Athens Full Day Private Tours
1. Athens Sightseeing - approx 8 hours
We drive to Constitution Square, where the Houses of Parliament are situated, as well as other neoclassic buildings. You can watch the changing of the guards in front of the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and see the Greek guards (evzones) dressed in traditional costume.
Driving down the main avenue, you can view the Academy of Arts, the National Library and the University of Athens, before continuing on to the Temple of Zeus, which lies in the heart of the city and on to Hadrian's Gate.You will also visit Kallimarmaron Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896.
We visit the Acropolis and the Parthenon, from where you can see the architectural masterpieces of Athens Golden Era, offering a panoramic view to the entire city of Athens.
We will take you to the old neighbourhood of Plaka the original town of Athens, where you can wander around the alleys and the Ancient Agora .
Driving down the main avenue, you can view the Academy of Arts, the National Library and the University of Athens, before continuing on to the Temple of Zeus, which lies in the heart of the city and on to Hadrian's Gate.You will also visit Kallimarmaron Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896.
We visit the Acropolis and the Parthenon, from where you can see the architectural masterpieces of Athens Golden Era, offering a panoramic view to the entire city of Athens.
We will take you to the old neighbourhood of Plaka the original town of Athens, where you can wander around the alleys and the Ancient Agora .
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2. Delphi & Osios Loukas Monastery - approx. 10 hours
We pick you up from Athens, we visit Levadia and then continue for Osios Lukas Monastery, situated on Mt. Helikon halfway from Athens to Delphi.
The Byzantine monastery of Saint Luke was built in the 11th century. The splendid mosaics and the architecture make this monastery one of the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture and art.
Our next stop is Delphi, known in ancient times as the naval of the world passing by Castalia Spring. There we visit the archeological siteincluding the Temple of Apollo, famous for its oracle, and the museum of Delphi. After lunch we return to Athens via Arachova, a village built on the southern slopes of Parnassus, well known for its attractive hand-woven carpets, rugs and quilts.
The Byzantine monastery of Saint Luke was built in the 11th century. The splendid mosaics and the architecture make this monastery one of the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture and art.
Our next stop is Delphi, known in ancient times as the naval of the world passing by Castalia Spring. There we visit the archeological siteincluding the Temple of Apollo, famous for its oracle, and the museum of Delphi. After lunch we return to Athens via Arachova, a village built on the southern slopes of Parnassus, well known for its attractive hand-woven carpets, rugs and quilts.
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3. Corinth - Mycenae - Epidavros - approx 10 hours
We visit the Peloponnese Peninsula, taking in some of the most renowned sights of Greece. We depart from Athens driving through Megara on the National Highway, arrive at Ancient Corinth to visit the Corinthian Canal which connects the Aegean to the Ionian Sea an exit from Central to Southern Greece.
We continue with the historical commercial and market city of Ancient Corinth and one of the major stops of St. Paul. We drive towards Tirynth and Nemea, two of the most important towns of the Greek Mythology and History. Next stop is Mycenae, the historic citadel where the Homeric Palace of Agamemnon is situated featuring the Cyclopean Walls, the Lions Gate and numerous tombs of kings and princes.
Time for lunch at the picturesque coastal town of Nafplion (the first capitol of Greece), featuring an impressive venetian castle and the 999 steps to the top.
Our last stop is Epidavros, the biggest healing and entertainment center of the Antiquity, featuring the best preserved ancient theater, famous for its acoustics and the vast number of ancient plays presented here. In the summer it hosts plays performed by artists from all over the world.
We continue with the historical commercial and market city of Ancient Corinth and one of the major stops of St. Paul. We drive towards Tirynth and Nemea, two of the most important towns of the Greek Mythology and History. Next stop is Mycenae, the historic citadel where the Homeric Palace of Agamemnon is situated featuring the Cyclopean Walls, the Lions Gate and numerous tombs of kings and princes.
Time for lunch at the picturesque coastal town of Nafplion (the first capitol of Greece), featuring an impressive venetian castle and the 999 steps to the top.
Our last stop is Epidavros, the biggest healing and entertainment center of the Antiquity, featuring the best preserved ancient theater, famous for its acoustics and the vast number of ancient plays presented here. In the summer it hosts plays performed by artists from all over the world.
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4. Sparta - Mystras - approx 10 hours
We depart from Athens via Corinth (short stop) Continue for Sparta (Sparti) the capital of the prefecture built in the Evrotas river valley, on the same site where the ancient city stood.
Our first destination is the remains of the ancient acropolis, the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia (6th C. BC), the tomb of Leonidas (5th C. BC) and the Menelaion and the ancient theatre and the museum housed in a neoclassical building in the centre of town.
The green plain of Lakonia spreads out around Sparta and in the distance Mount Taigetos.
