Discover the five most amazing tours to book from Athens and enjoy the best highlights of mainland Greece! Are you in Athens, you have some extra time to spend and don’t know what to do? Check below to find tour ideas to visit some of Greece’s most unique World Heritage Sites within a day.
Experience amazing sceneries, rich culture, and history and enjoy the best travel and tour services available. All the tours listed below start from Athens and last for either half-day or a full day. The tour options are suitable for everyone, for families with children, solo travelers, or couples. Therefore, if you have a free day to spend in Athens and you have no clue what to do or see, check these five tour suggestions and spend an amazing day!
1. A day trip to Meteora from Athens
Meteora is an incredible place in mainland Greece, listed as a World Heritage Site. The site offers the most dramatic scenery one can imagine. An out of this world landscape of giant rock pillars, rising hundreds of meters above ground and ancient monasteries perched on their tops.
This tour starts from Athens Larissas Central train station at 07:20 in the morning! You need to board the train on your own for the trip to Meteora. The trip by train takes four hours through beautiful scenic Greek countryside. At 11:30 am, the train arrives at Kalabaka train station. There you board a Limo VIP minibus with an English-speaking guide to take you on an amazing five hours Meteora tour!
Enjoy a full-day visit to the Holy Monasteries of Meteora, the hermitages of Badovas, and the town of Kalabaka. This sightseeing tour offers the chance to learn the history and to experience the most panoramic breathtaking views of Meteora. There is also the option of booking a private tour to Meteora from Athens to enjoy a tailor-made experience. Either way, you will enjoy a beautiful trip to a spectacular site of mainland Greece!
2. Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon
This private half-day tour to Cape Sounion from Athens will take you on a romantic drive along the scenic south coastal road of Athens. This south part of Athens’s suburbs is the Athenian Riviera. Drive with a luxury air-conditioned minibus through the most beautiful parts of Attica’s land.
The private tour to Cape Sounion has the option for you to choose whether you wish to do the tour in the morning or in the evening. We would advise you if you have the opportunity to choose an evening tour to enjoy the mesmerizing Sunset view from the ruined Temple of Poseidon.
Lord Byron was among those who were much delighted by the beauty of a sunset in the Aegean Sea and Poseidon’s Temple. He even carved his name on one of the ancient marble columns, an everlasting mark of his moments spent with the ancient gods. The private tour includes pick-up service from your Athens central hotels. An ideal tour option for everyone who wishes to do a short getaway trip, especially for couples.
3. The ancient oracle of Delphi from Athens
If you are into history and archaeology then a day trip to Delphi from Athens is something you should definitely consider doing! The archaeological site of Delphi, a World Heritage Site today is located roughly 2hrs drive from Athens. In ancient times, it was the most important religious center with the Temple of Apollo and the famous Oracle.
This shared guided tour will take you on a beautiful day trip to Delphi by bus. After the bus arrives at the archaeological site of Delphi, the guide takes you on a wonderful tour through the monuments as well as the Museum. Among other things, you have the chance to admire the treasury of the Athenians, the Athenian Stoa, the Polygonal Wall, the monument of Platea, and the Temple of Apollo famous for its oracle.
After the tour, there is a lunch break near Delphi. The bus returns to Athens via the picturesque mountain village of Arachova. The village, built on the south slopes of Parnassus, is well known for its attractive hand-woven carpets, rugs, and quilts, as well as for its wine and cheese.
4. Epidaurus and Ancient Mycenae private tour
An hour and a half drive south of Athens is the mythical land of Argolis in Peloponnese. Some of the most important archaeological sites of Bronze Age Greece are located in this beautiful region of Greece. Join this private tour from Athens to spend an awesome day exploring the megalithic ruins of Mycenae and the tomb of King Agamemnon.
The tour will take you on a trip 3,000 years back in time to the mythical period of Greece. Discover the age of heroes and giants and admire the impressive ruins of the Cyclopian walls of Mycena. One of the most important political and economic centers of Bronze Age Greece.
You will have the chance to visit the beautiful seaport of Nauplio, the first capital of modern Greece. Enjoy a walk on the narrow streets of the old town or visit the inlet fort of Palamidi guarding the port’s entrance. The private tour gives you the opportunity to visit another World Heritage Site the ancient Theater of Epidaurus.
This famous ancient theater with amazing acoustics ranks among the best-preserved theaters and is still in use today.
5. Hydra, Poros, Aigina Islands in one day cruise from Athens
Greece has more than 2000 inhabited islands, all beautiful and unique! I often like to say one lifetime is not enough to see them all. However, if you have the chance to visit three in one day cruise from Athens then this is an opportunity not to be missed by anyone!
Get away from the city with this wonderful day cruise from Athens to the fabulous Greek islands of Hydra, Poros, and Aegina for a relaxing day on the sea. With all your transport, transfers, and buffet lunch organized. A delicious lunch and a Greek folklore show aboard your ship are included. So, you do not need to worry about anything. Just sit back and enjoy your leisurely day cruise with free time on each island to explore.
All three islands of Hydra, Poros, and Aegina are located in the Saronic Gulf just south of Athens. Enjoy those three small picturesque Aegean islands close to Athens with time for strolling and shopping. If you wish to discover more, there is always the option of adding a walking tour in Hydra Island or a panoramic tour in Aegina.