• Private Tour
• Family Friendly
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Follow the off the beaten path to Marathon on a private day trip. Go on an exciting journey to the site of the legendary Battle of Marathon and discover impressive gems of the area such as the serene Marathon Lake and its marble-coated Dam or the beautiful sandy beach of Schinias.

Destination

Athens, Greece

Category

Day Trips

Duration

6 hours

Transport mode

Car

Available languages

Ελληνικά, English

Included

• Private guide
• Driver
• A/C Car
• Local pastry
• Coffee
• Pick-up Included

Excluded

• Meal
• Entrance tickets

What you can expect

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with Nikos.

1. Meeting point

   You will be picked up anywhere in Athens. Your local host will contact you regarding the exact pickup point.

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. Meeting Point

   Pick up from your accommodation or agreed central point in Athens

4. Victory Road

   Drive through the original Marathon Course and discover its glorious story

5. Coffee with a View

   Stop for coffee by the Marathon Lake and Dam

6. Local Treat

   Go to a traditional bakery to taste a local pastry (such as spinach or cheese pie)

7. Historical Gem

   Discover an awe-inspiring 3000 BC cemetery

8. Eclectic Museum

   Explore the Marathon Archaeological Museum

9. Battle of Marathon

   Visit the Tumulus and Trophy of the Battle of Marathon

10. Beach Stop

    Relax at the sandy beach of Schinias. Go for a swim or grab some lunch

11. Make it yours

    Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

    Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

    Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

I can personalize this tour for you

• Tell me your preferred date and group size
• Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
• Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!

Contact me

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Sofie🇧🇪 Belgium

11 April 2024

If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of Athens and want to escape to places where there are few tourists, this tour is definitely recommended. Archaeological sites, a museum and the Greek countryside are on the agenda, topped with a sauce of historical and cultural facts. A tasty stop in a bakery and a relaxing lunch on the beach complete the picture. In short, a very successful excursion!Great tour to Marathon

Susan🇺🇸 United States

9 April 2024

Nikos was so informative of the local history and explained everything so thoroughly. The stop for snacks was delicious, and he shared some wonderful off the track spots. Would highly recommend Nikos As a guide.Perfect day with a wonderful guide.

Nicola🇬🇧 United Kingdom

27 October 2023

Nikos was a brilliant guide for our 2 days trips to Delphi and Marathon!! He was so friendly and happy to be completely flexible to meet our needs. He’s so passionate and knowledgeable about history and archeology, the perfect tour guide for these two experiences!! The stop on both days at a local bakery was an extra treat too!! Delphi & Marathon Trips

Bruce🇦🇺 Australia

3 September 2023

Had a great day in Marathon with Nikos our expert guide. Visited the Battlefield and heard the the tale from 490BC. But there was so much more. Nikos took us to tiny out of the way churches, medieval towers, the Marathon dam, gave us a guided tour of the museum and two ancient burial sites. The we finished off with a late lunch at the beach. Nikos is very knowledgeable and had so much to tell.Greag day of History and Archaeology

Kelly🇺🇸 United States

10 April 2023

Nikos was very knowledgable and our group had a fantastic time learning about Greece and Greek culture. Thank you Nikos!Excellent Experience

Brad🇨🇦 Canada

27 January 2023

My wife and I are serious runners, and booked this trip for the running/marathon aspect. Nikos was an absolute rockstar. He was able to personalize the tour to focus on running and the marathon, and was super knowledgeable. He was also just a great guy. HIGHLY recommend. 10/10. Loved this trip

Beth🇺🇸 United States

12 December 2022

Many people taking a cruise that ends in Athens just head straight to the airport. We decided to enjoy our last day by arranging a tour with Nikos. We had taken a tour with him the day before setting off on our cruise so we knew he was a great guide from that experience. Our final day tour was perfect because we focused on sites closer to Athens which meant it was more leisurely. We had time to enjoy views, have pastries and coffee, visit world class sites, and later in the afternoon stop for a delicious traditional meal accompanied by great conversation. While Nikos picked us up at the cruise port, he dropped us off at our seaside hotel that was only a 15 minute shuttle ride to the airport the next morning. It was a great day to have a relaxing end to our vacation, while still visiting historic sites. Nikos is the ultimate guide.A final day in Greece

