Classical Greece in 8 Days
Following in the footsteps of the gods and heroes, immerse yourself in the heart of ancient Grèce and its legendary treasures.
Duration
8 days
From
€450/pers.
Ideal seasons
May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Style
Self-drive tour
Comfort
classique
Travelers
Couple, With friends, senior
The spirit of travel
Discover Classical Grèce, between history, mythology and Mediterranean landscapes.
From Athens, explore the Acropolis, the Agora, Plaka and the lively neighborhoods of Monastiraki and Thissio.
Continue your journey through the Peloponnese, discovering Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus and Nafplio.
Then discover Olympia, birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games, before reaching the mythical sanctuary of Delphi.
Admire the diversity of Greek landscapes, between mountains, sea, traditional villages and olive groves.
A stop at the Hosios Loukas monastery, UNESCO-listed, completes this rich cultural journey.
An ideal itinerary to discover the great treasures of ancient Grèce while enjoying its art of living and Mediterranean sweetness.
The stages of your journey
Highlights
Day-by-day itinerary
Arrival in Athens
Upon your arrival at Athens airport, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to start discovering the Greek capital at your own pace.
For this first immersion in Athens, take a walk in the Plaka district, the old town located at the foot of the Acropolis. Stroll through its narrow streets lined with small traditional houses and let yourself be carried away by the atmosphere of the neighborhood.
As you walk, you will come across many taverns, cafés and shops, an opportunity to get a first glimpse of Athenian life before continuing your trip in Grèce.
Athens: Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, Monastiraki, Central Market
Start your day by visiting the Acropolis, before continuing with its Museum. Then head to the Agora, and then make your way to the traditional Monastiraki district, bustling with its many restaurants and shops.
Then make your way up Athinas Street to the central market of Athens. Take time to browse through its many traditional shops, between groceries, hardware stores and all kinds of businesses.
In the evening, several options are available to you. You can attend a performance of traditional Greek dances at the Dora Stratou theater, near the Acropolis. Performances take place in the early evening, from late May to mid-September.
You can also head to Psyrri to enjoy its tavernas, restaurants and bars with music, or end your day with a cocktail in one of the rooftop bars around Monastiraki square, with a view of the Acropolis.
Athens: National Archaeological Museum, Cape Sounion, Thission
Start your day with a visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Depending on your interests, you can also discover the Museum of Cycladic Art, the Benaki Museum, the Byzantine Museum or choose from the other museums in the capital.
In the afternoon, you can go on an excursion to Cape Sounion and visit the Temple of Poseidon.
Back in Athens, take a stroll on Filopappou Hill, facing the entrance to the Acropolis, then continue along the pedestrian street Dionysis Aéropagitou to the Thission district. You will find cafeterias and restaurants with views of the Propylaea of the Acropolis. The Thission metro station, located below, allows you to reach Piraeus directly in 20 minutes.
To discover Athens in a different way, you can also choose a tour with a specialized guide around different themes: gourmet discovery, historic center, mythology, cooking class, treasure hunt, street art, electric bike or even Segway.
From Athens to Nafplio: Corinth, Mycenae and Epidaurus
Pick up your car at your hotel, then depart Athens heading towards Nauplie. Along the way, cross the Corinth Canal. You can park at the restaurant located just before the bridge, renowned for its souvlakis.
Before the canal, we recommend a stop at the Heraion of Perachora site, in the Gulf of Corinth. Continue with a visit to the site and archaeological museum of ancient Corinth, recently restored, then discover Acrocorinth, best avoided in peak heat.
Your itinerary continues towards Tiryns and Mycenae, a Unesco-listed site, before reaching the Theatre of Epidaurus and the Sanctuary of Asclepius, also Unesco-listed.
Throughout this stage, you travel through the Argolid region, renowned for its orange groves. You will also find beautiful beaches in the Nauplie area.
