EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

Settle in for a panoramic drive through Athens and the port of Piraeus on a double-decker sightseeing bus, passing key landmarks that tell the story of both cities. Feel free to ride inside the bus or on the second-level, which is open air to provide spectacular 360° views. You will hear commentary about the destinations that explains their historical importance and points out significant architectural features. Highlights include icons such as the Acropolis and Parthenon and sites that may be lesser known such as Omonia Square. Although one of Athens' oldest square, Omonia had been somewhat forgotten until it was beautifully renovated in 2020. The bus will also drive through several characteristic neighborhoods, including historical Plaka and lively Monasteraki, home to attractions as diverse as flea markets and Roman ruins. Depending on the traffic, stops will be made along the way for photos and to stretch your legs.

HIGHLIGHTS
• See the landmarks in Athens and Piraeus from a double-decker sightseeing bus.
• Drive by must-see ancient icons such as the Acropolis and Parthenon
• Travel through neighborhoods that highlight the diversity of Athens and Piraeus.
• Pause on occasion for photos of the attractions.

Audio commentaries in 12 different languages to learn about Athens & Pireaus' culture and history: English, Spanish, Italian, French, Russian, Portuguese, Turkish, Greek, Arabian, Japanese, and German.

Maximize your time in Athens by visiting the attractions that interest you the most and exploring them at your own pace. Your attraction pass will cover all the entrances fees so you can see more than a dozen attractions without thinking about the cost. Getting around Athens will be easy because the pass allows you to ride the buses that loop through town from one attraction to another. Choose wisely what you want to do and when you want to do it, according to the time you have in Athens. Hop on a bus whenever you're ready and hop off at an attraction that sounds intriguing. You might stop at the horseshoe-shaped Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held. Military history buffs may enjoy browsing the weapons from antiquity in the Athens War Museum. If you wish to delve deeper into history, ride the bus to the Acropolis of Athens, one of the world's most famous archaeological sites. The New Acropolis Museum there displays artefacts excavated from the surrounding slopes, including items from the Temple of Athena Nike. Attractions Included: Acropolis and Parthenon Archaeological Site, Gray Line Athens Get On Get Off Bus Tour (Yellow Bus), Acropolis Museum, Athens War Museum, Cycladic Museum, Frissiras Museum, Happy Blender, Hellenic Motor Museum, Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum, Museum of Greek Culture, Museum of Islamic art, The Ghika Gallery, Herakleidon Museum, Bairaktaris - Syntagma Sq.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Use the Attraction Pass to see Athens’ best attractions at no additional cost.
• Ride a bus around town, stopping at the attractions that you find most appealing.
• Stay as long as you like at each attraction to enhance your understanding of it.
• Hop on another bus whenever you please and ride it to another intriguing destination.

Enjoy the city of Athens & Piraeus from the top of our yellow-blue double-decker buses. Get in touch with the architecture and culture of Athens & Piraeus cities and learn all about their history in your own language with commentary on board, available in 12 languages.

Visit and admire spectacular sights of both cities. Take the chance to admire the Acropolis & Parthenon archaeological sites and feel the energy in the whole region. Visit also the new Acropolis museum, the Archaeological museum and the picturesque area of Plaka and Monastiraki, full of neoclassical buildings, archaeological findings and souvenir shops.

Nearby, you can also see a number of private harbors, such as the Mikrolimano and the Zea Marina (Pasalimani) and the architectural beauty of the Municipal Theatre.

En tu viaje desde el Pireo con destino al centro de Atenas, pasarás por los pintorescos puertos de Zea y Microlimano. Podrás contemplar algunos de los lugares más importantes de Atenas como la Plaza de la Constitución, el Monumento al Soldado Desconocido, el Templo de Zeus, el Palacio Real y el Estadio Panatenaico o también conocido como el Estadio Olímpico Kallimármaro . La Acrópolis es una de las colinas más reconocidas y fotografiadas de todo el mundo. Los lugares más destacados incluyen los Propileos, el templo de Templo de Atenea Niké, el Erecteón y el Partenón.

