Alternative Athens

Young heroes: A family mythology tour

<p>Get all your family involved in a tour exploring the magnificent "sacred Rock" of the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora, the functioning heart of the ancient metropolis.</p><p><br></p><p>Your guide will have plenty to tell you about the history and the legends of all the gods and heroes, such as almightyZeus, Athena,Goddess of Wisdom,Poseidon, God of the Sea,Dionysus, God of Wine and Theater, and many more. Through timeless myths you will explore the Theater of Dionysus, drama's first home; the resplendent Propylaea; the sacred Erechtheion; the Temple of Athena Nike and, of course, the magnificent Parthenon, perhaps the world's most iconic building. All this will come alive in a way that keeps everyone's attention and interest, kids and parents alike.</p><p><br></p><p>After you've discovered the secrets of the city's formidable hill, you'll take a short walk downhill to reach ancient Athens' marketplace, the Ancient Agora, with its famed Temple of Hephaestus, decorated with depictions of the labors ofTheseusandHercules. This is the most perfectly preserved of Greece's temples and one shared betweenGoddess AthenaandHephaestus, God of the Forges. You'll hear more mythical stories aboutTheseus and the Minotaur, Zeus' jealous wife,HeraandAphrodite, Goddess of love and beauty.</p><p><br></p><p>Your family will also have a chance to walk in the footsteps of great thinkers such asSocratesandPlato, who used the Agora as a venue for spreading ideas and taking part in debates. This is where your guide will lead you in a group family activity that's based on the gods and heroes you've been hearing about, allowing your kids (and you!) to interact imaginatively with your very special surroundings!</p><p><br></p><p>In the end, not only will you understand what made this city and its Gods immortal and legendary, but you'll also get to take back home a piece of history you'll create together as a family!</p><p><br></p>

Offer valid until: 31 août 2023

Beat the crowds acropolis afternoon tour

<p>If there's one landmark one should visit when visiting Athens,it's theAcropolis!</p><p><br></p><p>But as with all world-famous sites, this magnificent monument can get crowded inhigh season, and during the Greek summer months, it can get quite hot on top of the Acropolis Rock as well!</p><p><br></p><p>With this specially-designed afternoon two-hour tour of the Acropolis, you have the chancetobeat the crowds and escape the heat, to enjoy an unforgettable visit and a more intimate experience of one of the world's top landmarks.</p><p><br></p><p>With your top-rated licensed guide, you'll step back in time and discover how Athens became one of the greatest cities of the world,abeacon of civilizationand how theconcept of Democracywas born in the 5th century BC, while you visit all the unique monuments on the Hill: from theTheater of Dionysus, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, the Propylaiaand of course, the crowning achievement of Greek civilization: the marvelousParthenon.</p><p><br></p><p>This tour is specially designed to be ideally combined as a follow-up to our Acropolis Museum Discovery Tour, as both the tour's starting time and meeting point are nearby.</p>

Offer valid until: 31 mars 2024

The Delicious Athens Food Tour

<p>The Delicious Athens Food Tour lets you discovera different side of the cityby joining the Greeks in what is probably their favorite activity: eating! With so much on offer in a city that never stops cooking up great things, you’ll quickly come to feel the same way yourself, taking the experience one delicious bite at a time.</p><p><br></p><p>Your English-speaking guide will meet you and take you for that essential eye-opener,Greek coffee, at one of the landmark coffee houses of the city. You’ll get an explanation ofthe role of food in Greek life,and of the eating habits of Athenians in particular. Next, it’s a treat from the street, as you sample akoulouri, one of the all-time classic snacks on the go, before you duck into a carefully selected specialty food store that prides itself on its wide selection of Greek products. Here, you’ll be able to taste differentolive oils, oils,spreadsand other surprises, but remember to pace yourself – there are seven more food stops to follow!</p><p><br></p><p>This is your chance to be food-adventurous – among the upcoming stops is abaklavabakery with a long history and some of the best syropy sweetsin Greece. Then, it’s time for authenticsouvlaki andfried potatoesat a popular grill spot before heading into the traditional “belly of the city”,the bustling Varvakios Market, the biggest and most popularfish, meat and vegetable marketin the whole of Athens. This is where the locals come to shop for their everyday needs as well as for their Easter lamb or Christmas turkey. The market is boisterously lively, and the butchers and fishmongers that work here compete with one another for the attention of the passing shoppers, using humor, hyperbole and hand gestures. At the stalls, you’ll see plenty of familiar foods, but you’ll find lots of surprises as well, particularly in the central fish hall, where the catch of the day is often some unusual deep-water denizen.</p><p><br></p><p>As we continue our walk, we’ll take the city’sSpice Streetand drop in at a shop with an incredible variety oflocal condimentsandherbssuch asGreek oreganoand Krokos Kozanis, otherwise known asGreek Red Saffron. Find out how these items and others are used in Greek cooking (as well as other culinary secrets the locals have to offer) while you browse the shelves for exotic cooking ingredients. We’ll also stop by a local pastry shop for a serious sugar rush as we tuck into abougatsa(a traditionalcream-filled phyllo treat).</p><p><br></p><p>The last stop on the tour is for a selection of scrumptiousGreekmeze(like tapas, only better) at a charming deli. Here, you’ll be able to try classicappetizers, variety ofcheeseandcured meats. When they finally clear the plates away here, our mission will be accomplished – you’ll leave with a full and happy stomach and a much better understanding of the world of Greek food.</p><p><br></p>

Offer valid until: 31 décembre 2023