Experience the Greek capital on a hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour along 3 different routes. You’ll travel on an open-top, double-decker bus as you take in the many important sights and attractions of the city. With the help of the onboard multilingual audio guide you can trace the history and culture of Athens from ancient times to the present day. In addition to the city’s many monuments, you’ll come across a multitude of shopping opportunities along the route. You can visit world-renowned museums and marvel at the ancient temples - the Acropolis and Parthenon. Athens Route Stops: Stop 1 - Syntagma Square Stop 2 - A Melina Merkouri / Plaka Stop 3 - A Acropolis Museum Stop 4 - A The Acropolis & Parthenon (Interchange: Piraeus route) Stop 5 - A Temple of Zeus Stop 6 - A Parliament / National Gardens Stop 7 - The Four Museums Stop 8 - The National Gallery Stop 9 - A Ancient Olympic Stadium Stop 9 - B Parliament / National Gardens Stop 10 - National Library Stop 11 - National Archaeological Museum Stop 12 - Omonoia Square Stop 13 - Karaiskaki Square Stop 14 - Monastiraki Square Stop 15 -Kotzia Square Piraeus Route Stops: Stop 1 - Pantion University Stop 2 - Niarchos Foundation Stop 3 - Municipal Theatre Stop 4 - Cruise Terminals A & B Stop 5 - Lions Gate Stop 6 - Cruise Terminals A & B Stop 7 - Archaeological Museum of Piraeus Stop 8 - Votsalakia Beach Stop 9 - Mikrolimano Harbour Stop 10 - Planetarium Stop 11 - Athens Ledra & Intercontinental Beach & Riviera Route Stops: Melina Merkouri/Plaka Pantion University Niarchos Foundation Falire/Flisvas Edem Ag.Kesmas Beach Bomo Palace Asteria Beach Divani Apollon Oceanis Beach/ Atrir Palace Vouliagemi Lake Pigadakia Blazer Suites Glyfada town Golf Ag.Kosmas Kalamki Poseidon Hotel Marriot/Planetarium Grand Hyatt/ Intercontinental Temple of Zeus

With a recorded history that spans over 3,400 years, Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world. This alternative walking tour takes you through Athens' rich history and multifaceted culture, surprising and enchanting you around every street corner. As you stroll through Athens' primeval streets, learn from your knowledgeable guide about the complex history of the ancient city. Visit landmark buildings such as the Parliament, the Academy, the University and the National Library, and come to understand their role in the construction of a contemporary European capital. Stroll through the beautiful neighborhoods of Psiri and Monastiraki, where the footprint of the Ottoman Empire is still present, to understand how the old city and its traditions mixed – or didn’t– with Western European values and ideas. Pass through Omonia Square, Kotzia Square, the central markets and many other fascinating sites, and discover the missing link between the glorious ancient past and the frantic, modern present.

Begin your 4-hour walking culinary tour with traditional sweets and finger food like the koulouri (a circular bread encrusted with sesame seeds) and the famous bougasta (a pastry consisting of either semolina custard, cheese or minced meat filling between layers of phyllo). Head to the Athens Agora and see the amazing range of spices, cheeses, olives, meat, fish and fruit on offer. Here, find a plethora of traditional tavernas. After your visit to the market, enjoy a brief break for a cup of traditional Greek coffee in one of the oldest coffee shops in Greece. Next, visit a folklore art shop and the beautiful Kotzia Square, situated just outside the ancient Archarnian Gate of Classical Athens. Stop at one of the oldest and best souvlaki houses in Greece for a taste of real souvlaki. End the tour by admiring the astonishing Acropolis in one of the most authentic restaurants in the city.

Start your private Athens tour by meeting your local guide at Ktozia Square, then head to the Mayor of Athens’ neo-classical building on Athina Street, one of the busiest in Athens. Starting at 9:00 AM when the city’s shops and markets are bustling with Athenians, you’ll see the shop owners get ready for a day of business, just as they have done for the past 2,000 years. You will experience the spirit of Greek life with the same commerce of food that existed thousands of years before, and your local guide will be explaining these practices to you along the way. On this Athens market tour you’ll dive into the Athenian way of life as your guide leads you through the markets. Here you will find every Mediterranean fruit, vegetable, meat, cheese, and more on offer. Experiencing local produce is one of the best things to do in Athens, and you’ll be able to pick out all the local favorites with the guide to show you the way. Filled with all these warm colors, tastes, and smells, the next stop is Monastiraki Square. The name of the square derives from the Greek word for monastery, and in the center of the square sits the Pantanassa Monastery. The square is also home to the Adrian Library, an archaic temple constructed in the Corinthian-style, and not far away is the 18th century Tzistarakis Mosque, now a ceramics museum. This Athens tour will point out all these landmarks to you and give you all the information you need to know about them in this cultural hub of the city. Next, explore the square’s flea market, mingle with merchants, and see ancient monuments as you uncover even more Athens history. Then, you’ll head off to Ifaistou or Pandrossos to discover shops selling all kinds of specialties such as leather sandals, handmade icons, Greek music instruments, and antiques. This is the perfect place to pick up a memento of your Athens travel experience, and the perfect way to get in touch with Athens market culture. Your tour will take you past ancient Agora next, where merchants traded enthusiastically during Greek and Roman times. You’ll see the lively central neighborhood of Thission, and pass houses from the 17th and 18th centuries along the way, as you make your way to one of Athens’ oldest areas, Plaka. There, you will enjoy a freshly brewed coffee as you chat about all things ancient Greek. Your Athens tour ends at the entrance of the Acropolis, where you are free to continue on your own personal exploration, or your local guide can give you advice on the best way to get back to your hotel. Don’t forget to ask for tips on what else to see and do during your stay.

Experience the best travel stories for yourself! Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this Lonely Planet Experience. Sample one of the world’s best cuisines on a 2.5-hour food tour of Athens. Departing from City Hall on Kotzia Square, admire the 18th century Neo-Classical architecture, including the headquarters of the National Bank of Greece, before walking to Central Market. Arrive at an atmosphere abuzz with local merchants, who come to display their fresh food and local produce. An expert guide will lead you to places where few tourists ever venture, exploring a vast range of Greek specialties, from simple koulouri (a round sesame bread), to salty feta cheese, olives, and other delicacies. Stop for a hot Greek coffee in winter, or a cold frappé on warmer days. Drop by a Greek deli and sample delicious fare, such as local honey, while getting an explanation about what’s in season and and its uses in Greek cooking. After your tasty tour, stroll to Monastiraki Square, where you will be ideally placed to spend the rest of the day visiting the ancient ruins of the Acropolis, and to explore the lively streets of the Plaka neighborhood.