Acropolis & Lycabetus hill.

Acropolis recontructed

Join a morning-guided sightseeing tour of this magical city that was worshiped by gods and people. The bus will pass through the centre of the modern city where the must-see places are located, and when you finish you will feel that you have seen the best of Athens, including the Acropolis and the New Acropolis museum.

Home of the first modern Olympics in 1896, Athens has been continuously inhabited for over 7,000 years. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe and it had a great impact on the European continent. It is the birthplace and the cradle of democracy and western civilization. It is also the birthplace of most of the wise men in western philosophy, western literature, and significant mathematical principles.

PRICES: All travel agents, in Greece and worldwide, offer the same tour at different prices. Our prices are not matched. After 62 years of organizing tours throughout Greece, we have secured the best deals. So, why pay more?
From November 01 – March 31 our offer per adult is: 38 € + 15 € entrance fees = 53.00 €
From April 01- October 31 the entrance fees increase to 30.00 € per adult and the total is 38.00 + 30.00 = 68.00 €
Read the Special prices for combination of tours (Combo Tours column) in the footer

Discounts:
Juniors from E.U. countries under 26 y.o. do not pay entrance fees.
Seniors from E.U. countries over 65 y.o. pay 15.00 € Jan-Dec.

The tour price includes:
– transportation in modern air-conditioned buses
– Pick up/drop off from or near your hotel (See the list of hotels at the footer of the website),
– Entrance fees to Acropolis and the New Acropolis museum, and
– the services of the professional tour guide all along.

The tour combines modern Athens with the city’s ancient sites. See the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Constitution Square, The old palace of the Bavarian King, Otto, that today is the Parliament of the Hellenic Republic, and the all-marble Panathenaic Stadium. Drive-in front of the huge Temple of Olympian Zeus and learn about the glory of ancient Athens. Finally, climb to the top of the Acropolis hill and see the world-famous Pantheon temple, the Parthenon, while you listen to the expert guide, about all its incredible features.

ACROPOLIS

At the top of the list of all Athens attractions, the greatest and finest sanctuary, dedicated to goddess Athena, the city’s patron, dominates the center of the modern city from the rocky hill known as the Acropolis. The Acropolis of the 5th c.BC is the most accurate reflection of the splendor, power, and wealth of Athens at its greatest peak, “the golden age of Pericles”.

The Acropolis is a flat-topped rock that rises 150 m above sea level in the city of Athens, with a surface area of about 3 hectares. It was also known as Kekropia, after the legendary serpent-man, Kekrops, the first Athenian king. The Acropolis and its magnificent monuments: the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Erechtheion with its Porch of Maidens.

It is the symbol of Athens, the sacred rock, and the connection between ancient and contemporary civilizations. The monuments that stand today on the Sacred Rock date from the prehistoric period up to ancient times. There is not even one person (Greek or foreign visitor) that does not want to pay due to honour to this sacred rock and see its beauty and glory.

Visit also the New Acropolis Museum, and see the original statues which decorated the Acropolis of the 5th c. B.C. A visit to the sacred rock of the Acropolis and the new Acropolis Museum is a must and an unforgettable experience.

PARTHENON

Dominating the Athenian skyline, this beautiful monument is dedicated to Goddess Athena, the patron of Athens. The consequences of the Persian invasion in 480 BC, led Athenians to the desire of constructing a memorable temple in 438 B.C. by the architects Ictinus & Kallicrates, under the supervision of sculptor Phidias, which is considered to be the most important surviving monument of the ancient world. Parthenon which is the most brilliant construction during the Golden Age (5th BC) of Pericles, stands as a symbol of Ancient Greece & Athenian Democracy. Its’ metopes & pediments representations depict scenes from Greek mythology; Parthenon is regarded to be the landmark of Greek history & culture.

Monuments at the top of the Acropolis hill:
The Propylaia, The Parthenon, The Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion, The Temple of Athena Nike, The Old Temple, The Pandrosion, The Arrephorion, The Chalkotheke, The Vravroneion, The Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus, The Pandion Sanctuary, and more…

A plan to undertake large-scale conservation and restoration of the Acropolis is still in progress.

The tour :

Depart for PANATHINAIKO STADIUM, where the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896 (shortstop).
Pass by the Prime Minister’s residence and the Ex-Royal Palace (guarded by colourful Evzones),
the Zappeion Conference and Exhibition Hall and the National Gardens,
The temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, St. Paul’s Church,
The Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown soldier,
Schlieman’s House (today Numismatic Museum), the Catholic Cathedral,
The ACADEMY, the University, and the National Library,
the Old Parliament, Constitution Square, and the Russian Orthodox Church proceed to the
ACROPOLIS (visit Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, PARTHENON, and Erechtheion, and finish the tour at about 01.30 pm, with a visit to the New Acropolis museum.

More details:
07:30 am The pickup service bus starts from central hotels and brings everybody to the terminal.
From the terminal, near Syntagma square area, your tour of Athens begins at about 08:45 am.
As the bus passes the top Athens attractions, the professional tour guide talks about the historical importance of this glorious city. You pass by the Greek Parliament building with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (this was the first palace of Greek King Otto in 1834), the all-marble Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 were held followed by driving on Panepistimiou Avenue, and the so-called trilogy of Athens: The old University, the National Library and the Academy, 3 beautiful neoclassical buildings, built by the Bavarian architects that Otto’s father, King Ludwig of Bavaria, (1825-1848), brought with him to Greece. See the gigantic temple of Olympian Zeus — completed in the 2nd c, AD, and Emperor Hadrian’s Arch, before you arrive at the masterpiece that everybody admires: the Acropolis with its monuments.
Stroll up to the site that served as the citadel, and walk around the buildings as you hear about its glorious days during the 5th c. BC. Explore the Acropolis on foot, see the glorious Parthenon and the other highlights, such as the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Erechtheion with the Karyatides.
 Take advantage of the free time and explore the rest of the site independently.
Continue your tour with a visit to the New Acropolis Museum, one of the world’s finest museums. Your ticket lets you stay as long as you wish inside the museum.
So, after the end of the guided tour, you are allowed to stay and explore the museum on your own. Walk around the spectacular Parthenon Hall with incredible sculptures. See its incredible friezes and the other archaeological exhibits. Wander around in the galleries. There are more than 4,000 ancient objects to view and admire.

Read more about Parthenon in: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenon