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Athens and Cape Sounio Private Tour: Explore Major Sights and Scenic Coastal Roads
5.0
9 Ratings
Athens
Embark on a private tour of Athens and Cape Sounio, exploring major sights and scenic coastal roads. Visit the Acropolis, Lycabettus Hill, and Panathenaic Stadium, then marvel at the Temple of Poseidon with its stunning views of the Aegean Sea.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Athens - Pickup from your hotel, Airbnb apartment, or Piraeus port.
- Acropolis - The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel situated on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens, containing the remains of several historically and architecturally significant buildings, the most renowned being the Parthenon. The term acropolis comes from the Greek words ἄκρον (akron, “highest point, extremity”) and πόλις (polis, “city”). While the term is generic and there are many acropoleis in Greece, the Acropolis of Athens is the most famous. Evidence suggests the hill was inhabited as far back as the fourth millennium BC, but it was during the fifth century BC under Pericles (c. 495–429 BC) that the most important buildings, including the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike, were constructed. The Parthenon and other structures suffered significant damage during the 1687 siege by the Venetians in the Morean War when a cannonball hit the gunpowder stored in the Parthenon by the Ottomans, causing an explosion.
- Parthenon - At the summit of this sacred hill stands the Parthenon, a pinnacle of ancient Greek architecture, where the grandeur of ancient Greece is etched into every marble piece. This architectural masterpiece embodies the finest achievements of human spirit and genius, awaiting the return of its famed sister marbles.
- Temple of Athena Nike - The Temple of Athena Nike, dedicated to the goddesses Athena and Nike, is the earliest fully Ionic temple on the Acropolis, built around 420 BC. It occupies a prominent position on a steep bastion at the southwest corner of the Acropolis, to the right of the entrance, the Propylaea. Unlike the walled sanctuary of the Acropolis proper, the Victory Sanctuary was open, accessible from the Propylaea’s southwest wing and a narrow stair on the north. The bastion’s sheer walls were protected by the Nike Parapet, adorned with a frieze of Nikai celebrating victory and making sacrifices to Athena and Nike.
- Erechtheion - The Erechtheion is an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens, dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon.
- Theater of Dionysus - The Theater of Dionysus, an ancient Greek theatre in Athens, is located on the south slope of the Acropolis hill. Originally part of the sanctuary of Dionysus Eleuthereus, the first orchestra terrace was built around the mid- to late-sixth century BC, hosting the City Dionysia. The theatre reached its peak in the fourth century BC under Lycurgus, with a capacity of up to 17,000, and remained in use until the Roman period. It fell into decay during the Byzantine era and was not identified, excavated, and restored until the nineteenth century.
- Panathenaic Stadium - Known today as the Panathenaic Stadium, this stunning structure, made of Pentelic marble, hosted the first modern Olympic games and continues to reflect the Olympic ideals.
- Mount Lycabettus - After visiting the Panathenaic Stadium, we will drive up to Lycabettus Hill to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and admire the blend of ancient and modern Athens from above.
- Hellenic Parliament - Moving forward in time, we visit the Hellenic Parliament building in downtown Athens, overlooking Syntagma Square. The building is guarded by the presidential guard, consisting of two soldiers in traditional Greek combat uniforms, who perform a ceremonial guard change every hour.
- Syntagma - Syntagma Square (Constitution Square) is the central square of Athens, named after the Constitution granted by King Otto following a popular and military uprising on 3 September 1843. Located in front of the Old Royal Palace, which has housed the Greek Parliament since 1934, Syntagma Square is a key historical and social hub of modern Athens, central to commercial activity and Greek politics. The name Syntagma also refers to the surrounding neighborhood.
- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a war memorial in Syntagma Square, Athens, is dedicated to Greek soldiers who died in war. Sculpted between 1930 and 1932 by Fokion Rok, it is guarded by the Evzones of the Presidential Guard.
- National Library of Greece - Located near the center of Athens, the National Library of Greece was designed by Danish architect Theophil Freiherr von Hansen as part of his Trilogy of neo-classical buildings, which includes the Academy of Athens and the original Athens University building. It was founded by Ioannis Kapodistrias.
- The Academy of Athens - Established in 1926, the Academy of Athens is Greece’s national academy and highest research institution, operating under the Ministry of Education’s supervision. Its main building is a major landmark of Athens.
- Plaka - Plaka, the old historical neighborhood of Athens, is situated around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis. Known as the “Neighborhood of the Gods” due to its proximity to the Acropolis and numerous archaeological sites, Plaka features labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture. Enjoy free time for walking and shopping.
