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A great experience with an OAT trip... - Overseas Adventure Travel

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Excellent way to see the Azores.Our guide was fantastic. She shared the culture and history of the... read more

oat travel greece

Wonderful trip aboard the beautiful Clio - with a marvelous staff and interesting destinations. As... read more

oat travel greece

A great experience with an OAT trip which I will not forget

The knowledge of history, geography, geology and politics, etc of our tour guide and especially the local guides and their ability to impart it to the group was outstanding. Their concern for our safety, as well as by our driver must be noted. The driving skills of our diver was nothing short of incredible in addition to being very helpful and friendly.

This is the second OAT trip I have been on, and it was excellent as well. Rory was a fantastic tour leader, so very patient and looked after everyone.

oat travel greece

the trip to Wales to see the Conwy Castle and hike Llyn Idwal. Also seeing London major sights and take in a play.

My husband and I had an amazing time in east Africa with OAT. They really know how to balance out a trip. Well, we thought we were going to Africa to see the animals, for me, being with the people and learning their customs, and feeling their warmth and sharing with us what’s my favorite part of the trip!

oat travel greece

We traveled to the Balkan countries on OAT’s Crossroads of the Adriatic adventure with few expectations. It turned out to be an amazing trip. We gained new understanding of the terrible conflicts of the nineties, saw beautiful scenery, explored ancient cities, and enjoyed some memorable meals, all with a congenial group of like-minded people. Our trip leader Lili was the best tour guide we have ever had. All of our hotels were top notch and well located. Most of the time we were fairly close to all the attractions that we wanted to see. Our contacts with the local people were great fun, especially our “Day in the Life” experience. I heartily recommend this OAT adventure.

oat travel greece

The Atlas World Traveler ship was amazing due to a knowledgeable expedition crew, friendly, professional staff and behind the scenes people who made it all seamless. The captain delivered for the passengers on all hopes and promises.. The team leaders hired by OAT tried hard with one exception. They were South American and had little experience in the Artic. Antarctica is a very different place. Lucas Bogani was the worst tour guide I have had over many companies in 50 countries I have visited. He had only been in the Arctic once and offered little or wrong information. He remained almost exclusively with the other team leaders, not wanting to interact with the guests until almost the last day when 2 people spoke to him. I had used OAT because of the guides they provided. It seems like their brand is in need of an overhaul. I would love to go on another Atlas trip. Not so sure about OAT

Donna, we are very sorry to learn of your experience. We strive to provide our travelers with the best possible experience. With limited population and minimal tourist presence in the Arctic Circle, our Trip Experience Leaders are from our Antarctica adventures, as they are trained for the similar environment. We appreciate your feedback and will share it with our regional team. Thank you.

Tour Scoop

The Scoop: What to Know About Overseas Adventure Tours (OAT)

This small-group specialist runs tours to all continents..

Christine Sarkis

The Scoop: What to Know About Trafalgar Tours

  • Looking at an Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) tour, but want to know more about this small-group tour company?
  • Here’s everything you need to know about the tour company, all updated for 2024.

Overseas Adventure Travel —more commonly referred to as OAT (saying the letters as opposed to naming the grain)—is a small-group tour specialist with tours on all continents. As its name suggests, tours with Overseas Adventure Travel tend to be fairly active, so participants should be comfortable with six to eight hours of activity each day, including walking distances ranging from three to six miles.

OAT has a great reputation for its solo guest focus (more on that below), and offers a generous number of no-additional-cost single spots on its tours. It also has women-exclusive departures on many itineraries.

BEST OF THE BEST: Best Tour Companies for Guided Tours

On OAT tours, accommodations tend to be less about amenities and more about authenticity. Another thing to note is that airfare is often bundled into the up-front price of the tour (unless you specify that you want to book your own travel). OAT is one of the family of Grand Circle Corp. companies, also including Grand Circle Travel and Grand Circle Cruise Line.

TourScoop Takeaways

  • Countries: OAT has tours on every continent 
  • Tour Size Average: OAT specializes in small-group trips of no more than 16 people. Its small-ship tours are aboard 50- to 98-passenger ships max out at 25 travelers. 
  • Tour Type: Coach, van, small ship, rail, and air

Credibility Check

Overseas Adventure Travel is BBB accredited with a rating of A+. It’s an active member of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA). The OAT website posts verified guest reviews on each tour page (sometimes with hundreds of reviews) so it’s easy to see what past travelers think of each tour. 

