The birthplace of democracy and standard bearer of classical art, literature, and philosophy, Athens is widely considered the touchstone of Western civilization. In one of our most popular tours of Athens, we explore the Ancient Agora of Athens, Kerameikos, and other sites in Plaka and Monastiraki, looking at the social, political, and economic underpinnings of Greek accomplishments while exploring aspects of daily life in the ancient city.

Our tour begins in the Agora, the centerpiece of daily life in the antique city. The Agora consists of a confusing jumble of ruins spanning over 2000 years. Our trained archaeological scholar will spend time helping us decipher the visual clues in the landscape and recreate, through its various phases, the built environment of this area. We'll look closely at such buildings as the Stoa, Hephasteion, and Odeion of Agrippa, and discuss their role in daily life. Our guide may trace the economic history of ancient Greece as the city evolved, discussing the rise of successively more complex systems of trade and commerce and their impact on the Athenian city. We'll spend ample time within the museum of the Stoa where there is a wonderful collection of finds from the Agora excavations.

From here, our tour can go in a variety of directions. We could head towards the Kerameikos, an excavated burial area where we can look at how ancient Athenians dealt with death. Or, we could head into the Plaka area, where remnants of ancient Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman structures still remain, including the impressive library built for the Emperor Hadrian. This building provides a wonderful backdrop for tracing the development of the city after its Roman conquest in the first century BCE.

We'll finish up on the leafy streets of Plaka with a strong sense of how normal people lived during the classical and post-classical periods, and how political and social forces shaped the city throughout its history. This tour is often combined with our Acropolis Tour to paint a vivid portrait of ancient Athens.

We meet in the Monastiraki area and the tour usually finishes in Plaka (however, this could vary per guide) Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map.

What happens if it’s raining? 

Our tours happen rain or shine. Our guides are great at adapting their route during changes of weather. Please bring an umbrella. 

The Ancient Greek Agora is wheelchair-friendly. Please contact us to discuss in more detail your mobility concerns so that we can best advise.

Is this tour suitable for kids?
For families traveling with children under 13, we recommend booking our Acropolis and Agora Tour for Kids, which has been especially designed with younger learners in mind and is led by a family-friendly guide.