Marathon & Thermopylae Battlefields Private Day Tour From Athens

My guide and driver, Nikos, was outstanding! His love of history and a depth of knowledge on the two Greco-Persian wars made history come alive on those two battlefields. At both Marathon and Thermopylae, he helped set the stage - explaining the lay of the land, how the terrain changed over two millennia, the scale of combat, which direction the Persians came from, etc. After visiting the site of Marathon, he drove to a higher vantage point to get a better view of the whole battlefield.

I highly recommend this trip. It was absolutely worth the price. Our guide, Giannis, was very friendly and very knowledgeable about both the military and cultural history of Greece. I consider myself fairly well-read on Greek history, but I still learned new things. We went on three different private tours with three different tour companies during our trip, and while this was the most expensive one, it was hands down the best. I'll never forget seeing Marathon from up high and resting my legs in the same hot springs the Spartans once used. If you're a history buff this tour is definitely worth it.

Andreas Was a very good driver and showed a lot of energy in sharing the rich cultural history of ancient Greece. A local Athenian, he drove impeccably throughout a very congested city. He went out of his way to make sure we saw everything that could be seen in both the marathon and Thermopholie areas. He treated us like family and we’d be happy to go on another tour with him again.

We did 2 day tours ( Marathon, Thermopylae and Olimpia tour) and one 2 day tour (Sparta, Mystras- Monovasia) with the company. All the tours were perfectly organised, professional and interesting. We had great time- Terry the driver and Giorgos and Yiannis the guides were great. We learned and saw a lot. I can just recommend the experience.

Our tour guide Alex was knowledgeable, kind, and led us on an amazing experience walking the battlefields of Marathon and Thermopylae. He even opened the door for my wife when we got in the car! He answered all my questions on the drive as well as all the pertinent information leading up to the battles, the details of the battles, and the implications of the battles on history. I highly recommend this tour as well as our guide Alex! Thank you so much for a wonderful time and unforgettable experience.

We had a fantastic day obsorbing the history. Panos was very helpful and knowledgeable which made the day. Great for history buffs.

Marathon and Thermopylae are two of the most important battles in world history and it was a dream come true for us to experience it. Our guide Theodore was the best. His knowledge of Ancient Greece is top notch and he is an excellent guide. Highly recommend him!

Great tour of Marathon and Thermopylae. My driver and guide was awesome (Giannis). He was friendly, knowledgeable, and very organized. He gave me so much information, not just on the battles, but on Greek history and even tips for visiting Athens and other more modern information. It was a great day.

Having always wanted to see the ancient battlefields of Marathon and Thermopylae we booked via Viator It was simply the perfect tour, a delightful knowledgeable guide, lovely car and a day we shall never forget

Our tour guide Chris was outstanding .Very knowledgeable,friendly and entertaining .It was like driving with a friend ..He went above and beyond to show us everything and some extras .Very accommodating to our needs and attentive .Would highly recommend his services .Great service .

A memorable day! Standing at the sites of two famous battles made them come alive. Beautiful scenery, lunch by the sea and riding in comfort with Alexander, our knowledgeable guide, made for a great day.

An excellent day with a very personable and knowledgeable guide/ Giannis. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

If you are in to history, I would highly encourage this tour. Giannis was a great host and very friendly.

Alexander was great. He explained the sites and was very friendly very nice vehicle and cold water was available

Spending the day with our driver was the highlight. We learned so much about Greece, not just the places we visited.

I did the Thermopylae and Marathon tour starting from Athens. If you're a fan of ancient Greek history I highly recommend it. Both locations are a bit far from Athens, and a tour like this is the most feasible way to get there and back without renting a car. If you're staying in Athens it's a very convenient day trip. Andreas did an amazing job as tour guide, explaining the history behind the sites and the context of the more recently built monuments. We also stopped by at a really great local restaurant, which I would never have found on my own. Andreas has a great sense of humor and is a stellar guide; if I’m in Athens again I'll definitely book other tours with Olive Sea travel.

Chris was excellent very knowledgeable and helpful. I had many questions about the history and he was very insightful. we had a great time

It was awesome the battle of marathon was very interesting with the tombs of the soldiers, the mounds, and the museum. The Thermopylae was amazing as well especially since my 13 year old son was able to put on authentic spartan military gear and I took a picture. The 3D movie was really neat too. The driver was great and very informative

We were dissatisfied with the trip. The tour operator failed to tell us that most of the streets in Marathon were closed due to a civic event. This made us miss the Marathon museum and waste two hours trying to drive around the road closures. Finally skipped Marathon and went to Thermopylae. It became apparent that our guide was not the “expert” that was advertised but someone who knew less about Greek history than I did. He was very nice and very professional but not an expert. After Thermopylae we came back again to Marathon but by that time the museum was closed for the day. Two stars instead of one because the car was nice and the driver was very nice. Overall, I think we deserve a partial refund.

