Off the Beaten Track in Athens: Akadimia Tour in Athens - 40941e886dee4363cbe0785d1bc516d4
4.8

Off the Beaten Track in Athens: Akadimia Tour

  • 2.5 hours
  • Off The Beaten Track
  • Athens
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Choose one of 16 locals available

Experience hosted by John, Ioannis & other locals

  • Private Tour
  • Carbon Neutral

Take a walk off the beaten track, away from the tourist crowds, and see the real side of Athens. On this private tour, go beyond the classic route and explore the Akadimia where you’ll experience a different Athens, like a local with a local by your side!

Destination
Athens, Greece
Category
Off The Beaten Track
Duration
2.5 hours
Transport mode
Walking tour
Available languages
English, Français, Ελληνικά, Čeština, Русский, Italiano, العربية, Español
Included
  • Private Guide
  • All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral
Excluded
  • Entrance to attractions

6 reasons to book this tour

  • Experience a different side of Athens
  • Dive into the local lifestyle and culture
  • Discover trendy and up and coming areas
  • Get off the main touristic path with a local
  • Can be 100% personalized to your wishes
  • Get inspired with exciting local stories

What you can expect

Off the Beaten Track in Athens: Akadimia Tour in Athens - 40941e886dee4363cbe0785d1bc516d4

Forget about Athens as you know it; there’s more than meets the eye if you follow the less touristy road. Welcome to the incredible Akadimia!

During this private city tour, your host will take you to explore the hippest streets around the city and alternative spots known only by locals. Dive in the local lifestyle while embracing the local culture with the many treasures along the way, from street art, architectural gems, hangout spots, and historical spots representative of the area.

Follow your local host through the Akadimia - this is their playground, and know it like the back of their hand! See Strefi hill, Psirri, and more of this authentic side of Athens. Each of the hosts in this tour will offer a different perspective on the area you’ll visit, based on their expertise and interests.

The local hosts are natural storytellers, each one with a different background ranging from arts to history. They can’t wait to share some of their unique stories and personal anecdotes with you! Feel like changing the route a bit? No problem, the hosts will be happy to personalize the tour to your wishes and make their city your city!

Choose your local

Get to know these 16 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

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 the host of your choice.

  1. Meeting point

    Meet at Entrance of Kafeneion 111, on Ermou 111 - Athens to start your journey

  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. Off the Beaten Track

    Done with the main highlights of Athens? Check out the Akadimia. Explore a lesser-known part of the city that will give you a more authentic feel of Athens. Check out Strefi hill, Psirri and more!
  4. The Real Deal

    Let a local expert in the area you’ll visit show you their Athens from a different perspective - away from the tourist traps. See street art, cultural hot spots, local vendors, hangout spots, and historical gems, and embrace the vibe!
  5. Personalized Recommendations

    Want to explore more of the area after the tour? Your host is happy to recommend their favorite eateries and where to take a break while wandering in this vibrant area
  6. Unique Plan

    Depending on your host, this tour will be experienced based on their knowledge, passion, and expertise. Pick a host that matches your interests and see their city through their eyes!
  7. 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.

