Fast Private Athens Tour
Highlights
- Acropolis Museum
- Pnyx
- Arch of Hadrian
- Temple of Olympian Zeus
- The Panathenaic Stadium
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Private transportation
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Duration 1 hour 20 minutes
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Includes hotel pickup
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WiFi on board
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Bottled water included
Experience the essence of Athens in just 60 to 80 minutes with the Fast Private Athens Tour. This tour is perfect for travelers who want a taste of the city without spending a whole day exploring museums and archaeological sites. Hop in a private vehicle and let the expert guide take you on a whirlwind tour of Athens' most significant sights. Start at the Acropolis Museum, home to over 4,250 artifacts from the Acropolis archaeological site. Then, visit the Pnyx, where Athenians gathered to host their popular assemblies, and the Arch of Hadrian, a monumental gateway celebrating the Roman emperor Hadrian. Continue your journey to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Hellenic Parliament, and more. Finally, explore the National Library of Greece and end your tour at Omonoia Square, a bustling shopping center. Don't miss this opportunity to see the highlights of Athens in no time!
At a Glance
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Free cancellation
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45 minutes
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Instant Confirmation
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Available in English
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Mobile voucher
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Private Tour
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Guided
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Family friendly
Featured Reviews
Experience Athens' highlights in a private tour, perfect for those short on time. See key sites without extensive walking or museum visits.
Included
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Snacks
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Pick-up service from your hotel, in or near the center of Athens or your cruise terminal
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In-vehicle air conditioning
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Private transportation
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Bottled water
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On-board wifi
Pickup
Check if pick-up is available from your location, you will select during checkout (providers may allow other pickup locations)
What to expect
The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. The Acropolis Museum also lies over the ruins of part of Roman and early Byzantine Athens. The museum was founded in 2003 while the Organization of the Museum was established in 2008. It opened to the public on 20 June 2009. More than 4,250 objects are exhibited over an area of 14,000 square meters.
Pnyx
The Pnyx is a hill in central Athens, the capital of Greece. Beginning as early as 507 BC (Fifth-century Athens), the Athenians gathered on the Pnyx to host their popular assemblies, thus making the hill one of the earliest and most important sites in the creation of democracy. The Pnyx is located less than 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) west of the Acropolis and 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) south-west of the Syntagma Square in the centre of Athens.
Hadrian's Arch
The Arch of Hadrian, most commonly known in Greek as Hadrian's Gate, is a monumental gateway resembling—in some respects—a Roman triumphal arch. It spanned an ancient road from the center of Athens, Greece, to the complex of structures on the eastern side of the city that included the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It has been proposed that the arch was built to celebrate the adventus (arrival) of the Roman emperor Hadrian and to honor him for his many benefactions to the city, on the occasion of the dedication of the nearby temple complex in 131 or 132 AD. Since Hadrian had become an Athenian citizen nearly two decades before the monument was built, Kouremenos has argued that the inscriptions on the arch honor him as an Athenian rather than as the Roman emperor.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus, also known as the Olympieion or Columns of the Olympian Zeus, is a former colossal temple at the center of the Greek capital Athens. It was dedicated to "Olympian" Zeus, a name originating from his position as head of the Olympian gods. Construction began in the 6th century BC during the rule of the Athenian tyrants, who envisaged building the greatest temple in the ancient world, but it was not completed until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD, some 638 years after the project had begun. During the Roman period the temple, which included 104 colossal columns, was renowned as the largest temple in Greece and housed one of the largest cult statues in the ancient world.
Panathinaiko Stadio
The Panathenaic Stadium or Kallimarmaro, lit. "beautiful marble")is a multi-purpose stadium in Athens, Greece. One of the main historic attractions of Athens, it is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble. A stadium was built on the site of a simple racecourse by the Athenian statesman Lykourgos (Lycurgus) c. 330 BC, primarily for the Panathenaic Games. It was rebuilt in marble by Herodes Atticus, an Athenian Roman senator, by 144 AD it had a capacity of 50,000 seats. After the rise of Christianity in the 4th century it was largely abandoned. The stadium was excavated in 1869 and hosted the Zappas Olympics in 1870 and 1875. After being refurbished, it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern Olympics in 1896 and was the venue for 4 of the 9 contested sports. It was used for various purposes in the 20th century and was once again used as an Olympic venue in 2004. It is the finishing point for the annual Athens Classic Marathon.
