Book a Full Day Athens Tour with A Minivan

*By buying this product you only pay a small fraction of the cost. Please provide the driver with the receipt of your GuestLikeLocal payment and they will deduct it from the final price. All final prices are indicated below.

Athens Highlights

HISTORY
The concept of a democratic society, such as the one our country enjoys today, began in the Greek capital some 8,000 years ago and this is the reason why the city of Athens is referred to as the cradle of Western civilization.

By the 6th century BC, Pericles created the Golden Age of Athenian Democracy and great thinkers, writers and artists flourished in the city. Herodotus, the `father of history’, lived and wrote in Athens. Socrates, the `father of philosophy’, taught in the marketplace. Hippocrates, `the father of medicine’, practiced there. The sculptor Phidias created his great works for the Parthenon on the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. Democritus envisioned an atomic universe. Aeschylus, Euripedes, Aristophanes, and Sophocles wrote their famous plays and Pindar his Odes. This legacy would continue as, later, Plato would found his Academy outside the walls of Athens in 385 BCE and, later, Aristotle’s Lyceum would be founded in the city centre. Today, Greece’s largest city is a sprawling metropolis, with more than 3.2 million residents, and is a leading vacation destination. Athens boasts an abundance of history, culture, architecture, mythology and philosophy. A trip to the Benaki Museum is a must to help visitors understand the vast history of this world-class city.

HALF DAY IS ALL ABOUT OUR ATHENS TOUR
Your private tour begins with a visit to the Acropolis Hill where you see the Parthenon, the temple on top of the sacred rock devoted to Goddess Athena, the Goddess of wisdom, the Propylea, the entrance to the sacred rock, the Temple of Wingless Victory which was devoted to Goddess Athena-Nike, the Erechtheum, the most sacred and mythical of all the temples of Athens with its famous Caryatides (female featured statues), the 5000-seat Odeon of Herodes Atticus which was carved into the rock and is still used for music festivals, the 13000-seat theatre of Dionysus where the Athenians listened to the immortal works of Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripides and Aristophanes.

We continue our tour by visiting the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathinaic Stadium (where the Olympic Games were held for the first time in modern Athens in 1896), the Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the changing of the Guards.

Then we drive through University Street that connects Constitution (Syntagma) Square with Concord (Omonia) Square – the second most important square in Athens and see the Academy,
the University and the National Library followed by a drive up to Lycabettus Hill (highest point of Athens) where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

Our last visit will either be to the oldest part of Athens (the Plaka district), ending at the Roman Agora and the Tower of the Winds or the New Acropolis Museum.

A tour of Athens would not be complete without visiting Ermou Street, one of the Word’s top shopping avenues that ends at Monastiraki (the Flea Market).

LET’S DISCOVER VOULIAGMENI LAKE
Situated on the outskirts of Athens, Vouliagmeni Lake (Limni Vouliagmenis) is a brackish body of water fed by both the sea and underground springs. The water temperature is consistently between 71°F and 84°F (22°C and 29°C), which makes for pleasant swimming, and at the bottom of the lake is a labyrinth of underwater caves with 14 tunnels. The water is said to have curative properties, and many people come here to treat various physical ailments and partake in spa activities such as yoga and Pilates, in addition to swimming.

TEMPLE OF POSEIDON
Cape Sounion is noted for its Temple of Poseidon, one of the major monuments of the Golden Age of Athens. This temple of Poseidon was constructed in 444–440 BC during the ascendancy of the Athenian statesman Pericles, who also rebuilt the Parthenon in Athens. It is perched above the sea at a height of almost 60 metres (200 ft). It consists of 15 columns 6.10 m (20 ft) high of the Doric order, made of locally quarried white marble , located according a typical Hexastyle design.

SOUNIO TOUR
Venture out of the bustling city of Athens and explore Cape Sounio, home to the stunning Temple of Poseidon. Topped with an ancient temple to Poseidon, lord of the ocean, the cliffs of Cape Sounion offer spectacular views over the Saronic Islands. Take a dip in the crystal clear waters, enjoy a delicious Greek meal, and catch a beautiful sunset before heading back to Athens.

Half-day Sounion tour starts with a 65 kilometers scenic drive along the coastal Poseidon Avenue, that is quite similar to the French Riviera area. Before reaching our final destination, we drive through the most beautiful suburbs of Athens: Old Phaleron, Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni, Lagonissi and Old Fokea.

A few stops are required so you can have the opportunity to take photos of the sandy beaches, the yacht harbours, and the Vouliagmeni Lake whose water possesses therapeutic qualities.

Arriving at our destination, you will visit the Temple of Poseidon built on top of the hill, exactly at the meeting point of the Saronic Sea with the Aegean Sea. The temple was dedicated to God Poseidon, the lord of the Sea and it was there where all the sailors offered a last sacrifice to appease God Poseidon before leaving the safety of the Saronic Golf.

We conclude by making a stop at a traditional fish-tavern by the sea to enjoy your lunch or -even better- dinner while watching the sunset. Finally, we drive back to Athens by the same route.

What is included
• English speaking driver
• Luxury vehicle
• Pickup service
• Free WiFi onboard
• Fuel & tolls
• Snacks
• Bottled natural water
• All taxes & fees

What is not included
• Entrance fees to archaeological sites: (30 Euros Multi-pass for Acropolis,Temple of Zeus, Athenian & Roman Agora)
• Entrance fees to museums (10 Euros for the Acropolis Museum)
• Entrance fees to the Temple of Poseidon (8 euros per person)
• Entrance fees to Vouliagmeni Lake (4 euros per person)
• Professional (licensed) guide ( you may ask one at the booking procedure)
• Personal expenses
• Meals (lunch or dinner)
• Other beverages
• Tips and gratuities (optional)

P.S. Comfortable walking shoes, sun glasses, hat and loose fitting clothing are strongly recommended.

*By buying this product you only pay a small fraction of the cost. Please provide the driver with the receipt of your GuestLikeLocal payment and they will deduct it from the final price. All final prices are indicated above.