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Designed for the guests who would like a more leisurely visit to Athens. Your city drive will take you from Piraeus into Athens covering the main points of interest both ancient and modern as your guide provides interesting commentary.
First stop will be in the pedestrian zone of the Acropolis where your guide will provide a short explanation on the Acropolis and Parthenon (exterior visit only).
From a scenic viewpoint, you will be able to photograph the famous Acropolis, which stands in the distance on a rocky hill high above Athens.
Reboard your coach for an orientation drive of Athens from the comfort of your coach. See Hadrian's Arch, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Constitution Square, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Parliament, the Academy, the University and the National Library.
At the termination of the orientation drive, you will arrive at the most suitable point for entering the Plaka. Proceed with your guide on a short walking tour of Athens's oldest and most picturesque neighborhood.
The maze of cobblestone pedestrian streets is lined with shops, boutiques, souvenir stands, and flea market stalls.
You will have approximately 1.5 hours to browse through the many shops and souvenir stalls or you can relax in one of the many tavernas or cafes. Meet your guide at the designated point and time to rejoin your coach for your return drive to the ship.
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Leaving the quayside, drive to Athens through the suburbs where the coach will enter the city center from the southwest along Syngrou Avenue. Drive past some of the famous sites such as the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest Corinthian style temple in Greece.
Hadrian's Arch separates the old and new Roman towns. Other sights to see include the National Gardens, the National Library and the Parliament Building, formerly the Royal Palace. The Panathinion Stadium, built in 1895, was the site of the first modern Olympics held in 1896.
The National Archaeological Museum is an unrivaled treasure house, which contains an outstanding collection of masterpieces from excavations throughout Greece.
The museum's main divisions are prehistoric, with Mycenae predominating. Sculpture from the Archaic (eighth century BC) to Hellenistic (third to second century BC) periods and pottery from geometric (the end of the fourth century BC).
A few of the museum's most important exhibits are the bronze statue of Poseidon, the head of Hygeia (Goddess of Health), the bronze statue of the "Jockey-Boy" of Artemision, the Golden mask of "Ageaemnon" and the brilliant Minoan-style frescoes from Thira (Santorini).
Due to the extensive renovations and necessary closures of different sections of the museum, the exhibits visited may vary between groups/coaches.
The local tour agent and Celebrity Cruises Inc. cannot guarantee which exhibits will be open during each call date.
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Departing from Piraeus by coach you will head to the heart of Athens. Start your walking tour by crisscrossing the center of the city, coming across its modern and ancient history.
You will briefly visit the archaeological displays at the Syntagma Metro Station, before your guide takes you to the House of Parliament, in front where you will view the monument to the Unknown Soldier.
You will also see the Evzonoi- the Presidential Guards in their beautiful national costumes.
Cross to the National Park, which Athenians call the green lung in the heart of the city and you come to Herod Atticus Road where you will see the Presidents residence, the former palace. Walking down Herod Atticus Road, you will see the marble Stadium of Athens where the first Olympic Games were held in 1896. The stadium was originally built in the 4th century B.C.
Walk on towards the neoclassical Zappeion Building, across which you can admire its huge columns, crowned by Corinthian capitals. Behind it, a Roman monument of Athens, the Hadrian Gate, having served as the border between the Greek and the Roman sections of the city. Within a few minutes, you will reach the most famous neighborhood of Athens Plaka where you will walk through it, enjoying its very special and unique character, coming upon monuments like Lysikrates with rich history. You end your walking tour at Mitropoleos Square, where you can briefly visit the two cathedrals of Athens, the old and the new one. Afterwards join your bus and return to the Port.
Note: Guests must be able to walk approximately 3.25 miles over steep inclines, 50 to 75 steps and uneven surfaces. Comfortable walking shoes, hat and plenty of sunscreen are recommended, specially from June to September. This tour will operate in all weather conditions so participants should take appropriate weather gear with them. Due to the nature of this tour, guests with walkers or wheelchairs and children under the age of 15 years cannot be accommodated. Time permitting; guests will have approximately 30 minutes of free time while in the Plaka area for shopping and browsing. If guests should miss the return coach, transportation back to the vessel is their own responsibility and at their own expense.
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View sample land tours & shore excursions details
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- Alexandria, Egypt
- Amsterdam, Holland
- Athens, Greece
- Barcelona, Spain
- Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Bergen, Norway
- Berlin, Germany
- Cannes, France
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey
- Helsinki, Finland
- Florence, Italy
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- Naples (Capri), Italy
- Nice (Villefranche), France
- Paris (Le Havre), France
- Provence (Marseilles), France
- Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
- Sicily (Palermo), Italy
- Oslo, Norway
- Palma De Mallorca, Spain
- St. Petersburg, Russia
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Tallinn, Estonia
- Tangier, Morocco
- Tunis, Tunisia
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Pricing & Information Request
Call 1-800-377-9383 or submit a request.
* Rates & offers are subject to select dates & categories, cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy, in US Dollars, & include NCCF. Government taxes & fees are additional. All rates & offers are capacity controlled, are subject to availability & confirmation, & may change without notice. Additional restrictions may apply. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed -- please confirm details at time of booking.
- Carnival reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel.
- Holland America Line reservations are only accepted from clients with a United States or Canadian residence; by reserving on Holland America Line, client warrants that he/she maintains a US or Canadian residence.
- Princess Cruises reservations are only accepted from clients with a United States or Canadian residence; by reserving on Princess Cruises, client warrants that he/she maintains a US or Canadian residence.
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