Hellenic Parliament
The Hellenic Parliament formally titled Voulí ton Ellínon, also known as the Parliament of the Hellenes, or Greek Parliament, is the unicameral legislature 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.
Evzonoi
The Evzones or Evzonoi were several historical elite light infantry and mountain units of the Greek Army. Today, they are the members of the Presidential Guard, a ceremonial unit that guards the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Presidential Mansion in Athens. An Evzone is also known, colloquially, as a Tsoliás. Evzones are known for their distinctive uniform, which evolved from the clothes worn by the klephts who fought the Ottoman occupation of Greece. The most visible item of this uniform is the fustanella, a kilt-like garment. Their distinctive dress turned them into a popular image for the Greek soldier, especially among foreigners.
The Academy of Athens
The Academy of Athens is Greece's national academy, and the highest research establishment in the country. It was established in 1926, with its founding principle traces back to the historical Academy of Plato, and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. is Greece's national academy, and the highest research establishment in the country. It was established in 1926, with its founding principle traces back to the historical Academy of Plato, and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education.
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA), commonly referred to as the University of Athens, is a higher education institution operating in Athens. It was established by Regency Law on December 31, 1836 (old calendar) by royal decree of Otto on April 14, 1837, and has been in continuous operation since May 3, 1837 (the third day of Easter). It is the largest University of Greece, after the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with more than 40,000 undergraduate students and more than 2,000 teaching and research staff.
The National Library of Greece, is the main public library of Greece, located in Athens. Founded by Ioannis Kapodistrias in 1832, its mission is to locate, collect, organize, describe and preserve the perpetual evidence of Greek culture and its uptake over time, as well as important representative evidence of human intellectual production.
Omonia Square
Omonoia Square, "Concord Square", often simply referred to as Omónoia is a central square in Athens. Forming the centre of Omonoia. It marks the northern corner of the downtown area defined by the city plans of the 19th century, and is one of the city's principal traffic hubs. It is served by Omonoia metro station. Omonoia Square is one of the oldest squares in the city of Athens and an important shopping centre. It is located at the center of the city at the intersection of six main streets: Panepistimiou, Stadiou, Athinas, Peiraios, Agiou Konstantinou Street and 3rd Septemvriou Street.
The name Klathmonos Square (meaning "crying square") was taken after a vignette in the magazine Hestia , because there, in front of the Ministry of Finance (which has been demolished), the dismissed civil servants gathered after each election to protest for their dismissal, since then there was no permanency of civil servants and each new government fired the officials hired by the previous government and hired its own voters.
The Old Parliament House at Stadiou Street in Athens, housed the Greek Parliament between 1875 and 1935. It now houses the country's National Historical Museum. The site was occupied originally by the house of the Athenian magnate and politician, Alexandros Kontostavlos. After Athens became the capital of Greece in 1833, King Otto selected it as temporary residence, pending the construction of the Royal Palace (which houses Parliament currently). In 1835, a large dance and banquet hall was added to the house, and after the 1843 Revolution, which forced King Otto to grant a constitution, the National Assembly convened here. In October 1854, however, the house burned down in a fire. Construction of a new building then began in August 1858, with the foundation laid by Queen Amalia, on plans by French architect Francois Boulanger.
Syntagma Square, "Constitution Square") is the central square of Athens. 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. It is located in front of the 19th-century Old Royal Palace, housing the Greek Parliament since 1934. Syntagma Square is the most important square of modern Athens from both a historical and social point of view, at the heart of commercial activity and Greek politics. The name Syntagma alone also refers to the neighborhood surrounding the square. The metro station underneath the square, where lines 2 and 3 connect, along with the tram terminal and the numerous bus stops, constitutes one of the busiest transport hubs in the country.
The experience can be subject to change due to bad weather or unforseen circumstances. We always endeavour to give you the best possible experience.