Tour Destinations

view of a small town and large bluffs near the ocean viewed on an O.A.T. (Overseas Adventure Tours) itinerary in Iceland

For 2024, OAT has 80 itineraries that include tours on every continent. Some of the most popular tours are to destinations in Italy, Egypt, and multi-country tours in Africa and around the Adriatic. 

Overseas Adventure Travel gives all its tours an Activity Level Rating that ranks tours from one (easy) to five (strenuous) to help travelers find the right fit. It has both women-only departures and many no-additional-cost single traveler spots on tours. 

There are multi-country and single country tours. On many tours, OAT creates spaces for discussion and learning with its Controversial Topics program that covers topics such as Scottish independence on its Scotland Revealed itinerary and female genital mutilation on its Safari Serengeti: Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari tour. 

Tour Guides

OAT’s tour guides are called Trip Experience Leaders. All are fluent in English and have a range of skills, certifications, and experience specific to the tour destination and experience. Trip Experience Leaders focus on both the logistical and the experiential, and help connect travelers with destinations by sharing firsthand insight that brings a destination to life. 

Inclusions/Extras

Inclusions are tour-specific (there’s a “What’s Included” section on each tour’s page), but generally include round-trip flights, many (but not all) meals, transportation, accommodations, activities, and gratuities for local guides, porters, etc. As with most tour companies, gratuities for trip experience leaders is separate. 

Typical Travelers

O.A.T. tour guest participating in a ceremony at a Maasai village in Kenya on an Overseas Adventure Tour

OAT’s guests are mostly American travelers aged 50 and older. In the last few years, Overseas Adventure Travel has seen a major jump in the number of solo travelers—more than half of all OAT guests are now solo travelers, and 80% of these solo travelers are women.

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OAT does right by its strong solo traveler base —in 2024, the company is offering 25,620 single spaces—91% of which are free (the remaining 9% of single spots have what OAT says is the lowest single supplement in the industry). And a number of itineraries also have women-exclusive departures. 

Communication

After booking, travelers have access to all trip details through the “My Planner” section on the website. The section includes details like flight information, destination weather, and itinerary information.

Then, two weeks before departure, travelers receive all their final documents, and are also contacted by their Trip Experience Leader. Any additional questions can be directed to OAT’s customer service email or phone number.

Loyalty Program

OAT’s loyalty program is the Sir Edmund Hillary Club . Membership benefits kick in when travelers reserve their third trip, and increase after traveling with OAT five and ten times. Benefits include credits to use on future trips, travel credits, exclusive gifts, and priority luggage service. 

Private Options

OAT offers Personalized Private Adventures for groups of five to 10 people. These private departures are available using existing itineraries, and include a dedicated Trip Experience Leader. The private group premium amount depends on the number of travelers in a group. Some of the most popular private tours include Ultimate Africa , Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes , and Japan’s Cultural Treasures . 

Sustainability Efforts

OAT is part of Grand Circle, and participates in the Grand Circle Foundation , which supports projects around the world focused on water and sanitation, education, community development, renewable energy, the protection of indigenous cultures, conservation, historic preservation, and disaster relief.

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Health and Safety Practices

On OAT tours that include time onboard a ship, additional precautions include crew trained on best health and hygiene practices to prevent onboard spread of illnesses, nightly electrostatic disinfection of public areas, and disinfection of high-efficiency air filtration systems before each sailing. The OAT website is the place to go to read more about the current health and safety practices for land and ship tours.  

Family Companies

The Grand Circle family of companies includes Overseas Adventure Travel , Grand Circle Cruise Line , and Grand Circle Travel .

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New! 2018 The Aegean Islands, Athens & Ephesus

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  • Explore Delphi, including the Temple of Apollo where the oracle once prophesied
  • Visit the recently renovated Delphi Archaeological Museu
  • Enjoy the ride by coach to the towering rock formations, which are built the famous monasteries of Meteora
  • Experience the cruise to Mykonos, and explore this vacation spot
  • Enjoy short cruise to Delos. The mythological birthplace of Apollo and Artemis
  • Visit to the Basilica of St. John, constructed in the fifth century over the tomb

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Travel themes.

  • Local Immersion & Homestays
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Attractions.

