Athens is truly one of the great cities in the world and one of the most significant cradles of civilization. There is a LOT to see and do in Athens and we usually recommend 3 days as a minimum stay to make the most of this incredible city. If, however, you have another day or two on your hands, or perhaps you have visited previously, then doing one of the fantastic day trips from Athens to one of the many wonders close by is a must. Ancient ruins, famous archeological sites, beautiful beaches, authentic islands, mountain monasteries and much more!

day trips from Athens

Which day trips from Athens should you book?

 

You will notice the many of these day trips are with Get Your Guide or Viator

These are large, well known, global companies and we have chosen to partner with them ( yes, we will earn a small commission if you book one of these tours) for the following reasons.

1. They have a solid reputation across the planet for providing reliable, safe and enjoyable tours.
2. In most cases, bookings can be cancelled up to 24 hours prior to starting.
3. Their customer service is available 24/7 in multiple languages.
4. In many cases, they are transparent about who the tour is with and name the operator in the description. Most of their competitors do NOT do this.

Of course, there are other operators out there that are also great. Our other recommendation is to tap into locals via either Airbnb experiences or direct. That way the money you spend stays in Greece too.

Athens private tours on day trips

Sometimes you may want to hire your own car and driver and enjoy a curated tour tailormade just for you. Perhaps you are a group or just someone wanting a more intimate experience and are happy to pay more for that.

We use and recommend a couple of great guys – Terry and Dimitri at CATTaxi.

They have a brand new Mercedes Benz Minivan fully equipped with free wifi AND they offer Virtual Reality technology that allows you to experience various sites exactly as they once were. Pretty mind blowing actually!

You can read more about them in this recent article for an Australian Food Magazine.

Meteora

 

day trip from Athens
Meteora is one of the most intriguing places in Greece. Featuring rock formations that are completely unique, having formed more than 60 million years ago, as a series of rock movements pushed the seabed up to form a high plateau.

Meteora was first inhabited by various natives between 50,000 and 5,000 years ago. Today it is one of the most well-known places in Greece, and an area well worth exploring – it truly is remarkable!

You can get to Meteora yourself from Athens by train or bus, but if you do that I really recommend you stay at least overnight as it’s a very long day. Once you’re there, you can experience Meteora and its numerous caves and rock formations through one of the numerous hiking tours or train tours, or by choosing a trip that explores Meteora’s hermit caves.

Read more in our complete guide to Meteora! 

 

Meteora day trips from Athens

 

Full day tour by train

This tour lasts 14 hours and will mean you are on the train for most of the journey. You will meet a guide and transfer to a mini-bus upon arrival which will drive you around each monastery over the course of 5 hours.

Highlights:

Beautiful scenic train trip
5 hours at Meteoria
Wifi enabled minivan
free map and water
english speaking guide

Cost: US$55

Full day private tour from Athens

Be collected from your Athens hotel and chaeuffer driven to Meteora in a private minvan. Escorted in Meteora by a local tour guide just for you!

Highlights:

Beautiful scenic road trip
4 hours at Meteora
private English speaking driver and guide
brand new minivan with WiFi
received commentary along the way and stop for coffee and photo opportunities
map & bottle water

Cost: US$1298 up to 7 people

Full day private tour from Kalambaka

Catch the train on your own to Kalambaka and have your own personal guide meet you at the train station.

Highlights:

Beautiful scenic train trip
5 hours at Meteora
private English speaking driver in late model car or van
bottle water

Cost: US$202 for up to 3 people

Mythical Delphi

day trip from Athens
The ruins of Delphi tell of an extremely old story about a place of significance in the history of Greece.

The area was inhabited as early as 4000 BC, and is home to ruins of neolithic settlements, a cave where early rituals took place and a Mycenaean settlement featuring a cemetery. Here you can also find the first remnants of the cult of Apollo, dating back to the 8th century BC, where the ruins of the first temples of Apollo and Athena can be found, linked to some of the other Greek gods, including Artemis, Poseidon and Hermes.

Visitors that visit Delphi from Athens can explore two separate sanctuaries, which are dedicated to Apollo and Athena. The well-known Temple of Apollo is located in the central area of the site, is the most important attraction of all. Many votive monuments are also found scattered among the buildings, having been dedicated to Delphi by various cities and wealthy individuals throughout history.

