General tour questions

Our tours do not include pick up. You will have to come to the meeting point of your tour which is clearly described in the confirmation mail you received from us after your booking.

Our long experience allows us to have many and outstanding suggestions. Our city disposes beautiful places, secret and “delicious” corners. We would be happy to reveal them to you. You could combine a historical with a culinary tour if you can’t choose between the two. You could tell us your preferences and we can create a tailor made tour just for you and your party. Contact us and for sure we will revert to you with some interesting suggestions the soonest possible. 

 

Yes you could. We accept VISA and Mastercard only.

 

Your guide will be waiting for you at the designated meeting point and he / she will be holding the orange colour Athens Walking Tours sign.

 

There are places you can drop your luggage very close to our meeting point or lockers in many central Athens Hotels. Please ask us in advance to give you all information. 

 

No, the Acropolis ticket which costs 20€ per adult (April 1st to October 31st) and 10€ per adult (November 1st to March 31st) is valid only for the Acropolis and only for one entry. The Ancient Agora has a separate ticket, 8€ per adult (April 1st to October 31st) and 4€ per adult (November 1st to March 31st). There is a combined ticket though, which is available at the cost of 30€, it is valid for 5 days and includes entrance to the Acropolis and 6 more Archaeological sites: Temple of Zeus, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, Kerameikos and Lyceum of Aristotle. 

 

We don't have a pick up from the hotels. We meet in the center of Athens, outside or inside Metro stations. If you tell us where you are staying we will gladly give you information on how to get to the meeting point or the cost to take a taxi to get there. If wished we can arrange for you a private taxi transfer.

 

We do not need to use ear sets during our tours as we have only small groups and our tour guides talk directly to the group. We like to be in contact with you to receive your questions and answer them the best possible way. Apart from being highly qualified, the Athens Walking Tours guides share a passion for their work, which they regard as a mission, and do not repeat rehearsed information, but, rather, share their wealth of knowledge about Greece in the past and present with our visitors.

 

The Magic of Small Group Tours

At Athens Walking Tours, we're proud to have pioneered the concept of small group tours in the city, setting a standard of quality and intimacy that has stood strong since 2004.

Advantages of Small Group Tours

We firmly believe that the best experiences are the ones shared in close-knit circles. That's why our tours are exclusively designed for small groups. This approach ensures that you, our valued guest, can connect on a personal level with our knowledgeable guides, engage in meaningful conversations, and have your questions answered thoroughly. Whether you're delving into the historical treasures of Athens or exploring its culinary delights, the small group environment creates a dynamic and enriching adventure.

Historical Tours 

Our commitment to fostering personal connections and insightful learning experiences led us to limit the group size for our historical tours. With a maximum capacity of 24 individuals and an average of around 15 participants, you're guaranteed ample opportunities to interact with our expert guides. This exclusive setting ensures that your journey through Athens' captivating history is as engaging and informative as possible.

Ear Sets for Enhanced Experience: Our exclusive ear sets are reserved for our historical tours, allowing you to absorb every fascinating detail of our guide's narratives. This way, even in bustling historical sites and museums, you'll never miss a moment of the captivating stories.

Culinary-Street Art Tours

For the gastronomically inclined, our culinary-art tours offer an immersive exploration of local flavors. With a group size limited to 16 participants and an average of 8, we guarantee that you can fully engage with local vendors and artisans. This smaller group size allows you to traverse charming narrow streets with ease and enjoy intimate interactions with the creators behind the culinary delights.

Cooking Lesson and Dinner

Our culinary adventures extend to cooking lessons and dinners that promise more than just exceptional cuisine. With a maximum of 16 participants and an average of 6, our cooking lesson takes place in a remarkable restaurant at the foot of the Acropolis. Here, you'll be treated to a panoramic view that captures the grandeur of the Parthenon and the heart of Athens. As you learn to create delectable Greek dishes, the stunning backdrop adds an extra layer of magic to your experience.

At Athens Walking Tours, we've always believed that the journey is as important as the destination. By offering small group tours, we're committed to ensuring you connect deeply with history, culture, and cuisine. Feel free to reach out for any questions or to reserve your spot on an unforgettable adventure with us.

If you need to contact us about your booking, you’ll need to provide us with your reference number so that we can find your booking details. Your reference number can be found in both the confirmation email you receive once your tour has been confirmed. Your reference number always is a 5 digit number and it is written on the Subject line of the confirmation mail you will receive (e.g Athens Walking Tours - Confirmation # 18090)

 

After booking you'll receive a Confirmation Letter - Voucher by email from us. This is also the payment confirmation. It’s a good idea to keep the emails for your records. Your voucher is especially important because it contains the details of the tour meeting point and contact information in case of an emergency. 

 
 

Yes. By using our secure online payment system, your payment information is encrypted, you are secured against fraud. 

 

The confirmation process depends upon the booking conditions. Most tours are confirmed at time of booking, however others will be advised to you within 12-48 hours. If confirmation is not received within 48 hours, please contact us for further assistance.

