Details

Itinerary

Historic Central Athens Bike Tour

The Historic Central Athens Bike tour starts at the Acropolis pedestrian walkway at the point where the walkway begins at Amalia Street and Syngrou Avenue.  This point is a two minute walk from the Acropolis metro station.  The tour can also start at Thissio Metro station on the other end of the pedestrian walkway if that happens to be a more convenient location.

The three hour bike tour usually lasts from  9:00 am to 12:00 noon, but it can also start earlier at 8:30 am or even 8:00 am.   It is best to start the tour early to avoid the pedestrian crowds and take advantage of cooler mornings.  The bike tour can start later and it can occur in the afternoon as well.  The tour is 90% traffic free with very light traffic in the Plaka.

The tour covers 25 points of interest in historic central Athens, some of which are well known, such as, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Syntagma Square where the changing of the guard takes place.  Other sites are less frequently visited by tourists, such as, the Pnyx where democracy was born or Socrates’ Prison.  The tour has points of interest that are not even mentioned in guidebooks, but they too offer a fascinating peek into the many layers of Greek history that abound in central Athens.   The tour does not enter government controlled archaeology sites, such as, the Acropolis, the Roman and Greek Agoras or the Temple of Zeus.

L U N C H     After the bike tour you will be ready for lunch in a taverna serving traditional Greek fare with vegetarian and vegan options, too.   You choose from the menu what you wish to eat or drink.

Acropolis & Acropolis Museum 
After lunch you meet the professional licensed guide at the Acropolis Museum where you are given “jump ahead of the line” tickets.   The guides spends a little over an hour showing you the museum’s  highlights, such as the Karyatids the statues that serve as columns whose marble braided hair is most striking.  You will also see parts of the pediments of the Parthenon as they look as if they were still atop the edifice.

Then the guide escorts you across the Acropolis pedestrian walkway to ascend up to the world famous Acropolis itself.  Did you know that if the columns of the Parthenon extend for 2-3 kilometers upward that it forms a pyramid!  These are the types of fascinating facts your guide has in store for you.   After the tour ends at the Acropolis you are welcome to linger up there until closing time.

Lycabettus  
If you ahve already seen the Acropolis, an alternative is to climb up to the highest point of Athens atop Lycabettus hill.  Or you can take the cable car up or down or both.   Atop Lycabettus the stupendous 360 degree views are the most impressive you’ll see anywhere in Athens.  There is a chapel up there and a cafe where your tour includes coffee or a beverage.

Whether you opt for Acropolis or Lycabettus, the tour ends by no later than 5:00 pm, or earlier if you have a cruise ship to catch.

Cost

Inclusions

• Historic Central Athens bike tour inclusions: bike guide, hybrid bike, helmet, water, handlebar bag
• Lunch at traditional Greek taverna in Plaka
• Professional licensed guide for three hour tour of Acropolis and Acropolis Museum
• Entry fees to Acropolis & Acropolis Museum.

Lycabettus option

• Vehicle transfer to foot path to Lycabettus
• if not walking to Lycabettus, cable car fee to site
• beverage at Lycabettus cafe