Athens Riverside: A Journey in Mythical Athens

Recommended by 91% of travelers

Athens, Greece

3 hours (approx.)
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Follow in the footsteps of ancient Greek gods and philosophers on a walking tour along the mythical Heridanos River in Athens, uncovered during construction of the city’s modern metro. Pass by the ruins of Roman baths, mystical sanctuaries, and ancient highlights like the Agora and Acropolis for a unique journey through millennia of Athenian history.

Walking tour along ancient Athenian rivers
Follow the path of ancient riverbeds that run through and beneath the modern city
Visit important archaeological sites including the Ancient Agora and Acropolis
Take in panoramic city views from Pynx and Philoppapos Hills
Unique way to explore ancient Greek history and myths
Choice of several daily departure times

What's Included

Local guide

Food and drinks
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Ermou 111, Athina 105 55, Greece
Our meeting point is in front of the traditional restaurant/ cafe "Kafeneion 111"

End point

Str. Makryianni 1, Athina 117 42, Greece
Our end point is in front of Acropolis Museum

Itinerary

Choose from several daily departure times to suit your schedule, and meet your guide at Monastiraki Square in central Athens. Here you can see a portion of the ancient Heridanos (Eridanos) river uncovered during construction of the city’s metro system in the 1990s. Originating from a source in Mount Lycabettos and once flowing to the Kerameikos archaeological site, this ancient waterway named after the Greek river god was hidden for many centuries and provides a window into the lives and legends of ancient Athens.

In addition to the path of the Heridanos, also follow the original course of the Ilissos, another ancient river that runs mostly underground through modern Athens. The banks of the Ilissos feature prominently in ancient Greek mythology and writing, including as a favorite teaching locale for Socrates. As you followed the storied paths of these two rivers, listen as your guide retells old Athenian legends and illuminates what life was like for the city's original citizens.

Throughout the tour, pass by ancient sanctuaries built in honor of Greek gods, remnants of Christian churches, mystical caves, and the ruins of Roman baths. See where classical and modern Athens overlap as you walk through diverse neighborhoods and visit the archaeological sites of the Ancient Agora and the Acropolis. Soak up panoramic views and perhaps a spectacular sunset (depending on the time of your tour) while strolling through the Athenian hillsides including Pynx and Philoppapos Hills.

Acropolis (Pass By)

Areopago (Pass By)

Pnyx (Pass By)

Philopappos Hill (Pass By)

Herod Atticus Odeon (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Dress code is casual
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately

Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Reviews

4.6

based on 11 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Out of the way sites in Athens

Andrew_F, Sep 2023

I have been to Athens many times, so this was one of the few tours I had not done. If you have seen the major sites of Athens, this tour is interesting as it covers archaeological parks not covered elsewhere.

Walking tour

Olga_P, Jun 2022

Our tour guide was wonderful and very knowledgeable. This is 3 hour walking tour. We enjoyed it very much. Thank you

School excursion

Jacqueline_W, Mar 2019

Out guide Helena was very friendly and knowledgeable. The tour is off the beaten path and showed Athens from a less tourist side. The hills are beautiful and the views are breathtaking! We will do it again for sure! I highly recommend it.

Response from Host, Apr 2019

Thank you so much for your good words! Helena is so glad to meet a group of young clever people with their great teachers. We hope to see you again in Athens!

Our tour got off to a bit of a rough...

Glenna_K, Apr 2018

Our tour got off to a bit of a rough start, as our guide arrived a few minutes late and admitted hed been out partying the night before later he mentioned he also does a nightlife tour, so maybe these were related??. But as in the movie My Life in Ruins, there is always time for a coffee he had a to-go coffee even though he was late. My husband and I exchanged glances and perhaps a smirk, and set off on our tour we were the only ones on this day. We soon warmed up to our guide he was very knowledgeable and could answer anything we asked. Even though we have been to Athens numerous times, we still saw and learned many new things. It was such a lovely walk in the spring with the wildflowers, but a warning: it would be brutally hot in summer!!

Fabulous tour. It was incredibly...

Sheila G, Jul 2017

Fabulous tour. It was incredibly interesting and enjoyable. Guide Dionysus was very knowledgable and pleasant. I'd recommend this tour highly.

Wonderful walking tour of Athens...

Trupti_T, Jan 2017

Wonderful walking tour of Athens. We visited major sites as well as beautiful hidden neighborhoods that we would not have otherwise seen.

Eleni is an excellent tour leader...

Sawsan K, Nov 2016

Eleni is an excellent tour leader, with stacks of information not just on the ancient history and culture of Athens, but its story and cultural evolution throughout the centuries to the present day. We loved the way she linked past and present, with stories and synthesis round every corner. Knowing there were young teenagers with us, she had bought some koulouri for us, and she tried to make the trip interesting for them as well. Thank you for an excellent tour.

Matinée à Athènes

H_C, May 2022

Visite au coeur d'Athènes sous le signe de la mythologie avec un guide grec expert dans ce domaine. J'ai eu le privilège d'etre seule avec mon guide, Arthur