Home > Athens > Athens Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Athens and Piraeus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
USD $29.00
Athens Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Athens and Piraeus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Athens, Greece
No matter what cruise ship you arrive on, this is the perfect do-it-yourself shore excursion in Athens. Experience the essential things to do in Athens and Piraeus aboard this City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off tour. You'll see all the historical and modern sights of Athens in a comfortable and secure environment, with full commentary provided. Stop at all the major attractions dating from both ancient times and the present day, including the Acropolis, Parthenon, New Acropolis Museum, National Archeological Museum and the Plaka!
Customize this City Sightseeing tour by hopping on and off the bus at any stop, as many times as you like. Simply hop off where you want to, and return to any stop to continue your tour.
Tour highlights: Syntagma Square Terminal Melina Merkouri / Plaka New Acropolis Museum The Acropolis and Parthenon Temple of Zeus National Gardens Benaki Museum Panathenaic Stadium National Library National Archeological Museum Omonia Square Karaiskaki Square Thession Station Kotzia Square
This excursion is located within a 10-minute walk to the cruise port, so you determine the time you return to your ship in Athens. Please allow yourself ample time to enjoy the excursion and ensure your timely return to the port. This excursion is not covered by our worry-free policy
Great service and made it easy for newbies to the city to get around...highly recommended.
Review by: Maggie, January 2018
It was so relaxing and enjoyable -loved every minute of it
Review by: Janetnethen, January 2018
Inexpensive way to see city.
Review by: Godwi, December 2017
We did this activity as a shore excursion from our cruise ship. It was perfect for us as there was a bus right at the cruise terminal and the guides were helpful in pointing out where we might want to go on the maps. This is great as an overview activity if there are one or two particular things you want to do along the way while appreciating everything else to see.
Review by: martin s, November 2017
Long ride round with little to see._br/_ Good way to get from the port to the acropolis but the greyline yellow bus is a newer bus and runs more frequent._br/_ Ride around athens was very long and slow and lots of derilict houses, and shops and just a few glimpses of anything of interest.
Review by: Frank R, November 2017
Always enjoy these bus tours in new cities. I like to get a base of the whole city while learning informative facts from the commentary. Then you can mark down places you want to come back and see. Would definitely recommend.
Review by: William M, November 2017
The hop on hop off tour in athens was good as well. Unfortunately there was a metro strike and the streets were full of vehicles making it challenging to see all we wanted to. People who had booked other tours encountered the same issues.
Review by: pbshaw13, October 2017
Train engineers had gone on strike and blocked all downtown streets. We had to come back early so that we would not miss our cruise departure. This was not the bus tours fault but we did not see what we came to Athens to see.
Review by: Cynthia F, October 2017
Easy to move around.
Review by: Bernie, October 2017
My wife and I used the Athens Hop-On Hop-Off bus system to tour Athens. After finally finding the Piraeus Line bus-stop location not too far from where our cruise ship docked in Piraeus, we rode the bus to Stop 4 which is where you get off to visit the Acropolis. We spent considerable time there before taking-in the Acropolis Museum to which we walked. We then got on an Athens Line bus and went to Hadrian's Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus stop5. After walking in this area, we caught another Athens Line bus and rode the remainder of of the circuit back to Stop3 where we got off the bus to have a late lunch. Following, we caught a Piraeus Line bus back to the port. Use of this bus line system is a great way to tour around Athens. It would have been helpful if we had known where to go to catch the bus after we left our cruise ship but other than this, travel using the system was easy.
Review by: Keron K, October 2017
We saw a lot on this trip from the port to the historic area and then on to the National Archelogical museum.
Review by: Liz C, October 2017
Best way to see any city. You get to see all the popular sites and return to the favorite sites.
Review by: hweissman, October 2017
Basically a great way to navigate Athens in a short time.
Review by: conley261, September 2017
A good way to see the sites, but have a plan as to what you would like to see and allow for time to walk to these points of interest. Athens is a very congested city, but overall not horrible.
Review by: Roberta W, September 2017
Amazing way to get around Athens and see all the sights!
Review by: Diane H F, September 2017
Excellent way to get from cruise ship terminal to all the main sites in Athens...buy your tickets online, print and take with you....couldn't be more convenient or more economical.....buses are waiting for you, easy to locate, bright red color....get off ship asap and beat the crowds to the acropolis....after spending all the time we wanted to explore Parthenon we hopped back on and got off at other locations...great way to get around, includes headphones for speaker on bus where you can choose your language and get information about site you're headed to and things you'll see along the way!
