Tours/Athens/Viator
Viator · Private tour

Best of Athens Half Day Private Tour

4.8(431)Athens1 hour
VIATOR4.7(267)TRIPADVISOR5.0(164)

Description

Explore the timeless wonders of Athens and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of history and culture as we journey through iconic landmarks. From the majestic Acropolis, where the Parthenon stands as a testament to ancient civilization, to the historic Plaka district with its charming streets and vibrant atmosphere, this tour encapsulates the essence of Athens. Marvel at the intricate craftsmanship of the Erechtheion and delve into the heart of ancient Athens at the Agora, once the bustling marketplace and agora of Athenian democracy. With personalized attention from your expert guide, uncover hidden gems and fascinating anecdotes that bring each site to life. • Take the hassle out of seeing Athens with the freedom of a private tour • Get the personalized experience of a private tour • Customize the itinerary to suit your interests and preferences • Gain a thorough perspective of Athens' key landmarks • Enjoy the comfort of an air-conditioned private car with WiFi available onboard

Tour Options

Best of + Acropolis Museum 5H
  • Duration: 5 hours Athenian Marvels: A 5-hour Athens panoramic tour featuring the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the world-famous Acropolis Museum Necessary entrance tickets: Acropolis of Athens, Acropolis Museum - not included Pickup included
Best of + Museum + Agora 6H
  • Duration: 6 hours Athens Classical Antiquities: A 6-hour Athens tour featuring the Acropolis, the Parthenon, Acropolis Museum, Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus Necessary entrance tickets: Acropolis of Athens, Acropolis Museum, Ancient Agora of Athens - not included Pickup included
Best of + Ancient Agora 5H
  • Duration: 5 hours Athens Timeless Treasures: A 5-hour Athens panoramic tour featuring the Acropolis, the Parthenon, Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus Necessary entrance tickets: Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Agora of Athens - not included Pickup included
Best of Athens 4 Hours
  • Duration: 4 hours Athens Odyssey: A 4-hour panoramic tour of Athens including the Acropolis of Athens and Parthenon Necessary entrance tickets: Acropolis of Athens - not included Pickup included
Best of + Arch. Museum 5H
  • Duration: 5 hours Athenian Time Capsule: A 5-hour Athens panoramic tour featuring the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and National Archaeological Museum Necessary entrance tickets: Acropolis of Athens, Archaeological Museum - not included Pickup included

Itinerary

5 min

Pick up from your hotel, apartment, Airbnb in Athens or Piraeus port

Admission not included30 min

Walk on the land in which thousands of years ago some of the largest and most important parts of the global philosophy, politics, and science were born and flourished. Navigate ancient monuments of priceless cultural and historical value and experience in person the greatness and glamour of Greek ancient times. Starting off with the Acropolis, which in Greek translates to the edge of the city, the geographically and spiritually highest point according to ancient Greeks.

5 min

The Propylaea was the monumental gateway to the Acropolis of Athens and was one of several public works commissioned by the Athenian leader Pericles in order to rebuild the Acropolis a generation after the conclusion of the Persian Wars.

30 min

An architectural jewel that hosts the best of what the human spirit and genius has ever conceived, an open embrace that awaits its famed sister marbles to welcome them home again.

15 min

The Erechtheion is an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens in Greece which was dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon.

15 min

The Temple of Athena Nike is a temple on the Acropolis of Athens, dedicated to the goddesses Athena and Nike. Built around 420 BC, the temple is the earliest fully Ionic temple on the Acropolis. It has a prominent position on a steep bastion at the southwest corner of the Acropolis to the right of the entrance, the Propylaea. In contrast to the Acropolis proper, a walled sanctuary entered through the Propylaea, the Victory Sanctuary was open, entered from the Propylaea's southwest wing and from a narrow stair on the north. The sheer walls of its bastion were protected on the north, west, and south by the Nike Parapet, named for its frieze of Nikai celebrating victory and sacrificing to their patroness, Athena and Nike.

15 min

The Theatre of Dionysus is an ancient Greek theatre in Athens. It is built on the south slope of the Acropolis hill, originally part of the sanctuary of Dionysus Eleuthereus. The first orchestra terrace was constructed on the site around the mid- to late-sixth century BC, where it hosted the City Dionysia. The theatre reached its fullest extent in the fourth century BC under the epistates of Lycurgus when it would have had a capacity of up to 17,000, and was in continuous use down to the Roman period. The theatre then fell into decay in the Byzantine era and was not identified, excavated, and restored to its current condition until the nineteenth century.

