Ancient Sparta & Mystras Private Day Tour from Athens
Description
This amazing tour will give you the opportunity to discover the history of Laconia combining Ancient Greek and (the lesser known) Medieval Greek history. Visit Sparta, where Leonidas reigned and travel back in Byzantine era walking around towers, palaces and churches in Mystras.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will begin with a drive along the coast. On the way you will view of some Greek seaside villages and the island of Salamis (where the historical naval battle took place between the Athenians and the Persians). Our first stop the Corinth Canal. Opened in 1892 separating the Peloponnese peninsula from the rest of Greece and connecting the Saronic Gulf to the Corinthian Sea. You will have time to walk across on a pedestrian bridge to admire the canal closer, (if you’re game) on some days bungee jumping is an option.
After the stop at the canal we will head towards Mystras driving into the southern Peloponnese peninsula through the mountainous landscape of the Greek country side. Reaching Mystras you will automatically understand why this location stands so unique within the Greek sites. Known as the ghost city, fortified on a citadel, Mystras is one of the two locations in Greece that preserves not only medieval churches but also ordinary houses, mansions and palaces of the Byzantine Empire in combination with Frankish elements.
Walking in the site on the upper point you will reach the citadel and enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding areas while walking down hill you will meet the palaces and the Royal courtyards. Although known as the ghost city most of the monasteries are still in use and the monks will gladly show you around their small society. Before you exit you will come across the chapel of St. Demetrios, on its floor survives a plaque depicting a two head eagle (the symbol of Byzantium). It was on this very plaque that Konstantine Palaiologos kneeled before he was crowned the last emperor of the Byzantium.
Following that we will spend the rest of our time in Sparta known as the eternal rival city of the Athenian Democracy. Sparta revolved around a different Cosmo theory for the ancient Greek standards. Initially known as the birth place of Helen of Troy and the Kingdom of Menelaus (in Mycenaean period), Sparta was organized as a purely military society in the ancient Greek period. It was the city of the two Kings were a few aristocrats ruled and of course the city where Leonidas and his 300 Spartans marched from to face the Persian army Thermopylae in 480 BCE.
Continuing we will pass in front of the stadium where the statue of King Leonidas stands marking the ending point of Spartathlon race (Athens – Sparta 245,3 km).
We will visit the museum of (olive and) olive oil and learn many things about the most famouss products of Greece.
We will drive back to Athens.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up time adjustable upon your request.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The drivers are not licensed to accompany you inside any site or museum. If you require a licensed guide to tour the sites with you, you need to hire one additionally. If you have any questions you can contact us on the phone number provided by Viator.
- The duration of the tours is approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
Reviews(55)
Nikos was a terrific guide. He was on time and in a roomy van. He drove us to the Corinthian canal, took us to Sparta, an olive museum( which is an interest to us), we walked the path in Mystra, had a lovely meal and headed home. We had a lovely day and appreciated how helpful and knowledgeable Nikos was. What a fun day!
Visit to Mystras was excellent. Great walk through the ruins of the Byzantine era city. Spectacular views of the countryside, and a very good lunch in town. Our guide Theodore was great. Very friendly, and he was a wealth of knowledge on the history of the area. The only somewhat dissapointment was Sparta. Visiting Corinth would be a better option for those who haven't been there.
Terry was our guide for this one day trip. He is very knowledgeable and we had a great conversation during the long commute to Sparta. Mystras was mesmerizing and a must visit to the archeological site while Sparta mostly was a stop by experience and we found the visit to the Sparta museum was a tad less luscious. A private tour is expensive but you get to have a more personal and flexible experience which we appreciated.
Thank you for sharing your detailed experience! We're glad you enjoyed the private tour's personal touch and Terry's guidance. We'll share your feedback about Sparta museum for further considerations to enhance future visits.
We had an awesome day with Panos! He was so friendly, attentive, and patient. We appreciated his knowledge on all the historic sites we visited. He drove us to every destination safely and with great care. Lastly, the itinerary was perfect - our personal highlight being Mystras castle. Thank you, Panos, & be well!
Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled you enjoyed your day with Panos and appreciated his care and expertise. Mystras castle is indeed a highlight! We hope to welcome you again for another memorable experience!
There is no better way to see Sparta and Mystras and as a fan of hoplite history, getting to see Sparta in person was an unforgettable experience. The statue of Leonidas is absolutely amazing and only a short distance away is the ruins of Mystras. It is easily one of the most beautiful sites to see and is very accessible. Our driver Andreas was also absolutely outstanding, the drive was very enjoyable and he made it all the better with his stories and insight into the areas we drove by. He was flexible with our travel and brought us to a restaurant near Mystras that was unbelievably good. This trip was worth every penny spent!
Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled you enjoyed exploring Sparta and Mystras and appreciated Andreas' dedication and insights. Your feedback means so much, and we hope to welcome you again on another unforgettable trip!
Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and very personable. He totally planned an enjoyable time during the visit of each site. Going to see Mystra and Sparta was a highlight of our trip.
Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled you enjoyed your visit to Mystra and Sparta with our guide. Your feedback means a lot to us.
HIGHLY recommend the drive to Mystras!! Get out of the city and see the countryside!!!! It was BEAUTFUL!! Sparta was incredible. It was more about the atmosphere than the ruins, just the feeling of walking the ancient ruins was magical. Nikos was amazing. Super prompt, accommodating, full of history and FRIENDLY!! He gave us our time to explore how we wished and used the car ride to fill us in on all things Greece. Vehicle was very comfortable and the ride didn’t feel long with all of the amazing conversation. And the iced bottled water came in clutch in our hike down the mountain. YES NIKKO!!!!! Thank you for everything and we hope you visit the Fingerlakes!! Call us!
Thank you so much for your kind words and detailed review! We're thrilled you enjoyed your experience, Nikos’ hospitality, and the beautiful countryside. Your enthusiasm means a lot to us, and we hope to see you again!
This trip is the best among the tours we have joined in recent years. The minivan is very comfortable. Our driver Theodore is knowledgeable and informative. He provided answers to our questions about Greek and Sparta and we history lovers were very impressive. For those who like European history and at the same time hiking or exploring, you must not miss this excursion.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the trip and found Theodore's insights engaging. Your recommendation means a lot, especially for fellow history and adventure enthusiasts. We hope to welcome you again!
Out of a few day tours we’ve had, this was one of the most relaxing trips. The driver was humorous, informative and made a very comfortable atmosphere. We loved the wide range of knowledge we gained about Greek history especially when we’re history lovers ourselves.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted you enjoyed the tour, the driver’s humor, and the historical insights. It's wonderful to hear it matched your passion for history.
Terry was our guide for the day and he was the best! He was an excellent driver, full of knowledge, very attentive to our needs, and flexible to what we wanted to do on the way. He shared a lot of the history along the drive making it interesting and fun. It was a great way to see some of the country, and seeing Mystras was really incredible. Thanks for a great day Terry!
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that Terry made your experience so enjoyable with his knowledge and flexibility. Mystras truly is incredible, and we’re glad you had a great day exploring!