 

Recommended day trips from

Athens to Delphi

 

Full day group tour by bus

This fulll day tour takes you to arguably the most important archeological site in Greece. Explore the sacred center of the ancient Greek world at Delphi & the Delphi Museum as well as the ruins of the famous theater and the Apollo temple.

Highlights:

Visit the sacred center of the ancient Greek world at Delphi & the Delphi Museum
Explore the ruins of the famous theater and the Apollo temple
Visit, exclusively, the magnificent Athena Pronaia Sanctuary
Pass by the village of Arachova for a short photo stop
hotel pick up and drop off
includes entrance fee
lunch included
WiFi enables bus

Cost: US$98pp

Small group tour by bus

This 12 hours tour is limited to 8 people and visits the center of the ancient Greek world with the temple of Apollo and the treasures of Delphi’s museum, as well as abandoned tanneries. Visit the authentic, rarely visited mountain village of Amfissa and enjoy a home cooked lunch in the village square.

Highlights:

maximum 8 people
private guide at Delphi
visit a traditional tannery
visit to the last Greek bell maker
lunch, snacks and water included!
pick up direct from hotel

Cost: US$156pp

Private tour

Customize your private tour to visit the Unesco World Heritage Site of Delphi as well as enjoying lunch at a traditional Greek restaurant with views of the Delphi valley.

Highlights:

Pick up direct from your Athens hotel
drive at a leisurely pace in a late-model car or van
lunch at a scenic restaurant
free leisure time
stop along the way

Cost: from Euro$490 for up to 4 people
( lunch not included)

Corinth, Nafplio and the Argolis

If you want to learn about Greek history, there is no better place than Corinth – or Korinthos, as the Greeks refer to it.

Corinth is a veritable gem where you can explore everything from Greek culture and religion, in the Ecclesiastic Museum and the famous Historic-Folklore Museum, to the municipal library on 84 Pilarinos Street and the mythical archaeological site of the ancient city of Korinthos, featuring such places as the temple of the goddess Tyche, the courtyard of Apollo and the Lerna fountain.

Getting to Corinth will take you through a journey of about 70 km along the highway from Athens and takes just over an hour.

Nearby is the world-famous Corinth Canal that dissects the Peloponnese from mainland Greece. A feat of great engineering this canal had a considerable impact on trade and the world economy when it was built.

About 30 minutes south of Corinth the ancient of Mycenae is known as the home to the legendary Kings Atreus and Agamemnon and is considered one of the most important archaeological finds in all of Greece. The site houses the majestic Lions Gate, along with other important sites like the royal complex, the six tombs, the treasure of Atreus and the Heraion of Argos.

Just south of Mycenae is the beautiful seaside town of Nafplio, once the first capital of Greece and a charming and quite authentic destination much favored by Athenians.

To the East, you can find Epidaurus and its famous ancient theater, which houses the annual Epidaurus Festival, a celebration that takes place as a series of theater and dance performances. Considered one of the most technically perfect amphitheaters in the world and in excellent condition.

This entire region is not to be missed and will leave you desperate to return for a proper Peloponnese holiday! It will be a long day trip but well worth every second.

day trip from Athens
day trip from Athens
day trip from Athens
day trip from Athens

 

Day trips from Athens to Argolis

 

Bus tour of Argolis region

Discover the highlights of the Argolis region including Nafplio, Mycenae, Epridaurus & Corinth!

Highlights:

Pick up service from most Athens hotels
Wifi enabled bus
guided tour
lunch

Cost: US$98 pp
( lunch not included)

Private tour including Nemea wine region

The Nemea wine region produces some of the best wines in Europe. Learn the secrets of winemaking, taste the local wines and visit Nafplio, which is of high cultural importance in Greek winemaking. You will also learn of some of the unknown rich culture of this region of Greece.

Highlights:

Visit the largest viticultural area of Greece
Taste amazing wines at 2 wineries
Guide is an experience sommelier/wine expert
Enjoy a tour and free time in the wonderful city of Nafplio
pick up and drop off to your place of choice in Athens

Cost: US$169 pp
( lunch not included)

Private tour for groups and families

Grasp the glory of the Mycenaean civilization and explore the cobblestone alleys of atmospheric Nafplio on this informative, full-day private excursion specially catered to families.

