8 Best Tours and Day Trips from Athens

The Acropolis is probably the highlight of Athens, but the city has many more corners to explore and behind each of them there are mythological stories that fascinate travelers and locals alike. I tell you all about the best tours to discover them:

The use of bicycles is widespread in Athens, that's why there are many tours that use this means of transport. The price of these tours, in addition to the guidance of the guide throughout the tour, includes the rental of the bikes. This option allows you to cover a larger area of the city in less time and avoiding crowds, so it is one of the most popular among the guided tours.

In the two tours that I propose, the bicycles used are electric and easy to handle, to avoid excessive fatigue on the part of the traveler. Even so, I recommend that you come to the tour with comfortable shoes (the helmet is included in the bike rental). When you make your reservation you can choose between the different dates and times available.

What this tour consists of

The three-hour bike tour of Athens is available in English, Spanish, Italian, French and Dutch and costs $31. Before you start your guide will give you safety instructions and bottled water for the tour. This is the itinerary for this option:

• Acropolis Hill (site where democracy was founded).
• The Herod Atticus Odeon Theater
• The Acropolis Museum
• The Theater of Dionysus (the first in the world)
• The temple of Zeus
• Hadrian's Arch
• The Zappeion Conference & Exhibition Center
• The Presidential Mansion
• The National Garden
• The Plaka district (an Athens must-see)
• The Tower of the Winds and the first water clock
• The agora or Athenian square
• The agora or Roman square

The city of Delphi was called "the center of the world" in Ancient Greece and today its ruins are one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. If you travel to Athens you have the opportunity to visit these ruins that are located just two hours away by road from the Greek capital. In Delphi you will find key historical sites such as the Temple of Apollo, the Athenian Treasury, the Sanctuary of Athena or the Delphi Museum itself.

There are many tours to Delphi from Athens, but I recommend you choose between these two: the same-day round-trip tour or the two-day tour that also includes a visit to the Byzantine monasteries of Meteora. Here's what you should know about each of them:

Delphi Day Trip

It costs $76 and includes the entrance to the ruins, the transfer with pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in Athens and the services of a specialized guide who will accompany you during the tour and will give you a guided tour of the most important sites of Delphi including the archaeological museum and the temple of Athena Pronaia (the most photographed place in Deplfos). This day tour to Delphi from Athens is available in English, Spanish, Italian and French.

Delphi and Meteora two-day tour

If you have enough time during your trip, you can opt for this tour that combines a visit to the ruins of Delphi with a visit to the Byzantine temples of Meteora. You will spend the night in a 4-star hotel in Kalabaka with dinner and breakfast included. You can do this tour in English, French, Spanish or Italian.

This two-day tour to Delphi and Meteora from Athens includes: accommodation, meals with dinner and breakfast, transportation between the points of interest, pick-up and drop-off directly from the hotel in Athens, entrance fees to the monuments included in the tour and the services of a specialized guide.

If you want to discover the beauty of the Greek islands without straying too far from Athens, this boat excursion is a perfect choice. During the tour, you will travel through the Saronic Gulf, making stops at Agistri, Aegina and Moni, three islands with crystal clear waters and paradisiacal landscapes. In addition to transportation, the tour includes food and drinks, so you can enjoy a relaxing experience while sailing.

Throughout the day, you can swim at idyllic beaches, explore the charming villages of the islands and, if you wish, do activities such as paddle surfing or snorkeling. You will also have the opportunity to taste the famous Aegina pistachios, known throughout Greece. When booking your excursion, you will be able to choose between different available dates and times.

What this excursion consists of

The boat tour to Agistri, Aegina and Moni is a complete experience that combines sailing, culture and relaxation. This is what it includes:

• Transportation on a traditional Greek boat with live music.
• Stops in Agistri, Aegina and Moni, with free time to explore each island
• Mediterranean lunch on board with local options
• Possibility to snorkel and paddle surf in crystal clear waters
• Tasting of the famous Aegina pistachios
• Crew and guide on board to provide information about the islands

If you dream of seeing iconic Mykonos, with its white houses and turquoise waters, this day trip is the best option to do it without worries. From Athens, you'll travel by high-speed ferry to the island, where you'll have free time to wander its streets, enjoy its beaches and discover its vibrant atmosphere.

The tour price includes round-trip ferry tickets, allowing you to make the most of your time on the island without worrying about logistics. You can stroll through Little Venice, visit the famous windmills and enjoy exquisite Greek cuisine at a seaside taverna. When you make your reservation, you will be able to choose the date that best suits your itinerary.

