Historic Athens

The Historic Athens bike tour in the center of the Athens lasts three hours and stops at 25 points of interest in the old city.  Besides awesome sites, the tour’s greatest feature is that it is 90% traffic free.

The beauty of the Historic Athens bike tour is that is is impossible to cover this much terrain by foot in three hours.  Many sites on the tour are simply inaccessible to motor vehicles.   This bike tour is the best way to discover a broad swath of the old city.

The bike guide leads riders through narrow Plaka streets, weaves in and out of the Acropolis pedestrian walkway, cycles up the car-free commercial thoroughfare of Ermou and pedals around the National Gardens.   The tour’s unheralded sites, like the Anfiotika neighborhood, are just as interesting as the famous sites, like the changing of the guard at Parliament or the 1896 Olympic Stadium.

If you want to see more of Athens, you can book the Full Day Athens Tour.  It includes the Historic Athens bike tour in the morning, a delicious Greek lunch at an outdoor taverna and for the afternoon the choice of (1) visiting Lykabettus Hill, the highest point in Athens either by foot or cable car, with stupendous views, or (2) private tour of the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum with a professional guide.

HALF DAY ITINERARY 

Start point at 08:30 at the end of the Acropolis Walkway where it meets Amalias Avenue (see map).   Depending on the location of your hotel, the tour can also start at Thissio Metro (see map).  Bike tour ends at 11:30 at same spot.

• 08:30  Arrive a little early to fit and test ride your hybrid bike
• Bike to 25 points of interest including Roman Agora, Greek Agora, National Gardens, Acropolis pedestrian walkway, St. Paul’s Rock, Socrate’s Prison, the Pnyx where democracy was born, the Holocaust Memorial, Lord Byron Street.
• 11:30 Bike tour ends at same point where it started.

BIKE RIDE INFO

The Historic Athens bike route is 11 kilometers, 6.8 miles.  Most of the route is flat except for plus two climbs of 41 meters (134 feet) and 55 meters (180 feet).

The bike tour offers a half dozen opportunities to park and get off the bike to take photos.  Otherwise, riders stand still at their bike in front of a site listening to the guide’s explanation.   Wear appropriate shoes for biking.   Note that when you walk up to St. Paul’s Rock, the marble rocks are slippery.

HALF DAY INCLUSIONS

• Hybrid bike with flat handlebars, fat tires, triple chain ring
• Handlebar pouch that fits wallet, cellphone, camera
• Bike guide
• Water
• Greek power bar

FULL DAY ITINERARY

• 08:30 – 11:30  Central Athens bike tour
• 11:30 – 13:00   lunch at outdoor taverna in the Plaka or Thissio:  appetizer, salad, entree, beverage, dessert
• 13:00 – 16:00   Option #1  private tour of Acropolis and Acropolis Museum with professional guide.  Tour ends at exit of Acropolis Museum (see Museum map)
• 13:00 – 16:00   Option #2   vehicle transfer to Kolonaki.  20 minute hike or take cable car to Lycabettus, the highest point in Athens, stupendous views. (see Lycabettus map)  Enjoy a beverage at the cafe.  Tour ends at Acropolis Walkway where it meets Amalias Avenue (see map).

FULL DAY INFO

Acropolis option:   Note that the rocks are slippery and that it takes 15-20 minutes from the ticket window to reach the top where the Parthenon lies.  Bring a hat for the sun – very little shade at the top.

Lycabettos option:  The 20 minute walk is on a clear path, ascending but not steep.  Besides the cafe, there is also a chapel at the top.  Bring a hat for the sun, very little shade at the top.

FULL DAY INCLUSIONS

Acropolis option:   professional guide, entry fees to Acropolis and Acropolis Museum

Lycabettus option:   vehicle transfer to/from Kolonaki (foot of Lycabettus) from Plaka, cable car fee or walking guide, beverage at cafe

TESTIMONIAL

The three hour Athens bike tour was a terrific way to enjoy the highlights of beautiful Athens.  The views were spectacular, the ride was well organized, and our guide’s knowledge of the city and history added greatly to my enjoyment.  It was beyond what I expected. Overall I could not have been happier with this trip.  Brian Mounce, Canada