Review by: Tracey O, September 2017
This being our first time to Athens we felt this was a great way to get around and see the highlights! Overall a good experience, bus was clean, on time, felt safe. The only negative comment was some of the ports didn't work for the earphones so a couple of times had to switch seats. Overall though felt the price was reasonable and enjoyed our day!
Review by: Susan L, September 2017
This is an economical and enjoyable way to see the city over two days!
Review by: Oanh T, September 2017
Good way for sightseeing at your own pace, however not recommended for shore excursion due to bad traffic in city, had to skip lots of places so not late catching last bus back to port.
Review by: Nelia, September 2017
Yes. I am glad I booked this hop on hop off tour. Very convenient way to transfer from Piraeus to Athens and back and we were able to use the same ticket for two days. _br/_ This tour also included two free walking tours which we availed - Highly recommended. We learned a lot. Thanks a lot to Dimitris - he is an archeologist, historian. Very helpful. I understood Parthenon, Acropolis gave good historical trivia. He also showed us where to shop and eat and what time is the best time to visit Acropolis. _br/_ This hop on hop off tour also included free snacks and water if you will drop in syntagma square. We were also able to see presidential guards. _br/_ Thanks Dimitrus. We made good decision to book this as our shore excursion.
Review by: Maureen C, August 2017
Great way to see all the major sites.
Review by: michael w, August 2017
It is the best way to see Athens. We got of the ship , walk 100 meters to the bus . We spend the next 48hours to see Athens ._br/_ Very good service.
Review by: Anthony, August 2017
An excellant way to see Rome and there are 4 lines but the longest takes about 2 hours to get round but does include the Greek Parliament buildings May find that those on a cruise ship need to factor in extra time if you want to get on and off alot.
Review by: Ulrich J, July 2017
When you visit Athens on a cruise ship, using the Hop-on Hop-off service is an absolutely must. Getting into Athens is so easy._br/_ Never buy these kind of tickets through Viator or similar agents, because it doesn't give you any preferences when you arrive. We came with a cruise ship and the idea with the Hop-on Hop-off busses are brilliant, but there is absolutely no reason to pay the tickets in advance.
Review by: Paul R, July 2017
My wife and I were on an East Med Cruise and Piraeus was one of the Ports of call. As we were there for only the day we decided to book this HOHO so we could see as much of Athens at our own pace. The Piraeus and Athens ticket enabled us to use the HOHO bus for the two routes. Route 1 took use directly from the port to Athens centre and route 2 linked up with route 1 to take you around the rest of Athens. There are 3 bus companies that operate a similar service. We were booked with the RED coloured bus company through Viator. They are parked outside to the left of the main port exit gates. When you board the bus you are given a route map showing all the stops and where the main attractions are and also a complimentary set of ear phones which when seated you plug into the sockets and select your language channel. We were also each given a voucher for a free bruschetta and bottle of water, which we used. The drivers were very helpful and polite and there were a number of helpful assistants at the various stops along the route. Although it was very hot, 44 in the shade, we managed to get a flavour of Athens using this service. I would recommend this bus company if want to have a quick tour at your own pace. The ticket also can be used for a second day for no extra charge.
Review by: thedoggers, July 2017
Long wait for a bus, first problem. Second was the crowd at the Acropolis. When I learned there were 6 ships, I should have explored a different itinerary- everyone heads to the acropolis first. Had I waited till the afternoon, it would have been much easier. Also, advise purchasing those tix ahead of time. The wait for tix was 90 minutes- ugh.
Review by: Scott S, July 2017
If you are going to the Acropolis and back, consider taking a taxi. For 20-30 Euros per car each way it is a faster way to get back and forth.
Review by: dominique b, June 2017
hop on hop off always good....but traffic was horrendous
Review by: Daveen, June 2017
If you're arriving on a cruise ship for the day. This was Great and Convenient! Best way to see Athens, especially getting off our cruise in Piraeus and right onto the Hop On Hop Off. Loved It. We got off and got to see the major sights we wanted to see and also was able to have lunch in Athens. FYI, alot of people will take the Hop On Hop Off from the cruise ship, as it is the best way to see Athens and very Economical. You should get off the ship earliest as possible to catch one of the first buses from the pier, plan accordingly, especially going to the Colisseum, the earlier you get there the less people in line. Know what time you want to return to the ship, check the schedule and make sure you make it back on that bus or you will miss your cruise ship. The Colisseum is the last major stop before heading back to Piraeus and the line to return is a mile long. Only complaint was the buses on the return were not on time picking up at the Colisseum that day, so plan accordingly. Since we took the first bus from the pier to Athens, we could head back to the ship early enough to not miss our cruise ship. Other than that, Awesome Tour!
