Athens Extended Half Day Private Tour

The Half Day Tour of Athens begins with a beautiful seaside drive along the Coast of Poseidon on the Aegean Sea which surrounds Attica Region from South-West to South-East. On this side you see Island Salamis where the Naval Battle of Salamis between the Greeks and the Persians took place, that brought the Golden Age of Athens to the victorious Athenians. The seaside drive continues to Marina of Zea which was on the main grain supply of Athens in Antiquity (Zea bread) and one the most expensive yacht marina nowadays. The first stop is short over the upper class residential area of Piraeus, Kastela with its castle looking apartments to enjoy the coastal view of Athens and the beautiful leisure port of Microlimano (small port) located underneath. On the way from Piraeus to Athens you see Basketball Stadiums, Soccers fields, Facilities of 2004 Olympics, the brand new Cultural Center of Stavros Niarchos, the Onassion heart surgery center of Aristotelis Onassis.

The first big stop of the tour is the visit of the New Acropolis Museum (Or under the visitors’ request skip the New Acropolis Museum for an hour of free time in Plaka at the last part of the tour). The tour continues with a visit at the trademark of Greece, Acropolis. The natural and most important plateau of the 5th Century B.C. with a height of 150m over the sea level surrounded by an impenetrable wall that offered the best protection against any invader. The visit to the Acropolis is 60 minutes and it's the biggest stop of this tour.

During this visit you'll see the the main entrance of Acropolis, Propylea with the Temple of Wingless Nike standing in pride next of it. On the top of the Acropolis you'll see the Temple of Erechtheion with a porch that is supported by Statues of Maiden Women Karyatids and the Pentelic marble Temple of Athena Parthenos, Parthenon. On your way down to your meeting location and by the slopeof Acropolis you'll explore the ruined Amphitheater of Dionysos, god of entertainment and wine and the almost intact Herodion, the music school that was found by the 2nd century popular Sophist Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife Regilla which is being used for musical or theatrical performances by the most popular artists.

The tour drive continues to the Parliament of Greece to watch the change of the National Guard, learn about the Greek Revolution of 1821, the guards' uniforms and see the Tomb and Statue of the Unknown Soldier. The duration of the change of the National Guard is 10 minutes every other day except of every Sunday that the Guards perform a parade at 10:20 for 40 minutes.

Departing from the Parliament the tour drives you in front of the Catholic Cathedral of St. Paul, the National Bank of Greece, Old Parliament of Athens (national museum of Athens) and in front of the Trilogy of Athens. The Trilogy of Athens consists of the Academy of Science, University of Athens (Kapodistriako) and National Library.

Next stop at the Panathenaic Stadium or Kalimarmaro which granted the second title by its construction material. This is a reconstruction of the old 2nd century A.D. Stadium of Herodes Atticus. This marvelous stadium can fit 60.000 spectators and was used for the first Marathon Race and Modern Olympics in 1896.

At this point you are given the option* to visit either the Temple of Olympian Zeus or see the view and the size of Athens from the highest location of the 280m hight mount Lycabettos (higher than Acropolis).

The tour ends with a beautiful drive back to the Cruise Ship Terminal, Airport or Hotel in Athens.

*This option concerns only tours starting from Piraeus cruise ship terminal. Tours that start from the Hotel in Athens or Airport can visit both sites.
**Seaside drive from Piraeus to Athens concerns only tours that starts from Piraeus Cruise ship Terminal.