What this tour consists of

The day tour to Mykonos from Athens allows you to discover one of Greece's most famous islands in a comfortable and stress-free way. Here's what it includes:

• Round-triphigh-speed ferry tickets between Athens and Mykonos.
• Free time to explore the island at your own pace
• Opportunity to visit iconic sights such as Little Venice and the windmills
• Opportunity to relax on one of the famous beaches of Mykonos
• Recommendations on what to see and do on the island

If you want to explore Athens at your own pace and in total comfort, this private tour is the ideal choice. Accompanied by an expert guide, you will tour the city in a luxury air-conditioned vehicle, combining driving with walking tours of the most emblematic sites.

The tour price includes pick-up and drop-off at your hotel, as well as entrance fees to the Acropolis and its museum, allowing you to visit this iconic site with a guide rather than on your own. In addition, you will be able to use the rest of the time to visit less accessible corners and enjoy a more complete experience.

What this tour consists of

The private tour of Athens and the Acropolis Museum offers you a personalized experience to get to know the city in the best possible way. Here's what it includes:

• Private tour in a luxury air-conditioned vehicle.
• Entrance fees to the Acropolis and its museum, with guided tour included
• Pick up and drop off at the hotel for your convenience
• Flexibility to design your itinerary, with options such as the Temple of Zeus, Syntagma Square or the Dionysus Theatre
• Advice from the guide to optimize the tour and receive gastronomic and cultural recommendations

The Peloponnese is a Greek peninsula linked to Athens by the Corinth Canal and located two hours away by road. There you will find places of maximum cultural interest such as Corinth, Mycenae, Nafplio or Epidaurus. On this private tour of the highlights of the Peloponnese from Athens you will get to know them all with an expert guide who will be exclusively at your disposal.

The tour is available in English, Spanish and German and lasts one day. If you and your travel group are interested in Ancient History, I assure you that you will get the most out of this private tour. Wear comfortable clothes and don't hesitate to ask the guide for any recommendations that may be useful during the rest of the trip.

What is included in this tour

I admit that I am partial to this tour and lovers of the ancient world will share my opinion once they have taken it. It is a four-hour walking tour of Athens, available in English and French, with the presence of a specialized guide and with a wireless audio system that allows you to comfortably follow his indications. The best part? It is focused on Greek mythology and it is also intended for small groups of 14 people maximum.

What does this tour consist of?

The tour includes an in-depth visit to the Acropolis in which you will visit its main monuments (Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechteion, Propylae, Theater of Dionysus...) being able to put into context its history thanks to the explanations of the guide. If the names of Zeus, Hephaestus or Athena Ergani are familiar to you, prepare a pen and paper so you can take note of everything you will discover about them.

Although the tour is focused on Athenian mythology, it does not leave behind historical explanations about the way of life of the city and its evolution since its foundation. If you have to choose only one tour to do during your visit to Athens, for duration and quality of the explanations this is one of the most convenient for you. Do not hesitate to ask your guide for any kind of recommendations to complete your visit to the Greek capital; he will be happy to give them to you.

Ana's Traveller Tip

The city of Athens has a lot of ancient history behind it, so the explanations of a guide in certain places are essential.

Who doesn't dream of one day visiting the Greek Islands? This day trip to the Greek Islands from Athens makes it possible to visit them in one day from Athens, something that would be difficult to do on your own. With this full day cruise to the Greek Islands you will visit three of them: Poros, Hydra and Aegina.

The tour is available in English, Spanish, French and Italian. A car will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the ship. On board you will enjoy a traditional Greek buffet lunch and a folklore show to make the most of the time spent traveling between islands.

Once you arrive at Poros, Hydra and Aegina you will have free time to enjoy the scenery, do some shopping or join the additional guided tours organized by the cruise ship. This activity is ideal to avoid being left with the thorn in your side of not visiting the Greek Islands after your visit to Athens.

If this selection is not enough for you, there are other places near Athens that you can visit during your trip to Greece. However, for some of them you will need more than a day if you want to see them in depth and take advantage of all they have to offer. Here are three more suggestions:

Santorini

An island in the Aegean Sea that you have surely seen in photos. Indeed; it is the one with the white houses on the slope of a mountain. It is far enough away from Athens to go and return in one day, but you can plan an inter-island flight and make it one of the stops on your trip. I recommend you avoid the summer months as this is one of the busiest islands in Greece.

Cape Sunio

If you are interested in seeing the temple of Poseidon this is another excursion you can do from Athens, this time without spending more than a day.

When preparing a trip to Greece, the first thing that comes to mind is its islands. Athens has an impressive culture and history, but lacks the clear waters and paradisiacal landscapes of the Greek Islands. That's why there are different cruises that take you to places close to the capital of Greece so you don't have to give up anything during your trip.

If you want more information about this kind of excursions, I recommend this article on Boat Tours and Cruises in Athens where you will find recommendations and tips that will be useful during your trip.

If, on the other hand, you prefer to enjoy the city to the fullest and visit every corner of it, the tourist bus is one of the most efficient ways to do it. Get rid of the idea that tour buses tarnish an authentic experience and discover its benefits in my guide on Athens Hop-On Hop-Off Buses.