Anton🇵🇭 Philippines

7 November 2022

Our day trip with Nikos was amazing, and perfect for my history-loving heart. I selected this tour because I wanted to know how it would feel walking the battlefield where Athenians heroically repelled the Persians at Marathon. I got that, and so much more. Nikos brought us to places that were beautiful, supremely interesting, and truly off the beaten track. I would never have discovered some of these places without booking this trip, which would really have been a shame since there was so much historical significance to marvel at. Nikos was kind, warm, entertaining, and a great conversationalist, and we were glad to have booked him for this trip. Breathtaking history at Marathon

Stacy🇺🇸 United States

10 June 2022

My husband and I went to Marathon with Nikos. He was early to pick us up, which we appreciated, and he was so personable right from the start. He was very easy to visit with. We thoroughly enjoyed the stops we made because he tailored the agenda to our tastes. We visited many sites that few travelers ever see. He was very knowledgeable about the history of Greece. We highly recommend Nikos as a tour guide! You’ll make a friend in Greece!Great Guide and Enjoyable Day!

Nina🇬🇧 United Kingdom

27 February 2022

We had a fabulous time with Nikos. Starting at the beginning, he arrived on time and his car is clean and he checked we were comfortable and provided water for the journey and we also stopped for morning pastries. We saw Marathon lake and dam, the early Hellenic cemetery and archaeological museum of Marathon, the tomb of the battle and commemorative tower. It was a highly enjoyable and Nikos is an expert on the history of this area. We made a stop for lunch and coffee and ended up being out longer than anticipated as there was so much to see and take about. We talked music and politics and culture on the journey and had great conversations. I would definitely recommend Nikos for your tour and if you have a particular request just ask as he is very accommodating. Thanks Nikos for a wonderful day!I recommend Nikos highly for your tours

Russell🇬🇧 United Kingdom

23 November 2019

Nikos was welcoming, friendly and professional. We enjoyed our Marathon tour because Nikos was passionate and made an already interesting subject come to life. This was one of the best private tours we have been on. 10/10.Beyond expections

Elizabeth🇺🇸 United States

30 September 2019

We loved our trip to Marathon with Nikos. He was an outstanding guide. He arrived right on time and did everything possible to make sure we had a really enjoyable day. He succeeded!! We really liked the variety of activities and sights included in this trip. Nikos has a solid knowledge of history and is a great storyteller. We never felt rushed at any point in the day and had plenty of time to learn and to take photos. I highly recommend this tour.Fun Day from Beginning to End

Fiona🇦🇺 Australia

16 September 2019

Nikos was the best. He greeted and treated us like old friends. He was very knowledgeable about the history, but also other subjects. His driving was very professional and safe. Our day was so enjoyable and we learned so much. Would highly recommended this tour and of course Nikos.Excellent!

Will🇺🇸 United States

4 July 2019

Even through a heat wave Nikos’s enthusiasm and positivity never faltered. After chatting for hours about every possible subject we came away thinking of him more like friend than a guide. Taking the tours with him was really the highlight of our trip.A great person and guide.

Francine🇮🇹 Italy

13 May 2019

It has been a fantastic day! Nikos is a passionate perfect guide to make us discover all the aspects of the Marathon area. He adapts his explanation of the history to our level of knowledge, and show us all the specific interesting points of this rural area. Professionality, passion, and kindness! This is Nikos!Off beaten tracks to Marathon.

