Athens Highlights & Ancient Corinth Full Day Private Tour

Sightseeing in Athens starts with the hill of Acropolis which will make your day. On the historical hill, you will have the opportunity to see the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Temple of the Athena Nike, the monumental gateway (Propylaea), the Erechtheum and of course the famous Parthenon, the main temple dedicated to the virgin goddess Athena.  

The Propylaea is the monumental entrances to the sacred area dedicated to Athena, the patron goddess of the city. Built by the architect Mnesicles with Pentelic marble, their design was avant-garde.  

Parthenon, the main temple dedicated to the virgin goddess Athena, the eternal symbol of the Athenian Democracy and the western civilization.  

 Temple of Poseidon and Athena, the most sacred place in ancient Athens with the incredible female featured columns, Karyatides. 

Temple dedicated to the goddess Athena Nike or Wingless Victory.

After the Acropolis, we will head towards the Temple of Zeus, the biggest in antiquity, devoted to the King of the Gods, by way of Hadrian's Arch.  

We will visit Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896.  

Then moving into the historical center of the city we will drive up the highest hill of Athens, Lycabettus Hill, where you’ll have the best panoramic view of the city, from the hill of Acropolis to the Aegean Sea.  

The Hellenic Parliament, in Greek known as Voulí ton Ellínon is the parliament of Greece, located in the Old Royal Palace, overlooking Syntagma Square in Athens. The Parliament is the supreme democratic institution that represents the citizens through an elected body of Members of Parliament.  

We will see the changing of the guard by the elite unit of Greek army (Evzones) in front of the old palace, which is today Parliament House, above the central square of Athens.  

Syntagma Square is the central square of Athens. The square is named after the Constitution that Otto, the first King of Greece, was obliged to grant after a popular and military uprising on 3rd of September 1843.  

The Academy Building constitutes one of three parts in an “architectural trilogy”. It was founded with the Constitutional Decree of March 18th, 1926, as an Academy of Sciences, Humanities and Fine Arts.  

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is the largest state institution of higher learning in Greece, and among the largest universities in Europe. The splendid Athens University was designed by the Danish architect Christian Hansen and completed in 1864.  

The National Library of Greece was built at the end of the 19th century, as the last of the Architectural Trilogy of Athens, a group of three neoclassical buildings which also includes the Academy and the University. The building was designed by Theophil Hansen.  

We will continue with a drive along the coast. On the way you will view of some Greek seaside villages and the island of Salamis (where the historical naval battle took place between the Athenians and the Persians). 

Our next stop is the Corinth Canal. Opened in 1892 separating the Peloponnese peninsula from the rest of Greece and connecting the Saronic Gulf to the Corinthian Sea. You will have time to walk across on a pedestrian bridge to admire the canal closer, (if you’re game) on some days bungee jumping is an option.  

Moving on we will continue to Ancient Corinth. The city dominated by the hill of Acrocorinth. The site located at the foot of the hill includes the Roman Agora of Corinth, the temple of god Apollo and a small museum. Apart from its archaeological and historical interest Ancient Corinth is also one of the most popular religious destinations in Greece as this was where Apostle Paul preached Christianity, was judged by the tribunal in the Agora and established the best organized Christian church of that period.  

The temple of Apollo at Corinth is one of the earliest Doric temples in the Peloponnese and the Greek mainland. Built around 560 B.C.E., of local monolithic limestone on top of an imposing, rocky hill to the north of Acrocorinth, the Archaic temple was an emblem for the Greek city of Corinth, reflecting its growth and prosperity.  

Ancient Corinth is dominated by the hill of Acrocorinth, the oldest and largest castle in southern Greece. We will stop here for some incredible photos. 

After that we will drive back to Athens.