If you’re visiting Athens, you’ll certainly want to visit the Acropolis and take a guided tour of the Parthenon and the Acropolis. These are the symbols of the Greek capital, and a visit to them is a must.
The presence of a guide is undoubtedly a plus: it helps you understand the site and get the most out of it (otherwise, you miss out completely).
We’ve tried out a number of guided tours in Athens, and here are our favorites for visiting the Acropolis.
1 – Guided tour of the Parthenon and Acropolis with a tour guide
The Acropolis is the most visited site in Greece, it’s crowded and guides are in high demand. We therefore strongly advise you to book your guided tour with a tour guide in advance. That way, you’re sure to have plenty of room and choose a quality guide.
Guided group tour of the Parthenon and Acropolis
If you’d like to join a guided tour of the Parthenon and Acropolis in a small group, we recommend local agency Alternative Athens. Guided tours are given in English and in small groups (maximum 14 people). The guides are top-notch, truly passionate about Athens and its culture.
Alternative Athens offers:
- a 2-hour afternoon guided tour of the Acropolis from €45. We like this visit because there are fewer people on the rock in the afternoon than in the morning.
- Athens Highlights Greek Mythology Tour at €65: a guided tour of the must-see Acropolis and its Parthenon, the majestic Temple of Zeus, and the Ancient Agora. Tested and approved, we loved this visit! It’s lively and mythologically focused. Discover ancient sites through the legends of Greek gods and heroes.
Private guided tour of the Acropolis
If you don’t feel like joining a group, you can opt for a guided tour of the Parthenon and Acropolis for your family or group, with a licensed english-speaking guide just for you. Price: from €245 for your family/group for a 3 or 4 hours visit. We can suggest those 2 visits:
- Private Tour with Ioanna for visiting Acropolis and Acropolis Museum (3 hours)
- Private Tour with Christos: Acropolis and Old Town (4 hours)
- or this Half-day Private City Tour: Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Panathenaic stadium, Plaka… (5 hours). Pickup from Athens or Pireas.
Last-minute guided tour
You didn’t have time to book but you absolutely want a guided tour of the Acropolis? In this case, you should know that there are tour guides who offer their services in front of the Acropolis ticket offices.
2 – Self-guided tour of the Parthenon and Acropolis
A great e-book to discover the Acropolis from another angle!
Acropolis Guide: an essential e-book guide for the Acropolis of Athens, download in pdf. Céline, an archeologist, helps you decode the Acropolis of ancient Greece. She discusses life in antiquity, beliefs and customs. Thanks to numerous illustrations, you will be able to project yourself in the ancient world very easily.
What does this guide to the Acropolis include?
- A 10-step tour of the rock;
- Descriptions of the main monuments… and even the lesser-known ones;
- Stories of Greek citizens, a glimpse into real life
- Technical and architectural information for the curious
- Numerous 3D illustrations;
- And even more philosophical thoughts…
To find out more, read this article. To order, click here: Our e-book Acropolis Guide.
A 3D tour of the Acropolis
3D audiovisual tour of the Acropolis: An interactive tour that plunges you into the Acropolis in its heyday. Discover the buildings from both inside and out, thanks to 3D reconstructions and audio explanations in English.
To buy it, just click here: booking link.
Audioguides in English
If you prefer to visit while listening to an audioguide, we’ve spotted these 2 well-rated English-language audioguides included with the entrance tickets. Be sure to take the option with the Acropolis audioguide (and not just the city audioguide).
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For more information, see our article Practical tips for visiting the Parthenon and Acropolis and our article on Acropolis prices.
We hope you enjoy your stay in Athens.
Laure M.
Updated March 8, 2024