In the evening, climb up to the Palamedes Fortress, then dine in the old town of Nafplio. You will be able to observe beautiful aristocratic houses from the 19th century, witnesses to the time when Nafplio was the first capital of modern Grèce.
From Andritsaina to Olympia in the heart of the Peloponnese
Head towards Olympia by crossing the mountainous centre of the Peloponnese and passing through the city of Tripoli.
Stop in the traditional village of Andritsaina, then reach the ancient Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae, located 7 km from the village and inscribed in the Unesco World Heritage List.
In the afternoon, continue your discovery with a visit to the archaeological site and museum of Olympia, also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From Olympia to Delphi via the Gulf of Corinth
Departure heading towards Delphi, following the coast of the Peloponnese. You cross the Rion-Antirion bridge, then continue along a beautiful road overlooking the Gulf of Corinth to Delphi, once considered the "navel of the world".
Upon your arrival, visit the museum and archaeological site of Delphi, inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage list, as well as the famous Temple of Apollo Pythian.
From Delphi to Athens via the Hosios Loukas Monastery
Departure towards Athènes. On the way, take a 25 km detour to visit the monastery of Hosios Loukas, listed as a Unesco World Heritage site.
Then continue your journey to Athènes for your final stage.
Night in Athènes.
N.B : Depending on your flight departure time, you can also return your car directly to the airport. It is also possible to spend this last night by the sea, on the northern coast of Attika, 20 to 30 km from the airport.
As an optional add-on (+€70 per person), extend your itinerary by one day to discover the Meteoras and reach Kalampaka through the landscapes of central Grèce.
Departure from Athens
Departure from your hotel and transfer to Athens airport for your return journey.
As an optional addition (+70 € per person), discover the spectacular Meteora monasteries, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, before heading back to Athens with a stop at Thermopylae, where you'll find the monument dedicated to Leonidas and the 300. This option adds one day to the tour. To keep your stay at 8 days, it's possible to remove one day from Athens.
Price per person
Indicative price per person, based on double room. Each trip is customized according to your preferences.
This trip can be tailored to your preferences
This itinerary provides an excellent foundation for discovery, but it can be fully customized. Our local advisors build each trip tailored to your budget, dates and preferences.
Not included
- Round-trip flight tickets from your home location. We are happy to assist you in finding the best deals if you let us know the airport(s) and dates that work for you.
- Personal expenses, meals, drinks, entrance fees for sites and museums
- The climate resilience tax must be paid upon reception at your hotel. Amount per room and per night: 1-2* hotels = €2 / 3* hotels = €5 / 4* hotels = €10 / 5* hotels = €15 / apartments = €8
Included
- 7 nights in a double room in good category tourist hotels or as an option charm hotels
- Breakfast
- Car rental of a 1200 cc vehicle from day 4 to day 7 (unlimited mileage, third-party insurance, VAT) with delivery and pickup at your hotel (or at the airport).
- Transfer to and from Athens Airport
Practical Information
Registration is considered firm and final after payment of a deposit of 30% of the total price and acceptance of the specific terms of sale.
The balance must be paid no later than 45 days before the departure date.
See our specific terms of sale for full details.
In the event of cancellation by the traveller, the following fees apply:
- Plus de 60 jours avant le départ : 40 % du prix total (acompte retenu)
- Entre 60 et 30 jours avant le départ : 50 % du prix total
- Moins de 30 jours avant le départ : 100 % du prix total
We strongly recommend taking out cancellation insurance. See our specific terms of sale for full details.
The information below concerns travelers who are nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, and Canada traveling to Greece for a tourist stay. As entry rules may change, we recommend verifying the information with the official authorities before your departure.
Passport and ID card
Nationals of the European Economic Area can enter Greece with a valid passport or national ID card. The document must be in good condition (no damaged, torn, or altered pages).
Swiss and Canadian nationals must carry a valid passport. It is recommended that it be valid beyond your planned return date and have at least one blank page for immigration stamps.
