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Daily Tour
Unlimited
Chinese, English
For days accommodation (4*) (Athens Hotel and Airport Transfer)
Transfer (Airport – Hotel – Airport)
3 Day city tour (open bus/auto guided)
25% offer for photo tour or shopping tour in Athens
Athens is the oldest new destination in Europe, a city for all seasons and a great place to visit and live. Explore the world-famous antiquities and cultural landmarks and discover the city’s vibrant contemporary side. Walk around its diverse neighborhoods, explore the legendary nightlife, and enjoy 300 days of sunshine a year.
The rock of the Acropolis plays host to world heritage monuments that date back to the prehistoric era and is home to the most famous of them all, the Parthenon.
The most celebrated myths of ancient Athens, its greatest religious festivals, earliest cults and several decisive events in the city’s history are all connected to the Acropolis, the most sacred sanctuary of ancient Athens and a unique contemporary landmark.
The naturally fortified rock of the Acropolis is accessible only from the west through the Beule Gate, one of the two gates built to protect the city from invasions in the 3rd century AD, or through a small door under the temple of Athena Nike.
The hill was first fortified in the Mycenaean period and traces of this early wall are still visible, particularly to the southeast of the Propylaia. More fortifications were erected after the Persian Wars and again in later times when the Acropolis became the stronghold of the city.
The most important buildings visible on the Acropolis today – the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the temple of Athena Nike, were erected during the Golden Era by order of Pericles, under the supervision of the greatest architects, sculptors, and artists of their time.
The Propylaia of the Athenian Acropolis was built on the west side of the hill, where the gate of the Mycenaean fortification once stood. The first propylon, or gate, was constructed in the age of Peisistratos (mid-sixth century BC) after the Acropolis had become a sanctuary dedicated to Athena.
A new propylon, built-in 510-480 BC, was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC and repaired after the end of the Persian Wars, during the fortification of the Acropolis by Themistokles and Kimon. The monumental Propylaia admired by modern visitors were part of the great Periclean building program. They were erected in 437-432 BC, after the completion of the Parthenon, by architect Mnesikles.
In Christian times both the south wing and the central section of the Propylaia were converted into churches, the former during the Early Christian period (4th-7th centuries AD) and the latter in the 10th century AD when it was dedicated to the Taxiarches.
Under Frankish rule (13th-14th centuries AD) the Propylaia became the residence of the Dukes of de la Roche; during the same period a tower, known as Koulas (now demolished) was built against the south wing. In the Ottoman period (1458-1830) the Propylaia was used as a garrison headquarters and munitions store, resulting in a great explosion that destroyed the building in 1640. After the Greek War of Independence, the Medieval and Turkish additions to the Propylaia were demolished and the site excavated.
The Erechtheion, on the north side of the Acropolis, was erected in 421-406 BC as a replacement of an earlier temple dedicated to Athena Polias, the so-called ”old temple”.
The building owes its unusual shape to the irregularity of the terrain and the multiple cults it was designed to accommodate.
The eastern part of the building was dedicated to Athena Polias, while the western part served the cult of Poseidon-Erechtheus and held the altars of Hephaistus and Voutos, brother of Erechtheus.
This is where, according to the myth, Athena’s sacred snake lived. The sanctuary also contained the grave of Kekrops and the traces of the dispute between Athena and Poseidon for the possession of the city of Athens.
The temple was made of Pentelic marble, the frieze of Eleusinian grey stone with white relief figures attached to it and the foundations of Piraeus stone. On its east side, an Ionic portico with six columns sheltered the entrance to the east part of the building.
Its most iconic façade is the porch of the Karyatides, a pi-shaped structure with six female statues instead of columns to support the roof.
The statues were later named Karyatides after the young women from Karyes of Lakonia who danced in honor of the goddess Artemis. The sculptures on the monument have been replaced by casts. Five of the original statues are in the Acropolis Museum and another in the British Museum.
The Temple of Athena Nike stands at the southeast edge of the rock atop a bastion, which in Mycenaean times protected the entrance to the Acropolis. The Classical temple, designed by architect Kallikrates and built-in 426-421 BC, succeeded earlier temples also dedicated to Athena Nike.
The foundations of these early temples and altars are preserved inside the bastion under the floor of the Classical structure. Pausanias refers to this temple as that of the Apteros Nike, or ‘wingless victory’. He mentions that the cult statue of the goddess had no wings so that she would never leave Athens. Apart from the cult of Athena Nike other, earlier cults were also practiced on this site. The construction of the Classical temple of Athena Nike was part of the Periclean building project. Several inscriptions, mostly decrees of the city of Athens, provide information on this particular part of the project.
The temple was converted into a church in the 5th century AD. In the Ottoman period, it was used as a munitions store.
During the siege of Morosini, in 1686, the Turks demolished the temple and used its building material to erect a fortification wall in front of the Propylaia and a tall tower, the so-called Koulas. The temple was restored soon after the Greek War of Independence, in 1835, and again in 1935-1940
Explore alone or with our tour guides Greek culture and monuments, art and architecture, attractions, and events.
Currency: Greece’s currency is the euro (pronounced euro in Greek).
Major credit cards and traveler checks are widely accepted these days, but it is best to check beforehand especially regarding the use of American Express and Diners. Do carry some cash for smaller purchases from kiosks and independent outlets.
Banks: In Athens, banks are open Monday – Friday from 8 am to 2:00 pm, except on public holidays.
Only a handful of central branches or branches located at malls will be open on Saturdays.
Currency Exchange:
There are many foreign currency exchange bureaus located across the city, at Athens International Airport and the port of Piraeus.
You can also exchange currency at most Greek and foreign banks, where you can also withdraw local currencies at an ATM machine for a fee.
You can tip at your discretion, depending on the amount of the bill services charges are generally not included.
Anything from 5-15% is a fair tip in a bar or restaurant. For other services, you can try rounding up the bill.
For days accommodation (4*)
Standard double room/single
Breakfast
Local taxes at the hotel
Transfer (Airport – Hotel – Airport)
3 Day city tour (open bus/auto guided)
25% offer for photo tour or shopping tour in Athens (optional)
Extras for drinks / other expenses.
Shopping, nightlife, lunches/diners
Tickets and entry fees for museums, archeological sites
International or domestic air tickets
Visas expenses
You are entitled to a 100% refund if the cancellation is made 30 or more days prior to arrival.
In any other case including no-show, no amount refunding.
Check-in time: 12:00 PM
Check-out time: 2:30 pm
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