Collette
OFFER ID 1706794
Travel through Greece on a journey that blends ancient history with everyday life, from the streets of Athens to the islands of Naxos and Crete. Walk among icons at the Acropolis and get to know Athens through its lively neighborhoods and local rhythms. Ferry to Naxos and settle into island life during a 3-night stay shaped by coastal views, mountain villages, and time to slow down. Continue to Crete, exploring its rich heritage from Heraklion and Chania, including Knossos Palace, the pottery village of Margarites, and Chania’s old Venetian Harbor. Along the way, connect with Greece through its traditions, flavors, and people, discovering corners of the country where history and daily life intertwine.
12 nights from $6,349 per person
Day 1 Overnight Flight
You’re on your way to Greece. Anticipation builds for days shaped by sunlit seas, ancient stories, and the easy rhythm of Mediterranean life, unfolding from the historic capital to the islands scattered across the Aegean.
Day 2 Athens, Greece
Arrive in Athens, Greece’s sun-washed capital and the birthplace of democracy. As you settle in, the city begins to unfold around you — café tables buzzing, neighborhood streets alive with daily rhythms, and the Acropolis rising steadily above it all. As arrival times will vary, no sightseeing is scheduled for the afternoon. Early this evening, gather for a briefing that sets the tone for the journey ahead. Then, gather with your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner.(D)
Day 3 Athens
This morning, take in Athens on a panoramic tour that weaves together centuries of history through the city’s most iconic landmarks. Step inside the Acropolis Museum for a guided visit, where artifacts uncovered from the sacred hill offer powerful insight into ancient life, all with views of the Acropolis just beyond the glass. By afternoon, wander Plaka, the neighborhood tucked beneath the Acropolis, where inviting cafés and shops line winding streets. Choose a spot for lunch on your own and linger as the city hums around you. From 3:00 p.m. onward, the rest of the day is yours to explore.(B)
Day 4 Athens
This morning, get an up-close look at the Acropolis, where monuments that shaped Western civilization still stand watch over Athens. Walk alongside the Parthenon on a guided tour of the archaeological complex, surrounded by layers of ancient history. Later, experience an Impact Moment at a community-minded café and workshop that supports individuals who have overcome homelessness and rebuilt their lives through meaningful work and creative expression. After lunch at the café, from 3:00 p.m. onward, the rest of the day is yours to explore Athens at your own pace.(B, L)
Day 5 Athens - Naxos
Rise and shine! It’s an early start today as you climb aboard a ferry, luggage in hand, en route for Naxos. The Aegean stretches endlessly around you as islands slip past along the way. Arrive on the largest of the Cyclades, known for its self-sustaining traditions and fertile landscapes. Upon arrival, see Naxos’s emblem, the monumental marble Portara standing watch over the harbor. Enjoy free time for lunch on your own before settling into your hotel. This evening, gather for dinner at a nearby restaurant in Chora, Naxos Town.(B, D)
Day 6 Naxos - Lesser Cyclades - Naxos
This morning, board a sailboat for a full-day cruise* that reveals the coastline of Naxos and the neighboring Lesser Cyclades. Glide along the island’s eastern shore before arriving at Kato Koufonisi for a swim stop. Savor a Greek barbecue lunch onboard with local wines and cool off with a swim in the Aegean’s clear waters. Continue to Ano Koufonisi to wander its beaches and village paths, then sail toward Rina Cave for a final stop along the coast. By evening, return to your Naxos hotel to unwind after a windswept day at sea.(B, L)
Day 7 Naxos