  • Archaeological Museum of Athens
  • Historic sightseeing
  • Short Cruise

Trip includes

  • International airfare, airport transfers, government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges, unless you choose to make your own air arrangements
  • Accommodations for 3 nights at the Hera Hotel or similar, 2 nights at the Nafsika Palace or similar, 2 nights at the Meteora Hotel or similar, and 7 nights aboard our private small ship, the M/V Athena
  • 31 meals: All breakfasts, 6 lunches, 11 dinners—including 5 meals in local restaurants—plus all onboard house beer & wine, as well as soft drinks
  • 10 included tours with personal headsets and 4 exclusive Discovery Series events—Greek cooking class, Home-Hosted Dinner, Home-Hosted Lunch, Carpet weaving discussion
  • Local Trip Leaders, a Grand Circle Cruise Line exclusive: These dedicated experts are with you (and no more than 25 travelers) every step of the way to provide insider’s knowledge and the perspective that will enrich your experience
  • Gratuities for local guides and motorcoach drivers
  • All port charges: a value of $250 per person
  • Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips
  • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next Grand Circle trip—an average of $386

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Athens to Santorini: A Greek Island-Hopping Odyssey in the Cyclades | May 29, 2022

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Fly from the U.S. to Athens, Greece.

Accommodations: Hera Hotel,  St. George Lycabettus Hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodations: Nafsika Palace or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodations: Nafsika Palace or similar VERY ACTIVE DAY

See Physical Requirements

Accommodations: Meteora Hotel or similar

This morning, travel overland through a landscape studded with rocky pinnacles to Kalambaka. Enjoy lunch on your own en route. After your afternoon arrival, the balance of the day is yours to make your own discoveries. This evening, enjoy an included dinner at your hotel.

Accommodations: M/V Athena

After breakfast, begin your return transfer to Athens, where you will embark your small ship. You will have time for lunch on your own before you arrive.

This evening, meet your crew and enjoy a Welcome Drink followed by dinner. During the night, your ship sails toward the island of Syros.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flights home or begin your post-trip extension in Cappadocia, Turkey.

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:.

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Dates & Availability

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours) .

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours) Reviews & Ratings

Other overseas adventure travel (o.a.t. tours) reviews.

Policy over practical customer service. zero customer service

don't expect humanity or common sense

This letter is effectively what was communicated no less than 8 times in writing and conversation to OAT representatives up the chain, beginning 19 days before the t...

Trip of a Lifetime

Our recent Tanzanian Safari was indeed the trip of a lifetime. Saw the big 5, met the wonderful locals and spent 5 days in the Serengeti. Saw many lions, zebras, gi...

Booked for July and gave them $12,000. They talked us into early arrival and then come back to us a two months later saying we can't offer. We have to keep our airli...

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Tour operator, overseas adventure travel (o.a.t. tours).

Overseas Adventure Travel offers unique small group adventures worldwide to Americans over 50. By land and sea, we explore on—and off—the beaten path with a resident OAT Trip Leader, immersing ourselves in local cultures, sampling unique modes of transportation, and staying in authentic lodgings that reflect the essence of your destination. Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises serves both our GCT and OAT brands with an award-winning fleet known for exceptional value and high-quality experiences in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Custom-designed according to our travelers’ specifications, our fleet includes 50+ small river and ocean-going ships that we own or privately charter.

Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise—comprised of a family of travel companies—committed to changing people’s lives by offering high-impact experiences to our travelers and building local communities through philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and volunteerism.

Simply by traveling with OAT, you support the work of the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation, which was created with the mission of changing people’s lives through travel—both those of our travelers, and of the people who welcome us so warmly into their homelands.

Journey with the Leader in Adventure Travel and Watch Your Dreams Take Flight : It is the stuff of dreams: gazelles bowing to lap at a glassy pool in the Serengeti as the vast sky turns purple with night, the tiered splendor of the Himalayas, rising behind a Tibetan monastery. Dreams like these are everyday realities for OAT travelers, thanks to the principles which ground every OAT adventure: value, choice, discovery, and carefully paced itineraries.

Our Value puts your travel dreams within reach: OAT can help you realize your travel dreams for a lot less than you thought possible. Together with our regional offices located throughout the world, we’ve been able to establish long-term relationships with many local vendors and hotels. Buying direct brings down our costs—and allows us to pass the savings on to you. And negotiating directly for hotel space also allows us to secure as many single room allotments as possible for our solo travelers. That way, we can also extend our great value to solo travelers. In fact, we offer the best value for solo travelers, guaranteed.

