Highlights & Hidden Gems With Locals: Best Of Athens Private Tour

I set this tour up with Eleni 6 months before our visit to Greece. We wanted to add 2 people to our tour, and she told me she would do it that weekend. After 6 months of going back and forth, to no avail, she showed up 15 minutes late for our tour and asked if I had gotten the email, which she sent on the day we left the US. By that time I had given up. She is knowledgeable about Athens and we got to see a great deal of that beautiful city. She talked while we walked, but since we didn't have headsets, only the people walking right beside her could hear. Anyone walking even a few feet behind missed a major part of the information about the city. Without headsets, she could have stopped and gathered us all together to share info, or could have spoken more loudly. I see that this tour has gotten rave reviews, but it could have been so much better.

Alex took us along the sights and hidden gems of the areas around Monastiraki, Psirri and Plaka, and took us inside the Agora (we paid the entrance fee extra). Alex is a great storyteller and he came well prepared with lots of visuals to bring the different sites to life by helping us imagine what they might have looked like. Alex is a very attentive guide and we felt a genuine connection we him. Out of the 6 tours and experiences we went on in Athens, he was are absolute favourite guide!

My family did two of these tours with 2 different guides because our 11 person group was too big for 1 guide. Guides were very friendly but there were 2 problems. 1) They pushed shopping, at stores they had a connection with, too much. We spent more time shopping that touring. 2) One guide smoked constantly. We were not a big fan of second hand smoke. I think if they could cut out shopping and have a limited smoke break tour, this could be a very good tour.

Amazing tour!! Very personalized to what we wanted to see and we got a chance to see local spots we never would have found otherwise. As a bonus, Fitouri took us to a great spot for dinner and dessert, which was totally unexpected and delicious! Unforgettable and highly personal to make sure we had a good time in Athens and for the rest of our vacation. Highly recommend!

With a tour beginning in central Athen's Monasteraki Square and ending at the Acropolis, Markella Yannari provided my wife and I with a wonderful three-hour private tour--sweeping through centuries of history, and including interesting and entertaining archeological, architectural, mythological, sociological and political details along the way. Altogether a wonderful and informative experience!

Our guide was so sweet and genuine, and she happily accommodated the tour to our specific requests. Due to flight cancellations we were not going to be able to see the acropolis on our visit to Athens, so we asked our guide if she would take us up there, and I am so glad we did! She was an absolute wealth of knowledge and answered all of our questions enthusiastically. She did a wonderful job tying together thousands of years of the effects of various cultures, events, and figures to tell the story of how got to be how it stands today. I definitely recommend this tour if you are interested in learning about the rich history of Athens.

Costas provided us with an informative and extensive tour of Athens where we were able to fully appreciate the rich history of this fascinating city. It was an ideal mix of over 3000 years of history, culture, local knowledge and personal stories. Not only did we see archeological highlights but we also visited places off the beaten track that we would not have found on our own. Costas is a born story-teller and we learned so much without being overwhelmed. Seldom have 3 hours gone by so quickly and we highly recommend Costas and this tour. We are looking forward to our next trip to Athens and meeting up again with Costas.

She was very knowledgeable and showed us around plaka , monastraki square and Acropolis.. I had a 4 year old kid who was restless at times, but Eleni was kind enough to keep him engaged. Since she is a local I could talk politics and ask other questions too.I highly recommend her..

Great great great experience and what is the most important - with authentic and kind human touch!!! Thank you so much Voula.

We had an excellent tour and there were only 6 of us so very easy to ask questions. We walked at our own pace and found some elements fascinating. We had a very comprehensive tour of all the key Historical sites and it was extremely worthwhile. We would all highly recommend this tour. It was also worthwhile doing at the beginning of our stay as it focused us on where we wanted to go back to and see with more time.

We only had a few hours to tour Athens and Dionysis made sure we had the best experience possible. He was very friendly and flexible, and was open to hearing what we wanted to see and tailoring the tour to our needs and preferences. Dionysis is also extremely knowledgeable and he patiently answered all our questions. This tour couldn't have been better in any way and we are very happy we did it.

Ioannis convinced me from the first moment I met him that I couldn't have made a better choice. His love for Athens, his passion for everything he does, the combination of deep knowledge coupled with humor allowed me a view of the city, modern Athens, but also ancient Athens with its many facets. His warm-heartedness, his open nature and his willingness to discuss even critical topics gave me the feeling of being on the road with a friend. Thank you so much, dear Ioannis !