Leave the coast behind today and head into the mountain villages of Naxos. Visit Halki, the island’s former capital, where stone mansions and quiet lanes reflect another era. Continue to Apiranthos, a hilltop village where daily life moves at an unhurried rhythm. After returning to your hotel for downtime, enjoy a private evening at a third-generation family-owned distillery, sampling local spirits including Kitron, a liqueur found only on Naxos, paired with small bites as you learn about the distillation process.(B)
Day 8 Naxos - Heraklion, Crete
Enjoy a relaxing morning before leaving Naxos behind. Later this afternoon, with your suitcase in hand, board the ferry bound for Heraklion. Once aboard, settle in for the crossing as Crete comes into view – Greece’s largest island and a world unto itself. This evening, get your first taste of Cretan cooking with dinner at a local restaurant.(B, D)
Day 9 Heraklion
Walk through Lion’s Square this morning, the beating heart of Heraklion, before heading to Knossos Palace for a guided visit. Among the ruins of this former Minoan center, legends and daily life intertwine, including the myth of King Minos and the Minotaur’s labyrinth. As you travel through the countryside, olive groves stretch across the landscape, a constant presence since Minoan times. In Archanes, visit a women’s cooperative café for an exclusive hands-on cooking class rooted in traditional Cretan dishes, followed by lunch. The afternoon and evening are at leisure.(B, L)
Day 10 Heraklion - Rethymnon - Chania
Travel west toward Chania today, stopping along the way in Margarites, a village known for its long pottery tradition. Visit the only workshop that blends modern methods with wood-fired techniques and watch a demonstration before browsing handcrafted pieces. Continue to Rethymnon and enjoy free time for lunch in its old town. By evening, arrive in Chania and gather for dinner at a local restaurant.(B, D)
Day 11 Chania - Kolymvari - Vouves - Chania
This morning, during a private tour, step into the heart of Cretan life at a family-run olive mill, where olives are more than a crop – they are history, identity, and daily sustenance. Learn how generations have cultivated, harvested, and pressed olives into oil that anchors Cretan cooking and culture. Taste several expressions of Crete’s renowned olive oil before sitting down for a paired lunch prepared with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients that let the oil take center stage. Continue to Vouves to see the world’s oldest olive tree, a living monument estimated to be 2000 to 4000 years old. Back in Chania, the rest of the day is yours. Follow your curiosity to the old Venetian Harbor, built in the 14th century, or maybe linger over Greek coffee or a local pastry along its narrow streets.(B, L)
Day 12 Chania
Today, it’s your choice! Visit the Archaeological Museum of Chania to explore its collections on your own -OR- join a guided tour of the archaeological site of Aptera. The afternoon is yours to enjoy Chania at your own pace. This evening, tap into the rhythm of Chania when you attend a traditional Cretan folk dance performance during dinner with your fellow travelers. To top it all off, enjoy a lively dance lesson so you can really move to the Cretan beat.(B, D)
Day 13 Chania - Athens
A short flight brings you back to Athens this morning. Spend the afternoon soaking up the city’s energy or fitting in last-minute shopping. This evening, gather for drinks and light fare as you toast to the journey, taking in one final view of the Acropolis glowing against the night sky.(B)
Day 14 Athens - Tour Ends
Your tour of Greece’s gems ends today.(B)
Day 1 Overnight Flight
You’re on your way to Greece. Anticipation builds for days shaped by sunlit seas, ancient stories, and the easy rhythm of Mediterranean life, unfolding from the historic capital to the islands scattered across the Aegean.
