This private tour offers a thrilling opportunity to experience the Acropolis, and tour the surviving treasures of the Acropolis, the National Archaeological Museum, which boasts the world’s finest collection of Greek antiquities, and sightseeing the legendary city of Athens.
You’ll see:
The Acropolis – the Parthenon – Erechthion – Temple of Athens Niki – Plaka – Ancient Agora – Roman Agora – Hadrian’s library – Monastiraki – Temple of Vulcan – Thision – Keramikos – Fishmarket – meat market – fruit market – Temple of Zeus – Hadrian’s Arch – syntagma square – the Parliament – monument of the Unknown Soldier – The Academy of Art – University – National Library – Omonia Square – Statue of Kolokotronis – the first parliament of Athens (after 1821) – Panathenian Stadium – ex-royal house – national garden – Kolonaki – Lycabettus Hill – the new Acropolis museum
You’ll visits:
The Acropolis – the Parthenon – Erechthion – Temple of Athens Niki – Plaka – Temple of Zeus – Hadrian’s Arch – the Parliament – the monument of the Unknown Soldier – Panathenian Stadium – Lycabettus Hill – lunch tour – shopping in Plaka – the new Acropolis museum (closed on Mondays) or the national archaeological museum.
Highlights of the Positive Unforgettable Athens 8-hour private shore excursion
- 8-hour morning sightseeing private shore excursion of Athens
- Combines Athens’ modern and classical sites guided by our experts
- Explore the wonders of the Acropolis, the trademark of Athens
- Highlights of modern Athens, including neighborhoods, Plaka, ancient agora, roman agora, Constitution Square, Panathenian Stadium, Kolonaki-the high end of Athens, Lycabettus-the highest hill of Athens
- English-speaking professional tour driver
- Pickup and drop off at your cruise terminal
Description of the best of Athens shore excursion; the Acropolis Plaka agora and a world’s best museum
Our professional tour driver will pick you up at your cruise ship pier where Athens begins. Board your modern 4 seaters, 10 seaters, or 17 seater vehicle, according to your group size, leaving the quayside, for a 20-minute drive to Athens through the scenic suburbs. Your shore excursion driver will drive you to visit the mighty Acropolis, which dominates the landscape to see the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Greece and the trademark of Athens.
Visit on the top of the famous hill, the Propylaea (Entrance), the Erectheum, the Temple of Wingless Victory, and, of course, the crowning glory of Athens, the incomparable Parthenon, the greatest monuments all times. According to the Myth at the Erectheum, Goddess Athena and God Poseidon are said to have held a contest to decide who would be Patron of the city. When Poseidon thrust his trident into the ground, water burst forth, Athena touched the ground with her spear, and an olive tree grew.
Athena was named goddess of the city. The building itself contains the graceful Porch of the Caryatids, which features replica columns of marble maidens supporting the roof of the temple.
Continue to impresive memorials…
Continue to impresive memorials…It’s time to move on to our next visit to the famous Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest (3rd century BC) Corinthian-style temple in ancient Greece. Hadrian’s Arch symbolizes and separates the old and new towns by the Roman era.
Our sightseeing includes the National Gardens, the National Library, and the Parliament Building, the ex-Royal Palace, Plaka, Roman Agora, and the Temple of Vulcan.
Continue our shore excursion…
… On the way, you will pass the ex-royal house and the ancient Olympic Stadium for a brief photo stop. Re-built 1894, to host the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. The stadium is made all of the Pentelic marble (like the Parthenon) standing on the site of the original stadium, dating from the 4th century B.C.
The Panathenean stadium is used today for very special events, like for the every year finish of the marathon and the archery competition. Also, it was used in the 2004 Olympics games.
You will visit now the meat market, fish market, and fruit market in Athens. A number of small shops selling only meat, fish or fruit.
Lunch in a typical Greek restaurant with tasty traditional food, true Greek cuisine.
The museum
The museumAfter lunch, we will continue this private shore excursion to some of the most important museums in Athens and the cultural treasure of the world, like the Acropolis museum, or the National archaeological museum (On Mondays the Acropolis museum is closed). Both are two of the best museums in the world.
We will visit, the surviving treasures of the Acropolis can be seen all in one place at the New Acropolis Museum. Antiquities previously held in storage, in other Athenian museums, and museums abroad have been reassembled and displayed in this remarkable facility that is close to the original location. The collections on display are finds from the Acropolis, post-Parthenon, and Roman Periods, and from the excavation site when the new museum was built. The highlight of the museum is the display of the Parthenon Frieze, located on the top floor.
As we are getting ready to return to your cruise ship, enjoy the spectaculars view of Lycabettus hill with its Orthodox church of St. George, the highest hill in town, and remember Athens for the rest of your life.
