Shore Excursion: Acropolis, Athens City tour and The New Acropolis Museum
Description
The Ideal Combination Tour! See the city center including two top sights in just a few hours. At the Acropolis of Athens, you’ll explore the Parthenon which is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Then, you’ll dive deeper into its worldly significance at the Acropolis Museum where marble masterpieces tell a story on their own.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Change of the Guards in front of the Greek Parliament
Walkthrough the National Gardens of Athens, enjoy the serenity in the heart of the city and the story behind them
Pass by Zappeion Megaron
Temple of Zeus
Acropolis and all its monuments
Visit one of the top five Museums in the world
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up from the cruise ship terminal
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT BABY STROLLERS: baby strollers are not allowed on the Acropolis archaeological site and that there is no cloakroom at the side entrance we use to enter. For your own convenience, it is recommended to use a baby pouch instead of a baby stroller
- Strict Acropolis entry times mean we can't wait for latecomers. No refunds will be given.
- All visitors undergo airport-style security; expect peak season waits of up to 30+ minutes.
- Cutoff times sync with Athens local time.
- Tours run rain or shine.
- If you selected the “WITH Ticket” option, everything is included.
- If you selected the "WITHOUT Ticket" option, follow the instructions on your voucher to purchase the tickets
- Not possessing a valid entrance ticket at the beginning of the tour disqualifies you from joining the tour. Remember, the tour fee is non-refundable if you fail to meet this requirement.
Reviews(31)
The excursion covered 1 parts, first the city tour, then followed by visit to Acropolis and the museum. Both the guides were great, one took care of the city tour (sorry I forgot her name, and Rina covered Acropolis. They had been very patient (there were some participants were late), and had extensive knowledge on the Ancient/Modern history of Greece. The walking tour took 5 hours, and demanded some fitness. Do remember to bring enough water to keep hydrated during the hot dry summer.
Hey Clarence, A 5-hour excursion is definitely a full adventure, and you are spot on about bringing plenty of water to stay hydrated in the summer heat! We will gladly pass your kind words along to Rina and the team. They always do their best to keep things running smoothly and patiently, even when managing late arrivals. We're pleased that their extensive knowledge of both ancient and modern history made the day so rewarding for you. Thank you for the great tips and for sharing your experience! Warmly, Athens Walking Tours Team
We really appreciated Philippia sharing her extensive knowledge of Greek ancient history. Her passion and enthusiasm made the tour an absolute pleasure. ‘To tell the truth’ Philippia was the best local tour guide we’ve had on our trip. Thank you for an informative day!
Dear Cathy, we’re delighted to hear Philippia made such a strong impression! Her passion for Greek history truly brings the sites to life, and it’s a pleasure to know her enthusiasm made your day so enjoyable. Thank you for sharing your kind words! Warm regards, Athens Walking Tours Team
The headline is that the tour guide abandoned me on a group tour of the Acropolis. It was very crowded and the group got separated. I waited for him to return and he did not. Perhaps the most unsettling aspect is the company did not even ask me what happened, and instead believed a self-serving description from the guide and even blamed me for losing him!! I was not able to visit the Museum and got lost in Athens until the driver (a hero!) rescued me. The company has refused so far to provide even a partial refund (initially they said they would refund the cost of my Museum ticket, but even if they follow through it was only 20 euros. Even before abandoning me, the tour guide himself was terrible, He was cartoonishly self-important, and somehow managed to be smug and condescending in his role as a guide. He also loved to hear himself talk and the group members would collectively cringe when we stopped for one of his frequent self-referential diatribes. One of the reasons he lost me was because he would periodically stop and say into our devices "is everyone here"?, but of course we didn't know where "here" was in the middle of a very crowded Acropolis. Any company can have an incompetent tour guide, but it is a major caution for consumers when a company's response to a problematic situation is a knee-jerk, circle the wagons approach. This happened two days ago and no one from Athens Walking Tours has reached out to ask me what happened. I would avoid them.
Dear Robert, We received your review and we are sorry to hear that the tour experience came out as unsatisfactory. We would like to clarify the situation based on the events reported given the crowded conditions at the Acropolis, our guide made every effort to locate you after you became separated from the group, including multiple attempts to reach you through going back up to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus when at the same time other visitors were waiting for him in the Acropolis Museum. Our colleague also contacted you several times to provide instructions to rejoin the group at the Acropolis Museum. Unfortunately, during these calls, you declined assistance and expressed frustration, attributing the situation only to the guide. We also understand that you later apologized for the tone used during this exchange. Despite the challenges, we offered a partial refund as a gesture of goodwill and adjusted the pick-up point to help accommodate your situation while you were in Plaka. We offered the full service since you completed the Athens City and Acropolis tour, and we were even looking for you from the beginning as the guide informed us that during the photoshooting free time you went missing. We understand how distressing this experience must have been and regret that it detracted from your visit. Our team is committed to ensuring the best possible experience for our guests and we always try to make sure that everything works smoothly by providing licensed and carefully selected guides, offering real time guidance, and following up to see what happened in each case through calls, messages, and emails. We hope that despite this incident, you were still able to enjoy some of the beauty and history of Athens, and we wish you to have a tour in the future under better circumstances.
