Unknown Athens Tour

Athens is world famous for its major sights such as the Acropolis and Parthenon, but there are a wealth of sites waiting to be discovered that are little known to the outside world. This brilliant tour, based in central Athens, takes us to some of the city’s undiscovered gems as well as some treasures in and around the city and the greater area of Attica, including the island of Aegina and the superb but little known museum at Piraeus.

The location of the hotel for the tour provides ease of access to a number of other sites not included on the tour, some of which can be visited in your free time. The hotel is also easy walking distance from Syntagma (Constitution) Square, the heart of the city, where tradition continues to resound with the ceremonial guard, in traditional costume, stationed 24 hours a day in front of the Hellenic Parliment.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Athens 
Transfer to central Athens for a six-night stay at the Hera Hotel. Welcome drink and short introduction to the programme. 

Day 2: Goulandris Cycladic Art Museum, Aristotle’s Lyceum and Amphiareion
Our first day takes us to see the little-visited, but superb, Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art, founded in 1986 to house the private collection of Nicholas and Dolly Goulandris with a special emphasis on Cycladic Art of the 3rd millennium BC. We visit the Lyceum, a relatively recently discovered site, where Aristotle taught. Once a gymnasium, it is now nestled within a public park, amidst lavender, oregano, thyme, and olive trees, right in the heart of Athens. Today's visits also include one of the least tourist-visited sites on the tour, also one of the most picturesque, the healing Sanctuary of Amphiareion, which includes a 4th century BC temple and a beautifully preserved theatre.

Day 3: Piraeus Museum, Temple of Zeus Olympia and Panathenaic Stadium
Mysteriously, the Piraeus Museum is usually left out of tour itineraries, which is a great loss since it has an exquisite collection of original ancient Greek bronzes. Tucked away and very quiet, the museum allows the visitor to experience the artefacts in a serene atmosphere. Later we see what remains of the largest Greek Temple dedicated to Zeus Olympia and the beautiful marble Panathenaic stadium where, in ancient times, athletes raced, boxed and wrestled naked in honour of the goddess Athena. The stadium was rebuilt in 1896 to host the first modern Olympic Games and was used again in the 2004 Olympic Games. 

Day 4: The island of Aegina
Very peaceful during our out-of-season visit, the Island of Aegina, famed for its beautifully preserved 6th-century BC temple, dedicated to the mysterious goddess Aphaia, which is majestically set high on the pine-clad hills overlooking the sea. Here we will examine the secrets of ancient temple-building, including how cranes lifted stone blocks into place with ropes fitted in U-shaped incisions. Later there will be time for a leisurely seaside lunch and stroll along the picturesque waterfront, and perhaps purchase some pistachios, as the island is famous as having the best in Greece.

Day 5: Eleusis
A morning visit to the ancient sanctuary and surrounding temples of Eleusis. Thought to have been in use for more than 2,000 years during the Ancient Greek period, this area staged the fascinating Eleusinian Mysteries - religious initiation ceremonies which took place yearly for the cult of Demeter, the Goddess of harvest and her daughter Persephone, Goddess of the spring. Afternoon at leisure.

Day 6: Brauron, the Silver mines of Thorikos and Cape Sounion
A day out of the city to ancient Attica takes us to Sounion and its grand Temple of Poseidon perched high above the sea with stunning views. We also visit the area of the ancient Athenian silver mines, Thorikos and the Sanctuary of Artemis at Brauron.

Day 7: Return flight to London Heathrow.

NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 25 passengers.

INCLUDED

• Return flights from London Heathrow to Athens 
• Six nights’ accommodation at the four-star Hera Hotel, Athens, on bed and breakfast basis, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• Two lectures by Rita Roussos
• Welcome drink
• All transfers, tours and entrance fees as detailed in the itinerary
• Rita Roussos PhD, local guide and tour manager throughout

NOT INCLUDED

• Single room supplement 
• Holiday insurance 
• Meals other than those stated 
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls 
• Porterage and gratuities

HOTELS

Hera Hotel, Central Athens

Hera Hotel is very well-located close to the foot of the Acropolis hill, only a five-minute walk from the exceptional Acropolis Museum, and within walking distance of many of Athens archaeological sites. The hotel has a total of 38 rooms, situated on 5 levels. The rooms booked for this tour are standard twin/double rooms all of which feature comfortable and modern furnishings, ensuite bathrooms with bath or shower, tea/coffee making facilities, hair dryer, safety deposit box, TV and fridge. Acropolis View rooms are available at a supplement, these are on request. All rooms are non-smoking rooms. Other facilities at the hotel include free wifi, a hotel lobby cafe (morning hours only), and the Peacock Roof Garden restaurant with views to the Acropolis where you can enjoy dinner, cocktails, and drinks.

Hotel Website