Michael was an outstanding guide and driver during our day in Athens. As a lifelong Athenian, his passion for his city was evident in everything he shared. His local knowledge and expertise allowed us to make the absolute most of our limited eight hours in port, seamlessly navigating the city while avoiding unnecessary delays and crowds. He brought Athens’ incredible history to life with fascinating stories and insights, while also giving us a true feel for modern-day Greek life. Michael was professional, personable, patient, and incredibly accommodating, making sure our day was tailored to our interests and pace. If you’re fortunate enough to have Michael as your guide, you’re in excellent hands. He transformed a short cruise stop into an unforgettable experience and gave us memories that will last a lifetime. We highly recommend him to anyone looking for an authentic, informative, and enjoyable day in Athens.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle appropriate for the size of your group
- A professional English speaking tour driver
- Piraeus Port pickup and drop-off
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Athens
Excludes
- Entrance fees to the archaeological sites and museum
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- English-speaking licensed tour guide (We can arrange for a tour guide for you with an extra cost)
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Traveler pick up offered
Itinerary
Pick up from your cruise ship pier at Piraeus port. We will drive along the coastal road of Saronic Gulf to enjoy the Piraeus and Athens riviera. The Port of Piraeus is the chief seaport of Athens, Greece, located on the Saronic Gulf on the western coasts of the Aegean Sea. Piraeus port is the largest port in Greece, home to Europe's biggest passenger port, and as such is a huge draw for cruise ships from around the world bringing tourists eager to explore this centuries-old city, and one of the largest in Europe. But yet another major draw is the fact that it's easy to visit Athens because it's located nearby. The Greek capital city of Athens is just 12 kilometers or 7 miles from Piraeus port. We will drive directly to the Acropolis to admire the Temple of Democracy!
The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens, and its monuments are universal symbols of the classical spirit and civilization and form the greatest architectural and artistic complex bequeathed by Greek Antiquity to the world. In the second half of the 5th-century bc, Athens, following the victory against the Persians and the establishment of democracy, took a leading position amongst the other city-states of the ancient world. In the age that followed, as thought and art flourished, an exceptional group of artists put into effect the ambitious plans of Athenian statesman Pericles and, under the inspired guidance of the sculptor Pheidias, transformed the rocky hill into a unique monument of thought and the arts. The most important monuments were built during that time: the Parthenon, built by Ictinus, the Erechtheon, the Propylaea, the monumental entrance to the Acropolis, designed by Mnesicles, and the small temple Athena Nike.
The Propylaea of the Athenian Acropolis was built on the west side of the hill, where the gate of the Mycenaean fortification once stood. The first propylon, or gate, was constructed in the age of Peisistratos (mid-sixth century BC), after the Acropolis had become a sanctuary dedicated to Athena. A new propylon, built-in 510-480 BC, was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC and repaired after the end of the Persian Wars, during the fortification of the Acropolis by Themistokles and Kimon. The monumental Propylaia admired by modern visitors was part of the great Periclean building program. They have erected in 437-432 BC, after the completion of the Parthenon, by architect Mnesikles. The original building plan was particularly daring both in architectural and artistic terms but was never completed. The pie-shaped building of Pentelic marble frames beautifully the entrance to the sacred precinct. The central section, the propylon proper, had an outer (west) and inner (east) facade...
The temple of Athena Nike stands at the southeast edge of the sacred rock atop a bastion, which in Mycenaean times protected the entrance to the Acropolis. The Classical temple, designed by architect Kallikrates and built-in 426-421 BC, succeeded earlier temples also dedicated to Athena Nike. The first one of these, a mid-sixth century BC wooden temple was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. The eschara, the altar believed to have supported the cult statue of the goddess, dates to this period. Under Kimon, c. 468 BC, a small temple of tufa was erected around the base of the statue and a new altar was built outside the temple. The foundations of these early temples and altars are preserved inside the bastion under the floor of the Classical structure. Pausanias (1, 22, 4) refers to this temple as that of the Apteros Nike, or Wingless Victory, and mentions that the cult statue of the goddess had no wings so that she would never leave Athens. Apart from the cult of Athena Nike other...
