I have 2 days/2 nights in Athens with my parents before taking a ferry to Santorini in mid June. Was interested in getting a private tour guide for the first day to really show us around and give us some good history, I don't know alot about Greece. We will be flying in from Paris at around 10am. Is there any tour guides that are recommended??? or is it better to just explore on your own

A tour company run by Athenians who are passionate about their city is http://www.athens-walks.com. I have heard lots of good feedback, particularly on their food tour, but they organise private tours as well. The owner, Kostas, is a former Evzone (palace guard).

They are also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AthensWalks

Thanks, i will check them out

There is a website of the Official Guides Association of Greece, where you can find information and a full list of tourist guides that you can contact directly, for a quotation.

Just for your information, a guide for a whole day ( 8 hours) might be quite expensive ( if i remember well it is around 250 Euros )

have a look at : http://www.tourist-guides.gr/en.aspx

I have to second that recommendation, I have done the food tour, excellent! I had some friends come over for a few days, so joined with them as they really wanted to do this.
As a frequent visitor I had no need of the historic/sites tours, but heard from others that they had a brilliant time & loved the fact they could pick & choose what to see, & when, rather than a few set tours to choose from.
These are individual tours, you are not part of a group trailing behind a guide with some sort of marker!

Sorry, Clausar posting in between I was referring to Heimdall's recommendation. A guide for the full day is a fraction of what he has quoted, unless of course you want ones that guide INSIDE the sites, they ARE expensive.

Yiassas - Looking at the athens walks site and facebook page and it seems to be set tours with set itinerarys. What are the pick and choose individual kind of tours you speak of?

Yes, there are a few tried & tested set itineraries, but these don't suit everyone, so can be varied.
On the homepage of http://www.athens-walks.com/#! click on 'About us' at the top, then scroll down to the comments under Private Tours & Cruise Ship passengers categories.
Email Kostas & give your exact timings of arrival & departure, number in party, ages & any other relevant info (walking difficulties, limitations etc) of your party, along with any must sees you have in mind, main interests, & times you wish to guided. He can then either try & accommodate all on your list, or if you want help deciding he can make suggestions until it suits you.

But be aware that in only one full day plus one afternoon, you cannot do a lot. Chose therefore carefully the places you want to visit (if they are open the day you will be there) with or without guide.

Athens Walk Food Tour is great-just went with Despina in October-it covers a wide variety of places. This company has other tours that would cover the Acropolis and New Acropolis Museum.
If you have time visit the Benaki, Byzantine, or Cycladic Museums on your own. They are located in close proximity and have great displays.