 

We do reply within 12-48 hours. If you haven’t received any reply to your emails during this time please check your “spam” or “junk” folder too. The e-mails remain in this folder for up to 7 days and then are automatically deleted by your email provider.

 

The meeting point for the beginning of each tour can be found on the tour & activity information page and also on the e-voucher you will receive via email upon completion of your booking.

 

Athens Walking Tours has a complete online booking service and we offer 24 hour, 7 days a week customer service via email to support your booking questions. Our goal is to respond to each query we receive within 12 to 24 hours. Of course you can book over the phone too. Our call center operates 7 days a week from 7am to 11pm (Local Athens Time). There will always be there someone to help you and give you all the information needed!

 
 

Yes!

A 5% discount applies on your second tour you book with us as long as the booking is made at the same time with your first tour. Please use the Discount Code for Second Tour: SNDT when you do your booking. 

 

This offer does not apply on private tours and on transfers.

 

Of course we can accommodate groups, smaller or bigger. There is 5% discount for families and groups with 4 or more paying members on all Athens Walking Tours programs except for the private ones and the transfers. In order to have the discount, when you do the booking use the Discount Code for Families and Groups: FMD. If you prefer a private tour, tailor made for your group check our Private Tours or contact us via mail at info@athenswalkingtours.gr or by calling us at +30 210 8847269 from 7:00am to 11:00 pm daily seven days a week.There will always be there someone willing to help you with your questions. 

 

Our tour prices do not include the guides’ gratuities. Gratuity rates in Greece are around 10% of the service cost. Tips are expected but not required and depend on the satisfaction of the client of the service provided.

 
While booking with the Athens Walking Tours, in most tours, you have both options: to have the entrance fee included in your booking or, to book without the entrance fee and pay for it separately in cash on the spot. Both options are given clearly in the booking process.
For all tours and booking options where the entrance fees are not included, we purchase them for you in advance so you skip the lines holding your ticket. It’s an extra, free of charge service offered to our clients.
 
Please be advised that the skip the line service provided, concerns the line for the ticket counter and not the line for the site entrance (ticket validation booths).

When you make a booking, you can pay either by VISA or by MasterCard. If you contact us by email we can also accept payments by bank transfer or Pay Pal. 

Our prices for the Small Group Tours (4,6,8 pax) are really good and affordable and the tours are conducted by knowledgeable, highly qualified and experienced guides. This is why our guests are very happy and satisfied with the tours and they consider them as a great value for money. We never have big groups of  40 or 50 people. 

Private tours are not expensive if you consider that you have the guide only for your party, you can make any question you like and of course follow your own pace.  For sure a private tour is not the first thing we suggest to our guests but it’s a special service. If someone asks for a private tour we do offer a price per person (the more the persons are the lower the price is). Of course there is a minimum price we can offer as a responsible Travel Agency and it covers the needs of the guest and of course the costs of the services provided. 

 

All Group tours are offered daily only in English. Private tours can be offered in other languages too. Please contact us if you would like to make arrangements for your own interpreter to join the tour or you would like a quote for a private tour. 

You can contact us via mail at info@athenswalkingtours.gr or by calling us at +30 210 8847269 from 7:00am to 11:00 pm daily seven days a week.There will always be there someone willing to help you with your questions. 

 
 

Yes cameras are allowed to all our tours! In fact, we strongly encourage participants to take photos during our tours. But do have in mind that on the Acropolis, tripods and/or professional cameras are not allowed. Also at the Acropolis Museum there are some areas where photos are not allowed. Your guide will inform you about this properly. 

 

No, in Greece you don’t have to pay for using public toilets or toilets at restaurants and cafes.  Sometimes though, you can leave whatever you want as a tip for the person who cleans. 

 

Yes, toilets facilities are available during the tours. 

 

In Athens we have at least 330 days of sunshine during the year! In case of rain you will have the unique experience to see Athens and the Acropolis in rain! In any case, all our tours are held rain or shine. You should dress appropriately for the day’s weather conditions and bring along an umbrella if necessary. If you forgot your umbrella at the hotel we provide you with a raincoat!

 

The walking required during our Walking Tours is not more than one and a half mile, at a moderate pace and often stops so that explanations can be given about the interesting monuments, sites or spots. We always stop in the shade during summer; there are also many seating opportunities and refreshment stops. We advise you though to use comfortable shoes, wear a hat in the summer months and hold a bottle of water.

 

 

For the climb up to the Acropolis

We would like to inform you that baby strollers are not allowed inside the Acropolis archaeological site due to its uneven terrain and that there is no cloakroom, at the side entrance we use to enter.

For your own convenience, it is recommended to use a baby pouch instead of a baby stroller. If you choose to carry the baby stroller with you (at your own responsibility), please notify us accordingly in advance, in order to offer you assistance for arranging its safe storage at one of the available spots nearby.

You can certainly use a baby stroller in the surrounding areas of Acropolis, which are conveniently paved for pedestrians. The Acropolis Museum, the Syntagma Metro station and the Agora Museum, are fully accessible for baby strollers, as well as for people with impaired movement.  

