Spend a day and get a taste of Athens in the years. Start your tour at the magnificent Temple of Olympian Zeus which was, and still is, the unofficial entry point to Athens and the mythological start of this glorious city.
From there, your local guide will take you all the way to the Theater of Dionysus and the Acropolis to visit the Temple of Athena Nike, the Temple of Erechtheion, the Propylaia and of course, the marvelous Parthenon.
Acropolis
The term “Acropolis” comes from the Greek words “akron”, which means the “highest point ” and “polis”, (which means “city”.
It is here that the most famous ancient myths come to life, stories about Gods and Heroes, such as almighty Zeus, Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and protector of Athens, Poseidon, God of the Sea, Dionysus, God of Wine and many more. But what’s even more intriguing is that you’ll also find out the truth that lies behind these myths and why the Ancient Greeks created them.
Your tour back in time continues to the Ancient Agora. It is here that democracy was born and where great philosophers such as Socrates spoke about global truths. Here you’ll have a rare chance to see the Hephaisteion, the most perfectly preserved of Greece’s temples and one shared between Athena and the God of the forge, Hephaestus. You ‘ll hear more mythical stories about Theseus and the Minotaur, the jealous wife of Zeus, Hera and Aphrodite, Goddess of love and beauty.
Dionysus
The god of the grape-harvest, winemaking, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy and theatre.
This walk will also help you figure out how this city was created and how it rose to become one of the greatest cities of the old world, how Athens managed to create such a reputation and such monuments that are still immortal and legendary. Just like their Gods.
After the morning tour we continue to the most delicious part of our day. A Food tour in Athens!
This tour lets you discover a different side of the city by joining the Greeks in what is probably their favorite activity: eating! With so much on offer in a city that never stops cooking up great things, you’ll quickly come to feel the same way yourself, taking the experience one delicious bite at a time.
Greek Coffee
Rich in polyphenols and antioxidants, and contains only moderate amounts of caffeine compared to other coffees around the world, was found to increase life expectancy.
We start with the essential Greek coffee, at one of the landmark coffee houses of the city. You’ll get an explanation of the role of food in Greek life, and of the eating habits of Athenians in particular. Next, it’s a treat from the street, as you sample a koulouri, one of the all-time classic snacks on the go, before you duck into a carefully selected specialty food store that prides itself on its wide selection of Greek products. Here, you’ll be able to taste different olive oils, oils, spreads and other surprises, but remember to pace yourself – there are seven more food stops to follow!
This is your chance to be food-adventurous – among the upcoming stops is a baklava bakery with a long history and some of the best syropy sweets in Greece. Then, it’s time for authentic souvlaki and fried potatoes at a popular grill spot before heading into the traditional “belly of the city”, the bustling Varvakios Market, the biggest and most popular fish, meat and vegetable market in the whole of Athens. This is where the locals come to shop for their everyday needs as well as for their Easter lamb or Christmas turkey. The market is boisterously lively, and the butchers and fishmongers that work here compete with one another for the attention of the passing shoppers, using humor, hyperbole and hand gestures. At the stalls, you’ll see plenty of familiar foods, but you’ll find lots of surprises as well, particularly in the central fish hall, where the catch of the day is often some unusual deep-water denizen.
Souvlaki
The souvlaki is first introduced in Ancient Greece, as it was known as ‘obelisk’, from the word obelos = spit.
As we continue our walk, we’ll take the city’s Spice Street and drop in at a shop with an incredible variety of local condiments and herbs such as Greek oregano and Krokos Kozanis, otherwise known as Greek Red Saffron. Find out how these items and others are used in Greek cooking (as well as other culinary secrets the locals have to offer) while you browse the shelves for exotic cooking ingredients. We’ll also stop by a local pastry shop for a serious sugar rush as we tuck into a bougatsa (a traditionalcream-filled phyllo treat).
Bougatsa
A delicious Greek traditional pastry consisting of consisting of either semolina custard, cheese, or minced meat filling between layers of phyllo.
The last stop on the tour is for a selection of scrumptious Greek meze (like tapas, only better) at a charming deli. Here, you’ll be able to try classic appetizers, variety of cheese and cured meats. When they finally clear the plates away here, our mission will be accomplished – you’ll leave with a full and happy stomach and a much better understanding of the world of Greek food.