- Arch of Hadrian - The Arch of Hadrian, also known as Hadrian’s Gate, is a monumental gateway resembling a Roman triumphal arch. It spanned an ancient road from the center of Athens to the eastern city’s complex, which included the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
- Glyfada - Glyfada is a suburb in South Athens, located along the Athens Riviera on the coast.
- Voula - Voula is a southern suburb of Athens and part of the municipality Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni since the 2011 local government reform.
- Lake Vouliagmeni - On our way to Sounio, we will stop at Vouliagmeni Lake, a hidden gem in the Athenian Riviera. This small brackish-water lake is fed by underground currents from Mount Hymettus.
- Varkiza - Varkiza is known for its beach, which features tennis courts, parkland, fields, restaurants, taverns, and other amenities.
- Paralia Anavissos - Anavyssos is a town in East Attica. Enjoy free time for lunch at a local beachside tavern.
- Temple of Poseidon - Cape Sounion, at the southernmost tip of the Attic peninsula, is home to the ancient Greek Temple of Poseidon, built between 444–440 BC. This Doric temple, a major monument of the Golden Age of Athens, overlooks the sea from a height of nearly 60 meters (200 ft).
- Athens - We begin our return journey to Athens.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- On-board WiFi
- Bottled water
- In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
- Entry/Admission - Sounio Archeological site (8€ per adult)
- Entry/Admission - Acropolis and Museum (20€ per adult)
- Licensed tour guide
- Gratuities
- Lunch
Additional Information
Embark on a private journey of exploration in Athens and Cape Sounio! Beginning from your hotel in a top-of-the-line vehicle, you’ll experience an all-inclusive day adventure featuring visits to iconic landmarks such as the Acropolis, Lycabettus Hill, Panathenaic Stadium, and several others. The tour continues on to take you through the picturesque coastal routes of south Attica to the Temple of Poseidon, an ancient sanctuary erected atop a formidable sea cliff. The temple, dedicated to the Greek deity of the seas, offers stunning views of the Aegean Sea.
- Our drivers are not official tour guides, but they are knowledgeable and can provide fascinating commentary in fluent English. Although they will not enter the archaeological sites with you, they can answer all of your questions about the places you visit with this tour.
Location
Athens
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(9 Ratings)
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1 star
Jennifer_h
Jul 4, 2024
Awesome - Best host Nik!! Had a great time. He was very informative and made our day great! He took us to what ever we wanted to do.
Review provided by Viator
Tania
Apr 21, 2024
Amazing - Absolutely loved this tour! It's a great introduction to Athens. Alex, my guide, did a wonderful job to ensure I had the best of time in Athens. We visited many sites and had ample time at all of them. He made sure I was comfortable at all times and took my opinions regarding sites to visit on board as well. He was quick to find solurions, had a lot to share and was very knowledgable. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations, especially about the Greek alphabet! Everything was well organized and planned out. Highly recommend this tour to everyone!
Review provided by Viator
Erin_g
Oct 13, 2023
Excellent Day! - We had an excellent day out with a fantastic driver that made sure were back in plenty of time to the ship. We saw the Acropolis, the city including the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Olympic Stadium. He brought us to a local Gyro place in Athens. We were very happy.
Review provided by Viator
Bainclan
Sep 24, 2023
Awesome Customer Experience - Nikos was our guide in Athens for the Viator cultural tour and we cannot thank him enough for the personal and friendly service provided - highly, highly recommended if you want information along with a great experience Martin & Frances from Western Australia
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Coralie8
Sep 15, 2023
Athens in one day - It’s was a Fantastic day trip which more then what we expected
Our young handsome driver cum guide Mr Nick was excellent in his knowledge introducing the history of places we went:
His politeness and careful driving skills made our trip a breeze as we knew we were in safe hands , not forgotten the Excellent Clean and Comfortable vehicle
It’s a must book tour for those who plan to visit Athens
Highly Recommended
Thank You Very Much for your Top-Notch service
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carole_c
Aug 23, 2023
Great Athens tour - Nicos was wonderful! He made sure we were in time to see the changing of the guards at Parliament and took us a great restaurant for lunch. He was on time to pick us at the cruise port and gave us plenty of time to see all the sites. Thank you!
Review provided by Viator
Mary_l
Jun 1, 2023
Great Introduction to Athens - Our driver was wonderful. We were able to spend as much time as we liked at different sites, and his lunch recommendation was fantastic. He was a great source of information.
Review provided by Viator
Superstar426
May 28, 2023
Wonderful experience! - I had a wonderful experience with Alex as your driver and guide. He was super friendly and provided tons of information on the sights and history of Athens. I truly enjoyed my adventure - wish I had more time to spend in Cape Sounion, the temple and the explore the cliffs - breathtaking.
The car was clean and comfortable.
THANK YOU for a great day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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