• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• 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

City Highlight Tours

Duration

2.5 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Ελληνικά, Čeština, Français, Русский, العربية, Español, Italiano

Included

• Private Guide
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to attractions

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 15 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

   View on Maps

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

hadar

(About local Yorgos)

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

Panos

(About local Tatialena)

27 February 2025

Tatialena was an awesome guide and excellent for families. Much recommended Excellent for kids

Christine

(About local Ioannis )

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

Neta

(About local Yorgos)

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

Margarita🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Ioannis )

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!!

Robert🇺🇸 United States

(About local Tatialena)

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

Sheila🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Dimitri)

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

Virginie

(About local Nikolas)

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 !

Alan🇺🇸 United States

(About local Spyros)

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

Sue

(About local John)

21 November 2024

John was great with lots of interesting views on all things Greek . We had a great time Great Experience

Rayomond🇺🇸 United States

(About local Voula)

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

Charla🇺🇸 United States

(About local Spyros)

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!

Derek🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Dionysis)

9 November 2024

A pleasant well paced walk with a knowledgeable guide made Athens far more welcoming. Highly recommended! Derek LA walk through hustory

Simona

(About local Eleni)

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!

Vernon

(About local Makram)

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

A.M.

(About local Dionysis)

1 November 2024

Dionysis gives a good tour with a lot of background. Was a very nice experience.Walk in Athens

Nick

(About local Dionysis)

1 November 2024

Very friendly and helpful with good tips and interesting explanations About Green mythology. Great guide

Rachel🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Ioannis )

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!

Lee🇮🇱 Israel

(About local John)

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

anna🇺🇸 United States

(About local John)

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

Elise🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Ioannis )

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

Bert

(About local Thomas)

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

Sarah

(About local John)

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

Barb

(About local Yorgos)

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

roxana🇨🇦 Canada

(About local John)

5 October 2024

John was knowledgeable, vibrant and charming. Our tour was a pleasure. Highly recommended! Lovely experience 😊

Julie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Eleni)

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

Fiona🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Thomas)

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

Lauren

(About local Ioannis )

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!

Peggy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Dionysis)

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!

Steve 🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Dionysis)

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

Wendy

(About local Irini)

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

Bruno

(About local Yorgos)

15 September 2024

He is fun. Patient. Well informed. On time. Enjoyed every moment with him.Excellent

Rosie🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Dionysis)

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

Rakhee🇨🇦 Canada

(About local John)

25 August 2024

Cynthia🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ioannis )

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!

Elena🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ioannis )

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!

Bettina🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Manos)

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

Anna🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local John)

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!

Yasmine🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Spyros)

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

Ann🇺🇸 United States

(About local Dimitri)

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!

Lisa🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Manos)

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!!!

Karl🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Ioannis )

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!

Anneke🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Manos)

11 May 2024

Hele leuke stadswandeling door Athene Tijdens de wandeling vertelde Manos veel over het leefklimaat in Athene, haar geschiedenis en gebruiken van de Athenian. Tijdens de wandeling kom je op plekken waar je normaal gesproken niet snel naartoe gaat. Goede kennismaking met de stad op deze manierSuper tour! Info over Athene en cultuur

Amanda🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Spyros)

8 May 2024

Spyros was a fabulous guide- knowledgeable about a wide range of topics - history, philosophy, architecture, scientific advances and urban change. An Athenian born and bred, he led a fascinating tour around the Acropolis area and the city, answering all the questions asked, and full of stories and local insights. Highly recommended - Athenian life ancient and modern

Scarlett🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Spyros)

5 May 2024

We did the tour with Spyros to get additional information on the myths of the ancient Greeks and to get the history of Athens a bit straighter (there are so many layers of history!). Spyros was punctual and he was super flexible. We skipped parts that we had already seen and took time at places we showed more interest in. He knows the city inside and out and is more athletic than many 20 year olds, skipping up the rather steep hill. We didn’t look at the time and ended up having a 4 hour tour instead of 2.5h. Spyros is so passionate about what he talks about, which made it an amazing tour and we learned so much! Would 100% recommend. A wonderful experience, 100% recommended.

Sandrine🇫🇷 France

(About local Irini)

5 May 2024

Irina est une super guide pour découvrir la ville et son histoire avec humour et bonne humeur! Un concentré de l’énergie grecque à elle toute seule! Un super moment avec Irini

Kasper🇩🇰 Denmark

(About local Spyros)

1 May 2024

I can't express with words how grateful me and my girlfriend is for the walk we had with Spyrus. Such a sweet, humble, wise and fun guy. We spend 4 full days in Athens, and went on different tours, but the tour we did with Spyrus was by far the best thing we did. We saw so many hidden gems, as well as well known places. Spyrus had endless interesting stories, facts and managed to really provide a comfortable and meaningful flow. I would recommend anybody going to Athens to do this tour. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts, dear friend! - Kasper & GretaThe best experience and time of Athens!

Diane🇺🇸 United States

(About local Dimitri)

28 April 2024

Wonderful walking tour with colorful commentary about neighborhoods, history, communities. Dimitri's explanations about significance of various areas, buildings etc were enlightening and apt. He shared an insider's perspective of various aspects of Athenian culture and evolution, and as we circled back over some areas over the next few days, appreciated his insights all the more. Couldn't have had a better introduction to Athens and Greeks. Brilliant introduction to Athens

Sinclair

(About local Yorgos)

23 April 2024

Yorgos was fantastic! He started the tour by asking about our interests and what we were most interested in seeing in the city. He took us around to see the local markets and shops, as well as some of the historical sites. He was very informative about the city, the history, and the ancient mythology of Greece. Touring with Yorgos was the first thing we did when we arrived in Athens. It was the perfect way to quickly get familiar with the city. I highly recommend touring with Yorgos!A perfect introduction to the city

Carrie🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Ioannis )

22 April 2024

We had a fantastic time with Ioannis and cannot rate him highly enough! He was really good fun, very knowledgeable and engaging. He really personalised the trip and we definitely saw parts of Athens we would not otherwise have seen. He gave us loads of additional stories and details (that you wouldn't get in a guidebook) which really brought places to life. He also recommended some brilliant bars and restaurants which we later visited and were great. He was off to perform in a play that evening or we would have invited him out for drinks with us!!! Highly, highly recommended... you will not be disappointed. Thank you Iaonnis!Amazing tour guide!