Day 2 Athens, Greece
Arrive in Athens, Greece’s sun-washed capital and the birthplace of democracy. As you settle in, the city begins to unfold around you — café tables buzzing, neighborhood streets alive with daily rhythms, and the Acropolis rising steadily above it all. As arrival times will vary, no sightseeing is scheduled for the afternoon. Early this evening, gather for a briefing that sets the tone for the journey ahead. Then, gather with your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner.(D)
Day 3 Athens
This morning, take in Athens on a panoramic tour that weaves together centuries of history through the city’s most iconic landmarks. Step inside the Acropolis Museum for a guided visit, where artifacts uncovered from the sacred hill offer powerful insight into ancient life, all with views of the Acropolis just beyond the glass. By afternoon, wander Plaka, the neighborhood tucked beneath the Acropolis, where inviting cafés and shops line winding streets. Choose a spot for lunch on your own and linger as the city hums around you. From 3:00 p.m. onward, the rest of the day is yours to explore.(B)
Day 4 Athens
This morning, get an up-close look at the Acropolis, where monuments that shaped Western civilization still stand watch over Athens. Walk alongside the Parthenon on a guided tour of the archaeological complex, surrounded by layers of ancient history. Later, experience an Impact Moment at a community-minded café and workshop that supports individuals who have overcome homelessness and rebuilt their lives through meaningful work and creative expression. After lunch at the café, from 3:00 p.m. onward, the rest of the day is yours to explore Athens at your own pace.(B, L)
Day 5 Athens - Naxos
Rise and shine! It’s an early start today as you climb aboard a ferry, luggage in hand, en route for Naxos. The Aegean stretches endlessly around you as islands slip past along the way. Arrive on the largest of the Cyclades, known for its self-sustaining traditions and fertile landscapes. Upon arrival, see Naxos’s emblem, the monumental marble Portara standing watch over the harbor. Enjoy free time for lunch on your own before settling into your hotel. This evening, gather for dinner at a nearby restaurant in Chora, Naxos Town.(B, D)
Day 6 Naxos - Lesser Cyclades - Naxos
This morning, board a sailboat for a full-day cruise* that reveals the coastline of Naxos and the neighboring Lesser Cyclades. Glide along the island’s eastern shore before arriving at Kato Koufonisi for a swim stop. Savor a Greek barbecue lunch onboard with local wines and cool off with a swim in the Aegean’s clear waters. Continue to Ano Koufonisi to wander its beaches and village paths, then sail toward Rina Cave for a final stop along the coast. By evening, return to your Naxos hotel to unwind after a windswept day at sea.(B, L)
Day 7 Naxos
Leave the coast behind today and head into the mountain villages of Naxos. Visit Halki, the island’s former capital, where stone mansions and quiet lanes reflect another era. Continue to Apiranthos, a hilltop village where daily life moves at an unhurried rhythm. After returning to your hotel for downtime, enjoy a private evening at a third-generation family-owned distillery, sampling local spirits including Kitron, a liqueur found only on Naxos, paired with small bites as you learn about the distillation process.(B)
Day 8 Naxos - Heraklion, Crete
Enjoy a relaxing morning before leaving Naxos behind. Later this afternoon, with your suitcase in hand, board the ferry bound for Heraklion. Once aboard, settle in for the crossing as Crete comes into view – Greece’s largest island and a world unto itself. This evening, get your first taste of Cretan cooking with dinner at a local restaurant.(B, D)
Day 9 Heraklion
Walk through Lion’s Square this morning, the beating heart of Heraklion, before heading to Knossos Palace for a guided visit. Among the ruins of this former Minoan center, legends and daily life intertwine, including the myth of King Minos and the Minotaur’s labyrinth. As you travel through the countryside, olive groves stretch across the landscape, a constant presence since Minoan times. In Archanes, visit a women’s cooperative café for an exclusive hands-on cooking class rooted in traditional Cretan dishes, followed by lunch. The afternoon and evening are at leisure.(B, L)
Day 10 Heraklion - Rethymnon - Chania
Travel west toward Chania today, stopping along the way in Margarites, a village known for its long pottery tradition. Visit the only workshop that blends modern methods with wood-fired techniques and watch a demonstration before browsing handcrafted pieces. Continue to Rethymnon and enjoy free time for lunch in its old town. By evening, arrive in Chania and gather for dinner at a local restaurant.(B, D)
Day 11 Chania - Kolymvari - Vouves - Chania