The Parthenon, dedicated by the Athenians to Athena Parthenos, the patron of their city, is the most magnificent creation of Athenian democracy at the height of its power. It is also the finest monument on the Acropolis in terms of both conception and execution. Built between 447 and 438 BC, as part of the greater Periklean building project, this so-called Periklean Parthenon (Parthenon III) replaced an earlier marble temple (Parthenon II), begun after the victory at the battle of Marathon at approximately 490 BC and destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. This temple replaced the very first Parthenon (Parthenon I) of c. 570 BC from Periklis . The Parthenon was designed by architects Iktinos and Kallikrates, while the sculptor Pheidias supervised the entire building program and conceived the temple's sculptural decoration and a chryselephantine statue of Athena. The Parthenon is a double peripteral Doric temple with several unique and innovative architectural features.
The elegant building known as the Erechtheion, on the north side of the sacred rock of the Acropolis, was erected in 421-406 BC as a replacement of an earlier temple dedicated to Athena Polias, the so-called "Old temple". The name Erechtheion, mentioned only by Pausanias (1, 26, 5), derives from Erechtheus, the mythical king of Athens, who was worshipped there. The sanctuary also contained the grave of Kekrops and the traces of the dispute between Athena and Poseidon for the possession of the city of Athens. Another door on the south facade of the western temple opened onto the porch of the Karyatides, a pi-shaped structure with six female statues instead of columns to support the roof. Created by Alkamemes or Kallimachos, the statues were later named Karyatides after the young women from Karyes of Laconia who danced in honor of the goddess Artemis. Five of them are in the Acropolis Museum and another in the British Museum; those on the building are casts.
Changing of the Greek Guards; The Presidential Guard is a ceremonial infantry unit that guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Presidential Mansion in Athens, Greece. The unit is distinguished as the last unit of Evzones in the Hellenic Army and is closely associated with the traditional Evzone uniform, which evolved from the clothes worn by the klephts in the Greek War of Independence. The most visible item of this uniform is the fustanella, a kilt-like garment, which has 400 pleats representing the number of years Greece was under Turkish occupation. They are handmade by special craftsmen taking around 80 days to make. In 1868–1914 and 1937–1973 (with interruptions), the guard also included a cavalry company. They guard the grave of the Unknown Soldier represents the common memory of all unknown soldiers killed at war. The changing of the Greek guards occurs every day at the top of the hour.
The history of the impressive building of the Hellenic Parliament is intimately linked to the history of the Modern Greek state. Initially, the building served as the palace of Kings Otto and George I. It became the Parliament and Senate building a hundred years after it was constructed and still houses the Hellenic Parliament today. Through all those years, the building has undergone a series of changes and has been modernized. From 1836 to 1862; After the selection of Otto, Prince of Bavaria, as King of Greece, and the relocation of the Greek capital to Athens, it was decided to erect the palace on Boubounistra Hill. It proved an inspired choice. The chosen location was in the center of the new capital, easily defendable and cool. On February 6th, 1836 the founding stone was laid at the highest eastern point of the city. The ancient quarry of Pentele was the source of marble. King and queen Otto, and Amalia, took up residence on July 25th, 1843.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a war memorial located in Syntagma Square in Athens, in front of the Old Royal Palace. It is a cenotaph dedicated to the Greek soldiers killed during war. It was sculpted between 1930 and 1932 by sculptor Fokion Rok. The tomb is guarded by the Evzones of the Presidential Guard.
The Presidential Mansion is the place to be to see a Changing the Guard ceremony in Athens,Greece. Changing of the Guard ceremonies take place at the Presidential Mansion and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is off Syntagma Square below the Hellenic Parliament. The Changing the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in particular has become a popular tourist attraction in Athens. The Evzone's, accompanied by a military band march from their barracks, just behind the Parliament Building, along the Vasilissis Sofias Avenue to the Tomb of the Unknown soldier where a ceremonial change of guards takes place every Sunday at 11:00. The Evzone's provides a 24-hour honor guard, with an hourly sentry change, which is carried out in slow motion, that some say is to allow the troops circulation to resume after standing absolutely motionless. Many smiles when they see the pompoms on the boots of the guards in Athens but make no mistake these men are part of an elite light infantry unit..
The National Garden of Athens, located behind the Parliament and Syntagma Square, is a green oasis in the heart of the city. The National Garden of Athens is a large green space of over 160.000 square meters adorned with over 500 types of plants and trees from all over the world. Former Royal Gardens; The gardens were designed in 1839 by order of Queen Amalia of the Greeks, but were not open to the public until 1923 when they were renamed “National Garden”. The designer of the gardens, Friedrich Schmidt, traveled all over the world in search of the most beautiful, exotic and unique flora. This task was also granted to the Hellenic Navy.
