Athens & Ancient Corinth Full Day Private Tour

The Full Day Tour of Athens & Ancient Corinth begins with a seaside drive around the port of Piraeus and to the west side of Athens through the industrial areas of Aspropirgos and Eleusina past the oiled derricks and the shipyards to watch the cruise ships and tankers arrive in the port of Athens from far away.

The island of Salamis is clearly visible on the way out of Eleusina and into the highway. While gaining height the bay between Salamis and mainland Athens is becoming visible. This is where the Athenians defeated the Persian empire once and for all in the naval battle of Salamis in 486 B.C.

The drive continues on the highway along the Argo-Saronic gulf past small towns and villages for about 30 minutes. Then Peloponnesus peninsula becomes visible and it’s time to make the first stop for approximately 15 minutes to explore the Canal of Corinth, Isthmus, that separates Peloponnesus from mainland Greece.

The tour then proceeds over Isthmus, on the highway for another 15 minutes until reaching the city of Ancient Corinth and Acrocorinth (Acropolis of Corinth). A short drive around the archaeological site is offered before entering, in order to see the highlights from a higher perspective, like the monolithic Temple of Apollo, the Agora, the Bema (Pontium) where apostle Paul preached, the Imperial Temple and Fountain of Glafki. Visitor are free to explore the archaeological site for 60 minutes.

On the way out of Corinth we make a short stop is the orthodox church of the Assumption of Mary to see the letters to the Corinthians translated in four languages on an obelisk and a colorful Byzantine mosaic showing the mission of Apostle Paul in Corinth. At this point the second part of the tour takes place with a 45 minute relaxing drive back to Athen on the same way along the coast of the Argo-Saronic gulf and past the Isthmus Canal one final time.

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 slope of 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.

Next short stop at 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.

Then driving around the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch the tour ends with a beautiful drive back to the Cruise Ship Terminal, Airport or Hotel in Athens.