Private Exclusive Athens and Free Time in Plaka from/to Divani Palace Acropolis Hotel

For guests wanting a general orientation, a little history, time for shopping and exploring on their own, and visit to the Acropolis, this is the perfect exclusive Athens tour for you or your group, offering more time in the city than other tours.

During your time in Athens, you will be picked up at your hotel and taken to start your tour. Upon arrival, your professionally trained guide will narrate during a city orientation, viewing such sights as the Temple of Zeus, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the former Royal Palace, which is now the Greek House of Parliament. You will pass by the University of Athens, the Academy of Athens, and the National Library.

You will also see the Panathenaic Olympic Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. From here, you will continue on to Mars Hill, the rocky outcrop where Paul once addressed the Athenians and a place that offers sweeping views over the city. After your visit, you will continue on to the Acropolis.

The Acropolis of Athens is recognized as the culmination of Greek architecture, art, and sculpture. During your visit to the Acropolis, you will view the Parthenon, constructed between 447-432 B.C. as a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. Its main function was to shelter the monumental statue of Athena which was made out of gold and ivory. You will see the Erechtheon, started in 420 B.C. as a temple for religious rituals; the Propylaea, the monumental entrance to the Acropolis which blends Doric and Ionic building principles; and the small temple Athena Nike, which stands on a protruding mass of rock protecting the gate to the citadel.

From the Acropolis, you can also look down on the Ancient Agora, Tower of the Winds, Herodes Atticus Theater, and the Theater of Dionysus from your lofty perch. The guide will lead you up, narrating as you climb. The guided portion of the tour ends upon reaching the Parthenon.

After this, visit the Plaka area, which is home to several nearby museums including the Benaki, Kanellopoulos, the new Acropolis, and the Greek Folk Art Museum, to name a few. For shopping, you will find Greek souvenirs and clothing, as well as jewelry shops. Greek gold jewelry is often better priced than in other European countries as the labor cost is lower. Here you will have 1 hour and 30 minutes free time.

At the designated time and location, your guide will be waiting to take you to the transportation for the drive back to the hotel.

Due to crowds, traffic, or other conditions out of our control, the order of the tour itinerary may be changed, but will still cover the mentioned sights.