Cultural Trip to Greece
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival into Athens
Today you will take a flight from the UK to Athens, the capital of Greece. Your driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall for a relaxed start to your trip. You’ll stay in a modern hotel in the city centre with a swimming pool on the roof terrace that boasts a view of the Acropolis. It’s a great spot for a cooling dip after a day of sightseeing. If you’re looking for a family friendly place to eat, we recommend the Plaka neighbourhood, as it’s a place where Greeks and tourists gather in the evening and has a good choice of restaurants.
Day 2 – Ancient secrets of Athens
Today you’ll bike through Athens with your English-speaking local guide to explore the city highlights, along with some hidden spots that you wouldn’t easily find yourself. After the tour you may wish to visit the Acropolis, or just potter around the city, stopping at the souvenir shops, the kafenions (typical Greek cafes) and traditional tavernas.
Exploring the Acropolis
When you think of Athens, you think of the Acropolis, and it’s on the must-visit list of most tourists. Buy your entrance tickets online in advance (you might want to pay a little extra for skip-the-line) so you can walk straight through. It’s a decent climb uphill, but definitely worth it. What we call the Acropolis is actually the Parthenon, the famous temple built for the goddess Athena. The Parthenon, along with other temples and an ancient theatre, sits atop the Acropolis, which means ‘the highest point of the city’. In the museum, about 4,000 objects found in the area are on display, including statues and parts of the architecture. For the best view, head to the top floor.
Day 3 – On the road to Delphi
Today you’ll pick up your rental car and set off on the open road to Galaxidi, a small fishing village on the Corinthian coast, about 30 minutes drive from Delphi. We’ve selected a charming guesthouse with studio accommodation, each featuring a kitchenette, situated on a hill with stunning views of the historic Hirolakas Harbour. There are plenty of tavernas and restaurants nearby, so you won’t be short of delicious local meals for lunch and dinner. Aside from the scenic harbour views and nearby beaches, the main reason to visit this area is for the archaeological site. Since you’re staying here for two nights, you’ll have all day tomorrow to explore it.
If you’d rather skip the driving and travel by public transport, we can easily arrange that for you as well.
Day 4 – Treasure hunt in Delphi’s ruins
Jump in the car and head to the archaeological site of Delphi, which was once the largest religious centre of ancient Greece. According to tradition, the god Zeus sent two eagles from the farthest corners of the universe to determine the centre of the world and landed in Delphi. Based on this myth, the Greeks believed that the navel stone of Delphi was the geographical centre of the earth. You can engage with your family in Greece’s mythological past in a fun way on a specially developed treasure hunt. This way, you can make the ruins more interesting for your children while teaching them about the fascinating history.
Day 5 – Cooking class
Your hostess Chrisoula loves to cook, and together with your kids, you’ll learn to make a typical Greek spanakopita —a savoury-filled pie – in her kitchen. Put on your apron and get started! Covered in flour and richer for the experience, it’s time to enjoy your homemade spinach and feta pie. When you are ready for the cooking lesson, arrange it with your host at the hotel. In the afternoon, you can stroll along the small marina and enjoy the view of the bay from one of the many terraces, or take a quick dip in the sea to cool off.
Day 6 – Majestic Meteora
Time to get back behind the wheel as you continue your Greece holiday to Meteora, which should take around 4.5 hours driving. As you get closer to Meteora you’ll start to see these incredible monasteries, positioned high on the rocks. Some monasteries reach a height of four hundred metres and seem to float in the air. Meteora means ‘suspended in the air’ in Greek. You’ll stay nearby in a small, characterful hotel. In the garden, you can fully enjoy the beautiful surroundings and relax after the drive.
Day 7 – Monastery visit at sunset
The plain of Meteora was once an inland sea, and over the centuries, through wind and water erosion, this impressive natural landscape was formed. In its heyday, communities of monks lived in these totally isolated monasteries, and some are still inhabited today. Visitors from all over the world gather here to pray and meditate. At the end of the day when most (day) tourists have already left you’ll get a close up view of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, without the crowds. You will join a small group with a guide who knows the history of the monasteries and the legends of the area. Of course, you will visit an ‘active’ monastery, but you will also explore unknown caves and see the six most famous (and remaining) monasteries. The moment when the sun sets is breathtaking.
Day 8 – Vibrant Thessaloniki
Day 9 – The highlights of Thessaloniki, by bike
Today, you’ll explore Thessaloniki by bike. Cycling allows you to discover the gems of Greece’s second-largest city. In about three hours, you’ll ride through places that tourists don’t typically visit. You’ll cycle from Valaoritou and Kamara to Ladadika (neighbourhoods in Thessaloniki). From there, you’ll pass by the White Tower and the statue of Alexander the Great, then head to local small markets around Aristotle Square.
Day 10 – Time to head home
Your last day of this tour through Greece has arrived. After your final drive to the airport, you will drop off your rental car and catch your flight back home. If you have a return flight from Athens, you can easily travel back using public transportation. If it’s necessary to stay an extra night there, we’ll be happy to arrange that for you.
Accommodation
For this itinerary we offer the following options
Cultural Trip to Greece - using public transport
If you would prefer not to drive yourself, there is the option to take public transport throughout your trip.
Due to 2023’s autumn storm Daniel, a part of the railway in Eastern Greece has been washed away, which means you will either need to travel with a mix of train and bus, or, our suggestion, fully by bus.
If you travel by train, halfway through the journey you’ll need to transfer to a bus, which may involve some waiting time. This is why we’re opting for the bus at the moment. Wherever possible, we’ll arrange train travel for you, and we’re in close contact with our local partner in Greece who has the most up-to-date information and will advise us accordingly.
