Anyone visiting the Greek capital is guaranteed an unforgettable experience. Who wouldn’t enjoy visiting ancient ruins and eating delicious Mediterranean cuisine with a view of the Acropolis? Extended families or friend groups are spoiled for choice with all of the fun activities and sightseeing tours in Athens, Greece.
Booking tours in Athens is a great way to explore at your own pace with skip-the-line access and an expert guide. Whether you’re fascinated by Ancient Greece or love discovering hidden gems, you will find amazing tours in Athens for your group vacation.
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Tours in Athens for the Whole Family
Free Athens Walking Tours
Discover Athens Walking Tour
Walking tours are a fantastic way to get acquainted with a new city. They’re run by local experts who can give you recommendations for the rest of your trip and show off the top attractions. While there are many walking tours in Athens, I’ve found the Athens Free Walking Tour to be one of the best.
This daily three-hour tour departs every morning and leads groups around Athens city center. Visit Plaka, the oldest neighborhood in Athens, as well as the Ancient Agora, National Gardens, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Some lucky tours catch the Changing of the Guard ceremony in Syntagma Square outside the Greek Parliament.
Yes, free walking tours are free to book but it’s expected that you will tip the tour guides. How much you tip will depend on the tour’s quality and length. Around €10-20 per person is acceptable for a good tour. While this tour might be a little long for younger kids, it’s perfect for adults and older teens visiting Athens.
City Tours in Athens
Athens in a Day Tour
Plan to spend at least two to three days in Athens. However, if you have limited time (maybe you’re looking for cruise ship shore excursions) then Context Travel’s Athens in a Day Tour is the best tour for your group. It’s a private, seven-hour walking tour that will ensure you have a great day in the Greek capital!
Discover the magnificent Acropolis and its fascinating ancient temples. Visit the charming boutiques and cafés in the old Plaka and Monastiraki neighborhoods where old meets new. Eat local treats at the Varvakios Market and see the Agora and Temple of Hephaestus ruins. Customize the tour to suit your group.
Urban Street Art Tour
Athens might be famous for its history, but this cosmopolitan city has a thriving urban art scene. See all the best murals in the city’s coolest streets on this Guided Urban Street Art Tour. It’s a two-hour, small-group tour ideal for creative travelers who might have had their fill of history.
Your expert tour guide will lead you through neighborhoods and places like Monastiraki, Psyri, Omonia Square, and Metaxourgeio Square. Learn about the biggest names in urban art and how the city became a canvas for talented artists around the world.
Greek Designers Shopping Tour
Finding locally-made, artisanal souvenirs is part of the travel experience. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find the best boutiques and gift shops with limited time. Picking up magnets and t-shirts from a mass-produced tourist stall is not the same.
Alternative Athens runs this fantastic Greek Designers Tour perfect for groups of shopaholics. It’s a 3.5-hour daily tour, giving you plenty of time to shop in many different stores. Your guide will take the group to fashion, jewelry, art, and cosmetic outlets. It won’t be difficult to find something one of a kind. If you’re serious about shopping and are looking for something specific, book a private tour instead.
Guided E-Bike Tour
One way to pack in the best highlights of Athens in a short time is to travel faster! This small-group guided E-Bike Tour of Athens will take your group through the hidden gems and famous landmarks of Old Town.
See everything you would on a walking tour plus much more. This 2.5-hour bike ride includes the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Presidential Palace, the Temple of Hephaestus, churches, and the Plaka district. Note that this tour is not suitable for children under 12 and people with limited mobility or fitness. Athens isn’t nicknamed the City of Seven Hills for nothing!
Food Tours in Athens
Greek Secret Food Tour
Olives, honey, feta, seafood… No wonder the most popular Athens tours are always food-related. Greek cuisine is part of Mediterranean fare. It’s fresh, light, and delicious. Secret Food Tours runs the best food tour for groups, hands down!
Your guide will take you on a four-hour award-winning walking tour of Greek culinary delights. Make six stops including local markets, historic cafés, and bakeries in the Psiri district. Feast on kouloúria bread, tiropita pastries, tzatziki, olives, olive oil, and the signature secret dish. You will even taste traditional Greek coffee, wines, and ouzo.
They run private tours but always keep their public tours limited to 12 people for a more intimate tasting experience. As the daily public tour is in the evening, the time and length may not be ideal for groups traveling with young kids. Opt for a private tour earlier in the day. This is also a good option if some members of your group have dietary requirements. Ask Secret Food Tours in advance if they can cater to their needs.
Street Food Tasting Tour
Athens is a quintessential street food city. This three-hour Street Food Tasting Tour is a relaxed, small-group tour perfect for any food lover. Taste a traditional cheese pie, souvlaki, gyros, Greek donuts, and loukoumades smothered in honey and cinnamon.
Most cafés and street food vendors are tucked away in the cool Psiri district. You might never have found these spots otherwise! Wash everything down with local beer or wine if you choose.
But you won’t just be able to taste the food. Your guide will share stories about the history behind certain dishes and why they’re Athenian staples. It’s a fairly long tour with lots of walking, so it’s ideally suited to groups with older teens. They run private tours too if you’d prefer a smaller, customizable experience.
Classic Greek Cooking Class
Bring the flavor of traditional Athenian cooking back home. Learn how to make all your new favorite treats and dishes by taking this classic Athens Cooking Class by Greek Kitchens. They run four-hour classes twice daily from Monday to Saturday and welcome beginners and families (children ages 7+).
