Dive into the culture and heritage of ancient Greece on this exciting excursion that begins from the moment you arrive into Athens International Airport. You’ll tour the iconic Acropolis and wander through one of the most atmospheric and well-preserved towns in the country, Nafplio. Discover impressive Minoan sites in Crete like Knossos Palace and take advantage of gorgeous beaches and swims in those alluring turquoise waters before returning to the capital city to explore the new Acropolis Museum.
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
| After arrival into Athens International Airport take private transfer to your hotel in the city | Athens | |
| Enjoy the scenic drive to magical Nafplio after taking a guided tour of the Acropolis. | Nafplio | |
| Join an expert guide for an in-depth excursion through Nafplio and its majestic monuments | Nafplio | |
| Return to Athens Airport via car transfer for your flight to Crete | Crete | |
| Discover some of the most important heritage and cultural sites in Crete, including Knossos Palace | Crete | |
| Spend a day on Crete at your leisure | Crete | |
| Fly back to Athens and embark on a tour of the Acropolis Museum | Athens | |
| Departure day, prepare for private transfer to Athens International Airport |
Welcome to one of the world’s oldest and most exciting cities. You’ll arrive into Athens International Airport where you’ll be met by private transfer for the drive to your Athens hotel. You’re sure to gaze up in wonder at sights you’ve probably only seen on the screen or in textbooks until now. While you’ll get an in-depth look at the Acropolis later, today you might want to explore it more leisurely, getting glimpses of the iconic landmarks as you stroll ancient streets, checking out the offerings in the shops and then perhaps unwinding with some delicious Greek coffee and some people watching at one of the sidewalk cafes
Join your inspirational guide for a tour of the Acropolis this morning. Today is the day you’ll be able to marvel at its remarkable monuments up close. Walk in the footsteps of ancient greats, hearing stories from the past while learning about the landmarks you’re admiring. You’ll get a spectacular view of Athens itself from the elevated position on the hill before taking car transfer inland to Nafplio, a small coastal town in the eastern Peloponnese considered one of the most atmospheric and well-preserved. It boasts a magnificent Old Town filled with neoclassical mansions, interesting museums, lively marks and a dramatic Venetian fort
Get an in-depth look at captivating Nafplio, exploring some of Greek antiquity’s greatest sites like the Theater of Epidauros, Ancient Mycenae and Palamid castle which overlooks the city. You’ll be able to wander through one of the most significant cultural centers of ancient Greece, Mycenae, known for its abundance of gold excavated in the 19th-century, one of the most well-preserved ancient theaters in the country and the famous vaulted tombs like the tomb of Agamemnon, Clytemnestra and the vaulted Mycenaean tomb known as “The Treasure of Atreus,” before visiting the town’s historical center and enjoying a tasty Greek lunch at a traditional taverna.
Return to Athens via car transfer to catch a flight to Crete. You’ll have the rest of the day to do as you please. If you’re low on energy after traveling, there are plenty of beaches to relax on, including Elounda Beach, one of the cleanest and prettiest on the island. It sits within a sheltered bay, keeping those aquamarine waters nice and calm. A refreshing swim here is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the striking beauty of the island. Keep an eye out for wildlife too, with an abundance found in this area, including the endangered Eleanora’s Falcon, eagles, swifts and martins.
Delve into some of the most fascinating culture and heritage on Crete with a tour of the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the Mythical Labyrinth of Homer and the Heraklion Archaeology Museum. The ancient city of Knossos is the oldest in Europe, settled as early as the Neolithic period. You’ll be guided by an expert through this Bronze Age archaeological site learning all about its history, rituals and arts before heading into the museum to discover the country’s most extensive prehistoric collection of artifacts. It showcases a wide range of treasures that have been excavated on Crete and uncovered from all Minoan palaces.
Enjoy an entire day to yourself to do as you wish. You might want to visit the nearby island of Spinalonga, easy to reach by one of several boats providing the 25-minute ride from Elounda. It has a very intriguing history – in fact, it wasn’t always a separate island, it was once attached to the mainland but over time as the water levels continued to rise, it became an island of its own and was used when Crete was under Venetian rule. It’s served as a popular spot for harvesting salt and a leper colony too, though today it’s a more of a favorite tourist destination with pebble beaches and a fortress to visit that once housed the country’s lepers.
Get ready to return to Athens with a morning or mid-day flight back to the airport. In the afternoon you’ll get to join a tour that will take you through the Acropolis Museum. Here you can discover a wide range of objects left behind by ancient Athenians, providing secrets as to what the now vanished city was like. Your guide will reveal the stories from their interesting past, while you admire the exhibits that feature some 4,000 different items. Gain insight into the lives of Ancient Greeks and explore how they connect to the present on an interactive tour of the museum that’s sure to be a highlight of your trip.
With departure day here, it’s time to pack your bags and get ready for your private transfer to Athens International Airport. Catch your flight back home or chat with our travel experts to find out how you can extend your trip, whether it’s here in Athens, somewhere in Greece or beyond.
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