Ariadni is very knowledgeable about a city she truly loves to introduce to people. I was amazed to experience this tour with a guide who sees her city with fresh eyes in every corner. As it was my first time in Greece, she very patiently explained and answered my numerous questions about her city and culture! I am glad I took this tour as I can very much say that I was able to experience this city as a true local! The warmest and most hospitable person you'll definitely want to show you around and even become good friends with!

It was a great tour to the old town of Athen. Our guide Dimitrios has given us a lot of information and explanations about the city and the history! It was an amazing tour! Eva Oktober 2019

From the start Ioannis did his utmost best to inform and entertain us and at the same time telling loads of interesting stories and tidbits about the city and country he obviously loves so much. He is a wonderful and charming person and it was sad to say goodbye but luckily we all got a big hug! Do find him when you are around because you'll have a great time.

We booked a tour with Ioannis and ended up having a great time. At the start of the tour, he treated us to a couple drinks which is according to him is part of their Greek hospitality. Ioannis is very knowledgeable and provided us a quick refresher of the Greek Mythology. We visited a lot of famous tourist spots and he even showed us a few spots not known to other tourists. He was patient and made sure that we get our monies' worth and so much more. Overall, we had a great time touring with Ioannis!

We LOVED Dimitri! Super super sweet person with great knowledge of the city/culture and a fantastic sense of humor :) Dimitri messaged us right after we booked the tour (2 months before) then confirmed with us again the night before — super thorough! we were only staying in Athens for 1 day so we visited the Acropolis in the morning and did the tour with Dimitri in the afternoon. I gotta say it’s exactly what we needed to make the whole experience complete! Dimitri speaks perfect English and was a super delightful person to have a chat with. When you have a very small amount of time in Athens but want to see the highlights and the hidden gems, and more importantly, get to know the true Athenian culture/people —there’s no better options than going on this tour with Dimitri. Thanks again Dimitri for a wonderful time! Highly recommend!

Our tour with Leonie couldn't have been more perfect. I was visiting Athens with my Mom and Grandma and we only had two days to make it through out 'must-see' list. I love doing a walking tour whenever I visit a new city to help me get my bearings and the tour Leonie gave was hands down the best one I had ever experienced. Her knowledge of the city and its history is extensive. She also shared great insights and tips that made our trip extra special. Seriously can't recommend With Locals and Leonie enough!

Ariadni was our guide. Her English was excellent with an easy language and her knowledge about the city and the modern Greece awesome. Above all she did not overwhelm us with years and dates that we anyhow forget. Highly recommended. Torbjörn, Sweden

Loannis was our guide for the hidden treasures in Athens tour.We had a very large group, 8 adults of varying ages and one small child,Loannis was on-time, patient and showed us places that we would never have seen otherwise.His narrative about the present, the past, the cultures and the peoples who have resided in and over Athens was fascinating.I would recommend him whole-heartedly!

We so enjoyed our 3.5-hour walking tour of Athens with Dionysis. He brought the ancient and modern sites to life with his detailed knowledge of history, archaeology and the role of mythology in Greek life. He was also fun, well-organized and spoke excellent English. We were so glad we signed up for the tour.

Our family thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Eleni in central Athens! There is nothing like seeing the antiquities of an ancient city through the eyes of a historian. We were able to appreciate layers of context and history that otherwise would have gone by completely unnoticed. Eleni is a patient, knowledgable guide and was well-prepared to answer any question we had.

Our group had a wonderful time with Ioannis on our tour of Athens. He was flexible, lively and fun. In the one day that we had to spend in the city we covered a lot of ground - and we appreciated all of the special places he took us to that we would have never found on our own. It is obvious that Ioannis loves his city and his job! We would highly recommend Ioannis!!

We had the best tour with Ioannis! He was an outstanding communicator from the start as we decided which tour to take. Ultimately, he combined several tours into one showing us all sides of Athens from art, food, shopping to mythology and architecture. We spent five hours walking the city with him as he took us to little hidden gems and points of interest that we would have never found on our own. As he got to know us and our interests, he tailored the tour and what he showed us. We learned so much from him! Above all, he was thoughtful, welcoming, and so easy to trust and follow. Not to sound cliche, but the experience was truly like visiting with a new friend eager to show you the best his city. He is the type of person that you want to sit and chat with over coffee in your daily life. We felt relaxed and so grateful to have started our time in Athens with Ioannis! Even after the tour, he sent followup messages with suggestions of other things we should see and do outside of Athens. We so appreciate his knowledge of history and storytelling. Thanks for sharing the spicy myths, Ioannis!

