The “Must“

Day 1: Arrival in Athens

Welcome in Athens! Transfer from the Athens International Airport to your booked hotel. Dinner and stay for 6 nights.

Day 2: City Tour Athens

Your city tour in Athens starts with a short stop in the Panathinaiko Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896 and the finish of the Marathon was hosted in 2004. Continue with a panoramic drive to the magnificent archaeological site of Acropolis, an UNESCO’s world heritage monument and landmark of Athens. Visit the Propylae, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion with its porch of Maidens and of course the glorious Parthenon. On your way down the hill of Acropolis, you will pass by the Herodion and Dionysus Theater and your walk will end in the modern New Acropolis Museum with the spectacular view to Acropolis. Main attractions such as motives, artifacts of every day life, statues from archaic period, Caryatids and the Parthenon hall with the metopes, the pediments and the frieze are waiting for you and they will surely impress you.

Day 3: One-Day-Cruise

Take a cruise to the fabulously traditional Greek islands of Hydra, Poros and Aegina for a relaxing day on the sea. With all your transport, transfers and lunch organized, you can just enjoy your cruise with free time on each island to explore.

Poros

Poros is the smallest of the three islands you will visit during your cruise. The island is separated from Peloponnese by a narrow strait, which offers an enchanting view of Poros Town.

Hydra

The amphitheatrical shape of the island provided a safe shelter from Saronic Pirates. As soon as you disembark, the small narrow stone-paved streets are expecting you to explore them on foot or by the island’s traditional “vehicle”, the cute donkeys.

Walk along the old promenade, take a swim in the crystal clear blue waters and find the most appropriate souvenir for you in the traditional fine-craft shops.

Aegina

The largest of the three islands to be visited during your cruise has numerous interesting sites to visit, such as the Temple of Aphaia, the Temple of Apollo, the medieval capital of Paleohora and the Church of Saint Nectarios.

Day 4: Cape Sounion & Marathon

Cape Sounion is only 45 miles (70 km) away from Athens and thus the perfect destination for a sunny, lazy afternoon. The Temple of Poseidon, whose half of the Doric columns are still standing, is perched on a rocky hilltop overlooking the sea and offers an absolutely breathtaking, panoramic view of the Aegean sea. You will continue your tour to Marathonas, one of the most historic Greek sites and famous for its great battle where Athenians defeated the Persian army in 490 BC. The name of the athletic long-distance endurance race, the "marathon", comes from the legend of a Greek runner, who was sent from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been miraculously defeated.

Day 5: Ancient Corinth & Wine Tasting

On the fifth day of your journey, you will visit Ancient Corinth and on your way there you will have the chance to cross the Corinth Canal by boat. Ancient Corinth has been the richest port and the largest city in ancient Greece. Its strategical location on the connection between Peloponnese and the mainland of Greece made the city a powerful commercial centre near two seaports. The city is also very famous in the world of Christianity as one of the main stops of Apostle Paul during the journeys he made to spread the word of Jesus.

After leaving Ancient Corinth, you will visit Nemea, one of the most famous Greek vineyards. As wine is strongly connected to Greek tradition and cuisine, you will have the chance to taste the fine red wine in the cellars of the vineyard. http://www.skouras.gr/

Day 6: Walking Tour Athens – Shopping

What is better than a walking tour in Athens, in the heart of Greek daily life? The tour begins inside the Syntagma metro station (subway), where you will shortly see the archaeological exhibits which came to light during the construction of the metro. The tour will continue to the House of the Greek Parliament with the monument of the Unknown Soldier and the changing of the guards with the traditional Greek uniforms.

Afterwards, you will head to the National Gardens and the Zappeion Hall, in front of which tower the surviving columns of the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch.

The walking tour will get better and better as you enter the famous Plaka and Monastiraki with the numerous cafés and souvenir shops. By walking through the narrow streets and near their neoclassical buildings, it will be like travelling back in time.

During your walk you can also visit the city part of Kolonaki, whose streets host some of the most famous and expensive brands, such as Prada, Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren. Another excellent option for shopping is a visit in Attica Department Store, one of the most beautiful malls in Europe.

Day 7: Epidaurus – Mycenae – Nafplion

Mycenae was home to the kingdom of Agamemnon, the mythical king referred in Homer’s Iliad. Visit the Palace, the Lionesses Gate and the tomb of Agamemnon.

Afterwards, you will visit Epidaurus and its ancient theatre with the fascinating acoustics which still hosts theatrical plays mostly in summer. Epidaurus is alleged to be the birthplace of Apollo’s son Asklepios, the healer and also the most celebrated healing centre of the classical world.

Nafplion, the first capital of modern Greece, is the last stop of your tour. Its Venetian fortress of Palamidi and the fortified islet of Bourtzi offer amazing views. After a walk through the streets of the city you can have the chance to visit a traditional ouzo distillery. http://www.karonis.gr/

After leaving Nafplion you will drive to Tolon, where you will stay for one night.

Day 8: Byzantine Mystras

A drive into the mainland of Peloponnese will lead you to the magnificent Mystras. The “wonder of the Morea”, as it is known, was built as an amphitheatre around the fortress erected in 1249 by the prince of Achaia, William of Villehardouin. The city was reconquered by the Byzantines, then occupied by the Turks and the Venetians and finally it was abandoned in 1832, leaving only the breathtaking medieval ruins standing in a beautiful landscape.

Afterwards, you will drive to Olympia and stay there for one night.

Day 9: Ancient Olympia & Olympic Games

Visit the archaeological site of ancient Olympia, where the Olympic Games were born. You will have the chance to admire the Temple of Zeus (which once hosted one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world), the altar of the Olympic flame, the Stadium and the Museum.

After leaving the sacred grounds of Olympia you will drive to Rio, cross the Rio-Antirio hanging bridge and arrive in Delphi, where you will stay for one night.

Day 10: Delphi, the Navel of the Earth

Delphi: the most prestigious and authoritative oracle in the Greek world, as well as an UNESCO’s world heritage site. Delphi is known for its theatre, its ancient ruins and of course the Temple of Apollo with the Oracle, where Pythia predicted the future with equivocal sayings. Delphi has been characterized as “the Navel of the Earth”; according to the Greek mythology, Zeus is said to have sent two eagles flying from the eastern and western extremities, and the path of the eagles crossed over Delphi where the omphalos or navel of Gaia was found.

Drive back to Athens, where you will stay for one night.

Day 11: Departure – “Geia sas”

Transfer to Athens International Airport – Departure