Pnyx Hill & Mount Lycabettus walking tour: Ancient Athens on foot
Climb hills and walk through centuries of Athens in a morning or afternoon
This walking tour of Athens covers classical, Roman and modern sites across Mount Lycabettus, Areopagus, Pnyx Hill and Filopappou Hill over 3–4 hours of easy hiking on pedestrian paths. You climb to vantage points, pass the Greek Parliament and the National Gardens, and walk past major monuments including the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. An English-speaking guide leads the route and provides photos from the day.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Athens walking tour highlights
- Climb up to Lykavittos hill
- Pass by Kolonaki area
- See Greek Parliament outside
- Walk through National Garden
- Walk by Temple of Olympian Zeus
- Pass by Hadrian's Arch
- Walk by Odeon of Herod Atticus
- Walk up to Areopagus Hill
- Hike to Filopappou Hill
- Hike to Pnyx Hill
- Mount Lycabettus 10m
- Kolonaki passing by
- Athens Presidential Mansion 5m
- National Gardens of Athens 10m
- Temple of Olympian Zeus 5m
- Hadrian’s Arch passing by
- Odeon of Herodes Atticus 5m
- Areopagus 10m
- Herakleidon Museum 10m
- Pnyx Hill 10m
What’s included
- Light snack.
- English-speaking guide.
- photos and videos from the tour.
Times
- Every day 09:00 14:00
Information
Walk from Mount Lycabettus to Pnyx Hill in 3–4 hours, passing the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
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The experience
The tour starts by climbing Mount Lycabettus, a limestone hill that rises above central Athens and gives you a first view of the city layout before the walking begins in earnest. From there you descend through Kolonaki, the neighborhood where Athenians gather for coffee, and pass the Greek Parliament building. If the timing works, you'll see the change of guards. The route then moves through the National Gardens, a planted expanse that breaks up the urban walking, and brings you past the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch without entering either one.
The second half takes you up Areopagus Hill and then to Filopappou, where the Herakleidon Museum sits, before finishing at Pnyx Hill. This is where ancient Athenians gathered to debate and vote on city matters, and the guide explains what happened there. The whole route uses walking paths rather than roads, so you're mostly on foot traffic rather than dodging cars. You'll get photos and videos from the guide at the end, and a light snack is included.
Morning and afternoon departures are both available, so you can fit the tour around the rest of your day. The guide speaks English. Other languages can be arranged if you contact the operator in advance. Children from age 5 can join if accompanied by an adult, and the walk is graded as easy, though it does involve climbing hills and covers several kilometers on foot.
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.
What is Pnyx Hill and why does the tour end there?
Pnyx Hill is where the ancient Athenian assembly gathered to discuss and vote on matters of state. The tour finishes there so you stand on the actual ground where democratic debate took place over 2,000 years ago.
Do I need to enter any museums or archaeological sites on this tour?
No. You walk past major monuments like the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch, but the tour does not include entry fees or time inside any museums or archaeological sites.
How much climbing is involved if I'm not a regular hiker?
The tour is graded as easy and covers four hills (Mount Lycabettus, Areopagus, Filopappou and Pnyx), but uses pedestrian paths rather than steep terrain. It's suitable for all fitness levels, though it does involve several hours of continuous walking and elevation gain.
Can I choose between a morning or afternoon departure?
Yes. Both a morning tour and an afternoon tour are available, so you can pick the time that fits the rest of your day in Athens.
Is the guide included, or do I need to arrange one separately?
An English-speaking guide from Aegean Outdoors is included in the tour price. If you need the tour in another language, you can contact the operator to arrange it.
Operated by Aegean Outdoors. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 6 days ago
Pnyx Hill & Mount Lycabettus walking tour: Ancient Athens on foot
4h–5h · EN
from € 43.42 per person
≈ US$ 49 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.