Jaimie🇺🇸 United States

11 March 2019

Nikos was highly flexible with our schedule, offering many times to stop for conveniences and photos. He was very patient with our group, which included an older gentleman. He was excited to share the history of Marathon. Nikos had a great relationship with the museum staff as well as a local baker, who showed us his shop and property. The tour ran over our allotted time, but we were not rushed in any way. He was accommodating.Patient, Knowledgable, Friendly Guide

Michael🇺🇸 United States

28 December 2018

Nikos provided us with a very good tour of Athens and Marathon. He was very helpful and knowledgeable about Greek history and local restraints. I would highly recommend Best Athens Tour

Richard

29 June 2018

That was a very enlightening and intriguing tour! Our guide Nikos provided us with many stories and information about the places we visited. His wide knowledge and vivid passion helped us imagine and understand all the events of the legendary Battle of Marathon, like we were there living it. This is a great opportunity for History aficionados to discover an important page of Ancient Greek History. I highly recommend it!The Glory of Marathon

Julie

23 June 2018

Our family had an extra day to spare in Athens, so, after seeing the highlights of Athens, we -luckily- decided to take this day-tour to Marathon. We visited a big variety of interesting sites from the Tumulus of Athenians lost in the battle to the amazing Marathon Lake and the beach of Scinias. It was nice to discover a different area close to Athens and learn its rich history. Nikos was a great host. He was very eager to show us everything in an intuitive way and make sure we had a pleasant experience. Thank you for this unforgettable day! The Glory of Marathon

Tracy

15 June 2018

Our day-trip to Marathon was one of the best experiences we had during our stay in Greece. Besides the fascinating archaeological sites, the tour included many special moments such as a rest by the beautiful Marathon Lake to enjoy a Greek coffee or the tasting of a traditional pie. What we really loved, above all, was swimming at the beach of Schinias, one of the most beautiful beaches we have seen around Athens. Nikos, our guide, was very friendly and hospitable and made this so much more than a routine history tour, presenting us the beauties of his country.The Glory of Marathon

Josh

14 June 2018

Beautiful sceneries, exciting stories and monuments, a knowledgeable and interesting guide: a total must! The Glory of Marathon

Martina

5 June 2018

The trip with Nikos was awesome. He was very informative of the area and history. The stops were fantastic and well-thought. I will remember Nikos as he’s very warm and made us feel very comfortable during our tour.The Glory of Marathon

Adam

20 May 2018

Everything you wanted to know about Marathon and its famous battle, from A to Z. Kudos to Nikos for making History sound so interesting!The Glory of Marathon

Catherine🇮🇪 Ireland

29 December 2024

We spent Christmas in Athens and wanted one day outside the city. We chose the trip to Cape Sounion and Nikos because of his interest in history and archaeology. Because of the time of the year, we were not interested in a beach stop but wanted a coastal drive and munch in a local restaurant. We also asked him to suggest anything else of interest in the area. He collected us from our hotel at 9.30 a.m. The drive to Cape Sounion was stunningly beautiful. On the way, he provided interesting information about ancient and modern Athens. He was very easy to talk to, and we enjoyed the conversation. At Sounion ,we had all the time we wanted to explore the temple precinct, soak up the atmosphere and marvel at the play of sea, distant mountains and light. Afterwards , he took us to the ancient silver mines in Lavrio. This area was new to us. Nikos gave us detailed explanations of the history of the area, the ancient mining processes and also showed us the stone theatre. Afterwards, we went to a small taverna for an excellent local. lunch . We arrived back at the hotel shortly before five. Nikos was an exceedingly pleasant and knowledgeable companion. He was thoughtful and understanding of my reduced mobility and completely fulfilled all our expectations for the day. A Perfect December Outing

Dave🇺🇸 United States

25 November 2024

We had a perfect day traveling and seeing the sights with Nikos. He was very informative, flexible and fun! It was an awesome way to get out of the city and see Napflio and the countryside. Great day with Nikos!

