Ancient Olympia full day private tour from Athens
Twelve hours tracing the birthplace of the Olympic Games across temples, ruins and two museums.
A full-day private tour from Athens to Ancient Olympia includes hotel or airport pickup, air-conditioned transport with a knowledgeable driver, and access to the archaeological site, the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of the History of the Ancient Olympic Games. The driver provides historical commentary throughout but does not enter the sites. You explore at your own pace. Lunch with Greek traditional food is available as an add-on at checkout. The round trip takes twelve hours.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Explore Ancient Olympia and Surroundings
- View Corinth Canal from above
- Visit Ancient Olympia archaeological site
- See the Pelopion tomb
- Explore the Temple of Zeus
- Visit the Olympia stadium
- See the Temple of Hera ruins
- Explore the Nymphaeum water structure
- Visit the palaestra wrestling school
- See the Philippeion memorial
- Tour the Archaeological Museum of Olympia
- Visit Museum of the History of the Ancient Olympic Games
- Corinth Canal 20m
- Olympia 1h
- Ancient Olympia 1h 30m
- Archaeological Museum of Olympia 1h 30m
- Museum of the History of the Ancient Olympic Games 45m
What’s included
- Private air-conditioned transport from Athens.
- hotel, airport or port pickup and drop-off.
- bottled water throughout the day.
- WiFi on board.
- professional driver with historical knowledge and fluent English.
- a stop at the Corinth Canal viewpoint.
- access to the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia, the Archaeological Museum of Olympia and the Museum of the History of the Ancient Olympic Games (entry fees paid on-site).
- Greek traditional food lunch available as an add-on at checkout.
- Every day 07:00 08:00
Information
Full-day private tour from Athens to Ancient Olympia with hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport and professional driver commentary.
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The experience
The drive from Athens crosses the Corinth Canal, a 6.4-kilometre waterway cut through limestone cliffs that separates the Peloponnese from the mainland. From the viewpoint, you watch vessels navigate the narrow 21-metre channel below before heading south toward Olympia. The route itself frames what you're traveling to see: a landscape that has held sacred ground for nearly three thousand years.
At Ancient Olympia, the archaeological site spreads across the ruins of over seventy structures. You walk among the Temple of Zeus, where a gold and ivory statue of the god once stood as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world; the Temple of Hera, built around 590 BC and still the place where the Olympic flame is lit each modern Games; the stadium where athletes competed; and the palaestra, the wrestling school where three martial arts were taught and trained. The Nymphaeum, a water distribution structure from the 2nd century, supplied crowds during the July and August Games. The Philippeion, a circular memorial built to honor Philip of Macedon, stands as the only structure inside the sanctuary dedicated to a human rather than a god. Your driver waits with the vehicle and can answer questions when you return, but does not accompany you through the sites.
Two museums hold the finds from the site. The Archaeological Museum houses one of the world's most important bronze collections, including Hermes and the Infant Dionysus, sculptures from the Temple of Zeus, and objects that belonged to Phidias, the sculptor who created the Zeus statue. The Museum of the History of the Ancient Olympic Games traces the competitions from their traditional founding in 776 BC through their final recorded celebration in AD 393. Lunch with Greek traditional food can be added at checkout. Bottled water and WiFi are included throughout the day. Hotel, airport or port pickup and drop-off are arranged before you book.
Top questions
What's included in the Ancient Olympia tour from Athens?
The tour includes private transportation with an air-conditioned vehicle, hotel or airport pickup and drop-off, bottled water, WiFi on board, and a professional driver with deep historical knowledge who provides commentary during the drive. Lunch with Greek traditional food is available as an add-on. Entry to the archaeological sites and museums is not included and can be purchased on-site. A licensed tour guide is not part of this option.
How long is the full day tour to Ancient Olympia?
The tour runs twelve hours total, including the drive from Athens, time at the archaeological site and museums, and the return journey. The Corinth Canal viewpoint is a stop on the route.
Can I add a licensed tour guide to walk through the sites with me?
A licensed tour guide is available as an add-on option at checkout. Your driver is knowledgeable and speaks fluent English but is not licensed to accompany you inside the archaeological sites. However, they can answer questions when you return to the vehicle.
What was the Temple of Zeus and why does it matter?
The Temple of Zeus at Olympia, built in the 5th century BC, housed a gold and ivory statue of the god created by the sculptor Phidias: one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was the model of the fully developed classical Greek Doric temple and stands at the heart of the sanctuary.
Is lunch included, and what are the food options?
Lunch is not automatically included in the base tour price. You can add Greek traditional food at checkout, or you can arrange your own meal during the day. Bottled water is provided throughout the tour.
Where does the tour pick me up, and what if I'm arriving by plane or ship?
Hotel, airport and port pickup are all available. You specify your location when you book. The driver will track your flight or arrange a meeting time at your port or hotel.
Operated by My Athens Transfers. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
Ancient Olympia full day private tour from Athens
12h · EN · at your hotel
from € 284 per person
≈ US$ 319 in your currency
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