This fun excursion starts in the market where you will select produce for your culinary creations. Next, your group will learn about cooking with fresh herbs, seafood, meats, and colorful fruits and vegetables. Afterward, head to the kitchen where you will don an apron and be taught how to make a three-course meal with sauces and sides!
Find out how to bake spanakopita, a tasty Greek spinach pie. Make tzatziki to eat with it! Learn how to make warming eggplant and feta dishes like Imam Bialdi and the citrusy, spice-laden dessert of portokalopita. You can indulge in a carafe of local wine and an after-dinner digestif once you’ve finished dining on the fruits of your labors.
Historic Ancient Athens Tours
Kid-Friendly Acropolis Tour
The Acropolis of Athens is the city’s most iconic landmark. This rocky outcrop contains some of the most important historical sites of Ancient Greece. Yes, the Acropolis area has much more to explore than the majestic Parthenon. There’s the ancient Temple of Athena Nike, Odeon of Herodes Atticus, and, of course, the Acropolis Museum.
With long lines and many archaeological sites, booking a guided tour of the Acropolis is a must. Groups traveling with kids should opt for a private family-friendly Acropolis Tour. It’s only two hours (ideal in the summer heat) and your licensed guide will have years of experience keeping children engaged.
Adult groups may prefer a private Acropolis and Acropolis Museum Tour. This three-hour tour includes stories about the rich history and mythology of the ancient site.
Note that most – if not all – Acropolis tours do not automatically include skip-the-line tickets. You can arrange this additional service with your guide after you book the tour. It’s one of the perks of booking private tours. Many small-group tour guides might expect you to arrange tickets.
Greek Mythology Walking Tour
Is everyone in your group fascinated by Greece’s ancient history and mythology? You will love Withlocals’ private Greek Mythology Tour. This three-hour walking tour is led by a real Athens local and can be 100% tailored to your interests.
Visit the University and Academy of Athens, Monastiraki Square, and Varvakios Central Market. Your guide will drop interesting fact after fact about how the Greek Gods and mythology shaped the city. Groups will have so much fun venturing off the beaten path in central Athens.
Ancient Greek Theater Performance
Did you know that the Greeks originated the comedy and tragedy theatrical masks? Theater was such an important art form in ancient times! While it’s not strictly a tour, the Greek Theater Performance is one of the most fun ways to engage with the local culture.
This one-hour performance is staged in the heart of the old Plaka district under the Acropolis. Groups of all ages will enjoy the performers’ energy, the traditional costumes, and the stories. It’s performed on a terrace overlooking the rooftops and the city’s streets. It’s a unique, wonderful experience you won’t regret taking a chance on!
Best Day Tours From Athens
Delphi
Although it’s 185 km north, Delphi is one of the most popular day trips from Athens for good reason. This religious sanctuary is home to the Temple of Apollo and the Oracle. Ancient Greeks believed that Delphi was the center of the world.
This Delphi Day Trip is a ten-hour bus tour with stops in Livadia and Arachova. Enjoy a guided tour of the Delphi Archaeological Museum which includes a pre-booked ticket. Have a wonderful time strolling around the ancient ruins at your own pace. This experience can include lunch and a professional driver, plus lots of space for large groups.
Cape Sounion
Pair beautiful beaches with ancient Greek temples and the result is an ideal day trip from Athens. Cape Sounion is only 62 km south of Athens on the rugged Greek coastline. This private Cape Sounion Day Tour is perfect for small groups and families of all ages looking for a shorter, more relaxing day trip.
Take this six-hour tour and visit the famous Temple of Poseidon perched on the dramatic Attica cliffs. Enjoy a traditional Greek breakfast provided by your guide.
They will take you to some small, secluded beaches too. Tasting seafood from a local taverna where your guide can drop you off will be the olive on top of this amazing experience.
Ancient Corinth
Book a day tour 139 km west of Athens instead to discover more about the ancient Greeks. Drive around the Peloppenese coastline on this private Ancient Corinth, Epidaurus, and Nafplio Day Tour. This eight-hour tour is jam-packed with sites and activities!
Visit the Corinth Canal, the Theatre of Epidaurus, and the historic settlement of Nafplio. Don’t worry if you have no idea who visited these places or what happened there! Your private tour guide is on hand to bring the landscapes to life. All entrance fees are included and you can upgrade the tour to include a delicious Greek lunch.
Greek Islands (Hydra, Poros & Aegina)
Ideally, you would stay in Athens and one or two Greek islands. However, that might not be an option for your group. Booking a Greek Islands Day Cruise Trip is the next best thing! Bear in mind it’s a long, 11+ hour day, but worth it if visiting Greece is a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Visit the picturesque islands of Hydra, Aegina, and Poros in the Saronic Gulf. You will have time to shop and freely wander around all three places. Opt for the package with a shuttle service from your Athens hotel to Piraeus Port for a smooth, stress-free vacation.
Book the Best Athens Tours for a Fun Vacation
Taking tours in Athens is the best way for families, friends, and other small groups to enjoy the city stress-free. No one is responsible for time-keeping or researching! With the help of a local guide, children and adults alike can relax and soak up the Greek culture. There are plenty of unique tours listed here. You’re guaranteed to find the best experiences to make your group trip to Athens unforgettable.