This morning, during a private tour, step into the heart of Cretan life at a family-run olive mill, where olives are more than a crop – they are history, identity, and daily sustenance. Learn how generations have cultivated, harvested, and pressed olives into oil that anchors Cretan cooking and culture. Taste several expressions of Crete’s renowned olive oil before sitting down for a paired lunch prepared with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients that let the oil take center stage. Continue to Vouves to see the world’s oldest olive tree, a living monument estimated to be 2000 to 4000 years old. Back in Chania, the rest of the day is yours. Follow your curiosity to the old Venetian Harbor, built in the 14th century, or maybe linger over Greek coffee or a local pastry along its narrow streets.(B, L)
Day 12 Chania
Today, it’s your choice! Visit the Archaeological Museum of Chania to explore its collections on your own -OR- join a guided tour of the archaeological site of Aptera. The afternoon is yours to enjoy Chania at your own pace. This evening, tap into the rhythm of Chania when you attend a traditional Cretan folk dance performance during dinner with your fellow travelers. To top it all off, enjoy a lively dance lesson so you can really move to the Cretan beat.(B, D)
Day 13 Chania - Athens
A short flight brings you back to Athens this morning. Spend the afternoon soaking up the city’s energy or fitting in last-minute shopping. This evening, gather for drinks and light fare as you toast to the journey, taking in one final view of the Acropolis glowing against the night sky.(B)
Day 14 Athens - Tour Ends
Your tour of Greece’s gems ends today.(B)
The beautiful town of Chania is where modern, Venetian, Turkish and traditional architecture are blended together to make this one of the most picturesque towns in Crete. Various archaeological sites, villages, churches, caves, gorges and wonderful beaches are embellishing the charming area. It is worth a visit to the Archeological museum that is housed in the Venetian church of St. Fragiskos and exhibits important finds from the Neolithic and Minoan period to the late Roman.
Crete: Knossos - Archanes - Heraklion Museum -5 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
We will first visit the Archaeological Museum in the town centre and then continue with the exploration of the ruins of Knossos Palace. The palace is one of the major must-see archaeological sites in Greece, presenting visitors with a rare glimpse into Minoan civilization. Accompanied by a knowledgeable, qualified archaeological guide who will offer in-depth personal attention, you will browse through the restored palace. By examining the structures the Minoans lived in, you will have the best avenue for piecing together the threads of the Great Minoan civilization. After a walk through the award winning historically restored village of Archanes, you can enjoy lunch in its picturesque main square, before returning back to the pier.
Duration: approx. 5 hours
Notes:
Because of the extensive walk in Knossos, comfortable shoes and a hat are required.
Naxos: Family Friendly Naxos Island - 5 hours
Spend a fun and culturally immersive day exploring the myths and magic of Naxos island. Drive into the countryside, stopping to visit the temple of Demetra, ancient goddess of agriculture and fertility. This is the ideal setting to hear tales of mythology that surrounds the island’s rich agricultural landscape. Next, visit the island’s largest expanse of olive groves, which is home to several farm animals, including a donkey which is eager to meet you. Continue your morning with a nature walk through the olive groves towards Chalki, the most picturesque village on the island. In the village you can see a local beekeeper for honey tasting before enjoying lunch at a traditional restaurant where your guide explains local dishes and galaktoboureko (local custard pastry). End your day with a visit to the local distillery, which is over 100 years old, to try citron (local liqueur). Afterwards, return to your hotel (up to 5 hours, driver and guide).
Naxos: Rural Naxos Highlights - 4 hours
visit a small Naxian village where time appears to stand still as you move away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist towns. As you arrive in the village your guide takes you to a traditional coffee shop, where you can taste honey and teas from local herbs. Stroll through unspoiled fields set among natural springs and running waters and visit a young farmer’s olive grove to taste olive oil and local products. Your guide provides an insight into the nutritional benefits of a variety of Greek olive oils, which Naxian’s fondly call their liquid gold. Discover the history of olive trees on the island and the techniques used to harvest them during this memorable gastronomical experience (4 hours driver and guide).
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
Take a short drive to Athens, the cradle of European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis. Leave your vehicle at the foot of the rock and follow your guide uphill to visit the Acropolis and see the principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon Temple.