Additional Information
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Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
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infants seats can be provided upon request, please notify us a day before the tour if you need one
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Public transportation options are available nearby
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Specialized infant seats are available
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Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What our experts say
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Visit the Acropolis Museum nearby.
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Try a local cafe for a quick bite.
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Check traffic before your tour time.
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Bring a light jacket for cooler evenings.
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Ask your guide for hidden city gems.
More About this Experience
Introduction
Experience the vibrant city of Athens like never before with the Fast Private Athens Tour. This exhilarating excursion offers a unique and time-efficient way to explore the city's most significant sights in a private vehicle without stopping at every destination. Perfect for those who want to maximize their time or simply prefer not to walk for too long, this tour provides a tantalizing taste of Athens without spending an entire day visiting museums and archaeological sites.What to expect?
During this 60 to 80-minute tour, you can expect to visit several iconic landmarks that showcase the rich history and culture of Athens. Begin your journey at the Acropolis Museum, which houses a stunning collection of artifacts from the Acropolis site. Marvel at the archaeological wonders of ancient Greece, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. Next, venture to the Pnyx, where the ancient Athenians gathered to host their popular assemblies and lay the foundations of democracy. Breathe in the atmosphere of this historic hill, located just a stone's throw away from the majestic Acropolis. Continue on to the Arch of Hadrian, a magnificent gateway that celebrates the Roman Emperor Hadrian's connection to Athens. Admire the architectural splendor and learn about the historical significance of this impressive structure. Visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus, once renowned as the largest temple in Greece, with its 104 colossal columns. Discover the mythology and grandeur of this ancient sanctuary dedicated to the head of the Olympian gods. Another highlight of this tour is a visit to the Panathenaic Stadium, also known as Kallimarmaro. Immerse yourself in history as you step onto the same marble ground where ancient Greeks competed in athletic events. This stadium witnessed the first modern Olympics in 1896 and continues to host the famous Athens Classic Marathon. Explore the Hellenic Parliament, a symbol of democracy, and witness the changing of the Presidential Guard, known as the Evzones. Admire their distinctive uniforms, which are a testament to the rich heritage of Greek soldiers. Uncover the intellectual and academic spirit of Athens with visits to the Academy of Athens and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. These esteemed institutions have a long-standing history and have contributed significantly to Greek culture and education. Conclude your tour at the National Library of Greece, a treasure trove of knowledge that preserves the country's cultural heritage and intellectual achievements.Who is this for?
The Fast Private Athens Tour is designed for individuals who seek a convenient and efficient way to experience the highlights of Athens. Whether you are a busy traveler looking to make the most of your limited time or someone who prefers a quicker pace, this tour offers a fantastic opportunity to explore Athens without spending an entire day at each site. This tour is suitable for all ages and interests, as it provides a comprehensive overview of Athens' historical and cultural landmarks. Whether you are a history enthusiast, architecture lover, or simply curious about the city's heritage, you will find this tour engaging and enlightening.Why book this?
Embark on the Fast Private Athens Tour and unlock the secrets of one of the world's oldest cities. This unique experience allows you to see the best of Athens in just 60 to 80 minutes, saving you valuable time while still immersing you in the city's captivating atmosphere. By avoiding long walks and extensive museum visits, you can focus on the most significant sights and make the most of your visit. This tour offers the convenience of a private vehicle, allowing you to travel comfortably and efficiently between each destination. With a knowledgeable and professional guide, you will gain insights into Athens' history, culture, and architecture, making your journey all the more enriching and memorable. Discover the ancient wonders of the Acropolis Museum, the significance of the Pnyx in shaping democracy, and the grandeur of architectural marvels such as the Arch of Hadrian and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Immerse yourself in the spirit of ancient Greek athletics at the Panathenaic Stadium and witness the splendor of Athens' historical institutions.Good to know
The Fast Private Athens Tour is a non-stop experience, allowing you to cover a significant number of landmarks within a short duration. It is important to note that the tour duration may vary depending on traffic conditions. Please be aware that entrance fees to attractions are not included in the tourJournals from our explorers at this location
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