The Academy of Athens was founded with the Constitutional Decree of March 18th, 1926, as an Academy of Sciences, Humanities, and Fine Arts. The same Decree appointed its first Members, who were all eminent representatives of the scientific, intellectual, and artistic circles of that era.
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) is a public, self-governed Higher Education Institution, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs. Inaugurated in 1837, it has been the oldest higher education institution in the Modern Greek state and the first university in the Balkan and Eastern Mediterranean area. Since then it has been an internationally competitive, globally-focused, research-led university.
The National Library forms part of the so-called "Neoclassical Trilogy" of the City of Athens: Academy - University - Library. With a history of over two centuries, containing more than one million books and magazines, and a host of handwritten codices dating from the 9th to the 19th centuries, the National Library of Greece is the custodian of the Greek literary heritage, bridging the past, the present and the future. It was built between 1887 and 1902, based on a study of the Danish architect, Theophile Hansen -brother of Cristian Hansen. Hernest Ziller was the supervising architect who also studied the entrance stairways and the main bookstands. As early as 1858, King Otho had ordered Hansen to make a study for the construction of a Library next to the University, which had already started being built.
The National Historical Museum is permanently housed in the Old Parliament Building at Stadiou Street (Kolokotronis square). The Museum narrates the history of Modern Greece: the period of Ottoman and Latin rule, the Greek War of Independence (1821), the liberation struggles, the creation of an independent state, the political, social, and spiritual development of the Greeks up to the present day. The Old Parliament House is directly connected with Greek history: it was the first permanent base of the Greek National Assembly. The Old Parliament was founded in 1858 by Queen Amalia, upon a design by French architect François Boulanger, in order to house the Parliament and Senate. For 60 years the building on Stadiou Street housed the country’s turbulent political life. In 1935, Parliament moved to the Former Palace on Syntagma Square, where it is still housed today. Today, the Old Parliament is an architectural jewel in the center of Athens.
Syntagma Square has literally been the very heart of Athens ever since the city became the capital of the modern Greek state, and it's the perfect central location for sightseeing. It is located in front of the 19th century Old Royal Palace, housing the Greek Parliament since 1934. With the Greek Parliament building and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier looming over it, it is rich with history and is the place where most major events of the last two centuries have taken place. Its name in Greek means “Constitution Square,” a name granted by Greece’s first modern royal, King Otto, on September 3, 1843, after an uprising of the people. This was a smart political move since the royal palace overlooked the square.
In the shadow of the Acropolis and its ancient temples, hillside Plaka has a village feel, with narrow cobblestone streets lined with tiny shops selling jewelry, clothes, and local ceramics. Sidewalk cafes and family-run tavernas stay open until late. Nearby, the whitewashed homes of the Anafiotika neighborhood give the small enclave a Greek-island vibe. Visiting the Plaka district in Athens is an experience that stays with travelers for a lifetime. With its colorful neoclassic buildings and ruins waiting to be discovered around every corner, there is so much to be discovered in Plaka. Plaka is appropriately known as the “Neighborhood of the Gods.” It lies beneath the northeastern slope of the Acropolis and stretches almost all the way to Syntagma Square, in a maze of winding narrow streets laced with shops and dotted with antiquities throughout. Truly, this is one of the most charming and elegant neighborhoods you will encounter anywhere on Earth. Free time for lunch.
The ancient Agora of Athens is the best-known example of an ancient Greek agora, located to the northwest of the Acropolis and bounded on the south by the hill of the Areopagus and on the west by the hill known as the Agoraios Kolonos, also called Market Hill. The word "agora" applies to an assembly of people and by extension marks the gathering place. In modern Greek, the term means "marketplace". Just about every ancient and modern city includes a place for an agora, and the Agora of Athens is located at the heart of the city, remaining in use either as an assembly, as a commercial, or as a residential area for about 5000 years. Consequently, the area has undergone countless building, destruction, and rebuilding cycles. Today these strata of history have been distilled through excavations to expose the Agora's important functions from Archaic to Greco-Roman and Byzantine times.
The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. The architectural competition was held in 2000, which led to the selection of the proposal by Bernard Tschumi and his Greek collaborator Michael Photiades. The new Acropolis Museum was constructed on the south side of the Acropolis at a distance of 300 meters from its monuments. The Museum’s foundations were completed on the 30th of January 2004 and its opening took place on the 20th of June 2009.
