The 4 Best Athens Shore Excursions, Compared

1.Athens Shore Excursion: Athens and Piraeus Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 617 reviews · 1 hour 50 minutes (approx.) · from $26Our pick

Board an open-top double-decker at Syntagma Square, the Piraeus cruise terminal, or near the Acropolis, depending on your route and ticket. An audio guide covers Athens sights, from the Parthenon to the National Archaeological Museum, while you choose where to hop off. Some passes also include Piraeus and the seasonal Beach Riviera route.

“A comprehensive and easy way to navigate Athens' major sites. Timely transfers between the Athens City, Beach, and Piraeus itinerary lines so you can get a good overview of Athens.”

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2.Essential Athens Full Day Private Tour – Best Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 168 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $229Top rated

Spend 8 to 9 hours seeing Athens with a private English-speaking driver, from the Acropolis and Ancient Agora to Lycabettus Hill and Monastiraki. Pickup is available at Athens and Piraeus hotels or the cruise port. Your driver shares commentary on the way; a licensed guide for site visits costs extra, and entrance tickets are not included.

“This was one of the most incredible, private tours we have ever taken. Sakis was a fantastic guide providing us history and the time to see every sight in Athens that suited us. He always went the extra mile for us, even surprised us with fabulous Greek pastry. Whether you are on a cruise tour or just visiting Athens, book this tour. It may be expensive but worth every Euro for it. We could not thank Sakis enough for his knowledge and kindness throughout the day.”

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3.Athens Shore Excursion: Acropolis Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 131 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $136

Start with pickup at Piraeus cruise terminal, then walk through central Athens with a licensed guide. See Syntagma’s metro antiquities, the changing of the guards, the National Gardens, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and the Acropolis. Guide assignments vary, with past tours led by guides including Apollon, Dorina, and Vicki. Plan for hills, steps, sun, and a little independent time in Plaka.

“Apollo our tour was great at sharing the Greek myths and history about the Acropolis. He also adjusted and helped deal with the heat so that we could enjoy our trip. Thank you for a great day!”

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4.Athens Shore Excursion: Small-Group Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 39 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $133

Start at Piraeus Port for an approximately four-hour walking food tour in central Athens. A food specialist leads you to Greek bites such as koulouri and loukoumades, through Varvakeios Market and local food shops. Round-trip port transfers and free time in Plaka are included. Guides have included Eva, Theo and Fotis; the group limit is unclear, so check before booking.

“I think we had 6 or 7 stops along this tour. Our guide, Fotis, was wonderful and shared so much information about the culture and sights that we passed while walking. The food was amazing and we definitely ended with full bellies! Our favorite stop was the Olive Oil store because the owner/creator happened to be there that day and was funny and shared a lot of information. His store was super cool and featured products from many local small businesses. After the tour, we had about 3 hours in the Plaka district before being picked up and taken back to the cruise terminal. We used that time to walk…”

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