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

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Rob and Wendy🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
25 April 2025
Ioannis gave us so much in a few very enjoyable hours. He was knowledgeable, patient, and understanding all at the same time. Showed us some hidden gems, really cool places, had some great tips on what we could do for the rest of our stay. He explained some of the history as only a true local could. Highly recommend if you want to make the most of your time in Athens. Ioannis, The Great guide!
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Margaret🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
25 April 2025
John showed us an Athens. He never would have seen walking about on our own. He loves his city and his country and it showed with every comment he made. He was so friendly and outgoing. Our experience with Chan could not have been better!It was a 10❤️
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Unknown
(About local )
19 April 2025
Ioannis was a kind, entertaining and knowledgeable guide. His background in history as well as local culture, and his lovely personality made our tour so enjoyable. Instead of droning with a continuous monologue like so many tour guides, Ioannis asked us up front what are interests were, answered our questions as they came upon, and interacted skillfully with our group. Yiamas to Ioannis for a great tour!DC family had a great tour!
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Letitia
(About local )
19 April 2025
Ioannis was fun and extremely informative. Tour was great value for money. Fun in the back streets of Athens
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8qthyn6hws
(About local )
16 April 2025
Dimitri nous a emmené dans le centre pour une merveilleuse visite hors des sentiers touristiques, nous faisant découvrir les lieux appréciés des Athéniens. Il est très sympa et de bon conseil. Super découverte du centre ville
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Julie🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
7 April 2025
Dionysius gave us a wonderful tour of Athens which included many hidden treasures that we never would have found by ourselves. He was knowledgeable and provided facts and information at each stop. He even took the time to provide restaurant tips & he also sent other tips for Athens to us via WhatsApp.Fantastic tour of Athens
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Brice
(About local )
2 April 2025
Loved my walk with Voula. 3h weaving in and out of ancient and modern parts of the city, chatting about Greece’s history, culture, society, journalism, economy. A fantastic way to understand the country beyond the Acropolis.An amazing dive into modern Greece
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christel🇸🇪 Sweden
(About local )
2 April 2025
We just had some fantastic hours with Dionysos. What a fantastic guy ‼️‼️Dionysos
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hadar
(About local )
1 March 2025
Our morning tour with Yorgos was delightful, he is a generous and performative guide that gently adjusted himself to our wishes and interests. Thanks to Yorgos we had a welcoming intriguing encounter with Athens. Many thanks! Highly recommended private tour
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Panos
(About local )
27 February 2025
Tatialena was an awesome guide and excellent for families. Much recommended Excellent for kids
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Christine
(About local )
6 February 2025
Ioannis is passionate about his Athenian knowledge and carefully listens to your own interests.He explains that he is a court lawyer and actor by profession. He communicates politely and professionally to understand our wishes for the tour. We talked about what we had experienced already and skilfully Ioannis worked out that we were interested in art and modern politics. We are Scottish and he had interesting insights when comparing our legal systems for instance. Our conversation varied widely using the starting point of the Athenian archeology we walked past. We progressed to modern Greek art by visiting hidden spaces an art cooperative we would never have found. Next we were debating graffiti as art as we walked up the Plaka houses beneath the Acropolis walls with a fascinating story about their origins. He found hidden fresco details which again we would never found without Ioannis. We walked back down through the maze of small streets and markets. Again he skilfully guided us with our interests in mind. At each step of the way he was knowledgable and had an infectious enthusiasm for his local culture. We were returned to near our hotel in a master stroke at a bar called Noel. He understood our enthusiasm for whacky art! What a wonderful man and experience. A real privilege to meet Ioannis. His English is impeccable. Unique insights into Athenian culture
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Neta
(About local )
11 January 2025
I want to express my sincere gratitude to our tour guide in Athens. He had extensive knowledge and shared fascinating insights about the city’s history and culture. His English was clear and easy to understand, making the entire experience enjoyable. He was attentive to our requests and tailored the tour to meet our interests, taking us on a comprehensive journey to some of Athens' most magical spots. He also recommended excellent restaurants, bars, and taverns, which added so much to our trip. Even after the tour, he was available to answer our questions and provide further tips. We are truly grateful for his dedication and highly recommend him to anyone visiting Athens. An Exceptional Tour Guide in Athens
