This is a tour about the true heart and soul of Athens. It’s a tour about its people, its habits – old and new-, its everyday life and its secrets.

During this walk you will witness some of Athens’ greatest contrasts: From the Old Royal Palace and the city’s posh areas, where the rich and famous have always settled, to the hotbed of rebellious young thinkers, that has been associated with forward-thinking and social experimentation, where students gather to argue the issues of the day.

You‘ll see buildings of amazing architecture, that reflect the vision of modern Athens as a successor to the glory that was Ancient Athens, as well as architecture that represents the Modernist and inter-war movements. As you are slowly discovering the city you will learn that there are many secrets that lie beneath the surface and that the past is always just a few steps from the present…

You’ll also get a chance to explore some gentrified neighborhoods that are devoted to small businesses, but now they’re all interspersed with trendy eateries and funky little bars. This is where you can see some of the city’s best street art, come across a new jewelry designer, or shop for vintage clothing at one of the retro boutiques.

And as modernity coexists with tradition, you’ll find out how the Ottoman past is still alive in Athens’ flea market, one of the liveliest neighborhoods of the city, where the old and the new generations still meet today.

By the end of our tour, we hope that you’ll have seen the true soul of Athens and its people, a city with a thousand stories still standing, as it has since ancient times, right on the border between the East and the West.

The Athens Orientation Tour is a guided walking experience designed to help visitors understand the layout, neighborhoods, and everyday life of Athens. Rather than focusing on archaeological sites, the tour introduces key areas of the city, local culture, and practical insights to help travelers feel oriented and confident during their stay.

This tour is ideal for first-time visitors to Athens, travelers at the beginning of their trip, and anyone who wants a clearer understanding of the city beyond major landmarks. It is especially useful for visitors who want local context, neighborhood insights, and practical tips for navigating Athens.

The tour lasts approximately 4 hours and includes a long coffee break in the middle of the experience.

The tour explores a variety of central Athens neighborhoods, including:

• Syntagma

• Monastiraki

• The central food market area

• Psyrri

• Kolonaki

• Exarcheia

• The Athens Trilogy area

These areas provide a broad overview of Athens’ social, cultural, and urban character.

No. The Acropolis is not included in the Athens Orientation Tour. This experience focuses on the modern city and its neighborhoods rather than archaeological sites.

This tour is not designed for young children. It involves extensive walking and focuses on historical and social context. Children over 12 years old may enjoy it depending on their interests.

The tour involves approximately 3.5 hours of walking, with a 30-minute coffee break in between. The route is mostly flat, and there are frequent stops along the way, making the pace manageable for most participants.

The route includes a mix of terrains:

• Monastiraki and Psyrri are mostly flat with pedestrian areas, though some uneven cobblestones may be challenging.

• Kolonaki and Exarcheia feature steeper streets and uneven sidewalks.

For these reasons, the tour may be challenging for guests with mobility issues or wheelchair users.

Group size is intentionally kept small, with a maximum of 12 participants, allowing for interaction and a relaxed pace.

No. The tour does not include tastings, and the coffee during the break is not included in the tour price.

Unlike history- or monument-focused tours, this experience emphasizes city orientation, neighborhood character, and local life. It helps visitors understand how Athens functions today, making it a useful foundation for the rest of their stay.