Private Acropolis & Highlights Discovery Walk with Food Tastings, Athens

Your expert Athenian guide will meet you at your hotel or a selected starting place at a flexible hour, though an 8 am start time is recommended in order to beat the crowds (and the heat) at the city's largest sites. Your first stop will be the iconic Acropolis and the Parthenon, where your guide will teach you all about the fascinating history and way of life that once took place on the hill. On the way down, marvel at the ancient Theatre of Dionysus, built in the sixth century BCE and considered the birthplace of drama.

Next, you'll venture into some winding side streets and grab a taste of Greek souvlaki—at a spot that serves the best and most authentic in town. Then you'll duck into a small coffee shop and try traditional Greek coffee prepared in a hovoli—a tray of hot ashes dotted with copper coffee pots. Refreshed after your stops, it's time to carry on to the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Arch of Hadrian, where your guide will regale you with ancient myths and stories surrounding these landmarks. You'll also get a taste of modern-day Greek culture while sampling honey-soaked baklava at a nearby street food stall.

Your discovery continues as you stroll over to more famous sites like the Roman Agora, the Gate of Athena Archigetis, and the Temple of Hephaestus. Then, it's time to head into the buzzing Monastiraki and Psyri neighborhoods for a visit to the oldest distillery in town, where you'll try three different traditional liqueurs. Your final stop is the Central Market, where bustling walkways are flanked by colorful fruit, vegetable, fish, and meat stalls. Savor some Greek olives, Aegina pistachios, and green raisins from the local vendors before it's time to part ways with your guide and continue exploring Athens on your own.