Athens to Ancient Olympia Tour

Duration

11 hours

Availability

Daily

Group Type

Private & Small Groups

PRICE

Sedan car: 570€ (up to 4 pax) Minivan: 640€ (up to 8 pax)
SUV Car: Ask for price (up to 4 pax)

In Brief

CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS

A day’s trip to Elia prefecture will absolutely amaze you. The point of reference in our tour, is the beautiful Ancient Olympia-birthplace of the Olympic Games- "The most submissive landscape in Greece, which so sweetly and persistently promotes peace and reconciliation", according to Nikolas Kazantzakis a renowned Greek writer of the early 1900, the place where the institution of the sacred truce was established, in which hostilities were banned during the Games.

Follow us on a unique tour, of a lifetime in a place where the sanctuary of Olympia and the surrounding area are being kept in an almost intact condition, from antiquity to present times. Discover the place where the father of gods and men were worshiped; this is the area of Zeus's most magnificent sanctuary. Admire the Doric Temple of Zeus, located in the outskirts of Altis, the sacred olive grove and the center of the sanctuary, where the Olympic Games were held in antiquity. The temple was built by the architect Livon between 472 and 456 BC. The 13.5-meter-high gold-ivory statue of Zeus, crafted by Phidias, was inside the temple and was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Know before you go: Tours with a licensed expert guide

As we want to offer the best service to our guests, we have carefully

selected expert licensed guides to ensure the best experience possible.

Our team consists of a group of young professionals of high-expertise

in the fields of Archaeology, History, History of Arts or graduates

of the official 'Greek State School of Tour Guides'.

Hence, they are well-trained to share their knowledge with the public

in an interesting and fun way. Their academic background works as a

springboard, immersing you into the wealth of Greek culture and holding

your undivided attention for the whole duration of the tour. Despite the

aforementioned assets though, it is their enthusiastic character and

passion about their field of study that unquestionably guarantees you a

memorable tour experience.

Highlights of this Tour:

1. Northwest Propylon
2. Prytaneion
3. Philippeion
4. Temple of Hera
5. Pelopion
6. Nymphaeum of Herodes Atticus
7. Metroon
8. Treasuries
9. Crypt (arched way to the stadium)
10. Stadium
11. Echo Stoa
12. Building of Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II
13. Hestia stoa
14. Hellenistic building
15. Temple of Zeus
16. Altar of Zeus
17. Ex-voto of Achaeans
18. Ex-voto of Mikythos
19. Nike of Paeonius
20. Gymnasion
21. Palaestra
22. Theokoleon

Our Route:

Let’s get Practical:

FAQs:

What is the spoken language?

The spoken language is English. More languages are available upon request subjected to availability.

What should I bring with me?

Since your visit includes a fair bit of walking, it is recommended that you

Wear light hiking shoes or comfortable, rubber sole shoes
During the summer months, bring along with you a hat, sun glasses, sunscreen and wear light-colored clothing
Waterproof jacket/membrane (for the rainy days)
Your own personal water bottle. As part of our environmental policy and actions, we are committed to eliminating the use of plastic water bottles.
Prepare yourself for an exciting experience & bring along your camera so you can capture the best moments of the activity and the impressive landscapes of Fokis prefecture.

Can you pick us up from our hotel?

We offer a pick-up, free of charge, for hotels or apartments that are located in downtown Athens.

For hotels or apartments outside Athens center we offer pick-ups at additional cost with a 10% discount.

Please send us an inquiry!

Is it difficult for older people to follow the group?

Not at all! The tour is private and totally customized to your needs. Should you chose so, you will be assigned an excellent, flexible guide and the walk will follow a moderate pace, in order to be a pleasant experience for everyone. We will also make several stops to admire and discuss the fascinating monuments and sites along our way. However if someone faces health or mobility issues that prevents him/her to visit Ancient Olympia archaeological site, he/she can always spend time visiting the museum which is located at the same area with the site and regroup with the rest later on.

What are the acceptable payment methods?

