Overview
The Epic Athens and Marathon 8-h private sightseeing tour; The full-day tour in Athens and Marathon combines two of the most significant sites in Greece, with important historical monuments and events associated with them.
Itinerary of the full day tour in Athens and Marathon
Athens – Acropolis – Plaka – Constitution Square – House of Parliament – Panathenaic Stadium – Temple of Zeus – Arch of Emperor Hadrian – National Library – National Academy – University of Athens – Roman Agora – Ancient Agora – Hadrian’s library – Marathon
Highlights of The Thrilling Athens & Marathon 8-h private sightseeing tour
- A full day (8 hours) private tour at your own pace and comfort
- The Acropolis of Athens
- The archaeological site of Marathon and the actual site of the famous Battle of Marathon
Description
Description of the Athens and Marathon 8-h private sightseeing tour
The full-day tour in Athens and Marathon starts from your hotel in Athens or your cruise ship at the port of Piraeus.
The tour begins with a visit to the heart of the city, the Constitution Square, where you can see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the House of the Parliament, and the adjacent Royal Gardens, known today as the National Gardens.
The tour will also take you to the Panathenaic Stadium where you can see the site of the modern Olympic Games in 1896.
Then the tour will drive you towards the Temple of Zeus and the Arch of Emperor Hadrian, with a direction to the Panepistimiou Street, where you will see the impressive National Library, National Academy, and the University of Athens.
The best is yet to come: a visit to the imposing Holy Rock of Athens, the Acropolis with the crowning monument of the Parthenon.
In Acropolis, you will understand why Classical Athens is considered the cradle of Western Civilization. The highlights of the Acropolis are the Erectheion with the Caryatids, the Propylaea, and of course, the temple of the Parthenon, the exemplary monument of the 5th century BC.
A look at the Ancient and Roman Agora will complete the tour in Athens, and then you will have a chance to taste some mouthwatering Greek flavors during lunch.
Marathon…
After lunch, your private tour will head towards Marathon, the original site of the homonym race. The original race was calculated from Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium (42,195km), and takes place all over the world today.
The history of the site of Marathon is also associated with the race itself since the latter is dedicated to the Greek soldier Pheidippides, who ran the actual distance to announce to the Athenians that the battle of Marathon against the Persians was victorious.
The Battle of Marathon was a battle that took place in 490 BC between Greeks and Persians on the plain of Marathon in Attica.
It ended with the victory of the Greeks and marked the end of the first attempt of the Persian empire (under Darius I) to subdue the cities of mainland Greece. The victory at Marathon was not perceived as a local Athenian victory, but as a victory won by Athens for Greece.
The tomb dedicated to the fallen of the battle of Marathon is located just a couple of kilometers away from the actual battlefield.
After the visit to the Marathon site, you will return to Athens and you will visit the hill of Lycabettus, which is the higher hill in Athens, to capture some last images of the city of Athens in your heart.
Details
Important notes
Tour Type
- Shore Excursion - Private tour
- Activity level: Moderate
Included in the tour
- Car and Driver
- A professional English-speaking driver or escort with good knowledge of the history and culture of Greece, to guide you till you enter archaeological sites and museums. Tour drivers are not licensed to companion you inside the archaeological sites and museums. If you'd like to have a licensed state tour guide to escort you inside the sites and museums, we can arrange it for you at an additional cost. Licensed by the state tour guides are freelance and it is subject to availability on bookings day!
- Transport by air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz vehicle or similar appropriate for the size of your group
- Accommodation is based according to availability (for multiple-day tours only)
- Pick-up from and return to your hotel
- Pick-up from the Port of Piraeus
- Private tour, Road tolls and local taxes
- Our terminal: Leof. Andrea Siggrou 37, 117 43 Athina, Greece.
Excluded from the tour
- Entrance fees to the archaeological sites and museum
- Wine tasting fee (wine tours)
- Olive oil tasting fee (olive oil tasting tours)
- Gratuities (optional)
- Food and beverage
- Your private chauffeur/guide will discuss a program best suited to your interest and mobile abilities. Option for a professional tour guide with a state license at an extra cost. Read more for the difference between a STATE LICENSED TOUR GUIDE and a TOUR DRIVER GUIDE in Greece!
Additional info
- Dress: religious and marmoreal sites: shoulders and knee must be covered
- Terms & Conditions and Frequent Questions
- Confirmation will be received at the time of booking
- A voucher will be emailed to you with our contact numbers and all necessary information for your tour.
- This is your ticket and proof of purchase. On the day of the tour please present a paper voucher in order to redeem your tour/activity.
Persons with Disabilities
- Due to uneven surfaces, certain sites are not recommended for persons with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair. Such sites are the Acropolis, the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, Mycenae, Delphi and Meteora
- In all cases, we recommend comfortable flat-solid walking shoes, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Restrictions:
- Please note that on this tour, your tour driver is not licensed to accompany you on your climb. If you want this service you may book a licensed by-state tour guide for an extra cost.
- In case a group is followed by a licensed tour guide or an English speaking tour-escort the professional driver is not obliged to speak English!
Opening hours & Admission fees
- Opening Hours:Summer April 1st to October 31st from 08:00 AM to 07:30 PM
- Winter: November 1st to March 31st from 08:30 AM to 03:00 PM
- Free admission fees: Children under 18 & Students from E.U.
- Reduced admission fees: Citizens of the E.U. aged over 65 & Students from countries outside the E.U.
Free admission days
- March 6: In memory of deceased Minister of Tourism & visionary Melina Mercouri
- June 5: Environment international day
- April 18 : International monuments day
- May 18: International museums day
- September 27: International tourism day
- The last weekend of September annually (European Heritage Days)
- National Holidays
- Sundays in the period between 1 November and 31 March
- The first Sunday of every month, except for July, August, and September
- NOTE: If the first Sunday is a holiday then the second is the free admission day
Holidays in Greece
- January 1: closed
- January 6: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
- Shrove Monday: 08:30AM - 03:00 PM
- March 25: closed
- Good Friday: 12:00 PM - 03:00 PM
- Holy Saturday: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
- Easter Sunday: closed
- Easter Monday: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
- May 1: closed
- Holy Spirit Day: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
- 15 August 15: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
- October 28: 08:30 AM- 03:00 PM
- December 25 & 26: closed
