Looking for the best of Athens

Hello all!!

Will be in Athens in Feb of 2016 (8am-3pm) I don't want to use the ships excursions, looking for recommendations on who to book and what not to miss.

Thanks,

Cindy

Hello all!!

 

Will be in Athens in Feb of 2016 (8am-3pm) I don't want to use the ships excursions, looking for recommendations on who to book and what not to miss.

 

Thanks,

Cindy

When we were in Athens in 2011 we used Private Greece Tours. We did the Full Day Athens tour. They were so good, that we have booked them again for our upcoming visit in July 2015.

http://www.privategreecetours.com/

Owner, Nikos Loukas, personally picked us up early and we got to the Acropolis before it got crazy busy. We were a group of 6, so we had a spacious step-van.

Hope that helps!

We just returned from visiting Athens on the NCL Jade. Athens is very easy to DIY. We walked the 30 minute walk from the cruise terminal to the train station (you can also take a bus). Walk out the terminal, up the ramp to the left to the main road. Head left along the main road and walk along the waterfront. After about 20 min. along the waterfront you will come to a stoplight and will need to turn right. You will be able to see an overpass/bridge. The train station is a large yellow building. We had to ask a couple of people if we were heading in the right direction.

We also were in Athens in Feb. and didn't think the Hop on Hop off buses would be running but they were. They are just outside the terminal on the main street. They were charging 10E. The metro is easy to use. We bought our tickets at the window - all day pass for 4E. Validate ticket before getting on metro. We chose to ride the Green Line to Thisso (about 15 min). We got off at the Ancient Agora and went there first. The entrance fee is 12E and includes the Acropolis. After the Agora we went to Mars Hill and the Acropolis. We used Rick Steve's guidebook and also downloaded his walking tours of the Agora and the Acropolis on an IPOD which were great (and free). After we walked through the Plaka area (stopping to shop and eat gelato) to Syntagma Square where we watched the changing of the guards. We then walked to Ariston #10 Voulis Street (about 2 blocks from Syntagma) for a chicken/bacon pie for 2E. Yummy! You can read about this bakery at athensguide dot com. We then proceeded to walk down Ermou Street to Monastiraki Square. We found Mitropoleous Street "Souvlaki Row" and found a restaurant with take away gyros for 3E. Sorry didn't get the restaurants name but they were yummy and there was a bathroom too. We shopped a little around the area and then boarded the metro at the Monastiraki station. We had a wonderful day in Athens and really enjoyed the city. The weather was nice and minimal crowds. We did do a lot of walking but we prefer to walk and see things than ride the metro to and fro but that also would be a possibility.

I agree with the OP. Doing Athens yourself is not difficult. If you want a self-guided tour, pick up Rick Steves' book and/or download his free audio tours. We found them perfect for us - DIY, informative, and relaxing.

Enjoy!

I second Private Greece Tours. We are using them for the second time in September. Our driver took us to all of the main tourist areas in the city, let us out, and we were free to explore on our own. It was a fabulous day!