15 min

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a stone Roman theater structure located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis of Athens. The building was completed in 161 AD and then renovated in 1950.

Pass by

The Arch of Hadrian, most commonly known in Greek as Hadrian's Gate, is a monumental gateway resembling a Roman triumphal arch. It spanned an ancient road from the center of Athens, Greece, to the complex of structures on the eastern side of the city that included the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

Pass by

Between the Acropolis and the Ilisos River are the remains of the Olympian Zeus Temple (now known as the Pillars of Olympian Zeus), one of Athens’ most important and oldest shrines. The space even today gives the visitor a sense of grandeur.

10 min

Continuing with the stunning Calimarmaro or as it is called today, the Panathenaic Stadium, the house of the first modern Olympic games, made of Pentelic marble in which the Olympic ideals are still reflected today.

20 min

After leaving the beautiful Calimarmaro behind us, we will drive up to Lycabettus hill where you will enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of the city and admire the combination of ancient and modern Athens from above.

Pass by

Syntagma Square (Constitution Square) is the central square of Athens. The square is named after the Constitution that Otto, the first King of Greece, was obliged to grant after a popular and military uprising on 3 September 1843.[2] It is located in front of the 19th century Old Royal Palace, housing the Greek Parliament since 1934. Syntagma Square is the most important square of modern Athens from both a historical and social point of view, at the heart of commercial activity and Greek politics. The name Syntagma alone also refers to the neighbourhood surrounding the square.

5 min

View of the national guards and the monument of the unknown soldier. Quick stop for a photo.

15 min

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a war memorial located in Syntagma Square in Athens, in front of the Old Royal Palace. It is a cenotaph dedicated to the Greek soldiers killed during war. It was sculpted between 1930 and 1932 by sculptor Fokion Rok. The tomb is guarded by the Evzones of the Presidential Guard.

Pass by

The Academy of Athens is Greece's national academy and the highest research establishment in the country. It was established in 1926 and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. The Academy's main building is one of the major landmarks of Athens.

Pass by

The National Library of Greece is situated near the center of the city of Athens. It was designed by the Danish architect Theophil Freiherr von Hansen, as part of his famous Trilogy of neo-classical buildings including the Academy of Athens and the original building of the Athens University. It was founded by Ioannis Kapodistrias.

Pass by

The University of Athens has been in continuous operation since its establishment in 1837 and is the oldest higher education institution of the modern Greek state and the first contemporary university in both the Balkan Peninsula and the Eastern Mediterranean. Today it is one of the largest universities by enrollment in Europe, with over 69,000 registered students. The University of Athens was founded on 3 May 1837 by King Otto of Greece and was named in his honour Othonian University. It was the first university in the liberated Greek state and in the surrounding area of Southeast Europe as well. It was also the second academic institution after the Ionian Academy. This fledgling university consisted of four faculties; Theology, Law, Medicine and Arts (which included applied sciences and mathematics). During its first year of operation, the institution was staffed by 33 professors, while courses were attended by 52 students and 75 non-matriculated "auditors".

Pass by

The old historical neighborhood of Athens, clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, and incorporating labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture. Plaka is built on top of the residential areas of the ancient town of Athens. It is known as the "Neighborhood of the Gods" due to its proximity to the Acropolis and its many archaeological sites.

Pass by

The Old Parliament House at Stadiou Street in Athens housed the Greek Parliament between 1875 and 1935. It now houses the country's National Historical Museum.

Admission not included60 min

Optional visit for 1 hour by selecting the "Best of + Acropolis Museum 5H" or the "Best of + Museum + Agora 6H" option of this tour. The entrance tickets are not included. After exploring the Acropolis, visit the Acropolis Museum nearby. Discover a vast collection of artifacts and sculptures from the Acropolis, including the original Caryatids, Parthenon friezes, and other treasures of ancient Greece.

Admission not included30 min

Optional visit for 30 minutes at the Ancient Agora by selecting the "Best of + Anc. Agora 5H" or the "Best of + Museum + Agora 6H" option of this tour. The Ancient Agora was the heart of public life in ancient Athens. It served as a marketplace and a civic center where people gathered for social, political, and commercial activities. Here, you can see the remains of various buildings, including the Stoa of Attalos, the Temple of Hephaestus, and the Bouleuterion (Council House). The entrance tickets are not included.

