Hi all,

We are traveling to Athens on the Celebrity Galaxy this summer and I am looking for a private guide for 6 adults.
Any suggestions??

I am currently talking to someone but they are quoting a lot of money!!

Hello try http://greece-private.com/greek_tours.htm this is a company I use

A private tour by car or van in Athens or any European city is going to cost you a lot of money. If you are looking to save, you can very easily take the Metro to the Acropolis stop and see most of the historic sights on foot (no guide is really necessary).

As you exit the Acropolis stop you are literally in front of the new museum; the Theater of Dionyusus is about 100 yards away, and then you can walk right up the hill to see the Parthenon. The ancient agora and sights in the Plaka are may be 10 minutes away by foot. These alone will give you a fulfilling look at ancient Greece.

You can get to the national museum by Metro plus a 10-minute walk or by taxi on your own. Or you could visit one of the more accessible small museums by taxi or metro.

I never really understand why people feel they need a guided tour of a places that's so accessible and easy to navigate. (It's a different story entirely if someone in your group has mobility issues ... then the argument for a private tour by van is much stronger.)

africatravel:

I am not sure what your private guide quoted for the six of you...what time do you disembark...and what time doyou have to be back at the ship.?

Your ship will dock about 6 miles from the city centre.

If you are planning to go without a tour guide then you better do your homework.

If you do not do your homework, then when you get to the Acropolis all you will be looking at is a lot of ruins and rocks scattered around.

let me give you some examples:

1. First orientate yourself at the Acroplois as to which is North East West and South... this will help you in knowing what you are looking at.

2. You will be on top of a large rock hill almost in the middle of Athens. This rock is called the Acropolis.

3. Okay now you are on top of the Acropolis.... do you know what you are looking at?!!

4.When was the Acropolis built and under who's guidance?

5. What is the Propylai?

6.The temple of Athena Nike is on the West side of the Acropolis...there is a good reason why it is here. (Why??)

7.There are two Amphitheatres...they are both on the South sides of the slopes of the Acropolis. are they being used now or are they just ruins??

8.There is a famous Olive Tree ( not the original one) by the Erechtheion(hmm what is this).. what is so famous about it ??

9.If you look South from the Acroplois ,you will see a large park like area.....this area is the Agora

.... scan your eyes to the left,see that long building...that is the Hephaestus Temple...now scan your eyes to the Right...that is the Stoa of Attalos (read about these places).

10.The best place to view Athens from the top of the Acroplois ..is on the EAST corner...you cannot miss it because there is a flag pole here with the Greek Flag flying high.!!

11. Also when you look down( South) on the Agora area you will see some ruins.. these ruins are from the Temple of Zeus and Harian's Arch which is still standing...

There is lots to see here.

See that mountain peak in the distance(N) that is mount Lykabetta.

Do you want to see also:

1. The Tower of the winds.
2.Parilament Building.
3.Constitutional Square
4.Changing of the Guards at the Presidents House.

5. Do you want to do some shopping down below the Acroplois and across the Agora area...this is the Plaka area..this is the oldest section of Athens.

6. Have lunch and a beer at an outside sidewalk cafe in the Plaka

And you say you are going in the summer...do you have an idea of how hot is it.!!! and you want to hop a bus and do a lot of walking in over 100F weather !!

I had a private tour guide and he toured me everywhere in Athens. I saw almost every major place there was ..and then he drove me to some terrific lookout point....

Only you can decide what you want to see and how much you want to see in Athens.

Percy

Doug, I find that private guides are a wonderful addition to touring a city. Just being able to get around a city on my own is not the only factor in my enjoyment of that city.

A guide points out and tells us about things we'd hardly have noticed, answers questions, takes us places that aren't always easily accessible by public transportation, and geatly enhances our appreciation of what we've seen.

I don't disagree with what you're saying, abram. You make a very good point. I took an excellent private guided tour of Prague a couple of years ago, and I wouldn't have passed that up for anything, but it also cost only $40 per person for a very full day.

But I usually prefer to do it on my own, bring a good guidebook, pick up an audio guide where it's available, or just hire a private guide for an hour or so at a site for a short orientation tour.

Unless I'm in a place where a guide is reasonably priced, I prefer to get around on my own by public transport. I don't like being stuck in traffic in a van all day, as could happen in Athens. But that's just my travel style.