We continue for Mystras occupying a steep hill on the northern slopes of Mt. Taygetos, 6km. NW of Sparta. The castle on the top of the hill was founded in 1249 by the Frankish leader William II de Villeharduin. Later in 1262 it came under Byzantine control, and at the middle of the 14th century the seat of the Despotate of Moreas. In 1448 the last emperor of Byzantium, Constantine XI Palaeologos, was crowned at Mystras. In 1460 the hill was captured by the Turks and in 1464 Sigismondo Malatesta of Rimini managed to capture the city but not the castle. For a short period Mystras came under the control of the Venetians (1687-1715) but was again taken over by the Turks. It was one of the first castles of Greece to be liberated in 1821. The foundation of modern Sparta by king Otto in 1834 marked the end of the old town's life.
Inside the castle we visit the monuments of:
The Fortification: The Frankish castle with the battlements and towers was founded by William II de Villeharduin and was later reinforced by the Greeks and the Turks.
The Walls: The two strongly fortified circuit walls were strengthened by tall, rectangular towers, dated to the Late Byzantine period.
- The Cathedral of St. Demetrios: of a mixed architectural type it is a three-aisled basilica on the ground floor with a narthex and a bell tower (dated to the second half of the 13th century), and a cross-in-square church on the upper floor (added in the first half of the 15th century). The interior is decorated with wall paintings of many different styles, dating to the period between 1270- 1280 and the first quarter of the 14th century. The wall paintings of the dome date to the 15th century.
- The Church of St Theodore: built between 1290 and 1295 by the monks Daniel and Pachomios. It is of the octagonal type, with lateral chapels, and is decorated with wall paintings dating from the end of the 13th century.
- The Church of Our Lady Hodegetria (The Leader of The Way): Built in 1310 by abbot Pachomios. It belongs to the mixed architectural type with a narthex and lateral chapels and is decorated with excellent wall paintings, dated to 1312-1322, some of which are connected to the Constantinopolitan art.
- The Church of Aghia Sophia (Holy Wisdom): Domed, cross-in-square, two-column church, built in the middle of the 14th century. It has side chapels and a bell-tower. Remarkable wall paintings are preserved in the sanctuary and the chapels.
- The Monastery of Our Lady Peribleptos: The catholicon (main church) is a domed, two-column, cross-in-square church with chapels. Beside it stands the Tower-Refectory. The church is decorated with wall paintings of exceptional artistic quality, made by various artists of the third quarter of the 14th century.
- The Church of Our Lady Evangelistria (of The Annunciation): Domed, cross-in-square, two-column church decorated with wall paintings of the beginning of the 15th century.
- The Monastery of Our Lady Pantanassa (The Queen of All): The catholicon belongs to the mixed architectural type and has exterior porticoes and a bell tower. Fine wall paintings dated to ca. 1430 are preserved on the upper floor and in the sanctuary, while the wall paintings on the ground floor date from the 18th century.
- Palaces of The Mystras Despots (Kantakouzenoi and Palaeologoi): Large building complex, L-shaped in plan. It contains many buildings of different functions, erected in different phases between the 13th and the 15th centuries.
Our first destination is the remains of the ancient acropolis, the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia (6th C. BC), the tomb of Leonidas (5th C. BC) and the Menelaion and the ancient theatre and the museum housed in a neoclassical building in the centre of town.
The green plain of Lakonia spreads out around Sparta and in the distance Mount Taigetos.
We continue for Mystras occupying a steep hill on the northern slopes of Mt. Taygetos, 6km. NW of Sparta. The castle on the top of the hill was founded in 1249 by the Frankish leader William II de Villeharduin. Later in 1262 it came under Byzantine control, and at the middle of the 14th century the seat of the Despotate of Moreas. In 1448 the last emperor of Byzantium, Constantine XI Palaeologos, was crowned at Mystras. In 1460 the hill was captured by the Turks and in 1464 Sigismondo Malatesta of Rimini managed to capture the city but not the castle. For a short period Mystras came under the control of the Venetians (1687-1715) but was again taken over by the Turks. It was one of the first castles of Greece to be liberated in 1821. The foundation of modern Sparta by king Otto in 1834 marked the end of the old town's life.
Inside the castle we visit the monuments of:
The Fortification: The Frankish castle with the battlements and towers was founded by William II de Villeharduin and was later reinforced by the Greeks and the Turks.
The Walls: The two strongly fortified circuit walls were strengthened by tall, rectangular towers, dated to the Late Byzantine period.
- The Cathedral of St. Demetrios: of a mixed architectural type it is a three-aisled basilica on the ground floor with a narthex and a bell tower (dated to the second half of the 13th century), and a cross-in-square church on the upper floor (added in the first half of the 15th century). The interior is decorated with wall paintings of many different styles, dating to the period between 1270- 1280 and the first quarter of the 14th century. The wall paintings of the dome date to the 15th century.
- The Church of St Theodore: built between 1290 and 1295 by the monks Daniel and Pachomios. It is of the octagonal type, with lateral chapels, and is decorated with wall paintings dating from the end of the 13th century.