 

For the Athens Food Tour

We are walking in the heart of the city, sometimes it is crowded and there is uneven terrain in some spots. It can be challenging to do the tour with a stroller, but it is certainly manageable. 

 

Due to the various food establishments and the archaeological places we visit, pets of any kind are not allowed.

 

About our historical tours

Our historical tours are suitable for all ages. Elderly people can attend our walking tours as we keep a moderate walking pace, make a lot of stops with seating opportunities and we always stop in the shade in summer. Our tours are not only child friendly but also highly recommended for them. All of our guides are specifically trained to provide our young clients with easy to understand information about the history of Athens.Your babies are also welcome but please do keep in mind that strollers are not allowed on the Acropolis it would be better to use a baby pouch instead.  

About our food tour 

Οur food is suitable for all ages too. Children are more than welcome in our culinary tours and they enjoy them a lot. The Athens Food tour is fun, entertaining with a lot of tasting and sampling of delicious Greek foods that children love. Elderly people can join them also since the walking is at a moderate pace, always in the shade in summer and we also stay a lot inside nice air conditioned stores where people can sit. 

Vegetarians or vegans can also be accommodated in our food tour as there is a huge variety of foods we taste that they are suitable for them also. 

About our cooking lessons 

Our Cooking Lesson is not suitable for children younger than 6 years old. Cooking utensils (such as knives and graters)  are used and parents should decide about whether their children are mature enough to use. Children of course should always be accompanied by adults.

 
 

No food, alcohol or refreshments are allowed inside the sites or museums. Only water. 

 

Yes, you can buy water or other refreshments at the kiosks you find on your way during our walking tours. 

 

If a date is booked out, there is always a chance that we will add an additional tour on that day. Please contact us via mail at info@athenswalkingtours.gr or by calling us at +30 210 8847269 from 7:00am to 11:00 pm (Athens local time), daily,  seven days a week, to let us know what date you are interested in.

 

Yes, booking a tour in advance is absolutely suggested. We run all our tours in small groups only, of maximum 18 people for the historical tour, 16 people for the Food Tour and 16 people for the Cooking Lessons. More than that we split the groups into two or three smaller groups and we need to take care of guides’ availability for more groups. So we advise you to book in advance to make sure you have a spot reserved as many of our tours are popular, and can be sold out pretty soon. If you decide to participate in any of our tours the very last minute though, don’t hesitate to contact us via mail at info@athenswalkingtours.gr or by calling us at +30 210 8847269 from 7:00am to 11:00 pm (Athens local time), daily,  seven days a week, to check for availability. 

 

Yes, it’s possible to do more tours in one day. For example you could do the City & Acropolis Walking Tour in the morning and the Half Day Tour of Cape Sounion & the Temple of Poseidon in the afternoon 

OR

the Athens Food Tour in the morning and the Athens Cooking Lesson in the afternoon. Please do pay attention on the specific tour times for detailed information about our tours.

 

Yes, there is an elevator at the Acropolis but only wheelchair or other other kinetic equipment users or doctor’s certificate holders (certifying that there is a disability) are entitled to use it.

 

 

All the tours contain a few inclines and uneven terrain. Duration of our tours varies from 1,5 to 5,5 hours. It may be challenging to do the tour with a wheelchair or a stroller but not impossible. They are all manageable as long as the wheelchair holder is accompanied by an able-bodied carrier. In this case, a private tour is highly recommended so you can have your own pace. 


For the climb up to the Acropolis

We would like to inform you that baby strollers are not allowed inside the Acropolis archaeological site due to its pretty uneven terrain and that there is no cloakroom, at the side entrance we use to enter.For your own convenience, it is recommended to use a baby pouch instead of a baby stroller. If you choose to carry the baby stroller with you (at your own responsibility), please notify us accordingly in advance, in order to offer you assistance for arranging its safe storage at one of the available spots nearby.

Regarding wheelchairs, there is an elevator to the Acropolis hill which you may use with an escort. You will miss a small part of the tour because the group uses the side entrance to the Acropolis but you will do all the main parts of it. You will meet with your tour guide on the top of the Acropolis.


For the Athens Food Tour

We are walking in the heart of the city, sometimes it is crowded and there is uneven terrain in some spots. It can be challenging to do the tour with a wheelchair or stroller but it is manageable as long as the wheelchair holder is accompanied by an able-bodied carrier.

We kindly ask our guests to arrive 15 minutes before the advertised start time of their tour to have time for checking in and ensure a punctual departure from the start point. Being on time is essential for the whole group.

 

Athens has Mediterranean climate. That means that it  mild, and generally warm and temperate. Sometimes, during summer it gets really hot but bearable as there is very low humidity. The sun is usually strong. This is why we take care to keep our guests in shade and why we advise them to use either an umbrella or a hat, sunscreen lotion, comfortable clothes and shoes and have water with them. 

 

What they say about us!!