Athens City Tour & Acropolis Tour with Optional Skip-the-ticket line

What makes this tour unique

On this small-group tour, you get to see part of the modern city of Athens as well as the Acropolis and all its monuments. Your expert licensed guide will take you to see the change of the guards and the National Gardens before you reach the Acropolis where you will skip the long lines with the pre-purchased tickets we will provide you.   

Highlights

• A short-guided tour at the Syntagma Metro Station of the Archaeological displays
• The House of Parliament with the tomb to the unknown soldier, where you will have the opportunity to see the changing of the guards
• Visit The National Gardens/ The Zappeion Hall/ The Hadrian's Arch/ The Theater of Dionysus
• A visit inside the Acropolis with all its monuments such as the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion, and the Nike Temple
• Enjoy lovely panoramic views of Herodion, Filopappos Hill, Mars Hill, Ancient Agora, etc. from the top of the Acropolis.
• Small group tour ONLY
• Skip-the-Ticket Line service
• Experienced, local, licensed guides
• Feel the pulse of the city 

Tour details

Inclusions:

• Local licensed guide
• Skip the ticket line by purchasing an Acropolis ticket from us
• Small group tour
• Athens guidebook with recommendations to use for your visit
• Athens map

Exclusions:

• Entrance fees (can be booked as an option, only for adults, at extra cost)
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off service
• Food and beverages
• Gratuities (gratuity rates in Greece are around 10% of service cost)

What You Will See and Do

See the Heart of Athens

This comprehensive city tour takes you to the modern sights in the heart of Athens and the most important ancient sights that have been standing in the city for millennia. The tour concludes at the Acropolis which is one of the most visited and culturally revered ancient sights in the world. It continues to stand higher than the metropolis built around it, offering panoramic views of the entire capital.

Modern and Ancient Highlights

Start at the Syntagma metro station for a 10-minute tour inside of the station’s museum.  Archaeological artifacts uncovered during the metro’s construction offer insight into daily life here thousands of years ago. The next stop is the Greek Parliament, followed by the Monument to the Unknown Soldier where you will watch the Changing of the Guards.

The walk continues to the National Gardens of Athens, Zappeion, and Hadrian’s Arch. The route passes by the Plaka and Anafiotika district to reach the next and final stop: the Acropolis.

The Acropolis

Entering on the south slope of the Acropolis, you’ll visit the Dionysus Sanctuary and Dionysus Theater before you walk up the slope leading to the Acropolis monuments. Panoramic views of the city will be perfect for Instagram-ready photos.

During your tour, you’ll gain insight into the significance of the historic monuments of Acropolis including the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Propylaia, the Nike Temple as well as other significant sights of Athens including the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Ancient Agora, the National Observatory of Athens and the city’s scenic hills: Filoppapos, Mars, and Pnyx.

Skip-the-Ticket Line Access
Please be aware that even with our skip-the-ticket-line service, there might be some waiting time required for security checks. This is because visitor numbers can fluctuate unpredictably at the sites throughout the day. The typical waiting time falls within 0 to 10 or 30 minutes, though on rare occasions, it might be longer. 

However, here's where our service truly shines: Even amidst a queue, our experienced guides will always stay by your side. They will use this time as an opportunity to kickstart your tour, offering in-depth explanations about the history and significance of the site you're about to explore. This way, not a moment is wasted, and you're assured of the full, rich experience we promise.

Meeting point

Our staff, holding an orange Athens Walking Tours sign, will be waiting for you inside the Syntagma Metro Station, at the big hall underneath the hanging clock, next to the ticket validating machines.

View in Google Maps

Please be at the meeting point 15 minutes prior to the given tour departure time.

Admission tickets

A new time zone system for entry to the Acropolis has been introduced. This innovative approach aims not only to minimize waiting times but also to prevent overcrowding, ensuring a more sustainable and enjoyable experience for all visitors.

Booking a tour with us guarantees your entry on that specific date and time. Advance booking is highly recommended due to limited availability.

WITH Ticket option

If you have selected the “Book WITH Ticket” option, everything is included, and you will collect the admission tickets from our staff during check-in for the tour at the meeting point. We will be prepurchasing the tickets for you for the specific timezone. 

WITHOUT Ticket option

It's up to you to purchase your admission tickets from the official site—a simple but important task to ensure your spot on the tour. This means you'll need to carefully choose the right date, time slot, and ticket category (for example, adults, students, etc.).

Tour Schedule Alignment:

The tour starts with the City Tour and accesses the Acropolis two hours approximately past the tour's starting time, at approximately 11:40am, (Book your Acropolis ticket independently here → https://hhticket.gr)

It's crucial to ensure your tickets’ entry time corresponds with our tour's specific schedule.

Pre-Purchase Tickets: To ensure your participation, you must purchase your tickets prior to booking our tour. This step confirms the availability for your chosen tour date and time. 

Non-Refundable Tour Fee: Not possessing a valid entrance ticket at the beginning of the tour disqualifies you from joining the tour. Remember, the tour fee is non-refundable if you fail to meet this requirement.

Please follow these steps carefully to ensure a smooth and enjoyable tour experience.

Additional info 

• Please note that presenting a valid ID or passport for verification at the sites is mandatory to be eligible for any applicable discounts.
• It's essential to double-check and ensure the accuracy of your personal information during the booking process. Any disparities between your reservation and the actual details could lead to non-refundable tour and ticket conditions.

Not sure if you are European Union or NON European Union citizen? Check it here

Discounts and Offers

We want our guests to get the most out of their visit to Athens, and we would love to help you explore more with our help! If you book this tour, you can save money on more tours and activities in a variety of ways:

Book a 2nd tour, get 5% off

If you book a second tour with us, you are eligible for a 5% discount. Use the code SNDT at your booking process inside the promo code field.

Discount code for families and groups 

• 5% discount to families/groups with 4 or more paying members.
• Use promo code: FMD

Discount code for groups of more than 4 participants with a second tour (SNDT+4): 10% discount to families or groups (4 or more paying members) booking more than one tours.

For more information on discounts and special rates please read the FAQ about discount and special rates

F.A.Q.

The Acropolis of Athens is a truly unique place and our local licensed guide will help you understand why. At our F.A.Q. section you may read common questions our guests have for the Acropolis.