Walking Athens

• Immerse yourself in ancient history on this jam-packed Athens tour
• Wander through numerous historical sites, from the infamous to the unknown
• Learn about Athens’ history from a local perspective instead of a guidebook
• Taste traditional ouzo and shop in the Plaka area
• Witness the Greek changing of the guard

This whistle-stop Athens tour is packed full of all those must-see Athens spots as well as those hidden gems that can only be found with a local by your side. Dive into the very soul of Athens and discover exactly what makes this city so very special – including and aside from all that ancient history.

Start this historical Athens walking tour by meeting your local guide in Syntagma Square, the most important and crowded square in Athens, surrounded by impressive neoclassical buildings. The best known is the Grande Bretagne, once a royal palace but now a luxury hotel which has housed everyone from Churchill to Madonna.

At the upper end of the square see the Evzones, the guards of the Constitution, and the tomb of the unknown soldier. The Evzones are traditionally dressed with 17th and 18th century clothes: an impressive white skirt, red hat, and an old rifle. The changing of the guard happens every hour, and you simply cannot tour Athens without seeing this spectacle – which is why we’ve incorporated it into this tour! Watch the ceremony while your local guide explains the tradition.

Next on this Athens tour you’ll jump on the metro and travel to Monastiraki. Travelling between these stations is like stepping back in time; both have exposed ancient ruins behind glass, discovered during the excavations for the metro system. But these are just a taster of the ancient ruins to come…

You’ll exit the station and take a walk around the walls of infamous Athens Acropolis through the Ancient Agora. Learn about the history, and the myths, for each temple and receive explanations about the Athina Nike, the Caryatides, and the Parthenon, constructed in the Golden Age of Athens under Pericles. This is the central hub of classic Athens history, and you’ll hear the ancient stories behind this monument from your local guide.

Afterwards, explore the Plaka area. Shop for souvenirs along Adriannou Street and stop at an ouzo shop to taste the Greek national drink. All taverns in Greece sell ouzo and here you’ll see different types from all over the country, made in many different ways. You’ll also see shops that specialize in olive oil, sponges, icons, leather sandals. or bags - something you won't experience on other Athens tours.

Continue walking to Diogenis Square, under the impressive wall of the Acropolis. See Hadrian’s Arch, built in honour of one of the most glorified Roman emperors. Directly behind it you can see the ruins of the Jupiter (Zeus) temple as you taste and feel the history of Athens.

Pass by the National Garden and Zappeion, to arrive at the Panathinaiko Stadium. Made of white marble it was here that the first Olympic Games took place and where the 2004 Olympic marathon ended.

Finally, you’ll be taken back to present day Athens to admire some of Athens’ more modern architecture. Learn how well-known foreign architects built and designed neoclassical residences during the 18th and 19th century, and see the juxtaposition as they sit next to ancient sites.

The Athens walking tour comes to an end in the Plaka area where you are free to continue your own personal exploration or your local guide can give you advice on how to get back to your hotel, where you can digest all that history!