Walking Athens

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 – 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 have traditionally dressed in 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 Acropolis station. 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 the famous Athens Acropolis, passing by the Ancient Agora. We’ll walk along ancient roads, admire new architecture, and hear about the customs and traditions that still exist today.

This is the central hub of classic Athens history, and you’ll hear the stories behind this monument from your local guide. (Please note that if you wish to tour inside the Acropolis, this will have to be done separately on your own time.)

Afterward, explore the Plaka area. Shop for souvenirs along Adrianou Street, where you can find local products such as ouzo (Greece’s national alcohol).

You’ll also see shops that specialise in olive oil, sponges, icons, leather sandals, and bags — something you won’t experience on other Athens tours.

Continue walking to Diogenes 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 white marble Panathinaiko Stadium. 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. We walk through the new city highlights, where life goes on in modern rhythms. See where locals wander, shop, and gather. Visit the Kolonaki area, which is the heart of today’s Athens.

The Athens walking tour comes to an end at the Academy of Athens, where you are free to continue your own personal exploration, or your local guide can tell you how to get back to your hotel, where you can digest all that history!

Additional information

Dress standard: In general, there are few dress restrictions in Europe and dress codes are similar to those you are used to at home. Please note though that in many churches modest dress is required; no shorts or skimpy tops are permitted.

Your Trip: This trip is offered on a “join-in” basis. Maximum group size is 12.

Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We’ll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.

Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.

Local contact

Office phone number: +30 698 067 9166
Email address: [email protected]

Mr. Jack N. from USA travelled on 20 Jun 2019:

Theo was a fantastic guide. His knowledge of the history and the architecture of Athens gave us the first-day orientation we hoped for, plus a lot more. Theo have us an extensive tour at a reasonable pace, and added a couple of stops that were of particular interest to us. Aces!

Ms. Amanda C. from USA travelled on 12 May 2019:

We had a great city tour in Athens with Thodoris. He was really fun, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. We learnt little things about the city, people, and culture that we would otherwise miss if it wasn’t for Theo and this tour. Highly recommend!

Mr. Clement C. from Australia travelled on 22 Jun 2017:

We enjoyed our tour, Walking Athens, very much and certainly would not have seen the various sights shown otherwise. We were particularly impressed with our tour guide Theo who was knowledgeable, considerate and made us feel very comfortable on our walking tour.

Mr. Ryan P. from USA travelled on 25 Sep 2016:

Maeve did an outstanding job, I would highly recommend her. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and really knew her way around Athens.

Mrs. suzanne r. from Australia travelled on 05 Oct 2015:

Maeve was just a delight – and for a short time we also had Alexandra we spent a delightful few hours at a relaxed pace being shown the local sights, people, shopping, coffee restaurant must do’s

Mr. David M. from travelled on 28 Jan 2015:

Our guide turned a rainy day into a wonderful experience. The combination of historical and contemporary commentary brought a deeper appreciation for the city.