens at 8:00 AM.
I couldn't recommend this more highly. Our tour guide Annie was an absolute gem. Charming and extremely knowledgeable, she brought the whole experience to life. It is so worth getting up early for.
We chose first tour and we're happy for that to beat the heat and the crowds we saw coming down to exit.
Being first into the Acropolis is the only way to go.. we got to see everything before the thousands of people turn up.. the difference in how many people are there between 8am and 9am is huge. Our guide was Rina and she was excellent.
Incredible experience. Highly recommend the early morning access. Minimal crowds and cool enough to be comfortable. Had such a great time exploring and learning all about the history of Greece and The Acropolis. So much fun and not too strenuous getting around.
Highly recommend wearing comfortable shoes as the pathways are steep, slippery and rugged. The early hours of beat the crowd tour also felt crowded. Wondering how the later hours would be.
Excellent way to see the Acropolis and learn some fascinating history about the many interesting structures that lie within its limits!
Amazing experience, getting there early is a game changer because it wasn’t hot and we had the place just for us for some time before they opened to the general public. Our tour guide was great as well, highly recommend the experience.
Dimitri was an excellent guide. We learned a lot. We highly recommend beating the crowds and taking this tour.
Acropolis was grand and spectacular. We were front of the line of all the tour groups, and our tour guide advised us we would be marching right to the top of the hill to get photos before anyone else. We were excited. Then past the gate she stopped us at the Roman Theatre. Just for a moment, as we would be back. They she spent ten minutes talking and talking as hundreds of people passed by. Then she did the same thing at the base of the stairs leading up to the Acropolis. Hundreds of people passing us again. Finally she lead us up to the growingly crowded Acropolis deck. Fighting for pictures. This was so disappointing, stressful, and mismanaged. She also kept changing her description of where we would meet, and something about bathrooms. She knew history, I think, but she was a terrible tour guide.
The tour starts right when Acropolis opens which means that there are no crowds and the temperature is pretty mild in comparison to the highest temperature of the day. That makes this tour amazing and worthwhile. Special shout out to our guide, Evi Skyrla. Before the tour started, she gave a lot of information about the tour as well as what to expect. During the tour, she showed her historical depth as well as answered all the questions of our 25 people group with patience and clarity. She provided ample time to walk around, take pictures as well as guided to the best spots for pictures. After the tour, she gave us guidance on the Acropolis museum and sights in Plaka to visit as well. Evi is a rock star amongst the Acropolis guides.
Andrea was the perfect guide! We loved learning from her, and our tour will forever be etched in our minds!
Only way to tour the acropolis! The 7:45am tour was wonderful. Our guide, Eva, was amazing. She was so informative and nice! The early tour offers the coolest temperatures and the smallest crowds. Wear shoes/sneakers that don’t slip! You will walk on ver slippery marble!
The first access was amazing and allowed us to completely beat the crowds. However, the audio for our guide turned into a huge issue after a dead battery that required about 25 minutes of trouble shooting while the forward built up. It was still a great experience but I probably would have gone ahead
Unfortunately, not a good experience for me. I paid $491 for a "Beat the Crowds" first access Acropolis tour on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, for 5 adults and 1 child. When we arrived, we were put into a large group of people and we were all given tickets at à cost of $30 each. Why did I pay almost $100 per person for this tour? May I obtain a refund on my credit card for $340? My booking # is 1368542293 Confirmation # is 1751371609 Thank you Lupe Oronoz-Crawford
Wonderful tour - guide was great and super knowledgeable. The tour was not rushed and covered all the main sites.
Our very knowledgeable Guide brought us in quickly and efficiently to the best photo spots before the crowds. Be sure to bring water bottles (other beverages are not permitted). There is one fountain there but no washrooms.
Andrea was amazing!! Very knowledgeable and personable. She made sure she was early to get us all a great spot in line. As well as we got all the way to the top for amazing pictures before the crowd was even close to us. We were one of the first 30-40 people into the Acropolis and then she explained everything afterwards just to make sure we had great pictures. There was so much knowledge she had that we would have never even thought to look at things more in depth. 10/10 I would always tell others to go with a guide instead of by yourself.
Good information and a good pace. The guide was friendly and answered questions. Early morning was ideal to beat the heat and crowds.
Our tour guide Andrea was really good and knowledgeable. She taught us so much and answered all our questions. I definitely recommend taking this tour with her.
Very good tour, the people who greeted us were very nice and helpful and the guid was very knowledgeable.
Alice was a great guide with her knowledge of the Acropolis. She moved us along the difficult terrain and continually made stops in the shade to check on our safety and impart more information. Well done!
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