Athens Half Day Private Tour - Exceptional Experience
Description
Experience the best highlights of Athens with this exceptional private tour, designed for travelers seeking comfort, style, and flexibility. Travel in a High-end Mercedes vehicle with a personal Knowledgeable English-speaking driver as you explore iconic landmarks like the Acropolis, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Panathenaic Stadium, Lycabettus hill, the charming Plaka district and more, enjoying the freedom of a customizable itinerary. Ideal for couples, families, and small groups with minimum time looking to discover Athens the exceptional way.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our Athens full day tour starts from the most important archaeological site the Acropolis, the so called sacred rock. On the Acropolis you will admire the Parthenon the temple that was dedicated primarily to its patron the goddess Athena, the Erectheion temple with its famous female figures the Caryatides, the temple of Athena Nike (victorious Athena), Propylaea, the monumental gateway of the Acropolis, Herodus Atticus Odeon, the ruins of the Theatre of Dionysus and finally the Areopagus (Mars hill).
The Parthenon the temple that was dedicated primarily to its patron the goddess Athena, symbol of Athens and democracy
The Propylaia is the classical Greek Doric building complex that functioned as the monumental ceremonial gateway to the Acropolis of Athens. Built between 437 and 432 BC by Mnesikles.
The Erechtheion, designed by the architect Mnesikles, was a temple dedicated to Athena and Poseidon.
Temple dedicated to the goddess Athena Nike or Wingless Victory.
A stone Roman theatre. that was built in AD 161 by Herodes Atticus in memory of his Roman wife
After lunch, we will head towards the Temple of Zeus, the biggest temple in antiquity, devoted to the King of the Gods.
It was built as a ''thank you'' to Hadrian for completing the construction of the temple of Zeus.
A large palatial building next to the National Gardens of Athens in the heart of Athens, generally used for meetings and ceremonies, both official and private and is one of the city's most renowned modern landmarks
Next you will visit the Panathenaic Stadium, the stadium where the modern Olympic Games were held in 1896.
A great example of the 19th-century landscape architecture (English style). Its construction began in 1839 and its subsequent development is directly linked to the founding of the Modern Greek state and the development of the city of Athens in a modern European capital.
Next driving alongside the National Garden, we will see the changing of the guard (Euzones) in front of the old palace, which is today Parliament House, above the central square of Athens, Syntagma. The square is named after the Constitution that Otto, the first King of Greece, was obliged to grant after a popular and military uprising on 3 September 1843.
We will see the changing of the guard (Euzones) in front of the old palace, which is today Parliament House, above the central square of Athens.The Hellenic Parliament, in Greek known as Voulí ton Ellínon is the parliament of Greece, located in the Old Royal Palace, overlooking Syntagma Square in Athens. The Parliament is the supreme democratic institution that represents the citizens through an elected body of Members of Parliament.
The Academy Building constitutes one of three parts in an “architectural trilogy”. It was founded with the Constitutional Decree of March 18th, 1926, as an Academy of Sciences, Humanities and Fine Arts.
The National Library of Greece is the main public library of Greece, located in Athens founded by Ioannis Kapodistrias
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is the largest state institution of higher learning in Greece, and among the largest universities in Europe. The splendid Athens University was designed by the Danish architect Christian Hansen and completed in 1864.
Next we will drive up the highest hill of Athens, Lycabettus Hill, where you’ll have the best panoramic view of the city, from the hill of Acropolis to the Aegean Sea
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We'll pick you up from any hotel in Athens or cruise ship terminal at Piraeus port.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Please contact us after your booking if you are using a wheelchair or if you are travelling with infants
- Travel time is included on the total tour duration
Reviews(31)
I can’t rave enough about Exceptional Tours. Theodore made us feel like we now have a new family in Greece. We were taken to places I never knew existed. Introduced to the coffee, the food, the myths and the beauty of Greece. I will never forget my fascination with Athena the Ancient Greek goddess. And now I can say - thanks to Theodore - I know why they call it “extra virgin olive oil”. I will let you hear the story from him. Not only was he our tour guide he picked us up and dropped us off at airport, and picked us up and dropped us off on our cruise ship. Theodore set up tours for us in Santorini which was just as spectacular and beautiful as Greece. He checked in on us when we were on our own in Greece before the cruise, and was there to meet us as we got off the ship. Theodore even went above and beyond on the last day in Greece helping me find Greek basketball cards for my grandsons. Stopping at every kiosk along our tour. I would never use anyone else’s services in Greece . I feel like we left Greece knowing and seeing things I never dreamed of and also left behind a new family member.
