Athens Shore Excursions Awe, Inspire, and Delight

Athens is more than just the capital of Greece; it’s the very soul of Ancient Greece, as well as the heart of Greek mythology, and when you book a shore excursion before your Greek Island cruise from Athens, you’re sure to experience the best of each aspect of this world-class city.

Athens cruise excursions that let you experience the Acropolis, arguably one of the world’s most important culture sites, with the Parthenon, a temple to the goddess Athena, still standing as its most recognizable sight, are among the most popular with cruisers of any age, especially when combined with other iconic sights – the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, the National Gardens and the National Library and the Panathenaic Stadium, the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

There are also Athens shore excursions that pair tours of the Acropolis with journeys to natural lake spas for a relax and recharge time-out as you soak in healing thermal waters, or with opportunities to spend time strolling the cobbled streets of the Plaka, the oldest section of Athens, located under the Acropolis.

To further explore the Plaka while indulging all your senses, a guided and interactive food-on-foot journey is just the ticket. Stroll the area, savoring the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of traditional Greek foods with an Athens flair – strong Greek coffee with preserved spoon cherry, local ouzo at the city’s oldest distillery, typical Greek herbs and spices at the flea market, sweet baklava at a local grocer, and so much more.

Some Athens shore excursions offer a chance to climb to Mount Lycabettus, the highest point in the city. On the ride through the city to arrive at the base, you’ll see some of the most inspiring sights in all of Athens, including the Temple of Zeus, The Greek Parliament, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier among others. When you arrive at the base of the Mount, you’ll be whisked upwards over 700 feet to the top in a funicular. The views of Athens and the Mediterranean sea beyond from this venue are nothing short of spectacular.

A day at the beach in Greece is a day like no other, and if you can never get enough beach time in the Greek Islands, plan an excursion to Yabanaki Beach that includes a stop at Ancient Corinth, where the Temple of Poseidon has resided since the 5th century B.C. as a sacred place dedicated to the god of the sea. Choosing where to go in Greece can be difficult, but Athens needs to be on everyone’s bucket list.

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