Best of Athens Private Half-Day Tour
Description
Experience the highlights of Athens, the cradle of Democracy, in a 5-hour private tour designed for travelers who want to explore the city’s essential landmarks in comfort and efficiency. Accompanied by a professional English-speaking driver, this journey combines ancient monuments, neoclassical architecture, and panoramic city views in a seamless experience. Begin at the iconic Acropolis of Athens (1h 30m), followed by a drive past the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Continue to the Panathenaic Stadium (15 min), then the Hellenic Parliament at Syntagma Square (15 min) for the Changing of the Guard. Admire the Academy of Athens (10 min) and ascend Mount Lycabettus (15 min) for sweeping views. The tour concludes at the Acropolis Museum (1 hour), completing a full journey through Athens’ heritage. Flexible tailor-made tours, certified English-speaking tour drivers, modern Mercedes fleet, licensed tourism vehicles, dedicated customer support, and licensed guides upon request.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Greece’s most famous monument that houses the pride and crown jewel of Athens, the Parthenon. Dedicated to the city’s ancient patron, Athena – the Goddess of wisdom, the Parthenon is globally considered an enduring symbol of Democracy, Culture and Civilization. Housed on top and in the surroundings of the sacred rock are some of the most important sites of the capital’s ancient heritage, such as: Propylaea, the entrance to the rock. The Temple of Wingless Victory, which was devoted to Goddess Athena-Nike. Erechtheum, with the temple’s best-known feature being its south porch, whose roof, instead of being supported on columns, rested on the heads of six Korai statues – the famous Caryatides. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a 5000-seat stone Roman theatre which was carved into the rock and is still used for music festivals The Theatre of Dionysus where the Athenians listened to the immortal works of Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripides and Aristophanes.
We continue our tour by passing by the Temple of Olympian Zeus – King of the Greek Pantheon. The now half-ruined temple, which is also known as Olympieion, was at its peak consisted of 104 columns of 17 meters (56 ft) high and 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in diameter!
Following the visit to the temple, we will make a brief stop at the Panathenaic Stadium, also known as Kallimarmaro, a multi-purpose stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896. Interesting fact! The Panathenaic Stadium, also known as the Kalimarmaro, is the only stadium in the world that was built entirely out of marble.
Our next stop will be at the Greek parliament – a building which was originally built with the purpose of being the palace of Otto, the first King of Greece.
Housed outside of the Parliament building is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the presidential guard. This light infantry unit, dressed in the traditional Evzone's uniform, conducts a famous changing of the guard ceremony.
We will then drive along Panepistimiou Street which connects Constitution (Syntagma) Square with Concord (Omonia) Square. During this short drive in the heart of the capital, you will come across three beautiful buildings: the Academy, the University and the National Library. Interesting fact! Constructed in the 19th century, these three mansions are commonly referred to as the “neo-classical trilogy” of Athens.
Our driving session continues with a stop at Lycabettus Hill, one of the city’s highest viewpoints, which offers one of the best panoramic views of downtown Athens and its suburbs.
The new Acropolis Museum opened in 2009 and is located under the south slope of the Acropolis. The museum contains mostly pediment sculptures, reliefs, and statues found on the sacred rock, which formed its decoration. Displaying over 4,000 exhibits, the Acropolis Museum is considered one of the best and most significant museums in the world.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Airport Pickup:Your driver will meet you upon your arrival at the Athens International Airport - “Eleftherios Venizelos”, at the customs exit, holding an H.P. Tours sign with your name on. Port pickup: Your driver will meet you at the Piraeus Port cruise ship terminal, holding an H.P. Tours sign with your name on. Notice that Piraeus port has three terminals, Terminal A, B and C. Depending on the terminal that your ship will dock at, your driver will be waiting for you at the corresponding exit. (e.g. If your ship docks at Terminal A, your driver will meet you at the Terminal A exit etc.) In case your ship docks at Terminal B or Terminal C and the corresponding exit gate is closed, you will need to take the shuttle bus to come to Terminal A (3 MIN RIDE), where your driver will be waiting for you.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: Cruise ship's name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Your English- speaking driver will explain about the ancient monuments that you are about to visit, the ancient history of Greece and interesting facts about historical and modern-day Greece but is not allowed by law to accompany you in the sites. If you wish to have a licensed tour guide to accompany you into the sites, we will help you arrange a licensed tour guide to be with you at an extra cost.
- Your tour is totally private. No unknown passengers will participate in your group.
- Infant car seats or boosters are available upon request
Reviews(274)
From the moment I contacted H.P. Tours until our driver, Kyriakos, dropped us off at the airport the following day, our experience was 100% A+. Emails were responded to quickly and every request was greeted with positive professionalism. One member of our party had fallen at the beginning of our trip. She needed a wheelchair which was kindly provided and Kyriakos took excellent care of her when she was unable to visit a site in her wheelchair. Our guide, Helen, who works with H.P. Tours regularly, was wonderful. I would highly recommend this company and Helen!
Dear Virginia, Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience with fellow travelers. Your feedback means a great deal to us and motivates our entire team. We truly appreciate your trust and support. It’s our goal to exceed expectations, and we’re delighted to have made your journey memorable. We look forward to welcoming you back and creating more wonderful experiences together. Warm regards, Frank Kotsiopoulos Managing Director H.P. Tours
Very accomodating, much history told, loved( Greece and )Athens. Frank was a terrific driver and guide and helped us make the most of our tour and time there. I highly recommend this company and Frank.
