Athens is the ideal city in Europe for an extended city trip, perfect for the weekend or even for a whole week. In the city centre itself and in the surrounding area, numerous historical places and sights await you, which you can explore on your own or by guided Athens Tours.
In addition, the capital is also a great starting point for excursions in the surrounding area. In this article, we have discussed the 10 Best Athens Excursions and tours for your next city trip to the Greek metropolis. But there is also a choice of eventful excursions in the surrounding area – from sailing trips to train rides.
- #1 Private guided tour of the Athens Acropolis
- #2 Athens City Walking Tour with a Free Walking Tour
- #3 Explore Athens by bike
- #4 Athens City Tour with Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
- #5 Day Tour to Delphi
- #6 Day trip to the Meteora monasteries
- #7 Peloponnese Excursion: Epidaurus, Corinth, Mycenae and Nafplio
- #8 Excursion to the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion
- #9 Sailing tour to the islands of Aegina, Angistri and Moni
- #10 Foodie tour of Athens
#1 Private guided tour of the Athens Acropolis
➲ To the private Acropolis tour*
No one should leave Athens without seeing the Acropolis. The ancient fortress is the landmark of the city. It is ubiquitous, located in the center of Athens and attracts millions of visitors every year.
A tiresome topic is the sometimes hours-long topic queuing at the ticket counter. If you’re late, you may have to wait a long time. Hundreds of people crowd around you and you quickly lose interest in sightseeing. Believe us, we speak from experience 😉
→ You can find more Acropolis tips in our separate article on the Acropolis of Athens
One way to avoid the queue at the Acropolis is to be there before 8:00 AM. The other option would be to join a private Acropolis guided tour and receive the entrance tickets from a certified tour guide. This way you can get past the queue in no time.
We can warmly recommend the tour during the day with an English-speaking guide. You even have the opportunity to spend the evening at a Tour with English-speaking guide Participate. You will learn many details about the Acropolis, the history of Athens and ancient myths during the guided tour. The group size is a maximum of 20 people.
#2 Athens City Walking Tour with a Free Walking Tour
Free walking tours are one of the most exciting ways to explore a big city. On the one hand, they are (theoretically) free and on the other hand, you usually get to know a lot of cool people. In Athens, too, the Free Walking City Walking Tour very popular.
The girls and boys lead their Athens tours in English. So every visitor to the city can participate. There are now two free walking providers. Both are highly recommended and each presents Athens individually.
Culture, history and modernity are conveyed by the city guides in a funny and lively way. At the end of the city tour, each participant can decide for themselves with which contribution they will honor the excursion through Athens.
In addition to the ancient Athens sights, there are also hip neighborhoods like Psyrri and Exarchia. The starting point for the tours of “Athens Free Walking Tour” is in the Makrygianni district, near the Acropolis Museum. The provider “Athens Free Tour” starts at Hadrian’s Gate near the Olympieion.
Click here to go directly to the two free walking tour providers:
Athens Map: This card includes allAthens Highlights, 64 places worth seeing, insider tips and shopping, 4 Beaches & Bays, as well as personal recommendations for 34 restaurants & cafes. Ideal for holiday planning and local navigation. Can be used for smartphone, tablet and PC/Mac. Click here and start using it right away: To the Athens map
#3 Explore Athens by bike
The city center of Athens is ideal for an extended bike tour. A large part of the historical Athens’ city centre is traffic-calmed. So you can explore the beautiful old town by bike in a relaxed way.
The Athens districts of Plaka, Anafiotika, Thiseo and Monastiraki, which are located around the Acropolis, are well worth seeing. Near the Acropolis Museum you will find numerous rental stations, including the most famous bike rental company in Athens “Athens By Bike” at the Makrygianni stop (Μακρυγιαννη).
If you don’t want to cycle alone through the metropolis, then join one guided bike tour in Athens. Within three hours, you will be introduced to almost all Athens sights. In addition, the tour guide will provide you with useful information and insider tips about Athens.
You can choose between the morning tour with normal bike and a Sunset Athens Tourchoose. Both Athens excursions include many photo spots for atmospheric pictures. Exploring Greece’s capital by bike is definitely one of the best Athens excursions. Here you can find detailed information about the tours and a direct way to book:
Don’t feel like pedaling? How about a guided tour Segway tour of Athens? A more unusual way to explore Athens. You can check out details about the tours at our partner GetYourGuide*: to the Segway tours in Athens*
#4 Athens City Tour with Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
➲ To the Hop On/Hop Off Tours*
What works in London, Paris and Berlin also works in Athens! The Athens hop-on hop-off bus is considered one of the most popular ways to explore Athens. Especially if you don’t have too much time available, it’s worth taking the Athens Sightseeing Bus.
