We take you on our excursion to wonderful Athens, the capital of Greece and the center of ancient civilization. An experience that does not disappoint anyone, a «must» visit for any cruise passenger who passes through Greece during their trip.
The beautiful and thousand-year-old Athenian capital welcomes tourists with its characteristic Mediterranean joy. In this city with 3,400 years of history, you can feel the glorious past that pervades it at all times. Wonderful streets, indescribable archaeological remains, welcoming and cheerful people… Nothing is the same again after visiting the Acropolis and the Parthenon. In addition to buildings from the classical Greek period, Roman and Byzantine monuments are also preserved, as well as several notable modern buildings, coming from the different historical influences of the city. Did you know that Athens is the oldest capital in Europe, and that throughout its thousands of years it has been continuously inhabited?
This is definitely an excursion that you cannot miss during your cruise. Go ahead and come with us on an unforgettable tour, which will turn your trip into a great experience. We will wait for you!
The guide will wait for you at the Customs Exit, with the "Shorexc" sign.
Departure to the city of Athens.
Depending on the traffic, you can take a snapshot of the old Olympic Stadium built entirely in marble, and where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held. The stadium was also used for the marathon as well as the archery competition at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Panoramic tour (by bus) of the city: Everything explained by the guide, where you will see Hadrian's Arch, the Statue of Lord Byron, the Temple of Zeus, Constitution Square, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Presidential Palace, the National Gardens, the Academy and the Library of University.
Visit of the Acropolis. The guided tour of the Acropolis begins with a walk up the steep steps to the "upper city," entering through the Propylea that stretches 150 feet along the entire western front. Beyond the Propylea, at the top of the hill, is the jewel of the Acropolis, the Parthenon: built between 447 and 432 BC and dedicated to the goddess Athena, patron saint of the city.
To the north of the Parthenon we will see the Erection, a temple in honor of Athena and Poseidon (God of the Sea). Decorated with the famous Caryatids, sculptures of beautiful virgins that support the roof; It is one of the most elegant structures on the Acropolis.
There will be moments for photos, and depending on the weather, you can visit the Acropolis museum (optional).
Departure to Plaka (Old Town of Athens).
The original city of Athens, Plaka, hasn't changed much since its inception. The narrow cobbled streets, most of them pedestrianized, are lined with classical and neoclassical buildings and lined with shops of all kinds. After the guide's explanation, free time will be given to walk through its streets, get to know its large number of souvenir shops, the Athens flea market, etc. You will also have enough time so that, in the many taverns and restaurants, you can try the authentic Greek cuisine.