Admission not included30 min

Optional visit for 30 minutes at the Temple of Hephaestus by selecting the "Best of + Anc. Agora 5H" or the "Best of + Museum + Agora 6H" option of this tour. This beautifully preserved temple is situated on the west side of the Ancient Agora in Athens. Built in the 5th century BC, it is dedicated to Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths and craftsmanship. The temple's excellent condition allows visitors to get a glimpse of ancient Greek architectural style. The entrance tickets are not included.

Admission not included60 min

Optional visit for 1 hour at the National Archaeological Museum by selecting the "Best of + Arch. Museum 5H" option of this tour. The total duration of the tour by selecting this option is about 5 hours. The entrance tickets are not included. Explore the vast collection of ancient artifacts and treasures at the National Archaeological Museum, one of the most important museums in the world.

Highlights

Private transportation
Bottled water
WiFi on board
Athens hotel or apartment/ Piraeus port pickup and drop-off
Professional drivers with deep knowledge of history (Not licensed to accompany you in any site)
Air-conditioned vehicle

What's included

Included
Private transportation
Bottled water
WiFi on board
Athens hotel or apartment/ Piraeus port pickup and drop-off
Professional drivers with deep knowledge of history (Not licensed to accompany you in any site)
Air-conditioned vehicle
Not included
Acropolis of Athens (must be purchased in advance due to limited availability - available upon request or can be pre-booked using the links provided on your ticket/ voucher)
Acropolis Museum (OPTIONAL depending on the tour option selected - available upon request or can be pre-booked using the links provided on your ticket/ voucher)
Ancient Agora of Athens (OPTIONAL depending on the tour option selected - available upon request or can be pre-booked using the links provided on your ticket/ voucher or purchased directly on-site)
Archaeological Museum (OPTIONAL depending on the tour option selected - available upon request or can be pre-booked using the links provided on your ticket/ voucher or purchased directly on-site)
Licensed tour guide - upon request and depending on availability
Lunch
Gratuities

Pickup Locations & Times

This is a private tour exclusively for your group. Pickup time can be adjusted upon request. Your driver can pick you up and drop you off at the same location or at a different location of your choice within Athens. For hotel pickups, your driver will be waiting in the hotel lobby. For apartment pickups, your driver will be waiting outside the entrance of the building. For cruise port pickups, your driver will be waiting at the disembarkation gate, holding a sign with your name for easy identification.

Traveller Ratings

4.8
431 reviews
5
394
4
17
3
6
2
11
1
3

Important Information

  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Our drivers are not official tour guides, but they are knowledgeable and can provide fascinating commentary in fluent English. Although they will not enter the archaeological sites with you, they can answer all of your questions about the places you visit with this tour.
  • Third party activities and especially extreme sports are not allowed during the tour. This can be a cause for immediate cancellation of the tour.
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off upon request (Additional cost)
  • We can provide you with the skip-the-line tickets upon request.

Reviews(431)

4
468sonjal
June 20, 2026
Must book tour

Spyros Zotakis is the best!!! We had an outstanding 4-hour private “Best of Athens” tour and couldn’t have been more pleased with the experience. Our guide, Spyros Zotakis, was exceptionally knowledgeable, sharing fascinating insights into Athens’ rich history, culture, and biblical significance that brought each site to life. The tour was thoughtfully planned and expertly organized to minimize traffic delays, allowing us to maximize our time at the city’s most important historical and archaeological landmarks. We especially appreciated how Spyros Zotakis timed our visits to coincide with the best lighting conditions for photographs, which made for some truly spectacular memories and images. The combination of historical expertise, seamless logistics, and attention to detail made this one of the highlights of our trip. We highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting a comprehensive, engaging, and stress-free introduction to Athens.

1 people found this helpful
Operator response

Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us. Your kind words truly mean a lot to our team and motivate us to continue providing the best possible service to our guests. It was our pleasure to be part of your trip to Greece, and we hope to welcome you again in the future! Thank you once again for choosing us.

M
Michael_G
June 20, 2026
Great tour with great guide

This was a great way to get an overview of the sites of the city on our first day here. John was very knowledgeable and was very willing to modify this tour to our particular needs and desires Highly recommend

Operator response

Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us. Your kind words truly mean a lot to our team and motivate us to continue providing the best possible service to our guests. It was our pleasure to be part of your trip to Greece, and we hope to welcome you again in the future! Thank you once again for choosing us.

O
Orianna G
June 17, 2026
Twelve stars out of ten

Our driver, Thanasis was nothing short of phenomenal. He was very informative, customizable to what we wanted to see on the tour. At one point, I was super hungry and asked him to make a recommendation for lunch and he took us to a local gyro place that was delicious times 10, it had seasoned pita, in a wrap, eating with locals. Hands down best gyro I’ve had. After having him as my tour guide, I did not want any other driver. He was helpful, informative, educational. I mean the list goes. He recommended dinner places, showed us the directions of where to go. If you go to Athens, choose him as your driver! You will be so thankful you did! He became our friend and wasn’t just a driver, I will surely miss him when we leave Athens!