With the Hop On Hop Off 24-Hour Ticket you can discover Athens for two days. Information about Athens’ sights is conveyed in twelve languages via headset. There’s even free Wi-Fi on the bus.
💡 Athens Private Tour by Taxi: The friendly colleagues from Taxi Transfer Athens In addition to the airport transfer, we also offer a half-day tour by taxi through Athens (approx. 150 €). In 5 hours, 6 stations are visited (including Acropolis, Olympieion, Changing of the Guard Syntagma, Lycabettus Hill, Olympic Stadium and Plaka district), which you can visit on your own. Special requests are accepted by the chef Manolis Lepiroglou personally: m.lepiroglou(at)gmail.com
In summer, buses run regularly from 8:30 to 21:00. You will head for all the important Athens sights in the center, as well as the outer city center. A total of 15 stops are on the route called “Athens Line” contain.
In addition, there are other lines called “Beach Riviera Line” and “Piraeus Line”. The Piraeus Line even takes you as far as the port of Piraeus, perfect for an upcoming trip Greece Island Hopping. This will save you the tickets for public transport.
#5 Day Tour to Delphi
One of the most popular Athens excursions is to visit the ancient site of Athens Delphi. More than 2,000 years ago, the mysterious Oracle of Delphi, described in his time as the navel of the world.
Delphi is one of the top sights in Greece. The bus tour from Athens takes about four hours, including free Wi-Fi on board. Lunch is also included in the Delphi tour, so this Athens excursion is ideal for those who don’t want to or can’t rent a car and still want to explore something.
💡 Combining Delphi & Meteora from Athens? On a two-day tour, you can get two Sights of Greece by bus. The tour includes pick-up in Athens, travel and transfer, accommodation, as well as tickets for Delphi and entrance to two Meteora monasteries. On GetYourGuide* you can take a look at the 2-day trip from Athens: To the guided tour*
#6 Day trip to the Meteora monasteries
In addition to visiting Delphi, it is also worth visiting the enchanting Meteora Monasteries in the region of Thessaly. The great advantage of this Athens tour is the relaxed journey by train.
The scenic train ride from Athens to Kalambaka takes four hours. The village of Kalambaka is located directly below the picturesque monasteries. With the mini-bus you will visit all six active monasteries and stop at many cool photo spots. At around 5:00 PM, the tour ends and the train goes back to Athens.
#7 Peloponnese Excursion: Epidaurus, Corinth, Mycenae and Nafplio
➲ To the organized Peloponnese excursion*
You are only on a short trip to Athens and still want to see the highlights of the popular Peloponnese Peninsula see? A day trip from Athens makes it possible, on which you can actually see four Top sights of the Peloponnese .
See the famous Corinth Canal, the imposing Epidaurus Theater, the mysterious site of Mycenae, and the pretty port city of Nafplio including its fortress Palamidi. Sounds like a decent program? A 3-course lunch with a view is available for refreshment! For multi-day tours, even the Ancient Olympia as a stage destination.
#8 Excursion to the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion
➲ To the excursion to Sounion*
One of the most popular Athens excursions will take you to the Southern tip of the Attica region, to Cape Sounion to be precise. Even if you may not have heard of this place, the Temple of Poseidon located here is sure to amaze you!
The impressive Temple at Cape Sounion is enthroned on a steep cliff right by the sea. In the evening, there is a particularly magical atmosphere. The sunset is one of the most beautiful in all of Greece. You should not miss the sunset tour with an English-speaking guide.
#9 Sailing tour to the islands of Aegina, Angistri and Moni
➲ To the sailing trip to Aegina & Angistri*
Your stay in Athens is coming to an end and you want to get a taste of the island air after your city trip? Then maybe a sailing tour in the enchanting Saronic Gulf the right one for you.
The day trip controls the Aegina, Angistri and Moni Islands, including its beautiful bays. You can even optionally explore the islet of Angistri by bike. Many photo and swimming spots are waiting for you. On Aegina, you will be served a delicious Mediterranean meal. In the evening, chilled music will be played and the sails will be set back towards Athens.
#10 Foodie tour of Athens
If the classic sightseeing in Athens is too much for you, then let yourself be treated to culinary delights on the street food tour of Athens spoil. The name says it all, here everything revolves around tempting treats that want to be tasted.
The tour guides will lead you through the culinary Athens and introduce you to the Versatility of Greek cuisine before. You stroll through weekly markets, get tips for the coolest places to eat and taste Greek delicacies such as cheese, olives and wine. Sounds like a tasty tour of Athens, right?
→ More useful tips for Athens and the surrounding area can be found in the following articles:
- Athens Holidays – 11 Important information
- Our highlights in Athens
- Acropolis of Athens
- Peloponnese Holidays
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