Overview

Stand in awe of the Acropolis, where the Parthenon and its museum narrate Athens' glorious past. Follow in the footsteps of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, breathing in the intellectual spirit that permeated the city. Ascend Lycabettus Hill and embrace the panoramic splendor of Athens, its sprawling beauty unfolding before you. Embark on a journey to Cape Sounio, where the majestic Temple of Poseidon stands as a testament to the grandeur of ancient Greece. This comprehensive tour unveils the essence of Athenian civilization, transporting you to a world of timeless beauty and profound wisdom.

Description

Stop At: Acropolis, Via Dionysiou Areopagitou Str., Athens 10558

The Acropolis 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. 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.

Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Parthenon, Acropolis, Top of Dionyssiou Areopagitou, Athens 10558

The Parthenon is a former temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, that was dedicated to the goddess Athena during the fifth century BC. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of classical Greek art, an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, democracy and Western civilization.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Temple of Athena Nike, Acropolis, Dionysiou Areopagitou, Acropolis, Athens 10558

The temple of Athena Nike (Athena as a goddess of victory) is the smallest temple at the Acropolis in Athens, placed at its southwest corner, at the edge of a high cliff. Built around 420 BC, the temple is the earliest fully Ionic temple. The citizens worshipped the goddesses in hopes of a successful outcome in the long Peloponnesian War fought against the Spartans and allies.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Erechtheion, Acropolis, Athens 10558

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, derives from Erechtheus, the mythical king of Athens, who was worshipped there.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Herod Atticus Odeon, Dionissiou Areopagitou, Athens

Built by Athenian benefactor (and Roman senator) Herodes Atticus in around 161 AD as a memorial to his late wife, Regilla, the Herodion (as it’s commonly called) is one of the most striking Athens monuments and one of the world’s oldest functioning theatres.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Temple of Olympian Zeus, Leoforos Vasilissis Olgas, Leoforos Amalias, Athens 10557

Temple of Olympian Zeus is a former colossal temple at the centre of the Greek capital, Athens. It was dedicated to "Olympian" Zeus, a name originating from his position as head of the Olympian gods.Construction began in the 6th century BC during the rule of the Athenian tyrants, who envisaged building the greatest temple in the ancient world, but it was not completed until the reign of Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD, some 638 years after the project had begun. During the Roman period, the temple, which included 104 colossal columns, was renowned as the largest temple in Greece and housed one of the largest cult statues in the ancient world.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Panathinaiko Stadio, Panathinaiko Stadio, Athina 116 36, Greece

The first stadium was build at 330 BC primarily for the Panathenaic Games.It was rebuilt in marble by Herodes Atticus, an Athenian Roman senator, by 144 AD it had a capacity of 50,000 seats. After the rise of Christianity in the 4th century it was largely abandoned. The stadium was excavated in 1869 and hosted the Zappas Olympics in 1870 and 1875. After being refurbished, it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern Olympics in 1896 and it is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Presidential Palace, Proedriko Megaro, Vasileos Georgiou B 2, Athina 106 74, Greece

The Presidential palace in Athens, is the official residence of the president of the Hellenic Republic. It served previously as the Royal Palace, until the abolition of the monarchy by the 1973 referendum.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Hellenic Parliament, Parliament Mansion, Athens GR

This imposing, minimalist building served as the Royal Palace until 1909, when it was damaged by fire. Now home to the Hellenic Parliament, the building was erected between 1836 and 1843 for King Otto. Built by Bavarian architect Gurtner, the building served as a luxurious temporary residence to wealthy and influential Athenians during the final phases of its construction – that is, until the summer of 1843 when the Royal Couple finally moved in.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Mount Lycabettus, Athens

Lycabettus Hill is the highest point in Athens at a height of 277m. Visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the whole of Athens, the Acropolis and out to sea towards the islands.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Ancient Agora of Athens, Adrianou 24, Athens 10555

The Agora's initial use was for a commercial, assembly, or residential gathering place where the great thinkers Sophocles, Socrates, Protagoras, among others, would meet and where ordinary citizens could come and interact with their peers, voice their concerns, agree on solutions and courses of action.Among the agora’s many temples, alters and other shrines, the temple of Hephaestus is one of the best preserved of its type in Greece. Built to honour Hephaistos, the patron of metal workers and Athena Ergane, patroness of potters and crafts in general, it was built around the same time as the Parthenon.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Temple of Poseidon, Cape Sounio, Sounio 195 00, Greece

The Temple of Poseidon is located on Cape Sounion. Built at the same time as the Parthenon, during the Golden Age of Pericles, it was not just a place of worship of the god of the sea (inside the temple, right in the center, there was an imposing statue of Poseidon with a height of more than 6 meters). Its prominent position above the sea at the southeastern tip of Attica made the temple a sign to sailors that they were near Piraeus.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Acropolis Museum, Dionysiou Areopagitou 15, Athens 11742

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.

Duration: 1 hour