Ancient Agora of Athens Site & Museum Private Tour
Description
Step into the heart of ancient Athens with an exclusive, skip-the-line private tour of the Agora, the birthplace of democracy. Guided by a professional native Greek expert, you’ll explore the beautifully preserved Temple of Hephaestus and the elegant Stoa of Attalos—now a museum showcasing treasures of daily life and democracy. Walk in the footsteps of Pericles and Socrates along the storied Panathenaic Way, and discover original artifacts, voting ostraka, and the marble ballot box that shaped Athenian history. Enjoy an immersive, personalized journey through the soul of Athens.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Ancient Agora of Athens is a flat area defined by the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis and the hill of Areopagus in the south and the hill of Kolonos Agoraios in the west. It is traversed by one of the most important ancient roads, the Panathenaic Way, which led to the Acropolis from the main gate of the city, the Dipylon Gate. This road served as the processional way for the great parade of the Panathenaic festival, which was held to honour the city patron goddess Athena.
On top of Agoraios Kolonos hill, stands the temple of Hephaestus, broadly known as Thisio. It is one of the best preserved ancient temples, partly because it was transformed into a Christian church. According to the traveller and geographer Pausanias (1, 14, 5-6), two deities were jointly worshipped in the temple: god Hephaestus, protector of all metallurgists, and goddess Athena Ergani, protecting all potters and the cottage industries. The identification of this temple as ?Hephaesteion? (location of worship of the god Hephaestus) was ascertained by the excavations and investigations that brought to light metallurgy workshops on the wider area of the hill, thus outshining earlier opinions presuming that Theseus, Hercules or Aris (Mars) were the deities worshipped there. The temple was probably erected between 460 and 420 BC by a yet unknown architect, to whom, however, are attributed other temples of similar structure in the Attica region
The Museum of the Ancient Agora is housed in the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos, originally erected during the 2nd cent. BC as a gift of the king of Pergamon, Attalos II, to Athens. The exhibition in the Museum gallery holds archaeological finds coming from the systematic excavations of the American School of Classical Studies in the area and dated from the Neolithic to the Post-byzantine and Ottoman periods.
Highlights
What's included
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
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children and young people up to the age of 25, from EU member-states, upon presentation of their ID card or passport for verification of their age and country of origin are entitled to free admission to the site.
- Children up to the age of 5, from non-European Union countries, upon presentation of their passport for verification of their age and country of origin are entitled to free admission to the site.
- If you accompany free admission beneficiaries, please advise so we can issue their free tickets upon proof of eligibility.
- In the area of the Temple of Hephaistos, wheelchair access is possible through the entrance at the Thiseion Square (Apostolou Pavlou Street), should contact in advance for details and terms
Reviews(18)
This was an excellent tour. Our guide Gina was extremely knowledgeable and wonderful with our kids. It was not marked a kid friendly tour but we booked it anyway and it was very enjoyable. The kids loved it. We had a great time.
A walk in the Half of the ruins and with the wonder of the temple of Hephaestus. In the midst of centuries-old olive trees and Mediterranean scents. Of course I recommend it out of season since in summer the heat could ruin the experience.
I'm a planner so I appreciate having tickets in advance so that my family doesn't waste our vacation standing in lines.
Paid in full for “Avoid the Line “ tickets and waited for vouchers in my email. They NEVER came! Looked in spam - they were not there. Texted and emailed over and over again with my correct email address. You kept saying they were sent to my email. I want a refund! Had to buy new tickets at the gate!!!! Rip off!
Excellent organization and communication with the manager from the first contact. A super special limousine ride with an attentive and kind chauffeur. In addition to all the joy and fun of our experience, we took lots of photos. Thank you everyone for the very special tour
Tickets were emailed to us. Very easy to get in with those. Big area to walk around and explore. Structures were impressive and so was the museum.
Received the e ticket from Viator a day before the tour with information about the entrance to the Agora. The tickets also gives access to the Agora museum.
So the tour company never sent ticket. When we told them they just cancelled. So we just went on our own
A must see site in Athens. Close to the Acropolis on a large uncrowded site. Lovely, peaceful garden walk.
The view from the Temple of Hephaestus was amazing. Its is definitely well worth the visit along with the artefacts in the small museum.