Nasos was our guide. He was on time and asked us what we wanted to do. Nasos told us much information about the history of Marathon and Thermopylae. Nasos told us information about the sights and events during our drive. We had sufficient time at each of our stops. We had a wonderful time and learned a lot. We highly recommend Nasos to be your guide. We plan to request Nasos for everything we need a guide for in Athens

The tour was led by our driver, Socrates, who did a great job of retelling these two battles. Unfortunately, our tour was rained on all day; the tour company should have asked if we could reschedule. This tour was by far the most expensive we took in Greece and with few things to see was very overpriced.

Our guide, Nasos, made this trip worth while. He has a tremendous knowledge of the Greek history and culture. With a guide like Nasos, this trip can be enjoyable for all, not just history buffs.

Our tour with Olive Sea tours was amazing! Our driver and guide, Evangelo, was very accommodating and a safe driver, there is no way we could have navigated traffic and routes on our own! The car was clean and comfortable and Evangelo was easy to talk to. He provided a lot of context and background to the both battlefields we visited. We were able to take the time we wanted to view each site and take all the pictures we wanted. Our tour was great and the ride was comfortable. I would definitely take another tour with them and would recommend them to anyone interested!

Absolutely fantastic trip which more than lived up to my boyhood fascination with the ancient Greeks and the Spartans in particular Our guide was called Nasos and he was so incredibly knowledgeable about Greek history in general and our destinations Nasos was sympathetic to our every needs and his skilful driving was something to admire The most special moment had to be at the foot of the statue of Leonidas ( my boyhood hero) at Thermopylae when he pulled out a Spartan helmet and slashing sword for photos At the end of the tour he even showed us a restaurant with a rooftop garden overlooking the Acropolis for our last night’s meal Can’t recommend him and the tour too highly

My driver Nasos was really nice and unfailingly patient - as someone who's into history, it was incredibly refreshing to talk to someone who has in-depth knowledge of Greece and considers it his home and heritage.

This trip is one of those that is just not worth it. George was an excellent and very knowledgeable guide, but there was just too little to see at each battlefield to justify the time and cost. I think Greece could do a better job "beefing up" the offerings at each site, given their importance to western civilization. Thermopylae (which could be incorporated in other tours) was more impressive that Marathon (which could be skipped altogether).

Trip was amazing! Awesome history on the battle of marathon and thermopyles. Our guide Nasos was incredible! He was extremely knowledgeable answered a million of my questions. He had many great surprises for me! Would highly recommend him!

Driver, Nasos, did an excellent job. Very knowledgeable and great and keeping everyone's attention. He deserves a raise.

Excellent trip with Nasos. Highly recommend. Included some views/perspectives on the battles that were unique and intriguing.

Nasos was a wonderful driver. Very insightful! Went above and beyond to give us overviews of the battlefields, and clarify common misconceptions. Highly recommend!

if you like history, this is the trip with an excellent driver and tourguide. you can feel the passion for his country and gets you caught up in it.

We had an excellent day. Nasos was a very knowledgeably guide and had a great sense of humour. Exceeded our expectations and our 16 year old son is now enthused even more about Athenians, Sparta and the Persians. Highly recommended. Guy, Jeannette, Alasdair, Worcester, UK.

When your guide turns up with a Spartan tattoo you know you’re in for a good day. Nasos provided great knowledge to me and my son about Greek history contributing to a very enjoyable day out.

Nasos was a fantastic guide! Extremely personable and made the drive very entertaining. He was quite knowledgeable about our site visits and went out of his way to ensure we were comfortable and having a good time. It’s not every day a true Spartan guides you through the sites of Thermopylae. We highly recommend Nasos and this tour!

Our family took a private tour to Marathon and Thermopylae and had a wonderful time! Our tour guide, Lysandros, was kind and knowledgeable. He was patient and allowed us to take as much time at each site as we would like. He truly brought history to life while recounting events at such remarkable battles. It was inspiring! The trip was comfortable and child friendly. He also went out of his way to show us interesting sites based on what he learned about us throughout the day. It truly felt like a tailored experience. We would highly recommend him to anyone using this service.

Our first stop was at the site of the Battle of Marathon. There were only a few souls there that day, and the visit was amazing. Thanos led me to the large scaled map of the area that demonstrated all of the pertinent locations. We walked the entirety of the field, and discussed the first major victory of the Greeks in the Greco-Persian war. We marveled at the Athenian burial mound (Tumulus), which was about 40 feet high (a smaller Tumulus was present for the Plataean soldiers present that day). Thanos was able to reconstruct the battle in such fine detail, from the movement of the armies, the strategic planning of their approach, and the final clash of thousands, that I felt that I had been witness to one of the great moments in the fight for democracy. After Marathon, we took a winding road through some of the most gorgeous hill sides, until we reached site number two: the plain of Plataea. Thanos pulled the car over on the side of the road, we exited and stood at the edge of a cliff. He popped the trunk of his SUV, and made a makeshift desk, upon which he opened two books. For the next 30 minutes, Thanos replayed every singular moment of this defining land battle of the Greco-Persian war. He pointed out the location of an ancient riverbed, now covered in a line of trees, which marked the major contact location. He was able to spot ancient barriers and outlined walls of the older cities.

