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8 of the Best Tours in Athens Greece for Stress-free Fun

Andrew
best tours in athens greece
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Approximately 34.2 million people visited Greece in 2019. Where did a lot of them go? Athens. 

As the capital of Greece, Athens draws millions of tourists a year—and rightfully so; it’s an amazing place full of history, art, and culture. Simply put, it’s perfect for everyone. 

For experienced and novice travelers alike, the large crowds, endless list of things to do, language barrier, and long lines can cause some stress, taking a lot of the fun of traveling out of play.  

This is why I love taking tours whenever I travel. My time in Athens, Greece, was no different. 

So, if you’re like me and looking for stress-free fun, here are a few of the best tours in Athens, Greece.

Related: Mediterranean Diet and Depression: Does it Make You Happier?

Best Tours in Athens in 2022

Athens Highlights: a Mythological Tour 

There’s a lot to see in Athens. The Acropolis, Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora, and so on. With so much to see, it can be overwhelming to figure out the best way to fit it all into your time in Athens. 

The Athens Highlights: a Mythological Tour takes you to the main attractions, including the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Acropolis, Theater of Dionysus, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion, Parthenon, Ancient Agora of Athens, Temple of Hephaestus—and for just about $70, it’s a reasonably affordable way to experience the heart of ancient Athens. 

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Fun Fact About the Parthenon: The Parthenon is in excellent shape given its age (the Ancient Greeks built it in 432 BC), there’s no denying that there are a lot of pieces missing. While one would think that nature caused the wear and tear, humans actually caused it all, including the Ottomans who attacked it in the 17th century. 

Private Gourmet Food Walking Tour in Athens

There’s no denying that Athens is known for its history, but it’s hard to argue with anyone who says they’re visiting the city for the food. This gourmet walking tour gives you a taste—pun intended—of some of Athen’s tastiest creations, including a traditional gyro, loukoumades (they taste like beignets if you’ve had them), and koulouri thessalonikis.  

Pro Tip: Do NOT eat before the tour. I promise you that you’ll be beyond full at the end. Believe them when they send you a reminder not to eat in the 3 hours leading up to the tour. 

Cape Sounion and Temple of Poseidon Tour 

Athens is known for the Acropolis, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t more to see, like Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon. 

Cape Sounion is located in the Attica peninsula, which is about 43 miles) southeast of Athens. Cape Sounion It is part of Lavreotiki municipality, East Attica, Greece. Today, Cape Sounion attracts tourists looking to see the Temple of Poseidon while escaping the hustle and bustle of Athens. 

Fun Fact About the Temple of Poseidon: The Temple of Poseidon, which sits on top of a 60-meter cliff, was believed to be a place where people came, especially seamen, to appease Poseidon, the God of the Seas, and keep the seas in their favor. 

Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Athens 

Are you looking to get fancy without spending a fortune? This luxury cruise takes you and a small group out to see the seas of the Athens Riviera while you take a dip or snorkel and enjoy some refreshing drinks and traditional Greek food. 

Skip the Line Acropolis of Athens Tour

You’d be remiss not to stop at all of Athens’ famous sites, but if you’re only spending a day in the city and have time for one site, make it the Acropolis. For just about $35, you can skip the often long lines and experience the wonders of the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Did you know? “Acropolis” means “a citadel or fortified part of an ancient Greek city, typically built on a hill,” which means there are many of them. When you hear people talk about visiting the Acropolis, 9 times out of ten they’re talking about the Athens Acropolis. 

Best Day Trips from Athens

Have some more time to venture out of Athens and experience more of mainland Greece? Here are a few of the best day trips from Athens. 

Meteora Day Trip by Train from Athens

The Meteora is a rock formation in central Greece where you’ll find one of the most famous monasteries in the country. On this full-day tour, you’ll not only get to learn about the history of these unique 14th-century monasteries, but you’ll get to see some of the beautiful countryside of Greece. 

While the tour lasts approximately 14 hours, it’s not all dedicated to the tour itself. You’ll have time to explore on your own and wander through the picture-esque town of Kalambaka. 

Fun Fact About Meteora: Meteora was bombed during World War II.

Delphi Day Trip from Athens

When you hear someone talking about Ancient Greece, which Gods do you think of? Zeus? Athena? How about Apollo? On this day trip from Athens, you’ll get to explore the Delphi, which was once considered the “Center of the World” in ancient Greece. 

More importantly, you’ll get to stand and state at the Temple of Apollo and make the climb— albeit an exhausting one—to see an ancient stadium that was the site of the Pythian Game (athletic and musical competitions held in honor of Apollo).

Fun Fact About Delphi: Ancient Greek stadiums were 600 feet in length (the Greek unit of measurement, the stade, was the distance covered in the original Greek foot races, which were about 600 feet. However, because different people measured the stadiums and had different-sized feet, the length of stadiums in Ancient Greece varied. 

Corinth, Cave of Lakes, Odontotos Railway Private Tour 

Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini get all the attention when it comes to vacationing in Greece. Again, not a surprise, but there’s more out there than these three places, namely Corinth and the Cave of Lakes.

On this full-day tour, which departs from either Athens or Nafplio, brings you to the heart of the Cave of Lakes, an old underground river consisting of three levels. (You can also choose to visit Ancient Corinth, a winery, or the Mega Spilaio Monastery.)

Private Biblical Tour of Ancient Corinth & Isthmus Canal

Do you want a tour with a biblical angle? If so, this private tour of Ancient Corinth & Isthmus Canal is for you. Spend the day exploring the very grounds that St. Paul stood on when he wrote two letters to the Corinthians. 

During this 8-hour tour, you’ll also see the marketplace where St. Paul addressed the Corinthians, a church with a mosaic depicting his conversion, and Kechries, where he had his hair cut.

Fun Fact About Ancient Corinth: Julius Caesar reestablished Corinth as a Roman colony in 44 BC.

The Best Tours in Athens, Greece

I get it. There’s a lot to see in and around Athens—and for someone who likes relaxing and structured adventures, all of the options can become a bit overwhelming. 

I get that, too. 

That’s why you should consider tours on your next visit to Greece. Understandably, there are a lot of them, but the 8 tours in Athens are guaranteed to give you some stress-free fun.

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