The Choice is yours : You’ll always have plenty of choices with OAT. We offer you a breadth of awe-inspiring travel destinations—from the peaks of the Andes to the sweeping desert sands of the Sahara to the rugged natural beauty of Iceland. You'll also enjoy more trip extension choices than ever before—like hiking to ancient monasteries in Bhutan or discovering the Moai monolithic rock statues on Easter Island. You have plenty of choices within each adventure, too, including several interesting optional tours. And the free time we’ve woven into our itineraries allows you plenty of opportunities for independent exploration. You can shop, unwind, perhaps linger at a sidewalk café, visit an interesting gallery or museum, or explore a cobbled street that caught your eye earlier in the day. You can do as much or as little as you want on an OAT adventure—the choice is yours.

OAT Difference

Adventure Travel : Adventure travel with OAT is a journey beyond the familiar, one that takes you into the very heart of a destination—to meet people where they work and live.

OAT Advantages : Journey with the leader in adventure travel and watch your dreams take flight, thanks to the principles which ground every OAT adventure: value, choice, discovery, and carefully paced itineraries.

Small Groups, Big Discoveries : When you discover the world in an OAT small group, you’ll journey off the beaten path to the places the big tour groups miss—and enjoy an intimate, discovery-filled adventure filled with personal connections, shared experiences, and treasured memories.

Trip Leaders : No matter where in the world you venture with OAT, you'll have one of our resident, expert Trip Leaders by your side. All are fluent in English and possess the skills, certification, and experience necessary to ensure an enriching adventure.

Airport Transfers : We’ve listened to your feedback, and will now offer international airport transfers to and from your hotel to our travelers who choose to purchase their own airfare on OAT adventures as part of our Personalize Your Trip program, which allows you create the OAT adventure that's right for you.

Personalize your trip : OAT travelers have long expressed the desire to decide exactly where they’re going, how they get there, and when they wish to leave. That’s why we developed a variety of choices that enhance the value of every trip we offer, allowing you to create the adventure that works best for you.

Traveling solo? Enjoy your own room or cabin—at no extra cost : You’re in control of your travel dreams—and we’re making them more affordable than ever: Maybe you prefer the freedom of solo travel—or maybe you and your usual traveling companion can’t agree on a destination. Whatever the reason, you don’t have to put your travel dreams on hold. When it’s time to go it alone, you’ll never pay a Single Supplement to have your own room or cabin with OAT.

Associations

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip, travel confidently, accommodation.

Cancellations:

a) If you must cancel your trip, you may do so by calling 1-800-221-0814, by selecting the “contact us” link on our website www.oattravel.com,, or by letter. Send letters of cancellation to: Overseas Adventure Travel, 347 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210. Cancellation charges will be calculated as of the date we receive your cancellation. Cancellation charges and refunds shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of this Passenger Agreement. If you are due a refund, you first must return your air tickets and, if applicable, cruise tickets to Operator. Any applicable refunds will be returned to you in the manner in which payment was made, and processed within 30 days of receipt of your cancellation.

b) Processing Fee: All cancellations made later than twenty-one days after booking are subject to a non-refundable fee of $300 and additional cancellation charges per the schedule below. Cancellations made within 21 days after booking will be subject to the same fee, unless the reason for canceling given at the time of cancellation is your rejection of these Terms and Conditions prior to acceptance. This $300 fee reflects only Operator's costs of administering a reservation.

c) Cancellation Charges Generally: Unless otherwise stated next to the program’s rate chart, you will receive a refund equal to your Trip Price (which excludes the cost of the non-refundable Travel Protection Plan) less the following per-person charges. Charges shown include the $300 administrative fee.

Physical Requirements

  • 15 days, with 7 nights aboard M/V Athena, three two-night hotel stays, and one single-night hotel stay
  • Walk 3 miles unassisted and participate in 6-8 hours of physical activities each day
  • Our activities include up to two hours of walking on uneven surfaces uphill, with several sets of stairs (up to 60 stairs, consecutively) in Delphi on Day 4
  • Agility, balance, and strength are required for possible rough seas
  • Not accessible for travelers using wheelchairs or scooters
  • Travelers using walkers, crutches, or other mobility aids must travel with a companion who can assist them, and may not be able to participate in all activities
  • We reserve the right for Trip Leaders to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience
  • Uneven walking surfaces, unpaved paths, hills and rocky slopes, and stairs
  • Gangway incline can be steep when docked at a pier
  • Travel by 50-passenger small ship, 45-seat coach, and funicular 
  • The M/V Athena does not have elevators onboard
  • You must be cleared by a country’s local port authorities before disembarking
  • Weather conditions and tides may require adjustments to your itinerary
  • Daytime temperatures range from 63-92°F during cruising season; June-August are warmest months