Jeffery🇺🇸 United States

16 November 2024

What a perfect experience. Our day trip to the Temple of Poseidon with Nikos was nothing short of magical! From the moment we left Athens, Nikos made the journey so much more than just a road trip to an archaeological site. His deep knowledge and passion for Athens and his enthusiasm for sharing the region’s beauty were absolutely infectious. He showed us stunning viewpoints and breathtaking natural landscapes. What made the experience even more special was the hidden architectural gem Nikos shared with us…a site we never would have discovered on our own. He truly went above and beyond, even taking us to an incredible lunch at a local spot. This wasn’t just a tour…it was an unforgettable adventure led by someone who clearly loves what he does. If you’re looking for a personalized and enriching experience outside of Athens, we can’t recommend Nikos highly enough!Amazing Day/Outsyanding Guide Nikos

Paul🇬🇧 United Kingdom

3 November 2024

Fantastic day spent with Nikos. He was so knowledgeable and really helped us to enjoy our final day. Strongly recommended!Cape sounion with Nikos

James🇺🇸 United States

21 October 2024

Laura🇺🇸 United States

19 October 2024

We spent the entire day with Nikos visiting the Peloponnese Peninsula stopping at the Corinth Canal, Epidarus and the lovely town of Napflio…all wonderful places to explore. Nikos made our visit memorable due to his extraordinary wealth of knowledge as well as his easy going and accommodating manner. Truly a memorable day….thank you Nikos!A wonderful day with Nikos

Jimmers🇺🇸 United States

30 September 2024

Booking Nikos was the best decision of our vacation. Our excursion to Delphi was the highlight of our trip all thanks to Nikos. Amazingly kind, knowledgeable, friendly, and personable. By the end of the excursion I felt like I'd just taken a road trip with an old friend. He answered all of our questions in depth with a real talent for story telling. He made the process of navigating around Delphi extremely simple and stress free. I can't say enough good things about Nikos, a truly special, interesting, and unforgettable person and experience. Best Day of the trip. Book Nikos Now!

Nikki🇺🇸 United States

25 September 2024

My husband and I were coming to Greece a day early for a prearranged vacation package and decided to splurge and for a private tour. Nikos was the perfect guide for us!!! From our initial interactions via the app, Nikos was very responsive and made great suggestions for our personalized tour. We requested Nikos picked us up from the airport to begin the tour and he was standing there waiting even though our flight was early and we only had carryon luggage! Nikos had a comfortable and clean car that he used to drive us to sites. We went to the Ancient Theater in Thorikos before continuing to the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion. We continued the day with a beach walk and visit to Lake Vouliageni. We wrapped with an incredible sea side lunch before Nikos drive us to our hotel in Athens. Nikos was full of historical and antidotal information about the sites and Greek culture. Very knowledgeable, professional, and friendly - we would definitely use Nikos again and recommend him to friends and family who visit Athens. Amazing way to start the trip

Emily🇺🇸 United States

14 August 2024

Nikos was an exceptional tour guide for our final day in Athens. He was prompt, extremely knowledgeable, had great communication, and it was like spending the day with a good friend. He even found the perfect local beach for our family to enjoy a swim. All the locations he chose were wonderful to visit and we learned so much from him. We arrived at Cape Sounio at the perfect time to enjoy the site and then settle in for a stunning sunset. Thank you, Nikos for planning our day, sharing these incredible locations with us, and for your kindness. We highly recommend booking a tour with Nikos and if we are ever back in the area, we wouldn’t hesitate to book another tour with Nikos! Perfectly planned day!

Rebekah🇦🇺 Australia

16 July 2024

We had an fantastic and unforgettable day with Nikos! He was friendly, really passionate about the history and sites, explained it all very clearly, answered all our questions, and generally was a such a great person to share the day with. Nikos was very communicative in the lead up to the tour and helped us adapt the day to what we wanted to see considering it was a very hot! By the end of the day, it felt like we had made a good friend. Absolutely would recommend Nikos, so worth it!Greece's best tour guide

Susan🇺🇸 United States

26 June 2024

My husband is a classical scholar and wanted to see a few sites that he had studied. Nikos accommodated our very specific request to go to the sacred Demeter Temple at Eleusus and then on to Epidauaus. Nikis is a true classical scholar. He shared a wealth of knowledge and had lively discussions with my husband regarding certain rituals. He is a natural at giving tours and explains everything in a way that one can get a broad picture of the classical period. We spent nearly 12 hours with Nikos today and we could not have asked for a more scholarly, informed, knowledgeable and accommodating guide. Wonderful classical archeology guide!

