Best of Athens in one day private tour & Acropolis skip the line
Description
Dear travellers welcome to Athens! This is the best selling option so you can get a full taste of the city of Athens, guided by an expert, fluent in English Athenian driver. He CANNOT enter the sites with you. You will be provided with insightful commentary along the way. Learn the history of ancient and modern Athens and the fascinating mythology behind it. Start with going 2500 years back in history by visiting the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora. Explore the different neighborhoods of Athens and all the points of interest. Your driver can give you many useful tips. Visit one of the best museums in the world, the Acropolis museum or the Archeological museum. Explore Plaka, the neighborhood of the Gods. Eat the best fresh local Greek food after discussing your choices with your driver. This tour is PRIVATE so there is flexibility if you desire to remove or add something as long as it doesn't exceed the duration of the tour. We will make sure you will have the most amazing day!
Tour Options
Itinerary
First stop the Acropolis hill. A bucket list visit for milions around the globe. Witness from up and close the most perfectly designed building in history and the most copied one. The Parthenon, or in Greek Parthenonas meaning the temple of the virgin goddess Athena, the daughter of Zeus the god of the Gods. This is the cradle of the Western civilization, where the foundation were put and where democracy was born. Learn the fascinating history behind the Acropolis and the ancient myths related to it. Admire also the temple of Athena Nike, the Propylea, and last but not least the Erechtheon with its beatiful 6 maidens statues. On the slopes of the Acropolis there is probably the oldest theater in the world from 600 BCE and also a Roman odeon used to this day.
Next stop the ancient Agora of Athens. The center of political, financial and social life. A site brought to light by the American school of classical studies. A beatiful site where you can admire probably the most well preserved ancient Greek temple dedicated to Efestos, the blacksmith god that makes all the weapons of the gods, the son of Zeus and Hera. On site there is also a beautiful reconstruction of an ancient 2 storey shopping mall. Today the ground floor houses the museum with the findings of the agora excavation which is still going on. Beautiful pottery, ancient coins, ballots, water clocks and a lot more. Yes, there was a shopping mall with 42 shops 2500 years ago. Apart from that the site has many ruins of goverment buildings, temples, court houses, parliament, theater, statues. Socrates the famous philosopher stepped on this ground. Mostly flat and covered in trees. A must visit site after the Acropolis.
Pass by the very busy square of Monastiraki with the flea market, the antique market, shops, restaurants and also some archaeological sites. Your driver will help you navigate and provide tips for each area.
Pass by the central meat and fish market of Athens. Smell all the herbs and spices sold in the cute small shops in the front of the market. If you desire and it's possible for the driver to safely park the car so you can hop off and get a look inside this loud and busy market. Get the feeling of every day Athenian life.
Pass by the most beautiful neoclassical building in the world. Amazing design reminding ancient temples. Beautiful statues of Greek gods and philosophers. Next the first univercity of Greece and the old national library. This is called the trilogy and all where built around late 19th century.
Witness the changing of the president's guards. A ceremony taking place every hour on the hour in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier where we pay respect to all the Greek soldiers lost in battle and their bodies never returned home. Their traditional uniform is full of symbolisms behind them, related to our recent history. A very important thing to see to understand the pride and discipline of the young Greek soldiers doing their duty for 1 year like every other Greek male over 18 years old.
The temple of the Olympian Zeus. The largest temple in antiquity completed finally by the Roman emperor Hadrian in the second century AD. Look at the size of these enormous columns and the famous Hadrian's arch at the far end of the site.
The olympic stadium, built for the 1896 first modern Olympic games. Unique because it is all built by beautiful pure white marble from Pendeli mountain as the Acropolis, 10 miles from the city. Every year this is the finishing line of the authentic Marathon run where it was born.
Now the million dollar view. Admire the city from the best view point up in Lycabetus hill. Get a real sence of the size of this big city.
Built in 2009 and voted among the best museums in the world several times. On the foundation of the building a real excavation of an ancient Athenian neighborhood found during the construction, incorporated with the building. Amazing collection of findings from the Acropolis. Many replicas of artifacts stolen by Europeans few centuries back. Not to be missed while in Athens to have a complete experience of the Acropolis. Full of glass that illuminates the sculptures and also you are able to see the Acropolis high up.
An alternative for the Acropolis museum. The old part of the city on the foothill of the Acropolis. Beatiful historical neighborhood of Athens. Picturesque alleys, nice shops, cafes, restaurants. Good option for lunch also. Always very vibrant day and night.
The most incredible museum that covers 8 milleniums of history. Golden treasures, statues, murals, pottery and many more. A trip back in time. This can be an option instead of the Acropolis museum or Plaka.
