Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Athens! Instantly share your experience with family & friends on your favorite social media site as many of the stops will include wi-fi in real time. Professional photographers & selfie experts will teach you how to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination.

Your tour will start with a scenic drive from the ship to Athens. Your walking tour will have designated selfie stops at: • Panathenaic Stadium
• The Olympieion
• The Hadrian Arch
• The Acropolis
• Aeropagus Hill
• Parliament House
• Plaka

To make this experience even more fun, you will be provided with a selfie stick and utilize our Selfie Station in order to help catch the perfect picture. End your picture-perfect day with Souvlaki tasting in Monasteraki and some free time.

Watch injured and ill sea turtles being rehabilitated at Archelon, an organization that monitors, rescues and cares for sea turtles and their habitats. Many of the sea turtles at the facility are loggerheads, the most common turtle species in the Mediterranean. Even so, their numbers are dwindling because their nesting beaches are being lost and the turtles are accidently being caught in fishing nets. As you tour Archelon’s sea turtle rehabilitation center, you can expect to see injured turtles being treated in hopes of releasing them back into the wild one day. The organization also aims to educate the public to better understand the region’s marine biodiversity, the impact of pollution on all wildlife and the importance of sustainable practices. You might also learn how satellites are used to track loggerhead turtles as they migrate to and from their nesting sites in the Mediterranean.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Visit a marine rehabilitation center that cares for injured and sick sea turtles.
• See how turtles such as loggerheads are treated so they can be released back into the wild.
• Gain insight into the value of sustainable practices and how pollution impacts sea turtles.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

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.

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.

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.

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. Join as well our complimentary audio guided walking tours of Athens and enjoy Piraeus city!

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.

OVERVIEW

Dine on organic Greek dishes paired with local wines after an enlightening tour of the farm that produces most everything that you will consume. Before traveling inland to the property, you will pause for photos of Kastella, a historical neighborhood on what is often referred to as the Riviera of Piraeus. The setting is so captivating that Aristotle Onassis once had intentions of turning Kastella into a Greek version of Monte Carlo. Margi Farm is an oasis of a different sort. It lies in the Kalyvia area with acres of vineyards and olive groves surrounding it. As you meander about, the guide will describe the organic agricultural practices and how mechanization is kept to a minimum. The meal that follows will be organic, using ingredients from the farm. The dishes may include dolmas with yogurt sauce, eggplant-stuffed pies, vegetable moussaka and grilled souvlakia. Everything will be exceptionally fresh, organic and follow a farm-to-table philosophy.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Tour an organic farm that follows traditional agricultural practices.
• Enjoy a lunch of organic dishes made from sustainable garden-fresh ingredients.
• Pause for photos at a historical neighborhood known as the Riviera of Piraeus.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy classic Greek cuisine in a restaurant in Monastiraki, a neighborhood that offers a historical setting for your lunch. The panoramic drive there will set the stage for your immersion into traditional Greek life as you will pass landmarks such as Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. As an introduction to Monastiraki, you will pause to snap photos at its namesake square in the shadow of the iconic Acropolis. Monastiraki means “small monastery,” a reference to the one built there in Ottoman times, the remains of which still exist. After settling in at Savvas tavern, you will be treated to a lunch of traditional Greek dishes and a spectacular view of the Acropolis. Still, it is the cuisine that makes the experience so memorable. Kebabs from a traditional Asia Minor recipe, pork souvlaki and moussaka with homemade béchamel sauce are but a few of the dishes at Savvas.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Dine on traditional Greek dishes at Savvas, a tavern in the Monastiraki neighborhood.
• Pause for photos of Monastiraki Square, a popular gathering place full of landmarks.
• Drive past some of the iconic attractions in Athens, including the Acropolis.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

View the monuments atop the Acropolis as they stood in antiquity by wearing virtual reality goggles that will bring this architectural complex to life. As you approach the steep rocky hilltop of the Acropolis, you will see the easily recognized ruins of classical buildings such as the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike and the propylaea, the entryway to the Acropolis. Few sights are so iconic. To enhance your understanding of this UNESCO World Heritage site, you will don VR goggles that will present the monuments of the Acropolis as they were when constructed in the 5th century BC. The goggles allow you to visualize the buildings so clearly and in such stunning detail that it will be like traveling back in time. To complement this immersive experience, you will spend free time walking through the narrow, shop-lined streets of the Plaka neighborhood that lies in the shadow of the Acropolis.

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.

Learn hands-on how to prepare a whole lamb roasted on a spit and several side dishes and then dine on this classic meal that has become synonymous with Greece. Your cooking class will take place in Kalyvia, an inland village where many Athenians spend the weekend taking in the natural beauty. The preparation will be explained in detail, including the best wood for the fire, the ingredients in the rub, how to skewer the lamb and the best techniques for basting. You will take part in the entire preparation, an experience that will make the meal that follows all the more memorable. You will also learn to prepare the Greek meze kokkoretsi, a yogurt sauce known as tzatziki and a traditional Greek salad. Once everything is finished, you will dine on your concoctions and a glass of local wine. On the return drive, you will stop for another drink at Lake Vouliagmeni, which natural thermal springs feed.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Take a hands-on cooking class and learn to prepare a whole lamb roasted on a spit.
• Make a classic meze and Greek salad as well, and enjoy your concoctions for lunch.
• Stop to enjoy a frappé coffee along the Athenian Riviera before the cooking class.
• Pause for a drink at Lake Vouliagmeni after the cooking class.