Espa
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

"My friends and I booked this tour last minute and Alternative Athens was extremely accommodating to fit us in.We had a GREAT experience with Andreas, who walked us through the history of Greek wine and wine making. There was plenty of wine to enjoy and a lot of delicious small plates to snack on at the cozy cafe where this all took place. I never felt like we had a tour guide just spouting off a script about wine, food, and Greece. It was more like hanging out with an old friend who is well-traveled, cultured, and extremely knowledgable. Well worth the cost!"

sighoss999

"A perfect day. Alternative Athens is very fortunate to have such gifted guides!"

taiter – Orkney

"Our family of four had a great time with our amazing host Lena, who hosted us in her home and taught us how to make the best Baklava I ever tasted. She was kind and patient with the kids, who enjoyed making the Baklava by themselves with some guidance from our host. While we waited for the Baklava to bake we were provided with a snack of cheese sandwiches and cookies. Also, we sampled 3 local teas and learned about their healing attributes. We really enjoyed our conversation with Lena and hearing the thoughts of local people. Lena provided us with resources for making traditional Greek cuisine that we could use at home. We really had a great experience."

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