What an amazing tour we had around Athens and Acropolis with Ioannis! He was very knowledgeable, friendly and so easy to talk to. We felt like we were walking around the streets of Athens with a friend. Loved how he took us to streets and corners that seemed local and authentic, away from the maddening crowd. Five hours went by in a leisurely, relaxed manner. At the end of our tour, he brought us to a wonderful Greek restaurant with outstanding food and price! Great memories in Athens!

We actually cut our tour a little short as it was very hot and we had four rather inattentive teenage boys with us. Ioannis was mortified he had done something wrong which was quite the contrary. He did everything perfectly showing us a fascinating insight into the rich history and helping us discover sides of the city we would certainly have missed without him. A true gentleman easy to spend time with. Thank you!

Our original choice of a guide canceled 10 days before the tour date and Dionysis stepped in as a substitute- how lucky were we! We spent almost 4 hours strolling through the city hearing about its history, architecture and culture, which Dionysis shared in a pleasant and easy going manner. We saw so much in one evening, but never felt rushed. He is very knowledgeable and his delivery of information is not dry, but conversational in tone like a friend taking you around to see the sights. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening walk through Athens with Dionysis.

Ariadni really knows the city and history. Her English was perfect. She was very flexible. I had already visited a couple of the areas where she planned to take me. So she customized the route and I saw many of the hidden gems that were promised. I highly recommend her. This is not for the main attractions. This is for the other sights you might not otherwise see.

My wife, daughter, and I had the good fortune of spending two afternoons with Ioannis in Athens this past week. No better guide will be found. He listens to you and customizes his tour to peak your interests, taking you to places you would not normally find on your own. His knowledge of Athens is passionate and well delivered. He is a man of intelligence and character. A day with with this gentleman is worth every penny he charges. Highly, highly recommended!

wonderful 4 hours with Ariadni She had a great pace and wonderful info - we had a private tour for 7 and we enjoyed all if it. thank you again

Ioannis was an amazing guide and person. He showed us a few spots where we could eat and dine in Athens. The spots were not obvious ones where tourist might congregate but hidden gems that were known to locals but not tourist. We walked up to the different archeological spots of Athens and had a chance to have a very fulfilling experience that a normal tour with fifty or so people would have had. We stopped by Athens oldest cafe near the Acropolis. We ended our tour at the Presidential Palace with the changing of the guard. Ioannis went well above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and welcomed in Greece! Definitely recommend without a hesitation for anyone wanting to book a tour of Athens.

We truly enjoyed this opportunity to walk around and understand more about what we were seeing and experiencing an Athens. The best part was taking a break with Eleni and enjoying a coffee and some conversation. She was also great with our kids. Thank you for sharing your city with us.

Dimitri was a wonderful, informative guide. Because of his background in architecture we learnt heaps about Athens and the interesting sights. While we were enjoying our included coffee It was lovely chatting about life in Greece and learning more about family life and culture, too. This is my fourth Withlocals tour in three different countries, all well-worthwhile.

Dimitri was very patient, knowledgeable, kind, and professional. He took us throughout the city and as a result, had the pleasure of seeing some phenomenal views. Dimitri was very familiar with the city, which allowed us to view some gorgeous sites that weren't overcrowded with tourist. In addition to the above, Dimitri also made some amazing dining and nightlife recommendations. Thank you for an awesome time, Dimitri.

Ionannis was a great tour guide. I highly recommend him! We had a wonderful tour strolling around the most interesting parts of Athens. He designed the tour tailor-made for us, however integrating his knowledge and ideas. Full of interesting details we had a pleasant and interesting time. Ioannis is a nice and pleasant tour guide with a great deal of knowledge about his city. On top he gave us really good recommendations for the rest of our trip. Thank you!

We had the pleasure of meeting Ioannis on the first day of our Athens city break. Ioannis was knowledgeable, welcoming and fun to spend time with, and as he took us strolling the old neighborhoods of Monastiraki, Plaka, and Anafiotika, he shared with us many unknown details about the city's history and mythology. I wholeheartedly recommend Ioannis as a guide to anyone wishing to get acquainted with Athens.

