our team

Elena

Tour leader Photo of Tour leader Elena

My name is Elena, and I have a deep love for travelling and learning about different cultures.

One unforgettable moment in my life was my first trip abroad, which sparked my passion for exploring new places and meeting people from diverse backgrounds.

I pursued my studies at the Ionian University of Greece, where I focused on Translation and Interpreting. This allowed me to better understand how language connects people and cultures. That also marked the beginning of my journey towards becoming a bridge between different languages and cultures.

The moment I stepped into the Louvre for the first time it was then that I knew that translation was not the only thing for me and I began to dream of one day becoming a guide myself.

Now, as a tour leader, I get to pursue that dream and be the personal connection between travelers and my city.

Even in today's digital age, I believe in my role of offering a human touch, guiding visitors beyond GPS and online resources. I aim to share the heart and soul of my city.

Photo of Founder Tina.

Tina

Founder

In 2010, the Greek crisis hit and the country went into freefall. From there begun a great and long adventure...

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Photo of Finance Fairy Elli.

Elli

Finance Fairy

Elli doesn’t really like to talk about herself, so we’ll do it for her!

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Photo of tour Leader Andreas.

Andreas

tour Leader

I grew up in a neighbourhood called Nea Smyrni. The first settlers here were refugees from Asia Minor. People in our neighbourhood are proud of where they come from.

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Photo of Reservations & Operations Manager Iro.

Iro

Reservations & Operations Manager

As a child, my diet was limited, primarily consisting of soutzoukakia - meatballs in tomato sauce, a traditional Greek dish.

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Photo of Tour leader Elissavet.

Elissavet

Tour leader

They say the ignorance is a bliss, and I couldn’t agree more.

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Photo of tour leader Pavlina.

Pavlina

tour leader

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain

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Photo of certified guide Vassia.

Vassia

certified guide

There is a book I like a lot. Its final sentence reads: “It is never too late to have a happy childhood”. 

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Photo of tour leader Niko a.k.a. Rude.

Niko a.k.a. Rude

tour leader

It must have been at the end of middle school when I discovered graffiti. My new hobby began stealing ‘precious’ time I could have used for studying for school. I realised that action had to be taken...

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Photo of tour leader antigoni.

antigoni

tour leader

There is a theory that claims that your name determines who you are. Antigone, the famous heroine of a Greek tragedy, defied the rules and for that she faced death.

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Photo of Tour leader Maria-Katerina.

Maria-Katerina

Tour leader

No matter the plans made or expectations set, things seldom unfold as anticipated, and that's perfectly okay.

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Photo of tour leader katerina.

katerina

tour leader

I am a fan of poetry. Poems have the ability to paint a picture in just a few words… especially while traveling.

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Photo of Tour leader Eleni.

Eleni

Tour leader

‘’We dream in colours borrowed from the sea’’

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Photo of tour leader Elizabeth.

Elizabeth

tour leader

The French poet Arthur Rimbaud once wrote that "Eternity is the sea mingled with the sun " and I guess there' s a little bit of truth of that in me.

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Photo of tour leader Tania.

Tania

tour leader

I was about five, and I was taking part in a school celebration. When I stood behind the microphone, my mind went blank and my mouth went dry. Tears welled up in my eyes.

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Awards & Accolades

Testimonials

"Amazing Tour! It exceeded my expectations. Our guide Demetra was wonderful and had an amazing knowledge of history, archaeology and culture; she did a great job highlighting things of importance and interest, while not bogging us down with too much detail. Our tour included a number of cultural stops (wine tasting, icon painting, Greek lesson, tanner and bellmaker visits, stops for local sweets and food, etc.) and every stop added to the richness of our trip. I honestly cannot say enough good things about Alternative Athens and Demetra!!"

Elizabeth B, TripAdvisor

"The whole family agreed- it was the best day we spent in Athens! We loved taking this family day trip to Delphi with our knowledgeable guide and kind driver. Not only were we able to learn about the history of the Delphi site, but also about the smaller towns in the area. Meeting craftspeople in the village really made this tour special. This tour is very well organized to avoid the crowds at the archaeological site, and includes a yummy lunch. If your travel plans include the time to spend a day outside of Athens, I highly recommend taking this tour with Alternative Athens."

nkeredn

"We had an amazing tour through the sites with stories about the gods and goddesses with our kiddos, ages 5 and 9. I highly recommend Alternative Athens! Not only did we have a great guide, but we were also greeted and treated to excellent customer service. This tour was a highlight of our trip!"

Rosanna