Después tendrás tiempo libre para pasear por las pintorescas calles de Plaka, el antiguo barrio del centro histórico de Atenas repleto de tiendas de arte y artesanías, restaurantes y cafés. Dispondrás de suficiente tiempo libre para hacer compras o disfrutar por tu cuenta de las especialidades griegas en una de las tradicionales y coloridas tabernas. Luego de recorrer el antiguo barrio de Atenas, vuelve al punto de partida acordado a la hora establecida para subir a bordo del autobús y regresar al muelle.

This excursion is an ideal introduction to the city's major highlights. Reach the natural fortress of the Acropolis, and with your guide you'll walk up the uneven footpath heading to the summit. Sights include the Propylaea, Temple of Apteros Niki, Erectheum and the Architectural Triumph of the Parthenon. Continue with a city drive and see Constitution Square, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Royal Palace, Hadrian's Gate and the Old Marble Olympic Stadium.

After lunch, drive along the scenic coastal road which affords splendid views of the Saronic Gulf and takes you through some of Athens' most beautiful suburbs. Arrive at Cape Sounion to visit the Temple of Poseidon, standing some 200 feet above the sea at the edge of a cliff. It is one of the most breathtaking and deeply moving sights in all of Greece. Fifteen of the original 34 columns of the Doric order still stand in majestic splendor.

Commissioned by Pericles and built by Pheidias, the perfectly proportioned Parthenon crowns the Acropolis, representing the Golden Age of Classical Greece. Follow the winding path to 'the upper city' entrance through the Propylaea gateway. Beyond, on the highest part of the hill, stands the crowning glory of the Acropolis, the Parthenon, looking out over the graceful Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Old City below. After the Acropolis, you'll drive to both the old and new sections of Athens, separated by Hadrian's Arch.

You'll pass the statue of Lord Byron, the Corinthian Temple of Olympian Zeus and Constitution Square to the former Royal Palace. Here you'll have a chance to take a photo of the Presidential Guard or Evzones in traditional uniform, as they stand watch over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Other sights on the drive include the Academy, National Gardens and the Old Marble Olympic Stadium, built in 1895 for the first modern Olympic Games.

A 30 minute scenic drive from Piraeus will bring you into the heart of Athens. Along the way, your narrated drive will pass a host of major sites including Hadrian's Arch, the statue of Lord Byron, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Constitution Square, the former Royal Palace, the National Gardens and the Old Olympic Stadium where a brief photo stop will take place. Commissioned by Pericles and built by Pheidias, the perfectly proportioned Parthenon crowns the Acropolis, representing the Golden Age of Classical Greece. Follow the winding path to 'the upper city' entrance through the Propylaea gateway.

Beyond, on the highest part of the hill, stands the crowning glory of the Acropolis, the Parthenon, looking out over the graceful Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Old City below. A delicious lunch complimented by wine will be enjoyed at one of Greece's famous restaurants with breathtaking views of the Acropolis. Considered one of the great museums of the world, the New Acropolis Museum, located at the foot of the Acropolis, displays a dramatic collection of artifacts and statues from the Pantheon, the Porch of the Caryatids and surrounding sites. After visiting the museum, you'll enter the old part of the city called the Plaka and explore its predominately pedestrian streets with the picturesque houses, shops and numerous cafes. After some free time in this area you'll return to your ship by coach.

Journey back in time to the evolution of Greek Civilization. You'll visit the Acropolis and its famous landmarks and see the highlights of Athens. Admire the Propylaea, the temple of Apteros Niki, the Erectheum, and stand in awe in front of the Parthenon. Enjoy a traditional lunch in the Plaka, followed by some free time to explore this old and interesting district. Visit the National Archaeological Museum, housing an unrivaled collection of treasures of Cycladic, Minoan, Mycenaean, and Classical Greek Art. A few of the most important exhibits include the bronze statue of Poseidon, Head of Hygeia "Goddess of Health", a bronze statue of the "Jockey Boy" of Artemision, Golden Mask of Agamemnon and brilliant Minoan-style frescoes from Santorini.