Become a member

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  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations

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What people love about Active Tours in Greece

My experience with the Greek Island Hopping Tour was amazing! I liked having the freedom to do excursions (which were all amazing), or have the day to myself. Ellen was an amazing guide and ensured everything went smoothly. Would definitely do another Contiki in the future!
I was in Greece for 3 weeks and I would say this tour would be one of the highlights of my trip. Loved going off the beaten track and see Greece away from the tourist masses. I liked the small group tour setting as well giving you a more personalised attention from our amazing tour guide Stavros. Loved the traditional village accommodation we stayed at as well as the yummy Greek food. Thanks Trails Beyond for showing me this beautiful part of Greece. I highly recommend for those who enjoy the outdoors with a little bit of adventure ie. horseback riding and white water rafting :-)
Aegean Amazing. Our family trip to Greece was a spectacular outdoor adventure of culture and cuisine. It evolved perfectly from the bustle of Athens to the thrill of Santorini to the quiet and calm of Folegandros. Our guide, Archelaos “Archie” Biehler, was so kind, knowledgeable and helpful. He maintained the perfect balance of leading us during our journey while allowing us to enjoy our time together as a family. His skill as an outdoor guide was evident, along with his ability to work alongside families. He even brought some games for the children, and adults, to play during transitions. He was the perfect match for us. - - - - - Athens and the Acropolis were magnificent as you would expect from the ancient city. And while it was a change in the itinerary from a trip to the Temple of Poseidon, our Athens e-bike tour was a fun and wonderful way to see the classic sites around the historical city. - - - - - The island of Santorini was thrilling for the whole family and a great escape from the city experience. Our hike along the caldera from Fira to Oia was the perfect introduction to the volcanic island. After a swim in the pool, our sunset dinner was a remarkable way to end our first day. The sea kayaking tour was unforgettable. We were overjoyed by snorkeling in the beautiful waters and paddling along the coast to the beaches. The cooking class turned out to be one of the most delightful experiences. We were skeptical of how it would go over with our children, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. Our children remade the entire meal for their grandparents when we came home. - - - - - Folegandros was rugged, secluded and enchanting with its wild and raw beauty. We loved the shady town squares, white-lined green cobblestone streets of Chora and the white-washed homes draped in bougainvillea. Ano Meria had rustic charm with its lemon tree houses and ancient stone cropped farming terraces. On the island, we loved the amazing snorkeling, fresh seafood, dazzling stars, deep sapphire blue seas, cool breezes and stunning steep cliffs. Our stay at the Anemi Hotel was lovely and the food was delicious. The hotel reminded us of a spa, while still being family friendly. - - - - Life-long memories full of Greek culture, lifestyle and local cuisine were made on this trip. Our family discovered a lasting love of Greece. Here is a link to a short video that we made for family and friends. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zel0uX2k3yQ

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Europamundo

"It was excellent. I enjoyed it

Europamundo is an expert in:

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Dot Travel

"Everything was excellent. The hotels, excursions, transfers to every location and the customer service. Communication was very effective. I highly recommend Tourradar.

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"The tour was excellent, seeing so many ancient sites. Our drivers were very good and knowledgeable, especially Gianni, although Christof had trouble with English (note that our contract included an English speaking driver) We were impressed by all of the tour guides with a special shout out to Katerina (Mycenae), Domenika (Meteora), and Elena at Olympia. Our group of 8 agree that we learned so much about the geography of Greece, its agriculture, its history, and the beauty of the country. We found that the days were long, often not arriving to our hotels by 6:30 or 7PM. Perhaps a down day mid tour would allow travelers to recharge their batteries - maybe at Thessaloniki? Our group chose not to do the sunset cruise at Santorini and no other options were given. We found a 5 hour tour by a local company on our own. Something like this could be offered as an option. Leaving for Mykonos at 5:45 was fine but the boxed breakfast was poor. As it turned out the Arethusa had breakfast opened at 5:00. Had we known this, it would have been a better option. Other comments from our group: We appreciated the central location of our hotels in Athens and Thessaloniki as they gave easy access to the city’s sites. It would have been nice to arrive in Nafplio earlier in the day to provide an opportunity to explore the town. We would have appreciated getting information about the day's itinerary to know the approximate length of the day and info regarding lunch stops. Providing this the day before or early on the day of travel would have been good. Ten hour days were a bit long. In addition to the above, we would add that an alternative tour of Mykonos be added particularly, if the tour of the islands was at the end. By that time we would have seen many more spectacular ruins than were on Delos. It seemed like the 100km per hour speed limit for the larger van created some timing issues for the drivers. Perhaps your schedule could be adjusted to take that into account and thus allow for a lunch break each day and avoid very long hours on the road. It might mean extending the tour by a day or two. The drivers were great as were the guides and most of the hotels and breakfasts. I’m not sure the hotel in Nafplio was an upgrade. Tiny room facing an alleyway. Greece is a beautiful country and we have returned home with some wonderful memories.