During your visit, you will also have some free time to enjoy the magnificent view and take some photos. Continue on with a panoramic tour of the city where you will view the Olympieion (the Temple of Olympian Zeus) from the 6th Century BC, one of the largest Corinthian style temples in Greek history and Hadrian's Arch (2nd Century AD) which divided the Greek city from Hadrian's new Roman city. Arriving at Syntagma Square, see the Royal Palace, built for Otto I of Bavaria and the present-day Parliament.
In front of the Palace stands the Monument of the Unknown Soldier where two soldiers (Evzoni) stand guard continuously. Finally visit the Stadium, which stands on the site of the Ancient Stadium, laid out under Lycurgus in the 4th Century BC and rebuilt in 1896 on its original plan for the modern Olympic Games.
Notes:
Athens - Enlightening Classical Athens Tour w/ lunch - 6 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
We begin our exciting tour with a visit to the glamorous Acropolis, where we admire one of the world's masterpieces, the eternal Parthenon. The marble monuments and temples built in the classical times remind us that the Acropolis is more than the living history of Greece: it is the western world's prototype of aesthetics.
Continue with the highlights of historical and modern Athens. Enjoy the most famous historical spots in Athens including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the colourful Evzones, the ex-Royal Palace and the Panathenaikon Stadium, where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held, and admire the unique perspective of the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Hadrian's' Arch. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant in Plaka (old part of Athens).
In the afternoon (or even before lunch), continue with a visit to one of the following of your choice:
Notes:
Duration: Approx. 6 hours
Athens - Enchanting Cape Sounion at Sunset with dinner - 6 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
Scenic drive (70km/43miles) along the coastal road known as "the Riviera of Attica" to Cape Sounion. Enjoy the splendid view of the Saronic Gulf. Here stands the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon, built near the edge of the cliff, one of the most beautiful monuments of the classical times to have survived to the present day. According to Mythology, Poseidon had his palace in the depths of the sea and his temple on a windswept rock rising above the Aegean Sea.
Enjoy the most enchanting at sunset before your transfer to the Ithaki Restaurant located on the waterfront of Vouliagmeni.
Enjoy a lovely dinner at the waterfront restaurant, Ithaki overlooking Vouliagmeni Bay and the sparkling Saronic Gulf, Ithaki is probably the best outdoor sea viewpoint of Attica. A typical Greek fishing boat at the entrance, full of crushed ice, fresh fish and lobsters of all sizes give you a hint that you are not here for steaks, although they are available. The elegant, exclusive seaside restaurant is built amphitheatrically on varying levels in a way to secure privacy and a magnificent view of the bay. The Ithaki cuisine is based mainly on traditional Greek recipes and gives priority to seafood delicacies and fresh fish. Soft piano music and songs are entertaining the guests during the whole evening. Greek hospitality and excellent service are priority at the Ithaki, ensuring clients' satisfaction!
Notes:
Duration: Approx. 6 1/2 hours
Athens - The Athenian Riviera & the Temple of Poseidon - 4 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
Scenic drive (70km/43miles) along the coastal road known as "the Riviera of Attica", which affords a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf, to Cape Sounion the southern-most point of the entire peninsula of Aemos (Balkans). Here stand the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon, built near the edge of the cliff, one of the most beautiful monuments of the classical times to have survived to the present day. According to Mythology, Poseidon had his palace in the depths of the sea and his temple on a windswept rock rising above the Aegean Sea.
This tour is most enchanting at sunset!
Notes:
Duration: Approx. 4 hours
Delphi – History & the Oracle w/lunch - Full Day Tour
In the morning, you will be met by your English-speaking guide upon disembarkation from the cruise ship to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, you will be transferred back to the ship.
Enjoy a scenic drive to Delphi via the National Highway passing through the spectacular sites of Boetia, Thebes and Levadia.
Delphi is by common consent the most spectacularly beautiful ancient site in Greece and the one, which, even to the uninitiated, most vividly evokes the Classical Past. In antiquity Delphi was regarded as the centre of the world (omphalos of the earth) and to this, and its oracle, the place owed its prestige, which extended far beyond the Greek world.