Mina🇺🇸 United States

20 June 2024

Nikos, our tour guide was Amazing and very knowledgeable of Peloponnese region. Our day tour was booked for June 13th but we had to change it to 14th due to extreme hot weather. Nikos was very accommodating and changed the tour date for us. We felt like we were with local friend. He is the best tour guide you can have. Anyone who is looking to do Peloponnese day tour should definitely consider it with Nikos.Amazing Peloponnese trip

Carlo

1 June 2024

It was my first time to book a guide through Withlocals.com and I looked for a guide who can customize a Peloponnese day-trip for my family of 4. I went with Nikos since I am a history geek and I was not disappointed. His background in documentary film-making and archaeology, combined with his passion for his history, made him the perfect companion for the trip! I appreciated his hands-on recommendation when we narrowed down the day-trip sites I personally preferred to Corinth, Acrocorinth, Mycenae and Nafplio. He was very attentive, ensuring that we did not go hungry by having an early-morning snack stop before our late lunch, and trying to make the most out of our Nafplio sight-seeing despite the unexpected rain. He was very knowledgeable, accommodating, and ensured that we had a great time. I highly recommend him as a guide!Learned a lot and had a great time!

Laura🇺🇸 United States

29 May 2024

We selected Nikos to take us (3 sisters from the U.S.) on a day trip to Delphi based on his reviews here. He did a great job, we felt very comfortable, and really enjoyed his enthusiastic knowledge and stories. He went out of his way to make sure we were well taken care of, from stopping for coffee and bathroom breaks, to dropping us off at easy access to the sites, for the right amount of time. He then took us to a great local restaurant that was not full of the tour bus crowds which we really appreciated. It was a restaurant in the nearby town of Arachova, family owned for 120 years, and that was really special. We especially appreciated that Nikos was easy to talk to and a great conversationalist with lots of international adventures to share so the conversation was lively both to and from Delphi and during the lunch we shared with him. Thank you, Nikos!Great experience with Nikos as our guide!

Shelley

18 May 2024

We had a fantastic day trip to Delphi with Nikos. He arrived on time, navigated the Athens traffic with ease, was extremely friendly and engaging in addition to being a wealth of information. We were thrilled with our day and highly recommend Nikos. Kaitlyn, Shirley & ShelleyDelphi with Nikos

Erin🇺🇸 United States

17 April 2024

This review is extremely late in posting (apologies Nikos!). There were 3 traveling in my group, 2 adult females and a 13 year old. We were hesitant at first to book with a male but once we read his reviews, we absolutely did. This tour and Nikos was absolutely the highlight of our Greece trip. He is extremely charismatic and knowledgable, patient and kind. He bonded with the 13 year old over Greek mythology and felt like a long time friend instead of tour guide. It's the best way to see world heritage sites and get a taste of Peloponesse. Such a fun and memorable day! Can not say enough about him. Thank you Nikos. This is the experience to do! Nikos rocks.

Susan🇺🇸 United States

12 April 2024

We hired Nikos for 2 lengthy day trips to explore areas that my husband, who is a classical scholar, has always wanted to visit. Nikos was prompt, friendly, courteous, extremely educated with the ability to interweave history in a way that was compelling for both my husband and me. Nikos knew exactly what we were looking for and focused on those things he thought would be most interesting to us. He is an excellent driver as well. He truly loves sharing his knowledge. We were so delighted to have found Nikos. My husband is a tour guide in Newport RI and he gave Nikos a 10+++ for his guiding skills. Thank you Nikos. A true historian and guide!