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How to Spend One Perfect Day in Athens

What to see and do, and where to stay, in Greece's capital city.

oat travel greece

Ready to explore all the best sights, hotels, and dining options on one perfect day in Athens? Here’s a quick itinerary for your next Greek getaway . 

Where to Stay

You might be exploring a historic city, but Xenodocheio Milos delivers modern comforts without sacrificing charm. It's on a mission to make you feel at home, no matter how short your stay is — like all of the best hotels in Athens . Rooms here come with high design touches like marble baths, bright wood floors, velvet soft furnishings, and ultra plush beds. But one of the hotel’s best features is found on its ground floor — its delicious dining venue offering Mediterranean breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Rooms start at about $300 per night.  

Gautier Houba/Travel + Leisure

Where to Eat

Breakfast at Minu: Start your day with breakfast among locals at Minu , which comes with everything you need to fuel your Athens adventure. Minu is a bright, cheerful, and utterly adorable space. The shop also doubles as a concept store, so guests can pick up a few goodies while they wait for their coffee or breakfast. Snag anything from smoothie bowls to perfectly cooked eggs alongside a cappuccino or cold brew, or even a freddo for a cooling local treat. Coffees start at about $2, while main dishes start at about $8. 

Lunch at Papadakis: Papadakis , located in the Kolonaki neighborhood, is a love letter to Greek cuisine by famed chef Argiro Barbarigou, who pours her heart and soul into creating fresh, local dishes like her white grouper with truffle, greek salads, and a chickpea stew that cannot be missed. And it’s all served with an epic view. Expect to spend about $30 per person for a starter and a main. 

Dinner at Pharaoh: Pharaoh opened its doors in late 2022 and quickly became one of the hottest culinary destinations in the city. The restaurant is effortlessly cool, thanks to its soaring ceilings, spinning vinyl, and fun decor, which all match the contemporary meals made using a wood fire. The wine pairings are not to miss, as the restaurant's selection is all-natural. Dig into classics like grape leaves or a tomato salad, along with heartier plates of fish and potatoes. Apps start at about $7, while mains begin at $22. 

Make Art at Symposium: Symposium was founded by the father-son duo Georgios and Manos, who wanted to share their passions for winemaking and ancient Greek art. Visitors can come to get to know Manos better by taking his sculpting class, an hour-long lesson on how to create a rather cool ancient Greek face. Book your class time over Airbnb experiences starting at $28 per person. 

Take a Street Art Tour: Athens is full of fantastic free art. There’s also plenty of street art to see, and Awesome Athens Experience is ready to show you it all. The tour company offers tours with locals who will happily show you all the greatest creations and explain who each artist is and the significance behind their creations. The three-hour tours start at about $35 per person.  

Shop at Anthologist: Anthologist is the brainchild of travel tastemaker Andria Mitsakos, who’s traversed the globe in search of special items for visitors in Athens to pick up as the ultimate souvenir (and also works with the ever-helpful  DiscoverGreece.com  to help you plan epic Aegean adventures). Each piece offers the right bit of glamour and mystique, and everything supports artisans from Greece and beyond. Prices vary, but you can find small local trinkets starting at around $50. Just make sure to reach out ahead of time, as the shop is by appointment only. 

See a Show under the Acropolis: Each night, Webster University Library & Cultural Center puts on a fantastic performance underneath the lights of the Acropolis. The 60-minute performances showcase six major works of Ancient Greek literature so guests can get a little taste of the best. You’ll laugh, cry, and most certainly be highly entertained. Plus, every ticket comes with the bonus of a glass of wine for adults and water for kids. Grab a ticket on Airbnb Experiences for about $28 per person, but do book in advance as performances tend to sell out. 

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