We cannot recommend Exceptional Tours Greece highly enough! Theodore planned an incredible two 1/2 days Athens experience for our family and made everything completely seamless from start to finish. He picked us up promptly from our cruise ship, handled all the logistics, purchased our tickets, and created an itinerary that allowed us to see everything we wanted to see in Athens in a short amount of time. As he drove us around the city, he shared fascinating information about the sights and history, making the experience both enjoyable and educational. One of the highlights was the outstanding private guide, Nancy, he arranged for us at the museums and the Agora. Theodore took us to authentic local restaurants that served some of the best food we had during our time in Greece. What truly set Theodore apart was his exceptional customer service. He was incredibly accommodating when we needed to adjust our pickup time, and he even provided transportation to the airport at the end of our stay. He was always friendly, personable, and kind, and after every stop in the Athens heat, we returned to the car to find cold bottles of water waiting for us. Theodore made Greece an unforgettable experience for us. His attention to detail, hospitality, and genuine care for his guests are unmatched. If you’re visiting Athens and want a stress-free, personalized, and memorable experience, Exceptional Tours Greece is the way to go!
From the moment I received my first response to my web inquiry, I realized that I had found the right company to guide us through the 3 days we would be spending (pre Adriatic cruise) in Athens. “At your service” was an understatement! Door to door service for me and my wife,, expert guide with in depth knowledge of the history, understanding that 1/2 day tours may work better for us because of our 7 hr time zone difference. Our beachside dinner just below the Temple of Poseidon, followed by sunset photos was a true highlight of our 3 days! THANK YOU THEODORE!
We booked with Theodore at Exceptional tours I can’t say enough good things about this company. The cost was very reasonable. Constantine was our guide on all five tours that we chose. The owner Theodore met with us at several locations to ensure we were enjoying our tour. Constantine was professional, courteous, happy and EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE. He made the tours come alive with the history of Greece. FANTASTIC COMPANY AND GUIDE. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Theodore was great with communication and our guide for the day Cos was so knowledgeable. We had a family of six with grandparents all the way down to a 2 year old. The team catered to each group and made sure everyone was comfortable and happy. Our driver even came back to our hotel after drop off when we realized we left a pair of sunglasses in the car. Athens is massive but we left feeling like we had a great feeling for the city thanks to the tour we booked with Theodore and Cos. 5 stars. Fully recommend!
My wife and I had a wonderful time in Athens. We opted for a private tour for half a day since our schedule would only allow for such visit (we were getting on a cruise). While our tour was brief, we had such an awesome and memorable experience. The timing could not have been perfect. It was spring time and on a Saturday. Traffic and crowd was light. Our tour director (Theodore) picked us up from our hotel early which allowed for a great start to our tour. We visited many must visit sites in Athens. Our schedule was flexible that it even allowed for a time to enjoy the best Gyro in Athens. We also had some time to pick up some souvenirs. Theodore was both very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. This tour was very comprehensive and enjoyable. I highly recommend this tour.
I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I planned a 10 hour layover in Athens and worked with Theodore to plan the trip. He picked me up from the airport on time for our planned trip Theodore had the trip planned well with amble time for each attraction. He had the Acropolis tickets booked and we were there on time. He is very knowledgeable about Greek an d Roman civilizations and his comments added a lot to the sites. It was very helpful for a person with limited knowledge of Greek civilization. He was very pleasant to deal with and made the whole trip lots of fun. If you have time, ask him to take you to an authentic Greek restaurant away from the tourist areas. Well worth it
I cannot express how grateful I am that I booked our tour and car services with Theodore! From start to finish, he was incredibly responsive, professional, and kind—handling every unexpected challenge with grace and efficiency. Despite the travel strikes and unpredictable weather in Greece, Theodore made sure everything ran smoothly. He constantly stayed in touch, adjusted our itinerary on short notice, and ensured we always had reliable transportation to the ferry and the airport. When the weather forced a change of plans, he immediately pivoted and arranged a wonderful visit to a beautiful vineyard outside of Athens—one of the highlights of our trip. The half-day tour of Athens with Petros was equally amazing. Petros was knowledgeable, engaging, and made the city come alive for us. The delicious lunch that followed was the perfect ending to an unforgettable day. Theodore’s flexibility, quick thinking, and genuine care turned what could have been a stressful trip into a memorable and enjoyable experience. He handled every curveball with professionalism and warmth, ensuring we were comfortable and happy throughout. I truly cannot recommend him enough! Theodore and his team truly are your guardian angels in Greece!
We traveled to Athens end of September 2025 to embark on a Viking cruise. We got to Athens a few days early and wanted to do a private tour 3 couples. I contacted Theodore the owner a month or so before our trip to get information on the Athens half day tour. He was very professional and got back to me right away I had a lot of questions and he answered them all in a timely manner. Our tour guide John picked us up at our hotel and we saw the best of Athens. John was very good and knowledgeable and made sure we saw all that we should see in Athens. We then decided to do another tour with them and go to Cape Sounion a day later. We had Dimitris that day and he was awesome as well. After we got on our Viking Cruise we found out our tour in Santorini was cancelled so I contacted Theodore and he hooked us up with a private tour in Santorini which was awesome as well. I would highly recommend Theodore and his company EXCEPTIONAL Tours.
Our pick up from the airport and entire tour was perfect! Dimetri, our driver and guide, could not have not been nicer and more informative. We saw many interesting sights after our pick up, the Acropolis, changing of the guard, and many more sights before being dropped off at our cruise terminal at 3;00. If we could give him 6 stars, I would!