Our visit to Delphi is divided into three parts: the Sanctuary of Apollo with the Stadion; the Castalian spring and the Sanctuary of Athena at Marmaria (from above as it is a steep ragged climb to access it); and the Museum.
Enjoy lunch at a traditional local restaurant. En route to Athens, there will be a short stop at the picturesque mountain village of Arachova. The village is famous for its attractive hand-woven carpets and rugs as well as for its wine and cheese.
In the early evening return to Athens.
Notes:
• Sun protection indispensable
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps
• Bottle of water recommended
Athens - Ancient Corinth Tour - 4.5 hours
In the morning, you will be met by your English-speaking guide upon disembarkation from the cruise ship to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, you will be transferred back to the ship.
Departure for the excursion to Corinth and Cenchreae, from the where St. Paul left for Ephesus. Stop to view the Corinth Canal connecting the Aegean with the Ionian Sea. Ancient Corinth is sited inland at the foot of Mount Acrocorinth. The City’s ‘Long Wall’ began from the summit of the mountain, encompassed the city and ended at the port of Lechaio, which was the artificial harbor built on the shore of the Gulf of Corinth.
In the area of the city itself, the ruins are those of its Agora (Forum) as it was in the days of the Romans in the 1st century AD. On the northern side of the agora, seven of the thirty-eight columns of the Ancient Temple of Apollo (6th century BC) still stand. To the northeast of the Agora are the remains of the Theater and the Roman Odeon. Among the ruins of the Roman Forum, the Bema can be seen single structure from where St. Paul preached to the Corinthians. Corinth was the city where St. Paul created one of the biggest Christian communities in Europe. A visit to the Museum is also included as well as a stop at the small port of Lechaio, where Paul disembarked.
Duration: Approximately 4½ hours
Notes:
• Sun protection is recommended
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
• Bottle of water - recommended
Athens - Jewish History Tour - Half Day Tour approx 4 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
Take a short drive to the city of Athens, the cradle of the European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis. Leave your vehicle at the foot of the rock and follow your guide uphill to visit the Acropolis and see the principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon Temple. During your visit, you will also have some free time to enjoy the magnificent view and take some photos.
Continue on with a panoramic tour of the city where you will view the Olympieion (the Temple of Olympian Zeus) from the 6th Century BC, one of the largest Corinthian style temples in Greek history and Hadrian’s Arch (2nd Century AD) which divided the Greek city from Hadrian’s new Roman city. Arriving at Syntagma Square, see the Royal Palace, built for Otto I of Bavaria and the present-day Parliament. In front of the Palace stands the Monument of the Unknown Soldier where two soldiers (Evzoni) stand guard continuously. Finally visit the Stadium, which stands on the site of the Ancient Stadium, laid out under Lycurgus in the 4th Century BC and rebuilt in 1896 on its original plan for the modern Olympic Games.
We continue onward with a visit to the Jewish Museum of Athens. The Museum was founded in 1977 in order to collect, conserve, research and exhibit the material evidence of 2300 years of Jewish life in Greece. Its collection, which is continuously enriched, consists of seven and a half thousand original artifacts, photographs, documents and archives, and includes diverse material pertaining to the domestic and religious life, as well as the historical course of the Greek Jews.
The permanent exhibition illustrates subject areas such as the synagogue, the Jewish Holidays, traditional costumes, the Holocaust, the cycle of life and more.
It is recommended that guests wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.
Opening hours of the Jewish Museum: Daily 09:30-14:30
Sunday 10:00-14:00
Saturday: closed
Athens - The Acropolis & a walking tour of the Plaka w/lunch - Full Day tour
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
Take a short drive to Athens, the cradle of the European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis. Leave your vehicle at the foot of the rock and follow your guide uphill to visit the Acropolis and see the principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon Temple. During your visit, you will also have some free time to enjoy the magnificent view and take some photos.
Enjoy a walking tour the wonderful alleys of the Plaka area. Following the Ermou Street, the most famous shopping street which begins in the Syntagma square, and going down south, you will arrive in the neighbourhood of Plaka.
