Τhe Athens Sightseeing Bus, line 400, begins and ends its 90-minute tour of the city's top sights from outside the National Archaeological Museum. Tickets are purchased on board. In addition, numerous companies and travel agencies offer tailor-made tours for groups, whether walking or bus or a combination. For example, Fantasy Travel offers a condensed half-day ‘Athens Sightseeing Tour', which is a bus tour with various sightseeing stops, including the Parliament building on Syntagma Square, Hadrian's Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Acropolis.
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Athens tours and excursions
Athens tours
Walking tours
Athens is well suited to walking, as most of the sights are centrally located. The ‘Unification of Archaeological Sites' now links the city's ancient sites by a 4km (2.5-mile) traffic-free promenade: Dionissiou Areopagitou leads from the Acropolis metro station along the south side of the Acropolis to join Apostolou Pavlou which leads to Thissio metro station. From here Adrianou runs east to Monastiraki, while Ermou runs west to Keramikos. For private guided tours, visitors are advised to contact the Association of Graduate Tourist Guides of Athens, which provides guides for individual and group tours and supplies licensed guides to the travel agencies.
Telephone: 210 322 0090.
Website:
www.tourist-guides.gr
Excursions from Athens
Argo-Saronic Islands
For those short of time, an organised tour group is a good idea. Hydraiki Naval Company runs a one-day cruise around the islands of Aegina, Poros and Hydra, with a short stop at each.
Website:
www.onedaycruise.gr
Peloponnese
It is possible to take trips from Athens to the major classical sites in the Peloponnese, including Corinth, Epidaurus and Mycenae. Although the modern town of Kórinthos (Corinth) is fairly unpleasant, the surrounding attractions include Ancient Corinth (the Roman capital of Greece) the acropolis of Acrocorinth and the Corinth Canal. The vast fourth-century-BC theatre at Epidaurus enjoys a spectacular setting, pin-drop acoustics and is remarkably well preserved. It is used for the Epidaurus Festival in July and August. The site includes the ruins of an extensive spa and sanctuary, as well as a museum. Regular buses make the journey from terminal A, Kifissou 100, in Athens.
Although research suggests Mykínes (Mycenae) was probably not the home of Agamemnon, as some claimed, the site is undeniably impressive and remains one of the most popular in Greece. Highlights include the Lion Gate, the Royal Cemetery and the Treasury of Atreus. Mycenae can be reached on the Náfplio bus from terminal A, Kifissou 100.
Temple of Poseidon
Built in 444BC, the Temple of Poseidon stands on the tip of Cape Sounion, overlooking the Aegean Sea, and is a spectacular sight, particularly when there is a good sunset. The coastal road from Athens offers a dramatic route to the ruins - by car or bus. From the city centre, the regular local bus departs from Mavromateon, a side street next to the National Archaeological Museum.
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