We were in Greece for our honeymoon and being a student of history, I had to book this tour! Our driver/guide, Lysandros, lived up to his namesake (a famous Spartan leader) and offered us great conversation. He educated us on the Greco-Persian wars and many other subjects. The sites we toured stand as testaments to liberty, democracy, and the strength of human spirit. If you like history and want to get away from the crowds in Athens for a day, I recommend this tour.

Our guide, Lyssandros, was very good and courteous. He was a very responsible driver. We saw everything we wanted to see and made it back with enough time left to do other things. I would definitely recommend Viator for booking a trip such as this.

This was a great tour, mainly because of the how the driver made it enjoyable with his vast knowledge and obvious love of history. He was courteous, kind, and even got us Freddo cappuccinos. Something new for us that I am now addicted to. Be aware that there isn’t much to actually see since the terrain has changed so much since the actual battles took place. But just being there felt great and it was easy to imagine what it was like just by seeing the area. I’m grateful that I was able to experience this.

Walking the battlefield of Thermopylae and Marathon was a dream come true for myself and my oldest daughter (7 yo). Christos was awesome and both my daughters really liked him. He is very knowledgeable in the history and made the learning fun, even for my 4 yo. Highly recommend this trip and even higher recommendations if it’s with Christos.

I have nothing but excellent things to say about this tour and my tour guide for the day, Alex Oikonomidis. The amount of knowledge and hospitality that Alex and the tour provided made for a remarkable experience. There wasn't a single question had that was not answered in colorful detail- Alex explained to me not only the nuances of the major sites we went to, but also the small details of Greek life that would have otherwise gone unseen had I not taken this tour. I received far more than what I felt I paid for. Towards the end of the tour, I became pretty ill with a genetic stomach issue I have had my whole life. Unfortunately, this illness surfaced on the day of the tour. Eventually, I was crippled with pain and was forced to trust the Alex and Olive Sea Travel to render care for me and return me safely back to my hotel. Not did they return me safely while I was writhing with pain, but Alex stayed calm and collected and offered professional solutions to the problem I was facing that I could not think of at the time. He kept me comfortable, patiently worked through the issue of an ill tourist, recommended and procured symptomatic relief medication (with the approval and help of a pharmacists, which I approved), and conducted himself with a level a capability I would not have ever have expected. Following the trials of that day, Alex continued to check up on me in the subsequent days and offer his help. He knew I was traveling alone and refused to leave me unassisted while I was sick. My respect and gratitude for Alex for his professionalism and Olive

Nasos was great and was very knowledgeable and taught us a lot. He was also was very cheerful and made a lot of jokes.

I couldn’t have asked for any more with this tour. My guide, Petros, was very knowledgable and easy to get along with could not have asked for a better guide to have spent the day with

It was an excellent tour the driver was knowledgeable and very courteous. It is because of his fantastic service that when I return to Greece I will seek this driver to take us on many other tours

This private day tour from Athens to the Marathon & Thermopylae battlefields was incredible. Our driver Nasos is extraordinarily charismatic & knowledgeable not just about Greek history, but also about a variety of topics. In addition to delivering us to the battlefields, he also made a surprise stop at an observation tower overlooking the entire Marathon Bay where the Persian fleet was anchored. This bonus stop was incredible because it made the battle (and its aftermath) very easy to understand. After stopping for lunch (where Nasos introduced us to Greek freedo cappuccino), we proceeded to Thermopylae, which was made even more poignant thanks to Nasos' own Spartan heritage. Nasos made the entire day extremely fun, light-hearted, and informative. My wife and I learned so much not just about Greek history, but also how prevalent the Greek language is embodied in the English language. If you have a desire to immerse yourself in Greek history AND Greek culture, this is a truly magnificent tour & I could not recommend and endorse Nasos highly enough.

What a great trip. The historical aspect is amazing and worth every bit. I happened to go the Thermopylae over the anniversary weekend in SEP when the battle occurred. Get in touch with your inner Spartan and book it as you will not be disappointed. Ten star tour guide knew all the history and was passionate to tell it. His English was great and helped me with some Greek among other topics and historical video on the drive. Even modified my private trip based on my requested timeline. Don’t wait until it is booked!

My Fiance and I had the greatest time on this tour. He loves history and was really interested in the information our driver was able to share, I am not so much of a history buff but still found the tour, our driver, the experience... everything to be really amazing! Great information shared, the car was nice and clean, communication was A++, the stops and restaurants were local and authentic just like we wanted. Thank you SOOOOO much Vangelis, you truly made our last day in Athens amazing.

For booking the night before and going solo they were very accommodating and the driver/guide was very knowledgeable. He was able to answer historical questions, give advice on places to see and was very friendly.

Excellent customer service, nice and comfortable ride, the guide was very professional and knowledgeable of Ancient Greek history .we enjoyed the tour, thanks Dem !