Acropolis Walking Tour, Including Syntagma Square & City Center
Description
One for all you history buffs! Discover Athens' ancient history on this fascinating city walking tour with an expert local guide! Venture inside the ancient Acropolis of Athens — a UNESCO World Heritage site — and discover just how this ancient monument towers above the city below. You'll also see such sites as the Greek Parliament House and Syntagma Square in the heart of central Athens. All entrance fees are at your own expense. Please be aware that even with our skip-the-ticket-line service, there might be some waiting time required for security checks. This is because visitor numbers can fluctuate unpredictably at the sites throughout the day. The typical waiting time falls within 0 to 10 or 30 minutes, though on rare occasions, it might be longer.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Syntagma Metro Station Museum
Watch the Change of the Guards
Watch the Change of the Guards
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Walk through the National Gardens
Zappeion Hall
Get an 1.5 hour comprehensive guided tour inside the Acropolis and all its famous monuments
Dionysus Theater
Herodeion
Propylaea
Nike Temple
Parthenon
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT BABY STROLLERS: Please have in mind that baby strollers are not allowed on the Acropolis, archaeological site and that there is no cloakroom at the side entrance we use to enter. For your own convenience, it is recommended to use a baby pouch instead of a baby stroller.
- Comfortable walking shoes, sun-screen and a hat are recommended
- Dress according to weather
- Bring a bottle of water
- Strict Acropolis entry times mean we can't wait for latecomers. No refunds will be given.
- All visitors undergo airport-style security; expect peak season waits of up to 30+ minutes.
- Cutoff times sync with Athens local time.
- Tours run rain or shine.
- If you selected the WITHOUT ticket option you must follow the instructions on your voucher to buy the tickets
- When entrance to the Acropolis is free, the cost of the entrance fee is already deducted from the tour price
Reviews(405)
Visiting Athens for the first time, one of the things you want to visit, from the photos that you have seen, is Syntagma Square. These photos, taken from the bottom, usually show stairs that appear to lead directly to the Parliament building. An optical illusion, the result of the traditional skill of photographers. Actually, between the stairs and the esplanade where Parliament is located and where the famous "evzones" are mounted and evolved there is an avenue with up to seven lanes of circulation, so all the charm of the photos is diluted. Visitor naivety who has not previously had the idea to observe Google Streetview! The changing of the guard of the "evzones" on Sundays at 11 am is conspicuous, but with very few personnel.
Thank you for sharing such a candid perspective with us. We appreciate your honesty—it’s true that photography often captures a curated slice of a city, and the reality of a bustling modern metropolis like Athens can sometimes be a bit of a contrast to those iconic, wide-angle shots. The tension between the ancient monuments and the energetic, modern traffic is indeed a unique feature of our city’s landscape. We are glad you found the Changing of the Guard to be a spectacle worth witnessing; it remains one of our favorite traditions. We hope that despite the contrast in expectations, you were still able to find some special moments during your time in the city center. Warmly, Athens Walking Tours Team
Well worth the money. This tour was amazing and our guide was very knowledgeable. Truly a great tour.
Thank you, Tiffany! We’re pleased to hear the tour felt truly worth it. That mix of city energy, history, and Acropolis grandeur always shines brighter with a knowledgeable guide leading the way. So glad you enjoyed it from start to finish! Warm regards, Athens Walking Tours Team
This was the 2nd time I’ve done this tour. I did it 9 years ago and got a lot out of it. The tour was in 2 parts. The first was of central Athens including Syntagma, central Athens including the gardens. Despina led the tour and she’s quite a character. Interesting historical and political perspectives. I learned a lot. The Acropolis tour was run by Hermes’ who was engaging, knowledgeable and had a lovely dry wit. He led us up the Acropolis gently as it was a hot day, explaining lots of things along the way. He too shared fascinating historical and political perspectives that I hadn’t heard about (and I have Greek heritage). This tour is a great taster into Athens. I recommend it.
What a joy to read, thank you! We’re so glad you decided to join us again after all these years — that’s the best compliment we could hope for. Despina and Hermes both bring their own spark and depth to Athens’ stories, and it sounds like you experienced the city through their eyes in the best way possible. Warm regards, Athens Walking Tours Team
Such an amazing experience to see all the historical beauty of Athens - I enjoyed all the history and how knowledgeable our tour guide was! Dimitri made the experience fun and enjoyable for All and was very kind to think of others throughout the tour! It was pretty hot - make sure you have plenty of water and good walking shoes!