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Margarita🇮🇹 Italy
(About local )
7 January 2025
Ioannis was very kindly able to accommodate us when we had a problem with our flight and were delayed by a day and I was worried we were going to lose our different bookings we had planned. He offered to move it to the next day and adapt the time to fit with another booking (for the Acropoli) we already had. Thanks to Ioannis we had a great time discovering some great places whether on the cultural /historical front or the food and drink front! We were able to see places and areas we probably would have missed had we not been with someone local. The concept of a local guide is amazing , I will be looking out for this on our travels in other countries and for Athens Ioannis was an extremely fun ,cheerful and interesting guide who I highly recommend, Thank you Ioannis!!!A beautiful tour with a great guide!!
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Robert🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
10 December 2024
We were delayed in meeting Tatialena but she waited for us and provided a great tour. She was fun and the pace of the tour met our needs. A Great Tour
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Sheila🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
7 December 2024
Dmitri was a great person, he showed up places we would never have seen on our own. All very interesting, in the present, so much more to Athens than the Acropolis! He was fun to be with yet explained so much to us. We would definitely recommend. Excellent, fun and informative
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Virginie
(About local )
2 December 2024
Merci Nikolas pour cette visite qui a correspondu en tous points à ce que nous souhaitions. Pas besoin de marcher beaucoup pour découvrir Psiri par les petites rues et Anafiotika, Un peu d’histoire mais pas trop, Et surtout en-dehors des sentiers battus remplis de touristes. La durée de 2:30 est juste parfaite. Je recommande vivement cette expérience !Absolument genial !
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Alan🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
30 November 2024
I enjoyed my tour of Athens with Spyros. Even though I’d been through some of the locations previously, he showed me what I hadn’t seen before including those that were less touristy. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about Athens and its history. His perspective from a life in the city added greatly to the tour and is exactly why I was looking for.Like Seeing Athens With A Local Friend
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Sue
(About local )
21 November 2024
John was great with lots of interesting views on all things Greek . We had a great time Great Experience
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Rayomond🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
21 November 2024
What a pleasant experience! Voula was very accommodating and showed us parts of the town we would not have otherwise seen. She was very patient with our numerous questions. She also emailed recommendations after the tour. If you're in Athens, seek her outSuperb walk around town
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Charla🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
13 November 2024
First our transportation was delayed and we contacted Spyros and he allowed us to be late to the tour. We got there and had to use the restroom and kindly allowed us more delay. As we began the tour, I was uncertain it would be all we hoped for. Soon enough, we started exploring. Spyros took us through back alleys, into coffee shops, by new and old marketplaces and restaurants, sharing each step of the way little nuggets on culture, history, food, and stories over time how Athens has changed, etc. We had already spent 10 days touring Greece with a specialized guide and yet we still got so much insight. We almost felt local because we went to places we never would have otherwise. It was one of the highlights of our trip! He could have gone for hours if we hadn’t had a cutoff! He is passionate and you sense it as he stops, pauses and leans in to share another nugget. High Expectations- Didn’t disappoint!
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Derek🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
9 November 2024
A pleasant well paced walk with a knowledgeable guide made Athens far more welcoming. Highly recommended! Derek LA walk through hustory
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Simona
(About local )
6 November 2024
Eleni has a deep knowledge of history and archaeology and is passionate about her job. She was very patient since I asked her to practice Greek but she was helping with English when I did not understand 100%. She was very nice and welcoming. I highly recommend her as a guide :)great experience!
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Vernon
(About local )
5 November 2024
Makram gave us a fascinating tour of Athens and exactly what we were looking for. He recommended and helped us book an excellent restaurant and ended the tour in a rooftop bar with amazing views of the acropolis.Athens Hidden Gems
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A.M.
(About local )
1 November 2024
Dionysis gives a good tour with a lot of background. Was a very nice experience.Walk in Athens
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Nick
(About local )
1 November 2024
Very friendly and helpful with good tips and interesting explanations About Green mythology. Great guide
