Ancient Athens

Explore this ancient city that has been continuously inhabited for over 7000 years! As you stroll the streets and neighborhoods of Athens, you’ll see awe-inspiring architecture, such as the Acropolis, the ancient citadel of Athens, with the nearly 2,500 year old Parthenon perched atop the its rocky outcropping. A glance in the opposite direction and you’ll see the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, all within eye-sight of one another. Don’t forget to spend time in the shopping district or enjoying a Greek meal on one of the restaurants lining the cobblestone streets of this wonderful city.

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Day 1

You should plan to arrive in Athens today by mid-afternoon. Check in to your 4-Star hotel, perfectly located in the Athens city center, surrounded by thousands of shops, tavernas, restaurants and monuments! Your Go Get Lost group leader will have a short “Welcome to Athens” get acquainted meeting in the lobby of the hotel in the late afternoon, you'll embark on a fascinating walking food tour. Athens came together through a mixture of cultures across the centuries, and there’s still a lot of that history around, in the food as well as in the neighborhoods – this combination tour lets you see and taste your way through the complex heritage that created contemporary Greek culture and cuisine.
You'll explore different neighborhoods, ranging from working-class havens to boutique boulevards, and hear how Athens was transformed from a town into a modern city, all in the shadow of its own ancient glory.
Immerse yourself in the world of Greek food as the smells and the range of products in specialty food shops and the bustle of open-air markets will all make your taste buds sing!
Sample unique local delicacies, from small-batch olive oils and feta cheese to scrumptious Greek meze and bougatsa (cream-filled phyllo pastry).
In many ways, Athens is four different cities: the ancient, the Ottoman, the neoclassical and the modern city. Discovering each of them requires knowing where to go, what to notice and what to eat, which is where your guide comes in.

From the Parliament building in Syntagma Square to the posh neighborhood of Kolonaki area and the rebellious downtown district of Exarchia, you’ll stop off at special spots to taste local products like olive oil, honey, cheese, wine, vinegar, liquor, and sweets, all made by small producers from all over Greece. Next, it’s a treat from the street, as you sample a koulouri, one of the all-time classic snacks on the go and then a cup of authentic Greek coffee in a wonderful old café. After this, get ready to duck into a boisterous visit to the central fish and meat market, where butchers and fishmongers compete for the attention of Athens’ serious food shoppers. Around the corner is the famous spice street of Athens, lined with traditional herb shops that also carry amazing specialty meats and other traditional delicacies.
In the Psirri area, you’ll see a neighborhood that is still in the middle of reinventing itself – one of the poorer working class areas of Athens for nearly all of the 20th century, it is now one of the hottest food and drink destinations, but everywhere in its narrow streets there are reminders of a simpler past.

Don’t miss the Ottoman influences in this part of the city as you stop for a sweet bite at one of the many pastry shops in this area, and then it’s off to a charming little taverna that specializes in traditional Greek dishes to try a selection of scrumptious Greek meze (like tapas, only better).

Our tour ends in Monastiraki, at Athens’ flea market, a perfect amalgam of everything Athens has to offer. By now, we hope that you’ll have seen (and tasted!) the true soul of Athens, a city with a thousand stories still standing, as it has since ancient times, right on the border between the East and the West.

An evening stroll through the lively winding streets of the old city will cap the perfect first day in Athens.

Day 2

After breakfast this morning we’ll meet our local Athens guide and begin our walking tour exploration of this fascinating city. We’ll start with an entrance to the Acropolis from the south slope so as to avoid the crowds and also to visit the Dionysus sanctuary and Dionysus Theatre built in the 5th century BC. (All entrance fees are included so you can skip the lines at all monuments.) As you begin to ascend the sacred hill a breathtaking view of the city below will unfold. Your guide will give you a detailed explanation of the glorious monuments of the Acropolis such as, the Parthenon, the Erectheion, the Propylaia, the Nike Temple, the Agrippa Monument and the surrounding monuments such as the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Ancient Agora, the Observatory as well as the Philopappos, Mars, and Pnyx Hills.

As the day unfolds your guide will lead you to many of Athen's most memorable monuments... the House of the Greek Parliament, where we’ll watch the changing of the guards at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
You'll stroll through the National Gardens and on to the beautiful neoclassical Zappeion Hall, in front of which tower the surviving columns of the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch, both of which you will have the opportunity to visit. From there you walk a little through the famous Plaka district where you see the statue of Melina Merkouri, and the nearby Acropolis Museum.

This afternoon you're free...and Athens is the perfect place to be cut loose on your own. You can shop ‘til you drop in the lively Plaka district or head to one of the other amazing spots in Athens that wasn't on this tour.

This evening you’re free to wander and Get Lost as you search for the perfect restaurant for dinner. After your food tour yesterday you'll have plenty of ideas on where to go.

Day 3

You'll local tour leader will meet and accompany you this morning for your private airport transfer to board your onward flight to the islands. On the islands we'll have a private transfer waiting for you to whisk you to your hotel.

HOTEL

Due to availability at the time of booking, hotel listed may change to similar hotels

Athens - 4 Star Electra Rhythm Hotel: Electra Rhythm Athens is a fusion of Athenian legacy and modern charm, meticulously crafted to offer a cosy nest in the bustling heart of the city. A stone’s throw away from the iconic Syntagma square and boasting rooftop views of the Acropolis, the hotel is tailored for those who lead an active and vibrant lifestyle.
Electra Rhythm Athens is located on Ermou Street, a historic commercial road; it is inspired by the heartbeat of Athens and designed from the ground up to meet the needs of the modern traveller, whether they are visiting for business, leisure, or both.
Infused with a sense of place in every aspect, the hotel is created to embrace a thriving community in tune with the urban tempo.

• 2- nights accommodation in a 4-Star hotel in the Athens city center
• 2 breakfasts, 1 dinner
• Guided food tour
• Guided half-day walking tour of Athens
• All entrance fees
• Private departure transfers to Athens airport
• Private arrival transfers on Rhodes or Kos

• Airport arrival transfers
• Gratuities for your guides or drivers
• Visa fees, if applicable
• Meals not specified in itinerary
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption and Medical Insurance (strongly recommended), call for details
• Single supplement charge
• Items of a personal nature; phone calls, laundry, etc.