If you feel you saw enough and don't want the museum choice or Plaka and want a break from the busy city you can spend some time in this beautiful small port and have a nice ice cream by the blue water. All your available choices will be discussed with your driver. This is a private tour and there is flexibility but within the tour duration.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up and drop off included from your accomodation. However please note that pick up and drop off from and to the Airport and areas far away from Athens will have an additional cost.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Travel time is already included to the total duration.
- Tour start time can be customized to suit your schedule – contact us after booking.
- Skip-the-Line Service for the Acropolis: We pre-purchase the Acropolis and ancient agora tickets on your behalf so you don’t wait at the ticket office, and you simply reimburse the ticket cost to the driver in euros cash on the day of the tour.
- FREE admission for EU citizens up to 25 years old and FREE admission for non-EU visitors up to 18 years old
- Please confirm if you would like us to proceed with purchasing the tickets for you, and let us know the ages and nationalities of the participants if applicable, so we apply any free admissions correctly.
- Acropolis 30€ pp Ancient Agora 20€ pp Acropolis museum 20€ National archaeological museum 20€ pp
Reviews(43)
Our “Best of Athens Tour” exceeded our expectations! Alexander was a wonderful host for eight hours. His enthusiasm, knowledge of Greek history and excellent driving skills made for an enjoyable day. Alexander started our excursion with all the “bucket list” sites in Athens. He dropped us off at the nearest possible site and gave us tips on how to best use our time. After we toured the site at our own pace, he gave us what would soon be familiar directions, “Call my number, hang up and I will pick you up in two minutes.” Lunch could be anywhere we selected. We requested a true Greek restaurant outside the tourist area. He delivered with a place perfect where he knew the owner who personally explained our dining options. Since this was a private tour Alexander helped us plan the afternoon. We requested going to sites we would need to drive to so we could explore walkable sites on our own the next day in the Plaka area. He delivered with sites only accessible by car - not a group tour bus. Alexander then gave us many ideas on how to spend the next day on our own. Alexander and Viator provided an experience far more valuable than a group tour at approximately half the cost of our cruise lines group tour bus.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review and for your patience at the start of the day. I'm glad that you enjoyed discovering Athens! It was really a pleasure meeting you all, and I hope to welcome you back to Greece in the future! Thank you for recommending the tour to other travellers! Warm regards to everyone! Alexander Papageorgiou
Our tour and driver, Alexander, was amazing. He knew so much about the city, it was like having a private tour guide also. He was very kind and accommodating. My family and I recommend Alexandar and this tour 100%.
Dear Alicia! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It was my pleasure showing you Athens and it's rich history. I'm delighted you enjoyed the experience. Thank you for recommending the tour to other travellers! I truly appreciate your kind words. Wishing you and your family all the best, and I hope to welcome you back to Athens someday! Best regards to everyone! Alexander Papageorgiou
One of the best private tours we have done! Alexander is very knowledgeable about Greek mythology and the history of Athens. His van was also very comfortable with AC and cold water for the hot weather. Highly recommended!
Thank you for taking the time to write this wonderful review! I'm delighted that you enjoyed the tour and the insights into Greek mythology and Athens' rich history. It was a pleasure hosting you, and I'm happy the comfortable ride, air conditioning, and cold water helped make the day even more enjoyable. Thank you for your recommendation, and I hope to see you again on a future visit to Greece! Warm regards, Alexander Papageorgiou
I am honestly not someone who typically writes reviews, but after our experience with Alexander and Bucket List Tours, I felt I had to share this. Before our trip, I spent hours researching and comparing tours, trying to find the right person to show us Greece. Choosing Alexander was one of the best decisions we made. This was truly the most incredible tour we could have hoped for. It was so much more than seeing the famous sites — it was a deep, authentic experience. Alexander was like a walking encyclopedia, and because he was born and raised in Greece, he shared history, stories, and personal insight that brought everything to life. What made it so special was how natural and intimate the day felt. It wasn’t rushed or scripted. The experience flowed beautifully. We had amazing moments learning from him, but also time to explore certain sites on our own, which created the perfect balance. He showed us parts of the city and pieces of authentic Greece that we never would have discovered on our own. Those are the moments we will remember most. If you are considering a tour in Greece, I cannot recommend Alexander and Bucket List Tours enough. He didn’t just show us Greece — he helped us truly experience it.