Dear Susan, Thank you for your wonderful review and for choosing H.P. Tours for your recent journey. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we're delighted to hear that you had such a positive experience with us. We genuinely appreciate your trust and support. It would be our pleasure to welcome you again in the future for another memorable adventure. Warm regards, Frank Kotsiopoulos Managing Director H.P. Tours
Tasos was our driver and tour guide and did an excellent job! He was prompt in our pick up, communicated well, and knew how to keep us from the main crowds (although difficult in some of the popular sites). I highly recommend this tour! Please note that they recommend getting Acropolis tickets in advance (either on your own or they would get them for me, and we would reimburse our guide in cash). I got them for our group, and I got the wrong ones, but we were able to talk our way in. I highly recommend having them get them for you!!!!
Thank you for your wonderful review and for choosing H.P. Tours for your recent journey. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we're delighted to hear that you had such a positive experience with us. We genuinely appreciate your trust and support. It would be our pleasure to welcome you again in the future for another memorable adventure. Warm regards, Frank Kotsiopoulos Managing Director H.P. Tours
Our driver, Tasos, was superb. Kind and very knowledgeable about the history of Athens. He catered our tour to our specific interests and was prepared with water, umbrellas, anything we needed. The van was also very clean, nice and comfortable. A top notch way to see Athens!
Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience with fellow travelers. Your feedback means a great deal to us and motivates our entire team. We truly appreciate your trust and support. It’s our goal to exceed expectations, and we’re delighted to have made your journey memorable. We look forward to welcoming you back and creating more wonderful experiences together. Warm regards, Frank Kotsiopoulos Managing Director H.P. Tours
Christopher was fabulous. He was very thoughtful finding good places for us to take pictures. He found us a delightful spot to have a cappuccino looking up at the acropolis. He was very enthusiastic about all of the sites of Athens.
Dear John, Thank you once again for choosing H.P. Tours and for sharing such a wonderful review. Your feedback means a great deal to us, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We’re honored to have been a part of your journey and look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back and serve you again in the future. Kind regards, Frank Kotsiopoulos Managing Director H.P. Tours
We had such a wonderful experience on our half-day Athens tour combined with a second day of another half-day trip to Cape Sounion. The balance between seeing the city highlights and then heading out along the beautiful coastal road to the Temple of Poseidon was perfect. It gave us a great mix of history, culture, and breathtaking views, all in one day. Our driver, Jimmy, made the tour exceptional. He was not only punctual and professional, but also incredibly knowledgeable and engaging. Throughout the journey, he shared fascinating details about Athens’ history, local culture, and the significance of each site we visited. His storytelling brought the ancient ruins and monuments to life in a way that made them truly memorable. What stood out most was Jimmy’s passion for what he does—he clearly loves sharing Greece with visitors. He answered all of our questions with ease, tailored the pace to our needs, and made sure we were comfortable the entire time. By the end of the day, we felt like we had experienced something very special. I would highly recommend this tour, especially with Jimmy as your driver. It’s the perfect way to explore both Athens and Sounion in a short amount of time while learning so much along the way. Thank you Jimmie!
Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you once again for choosing H.P. Tours and for sharing such a wonderful review. Your feedback means a great deal to us, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We’re honored to have been a part of your journey and look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back and serve you again in the future. Kind regards, Frank Kotsiopoulos Managing Director H.P. Tours
Mario’s was excellent. Very professional airport pickup. Was a fantastic way to pick up at airport, see an overall view of the city and be delivered to our hotel (when our hotel room was ready!) He helped us a plan a great overall view and we saw SO many sites! We loved this intro to Athens and would highly recommend!
Dear Tracy, Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience with fellow travelers. Your feedback means a great deal to us and motivates our entire team. We truly appreciate your trust and support. It’s our goal to exceed expectations, and we’re delighted to have made your journey memorable. We look forward to welcoming you back and creating more wonderful experiences together. Warm regards, Frank Kotsiopoulos Managing Director H.P. Tours
Our guide was so knowledgeable and we learned so much from him. This tour was such a great experience and i would recommend it to anyone.
Dear Sir/Madam, We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks once again for choosing H.P. Tours and for sharing such a wonderful review. Your feedback is truly invaluable to us, and we deeply appreciate your kind words. It was our pleasure to serve you, and we’re delighted to hear that you had a positive experience. We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you back and providing our services again in the future. Kind regards, Frank Kotsiopoulos Managing Director H.P. Tours
We used Hellenic Private Tours for both our private airport transfer and a half-day Athens tour before our cruise, and it was excellent from start to finish. Being met right outside of customs and whisked straight to our hotel was such a smooth start to our trip. The next morning, our private driver and guide gave us the perfect introduction to Athens. We saw all the major sites, learned so much about the city, and even practiced a little Greek along the way. Having it just for our group made it more personal, with plenty of time for one-on-one questions and the flexibility to go at our own pace. The best part was being dropped off right at the pier with our luggage, ready to board our ship. The whole team was professional, responsive, and very easy to work with. If you’re visiting Greece, I highly recommend Hellenic Private Tours.
Dear Sir/Madam, We are truly thrilled to read your wonderful review. Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience with us. It was our pleasure to be part of your journey and to help create a memorable experience. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back and provide our services again in the future. Best regards, Frank Kotsiopoulos Managing Director H.P. Tours
Jimmy was the greatest! On our first day, Jimmy picked us up and we did a 5- hour tour of the city and the Acropolis. In the evening we did a 5-hour food tour. Both great. The 2nd day Jimmy took us in a relaxing drive along the Athens Riviera and to Poseidon's temple. A great way to spend 2 days in Athens!
Dear Karmen, Thank you for your kind words about our services. Your feedback is truly invaluable to us, and we sincerely appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. Our goal is to continually improve and provide the best possible experience for our guests, and we’re delighted to know that your time with us was a positive one. We look forward to the pleasure of welcoming you again in the future and creating more memorable moments together. Warm regards, Frank Kotsiopoulos Managing Director H.P. Tours