Spend hours of free time exploring the attractions in Athens that sound most appealing to you. A wonderfully panoramic drive will bring you to the Plaka neighborhood, where you will be dropped off and later picked up. This oldest section of Athens exudes history and its narrow cobblestone streets couldn't be more atmospheric or pedestrian-friendly. The Plaka is known for its shopping and dining and proximity to the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to the Parthenon and many other iconic buildings from antiquity. Feel free to meander through the hilltop ruins at your leisure and browse the Acropolis Museum, a repository of archaeological remains that were unearthed from the surrounding slopes. The Plaka also has its share of archaeological sites, including the octagonal Tower of the Winds, a 1st-century landmark that is considered to be the world's first meteorological station. If you wish to explore areas beyond the Plaka, be sure to allow time.

Experience Athens and its ancient treasure in a small group, traveling by minibus. After a visit to the Acropolis and its famous landmarks, you'll enjoy a scenic drive though the highlights of Athens; admire the Propylaea, the temple of Apteros Niki, the Erectheum, and stand in awe in front of the Parthenon. You'll then stop in the Plaka area for a traditional lunch followed by some free time to wander around the old district on your own.

After, visit the National Archaeological Museum, housing an unrivaled collection of treasures of Cycladic, Minoan, Mycenaean, and Classical Greek Art. A few of the museum's most important exhibits include the bronze statue of Poseidon, Head of Hygeia "Goddess of Health", bronze statue of the "Jockey Boy" of Artemision, Golden Mask of Agamemnon and brilliant Minoan-style frescoes from Santorini. Following your visit to the museum, you'll return to your ship in Piraeus.

Following an enlightening tour of Athens and the spectacular New Acropolis Museum, you will watch an innovative chef prepare your lunch and elaborate on the joys of Greek cuisine.

After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a wonderfully scenic drive to Athens, where you will see the Old Marble Olympic Stadium. In 1896, the first modern Olympics were held here in the white horseshoe-shaped stadium, which is the world's only arena made entirely of marble. Although the stadium is primarily used for musical performances, it hosted the 2004 Olympics' archery competition and the finish to the marathon.

Continuing on into Athens, you will pass the 19th-century Royal Palace and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The monument's main element is a carved bas-relief of a fallen Greek soldier that resembles a sculpture of a hoplite soldier found in a 5th-century B.C. temple.

Before long, you will stop at the New Acropolis Museum, which holds a collection of artefacts excavated from the slopes of the Acropolis and the surrounding foothills. You might see a lengthy section of the Parthenon frieze, various marble sculptures and a detailed balustrade slab from the Temple of Athena Nike.

You will then drive to Aiolou 68, a restaurant renowned for its creative seafood dishes. The chef will present an enlightening cooking demonstration explaining how to prepare classic Greek dishes and offer tips regarding other Mediterranean cuisine. Afterwards, you will enjoy a leisurely meal of the chef's creations.

Enjoy a wonderful drive along the scenic coastal road which affords a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf, passing through some of Athens' most beautiful suburbs of Glyfada, Kavouri, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza, and Lagonissi. Arrive at Cape Sounion where you'll visit the 5th century B.C. Temple of Poseidon, standing some 200 feet above the sea at the edge of a cliff. It is one of the most breathtaking and deeply moving sights in all of Greece. This is the place where the ancient Greeks worshipped their mighty god of the seas, Poseidon.

The 15 (of the original 34) columns of the Doric Order that are still standing belong to the temple built here during the Golden Age of Perikles' Athens, over the relics of an older one. The architect is unknown, but it is believed to be the same who built the Theseion in Athens. Following your visit, refreshments will be served at one of the most luxurious resort hotels in Vouliagmeni.