Review by: Joe, April 2017
Great way to see Athens, to bad it was Easter and everything was closed. Would recommend for other times.
Review by: Gillian B, April 2017
The City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off was the perfect way for us to revisit this lovely city. We were able to see places we had missed on our last visit and also renew acquaintance with the wonders of Athens. At Syntagma Square I left my phone on the bus, and the driver and the staff at the bus-stop could not have been more helpful and kind in helping me to retrieve it. I fully recommend this tour.
Review by: Susan H, April 2017
This was near the end of our multi-week trip, and we were tiring, so we stayed on the buses most of the time. We did get off at the Acropolis and does THAT ever make for a great directional city sign! and walked up, but not all the way. FYI, additional tickets must be purchased to climb up to the top. The Acropolis stop is where you switch from one bus route to the other. We did them both, and got back to the ship in plenty of time. The plug-in audio is very helpful so you know which spectacular ancient wonder you're viewing at any particular moment.
Review by: shodgins, April 2017
They need to add more buses to their route.... if you can get a seat don't get off the bus until you have done the full route as you may never get a seat again. The lines at the stops were a joke and very frustrating. We had the bus stop at the end of the line so all the people who just got in the line were able to hop on the bus first when the people at the front of the line who were waiting at least 45 mins got screwed! There was no staff at the stops to control the lines like there was staff in Athens and Barcelona where we also did the hop on hop off.
Review by: raven3003, April 2017
Great tour. The hop on and off is the way to go. The bus drops you off at the base of the acropolis. Same with temple of Zeus.
Review by: Anthony W, March 2017
Brilliant. Would recommend. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Review by: Dan K, January 2017
Timing is everything. Head off to the Parthenon first before all the crowds and then make your stops. Make sure you watch the busses since there are a few lines and you could loose time.
Review by: Peds Nurse, January 2017
When visiting Athens do this first and then private tour
Review by: Alison A, January 2017
The best way to see Athens!
Review by: Daisy M, December 2016
Guides were really helpful!
Review by: moneylend, December 2016
Average bus trip through the city...could have been even better if the bus ran more frequently since the weather was rainy and cold, not the fault of the hop on trip, but definitely more frequent buses would help.
Review by: Barbara D, December 2016
IT WAS A GREAT TOUR BUT WHEN WE TRIED TO GET ON THE BUS TO GET BACK TO THE SHIP THE DRIVER PASSED US WAIVING HIS ARMS. THE BUS WAS NOT FULL SO WE WAITED FOR HIM TO COME BACK. HE DID NOT RETURN SO WE HAD TO TAKE A TAXI BACK TO THE SHIP
Review by: Russell G, December 2016
all good unless you just miss the bus then you have to wait 30 mins for the next
Review by: firitchie, December 2016
Very handy if your coming from a scruise ship as they stop is right at the dock. Took us into all the big tourist areas and back with plenty of time to do another tour and see the acropolis independantly.
Review by: Nancy G, November 2016
My husband and I stayed aboard ship prior to embarking on a cruise from Piraeus. Having been to Athens before, we wanted an easy way to get from the cruise ship terminal in Piraeus to the center of Athens so we could visit sites and places we missed on our previous visit. The Hop-On-Hop-Off tour allowed us to do that in a timely and cost effective manner. The bus pickup was just outside of the cruise ship terminal, and the ticket is good for 24 hours. It provided a relaxing way to see Piraeus, the Plaka district and the Temple of Zeus, sites we hadn't seen in the past and much more. Depending on what you want to see, you may have to change lines and take more than one bus, so be sure to ask when you board what lines you'll need to use to do all you want.
Review by: Ann M, November 2016
Great way to see the city when on short on time. 1st day stayed on and the 2nd day stop to see the sights
Review by: Michael L, November 2016
Great for pick-up at cruise terminal, used this service in Rome which worked great because of so many attractions not as necessary in Athens.
Review by: tunis, November 2016
Being that the cruise ship port is on the edge of Athens, I enjoyed this tour.
Review by: jane.pellegrino, November 2016
It was an on and off bus tour. Nothing special. It was very efficient and got us to the places we wanted to go. The Traffic in Athens was horrendous-- so, kudos for the driver.
Review by: Maureen R, November 2016
Most enjoyable excellent way to take in sights of Athens.
Review by: CindyVan, November 2016
No better way to get around--especially in Greece! Informative and very fun.
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