Jenn, what a joy to read your review! We're so happy you had an amazing experience exploring the historical beauty of Athens. It's fantastic that Dimitri's deep knowledge made the tour so fun and enjoyable, and that his kindness and consideration for everyone shone through. We truly appreciate you highlighting the importance of water and good walking shoes – excellent advice for fellow travelers! Warm regards, Athens Walking Tours Team
The tour was highly educational, our tour guide Eva was outstanding! She was warm friendly and very knowledgeable. I loved the way she explained the whole story of Athens and Acropolis allowing us enough time to capture and experience the history behind it! Eva was very interactive and even treated us to the traditional Greek dessert to us, which was very touching! Eva offered to take our photos and found the experience even more special and adventurous because of the nature of her personality! I would highly recommend this tour to all who would like to make it worthwhile visiting Athens. Thank you Eva and team xxx
What a fantastic review, thank you, Husna! It’s wonderful to know that Eva’s warmth, storytelling, and personal touches made your experience so memorable. A tour should feel like more than just facts, it should bring history to life, and it sounds like Eva did just that! We’re so glad you enjoyed the journey (and the sweet treat!). Wishing you more great adventures ahead! Warm regards, Athens Walking Tours Team
So-so tour. Meeting point has the dirtiest WC in Athens. Low standards, the guide was enthusiastic but disorganized. Her photos/diagrams should have been in a binder with plastic photo holders vs falling out onto the floor numerous times. We bought the tour to get tickets to the Acropolis. One ticket was for the tour time and the other was for a later window holding us up at the entry. The guides audio system broke down mid-way through the tour. She was admonished by other guides for shouting/loud voice that was competing with other tours. She wasn’t carrying spare batteries that would have fixed the problem. Wouldn’t go on another tour hosted by this company. Meh…
Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re truly sorry to hear that your experience with us did not meet your expectations. We understand how frustrating it must have been to encounter issues during your tour, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused. Regarding the meeting point, we regret that the public facilities nearby were not up to standard. Unfortunately, as these are public restrooms, they are outside of our control, but we understand the impact this had on your first impression. We also appreciate your comments about the guide’s materials and audio equipment. Our guides are usually well-prepared, and we regret that technical difficulties affected your tour. We’ve already addressed this with our team to ensure spare batteries are always carried, and materials are better organized. Concerning the Acropolis tickets, we strive to streamline the process, but it seems there was an issue with the timing in your case. We’re reviewing this to prevent similar situations in the future. Your feedback helps us improve, and we hope you’ll consider giving us another chance to provide the high-quality experience we aim for. Warm regards, Athens Walking Tours Team
Very insightful. The tour guide did a great job at explaining all the history and was passionate about it. My teens enjoyed it. I recommend.
Thank you so much for your kind words! It’s uplifting to hear that you found the tour so insightful and engaging—and that your teens enjoyed it too! Our guides truly love sharing their passion for history, and it’s always good to know it resonates with guests of all ages. We’re grateful for your recommendation and hope to welcome you and your family back for more memorable experiences in Athens!
Alexandria was a very good guide, easy to understand and wealth of knowledge. Pace was good and timing too eg for entry into Acropolis, missing the queues. Really made it a very good tour. Only negative was booking T&C said arrive 15 mins early, then email the day before said be there 30mins before!!! Crazy early - only needed 5/10 mins to distribute ear pieces/tickets and if you are late then should be your fault.
Thank you for sharing your feedback! We’re happy to hear that Alexandra made your tour enjoyable and informative, and that the pace and timing worked well to avoid the queues—she’s truly fantastic at bringing the history to life. We do apologize for the confusion about the arrival time. We always recommend arriving just 15 minutes early to keep things smooth while ensuring everyone gets their earpieces and tickets in good time. Your point is well taken, and we’ll make sure the communication stays consistent. We’re grateful for your understanding and look forward to welcoming you again!
The guide was exceptional! His knowledge of the history of the sites and Greece in general was phenominal. I would highly recommend this tour
Thank you very much for your lovely review! It brings us joy to read you had such an exceptional experience on the tour and that your guide’s deep knowledge of Greek history made it truly special. It’s always wonderful when the history of these incredible sites comes to life. We really appreciate your high recommendation and hope to have you join us for more cozy and insightful tours in the future!
Great guide, very nice walk around town. Really interesting stop at the archeological museum. Everything was pleasant and very informative.
Irene, what a joy to hear you enjoyed your time on our Acropolis and City Center Walking Tour! It feels good to know that our guide made the experience enjoyable and informative, as it should always be for Athens visitors. We're particularly thrilled that you appreciated the Archaeological Museum. It's a catch to delve deeper into the history of Athens. Thank you so much for choosing us to be a part of your Athenian adventure. We're truly grateful for your kind words and hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to Athens in the future.