Our guide was extremely knowledgeable. She was friendly and provided great detail many people want to see the sites and get good pictures. One’s ability to absorb information may improve with some brevity as energy levels wane.
Thank you, Pamela! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed the detailed history and context our guide shared during your tour. We always strive to provide a thorough experience while balancing the excitement of seeing the iconic sites. Your feedback is appreciated, and we’re glad you took away some great memories (and photos!) from the day!
Mr. Appollon is our guide and he is amazing! We walked through the city centre first , had a glimpse of changing of guards, and went into the cool and wonderful Royal garden. Mr Appollon always told us interesting stories and history whenever he could find a shade (rescue us from the fierce sun) . Our visit of Acorpolis, the Patheon and the Acorpolis museum will be less interesting if we didn’t have Mr. Appollon as our guide. Highly recommended this tour if you’re in Athens
Gigi, it makes us smile to hear that your tour with Mr. Appollon was exceptional! The fact that he made your Athens experience so memorable with his knowledge, enthusiasm, and care for your comfort is great to know. Our guides are eager to share the rich history and culture of Athens, and we're pleased that Mr. Appollon's expertise added to your visit to the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Acropolis Museum. Thank you for your kind words and for recommending our tour. We hope to welcome you back to Athens in the future!
Unfortunately this experience was not as we expected. There were to many tours going on with multiple companies. We had to slow down our tour due to so much volume. We stopped frequently for the tour guide to explain the area in which we were in, however I think this was done more so that crowds could move forward.
Thank you for sharing your feedback on your recent tour. We appreciate your insights and would like to address some of your concerns. Athens and the Acropolis are indeed among the most popular tourist destinations in the world, attracting visitors from all corners of the globe. Given their historical and cultural significance, it is common to encounter many tours and tourists, especially during peak travel seasons. Our tour is designed with a moderate pace to ensure that everyone can comfortably follow along. We make several stops, not to avoid crowds, but to provide our guests with ample time to take photos, absorb the rich historical context from our guide, and avoid feeling rushed. These pauses allow our guests to fully appreciate the significance of each location and enjoy their experience to the fullest. We strive to offer a balanced and enriching experience despite the challenges posed by the popularity of these iconic sites. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve our services, and we hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a more satisfying experience in the future.
This was a very informative and well run tour! Our guide was wonderful and so knowledgeable! The Acropolis is incredible but an extremely strenuous climb. I would recommend this tour!
Dear Debbie, Thank you for the excellent review of your experience with Athens Walking Tours! Our guides are wonderful at sharing their vast knowledge about iconic sites like the Acropolis. We are delighted you had a great time overall. Thank you for your valuable feedback!
Arrival at the Acropolis was a very memorable moment! The guide had great stories and was very informative!
Dear Roy, Thank you for sharing your unforgettable experience with us! Our guides love to bring the rich history of Athens to life with their stories and insights, and we’re glad you found our tour informative. We hope to have the pleasure of hosting you again on your next adventure in Greece.
We saw amazing things but this tour needs a longer break for lunch in the middle. We came on a cruise ship, we met our transport around 8:30 am to meet at the Kolomaki train station around 9:30 am. We began the walking tour through the train station with amazing artifacts, walked to watch the changing of the guard at the Hellenic Parliament (very interesting), and then walked through the National Gardens towards the Acropolis. Prior to heading to the Acropolis, we we stopped for just a 20 minute break at around 11:10 which included a long line for bathroom, thus no time for food nor was it explained that there would not be another opportunity to eat. At 11:30am or so we headed up to the Acropolis on foot (long lines). After the Acropolis tour which is a 1 and 1/2 hour walk up hill with little shade, we went straight to the museum, at that point it was close to 2pm. We were tired hungry and unfocused and could barely appreciate the museum. We then finished the museum tour around 3:30 to rush back to ship transport by 3:45pm. We were starving and had no time to eat at the restaurants and shops in the area around the Acropolis and museum. Perhaps start the tour directly at the Acropolis earlier in the morning when it is cooler, allow about hour or so for lunch and then hit the museum at 2pm. Or explain that when we buy the tickets for these things there will be no time allocated for an appropriate lunch. Although it was hot, mid 80s and sunny, it was the hot summer days of June, July and August. Please make it more clear to people, especially those coming from cruise ships, of the structure of the day.
Dear Alisa, Thank you for taking the time to provide such detailed feedback on your recent tour experience. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the sights and found the tour content enriching, especially the amazing artifacts and the changing of the guard. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the lack of time for a proper lunch break. While we do inform our guests beforehand that the tour schedule is quite packed and recommend grabbing a snack during the short break, we understand that this information might not have been sufficiently highlighted. Based on your valuable feedback, we will ensure that this information is made more prominent and clear, particularly for our guests coming from cruise ships. We will also review our tour schedule to see if any adjustments can be made to allow more time for breaks. Thank you again for your suggestions, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for a more comfortable experience in the future. Best regards, Athens Walking Tours
It was a fantastic tour with Marguerite our guide. I felt I’m back in school learning history. So much information!
Dear Pedro, We love hearing tours feel like a fun history lesson. Sounds like Margarita packed in tons of info for you! Thanks for choosing Athens Walking Tours and we welcome you back again!
