8. Athens: City, Acropolis & Ancient Agora Tour without Tickets
The tour begins inside the Syntagma Metro Station where you will visit the Metro Museum (in 10 minutes) and see very interesting archaeological artifacts from the daily life of Ancient Athens, that came to light during the construction of the metro.
You will then continue on to the House of the Greek Parliament, the Monument to the Unknown Soldier and watch the changing of the guards. Your tour continues towards the National Gardens and onto the beautiful neoclassical Zappeion Hall, in front of which tower the surviving columns of the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch, both of which you will have the opportunity to visit. From there you enter the famous Plaka district where you will see the statue of Melina Merkouri.
Next visit the Acropolis - a landmark of Greece. You will enter the Acropolis from the south slope so as to avoid the crowds and also to visit the Dionysus sanctuary and Dionysus Theater built in the 5th century BC. As you begin to ascend the sacred hill a breathtaking view of the city below will unfold. Your guide will give you a detailed explanation of the glorious monuments of the Acropolis such as, the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Propylaia, the Nike Temple, the Agrippa Monument and the surrounding monuments such as the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Observatory as well as the Philopappos, Mars Hill, and Pnyx Hill.
Enjoy some free time for exploring and picture-taking at the Acropolis will be provided after your Acropolis tour. Before you will be given free time at the Acropolis, your guide will provide you with instructions on where to meet for the continuance of the tour to the Ancient Agora. Before the Agora tour starts, you can grab a snack or a drink from the canteen as the tour schedule does not include time for a leisurely lunch.
You will then walk down to the Ancient Agora which was the commercial, political, and financial center of Ancient Athens. The walk through the monuments will offer you the sense of traveling back in time. You will visit the Hephaestus Temple - the best preserved Greek Temple from the 5th century BC, and you will see the wonderful church of the 12 Apostles, the Temple of Apollo Patroos, the Stoa of Zeus, the Altar of Zeus, and with your knowledgeable and professional guide the ancient stones will come alive.
The Ancient Agora is the place where Socrates, Plato and many world renowned philosophers walked and taught. Your licensed guide will then take you to the Attalos Museum which is worthwhile visiting as it houses artefacts of great historical value such as the ID’s of the ancient Greeks, and the original measures and weights for the Market inspectors.