Athens & Eleusis Full Day Private tour





Description
Discover the most important sites of Athens, visit one of the best examples of Byzantine Art, Dafni Monastery, and end up to Eleusis (the entrance to the underworld) where Eleusinian Mysteries, the most famous of the secret religious rites of ancient Greece, took place.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Sightseeing in Athens starts with the hill of Acropolis which will make your day. On the historical hill, you will have the opportunity to see the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Temple of the Athena Nike, the monumental gateway (Propylaea), the Erechtheum and of course the famous Parthenon, the main temple dedicated to the virgin goddess Athena.
The Propylaea is the monumental entrances to the sacred area dedicated to Athena, the patron goddess of the city. Built by the architect Mnesicles with Pentelic marble, their design was avant-garde. To the south-west of the Propylaea, on a rampart protecting the main entrance to the Acropolis, is the Ionian temple of Apteros Nike.
Parthenon, the main temple dedicated to the virgin goddess Athena. The eternal symbol of the Athenian Democracy and the Western Civilization.
Temple of Poseidon and Athena, the strangest and most sacred place in ancient Athens.
Temple dedicated to the goddess Athena Nike or Wingless Victory.
The Theatre of Dionysus Elefthereus is a major theatre in Athens, considered to be the world's first theatre, built at the foot of the Athenian Acropolis.
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a stone Roman theater structure located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis of Athens, Greece. The building was completed in 161 AD and then renovated in 1950.
After the Acropolis, we will head towards the Temple of Zeus, the biggest temple in antiquity, devoted to the King of the Gods, by way of Hadrian's Arch.
We will visit Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896.
Then moving into the historical center of the city we will drive up the highest hill of Athens, Lycabettus Hill, where you’ll have the best panoramic view of the city, from the hill of Acropolis to the Aegean Sea.
The Hellenic Parliament, in Greek known as Voulí ton Ellínon is the parliament of Greece, located in the Old Royal Palace, overlooking Syntagma Square in Athens. The Parliament is the supreme democratic institution that represents the citizens through an elected body of Members of Parliament.
We will see the changing of the guard (Euzones) in front of the old palace, which is today Parliament House, above the central square of Athens.
Syntagma 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.
The Academy Building constitutes one of three parts in an “architectural trilogy”. It was founded with the Constitutional Decree of March 18th, 1926, as an Academy of Sciences, Humanities and Fine Arts.
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is the largest state institution of higher learning in Greece, and among the largest universities in Europe. The splendid Athens University was designed by the Danish architect Christian Hansen and completed in 1864.
The National Library of Greece was built at the end of the 19th century, as the last of the Architectural Trilogy of Athens, a group of three neoclassical buildings which also includes the Academy and the University. The building was designed by Theophil Hansen.
The Monastery is built on the location of the ancient temple, dedicated to Daphnian Apollo that was destroyed during the raid of the Goths in 395 B.C. Today, what remains of this ancient temple is an Ionian pillar built on the colonnade of the narthex. Dafni Monastery is protected by Unesco as one of the World's Heritage Monuments because of its incredible mosaics dating back in the 11th c AD.
Visit the archaeological site of Eleusis with the Great Propylaea, the Sacred Well, the Telesterion, Demeter’s Temple, the entrance to the Underworld and the little church. The mycenean cult of Demeter was introduced, as the worship of a deity connected to nature and the growing of cereals. The continuity of Demeter's cult is attested until Roman times, by the erection of successive temples on the east side of the hill. Here were celebrated the famous Eleusinian Mysteries in which the participants swore to secrecy. While in the Museum are exhibited findings from the area, most important the huge statue of Kore, a female featured statue that decorated the Propylaea.
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
- 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(18)
Stefanos was an outstanding guide showing the best of Athens. His information helped to understand Greek history and culture. A wonderful day!
