Is a Private Tour of Athens Worth It? Honest Review + Full Itinerary
Probably the main reason you’re going to Athens is to see all the historic sites and learn about the history. We booked a private tour to do just that, and in this blog I’m going to tell you if it’s worth it or not.
This tour basically gives you the ability to see almost all of Athens’ iconic historic spots and neighborhoods. You’ll visit the Acropolis, Temple of Zeus, Olympian Stadium, the Academy of Athens, Mount Lycabettus, explore the Agora and the ancient market, and drive through the streets of Plaka. You really do see so much on this tour.
Private Athens Tour Itinerary
The first stop was the Academy of Athens. We didn’t go inside, just walked around out front while our guide told us about the history.
Our second stop was driving up to Mount Lycabettus, which has amazing views of all of Athens. We stopped here for a bit, learned more about the history of Athens and the mountains, and took some photos. This is a great place to get photos of the city.
Our third stop was kind of random, but we stopped to watch the changing of the guards. It’s very similar to London, but a little different. This was right outside of the government building, kind of like their version of the White House.
The fourth stop was the Acropolis, definitely the highlight of the day. You’ll see the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and Temple of Athena Nike. It’s a surreal experience and obviously a must-see in Athens. We spent about an hour here roaming around, reading some history, and taking photos.
Next was lunch. Our guide took us to a local spot with amazing meat at an incredible price - Koutouki Kalypso. Definitely recommend eating here. Our guide actually ate with us too, which was pretty cool.
The fifth stop was the Agora, an ancient city just below the Acropolis where there used to be a market. Now there are vendors and restaurants lining the streets. There’s also a museum here, which I recommend visiting, along with a lot more history throughout this area.
Our final stops were the Temple of Zeus, the Olympian Stadium (just from the outside), and driving around the Plaka neighborhood.
The tour ran from about 9am to 5pm, and I definitely felt like I got to see all of Athens in one day.
Pros of Booking a Private Tour in Athens
A big pro, in my opinion, is being driven around and efficiently seeing everything in one day. We didn’t have to worry about public transportation, figuring out routes, or any of the logistics. It made the day very relaxed, and we could be fully present.
Another pro is having a private guide who gives you a deep dive into the history of Athens. You may have learned about it in school, I took a Greek mythology class and loved it, but you end up learning way more from locals who are passionate about the history. Plus, seeing all the landmarks everyone talks about in person is definitely a surreal moment.
A third pro is going at your own pace. You don’t have to worry about a group or strict timelines. We love this because, honestly, groups can get annoying sometimes if people aren’t respectful or stay on schedule.
Cons of a Private Athens Tour (What to Know Before Booking)
The biggest con, in my opinion, is that the guide does not actually go with you into any of the historical sites that require a ticket, like the Acropolis and the Agora. This is where the majority of the history is. Our guide mostly gave us a history lesson in the car while driving from place to place.
I personally wish he was with us at every site, because sometimes we’d get inside and not fully remember what he told us. I’d much rather be standing in front of the ruins while the guide is pointing things out and explaining everything in real time. That was a big downside for me.
That said, I do understand why they operate this way, it would make the tour more expensive. Which brings me to my second con: we had to purchase our own tickets for the Acropolis, Agora, and anywhere else we wanted to visit. This cost was not included in the private tour.
Because of that, the guide would have had to buy tickets for every site, which is likely why they don’t go inside with you.
Final Thoughts and Recommendation
Overall, do I think it’s worth booking a private tour (around $370 plus about $50 per person for additional tickets)?
I don’t want to give it a hard no, but honestly, if I hadn’t been there on my honeymoon, I probably wouldn’t have booked it. And if I had known the guide wouldn’t be with us inside the historical sites, I’m not sure I would have chosen this option.
For the average traveler, it’s probably not worth it. You can definitely find a group tour that takes you to all the main landmarks and actually stays with you inside the sites, giving you the full history, plus it will be cheaper. It may not be as efficient, you might have to wait around more, and the transportation won’t be as comfortable, but you’ll still have a great experience.
For those of you who want comfortable transportation, efficiency, and a more personal experience with a guide, and don’t mind exploring the sites on your own, then this could be a good fit for you.
Just keep in mind that some group tours may not include this exact itinerary. So if you really want to hit all of these spots, this tour does a great job of that. We just really wished the guide was with us inside the sites pointing things out.