5 Day
GR0003
Upon arrival in Athens, transfer to your hotel for overnight.
Athens alone is worth a trip to Greece. The Acropole, the Parthenon, the National Museum, the Plaka area, the Syndagma (Constitution) Square alone are worth to go to Athens.
Athens, capital of modern Greece, at its foundation in 3000 B.C. was a small fortified village at the top of the Acropole. It owes its name to the Goddess Athena who won a fight against Poseidon.
Athens, today, counts about 4 million inhabitants. To discover the city, wandering in through the tiny streets and the popular areas are incomparable: bazaars, gardens, Byzantine churches and magnificent ruins remind the turbulent past and dynamical present of Athens.
Overnight in Athens
Athens Sightseeing with Acropolis Museum:
From Tuesday to Sunday, all year round
Dep: 08:30 - Ret: 13:30
From the Acropolis to Omonia Square, with the half-day sightseeing and Acropolis museum tour you'll see all the famous sites of ancient and modern Athens on this comprehensive morning tour. Offering a perfect overview of the modern city, this guided halfday tour will help you get your bearings if this is your first visit to Athens.
The Athens half-day tour depart for a photo stop at Panathinaiko Stadium whe-re the first Olympic Games took place in 1896. It is the only stadium built out of white marble. Proceed, passing by Zappeion and Temple of Olympian Zeus. You will then pass the Athens Trilogy which includes the University of Athens, the Academy of Athens, and the National Library. Continue passing by National Garden, Hadrian’s Arc, St. Paul’s Church, Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown soldier, Schliemann’s House (Numismatic Museum), Catholic Cathedral, Old Parliament, Constitution Square ,Russian Orthodox Church, and finally ACROPOLIS (visit Propylae, Temple of Athena Nike, Parthenon, Erechtheion with its Porch of Maidens). Continue the expert guided Athens sightseeing and museum tour with a pleasant short walk passing by Herodion and Dionysos Theater, in order to visit the ACROPOLIS museum. Avoid and skip the lines of the new museum. Main attractions such as votives, artifacts of every day life, statues from archaic period, Caryatids, and of course the Parthenon hall with the metopes, the pediments and the frieze will impress you.
Free afternoon to stroll the “Plaka” (old town) area
Overnight in Athens
Possible excursions from Athens :
Option 1- Delphi :
Daily service from 01 April to 31 October (except Mondays)
Dep: 08:45 - Ret: 18:45
Depart from our terminal for one day trip from Athens to Delphi to expore one of the most famous archaelogical sites of Greece. Along the way, you will see the plain of Beotia, an agricultural center and you will also pass by the city of Theva, the birthplace of King Oedipus.
Option 2- Argolis :
From 01 April to 31 October : Monday to Thursday and Saturday
Dep: 08:45 - Ret: 18:45
Explore with this guided one full day trip from Athens the remains of the ancient city of Mycenae a major centre of Greek civilization from 1600BC to 1100BC and a world heritage monument.
Depart from our terminal for one day tour via the coastal National highway for the Corinth canal (short stop). After the Corinth Canal, you enter the region of Argolis, land of Homer’s Golden Mycenae, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dating back to the second century B.C., Mycenae was one of the major centers of Greek civilization and a military stronghold which dominated much of southern Greece . Visit the archaeological site, home to the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon. You will see the Cyclopean Walls, the Lion’s Gate, the Royal Tombs, including Agamemnon Clytemnestra's, and the Treasury of Atreus, a magnificent 14th-century B.C. structure. Time will then be taken for a traditional Greek optional lunch at a nearby restaurant. Before lunch an optional stop in a pottery factory. After lunch through ARGOS proceed to Nauplia the first capital of modern Greece with its Venetian fortress of PALAMIDI and the fortified islet of BOURTZI (short stop). Continue on to Epidaurus and visit the ancient theatre. The UNESCO’S world heritage listed monument is reputed to be the birthplace of Apollo's son Asklepios, the healer and was the most celebrated healing center of the classical world. Epidaurus is probably most famous for its theatre, one of the best preserved classical Greek buildings and still used today due to its amazing acoustics. The Mycenae - Epidaurus day tour returns to Athens in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Athens
Transfer to the port of Piraeus whe-re you will a day cruise to the Saronic Islands :
Take a day cruise from Athens to the fabulous Greek islands of Hydra, Poros and Aegina for a relaxing day on the sea. With all your transport, transfers and buffet lunch organized, you can sit back and enjoy your leisurely day cruise with free time on each island to explore. After transferring from Athens to Piraeus by motor coach, you'll set sail for the island of Poros, whe-re you'll have free time for strolling and shopping .
Next, it's on to the island of Hydra. You will have about 1 hour and 45 minutes at leisure to enjoy the unique charms of Hydra island, whose amphitheater shape once served as a safe shelter for Saronic Pirates. From the decks, you will be able to admire the very special architecture and dramatic landscapes of this island, whose old traditional stone houses and mansions silently stand witness to a long and turbulent history.
Upon arrival in Egina (Aegina) you can either an excursion to the Temple of Aphaia (cost not included)take a walk around the main town. Aegina is one of the Saronic islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf. The lovely island is only 31 miles (50 kilometers) from Athens, and is a popular getaway for Athenians during the summer months.
After sailing back to Piraeus port you'll be transferred to Athens and overnight.
Departure to Airport for home flight.
Notes
1. Depending the seasonalitysome international events (congress, fairs...) prices of the proposed hotels may vary.
2. Due to closure days of some sites and museums, tours may be swapped to ensure the best running of your program. We have endeavored to show these in the program.
Possible program natives :
1. Private excursions at anyall destinations (supplement to be added)
2. Higherlower hotel category (price difference to be reflected)
3. Guide services in other language than English (supplement possible)
4. Possible connection with other tours you have booked with third parties
5. This is a program proposal. We are open to any additionsreductions you may require. These will be reflected in the new quotation.