Half-Day Athens

Parthenon

Our Half-Day Athens City sightseeing tour starts with our door-to-door service, from Athens City Centre, your Hotel, Athens Airport, Port of Piraeus, Ferry Boat or Cruise Ship. Wherever is the most convenient for you.

Our private tour begins, by visiting the “sacred rock” of the Acropolis.

Houses-of-Parliament

The monuments of the Acropolis are unique masterpieces of ancient architecture and show the wealth and strength of ancient Athens in the 5th century B.C., the golden age of Pericles. On the Acropolis hill you will see the Parthenon, a temple that was dedicated to the goddess Athena. On the north side of the rock of the Acropolis is the Erechtheion with the world famous statues of Caryatids, on the west side you will see the Propylaea (the pre-gates) of the Acropolis which were built from the plans of Mnesikles, while to the southwest is the temple of Athena Apterus Nike (Wingless Victory). On the slopes of the Acropolis you will see the Odeum of Herodus Atticus and the ruins of the first theatre in the whole world, the Theatre of Dionysus. Walking down from the Acropolis on your way to your private-hire minibus, you will see the Areopagus (Mars Hill) the most ancient court of law, where it is recorded that St. Paul gave his historical speeches.

Temple-of-Olympian-Zeus

We will continue our private tour by visiting the Temple of Olympian Zeus (visit), the largest ancient temple in Greece, in the Corinthian order. The area where the temple is situated is surrounded by a wall separating the old (ancient Greek) and the new (Roman) City of Athens. As a part of the separating wall, Hadrian’s Arch, built by the Athenians in honour of the Emperor Hadrian, was the entrance to the city. The 18 metre (59ft) gate is made of marble and decorated in the Corinthian style.

Panathenaic-Stadium

We will continue on our City Tour with our private minibus to the Panathenaic Stadium also known as Kallimarmaro Stadium, which hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 (short visit). The Panathenaic Stadium, is the only major stadium built entirely of white marble (hence its name Kallimarmaro, meaning beautiful marble), and it is one of the oldest stadiums in the world.

Presidential-Guards

Continuing our half-day Athens private tour we will stop at Syntagma Square (Constitution Square) to watch the Changing of the Presidential Guards, which takes place in front of the Houses of Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There we will make a short stop so as to watch the Changing of the Presidential guards.

After taking photographs of the Evzones (Presidential Guards), we will drive down University Street, one of the main avenues of Athens, to see the so called Athenian Trilogy, the Academy, the University and the Library buildings.

Maximou-Mansion

Next, the Prime Minister’s Residence (Maximou Mansion), the former Royal Palace, known today as the Presidential Palace, will be seen on our way to Lycabettus Hill, the highest point of Athens. There you will have the opportunity to take your pictures with the Acropolis as a background.

Plaka1Our final visit on our private tour will be to the oldest and most picturesque neighbourhood of Athens, Plaka. Here you will see the wonderful neoclassical houses, amid a maze of narrow streets, with numerous shops selling traditional products and tourist items. Plaka is the ideal place to have your lunch at a traditional Greek taverna.

The duration of the Athens City Half-Day private tour is 4,5h – 5h.

Admission fees to sites and lunch are not included in the price of your private tour.

Your tour is flexible, giving you the opportunity to change your itinerary according to your personal wishes. Just discuss any changes you would like with your chauffeur-driver.

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