Located in southern Athens, between the Acropolis and the Ilissos river, the Olympeion was the sanctuary of Olympian Zeus. Here stands one of the greatest ancient temples of Zeus and, according to Vitruvius, one of the most famous marble buildings ever constructed. The sanctuary's foundation is attributed to the mythical Deukalion. The site also comprises the temple of Apollo Delphinios - the sanctuary of Apollo Delphinios was traditionally associated with Theseus - and a tripartite building with a south courtyard of ca. 500 BC. The latter has been identified as the Delphinion Court, which was allegedly founded by Aegeas.
Admire the Kallimarmaro stadium, else Panathenaea stadium where here the first modern Olympic games took place in 1896. It is called Kallimarmaro because is all made of marble. A special marble called the Pentelic marble. Special because it changes color according to the day light. Cool with in the morning and in the afternoon it changes color to bone gold color. The monuments on the Acropolis and the temple of Zeus are made of the same Pendelikon marble.
Mount Lycabettus is the highest point in central Athens, Greece. Known in Greek as Lykavitos Hill, it stands 277 m (909 feet) above sea level, providing spectacular views of the Greek capital and the coastline. The hill is one of the largest green areas in central Athens, located close to the Kolonaki and Exarchia areas. Many Athenians come here for a stroll and go to the top to enjoy the city from above. Lycabettus hill is accessible on foot, by funicular railway, and by car. Thousands of tourists visit every year to climb to the top, see the small chapel of Saint George, and enjoy the cityscape from above. Today Lycabettus hill is a fantastic place to go if you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The peace and quiet are so different from Kolonaki and Exarchia areas right below and the crowded market streets of Monastiraki and Psiri. After our visit to Lycabettus Hill, we will drop you off at the same spot we have picked you up.
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Reviews
Our tour guide was an excellent driver maneuvering smoothly through the narrow busy city roads and was also very knowledgeable about all the places we visited and past by along the way. I would highly recommend this tour!
We were picked up at the port and experienced a wonderful day visiting the significant sights of Athens. There were four of us, two older adults and two younger adults, and we all agreed this was a wonderful way to see Athens when we only had one day. We can highly recommend this tour!
This was a very good tour; covered all the highlights. Unfortunately for us, it started raining quite hard when we got to the Plaka, so we opted out of exploring that on foot. But our guide did drive us around there, so we could see it.
Very efficient method of booking on line with excellent interaction with tour operators. On the day of our tour Photos our driver and guide was on time. Excellent and pristine vehicle . Photos was extremely knowledgeable, courteous and an excellent driver. Very enjoyable tour - would recommend to all
Our driver & tour guide Alex, was so knowledgeable, always on-time, helpful, so accommodating and patient with our group of 7 retired ladies. He provided so much insight, took us to a family-owned local Greek restaurant that was exceptionally good, and made sure we had great access to all the unique ancient must-see landmarks. We even saw the Prime Minister’s Palace as it was lined with military guards in traditional Greek dress as the band played, getting ready to greet foreign diplomats! We saw the Parliament Building as the Changing of the Guard occurred. We shopped, dined, hiked thru incredible ruins, enjoyed spectacular views, and learned so much. Thank you for a memorable experience!
This was an amazing private tour with an amazing guide. Our guide Andreas made the tour special and personalized for us. He gave us plenty of time at each location and was very flexible if we wanted more or less time at any stop. Go us back to our cruise ship right on time. We highly recommend the tour and if you should request Andreas as your guide.
We did the photography 8h shore excursion in Athens. Firstly, the tour guide was really good and brought us to many of the good photo sites away from the crowds. We had a good tour in general, except that they booked our Acropolis tickets for 1pm. I would have expected them to book the tickets for the very first entry given that the tour started at 7.30am. As a result, we visited in the heat of the day and it was extremely difficult and uncomfortable for us with a 3 year old. We only managed to spend about 1 hour at the Acropolis because of the heat, even though the guide was booked for 2 hours. They were not very responsive to email and took several days for each reply during the planning phase of this trip. When contacted about the midday Acropolis tickets, my texts and emails were completely ignored.
