Private Athens City Tour: Acropolis, Ancient Sites & Plaka

The Acropolis tour, ancient temples, landmarks, and old quarter, no transport hassles

A private car tour of Athens lasting four to five hours, departing from your hotel with a driver fluent in English and knowledgeable about the city's history. You visit the Acropolis and its temples (the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Temple of Athena Nike), the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium, Parliament Building, National Gardens, and the medieval lanes of Plaka. The driver is not a licensed guide for entry to sites, but can help you purchase skip-the-line tickets. A licensed guide is available on request depending on availability. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Airport or port pickups carry an additional charge. You choose the vehicle size (sedan for up to three, minivan for up to eight, or minibus for up to twelve), and can customize your departure time and extend the tour by the hour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each15 stops

1. Acropolis1h 15m
2. Parthenonpassing by
3. Temple of Athena Nikepassing by
4. Odeon of Herodes Atticuspassing by
5. Acropolis Museum1h
6. Parliament Buildingpassing by
7. Temple of Olympian Zeus15m
8. Olympic Stadium10m
9. National Gardens of Athenspassing by
10. Hadrian’s Archpassing by
11. University of Athenspassing by
12. Academy of Athenspassing by
13. National Library of Greecepassing by
14. Plaka1h
15. Hadrian's Librarypassing by

Athens private city tour highlights

• Hotel pickup by private car
• Visit the Acropolis of Athens
• See the Parthenon temple
• View the Erechtheion temple
• Pass by Temple of Athena Nike
• Pass by Theatre of Dionysus
• Pass by Odeon of Herodes Atticus
• Visit the Acropolis Museum
• See the Greek Parliament and Unknown Soldier Monument
• Visit Temple of Olympian Zeus
• Visit Panathenaic Stadium (Kallimarmaro)
• Pass by the Zappeion building
• Pass by National Gardens of Athens
• Pass by Hadrian’s Arch
• Visit Syntagma Square
• Watch changing of the guard at Parliament
• Pass by University of Athens
• Pass by Academy of Athens
• Pass by National Library of Greece
• Visit Plaka district
• Pass by Monastiraki area
• Pass by Hadrian’s Library
• Pass by Stoa of Attalos
• Pass by Ancient Agora of Athens
• Return to hotel

The experience

You start from your hotel or accommodation at a time that suits your schedule. The driver meets you with an air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz or larger vehicle stocked with bottled water, mobile chargers and WiFi. From there, the route unfolds through Athens' layers: the Acropolis rises first, where you'll see the Parthenon (built 447–438 BC and considered the pinnacle of Classical Greek architecture), the Erechtheion with its famous Karyatids, and the Temple of Athena Nike. The driver navigates you past the Theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the Acropolis's slopes, then moves through the city center to Syntagma Square to watch the changing of the guard at Parliament House, the 19th-century Old Royal Palace.

The second half of the tour swings east toward the Temple of Olympian Zeus, a half-finished sanctuary to the king of the gods that has anchored the Athens skyline since antiquity. Nearby stands the Panathenaic Stadium, the world's oldest stadium still in use and the only major one built entirely of white marble. It hosted the Olympics three times. You pass Hadrian's Arch, a monumental gateway spanning the ancient road between the city center and the temple complex. The National Gardens, a 38-acre public park behind Parliament, offers a quieter moment if the itinerary allows. The route also takes in the Ancient Agora (the gathering place of classical Athens), Hadrian's Library with its 100-column courtyard, and the Academy of Athens and University of Athens, both landmarks of modern Greek intellectual life.

Plaka, the oldest neighborhood in the city, closes the day: medieval alleyways, neoclassical houses with red-tile roofs and flower-draped balconies, and Greek tavernas line the winding streets directly below the Acropolis. Your driver can assist with purchasing skip-the-line tickets for any archaeological sites you want to enter. You cover the ticket cost, which varies by season. If you want a licensed guide to accompany you inside the Acropolis or museums, that's available on request and subject to availability. The tour ends with drop-off at your hotel or your chosen location. If you finish elsewhere, an additional fee applies. You can also extend the tour by the hour if the day warrants it.

What’s included

• Hotel or accommodation pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi, bottled water, mobile chargers and child seats.
• English-speaking driver with knowledge of Athens history.
• assistance purchasing skip-the-line tickets (ticket cost paid separately).
• flexible pickup times and hourly tour extensions available at additional cost.
• licensed guide upon request depending on availability.

Options for this experience

3 options

By minibus, up to 12 passengersUp to 12 per booking · Guide in English · 21 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 17:00Private 5-hour tour in a luxurious Mercedes-Benz, with skip-the-line tickets. We buy the tickets, and you can pay the driver in cash directly (card payments carry an additional charge to cover bank fees). Pickup is included.

By minivan, up to 8 passengersUp to 8 per booking · Guide in English · 19 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 16:00Private 5-hour tour in a luxurious Mercedes-Benz, with skip-the-line tickets. We buy the tickets, and you can pay the driver in cash directly (card payments carry an additional charge to cover bank fees). Pickup is included.

By sedan, up to 3 passengersUp to 3 per booking · Guide in English · 21 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 17:00Private 5-hour tour in a luxurious Mercedes-Benz sedan, with skip-the-line tickets. We buy the tickets, and you can pay the driver in cash directly (card payments carry an additional charge to cover bank fees). Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 4h–5h, runs every day, 21 start times, from € 149.50 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day21 departure times: 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30 and 17:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate1 group tour ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to3h before

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Greece Athens Taxi GAT

Is this one for you?Choose the sedan if you're traveling solo or as a couple and want a nimble car through narrow Plaka streets. The minivan or minibus if your group is larger and you'd rather not split into separate vehicles. Book the morning departure if you want the Acropolis and major sites before the midday crowds build, or the afternoon slot if you're arriving later or prefer a slower start to your day.

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Top questions

Can I customize the pickup time to match my flight or my plans for the day?

Yes. Flexible pickup times are built into the tour. You choose the hour that suits your schedule, whether that's early morning or early afternoon.

What's the difference between the sedan, minivan and minibus options?

The sedan holds up to three passengers; the minivan accommodates up to eight; the minibus seats up to twelve. All are air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz or equivalent vehicles with the same driver service and inclusions.

Do I need to buy tickets to the Acropolis and other sites separately?

Yes. Ticket prices vary by season (winter or summer rates apply), and the driver can help you purchase skip-the-line tickets at each site so you don't queue at the door. You pay the ticket cost directly.

Is the driver a tour guide who can explain things inside the museums and archaeological sites?

The driver is not a licensed guide and cannot accompany you inside sites or museums, but he speaks English and knows Athens history well. A licensed guide is available on request, subject to availability, if you want narration inside the Acropolis or other attractions.

What happens if I want to end the tour somewhere other than my hotel?

Drop-off at your hotel is included. If the tour ends at a different location, an additional fee applies. You can also extend the tour by the hour for a fee if you want more time.

Are airport or port pickups included?

Hotel or accommodation pickup is included. Airport pickup from Athens International Airport or pickups from Rafina or Laurio ports carry an additional charge.