We had an incredible time on the Athens Full Day Private Tour. George from Olive by the Sea tours was FANTASTIC!! It was our first time to Greece and we would only be in Athens for two days. We wanted to see as much as possible and this tour was perfect!!! We fit all of the major locations - Acropolis, Parthenon, Agora, Proplyea, Temple of Athena, Temple of Zeus, Panathenaic Stadium (1st modern Olympics Games), Athens "balcony" to overlook entire city, changing of the guard, National Archeological Musuem, and many many more. The tour was perfect!! Lunch was in Koukaki and I've gotta say that was the BEST gyro I've ever eaten. I get them in the U.S. all the time, but nothing compares to this!!! George kept us on time, but we never felt rushed even with a jammed packed schedule, he shared history, local expertise, answered questions, and a few laughs along the way. He was knowledgeable, fun, charismatic, just a joy to be around, and we had a blast spending the day with him. Highly recommend this tour from Olive Sea Travel!!!
The experience was extraordinary. Great punctuality and excellent service.
We went on a full day tour and our driver Panos was a very intelligent individual who knew his Greek history. He would explain the areas before we got there and then perform a recap after seeing all the sites in Athens. Recommend this tour and especially the tour guide.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear Panos's knowledge and thorough explanations made your tour enjoyable. Your recommendation means a lot, and we’re glad the day exploring Athens was memorable for you!
Theo was absolutely wonderful and we all enjoyed talking and laughing with him the entire day! He was so informative and I loved his love for his country! We, the Bahamian Crew’ highly recommend Theo for your tours!!
Thank you, Cabrina! We're thrilled you had such a great day with Theo. Your kind words mean a lot, and we’re glad his passion and knowledge made your experience unforgettable. We hope to welcome you back soon!
Chris met me and my wife at our hotel Athens Marriott and was in the lobby even before we made our way downstairs. We walked outside to his Mercedes mini van and the fun began. Chris was very friendly and courteous. He told us the plans he made and made a point to hit the major spots before tour busses flooded the spots. Very knowledgeable about the historic sites and we had a great time. Thank you Chris.
Thank you, TD! We’re thrilled you had such a great experience with Chris. It’s wonderful to know he made your tour special with his knowledge and planning. We hope to welcome you again for more adventures!
Chris met us at our hotel and before we had a chance to make it to the lobby of the Athens Marriott. He was very courteous and friendly. We walked outside to his black Mercedes mini van and he explained the tour and where we were heading. He covered all the major attractions and explained the sites history. He made sure to cover everything and asked is their was anything else we would like to see. When we were near the end he took us to this fabulous Greek restaurant for lunch where the food and drink and staff was amazing. We were extremely lucky to have Chris as our guide. Thank you Chris.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We're thrilled Chris made your tour memorable with his knowledge and attentiveness. It's great to hear you enjoyed the sights and the amazing lunch. We hope to welcome you again soon!
Alexander was a fantastic tour guide! He was knowledgeable and had an amazingly positive energy making the whole trip an absolute delight. It was the best tour we’ve ever been on.
Dear Sarah, Thank you for sharing such a wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that Alexander’s knowledge and positive energy made your tour an absolute delight. Knowing that it was the best tour you've ever been on is truly an honor. We look forward to welcoming you back for more exceptional experiences in Athens! Best regards, Dimitra Kapantai
Andreas was our tour guide and he was totally awesome. He was a true Athens local that had a deep knowledge of the city. We did the tour on our last full day in Athens and we had seen some of the sights in the tour already and he rearranged the schedule to show us all new things we did not know about. He took us out for an amazing lunch outside the city that we never would have experienced on our own. I highly recommend this tour.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear Andreas made your tour so special and customized it to your needs. Your recommendation means a lot, and we're glad you enjoyed exploring Athens with a local touch.
Thank you for the great tour. Babis was very knowledgeable and had made a great time schedule for us to visit each site. He even gave us time to enjoy a few extra locations that we had in mind. Would recommend this tour, especially with babis, who was a great driver and guide.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear Babis made your tour memorable and accommodated your extra locations. Your recommendation means a lot to us!



