Athens Highlights Tour & Cape Sounio

Highlights

Acropolis, Temple of Zeus, Changing of the Guard at the Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arch of Hadrian, Olympic Stadium, Athenian Riviera, Temple of Poseidon.

In approximately 7 hours, we will admire all the historical monuments of Athens. The most recognizable buildings and landmarks of the city will come to life before our eyes.

Of course, we will start with the most significant monument in our country and one of the most globally recognized—the Parthenon. Perched on the sacred rock of the Acropolis of Athens for two and a half millennia, we will ascend to the Acropolis and marvel at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with other architectural masterpieces such as the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion with its famous Caryatids.

Next, the central square of the country awaits us—Syntagma Square and the Hellenic Parliament. Here, we will witness the changing of the guard with the Evzones, the elite soldiers, in their famous traditional uniform, where each piece symbolizes something, like the 400 pleats on their kilts representing the 400 years of Ottoman rule in Greece. The Evzones guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier day and night, and you will have the opportunity to witness the ceremonial changing of the guard in front of the monument and take photos alongside them. Of course, we will not miss seeing the Arch of Hadrian and the columns of the Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest temple in Greece during Hellenistic and Roman times. Its construction began in the 6th century BCE and was completed by Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century CE, hence its name.

And, of course, who could forget the Panathenaic Stadium, also known as Kallimarmaro—a beautiful ancient stadium initially constructed in the 6th century BCE. Over the centuries, it was entirely clad in marble, taking on the characteristic form it has today. An important detail is that it was built long before the standardization of the dimensions of sports facilities. The stadium and its layout follow the ancient model in a horseshoe shape. This stadium, known worldwide, hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and continues to host special sporting and artistic events. It also marks the finishing point of the original Marathon.

Then, we will move along the coastal road of Attica, enjoying a relaxing and beautiful route under the Greek sky, making various stops for wonderful photos or simply to appreciate the natural beauty. Our destination will be the Temple of Poseidon, the first reference to Sounio made by Homer in the Odyssey, calling it the ‘sacred Sounio.’ The construction of the current temple dates back to the early 5th century BCE. The temple is part of a triad of ancient sites, including the Acropolis and the Temple of Aphaia in Aegina, equidistant from each other, and on a clear day, all three monuments can be seen.

Sounio is also where King Aegeus fell into the sea when he mistakenly believed that his son had returned dead from his journey to Crete. This event gave the Aegean Sea its name.

We will visit the archaeological site and have the opportunity to enjoy an idyllic sunset among the columns and the energy of the ancient temple.