Tourist stay without visa
Greece is a member of the Schengen area. Nationals of the European Economic Area benefit from freedom of movement and can stay without any time limit for a tourist stay.
Swiss and Canadian nationals benefit from a visa exemption for tourist stays in the Schengen area, up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This rule applies to all Schengen countries combined.
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)
As of its entry into force, Swiss and Canadian nationals will need to obtain an ETIAS authorization before any trip to the Schengen area, including Greece.
This prior authorization, separate from a visa, must be requested online before departure. It will be linked to your passport and valid for multiple stays over a period of three years (or until the passport expires). The information to be provided will include in particular:
passport information,
personal contact details,
a few questions relating to security and travel history.
We recommend consulting the official ETIAS website to find out the date this system comes into effect before your departure.
Traveling with children
Minor nationals of the EEA can travel with their own ID card or passport. It is strongly recommended that each child has their own travel document.
In some European countries, when a minor travels without one of their parents, an exit authorization may be required according to the regulations of the country of residence.
Other nationalities
Entry conditions may vary depending on nationality. Affected travelers should inquire with the embassy or consulate of Greece in their country of residence.
To participate in our trips, it is strongly recommended to be insured for emergency repatriation and foreign medical expenses.
Your local agency encourages you to review the specific policy developed with our partners CHAPKA ASSURANCES and AXA ASSISTANCE.
To subscribe to insurance, learn about coverage and rates, follow the link below.
CAP EXPLORER: The complete insurance solution designed for a worry-free trip!
Choose the plan that suits you best:
Explorer'Multirisque
Explorer'Annulation
Explorer'Assistance
Explorer' Complémentaire Carte Bancaire
Specific to our trips, we strongly recommend subscribing to them.
If you choose to subscribe to one of these plans, the policy document detailing all coverage and claims procedures is available on the insurer's website.
Your local agency will be aware of it, but only the participant is responsible for complying with the claims declaration procedures. The participant must therefore keep this policy document with them throughout their trip.
The program can be adapted to your preference. The final price varies depending on the number of people, dates and hotels. High season supplement (mid-July to end of August) + 20%.
Chapka — Cap Explorer
Our insurance partnerTravel with peace of mind with our partner Chapka. Cancellation, repatriation, medical expenses, baggage… All the coverage for a worry-free trip.
Travel with peace of mind — I'll handle the insuranceFrequently asked questions
To travel to Greece, you must have a valid identity card or passport. No special formalities are required upon arrival. The currency used is the euro. Before booking your trip, we recommend that you check the entry requirements applicable to your nationality with the Greek consular authorities.
Go to the My Trips section to find all your projects.
You can send a message to your host directly from the Tea Lounge.
For a tailor-made quality trip, plan between €180 and €300 per day per person, including accommodation, meals, internal transport and activities. International flights (€150-400 return) are additional. Santorini and Mykonos are considerably more expensive, especially in summer.
Your documents are accessible in the Documents tab of your trip.
Absolutely. We adapt each circuit to your travel profile. For families, we prioritize relaxed paces, family-friendly accommodations, fun and educational activities, and comfortable private transfers. Our English-speaking local guides know how to captivate children with age-appropriate anecdotes.
It's simple. You exchange with our local team to define your wishes, budget and dates. You receive a detailed itinerary proposal within 48 hours. You refine every detail together until you reach the perfect version. You confirm and travel with peace of mind. Your local agency remains available 7 days a week throughout your trip.
In case of emergency, contact your local agency immediately.
Payment is generally made in two installments.
Our agency is part of the Nomadays network, registered in France. You benefit from APST guarantee (Association Professionnelle de Solidarité du Tourisme) which covers 100% of your funds. Secure payment, repatriation insurance included, and English-speaking assistance 24/7 on site throughout your stay.
Let's talk about your adventure — Peloponnese
Keeper of a sensitive and timeless Greece, based in Athènes
Greece is more than its postcards. What I love to share is its nuances, its light, its traditions and that unique emotion you feel when discovering it slowly.
— Martine
