Essential Athens Full Day Private Tour - Best Shore Excursion

We start the tour by visiting the so called “sacred rock”, The Acropolis. Here you will see:
- Parthenon that was dedicated to goddess Athena (Parthenos)
- Propylea, the monumental entrance to the sacred area
- The Temple of Athena Nike which was dedicated to Athena-Nike
- The Erechtheion with its famous female figures-statues
- The Caryatides or Maidens dedicated to both goddess Athena and god Poseidon
- The Odeum of Herodus Atticus
- The the Theatre of Dionysus, the first theatre in the whole world
- The Areopagus (Mars Hill)

The temple of Olympian Zeus (124-132 AD) had three rows of eight columns (tripteral octastyle) on the two narrow sides and two rows of twenty columns (dipteral eikosastyle) on the long sides. It once housed the chryselephantine (gold and ivory) statue of Zeus and the statue of the emperor. Sixteen of the temple's columns survive today, thirteen of them, on the east side, intact. Of the remaining three on the west side, one collapsed in 1852.

It was originally a natural hollow part of the ground between the two hills of Agra and Ardettos, over Ilissos river. It was transformed into a stadium by Lykourgos in 330-329 BC for the athletic competitions of the Great Panathinaea Festivities. Between 140 and 144 AD, Herodes Atticus restored the Stadium, giving it the form that was found at the 1870 excavation: the horseshoe construction with a track 204,07 meters long and 33,35 meters wide. It is believed that the Stadium had a seating capacity of 50.000 people. Separating scales were built between the tiers and on the base of the sphendone there was a portico with Doric-style columns; another portico was placed in the stadium's facade. At Roman times, the Stadium was used as an arena, with the addition of a semi-circular wall on the north that was corresponding to the splendor of the southern side.

The triumphal arch lies on an ancient street that led from the old city of Athens to the new, Roman section, built by Hadrian. It was constructed by the Athenians in A.D. 131, in honor of their benefactor emperor. Two inscriptions are carved on the architrave, one on each side: the first, on the side towards the Acropolis reads "This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus"; the second, on the other side, facing the new city reads "This is the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus".

Lycabettus Hill (Lykavitos) is the highest point of Athens, 277m above sea level.

From Lycabettus Hill you will enjoy the best panoramic view of the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Ancient Agora and the whole metropolis! You will also be reminded that Athens is surrounded by sea with spectacular views across the Aegean.

On the top of the hill, you will find the Greek Orthodox church of Agios Georgios (St. George).

Also known as Constitution Square, Syntagma Square (Plateia Syntagmatos) is a huge public plaza stretching out in front of Athens’ parliament building. Gleaming with white marble and beautiful statues, it’s a great place for people to watch. Many of the city's most important streets begin here, including Ermou Street and Vassilissis Sofias Avenue.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a war memorial located in Syntagma Square in Athens, in front of the House of the Greek Parliament. It is a cenotaph dedicated to the Greek soldiers killed during war. It was sculpted between 1930 and 1932 by sculptor Fokion Rok. The tomb is guarded 24-7 by the Evzones (Presidential Guards)

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, usually referred to simply as the University of Athens, is a public university in Athens, Greece

The Academy of Athens is Greece's national academy, and the highest research establishment in the country. It was established in 1926, and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. The Academy's main building is one of the major landmarks of Athens.

The National Library of Greece is part of the famous Trilogy of neo-classical buildings in the city centre, including the Academy of Athens and the Athens University.

The Agora was the heart of ancient Athens, the centre of political, commercial, administrative and social activity. The religious and cultural centre, and the seat of justice.

The first excavation campaigns were carried out by the Greek Archaeological Society in 1859-1912, and by the German Archaeological Institute in 1896-97. In 1890-91, a deep trench cut for the Athens-Peiraeus Railway brought to light extensive remains of ancient buildings.

In 1931 the American School of Classical Studies started the systematic excavations with the financial support of J. Rockefeller and continued until 1941. Work was resumed in 1945 and is still continuing.

The Museum of the Ancient Agora is housed in the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos, originally erected during the 2nd cent. BC as a gift of the king of Pergamon, Attalos II, to Athens.

The exhibition in the Museum gallery holds archaeological finds coming from the systematic excavations of the American School of Classical Studies in the area and dated from the Neolithic to the Post-byzantine and Ottoman periods.

Monastiraki is famous for the Flea Market. An area full cute cafes and shops selling a great variaty of souvenirs.

The surrounding streets are crammed with traditional Greek tavernas and restaurants, many with great Acropolis view!

The Acropolis Museum, one of the most important museums in the world, focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens.

The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece.