Welcome in Athens! Drive to your booked hotel at the centre of the city. Hotel stay for 3 nights in Athens.
Walking tour
If the arrival is at the morning or early at noon time, what is better than a walking tour in Athens, in the heart of Greek daily life? The tour begins inside the Syntagma metro station (subway), where you will shortly see the archaeological exhibits which came to light during the construction of the metro. The tour will continue to the House of the Greek Parliament with the monument of the Unknown Soldier and the changing of the guards with the traditional Greek uniforms.
Afterwards, you will head to the National Gardens and the Zappeion Hall, in front of which tower the surviving columns of the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch.
The walking tour will get better and better as you enter the famous Plaka and Monastiraki with the numerous cafés and souvenir shops. By walking through the narrow streets and next to their neoclassical buildings, it will be like travelling back in time.
Day 2: City Tour Athens
Your city tour in Athens starts with a short stop in the Panathinaiko Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896 and the finish of the Marathon was hosted in 2004. Continue with a panoramic drive to the magnificent archaeological site of Acropolis, an UNESCO’s world heritage monument and landmark of Athens. Visit the Propylae, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion with its porch of Maidens and of course the glorious Parthenon. On your way down the hill of Acropolis, you will pass by the Herodion and Dionysus Theater and your walk will end in the modern New Acropolis Museum with the spectacular view to Acropolis. Main attractions such as motives, artifacts of every day life, statues from archaic period, Caryatids and the Parthenon hall with the metopes, the pediments and the frieze are waiting for you and they will surely impress you.
Day 3: To the Island of Aegina
Transfer to the port of Piraeus and ferry to the island of Aegina (ca. 1 hour). Brief mythology trivia: Zeus, the father of the gods and a widely known philanderer, once abducted Aegina, the graceful daughter of the river god Acheloos. Sisyphus, King of Corinth, gave Zeus away to Aegina’s mournful father and as a result he was punished by Zeus for his betrayal. From myth to reality: The historic island Aegina with its precious relicts from glorious times is located in the center of the Saronic Gulf. After its release from the Turks at the beginning of the 19th century, Aegina town hosted the first independent Greek government. Nowadays, the island is not only known beyond the Greek borders for its fishermen and as a summer vacation place for the Athenians, but also for its high-quality pistachios which have fans worldwide… Almost the same popularity enjoy the Aeginian olives, wine and almonds.
By bus we drive to the northeast side of the island, where the Temple of Aphaia stands on a densely forested hill. The very well-preserved building (510 BC) made of local chalkstone is thought to be the most perfect of the late Archaic times. The “Aeginites”, the marble gable figures of the temple found here in 1811, are one of the main attractions of the Glyptothek in Munich (they were taken by the royal family of Wittelsbachers to Bavaria). During the time left we will have a delicious lunch at a traditional tavern of the island and then discover the city of Aegina. In the late afternoon, we will gather again and take the ferry back to Piraeus
Day 4: Departure – “Geia sas”
After enjoying our breakfast, transfer to Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”. According to itinerary, we will have some free time at our own disposal before our flight.
