Athens, the classical beauty, is where history meets the modern day in a mishmash of the ancient and the contemporary. Surrounded by mountains and sea, Athens is basked in year-round sun and gazed upon by its iconic Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis. With a bustling bar & café scene, up-and-coming artistic neighborhoods such as Monastiraki and Koukaki, the nearby Athenian Riviera and the buzzing beach-side towns of Glyfada and Vouliagmeni, Athens is the best city break destination.

 

Highlights

 Ø Explore Athens and its historical landmarks

Ø Visit the magnificent Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounio

Ø Take a day off to Delphi’s sanctuary of God Apollo

Ø Sample local specialties on a food tour

 

Day 1: Arriving in Athens city

Welcome to Athens, a vibrant city brimming over with striking ancient landmarks at every turn and lively, ultramodern museums, multi-arts spaces, shops, and cafes. Take a leisurely stroll and explore the beating heart of the city; Explore the colorful network of streets in the town center and in the island-like paths of Plaka neighborhood in Acropolis, and end your day relishing an elegant Greek dinner at a scenic restaurant overlooking the beautifully-lit Parthenon.

 

Day 2: The Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum

In this half-day tour, you’ll see all the famous sites of the ancient and modern Athens city. We start from Panathinaiko Stadium where the first Olympic Games took place in 1896. It is the only stadium built out of white marble. Visit the Areopagus the hill from which Apostle Paul spoke to the Athenians and follow our qualified guide for a visit to the Propylaea, Temple of Athena Niki, Parthenon and Erechtheion. Continue with a pleasant short walk passing by Herodion and Dionysos Theaters, to reach the Acropolis museum.

 

Day 3: Cape Sounio

Relax and enjoy the scenery as you travel in comfort to the iconic Temple of Poseidon in a stunning clifftop location on Cape Sounio. Your licensed expert archaeologist/guide will provide plenty of interesting facts, myths and legends surrounding the majestic temple ruins. The dramatic Doric columns date back to around 444BC and were a major engineering feat in the Golden Age of Athens. Their allure and beauty have inspired many artists and poets through the ages, including Lord Byron, who left a lasting mark.

 

Day 4: Day trip to Delphi

No holiday in mainland Greece is complete without a trip to Delphi. Follow our local expert archaeologist guide and immerse yourself in 3,000 years of history, cultural heritage and traditions. Combine your awe-inspiring visit with a guided tour of the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, one of the most significant museums in Greece.

 

Day 5: Explore Athens

Today explore based on your own particular interests around the city center. The National Archaeology Museum, the ancient marketplace of Agora, the fascinating Byzantium Museum, the frescoed Church of the Holy Apostles with its Ashlar exterior and the Panathenaic Stadium are some of the outstanding Greek sites to visit. See the Changing of the Guard at Syntagma Square and shops for souvenirs in the pretty Plaka neighborhood as a fitting end to your private Greece tour.

 

Day 6: Athens food tour

Enjoying Greek food is about aromas and flavors. In a central neighborhood, frequented mainly by locals, discover the diversity and the deliciousness of Greek food in a matter of a few hours. Our guide will lead you through the bustling Athens Central Market, a historic food market unlike any other in Europe. Here, colorful and fragrant food stalls set the stage among animated food sellers, fishmongers and butchers whelping for sales as locals bargain them down.

 

Day 7: Trip end

All too soon it’s time to pack your bags and be transported to the airport or to the port for your journey back home or to your next destination.