day guides for Acropolis, Delphi?
 

I've noticed that many of the ancient sites mention guides being available. Do you think this is a good idea, and should we arrange in advance, or hire someone on site (if it is necessary/good idea). We will be obviously visiting the Acropolis/Parthenon, and then also Delphi, Meteora, and Knossos. Advice appreciated. Thanks

I saw a number of guides at Delphi and the Acropolis when we were there but we didn't use any. If I had known about them we probably would have - just for additional knowledge.

It is not always possible to find a licensed guide on the spot. If I wanted one, I would make arrangements before hand. Now if one is needed or not is a personal call I guess. Usually I like to make lots of research in advance, print out or write down interesting tidbits I read here and there to get with me and have a guidebook with me too. I then tend to just go and explore on my own pace. But of course a guidebook can not answer questions or amend a visit to suit each person's interest, so having a guide has its advantages...

Thanks, we did decide to reserve a guide for Delphi - any other opinions about the value of a guide for exploring the Acropolis? or another way to ask the question - is it pretty easy to figure out what is what wandering around on one's own, or is it ever so confusing? thanks

Laura, do you have an I-pod, MP3 player, phone that records??? Rick Steves website has for FREE a STEP-BY-STEP downloadable audio guide to the Acropolis AND to the adjacent Ancient Agora, AND to the Natl Archeological Museum. These are also in print in his Athens/Greece guide.... I ripped it out and used it, very helpful.

that sounds like a great idea Jan - thanks.

We just returned from Athens. As far as tour guides at the Acropolis, as you walk up the hill after buying your entry ticket, guides will approach you asking if you want a tour. Not hard sell, but just letting you know they're available. We did not use a tour guide, but read the placards at each location. Also, we had a driver that educated us about the site before dropping us off. It is an amazing place!

I STRONGLY recommend arriving at the Acropolis before 9:00 a.m. as it is less crowded and not yet hot!! By the time we left at 10:30, it was quite warm and swarming with tour bus people.

The Agora is also very interesting, as are both museums.

You can purchase a combo ticket for multiple sites to save a few Euros (and I think it's good for a couple of days).

Travelerjan makes a great suggestion.

I was also going to suggest downloading a podcast. Listen to them on the way to the destination and then again while you are touring the sites. Delphi in particular may be meaningless without some sort of specific info. A guide would be good too if you can organise that.

Knossos is more likely than some other places to have licensed guides standing around at the entry, offering guidance for small groups. If you agree to their price (€10-15 per), you'll wait until they collect enough people to make it worth their while.. if you go for this arrangement, make sure to tell them you are willing to wait for 15 minutes, no more.

There are also some very good online resources -- this I think is the absolute BEST ... 12 pp, illustrated, print out, read beforehand & then follow. Superb!! http://www.odysseyadventures.ca/arti...Knossos01.html here is another splendid step-by-step photo tour... http://campus.lakeforest.edu/academi.../KnosTour.html
here are 2 maps, Planetware more detailed:
http://www.planetware.com/tourist-at...-cre-crete.htm
http://www.hellas-guide.com/crete/knossos-map.html
... the Odyssey one is likely to know as much/more than even a licensed guide, at least likely to give more detail than a guide can in limited time.

There are plenty of guides at the Acropolis if you want to hire one. Get there as early 8 a.m. is great, to avoid the heat and the bus loads of tourists. I usually go before I eat breakfast because my hotel is a ten minutes walk, spend an hour and then go back and eat.

It will be our 2nd (and only full day - at least this part of things) in Athens, so no idea how the jet lag will hit us, but if we can be up early we shall do so. I did download the Rick Steve's podcast so we can put ourselves to sleep with it the night before lol. Thanks everyone for the advice, we did hire a guide for Delphi - just seemed if we are going all that way we may as well understand what we see!