1 people found this helpful
Operator response

Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us. Your kind words truly mean a lot to our team and motivate us to continue providing the best possible service to our guests. It was our pleasure to be part of your trip to Greece, and we hope to welcome you again in the future! Thank you once again for choosing us.

L
Laurie_B
June 17, 2026
The Best of Athens with Ilias our Awesome Guide

We were taken care of before we even arrived in Athens. Our tickets for the Acropolis and the Agora were purchased for us in advance. Ilias was our guide and driver and he was the most respectful and engaging guide we’ve had in our travels. He wanted us to see everything we possibly could. From modern Athens and Greek history to ancient and mythological events, we learned much as we drove around and stopped at all the sights. Ilias even stopped and bought us cold Greek coffee because he wanted us to experience it.

Operator response

Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us. Your kind words truly mean a lot to our team and motivate us to continue providing the best possible service to our guests. It was our pleasure to be part of your trip to Greece, and we hope to welcome you again in the future! Thank you once again for choosing us.

H
H5642QKamym
June 10, 2026
Menelaus is the best tour guide in Athens!

Menelaus(Mike) was the BEST tour guide! He had so much knowledge of Greece history, brought us water, dropped us/picked us up so quickly, and packed in so many interesting stops during our time together! While we traveled to the next location, Mike would give us a short history lesson on the upcoming site. He even gave us great suggestions for the remaining time in Greece and we are exploring his suggestions! We highly recommend using Mine for full and half day trips, he is truly fantastic!

1 people found this helpful
Operator response

Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us. Your kind words truly mean a lot to our team and motivate us to continue providing the best possible service to our guests. It was our pleasure to be part of your trip to Greece, and we hope to welcome you again in the future! Thank you once again for choosing us.

P
patricesT67KI
June 8, 2026
Best of Athens Private Tour Half Day

Menelaos was an excellent guide and driver. He shared the beautiful history of Athens prehistoric to modern. I learned so much! I recommend him for a private tour of Athens.

1 people found this helpful
Operator response

Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us. Your kind words truly mean a lot to our team and motivate us to continue providing the best possible service to our guests. It was our pleasure to be part of your trip to Greece, and we hope to welcome you again in the future! Thank you once again for choosing us.

J
Jennifer_R
June 7, 2026
George my guide was fantastic. Knowledgeable, friendly and an absolutely fantastic day 10/10

wonderful tours of the National gallery, the archaeological museum and the PanAthenaic stadium, plus a trip to the very top of Athens. George wa great company!

Operator response

Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us. Your kind words truly mean a lot to our team and motivate us to continue providing the best possible service to our guests. It was our pleasure to be part of your trip to Greece, and we hope to welcome you again in the future! Thank you once again for choosing us.

K
Kathleen_G
June 6, 2026
Very informative. Our...

Very informative. Our driver Mike was very knowledgeable, courteous and made sure that our Athens experience was the best.

Operator response

Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us. Your kind words truly mean a lot to our team and motivate us to continue providing the best possible service to our guests. It was our pleasure to be part of your trip to Greece, and we hope to welcome you again in the future! Thank you once again for choosing us.

M
Margaret_F
June 4, 2026
Excellent tour

Very good tour. Recommend it to anybody. Guide very helpful and expained things. Cant speak highly enough, very good

Operator response

Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us. Your kind words truly mean a lot to our team and motivate us to continue providing the best possible service to our guests. It was our pleasure to be part of your trip to Greece, and we hope to welcome you again in the future! Thank you once again for choosing us.

M
Mildred_M
June 1, 2026
Pickup at airport to hotel

The driver is only allowed to wait one hour from flight landing without allowing for delays. I was charged an additional $60 for the extra wait time.

Operator response

Thank you for your review. We are sorry to hear about your experience. However, we believe this review may have been posted on the wrong product. The experience you reviewed is our "Best of Athens Half Day Private Tour," which is a sightseeing tour within Athens. According to our records, the pickup for this tour was not from Athens Airport, and therefore there was no flight monitoring, flight delay, or airport waiting-time charge associated with this service. For this reason, we believe your comments may relate to a different booking or provider. If this review was posted in error, we kindly ask that you review your booking records and update the review accordingly. Thank you.

You might also like...