The neighborhood is an historic center, full of beautiful buildings, Byzantine churches, little touristy shops, cafe, bars and taverns (Greek restaurants). One will surely enjoy walking around in the small streets of Plaka Monastiraki - As you near the point where Adrianou and Ayiou Philippou Streets meet, you will have the impression that you are entering a melting pot of sound; all kinds of music can be heard simultaneously from the loud-speakers of record shops and street-vendors selling second-hand records. Shopping or simply walking around in Monastiraki is an experience not to be missed. You will be amazed by the variety and the quality of the things sold in this busy market.
Notes:
It is recommended that guests wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.
Argolis – Mycenean & Epidavros Adventure w/lunch - 9 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
We begin this exiting tour with a scenic drive along the Saronic Gulf to the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean Sea to the Ionian Sea After a short stop we drive on to Mycenae, the Homeric city of the Atreides. Visit the Lions Gate, the Cyclopean Walls and the famous Royal Tombs of King Agamemnon. Continue to Nafplion through the fertile plain of Argolis. The picturesque town nestling at the foot of a cliff crowned by the mighty ramparts of the Palamidi Fortress was the first capital of Greece. After lunch in Mycenae, leave for in the hinterland of Epidavros to visit the sanctuary of Asklepios, the most brilliant centre of healing in the ancient world and the 4th century theatre is one of the most perfect and the best preserved of the ancient Greek theatres.
Duration: approx: 9 hours
Notes:
• Sun protection is recommended
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
• Bottle of water - recommended
Athens the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum approx 4 hours
Join us on this tour of Athens and learn the history of one of the greatest cities of the ancient world and most vibrant cities of Europe If this is your first time visiting Athens this is the ideal way experiencing as city rich in history and culture. Our enthusiastic licensed guides will narrate the significance of all the landmarks and sites and bridge the past with present, while you enjoy your leisurely panoramic drive through the city of Athens.
The next stop on the tour is the Acropolis the most important ancient site in the Western world. Crowned by the Parthenon positioned high above and visible from almost every part of the city. You will feel uplifted high above the city as you marvel and stand amongst this everlasting achievements of ancient Greece: The Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Temple of Apteros Nike (Wingless Victory) and the Erechtheum, with its classical stone draped maidens, the Caryatids.
The Acropolis is the prelude to the final visit on the tour the Acropolis museum, where the final chapter of the tour will be told and your short odyssey will end. The monuments of the Acropolis have withstood the ravages of past centuries, both of ancient times and throughout the middle ages. These circumstances cultivated the need and conception of the Acropolis museum. One museum that would house and conserve the invaluable Greek artifacts, where eventually the Parthenon sculptures will be reunited.
Bits & Bites Athens street food walking tour approx 3 hours
Start on a walking tour of the local markets: The senses of taste and smell are so powerful that Greece will intoxicate you and create a mystical experience. Take a look, sniff, and taste the vegetable, meat, and fish markets of Athens. Try the traditional Greek tastes: Greek sweets, koulouri, sausages, olive oil, olives, cheeses, rusks, Greek alcohol (wine, ouzo), and spices and herbs.
-Ariston (for tyropitta)
-Zisis, traditional small fish bites in a paper cone
-Bairaktaris Souvlaki
-Varvakios central food and spice market, then visit Ouzeri for ouzo-meze
-Traditional honey dough bites in Lukumades
-Brettos, for a shot glass of masticha,
-Time permitting, go for a Greek coffee at Café Melina in Plaka
The program and shops visited are indicative and may differ on the day depending on opening hours
Available May to October, morning to mid-afternoon*
Inclusions: Licensed English-speaking guide, Metro Tickets, Taxes
Exclusions: Gratuities, Personal expenses, anything not mentioned above, Snacks or meals
Tips: Wear flat, comfortable walking shoes a hat & plenty of sunscreen. Don’t eat before the tour!
Acropolis & Plaka walking tour approx 3 hours
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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