Tour is a great way to see the highlights of Athens in a day! I highly recommend Athens Tours Greece - very professional and responsive. Nic and Demetra were wonderful drivers and guides. Also recommend you have them prepurchase your entry tickets - so much easier. It may seem expensive but it is worth every penny!
It was a fantastic private tour of Athens. I had my 82-year-old mother with me on the trip and she was very well taken care of. We would love to return to Athens again in the future for a holiday.
Theodore was an excellent tour guide and driver. He was thoughtful and made sure we were comfortable.
Peter was the best tour guide we had during our entire cruise! He was very friendly and knowledgeable. He catered the tour to the places we wanted to visit. He took us to an amazing local restaurant for lunch (best meal we had during our entire cruise, too)! If ever in Athens again, we will definitely call on Peter. He was part of our family for the day!
We enjoyed this tour. All went exactly as planned. Our tour guide (Peter) was polite, friendly and knowledgeable. Pick up and drop off back to our cruise ship terminal was easy and on time. We got to see everything we needed to despite the July heatwave (40+ C). Recommended!
This tour was taken while visiting Athens on a cruise. Peter was the best tour guide ever. He captivated everyone from my 18 year old son to my 70 year old father. He was patient and very knowledgeable while maneuvering safely through the streets of Athens. He even recommended and an amazing place for lunch (let Peter pick the lunch spot 😋). He was very mindful of our time and the time we needed to be back on board he also was super attentive making suggestions based on our interests. I would 100% recommend this tour to any one very worth it!!! THANK YOU PETER!!!!
Amazing archeology Seeing history first hand. Our guide, George, was so knowledgeable and caring. Acropolis, Apollo Temple, Parthenon's. exciting and memorable
We only had a short time in Athens, coming off of a cruise. We saw all of the wonderful reviews of the driver George, online and decided to book him. It was a great choice. George was an excellent tour guide. He was very knowledgeable of the area and extremely personable. George had a great sense of humor and was extremely accurate with all the time we needed at every site. It was a great experience and would 100% suggest to book the tour and ask for George as your driver.
Andrew (a.k.a. Andres) was an amazing driver and tour guide, especially with his driving skills in those narrow streets and alleys. Even though there was a lot of distance to cover, we never felt rushed at any of the stops and we arrived back at port with a perfect amount of time to get back onboard or cruise ship. My only negative comment is that we had confirmed with the tour operator that strollers were allowed at the Temple of Athena but we were told once we got there that it was not stroller accessible and we could see why; there were may steps and the ground was a very slippery marble throughout that made it dangerous to climb without careful walking. We were fine carrying our twin babies but it just would've been good to know in advance so we could plan to leave the strollers in the van during that part of the tour. Otherwise, we loved the views at all of the famous landmarks Andrew took us to and drove by, especially the breathtaking view at Mount Lycabettus. Andrew timed his tour perfectly so that we got to the Hellenic Parliament just in time for the changing of the guard and adjusted the order that we saw the each tour destination so that the crowds were never too big or overwhelming. And because we wanted to visit the Little Kook Bakery in one of the old districts, Andrew kindly adjusted our schedule to allow that time and even asked if we wanted to visit certain stops on the tour schedule like the Acropolis Museum. We didn't think that was necessary for this tour and were glad that it gave us more time to enjoy lunch, which definitely a big highlight. We felt like family at Babis, which was the restaurant Andrew took us to for lunch. It was a local place and not one for tourists so we made us feel closer to the food. Fish was fresh caught and we could see and pick what we wanted them to cook. The family-special meatballs were amazing and everything else including the bread, Greek salad, and sugar cinnamon dessert were delicious. What truly made this tour memorable was that I has specifically mentioned to Andrew that I wanted to taste authentic gyro and baklava while in Greece. I had already tasted the gyro an a previous port but we never had a chance to get baklava anywhere during the tour so Andrew was gracious enough to stop at a bakery on our way back to port and buy some for me. He didn't have to go out of his way to do that but I appreciated him so much for that. I would definitely do another tour with Andrew specifically if I have the chance to visit Athens again.
This is highly recommended if you only have a day to spend in Athens. Our driver, Yanni, picked us up on time from the port and raced our van straight to the Acropolis to beat the tour buses coming from half a dozen ships docked in Pireas that day. We had no trouble entering the ruins but the line was over an hour long when we left! Yanni was very good in explaining the history of Athens from the ancient origins of the Olympics and the marathon to the meaning of the attire of the guards in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (the changing of the guard was a highlight!). He gave us the right tips and had a few surprises including selfies with the Presidential Palace guard and a authentic Greek lunch on the streets of the city. We didn't have much time to spend in the Ancient Agora but did manage to visit the Temple of Hephaistos and do some speed shopping for souvenirs in the marketplace. Yanni was great at driving us around, pointing out the sights and providing the background that added colour to our trip.
