Athens Walking Tours

The Acropolis & The Acropolis Museum Walking Seminar

4 hours
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This is one of the most important walking tours in terms of ancient history and art. During this 4-hour tour you’ll have the opportunity to look closely at the Acropolis and its fundamental role in the city.

Your guide will accompany you around the monuments of the Acropolis Hill, bringing history and its protagonists to life, will break down its archaeological history, from construction to ruin, and from to discovery to reconstruction. You’ll learn about the differences in the various types of architecture (such as Doric and Ionic) and how the ancient Greeks planned, designed, and executed these amazing structures. During the walk you’ll also visit the stunning new Acropolis Museum where the masterpieces of the Acropolis are displayed.

With this tour of 4 hours we offer you a possibility to learn and discover much more than is possible with a shorter tour. With a 3 hour tour, whatever other companies may say, you will be rushed through vast collections of art and the many masterpieces. For a “once in a lifetime visit”, we think you can get (and deserve) much more than a quick bite.

Itinerary

Itinerary

01
Upon meeting with your guide, you will start your walk through Dionisiou Areopagitou str one of the most impressive streets of Athens, offering an extraordinary view of the southern slope of the Acropolis, where some of the most significant monuments stand. You will enter the archeological area of the Acropolis on the southern slope to avoid the crowds and just to your right is the most ancient theatre of the world, the Theatre of Dionysus.

In this theatre, the most famous ancient Greek poets, Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Euripides, and Sophocles saw premiere performances of their plays in the 5th century BC. Above the theatre is the Stoa of Eumenes, which was built by the King of Pergamum,Eumenes in the 2nd century BC. Nearby are the ruins of the Asklepeion of Athens, which was built in 429 BC, following the plague, which decimated the population. This temple was used as a sanctuary, a clinic, and a medical school.

 

02
Your next stop is the Odeion of Herodes Atticus. This building is adjacent to Eumenes Stoa, and a perfect match for it, although, built almost four centuries later (in 160-1 AD.), by Herodes son of Atticus, in memory of his wife Regilla. The Odeion seats 5,000 people and still hosts musical and theatrical performances today.

 

03
Before reaching Acropolis top point, you will pass through Beule Gate, part of the Roman fortifications of the Acropolis..Right after that you will encounter a 13m.high pedestal, known as the monument of Agrippa, on which the Athenians in 27 B.C. erected a statue of the Roman Marcus Agrippa, benefactor of the city.
On your right you will see the Temple Of the Athena Victory  also known as Temple of Athena Nike, a small, elegant, Ionian, amphiprostyle temple, built by the architect Callicrates in 426-421 B.C. in commemoration of the victory of the Greeks against the Persians.
Soon you reach The Propylaea one of the masterpieces of classical architecture. This imposing entrance was designed by the architect Mnesicles and built in 437-432 BC.

 

04
Finally, you will appreciate the splendour of the Parthenon and learn about the history and see secrets of the construction of the Parthenon.This unique temple, dedicated to the goddess Athena, was built of pentelic white warble. The architects, of the classical temple, which was constructed and decorated from 447-432 century BC, were Iktinos and Kallikrates. It is a Doric peripteral temple with 8 columns on the front and the back and 17 columns on each side.
Left of the Parthenon lies the Temple of Erechtheion built from 420-406BC at the most holy site of the Acropolis, where goddess Athena planted the olive tree, her sacred symbol.

 

05

Climbing down the Acropolis hill you will reach the New Acropolis museum one of the most important contemporary works of architecture in Athens.The last level (The Parthenon room) has the dimensions and the direction of the Parthenon and it is been rotated by 23 degrees in relation to the rest of the building so that the visitor would have an immediate view of the monument.

Alternative Tour Options:
There are so many other things to see in this area. Keep in mind that your driver is at your disposal, so if you would like to adjust the proposed itinerary at all, just let him know!

Gallery

Pricelist

  • UP TO 6 PEOPLE: € 250
  • UP TO 8 PEOPLE: € 300
  • UP TO 10 PEOPLE: € 350
Plus 3 euros per person for headsets rental
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More Info

More Info

Restrictions

  • Admission tickets: Not included in the prices
    • Photography is permitted throughout the tour except for the Gallery of the Slopes of the Acropolis and the Archaic Gallery at the New Acropolis museum.

     

Special Instructions

  • Comfortable clothing and sensible, flat-soled walking shoes are recommended. Sun glasses and sun screen are suggested.
  • Walking: Difficult. To climb up to the Acropolis, guests must be able to walk over paved, inclined paths, some with steps, then climb a series of steps to reach the Propylea. The walking surfaces on top of the Acropolis are uneven.

Tips

  • It’s always a great idea to bring a bottle of water and sunscreen with you because in the warmer months it becomes quite hot and sunny.
  • A hat to protect your head and shade your face is also recommended when spending a significant amount of time in the sun.
  • The area around the Acropolis Hill can become quite crowded, especially during the peak travel months, so be aware of your surroundings and keep your belongings close to you.
  • Do not accept ‘gifts’ from street vendors approaching tourists. They may offer you roses, but if choose you accept, you will be expected to pay or give a tip for them.
  • Please be patient when you ascend the Acropolis hill.You will be rewarded by the spectacular view at the top.