Best of · ANCIENT HISTORY TOURS IN GREECE
Good ancient history tours in Greece fill up weeks ahead and the best ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and where they differ.
Book a timed Acropolis visit, then explore up to five more Athens sites within three days. You get audio tours, flexible scheduling, and optional live guiding, but must manage extra tickets through the Smartvisit app and bring a charged phone.
“Superb. Guided by a retired professor. Tour covering the major sites. Inspirational discussions on history and philosophy.”
At Koilon Theater beneath the Acropolis, you’ll watch an English-language performance that mixes Greek tragedy, comedy, mythology, and modern humor. A present-day tourist is sent back to ancient Athens to meet Medea, Oedipus’s daughters, Odysseus, and the god of Wealth. Expect a 75-minute rooftop show with a remarkable Acropolis view.
“I loved the athmospehere of the theatre! The actors are stunning! Enjoyed every piece!”
Travel from Athens to Delphi by air-conditioned coach with an English-speaking guide, explore the sanctuary and museum, then stop in mountain-town Arachova. Guides such as Marianna, Dimitrios, Michael, and Maria have led this 10-hour outing, which includes Wi-Fi, headsets, and optional entry fees and lunch.
“Our guide, Evan, was well prepared with anti-itch stuff for a bee sting, cough drops for a lady with a persistent cough. He was a fount of information. He was polite and pleasant, and clear in his instructions. Lunch was good. It was fun to try wild boar! However, we were supposed to be picked up and dropped off at our hotel. We did get picked up at our hotel. However, on the way back, he said it was too difficult to drop us off at this time of day. So they would drop us off somewhere that was a short walk. When he dropped us off, he said it…”
Travel from central Athens to the Corinth Canal, Ancient Corinth, and the old port of Kechries. You get an English-speaking host, audio guide, earphones, and a VR app, while guides such as Angela, Dido, Christopher, and Stefanos add useful context along the way. Ancient Corinth entry costs €15 extra.
“Honestly, it was an amazing excursion! The spots visited were beautiful but the guide (Stefanos) was incredible! Always a smile and ready to explain more things to you!”
Spend 210 minutes touring the Acropolis and, on the extended option, Plaka’s old streets with a licensed English or Spanish-speaking guide. You’ll see the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Theater of Dionysus, Roman Forum, Tower of the Winds, and Monastiraki Square.
“Our guide was excellent even though he said it was his second time doing the Akropolis tour. He was energetic and his enthusiasm for history was infectious. Thank you for a great tour!”
Spend about eight hours with a private driver such as Yannis, Tas, Peter, or Giannis, tracing Paul’s time in Corinth. Visit the canal, Diolkos, Acrocorinth, Ancient Corinth, Kenchreai, and the museum, with hotel pickup, Wi-Fi, and flexible stops.
“What's printed in the Holy Bible was inspired and given to us by God through chosen men and women. Before the printed word could be mass produced, we relied on stories and actions (traditions) passed down through the ages by our ancestors. There was no need to rewrite what had become common knowledge; & the Holy Bible encourages us to follow the Word and the words...Tradition and tradition. We are Roman Catholic and our guide, Giannis, is Orthodox. His deep knowledge and understanding of Tradition and local traditions brought Saul / St. Paul to life in a human perspective as well as a saintly "character" of a Bible story. Giannis…”
Visit Delphi’s archaeological site and museum on the same day with a pre-booked ticket and optional mobile audio tour. See Apollo’s temple, the theater, stadium, treasuries, the Tholos, and major finds such as the Charioteer. Bring headphones, water, and a charged phone.
“Don’t forget to go across the road! Well worth the money and the trip!”
Visit Ancient Olympia on your own schedule with a $30 ticket covering the archaeological site, Archaeological Museum, and Olympic Games Museum. The site and Olympic museum allow entry anytime on your chosen date, while the archaeological museum requires a set time slot. English audio guides are available.
“The archaeological site and museum were fascinating…2800 years of history!”
Leave Athens by air-conditioned coach for Ancient Corinth, then spend time in elegant Nafplio before relaxing at Arvanitia Beach in summer. An English-speaking guide, such as Dimitra, Vivian, Theo, or Chrysa, adds useful history and local tips. Winter departures replace swimming with extra Nafplio time.
“Theo is an amazing tour guide, he knows a lot when it comes to Greek history, very informative.”
At 9 pm in Athens’s Plaka district, an English-speaking cast performs a lively 60-minute mix of Greek myths, comedy, and tragedy on a rooftop near the Acropolis. Expect handmade costumes, quick scene changes, and a spectacular nighttime view, but remember this is an informal outdoor show, not a grand classical theater.
“With the sunning backdrop of the Acropolis lit up against the night sky, this was a theatre show unlike anything we’ve seen before. We were greeted with complimentary wine before taking our seats and enjoying the view. The small and talented cast performed both short comedy and tragedy tales in the one hour performance time and received cheers and applause from the whole audience at the end. Afterwards the cast waited in the foyer as the audience filed out, offering meet & greets and photo opportunities with them. A very friendly and relaxing atmosphere and a great way to experience what Ancient Greek Theatre would have been like.”
Use your pre-booked Ancient Agora ticket and smartphone audio tour to explore the birthplace of Athenian democracy at your own pace. Hear stories of Solon, Pericles, Aristides the Just, and Socrates while visiting the Agora Museum, Pnyx, Mars Hill, and nearby classical sites.
“Some of the walking directions were a little spotty but, overall, it was an informative and enjoyable tour.”
You travel from Katakolo Port to Ancient Olympia by modern air-conditioned bus, with an English-speaking escort and a smartphone-based VR audio guide in 10 languages. Allow about four hours, including roughly three hours at the ruins, museums, and village. Choose a ticket option with or without admission.
“Transfer was great and the bus was nice and the people were so helpful! I struggled a bit with the VR phone guide because it’s hard to find your way around the grounds because the signage isn’t much, but the guide itself is easy to listen to. I just sometimes didn’t know what site we were looking at.”
Visit Knossos Palace with a multilingual guide, then walk through Heraklion’s old town, Venetian harbor, and market. You get about two and a half hours to choose lunch, shopping, or the Archaeological Museum, with transport and hotel-area pickup included.
“Bus: aircon cool, Guide: friendly & informative, really improved seeing Knossos Palace by having a guide, the group was a good size, Heraklion city was a quick tour, plenty time given to explore before return. I explored city and left the museum to explore the following day myself but if you cannot; I would recommend the museum as it gives a richer context to Knossos. Great tour, great day.”
Travel from Athens in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide such as Giannis, Nick, or Ruslan. Visit the Corinth Canal, Paul’s port at Kenchreai, the ancient Agora, Acrocorinth, and Saint Paul Church. Archaeological entrance fees are extra.
“Great trip with Nick following Paul’s footsteps. Nick provided alot of details and insights regarding the sites and Paul’s travels. Thanks Nick for providing a safe trip and special birthday for our 84 year old mother.”
Explore Athens with a private guide such as Effie, Niki, Martina, Dimitris, or Antonis. Kids learn through games and stories as you visit the Pnyx, Plaka, Olympian Zeus, Panathenaic Stadium, National Garden, and Parliament, with a traditional refreshment included.
“Guide was very good with kids. Walked more than I expected. Would like to have seen/heard a bit more history. Wished games for kids had been geared more to history of Athens.”
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