Full Day Athens City Tour

After a short drive, you will have the opportunity to explore Athens, the cradle of the European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the cityscape has been dominated by the incredible Acropolis. Our expert guide will help you explore the Acropolis and its principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the magnificent Parthenon. During your visit, you will also have some free time to spend as you wish.

Following this, we will continue along a nice pedestrian road on the Acropolis hill and reach the New Acropolis Museum, inaugurated in June 2009.The museum houses the greatest sculptures of the ancient world including works from the temple of Athena Pronias on the Acropolis and parts of the Parthenon by the ancient sculptor Phidias. Designed by Swiss American architect Bernard Tschumi, the glass, concrete and steel building is impressive from the outside, but what lies inside is even more incredible. As you move through the courtyard to the entrance, a glass floor provides a view of the recently excavated remains of the merchant city of Athens that lie beneath. Past this walkway, you will view a massive collection of 2,500-year-old vases and sculptures. On the first floor is the towering Archaic gallery. Marble sculptures on open plinths without any glass coverings populate the area. The top floor houses what is left of the Parthenon’s sculptures. This is truly an amazing sight.

After the museum, we will take you on a drive through the city to see some of the other highlights of Athens such as the 6th century BC Olympieion (the Temple of Olympian Zeus), Hadrian’s Arch (2nd Century AD), and Syntagma Square, where the Royal Palace built for Otto I of Bavaria and the house of present day Parliament lie. The Monument of the Unknown Soldier is located in front of the Palace, and two soldiers (Evzoni) stand guard at all times. We will also pass neoclassical buildings such as the University, Academy and Library before arriving at the Stadium designed by Lycurgus in the 4th Century BC and rebuilt in 1896 according to its original plan for the modern Olympic Games. After leaving Athens, we will provide transportation back to Piraeus port and return you to your ship.