Day 01
Private Tour of Athens' Iconic Landmarks
- Acropolis: Your first stop is the Acropolis, where you will see the architectural monuments of the Golden Age of Athens, including the Parthenon, Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike, and magnificent views of the city stretching all the way to the Aegean Sea. The Acropolis stands on a flat-topped rock rising 150 m (490 ft) above sea level in the city of Athens, with a surface area of about 3 hectares. Most of its major temples, including the Parthenon, were built by order of Pericles during the so-called Golden Age of Athens (460-430 BC).
- Hadrian's Arch: This triumphal arch stands on an ancient street that once led from the old city of Athens to the new Roman section built by Hadrian. It was constructed by the Athenians in A.D. 131 in honor of their benefactor emperor.
- Temple of Olympian Zeus: Also known as the Olympieion or the Columns of the Olympian Zeus, this former colossal temple stands at the center of the Greek capital. It was dedicated to Olympian Zeus, a name that comes from his position as head of the Olympian gods. Construction began in the 6th century BC, and its columns reached 17 m (55 ft 9 in) in height and 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in diameter.
- Panathenaic Stadium: The Panathenaic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Athens, Greece, and one of the city's main historic attractions. It is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble and was used in 1896 to host the first modern Olympic Games.
- Presidential Mansion, Athens city center: The Presidential Mansion is one of the best places to witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony in Athens. These ceremonies take place both at the Presidential Mansion and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, just off Syntagma Square below the Hellenic Parliament. The ceremonial steps are performed in very slow motion to protect the guards' blood circulation after 60 minutes of immobility.