Apostolis was great. Took us u to o all the great sites. Explained everything . Great little family restaurant for lunch.
We had a great day visiting the city of Athens with Christo as our tour guide. Christo was very knowledge about the history of the and also able to accommodate our requests about sites that we want to visit, providing great feedback on our choices and proposing alternatives.
Athens was amazing, my family and I had a wonderful time touring Athens. George our driver was amazing and knew the history of Athens.
Takis “best cab driver in all of the world” self-proclaimed and 100% true Unbelievable packed adventure He was an awesome tour guide who knows his way around Athens with his eyes closed. We saw acropolis, temple of Zeus, aristotles school, changing of the guards, the highest hill in Athens with the best view, agora, Olympic stadium, had traditional Greek lunch, visited the acropolis museum (spent an 1 hr here), had 5 star Greek baklava, saw Socrates prison And got back to our cruise ship with 1.5 hours to spare. And he planned out the day so that we saw the most crowded sights when there was no one there - so awesome. TIP: buy your tickets for Athens archeological sites in advance online and print the that includes all the above sites -30euros totally worth it. And then you skip through all the ticket buying lines.
We are back at home in the US after a truly amazing trip to Greece. Our driver and tour expert Christos was truly excellent! We were exhausted after an 8-hour tour of your gorgeous city, but it was truly the experience of a lifetime! Thank you for helping us make some unforgettable memories! Rick and Gina Gunter
Excellent time . Mackey was the best. Excellent service and very knowledgeable . He knew his way around the city . Thank you
We had an awesome time! We were taken to various sites and we had an itinerary that suited us superbly. We had ample time to absorb the atmosphere of the sites, especially the Acropolis. We had pick up at our hotel and drop off at the same place. All I would say is for 159€, it is a bit pricey.
Had expected a more polished experience given the feedback on TripAdvisor. The guide was very very average. Could barely understand his diction. The insistence on collection of fees at the beginning of the tour was odd. Then the very obvious angling for a tip at the end was again a put off. Won’t go with this tour company again for sure.
I had corresponded with Christos and given him a wish list. He said it was a lot, but we did it! Acropolis, Parthenon, Lycabettus Hill, to Acropolis Museum and points in between plus a stop for lunch near Monastraki square, He even arranged for perfect day. Traffic was horrible but he maneuvered the van thru lanes I wouldn’t have attempted with no traffic and no parked cars. Great day!
The driver did his best to visit all places on the itinerary despite road closure due to organized activities on the day of Circle of Athens. The car was much bigger than we expected. We were very happy with his service.
Our tour of Athens was one of the highlights of our 12 day Caribbean cruise. Our guide, Georgos, picked us up early and took us to all of the most famous sites in Athens. He kept us ahead of the crowds at every stop, had an amazing knowledge of the city, and even took us to a non-tourist restaurant to sample traditional Greek food. At the end of the tour, Georgos gave us his phone number and offered to help if we had any issues at our upcoming Greek destinations. I can't say enough about how great this experience was.
My husband and I were in Athens off Jewel of the Seas cruise ship for 1 day. We booked our private tour with Aiator. Which then booked our tour with Athens Tours Greece. This was our first time booking tours outside of the cruise line and we were 100% satisfied. Our tour guide Alex was very prompt to pick us up. We just looked for the sign with our name on it. We started the day by visiting the Acropolis, which was amazing! The history was fascinating. We visited the Olympic Stadium, the 3 ports in Athens, The Athenian Agora, the Museum, the changing of the guards at parliament, The Temple of Zeus and The Arch of Hadrian. Alex recommended a great place for lunch which emended up bring the best Gyros that we had ever eaten! Thanks Alex. We ended the day by shopping before heading back to the ship. We highly recommend Alex. The next time we come to Greece, this will be our tour company! Thank u Alex.
Our private tour was excellent!!! George our tour guide was awesome!! He was very helpfull, flexible and knowledgeable. We never feel pressure or rush. He also took us for lunch at an authentic Greek restaurant at a reasonable price and the food was great!!! I will highly recomend this company especially this tour and if I ever go back I wiould like to have George again.....Thank you so much GG !!!
