Timeless Athens Tours · Since 2004

Athens Full-Day Private Tour with Your Own Driver

The Acropolis of Athens seen on a private Athens day tour

The Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens

Panathenaic Stadium, home of the first modern Olympics in 1896

Evzones guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Syntagma Square

The original Caryatids inside the Acropolis Museum

Monastiraki Square and Plaka rooftops below the Acropolis

Columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens

The neoclassical Academy of Athens on Panepistimiou Street

Itinerary

Your Day in Athens: Itinerary

See the best of Athens in one day on a full-day private tour with your own local driver and a comfortable Mercedes. We pick you up from your hotel, the cruise port or the airport, and the route is planned around your interests and your time. Prices are per car, not per person, and you can add a licensed guide for the archaeological sites.

Explore the Acropolis and the Parthenon

Start at the Acropolis of Athens, home to the greatest monuments of ancient Greece. See the Parthenon, the Erechtheion with its famous Caryatids, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Propylaea. From the hill you look down on the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Theatre of Dionysus and Areopagus Hill. Learn more about the Parthenon, the temple built for the goddess Athena.

See the landmarks of modern Athens

Continue to the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch, then the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. If the timing works, you can watch the Changing of the Guard by the Evzones at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Syntagma Square, in front of the Hellenic Parliament.

Drive past the neoclassical Athens Trilogy: the Academy of Athens, the University of Athens and the National Library. Weather and traffic permitting, finish with panoramic views over the whole city from Lycabettus Hill.

Walk the old streets of Plaka and Monastiraki

Your driver drops you at Plaka, the old town under the Acropolis, with its narrow streets, small shops and tavernas. Walk on to Monastiraki and its flea market. There is free time for shopping, coffee or a traditional Greek lunch. If you prefer to see the city on foot, see our Athens walking tours.

Add a museum or more ancient sites

Depending on your time and interests, you can add the Acropolis Museum or the National Archaeological Museum. You can also add more ancient sites: the Ancient Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus, the Roman Agora and the Tower of the Winds, Kerameikos, or the site traditionally known as Socrates’ prison. We plan museum visits and extra sites with you according to the time available.

Our aim is simple: to show you Athens the way locals do, with the warm Greek hospitality we call philoxenia. Your car, your pace, your Athens.

Short on time? Choose our Athens half-day tour, or see all our private Athens day tours. For a full day outside the city, see our Ancient Olympia day trip.

Notes

We use luxury Mercedes Benz vehicles, legal and licensed by the Greek National Tourism Organization, smoke-free, fully air-conditioned.
Rates include all tolls, fuel, parking fees, and baggage charges.
Not included: Drinks, meals, entrance fees, accommodation, licensed guides (optional) and/or gratuities.
Prices are per car and not per person.
The driver will wait a maximum of 60 minutes after the indicated pick up time.
Tours are private, personal, and flexible just for you and your party.
For all tours except layover tours that starts/ends at Athens airport there will be a surcharge of 25% (Athens airport is 45-60 minutes drive from Athens, Piraeus port).
For services between 23:30 – 06:30 there will be a 20% surcharge.
Names Lists: Upon booking confirmation, you must provide a full list (names & surnames) for all members of your touring party. This is required by local authorities for all tours and failure to provide such a list may result in the cancellation of your tour.
Driver: Please be aware that your Driver is not permitted to enter archaeological sites and museums and offer a guiding service. Only Licensed guides, authorized by the Greek Ministry of Culture, are allowed to do so. Should you require a licensed guide to accompany you to the archaeological sites and museums, we can provide such service at an extra cost, or you can find a licensed guide on your own. Please note that, if you choose the service of a licensed guide for the full time of your tour, an additional seat in the vehicle will be required. Since your licensed guide will be in the vehicle during the tour. For example, should there be 3 persons in your party, you must select 4 persons on the menu, in order for the appropriate vehicle to be provided for your Tour.
Licensed Guides: All accredited (official) guides are freelance professionals by law, who are hired by the operator on your behalf. The Licensed guide is responsible for issuing all pertinent documentation concerning his/her services (such as receipts, etc.).
Full day tour duration with a licensed guide is 8 hours and a half-day tour duration with a licensed guide is 5 hours.
Licensed Guides Extra Seat: Please note that, if you will be choosing the services of a licensed guide for FULL TIME, you will require an ADDITIONAL seat in your vehicle, since your guide will be riding with you. For example, should there be 3 persons in your party, you must select 4 persons on the menu (car type 4-7 people)
Luggage:
– Mercedes Sedan/Saloon (1-3 persons) max luggage: 3 pieces with the following maximum dimensions: height 63,5cm/25 inches, width 45cm/18 inches, depth 28cm/11 inches or 2 larger pieces
– Mercedes Minivan or Minibus 1 piece of luggage (up to above dimensions) plus 1 carry-on (not exceeding 3 kilos) per person. IMPORTANT: For each and every requested transfer service, you are required to inform us of the exact luggage description of your party.

