Ancient Olympia Private Tour from Athens
Description
This small Peloponese tour is a good opportunity to see one of the major sites of the peninsula just in one day. Visit the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Run the track on which athletes used to run in ancient times, their only prize, an olive wreath and live the experience of the place where the Olympic torch is lit.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Begining with a drive along the coast, you will get the chance to see some Greek seaside villages and the island of Salamis. Salamis is where the historical naval battle took place between the Athenians and the Persians. Our first stop of the day, the Corinth Canal. Eventually opened in 1892 separating the Peloponnese from the rest of Greece all the while connecting the Saronic Gulf to the Corinthian Sea. Having time to walk across on a pedestrian bridge and admire the canal closer, you may go bungee jumping on some days (if you’re game).
We will visit the archaeological site and the museum of Ancient Olympia. This is one of the largest sites in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games and the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus. Walking through the site you will pass by the Gymnasium, the Palaistra, the workshop of Phidias, the Temple of Zeus and you will end up at the Stadium where for every four years the Greeks competed for glory and for spiritual elevation honoring their cities.
The museum is also quite unique as it includes the renowned statue “Hermes of Praxiteles” with its perfect analogies and tools that belonged to Phidias himself. With the tools he created one of the seven wonders of the world “the gold ivory statue of Zeus”.
The Museum of the History of the Ancient Olympic Games hosts 463 ancient works, from the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, and other museums in the Greek territory. The exhibits cover a wide chronological range, from the 2nd millennium BC until the 5th century AD. Ancient exposed in thematic units and through them yperchilietis shows the history of the Olympic games, the longest ancient institution. Apart from ancient art, the visitor has the possibility of detailed information through the rich visual material. After a walking in the footsteps of ancient athletes we will take our lunch at the village.
We will drive back to Athens.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up time adjustable upon your request.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The drivers are not licensed to accompany you inside any site or museum. If you require a licensed guide to tour the sites with you, you need to hire one additionally. If you have any questions you can contact us on the phone number provided by Viator.
- The duration of the tours is approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions.
Reviews(8)
This was wonderful! John was such a wonderful guide for us. He was so knowledgeable about everything, happy to answer all our questions, and just really helped to make our experience so memorable. THANK YOU!!!
We went to so many places. It was an ideal day for us. We only had one full day in Athens. We feel like we saw everything we wanted to see. Talis was a great driver and told us about everything. He was very good. Would highly recommend him. Lunch was really good. All in all it was a perfect day.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We’re thrilled to hear Talis made your day in Athens so memorable and that you enjoyed the journey and lunch. Your recommendation means a lot!
Alexander was incredible. Highly recommend. Very passionate about the history of Greece. Very humble and polite. Very pleasant and polite.
Thank you, Sandra! We're thrilled to hear Alexander made your tour so special. Your kind words mean a lot, and we'll be sure to share them with him. We hope to welcome you and your family again!
Stephanos MALATOS was a great guide- he briefed us on the various sites just prior to entering and oriented us on where we entered and where we would exit. He gave us enough time to explore on our own and kept in touch via what’s app. The lunch was wonderful and he picked us up and dropped us off at the hotel. Very knowledgeable and very personable.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear Stephanos made your tour enjoyable with his knowledge and thoughtful approach. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to him.
The 6 of us- grandparents, parents, kids- all enjoyed the trip. Anthony shared his knowledge and the drive was interesting. We had a great day!
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear that your whole family enjoyed the trip and that Anthony made it even more memorable with his insights. We hope to welcome you all again soon!
This tour was amazing and a must do for anyone visiting Greece. It is a bit of a drive from Athens but definitely worth the trip. Our driver, Nasos, was wonderful. He has a detailed and thorough knowledge of the site. He went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time. I highly recommend this tour company, and be sure to request Nasos as your driver!
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled you enjoyed the tour and Nasos made it memorable for you. Your recommendation means a lot, and we’ll let Nasos know you appreciated his efforts!
The private tour by Olive Sea Travel is excellent! It was a great way to end our 14-day Greece holiday. Highly recommend the trip to Ancient Olympia. It is such a massive, awesome archaelogical site! Get the combined ticket that include admission to the 2 museums - it's well worth it. And do race down the 600 ft track at the stadium when you get there! Super fun! A special mention on Yannis, our tour guide. He is so warm, friendly and accommodating. Despite the long drive from Athens, it was never boring as we could chat with Yannis and learn from him much about Greece. Thanks Yannis for suggesting the little village (can't recall the name) you brought us for lunch. Such a peaceful village and cosy family restaurant. Great food and good value! --(Ruth, Karen and KC from Singapore)
We would like to thank you for your very kind review! We are happy to hear that the tour in Olympia with Yiannis was great! We try really hard to provide you the best qualiy of services! We hope to meet you again in Greece! Kind regards, Eleftheria Nikoloudaki
We had a private tour from Athens anf the drive itself was scenic. We could see the Corinth canal and the seat of Ancient Olympics. The two museums are a must see.
Thank you for sharing your feedback for your private tour in Ancient Olympia Private Tour. Our aim is to provide a high quality of services and make your tour unforgettable. We hope to see you again! Best regards, Vasilis Vlachos