Markets, Ruins & Ancient Athens

From
£

Book Now

Markets, Ruins & Ancient Athens

Highlights / General details
Athens makes travelling easy; the streets are filled with cultural, historic, and culinary icons. The problem is knowing which streets. Join this Athens tour to enjoy the benefits of having a local guide who will show you fresh produce, retail hot spots, ruins, temples, markets, and mosques.
Dive deep into the history of the ancient city of Athens, with a local to guide you.
Explore the city’s many markets and legendary traditions within.
Step back in time and get insider knowledge on the city’s famous landmarks.
Discover Athens’ more recent history and architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Wander the walls of the infamous Athens Acropolis and learn about the temples from your guide.

Inclusion
Local English speaking guide; Coffee or soft drink.

Exclusion
Food and beverages; Entrance fees; Tip and gratuities for your guide. Please note that this tour does not go inside the Acropolis.

Hours of operation
Available Monday - Saturday at 9:30am.

Duration
Approximately 3 hours.

Location
Meeting point: Kotzia square, in Athina Avenue between metros stations of Omonia and Monastiraki, in front of the Mayor Building. Your guide will meet you at the fountain in this square.
Finish point: The Acropolis.

Itinerary
We start your Athens tour by meeting your local guide at Ktozia Square, then head to the Mayor of Athens’ neo-classical building on Athina Street, one of the busiest in Athens. Starting at 9am when the city’s shops and markets are bustling with Athenians, you’ll see the shop owners get ready for a day of business, just as they have done for the past 2,000 years. You will experience the spirit of Greek life with the same commerce of food that existed thousands of years before, and your local guide will be explaining these practices to you along the way.
On this Athens market tour you’ll dive into the Athenian way of life as your guide leads you through the markets. Here you will find every Mediterranean fruit, vegetable, meat, cheese and fresh on offer. Experiencing local produce is one of the best things to do in Athens, and you’ll be able to pick out all the local favorites with the guide to show you the way.
Filled with all these warm colors, tastes, and smells, the next stop is Monastiraki Square. The name of the square derives from the Greek word for monastery, and in the center of the square sits the Pantanassa Monastery. The square is also home to the Adrian Library, an archaic temple constructed in the Corinthian-style, and not far away is the 18th century Tzistarakis Mosque, now a ceramics museum. This historical Athens tour will point out all these landmarks to you and give you all the information you need to know about them in this cultural hub of the city.
Next, we explore the square’s flea market, mingle with merchants, and see ancient monuments as you uncover even more Athens history. Then, you’ll head off to Ifaistou or Pandrossos to discover shops selling all kind of specialties such as leather sandals, handmade icons, Greek music instruments, and antiques. This is the perfect place to pick up a momento of your Athens travel experience, and the perfect way to get in touch with Athens market culture.
The next stop on our Athens tour is the ancient Agora, where merchants traded in Greek and Roman times. Walk by the area to Thisson, passing houses from the 17th and 18th centuries along the way. The final stop on this Athens tour is the moment you’ve all been waiting for – a visit to admire the mighty Acropolis. Walking around the outer walls, you’ll learn about the history and myths of this ancient marvel that will inspire you to explore it further on your own as soon as your tour is over.
Our Athens tour ends here where you are free to continue on your own personal exploration or your local guide can give you advice on the best way to get back to your hotel.

Additional Information
In general, there are few dress restrictions in Europe and dress codes are similar to those you are used to at home. Please note though that in many churches modest dress is required; no shorts or skimpy tops are permitted.
This trip is offered on a "join-in" basis. Maximum group size is 12.

Participant restrictions
This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour. Children younger than 6 are permitted at no extra cost, but please make sure you inform our guides of this before you take the tour.

Policies
If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point.
Cancellation: 2 days prior 100% penalty. No show 100% penalty.
Complete information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, will be included on your Confirmation Voucher.

**All information requested must be supplied or booking is subject to automatic cancellation**

Price on

Number of Passengers:

1