Our tour guide, Yanni, was wonderful. Transportation & history explanation was splendid! He went far and beyond in accommodating our large group. We traveled with one wheelchair & one stroller and he managed to take us to many sites. His restaurant recommendation was also great!! It was very unique experience to taste 'homemade' platters. Thank you, thank you, Yanni!
There were four of us, along with our driver and our guide. Eleni, our guide, tailored our day to meet our expectations, show us the sights we were interested in seeing, eating the food that we wanted to eat, and offering detailed insight into the deep and varied history of Greece, specifically in Athens. Our driver was extremely professional and always had the car ready, cool and with ice cold water on a very hot day. My only wish was that we had more time to spend and the museums and some of the sites, but there is only so much you can fit in, even on a whole day tour like this.
Absolutely loved Athens and the Acropolis! Would get the earliest tix possible next time to avoid the large crowds. Breath taking views, wonderful historical perspective. Wear shoes with traction. The marble paths are so smooth from years of wear that slipping is certain. Our driver, Yanni, was a wealth of information on ancient and modern Greece. He entertained us with stories about each place we saw. His car was clean and and smelled fresh. Definitely hire a local to drive you around Athens. They understand the rules of the road and the etiquette it requires to avoid pedestrians and drivers. We asked to go to a local (not tourist) restaurant for lunch and Yanni took us to a taverna in the heart of the city. We were greeted by the host who personally presented us with an array of the most delicious food I have ever eaten. The only dishes I had eaten before were Greek Salad and moussaka. The ones I had here were far superior. We also saw many locals eating here as well as an active take away business which proves that were were eating the same food that would be eaten in a Greek home. Athens cannot be seen in just one day. I hope my next visit will be longer.
WOW! Be ready to walk, hike up stairs and lug water around. Despite the adventurous walking tour of Athens, it was wonderful. Our guide was very good and knew a lot of history. Lovely young lady who I cannot remember her name but she did very well and was very knowledgeable. This is a very nice tour if you have a short time in Athens. Covers a lot of historical places and sites. Just remember, wear comfortable shoes and bring water. The weather was very hot for this time of year so rethink your time of visit if you are flexible. The heat adds a lot of discomfort if you are not use to it. I do recommend this tour if short on time and on the cruise ship. Personal connection with the guide is a most.
Took a private tour of Athens with 2 other couples. We give George five stars for his calm demeanor, knowledge of the history of Athens and recommendations including having lunch at a local family restaurant. We visited the Parthenon, museums, This was the perfect tour
Christos was our terrific tour guide. He met us just outside the main terminal at Piraeus Port (arrived by cruise ship) in comfortable air- conditioned car. He customized the full-day tour to take us to many places, great photo ops and even a grocery store (I find it interesting to walk the aisles of a food store and see different and similar items with local language and prices)!! Hubby cannot walk the steep entrance to Parthenon, but he took us to many other sites and we saw Acropolis from many different locations. I highly recommend Christos and this full day (8 hours) tour; worth every penny.
We booked this tour for a shore excursion to see most of the major sites in one day, the lady Katherine was lovely and our driver (who spoke no english) was also very nice. Very helpful and informative when we asked questions. I had a little issue with booking the price we where quoted was for just a driver I asked how much it would be for a guide and I thought the total was $220 but it was an extra 220 for a guide I think they need to be a bit better in how the word emails. Otherwise the tour was good the booking process not so much.
Apostolos is an excellent guide and made sure we saw as much of Athens as possible in the time we had. Great day!
<p>Three of us including a 7 year old had just one day to see Athens after disembarking from a cruise and this was the perfect way to do it. Our driver Yannies was waiting outside the cruise terminal, loaded all our bags into his comfortable Mercedes taxi, and then gave us an absolutely brilliant day taking us to all highlights as described. Along the way in perfect English he reminded us of history of ancient Greece as well as telling us about the modern day country and its people. As well as seeing all the main sites In air-conditioned comfort on a hot guy who took us to a fabulous little restaurant for lunch where we had to be called home-style cooking with and provided us with cold bottled water along the way. At the end of a brilliant day, Yannies dropped us and our luggage at our hotel. This was just the best way to do things and so much cheaper than any arrangements we could have made through the cruise company.</p>
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