Athens private tour: Acropolis, Plaka, ancient temples driver

Plaka tour: ancient temples, marble stadiums, neoclassical buildings with expert driver guide

A private full-day tour of Athens with a professional driver who speaks English and explains Greek history at each site. You visit the Acropolis Museum, Ancient Agora, Panathenaic Stadium, Temple of Zeus, the Trilogy of Athens (Academy, Library, University), Parliament Building with the Evzones guard, Monastiraki's flea market, and Plaka's pedestrian streets. Hotel or airport pickup is included. Entrance fees to attractions are optional and you can arrange lunch timing with the driver. The tour runs 8 to 9 hours and is fully flexible. You set the pace and ask questions as you go.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Acropolis Museum1h
2. Ancient Agora of Athens1h
3. Monastiraki1h
4. Plaka1h
5. Herakleidon Museum30m
6. Temple of Olympian Zeus30m
7. Academy of Athens20m
8. National History Museumpassing by
9. Parliament Building40m

Athens city historical highlights tour

• Meet and explore ancient Athens
• Visit the Acropolis Museum
• Tour the Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus
• Walk and shop at Monastiraki Flea Market
• Stroll through Plaka neighborhood
• See the Panathenaic Stadium
• Enjoy lunch at traditional tavern
• Visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus
• View the Trilogy of Athens buildings
• Pass by the old Parliament building
• Watch the changing of the Guards at Parliament

The experience

You start with pickup from your Athens hotel or airport, then head to the Acropolis Museum, where 90,000 square feet of exhibition space tells the story of life on the ancient Acropolis and its surroundings. From there the driver takes you to the Ancient Agora, the ancient marketplace where you see the Temple of Hephaestus and walk through a museum showing private and public life in ancient Athens. The route then moves through Monastiraki, where you can browse the flea market and traditional shops, before arriving in Plaka: the old historical neighborhood clustered on the slopes below the Acropolis. Here you walk the small pedestrian streets, stop at traditional cafés and sweet shops, and photograph the quieter side of the city.

After lunch (you arrange the timing and restaurant with the driver, and vegetarian options are available), the tour continues to the Temple of Zeus, the largest temple of ancient Greece, begun in the 6th century BC and dedicated to Olympian Zeus. Next comes the Trilogy of Athens: the Academy, Library, and University buildings, three neoclassical structures designed as an architectural set in 1859. You then see the old Parliament building, which housed the Hellenic Parliament from 1875 to 1935, and the current Parliament overlooking Syntagma Square, where you watch the Evzones: the Presidential Guard in their ceremonial uniforms, a tradition dating to 1868. The Panathenaic Stadium, the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble and site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, rounds out the day before your return to your hotel.

The vehicle is a private Mercedes-Benz van or bus depending on your group size (up to 7 or 12 passengers). Your driver provides cold water and mobile chargers throughout the day. Skip-the-line access to attractions is included, so you avoid queues at the Acropolis and other sites. Entrance fees to individual attractions are optional: the operator sends you links to book them in advance if you want them. The whole experience is wheelchair accessible, and the tour suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Hotel or airport pickup and drop-off in Athens.
• professional driver with knowledge of Greek history and mythology.
• private Mercedes-Benz transportation (van or bus).
• cold water and mobile chargers.
• skip-the-line access to attractions.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private van for up to 7 passengersUp to 7 per booking · Guide in English · 14 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 14:00Black leather Mercedes minivan, includes pickup

Private bus for up to 12 passengersUp to 12 per booking · Guide in English · 14 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 14:00Black leather Mercedes minibus, pickup is included

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day14 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 14:00

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Elegant Greek Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the van if your group is small and you want a more intimate pace through each site. Pick the bus if you're traveling with a larger party and prefer to share the cost. Either way, the fixed itinerary and included transport mean the whole day holds together without you arranging stops, timing or how to move between them. The driver handles the route and answers questions as you go.

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Top questions

What is the Panathenaic Stadium and why is it special?

The Panathenaic Stadium, also called Kallimarmaro, is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble. It hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and remains one of Athens's main historic attractions.

Can I choose what time to have lunch during the tour?

Yes. You arrange the lunch timing with your driver, who can suggest traditional taverns with original Greek food, usually family-run businesses. Vegetarian options are also available.

What is included in the pickup, and can I be picked up from the airport?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Athens are included at no extra charge. Airport pickup and drop-off are available for an additional cost, which you can add at checkout.

Does the tour include entrance fees to the museums and attractions?

Entrance fees are optional. Skip-the-line access is included, and the operator sends you links to book tickets in advance if you want them, so you avoid queues at the door.

Who is the guide, and what language do they speak?

Your guide is the professional driver, who speaks English and has deep knowledge of Greek history and mythology. A licensed tour guide can be added for an additional cost of 320€, depending on availability.

What size group can fit in the vehicle?

You choose between a private van for up to 7 passengers or a private bus for up to 12 passengers at checkout.