Highlights:

Pick up and drop off in luxury vehicle
skip the line tickets
Explore the historical city of Mycenae and learn about its myths and history
Enjoy a tour by a child-friendly guide
Participate in a pottery workshop
Visit the beautiful city of Nafplio
refreshments and snacks
a gift for children

Cost: US$812 per group

The Saronic Islands

saronic island greece
Aegina, Hydra and Poros are the most well-known of the Saronic Islands, an archipelago in Greece that was named after the gulf in which the islands are located. Traveling to the Saronic islands from Athens takes between 10 minutes and 2 hours by ferry and allows you to explore the natural beauty and splendor of the islands, which also have an important significance in Greek history and mythology.

Aegina is excellent for family vacations, while Hydra, which has no cars or scooters can be a great place to explore secluded squares and get lost in a place that time forgot.

Poros features a lively waterfront with cafes, restaurants and shops, as well as a curious combination of picturesque cobbled streets and modern entertainment venues that can be great for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Other islands in the Saronic group include Agistri and Moni which are both an absolute delight to explore.

 

 

Day trips from Athens to the
Saronic Islands

 

A day cruise to Aegina, Poros and Hydra

Spoil yourself for a day with a luxury cruise from Athens to the islands of Hydra, Poros, and Aegina in the Saronic Gulf. Swim in crystal-clear waters off Hydra, admire neoclassical beach houses on Poros, and explore the pine-covered landscape of Aegina.

Highlights:

a 50 meter state of the art luxury yacht
2 fully stocked bars and WiFi
a full buffet lunch
Greek dancing and singing onboard
departs from Flisvos Marina in Athens

Cost: US$112 pp

Sail around the Saronic islands in a traditional boat

Departing from Marina Zeas in Athens this magical small cruise you take you around the island of Aegina and the small islands of Agistri and Moni, with multiple swimming and sightseeing opportunities

Highlights:

Have lunch of delicious Mediterranean-Greek food and traditional wine and beers & snacks
Swim and sunbathe at different locations
Be attended to by a multi-lingual professional crew (4-5 persons)
Relax with chilled music and free WiFi
optional bike riding on Agistri

Cost: US$154 pp

DAY TRIPS FROM ATHENS

The Athenian Riviera & Cape Sounion

 

The Southern suburbs of Athens sit along a beautiful coast area known colloquially as the Athenian Riviera. Here you find a number of high-end neighborhoods including Glyfada and Vouliagmeni which boast great beaches, restaurants, bars, shops, and marinas. It is also home to a number of luxury resorts including the stunning Four Seasons Astir Palace.

The southernmost tip of the Attic peninsula is the place where you can find Cape Sounion, a place of beauty and historic wealth which was mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey as the place where the various Greek commanders arrived back after serving in Troy.

The Deme of Sounion, the Temple of Poseidon and the Temple of Athena are the main attractions of the region, featuring monuments, pillars, ruins, and sculptures dating back more than 2,000 years that are a real treasure for anyone interested in history and archaeology.

DAY TRIPS FROM ATHENS

 

Recommended day trips from Athens to Sounion

 

Cape Sounion sunset tour

Enjoy a scenic 50-minute drive along coastal roads in an air-conditioned minivan taking in views of idyllic beaches and small villages along the way.

See the ancient Greek temple to Poseidon, the God of the Sea and enjoy some time here to relax and take in the views over the Aegean Sea. You will also have the opportunity to swim here.

Highlights:

Pick up and drop off at hotel or cruise port
Enjoy a drive along the picturesque south coast of Attica – the Athenian Riviera
Stop to swim at one of Greece’s most beautiful beaches
Visit the incredible ancient Temple of Poseidon
enjoy the draw dropping sunset

Cost: US$61 pp

Private small group tour

Explore the highlights of the Athenian Riviera
with your own guide and air-conditioned van.

Highlights:

Visit the incredible ancient Temple of Poseidon at Sunset
drop into the impressive Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center home to both the National Library and the National Opera
visit Lake Vouliagmeni and it’s healing waters
enjoy snacks and a drink

Cost: US$112 pp

Private yacht cruise on the Riviera

Enjoy a unique 5-hour private cruise sailing southwards parallel to the Athenian Riviera with 2 swim stops around islets such as Fleves and Hydrousa. There is snorkeling and paddleboard equipment on board.

You will also learn about the history of the area from the crew as you enjoy delicious Greek meze snacks and watch the sunset.

Highlights:

Enjoy half a day onboard a luxurious yacht in the Saronic gulf
Visit secluded bays with crystal blue waters approachable only by boat
Scuba, swim, paddleboard and sunbathe from your own yacht

Cost: US$1467 – up to 22 people

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