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Rachel🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
30 October 2024
Ioannis was fantastic. He met us on time, showed us so much of the city that we wouldn’t otherwise have seen. He was so knowledgeable, his story telling was incredibly engaging. He answered all our questions and we were totally captured from start to finish. He clearly has such a passion for his city. We would 100% recommend. Perfect!
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Lee🇮🇱 Israel
(About local )
27 October 2024
John is an excellent tour guide, who was also able to connect and personalize the tour for our 14 yo daughter. You won’t be disappointed.Recommended Tour with John
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anna🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
23 October 2024
John gave us an amazing tour of Athens, he took us to places that were off touristic paths. He was very knowledgeable of history, architecture, cultural aspects of Athens and Greece in general. He knew not only myths, historical details, religious nuances of the past, but also modern day economic situation and social changes of Greece. We had an amazing time, he was attentive to adults and made it interesting for our 3 teenagers. I would recommend to take this walking tour after you saw all the historical sights and you would want to know more about wonderful city of Athens. He even arranged a security guard opening the doors of one of the oldest churches in Athens just for us, which felt very special. Take advantage of his knowledge and ask him for dinner, shopping recommendations or even for recommendations for your traveling plans in Greece-he knows what he is talking about! I would highly recommend John as your local guide.Exellent guide
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Elise🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
16 October 2024
Découvrir Athènes depuis des points de vue privilégiés, c'est l'expérience extraordinaire que nous a fait vivre Ioannis. Ioannis est cultivé et accessible, avec passion et humour, il nous a fait découvrir les lieux communs remplis d'histoire, mais aussi d'autres joyaux inconnus tout aussi fascinants. Un grand merci !Le meilleurs guide pour découvrir Athènes
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Bert
(About local )
15 October 2024
Visiting Athens with Thomas was visiting this most interesting town with a local friend. Thomas was very flexible to adopt to our interests and has showed us many hidden gems and told us many stories about the town and its people.A tour through Athens with a friend
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Sarah
(About local )
13 October 2024
Johns’ knowledge is without bounds … He incorporates history outside of the books with cultural significance like I have never seen… and a lot of fun to be around!! intimate areas of the city were now brought to life with the details he shared from architecture and history that I would have otherwise walked …I enjoyed the experience with Johns’ kindness , professionalism and deep deep knowledge of every corner. Thank you very much John! Incredible. best decision 2 tour with John
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Barb
(About local )
5 October 2024
As promised, Yorgos was full of interesting bits of information. He adapted the tour to suit my needs as an older solo traveler. We covered a lot in the 2.5 hours. I would highly recommend Yorgos! Fantastic guide
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roxana🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
5 October 2024
John was knowledgeable, vibrant and charming. Our tour was a pleasure. Highly recommended! Lovely experience 😊
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Julie🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
1 October 2024
Eleni took us on the best 2 hour walk ever! She was raised in Athens and knows her way around. We weaved our way through restaurants, shopping areas and archeological digs throughout the city. Not sure we could have found so many without Eleni expertly guiding us. Well worth the time and effort!Exploring Anthens
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Fiona🇮🇪 Ireland
(About local )
30 September 2024
Thomas was a delight: energetic, friendly and a natural communicator. We had so much fun and learned so much about Athens and Greek culture. I look forward to a return visit.Worth every Euro
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Lauren
(About local )
26 September 2024
Ioannis took us on a magical little tour of Athens. He was fun, knowledgeable, engaging, I would highly recommend him!!!Ioannis was fantastic!
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Peggy🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
26 September 2024
It was very enjoyable to explore different neighborhoods of Athens outside of the typical touristy areas. Dionysis was extremely knowledgeable, and what I particularly liked is he could answer many of our questions outside of the information he was presenting. Plus, he had a very pleasant way about him and adjusted to our pace when necessary. Experience different dimensions of Athens!
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Steve 🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
25 September 2024
Dionysis was our walking tour guide. There were 5 of us. His knowledge of Athens past and present was exceptional. Never rushed us. Adapted to our pace and our interests. Created a relationship by paying attention to everyone in our group. The tour hit all the right places. It was a great experience! He followed up by sending us recommendations for places to eat and to have drinks. Knowledgeable authentic guide