Via Athens Quality Tours and Transfers accepts the following payment methods:

Bank to Bank Wire / Transfer to a bank account
Payment via PayPal

for all services booked through the website of viaathenstours.gr, please read our Terms of Service, under the Modes of Payment section for detail information.

What happens in case of bad weather?

Fortunately, the weather in Greece is mild and warm during the most time of the year. In case of rain, though, you will be timely notified about any changes in your scheduled walk.

Did you know that…?

Doric Rhythm is called in ancient Greek architecture, and in particular in temple construction, the rhythm that is distinguished for its austerity, rigor and monumentality by the most decorative Ionian Rhythm.

The origins of Doric Rhythm are believed to be located in Argos and Corinth, two important Doric art centers during the Geometric Period (8th century BC)

There are several Greek myths about how the games started. One myth about the origin of the Olympic Games comes from the Tenth Olympian Ode of the poet Pindar, according to which Hercules organized the first track events to honor his father Zeus. He even determined the site and size of the first stadium, established the first foot race and crowned the winner with the kotinos, a branch from a wild olive tree that he himself had planted in Olympia.

According to Pausanias, the origins of the Olympic Games were attributed to the Olympian gods; Zeus defeated Kronos in wrestling (pale), while Apollo outran Hermes and beat Ares in boxing (pygmachia).

During each Olympiad, Sacred Truce was established so as to allow visitors to travel safely to Olympia. Wars were suspended, armies were prohibited from entering Elis or threatening the Games, and legal disputes and the carrying out of death penalties were forbidden for as long as the Olympic Games took place in the sacred land of Olympia.

What to do &

What to See in this Tour

I) What to do

A tour of the Ancient Stadium of the Olympic Games

Walk to one of Greece's most important archaeological sites, the ancient stadium, the Sacred Altis and many other magnificent monuments. Pass under the archway entrance that led to the stadium and you will be among the many other athletes from the past who came here to compete and win, having a humble olive wreath as the first prize.
Take your place in the stands like so many others before you, VIPs or ordinary people, (but not women), to cheer on the athletes competing in the stadium. Here is the restored Philippe, dedicated by Philip II of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great, to Zeus after his victory at the Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC) which is one of the most beautiful buildings of Ancient Olympia today. Neron's mansion (built as the Roman Emperor’s residence when he came to Olympia to compete and eventually be named an Olympic champion) and the Stoa of Echo (with the gold-plated statues of King Ptolemy II of Egypt and his wife Arsinoe which we now see only in drawings) testify undoubtedly to Olympia's universality.

II)What to See in this Tour

The Museum of Ancient Olympia

NOT to be missed! It houses some of the most remarkable works of art and sculpturing, important artifacts of worldwide recognition, real masterpieces of the Classical Period.

The Hermes of Praxiteles, a peerless masterpiece

See up close one of the most magnificent art pieces of the ancient world, the 2,10m-high statue of Praxiteles’ Hermes. The God is leaning against the trunk of a tree, bearing the infant Dionysus.

The Nike of Paionios

Look out for the Nike of Paionios - a masterpiece of ancient Greek sculpture that depicts a winged woman standing at 2,115 m but with the tips of her (now broken) wings would have reached 3m and the unique marble pedimental sculptures and metopes of the temple of Zeus (5th BC), considered to be the most important exhibits in the museum, all of them characteristic examples of the Severe Style.

Apart from Hermes, the museum’s collection contains numerous artifacts from the site, dating from the prehistoric period to the early Christian era, when ultimately the Games were abolished by the Christian Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I.

Hidden gems of Ancient Olympia

Don’t forget to have a look at other monuments such as: the Temple of Hera, the oldest and best preserved temple at Olympia, the Voulefterion, the Prrtaneion, the Gymnasium, the Palaistra. Each one has its own story.

Museum of the History of the Olympic Games

We suggest that you begin your tour of the Museum of History of the Olympic Games in Antiquity to better understand the archaeological site that extends to the southwestern foot of Cronios Hill. Continue to the Olympia Excavation History Museum, where excavations in the area are presented in a chronological and thematic way and complete the cultural route with the Archaeological Museum.

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