- The Church of Our Lady Hodegetria (The Leader of The Way): Built in 1310 by abbot Pachomios. It belongs to the mixed architectural type with a narthex and lateral chapels and is decorated with excellent wall paintings, dated to 1312-1322, some of which are connected to the Constantinopolitan art.
- The Church of Aghia Sophia (Holy Wisdom): Domed, cross-in-square, two-column church, built in the middle of the 14th century. It has side chapels and a bell-tower. Remarkable wall paintings are preserved in the sanctuary and the chapels.
- The Monastery of Our Lady Peribleptos: The catholicon (main church) is a domed, two-column, cross-in-square church with chapels. Beside it stands the Tower-Refectory. The church is decorated with wall paintings of exceptional artistic quality, made by various artists of the third quarter of the 14th century.
- The Church of Our Lady Evangelistria (of The Annunciation): Domed, cross-in-square, two-column church decorated with wall paintings of the beginning of the 15th century.
- The Monastery of Our Lady Pantanassa (The Queen of All): The catholicon belongs to the mixed architectural type and has exterior porticoes and a bell tower. Fine wall paintings dated to ca. 1430 are preserved on the upper floor and in the sanctuary, while the wall paintings on the ground floor date from the 18th century.
- Palaces of The Mystras Despots (Kantakouzenoi and Palaeologoi): Large building complex, L-shaped in plan. It contains many buildings of different functions, erected in different phases between the 13th and the 15th centuries.
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5.Wine Roads Tour - approx. 10 hours
We travel south to the Greek wine region of Nemea, via Corinth Canal, in the Peloponnese, one of the most important appellations for the production of red wine. We visit some of the best wineries as well as ancient site of Nemea. Time for Lunch in Nafplion the first capital of Greece. We go to the Palamidi Fortress and enjoy the panoramic view over the town.
We continue for ancient Epidaurus with its famous theater and natural acoustic.
Wine was first produced in Nemea almost 3500 years ago.
One of the largest winemaking regions of Greece it produces some of its best wines. The prominent grape here is Ayoryitiko, a red grapes, which got its name from the town of Nemea originally called "Agios Georgios" or St. George. Ayoryitiko produces wines that stand out for their deep red color and remarkable aroma.
Ayoryitiko's soft tannins and balanced acidity can produce many different styles of wine, ranging from fresh aromatic reds to full-bodied, age-worthy reds. It also produces very pleasant aromatic rose wines. The Nemea wine-growing region can roughly be divided into three areas in accordance to the altitude of the vineyards. At the lowest altitudes, in the valley of Nemea (250m-450m) light reds and dessert wines are produced. In the next zone (450m-650m) some of the best age-worthy reds are produced and at the highest altitudes, up to 900m, aromatic roses and fresh reds are made. Some of Greece's most well known wineries are located in Nemea and many are worth a visit.
Wine was first produced in Nemea almost 3500 years ago.
One of the largest winemaking regions of Greece it produces some of its best wines. The prominent grape here is Ayoryitiko, a red grapes, which got its name from the town of Nemea originally called "Agios Georgios" or St. George. Ayoryitiko produces wines that stand out for their deep red color and remarkable aroma.
Ayoryitiko's soft tannins and balanced acidity can produce many different styles of wine, ranging from fresh aromatic reds to full-bodied, age-worthy reds. It also produces very pleasant aromatic rose wines. The Nemea wine-growing region can roughly be divided into three areas in accordance to the altitude of the vineyards. At the lowest altitudes, in the valley of Nemea (250m-450m) light reds and dessert wines are produced. In the next zone (450m-650m) some of the best age-worthy reds are produced and at the highest altitudes, up to 900m, aromatic roses and fresh reds are made. Some of Greece's most well known wineries are located in Nemea and many are worth a visit.
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6.Marathon & Thermopyles Tour - approx. 8 hours
We visit the battlefields of Marathon, the museum and the tombs of the soldiers who died there.
We continue to Thermopylae and the statue of Leonidas. There are no museums in Thermopylae.
The official distance of the race is 42,195 kilometers (26 miles 385 yards). The event is named after the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens.The Marathon was one of the original modern Olympic events in 1896, though the distance did not become standardized until 1921.
We can just see the site of where the battle took place or we could even combine this tour with Delphi.
We continue to Thermopylae and the statue of Leonidas. There are no museums in Thermopylae.
The official distance of the race is 42,195 kilometers (26 miles 385 yards). The event is named after the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens.The Marathon was one of the original modern Olympic events in 1896, though the distance did not become standardized until 1921.
We can just see the site of where the battle took place or we could even combine this tour with Delphi.
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7.Meteora - Orthodox Monasterys - approx. 12 hours
We depart for the rocky forest of Meteora where we visit the famous monasteries.
We stop for lunch at Kalampaka.
We return to Athens via Thermopylae.
We stop for lunch at Kalampaka.
We return to Athens via Thermopylae.