Dear Devin! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review. I'm grateful that, after researching your options, you chose to spend the day with me. It was a pleasure showing you Athens and sharing both the history and everyday life of Greece. I'm glad you enjoyed the balance between explanations and time to explore on your own, and that some of the less-known places became part of your experience. Thank you again for your kind words and recommendation, I truly appreciate it! I wish you all the best and hope to see you back in Greece in the future! Warm regards, Alexander Papageorgiou
I am honestly not someone who typically writes reviews, but after our experience with Alexander and Bucket List Tours, I felt I had to share this. Before our trip, I spent hours researching and comparing tours, trying to find the right person to show us Greece. Choosing Alexander was one of the best decisions we made. This was truly the most incredible tour we could have hoped for. It was so much more than seeing the famous sites — it was a deep, authentic experience. Alexander was like a walking encyclopedia, and because he was born and raised in Greece, he shared history, stories, and personal insight that brought everything to life. What made it so special was how natural and intimate the day felt. It wasn’t rushed or scripted. The experience flowed beautifully. We had amazing moments learning from him, but also time to explore certain sites on our own, which created the perfect balance. He showed us parts of the city and pieces of authentic Greece that we never would have discovered on our own. Those are the moments we will remember most. If you are considering a tour in Greece, I cannot recommend Alexander and Bucket List Tours enough. He didn’t just show us Greece — he helped us truly experience it. Please don’t hesitate to book this tour….it was the highlight of our trip.
Dear Devin! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review. I'm grateful that, after researching your options, you chose to spend the day with me. It was a pleasure showing you Athens and sharing both the history and everyday life of Greece. I'm glad you enjoyed the balance between explanations and time to explore on your own, and that some of the less-known places became part of your experience. Thank you again for your kind words and recommendation, I truly appreciate it! I wish you all the best and hope to see you back in Greece in the future! Warm regards, Alexander Papageorgiou
Alexander was sure we saw all the major attractions and gave us the history before touring the sites. He was flexible on what sites and durations we wanted. He was very friendly and knowledgeable about the history of Greece and Athens. He had a first class comfortable vehicle and great suggestions on where to eat during the tour. I would recommend this tour to anyone wanting a first class private tour of Athens.
Dear Gary thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review and for recommending the tour to other travellers! It was my pleasure showing you Athens and it's rich history! I am glad you enjoyed the lunch recommendation! Hope to see you again in the future for more adventures! Best regards, Alexander Papageorgiou
This was absolute best way to see Athens in one day! We traveled with family…from our 79 year old grandmother to 12 yr old son; Alexander was super knowledgable about Greek history and very flexible and accommodating to our requests. He made excellent suggestions to enhance our museum visits, and dropped us close to all the venues. Alexander even added other events that we didn’t think we would have time to do, and we had a lovely lunch and time to shop. This was an amazing day and Alexander felt like family by the end of our tour. Can’t wait to come back to Greece!
Dear Mary! Thank you so much for your kind words! It was a pleasure spending the day with your wonderful family and sharing the history and highlights of Athens with you. I'm delighted you enjoyed the museums, lunch, shopping, and the extra stops we were able to fit into the day. Thank you for choosing to explore Athens with me, and I look forward to welcoming you back to Greece in the future! Warm regards, Alexander Papageorgiou
We had a great tour with Evangelos! He was very knowledgeable about the history of the sights and very funny!
Thank you so much for your lovely review! I’m very happy to hear you had a great time with Evangelos. He’s a fantastic driver and guide, and I’m glad his knowledge and sense of humor made the tour even more enjoyable for you. I’ll be sure to share your kind words with him. I truly appreciate it and hope to welcome you back to Greece again someday! Warm regards, Alexander Papageorgiou
This was an amazing experience. Our guide was on time, extremely informative and dropped us right where we could walk up to where we were going. He took us to a lovely authentic Greek restaurant for lunch and suggested entrees to try. The food was great. Stopped at the end of the day for coffee. It was a fantastic day and we hit all the must see places.
Dear Teri! Thank you for your wonderful review! I’m so happy you enjoyed the experience, from the historical sites to the authentic Greek lunch and coffee stop. It was a pleasure showing you the must-see places and making the day smooth and enjoyable for you! Looking forward to welcoming you again in Athens for more exciting adventures! Thank you for trusting us with your day! Warm regards, Alexander Papageorgiou
Alexander was awesome! Very informative, great energy, and always at the ready with water and candies at the meeting points. We really enjoyed our day together and cane away with a good understanding of Athens’ history.
Dear Andrea! Thank you so much! I’m really happy you enjoyed the day and learned about Athens’ history. It was a pleasure touring with you, and I truly appreciate your kind words. Hope to see you again in Greece someday! Best regards, Alexander
