TexasTigerz

Father/son to Athens in June for first time. Do you recommend using a private guide or a good guidebook to tour the Agora and Acropolis? We want a good overview but not something too intense. If recommend getting a guide, any suggestions? Thanks Fodorites-you always come through for me.

grandmere

I think a good guidebook is adequate; that's the way we did it, and it seemed fine for an overview if not a scholarly exploration.

Nadia

A good guidebook is all you need. If you like Socrates/Plato, Walter did a really nice walking tour post of his prison years ago that I followed. I've been to the agora several times now, but I still enjoy taking that walk (even though the cicadas there are noisy!)
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ens-greece.cfm

travelerjan

I agree with grandmere -- but he important thing is to read (and use Highlighter) on the Text BEFORE you reach the sites. Don't buy your ticket and THEN open the book. If you want something online to print out, there are also good succinct descriptions there:
http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh3530.jsp?obj_id=2384
This (rather dry) govt. site gives thumbnails of each monument on top of the acropolis... if you click on each, it opens up to a full page of description that is printable. Print out an easy-to-read map like this: http://www.planetware.com/map/athens...ap-gr-acro.htm -- and you're good to go!

TexasTigerz

Thank you all- I was hoping the response would be to go it alone as you have suggested- I will use the info provided.