Holidays

Archaeological sites are closed
• 1 January: closed
• 6 January: closed
• Shrove Monday: 08.30-15.00
• 25 March: closed
• Good Friday: until 12:00 closed
• Holy Saturday: 08.30-15.00
• Easter Sunday: closed
• Easter Monday: 08.30-15.00
• 1 May: closed
• Holy Spirit Day: 08.30-15.00
• 15 August: 08.30-15.00
• 28 October: 08.30-15.00
• 25 December: closed
• 26 December: closed

BOOK YOUR FULL-DAY ATHENS TOUR

Athens Full Day Tours

Athens Full-Day Private Tour: Acropolis, Old Town and Modern City

See the best of Athens in one day, without crowds, queues or fixed schedules. On our Athens full-day private tour, your own local driver picks you up in a comfortable, air-conditioned Mercedes and takes you to the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium, Syntagma Square, Lycabettus Hill and the old streets of Plaka, all at your own pace.

Why travellers choose us

Private and flexible: the car and the day are yours alone.
Pickup from your hotel, Piraeus cruise port or Athens airport.
Price per car, not per person: great value for families and small groups.
Optional licensed guide for the Acropolis and the museums.

Short on time? Try our Athens half-day tour. Arriving by ship? See our Athens shore excursions.

Book your full-day Athens tour or ask us for a free quote.

Highlights

The Acropolis
The Parthenon
The Propylaea
The Erechtheion and the Caryatids
Odeon of Herodes Atticus (completed in 161 AD)
Acropolis Museum
Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch
Panathenaic Stadium, home of the first modern Olympics (1896)
Changing of the Guard
Lycabettus Hill
Academy of Athens
University of Athens
National Library
Ancient Agora
Modern Athens
Plaka, the old town

Duration

8-9 hours

Good to Know

Wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes; the Acropolis has uneven marble paths.
A hat, sunglasses and water are recommended, especially in summer.
Photography is allowed throughout the tour.
Bring cash for entrance fees and small expenses (about €25 per person).
Pickup from your hotel, Piraeus port or Athens airport (airport surcharge applies, see Notes).

FAQ

Athens Full-Day Private Tour – FAQ

How long is the full-day private tour?

The full-day tour lasts about 8–9 hours. With a licensed guide for the full day, it is 8 hours. Short on time? Our Athens half-day tour covers the highlights in about 5 hours.

Is the price per person or per car?

The price is per car, not per person. It includes fuel, tolls, parking fees and baggage charges. Entrance fees, meals, drinks, gratuities and an optional licensed guide are not included.

Where do you pick us up?

Your driver picks you up from your hotel in Athens, from Piraeus cruise port or from Athens airport. Tours that start or end at the airport have a 25% surcharge, except our Athens layover tours.

Can the driver guide us inside the Acropolis?

No. By Greek law, only licensed guides authorised by the Ministry of Culture may guide inside archaeological sites and museums. We can book a licensed guide for you at an extra cost. If the guide stays with you for the full day, they need a seat in the vehicle, so add one person when you book.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees are paid on the day, so please bring cash or a card for tickets and small expenses.

What vehicles do you use?

We use licensed, smoke-free, fully air-conditioned Mercedes vehicles: sedans for 1–3 people, and minivans or minibuses for larger groups.

Can we change the itinerary?

Yes. The tour is private, so the car and the day are yours. You can add the Acropolis Museum, the Ancient Agora or other sites, take a longer lunch in Plaka, or skip a stop. We plan the day around your interests and the time available.

When are the archaeological sites closed?

Sites are closed on 1 January, 25 March, Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25–26 December, and have shorter hours on some other holidays. See the Holidays tab for the full list, and contact us to plan around them.