Day 1.

Upon arrival in Athens, collect your luggage and proceed to meet your English-speaking greeter and transfer by private taxi to your hotel in Athens. The rest of the day is free, for you to catch up on some sleep, relax or explore historic Athens on your own.

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Day 2.

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you will be ready to see all the sights of Athens. This morning’s guided group sight-seeing tour will provide an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that makes Athens such a fascinating city.  Our expert guide will take you to see the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896 (short stop).  You will then pass by the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Hadrian’s Arch, the Parliament and the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University, the National Library, and the Constitution Square (Syntagma). 

 

The tour includes a visit to Acropolis, this amazing symbol of ancient Greece, which has been a home to kings, a citadel, a mythical home of the gods, and a religious center. There, you will visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens:  The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally “the harmony between material and spirit”, the monument that “puts order in the mind”, the Parthenon.  In the new Acropolis museum, you can admire the statues and the wonders of the classical era.

 

There is also opportunity to stop for lunch at a local taverna (at your own cost). At the end of the tour, you’ll meet your next guide and transfer via taxi, for a private tour of the National Archeological Museum.  Return to the hotel to rest and freshen up before dinner. Dinner on your own.

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Day 3.

After breakfast today, you will proceed to join a group tour to Cape Sounion. While you enjoy the scenic drive on the coastal road, your English-speaking guide will introduce you to the wonderful beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni & Varkiza and then to the most southern point of Attica, Cape Sounion, where you will find white marble pillars of the Temple of Poseidon. 

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On the way, you have a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf and the little islands offshore.  After visiting the Temple of Poseidon, you have time to walk at leisure on the rocky promontory of Sounion. There is also opportunity to stop for lunch at a local taverna (at your own cost).

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In the afternoon, return to the hotel with the rest of the day free to explore Athens on your own. Dinner on your own.

  

 

Day 4.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and meet your private transfer to Piraeus port to embark on your Celestyal 7 day Idyllic Aegean cruise (shorter duration cruises also available upon request).

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Day 4 – 11: As soon as you step aboard Celestyal Crystal, you’ll realize your getaway couldn’t possibly feel more comfortable or more like home. Enjoy comfortable staterooms or suites, elegant restaurants, bars and lounges, spa and fitness rooms, as well as promenade decks, where you can revel in the splendor of a starlit ocean sky.  Your journey will take you from Athens, to Kusadasi, Rhodes, Crete, Santorini, Milos and Mykonos before returning to Athens.

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Discover the rich history, fascinating culture and sumptuous cuisine of the sun-soaked Greek islands. With vivid landscapes to explore, this 7-night cruise invites you to indulge in traditional flavors, admire stunning landscapes and explore charming villages. Guided visits to the  Medieval Acropolis of Lindos and the intriguing city of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the Eastern Mediterranean, are included. With this cruise, you will have the opportunity to discover hidden secrets and indulge in an authentic experience of Mediterranean cuisine and the classic Greek lifestyle. With the all-inclusive drinks package, wholesome meals three times a day, a full program of entertainment, and excellent amenities, life onboard has everything you could wish for.

 

Day 11.

Your cruise will return to Piraeus and it is time to say goodbye to the sea. You will be met as you disembark and then transfer to your Athens hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

 

Day 12.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will meet your English-speaking guide for a private tour of Ancient Olympia. The transfer to and from Olympia is via private taxi. On the way, you will drive through the amazing modern engineering masterpiece of the Corinth Canal (Isthmus Canal).

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Upon arrival, you will have the opportunity to visit the beautiful green archeological site of Ancient Olympia and museum. During the tour you will view the ruins of the Temple of Zeus (Father of Gods in Ancient Greece), the Gymnasium, and the Altar of Goddess Hera. This is where the Olympic Flame is lit every four years for the modern Olympics.

 

During the tour around this UNESCO World heritage Site, you will also see the Leonidaion, where all the important visitor for the Olympic Games, were hosted and the Stadium which was designed to hold up to 40.000 spectators.

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Not far from the Archeological Site and through a park full of trees and plants, is the Archeological Museum of Olympia which opened in 1982, home to an outstanding collection of statues and artifacts found during the excavations.  During the tour, lunch will be served in a local taverna (beverages extra).

 

 

Return to the hotel in time for dinner (dinner on your own).

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Day 13.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. It is time to say goodbye to Greece, the ancient land and the eternal sea!

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NOTES: Itineraries are intended to be suggestions only, completely customizable to meet the needs and tastes of the traveller in terms of type of accommodations, cruise cabin, length of stay, additional destinations, experiences, and transfers.