Susan🇺🇸 United States

10 April 2024

We had the most charming day spent with Nikos exploring Poseidon. His knowledge of the whole area and Greek history was incredible. I can highly recommend Nikos, he was terrific.Amazing Day exploring with Nikos!!

Gert🇧🇪 Belgium

6 March 2024

knows a lot about athens

Barbara🇺🇸 United States

29 December 2023

We had never hired a private guide before, but we wanted to see and really explore the Peloponnese. We are so glad we chose Nikos. He picked us up at our Airbnb during a transportation strike, and braved the traffic getting out of Athens. I'd requested that we stop somewhere for breakfast, and he picked a great local spot where we could enjoy pastries and Greek coffee. Nikos is a scholar and world traveler, so our conversations spanned many topics including art, film, history and politics. Midway through the trip, he realized we were not going to be able to go north because of the terrible storm and flooding in central Greece, so he helped us navigate our travel plans and generally keep calm. We absolutely loved spending the day with him and now consider him a friend. Ευχαριστώ Νίκο!A Highlight of Our Time in Greece

Jennifer🇦🇺 Australia

20 October 2023

We had an amazing day trip to Delphi with Nikos. From great communication beforehand to picking us up at our hotel to tailoring timing to suit us, nothing was too much trouble for Nikos and we felt incredibly well looked after. From the outset, Nikos was keen to know what we were interested in seeing and hearing about. The side trip as well as the main visits at Delphi were really enriched by all the background material he conveyed to us. Nikos is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about history, archaeology and art, which was just what we wanted to find out more about, and really brought the specific sites but also the general landscape of Greece to life for us. He is an entertaining speaker and was incredibly easy and warm to get along with. Nothing was too much trouble and we enjoyed his conversation from the first minute of the pick up to the final drop off at out hotel. Thank you, Nikos, for a fantastic day! If we return to Greece we would love to do another tour with you. Fabtastic day at Delphi with Nikos

Nancy🇺🇸 United States

31 August 2023

Nikos was very knowledgeable & interesting, and answered our many questions! He tailored our tour to what we needed--buying another suitcase, getting coffee, staying away from crowds, & getting us to Cape Sounion before it closed (the hike was really worth it!). We drove to Lavrio for an authentic Greek lunch, and tried new & delicious foods. Nikos had a great attitude & was patient with us. I highly recommend him!!!Informative & Accomodating

Joost🇧🇪 Belgium

2 August 2023

We had a great day with Nikos. He picked us up in the hotel in the morning for a trip to Mycene and Epidaurus. Unfortunately for us the Government took a last minute decision to close the sites at 12 due to the heat. Instead we had a nice city visit and good lunch ! Nikos managed to solve the problem. During the ride he explained a lot about Greek culture in general and about the places we passed by. Great guide & good knowledge of culture

Michele🇺🇸 United States

30 June 2023

Nikos took us to a traditional restaurant for an early dinner before heading to The Temple of Poseidon. We had some time so we went through a small town and then to a nature preserve. Originally we were trying to make timing for sunset but decided to leave early because sun went behind a cloud. Nikos was very knowledgeable of history and provided a lot of information.A trip to Sounio and Temple of Poseidon

jpehrson🇺🇸 United States

24 June 2023

Nikos was a wonderful tour guide and really took an interest in getting to know us. He was very personable and it was a great way to spend a day outside Athens.Fantastic tour

Jim🇺🇸 United States

10 June 2023

Our time with Nikos was awesome! His deep historical knowledge is impressive and so informative! We got to see the Temple of Poseidon, eat at an incredible local restaurant and swim in the Aegean! We would highly recommend Nikos as a tour guide! Great experience, greay guy!

Bobby🇨🇦 Canada

2 June 2023

Nikos was great! We first tried to book with Nikos in 2020, then COVID happened. We are not on our honeymoon, and our trip down the coast to the Cape was wonderful. Lots of cool sights, a nice meal, and the Temple of Poseidon at sunset was one of the highlights of our trip.Temple of Poseidon...wow