My wife and I enjoyed a morning in Athens with Ariadni. She understood immediately what we wanted and went out of her way to make it a unique experience. We did not feel as tourists but as Greeks enjoying a free sunny morning. She also directed us to have dinner later on to a restaurant that we will remember for years.

Me and my wife had a fantastic afternoon with Ariadni. She kept us engaged in exploring different neighborhoods, had a lovely afternoon coffee at a place I would have walked past otherwise, and really enjoyed seeing the city that wasn't just the Acropolis. Thank you for the wonderful time, the great conversations and good suggestions for dinner.

My family enjoyed a great tour with debi and Dennis of the Acropolis and surrounding area. We only had a short time, as we were on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but it was the best way to maximize our time in Athens. It was very well organized and both guides were flexible to our needs with young children. I would recommend Eleni and her team, as they were very knowledgeable, organized, and accommodating! Thanks to Debi and Dennis for making our day in Athens a time to remember!

Ioannis as my guide was brilliant, his knowledge was amazing and he was so passionate on his history . He showed me many different places in Athens and contrasts of each place was amazing , I would totally recommend his tour . It was great just having him as a private guide . Thanks ioannis

Ioannis gave us one the best tours ever!He showed us many hidden areas along with the important sites. Adapts to your interests, and absolutely knows his stuff. More to the point, he's just a great guy, terrific to spend the afternoon with him. Very highly recommended.

Having just 24 hours in Athens before heading to the islands for our honeymoon we wanted to soak up as much of the historical city we could. Our expectations were surpassed and this tour and Eleni remain a highlight of our trip. We saw things we never would of found or heard about on our own and learned so much about Athenian culture past, present and future. This is a no brainer thing to do and the best money and time we could of spent. We will be telling all our friends about Eleni and With the Locals.

Ioannis definitely knows his stuff!! He made mine and my husbands honeymoon all the more wonderful by taking us around Athens and teaching us the things we wouldn't have learned anywhere else ! He's so sweet and gives great recommendations of other places to go, plus he was super patient when we were taking pictures !! 10/10, would definitely recommend!

Ioannis would be a perfect guide for you! guaranteed! Our family from ages 8 to 48 had a very informative and entertaining tour! He will take you to places you would normally ignore or do not know anything about! He will work with you according to your taste and needs. He gave us enough extra information after the tour that we were able to eat with locals, stop by the playground for our little girl, and simply enjoy the city. We will definitely recommend Ioannis to our friends!

Athens is a very large city and even in the small touristic hubs, it can be overwhelming. With our guide, we were able to see all of the best parts such as the antique flea market, the restaurant area, the shopping district, and the parthenon. We went by a cool area in the beginning of our tour and later wanted to have lunch there - our guide went out of her way to take us all the way back to that place so that we wouldn't get lost. She was a centuries-old native and bought us all authentic Greek coffee - amazing woman. THANK YOU.

Ariadni did a terrific job. She had the ability to talk about many aspects of Athens. History, cultural, political, etc. It felt like walk around with a friend who was proud to show off her city. She was very flexible and was able to quickly figure out what we liked to hear about and what we didn't. We would definitely recommend her.

Great perspective of Athens from historical to modern times. in addition to the Acropolis we were able to visit the Sanctuary of Poseidon with fantastic views of the entrance of the Adriatic Sea. We really enjoyed the traditional lunch in the fishing village of Lacrae! Great warm personality and very knowledgeable.

I recently went on a trip to Greece with my mom and two sisters and we had the best time on our tour with Ioannis in Athens! Athens was our first stop and Ioannis took us on a walking tour around the old town/Plaka area. He is WAS SO HELPFUL. I cannot say enough nice things about him or this tour. It was the perfect way to start our Greece vacation. Not only did he give us tons of amazing info on the sites we saw all around the city of Athens, but he recommended places to eat, and offered some advice for some of the different islands we were going to be visiting while in Greece. He is also a GREAT photographer, so if you are interested in seeing the sites and getting some good photos while doing so--Ioannis is your guy! Thank you Ioannis for a great day!

Ioannis was a great tour guide. He led my wife and me through Athens and then added the Acropolis at our request. We learned a lot during our tour. I highly recommend Ioannis.