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Wendy
(About local )
24 September 2024
Irini was such a wonderful tour guide of the central area of Athens. We saw things we would have never known about. She took us to her favorite spots and we had some amazing views of the city. We followed her recommendations for food and our trip would not have been the same without taking this tour. Highly recommend!Beautiful evening in Athens
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Bruno
(About local )
15 September 2024
He is fun. Patient. Well informed. On time. Enjoyed every moment with him.Excellent
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Rosie🇳🇿 New Zealand
(About local )
13 September 2024
From the time we met Dionysis at the arranged spot we were treated to an enhanced experience of Athens = we are most grateful for the knowledge shared with us throughout the time spent. We highly recommend 'a tour with locals'Dionysis - An excellent guide
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Rakhee🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
25 August 2024
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Cynthia🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
12 July 2024
What a perfect way to get started for a first timer in Athens! Loannis was just a wonderful host! After our tour we felt so educated about the beautiful Greek people and amazingly rich culture of Athens. Thank you Loannis! Thank you for all the amazing photos and stories! We are so glad to have met you! Perfect first day in Athens with a friend!
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Elena🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
24 June 2024
I had the idea that I wanted some Greek cultural immersion off the tourist path, and so I let Yani know what types of places I would like to experience, and he did not disappoint. He shared so much with me experiences that were a reflection of the Greek culture. It was like going around the city with a friend, and saying good bye to a friend when we parted. I am so grateful to be able to reconnect with my Greek heritage. Thank you so much! Thank you Yani!
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Bettina🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
12 June 2024
I started my first visit to Athens with the tour Off the Beaten Track. Manos is very knowledgable and easy to deal with and guided me through back streets in the heart of Athens I would have probably missed. He explained a lot about the daily life in Athens, showed me flea markets, street art and interesting buildings. We walked through Monastiraki, Psiri and Metaxourgeio. I highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to see another side of Athens - apart from the main tourist attractions.Discover Athens off the beaten Track
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Anna🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
6 June 2024
John was a fab guide. He is incredibly knowledgeable of both Greek and Athenian history and had very interesting anecdotes and first hand stories about the city, its buildings and Athenian life. We took the tour on our first evening, which was the perfect way to orient ourselves and get some invaluable local insight. I can recommend him! Fab guide, fab tour!
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Yasmine🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
5 June 2024
His love of Athens came through and showed us special places we would never have seen. He’s a walking encyclopaedia and great fun and kind. Thank you Spyros for a memorable day and your restaurant recommendations! Fascinating hidden gems
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Ann🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
31 May 2024
Our family of 5 (2 50 yr-olds and 3 young adults) had a wonderful walking tour with Dimitri. Dimitri was friendly and very knowledgeable about many different eras of Athens history. He showed us his favorite places for falafel and gyro, as well as tavernas and nightlife. We ended our tour with a beautiful vista over Plaka. He walked us to the restaurant he had recommended for dinner and showed us the menu and his favorite items. I highly recommend Dimitri for your tour guide, especially if you have young adults in your group. We enjoyed getting to know him very much.Knowledgeable and Friendly Dimitri!
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Lisa🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
19 May 2024
Manos was very congenial, very informative & very interesting, could not have asked for a better guide. He tailored the tour to our wishes, showed us a part of Athens we never would have found on our own. We explored a number of areas, got little history lessons anything but boring, learned a lot about late history Athens. If you like street art Minos knows exactly where to go -- highly recommended -- thanks Manos. Fantastic tour!!!
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Karl🇳🇿 New Zealand
(About local )
15 May 2024
Ioannis was such an awesome tour guide. My wife Mary and I thoroughly enjoyed his tour taking us to some hidden gems around Athens and exploring and getting to know about the Excharia neighbourhood. This tour was a real highlight of our Greece trip, definitely recommended. Ioannis next time we are in Athens we would love to hang out again. Big love from Karl and Mary, New Zealand! 😁Awesome guy and very easy going!

Withlocals experiences
are always

Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.

Other Off The Beaten Track Tours in Athens

€28.39per person