2-Hour Essential Highlights Tour of the Acropolis and Parthenon
Skip the line and get to know Greece’s most important ruins, including the Temple of Athena Nike
Want to experience the Acropolis without spending all day on it? This short but powerful tour hits all the highlights—your expert guide will lead you through ancient paths, into the Parthenon, around the Temple of Athena Nike, and through the Theater of Dionysus, all in just a couple of hours. Skip-the-line tickets are included, and your archaeologist guide will keep you captivated with stories and insider facts you’d miss if you were on your own.
What You Get With This Tour
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Expert, English-speaking guide
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Skip-the-line entry to the Acropolis
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Guided tour of the Parthenon and Temple of Athena Nike
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Access to Theater of Dionysus and Odeon of Herodes Atticus
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Guide tips
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Entry to Acropolis Museum
Tour Itinerary
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1
Your tour begins near the Acropoli metro station
Meet your archaeologist guide at Porinou 5, just outside the gates. Then, head through the Propylaea, a massive stone gateway that's stood here since 435 B.C., as your guide begins to bring ancient Athens to life. -
2
The Parthenon
Standing among these towering columns, you'll hear how this building served as a treasury, temple, mosque, and even an ammunition storage. Your guide explains why the proportions look so perfect and shares stories of Athena, the goddess who inspired it all. -
3
Temple of Athena Nike
Perched on the cliff edge, this compact marble temple celebrates military victories won over 2,400 years ago. You'll spot intricate carvings showing winged goddesses and learn how this temple was dismantled and rebuilt—twice. -
4
Theater of Dionysus
Take a seat in the stone benches where 17,000 ancient Greeks watched the first performances of classic plays. This is where drama as we know it was born, and your guide shares what it was like to attend a festival here in 500 B.C. -
5
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
This Roman amphitheater from 161 A.D. still hosts concerts under the stars today. You'll admire the three-story stone facade and imagine the acoustics that let every whisper reach the top row without amplification. -
6
Your tour finishes inside the Acropolis
Your guided portion ends here with time to wander the hilltop on your own. Before you part ways, ask your guide for their favorite lunch spots nearby—they know all the best places locals actually eat.
Additional Information
Good to know:
Accessibility: Unfortunately, this tour is not wheelchair accessible. This is a walking tour, and you will be on your feet for 2 hours. If you have concerns regarding your mobility please reach out in advance.
Dress Code: Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing is recommended for walking and standing outdoors.
Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the group can depart on time.
Your 2-hour tour includes:
Expert English-speaking guide
Skip-the-line Acropolis tickets
Guided tour of the Acropolis
Parthenon
Temple of Athena Nike
Theater of Dionysus
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Maximum group size of 16
What to bring:
Comfortable shoes
Water
Sunscreen (in summer)
Camera
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Customer Reviews
Our tour guide was fantastic, very knowledgeable, made the hike up very easy with perfect stops and breaks along the way. She was very interactive and just pleasant!
Great experience! Lydia was extremely knowledgeable and presented the information in a very interesting way. I had some difficulty with some of the more challenging parts of the slope and Lydia was very helpful to me, which was very much appreciated
Elizabeth gave us a wonderful tour. She was so informative and showed us the best places to take pictures. We would not have been able to get the whole story and history of the area. Highly recommend.
A pleasure to take this tour led by Helen... She kept everyone in the group captivated with her engaging delivery. Highly recommend this tour!
Frequently Asked Questions
What to bring?
This is a 2-hour walking tour, so make sure you're wearing comfortable shoes and bring some water, sunscreen in summer months, and a camera.
What to bring?
This is a 2-hour walking tour, so make sure you're wearing comfortable shoes and bring some water, sunscreen in summer months, and a camera.
How much walking is involved in this tour?
Quite a lot. There will be opportunities to take a break occasionally, but you'll be on your feet and moving around for most of the 2 hours.
Will I skip the line on this tour?
Yes, your guide will lead you into the Acropolis without the wait.
Is this tour run by The Tour Guy?
No, this tour is operated by one of our vetted partners in Athens.
Does this tour include the Acropolis Museum?
No, this is a shorter tour that only goes to the ruins of the Acropolis. If you would like to also tour the museum, check out our other Acropolis Tour.
