Customer Reviews

We LOVED this tour today! Maria is simply so lovely! The boys and I learned so much today! The kingdom of the poor and the anarchist - Exarcheia - left a deep, indelible impression on our minds. A part of us was happy to go back to our apartment in Kolonaki seeing the plight of the refugees! So humbling! Athens is full of life, vigor and vitality - and some amazing people like you! A deep, heartfelt thank you to you and to Maria! - Anjali N., Germany

WHY WE LOVE IT

At the end of this tour you won’t be seeing Athens as a tourist anymore, but as it truly is: a complex, multilayered and fascinating city that few visitors get to experience in just a few hours.

Activity Description

This is a tour about the true heart and soul of Athens, about its people and habits - old and new-, its everyday life and its secrets.

During this walking tour of Athens you will witness some of the city's greatest contrasts: From the Old Royal Palace and the city’s posh areas, where the rich and famous have always settled, to the hotbed of rebellious young thinkers, that has been associated with forward-thinking and social experimentation, where students gather to argue the issues of the day.

You‘ll see buildings of amazing architecture, that reflect the vision of modern Athens as a successor to the glory that was Ancient Athens, as well as architecture that represents the Modernist and inter-war movements. As you are slowly discovering the city you will learn that there are many secrets that lie beneath the surface and that the past is always just a few steps from the present…

You’ll also get a chance to explore some gentrified neighborhoods that are devoted to small businesses, but now they’re all interspersed with trendy eateries and funky little bars. This is where you can see some of the city’s best street art, come across a new jewelry designer, or shop for vintage clothing at one of the retro boutiques.

And as modernity coexists with tradition, you’ll find out how the Ottoman past is still alive in Athens’ flea market, one of the liveliest neighborhoods of the city, where the old and the new generations still meet today.

By the end of this Athens walking tour, you will have seen the true soul of Athens and its people, a city with a thousand stories still standing, as it has since ancient times, right on the border between the East and the West.

Special Features

• See 6 different neighbourhoods, ranging from working-class havens to boutique boulevards

• Hear how Athens was transformed from a town into a modern city, all in the shadow of its own ancient glory

• Uncover hidden spots with stories to tell or treasures (edible, wearable or collectible) to offer

• Stop for coffee in a secret courtyard right in the middle of one of the city’s busiest spots

• Catch up with what the city’s doing now – its street art, its new hotspots, its creative scene

Activity Snapshot

Dates | Start Time : Mon-Sun, All Year | Shared: 9:30am, daily; Private groups upon arrangement here. 

Duration: 4 hours (approx.)

Spoken Language: English, French

Meeting Point: Central Athens, to be advised after booking

Group Size: Shared group tours run with min. 2 - max. 8 participants. Request a quote for a PRIVATE TOUR here

Pace: Easy

Included: English/French speaking guide, city map highlighting the transformations of the city through 2.500 years. 

Excluded: Food & drinks, coffee/snack during the tour, gratuities (optional)

Note: Some sights are only open during the morning visit (prison, market) as they close in the early afternoon.

Discounts for Young Travellers: Children 0-5 years: Free | Children 6-17 yrs: €39/child.

Cancellation Policy

100% refund up to 72 hours prior to tour/workshop, except processing fees (Paypal/credit card).  50% refund between 72 and 24 hours prior to tour/workshop, except processing fees (Paypal/credit card). No refund less than 24 hours prior to tour/workshop. 100% refund if the tour/workshop is cancelled by the host, including processing fees. ** DUE TO COVID-19, ENJOY FLEXIBLE CANCELLATION POLICY WITH NO RESCHEDULING FEE **

Additional Info

• Confirmation to be received as soon as possible (within 24 hours from booking)

• You can present either a print out or an electronic booking confirmation for this activity

• Complete information on Vendor, including local telephone numbers at your destination, will be sent with your Booking Confirmation. The TravelPorter hand-picks the most remarkable, experienced and reliable vetted professionals for a pleasant experience from booking to completion.

• Find the host’s full COVID-19 policy here

Discover Athens off the beaten path

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