This post covers the best free walking tours in Athens, what they cover, and when they take place.
Essentially, there are 4 types of free tours available, history/city centre tours, tours covering street art, food tours, as well as night tours.
There are several interesting tours you can take for free in Athens.
Whether you’re interested in learning more about this city’s past or you want to know more about what things are like nowadays, there’s probably at least one free walking tour you’ll enjoy.
History tours are the most prevalent in the Greek capital, providing details about some of the most significant and important sites from centuries past.
Aside from seeing noteworthy monuments, you'll also learn about the myths, legends and secrets from throughout the history of Athens, a location often referred to as the cradle of western civilization.
Alternative/Street Art tours will offer a look at modern Athens, revealing some of the most creative artwork in the city today while also providing a look at the cultural changes that have taken place here over the last few decades.
In addition to tours covering history and culture, there are also outings that provide a taste of the best foods you can find in Athens at some of the most popular restaurants.
Finally, some tours are also offered either after dark or at sunset, giving you a look at the city from a different perspective than you’ll experience during the day.
Free walking tours are tours that have no upfront cost, but they ask that you pay what you think the tour was worth at the end when your experience is over.
Most tour attendees are drawn to these experiences because they fit any budget, and are entertaining. Many tours are led by English-speaking local experts.
The popularity of the tours means that group sizes are very large, especially during the busy summer season.
For travelers who want to have more interaction with their tour guide with smaller groups of tourists, we recommend paid small-group tours. These outings sometimes take place on tourist buses, allowing you to save both time and energy!
TIP: If you want a tour of Athens and some surrounding areas combined with convenient transportation, hop-on-hop-off tours are a popular option.
ATHENS HISTORY TOUR
If you’re interested in learning about the birthplace of democracy and its 7000 years of history.
These tours will provide information about some of the most notable architecture in the city and the mythology of ancient Greece, making them perfect for history buffs.
Additionally, most tours will also include tips for sightseeing, activities, and even great places to eat.
Here are some of the most historic sites typically included with these free walking tours:
- Hadrian’s Library
- Acropolis of Athens
- Theatre of Dionysus
- Temple of Zeus
- Hadrian’s Arch
- Syntagma Square
- And more!
Each of the services listed below is very well-rated and has several positive reviews.
The average rating is either 4 or 5 stars out of 5. Discover the history behind these sites on one of the following tours.
Athens History, Philosophy, and Democracy Tour
This 3-hour free walking tour will cover at least 11 notable sites in the city while covering the history of Athens.
You can expect to learn about the philosophical people who lived here in the past and how they shaped modern thoughts of government and democracy.
This service is also offered as a virtual tour that is available once a day on weekdays at 21:30 (9:30 pm) and twice per day on weekends at 12 pm and 21:30 (9:30 pm).
New Athens Free Tour
This 2 ½ hour walking tour takes place daily at 10:15 am and will take you around the historical center.
Guests report that their tour guide is humorous, informative, and willing to be flexible based on your plans and wishes.
In addition to the free tour, New Athens Free Tour also offers paid street art and other themed tours.
Check out their tours here.
See Athens Walk
This 3-hour free walking tour covers both the history of the city and also details about well-hidden restaurants you may want to visit for a bite to eat.
Reviews suggest that their tour guide is not only very well informed, but also that they are quite funny and provide a lot of helpful tips about places to eat or things to see in Athens.
This pay-what-you-wish walking tour is available once a day at 9:30 am and there is a second outing offered on weekends at 17:00 (5 pm).
Free Tour Atenea
If you’re looking to visit a few more sites than some of the other services on our list, this company offers 13 different stops on their free walking tour of Athens.
While this outing typically takes about 3 hours to enjoy, reviewers frequently report that it can actually last as long as 4 hours if everyone is having fun and wants to continue.
This tour is limited to just 15 people per group, ensuring you’ll receive as much personal attention as possible from your tour guides.
Available in both English and Spanish, you can take this tour Monday through Friday at 10:15 am.
STREET ART/ALTERNATIVE TOURS
If you’re interested in learning about what modern life and culture are like in Athens, these tours will give you a look at another side of the city.
Some alternative tours focus more on the street art scene while others provide information about contemporary life in Greece, including fun things to see and do in Athens.
Here are a few of the locations you can expect to visit on these tours:
- Exarchia Square
- Popular Cafes
- Notable Bars
- Navarinou Park
- Kallidromiou Street
- Old Summer Theatre
- And more!
Most of these tours are very positively reviewed and have a ranking of either 4 or 5 stars out of 5.
Discover these sites and many more by taking one of the pay-what-you-wish walking tours listed below.
New Athens Free Tour
In addition to its history tour, this company also provides a street art and graffiti tour that covers several notable sites in and around Exarchia Square.
Reviews suggest that their guide knows a lot about the neighbourhood as well as why and how the artwork is done.
You can take this 2 ½ hours free walking tour every day except Saturday at 15:30 (3:30 pm).
The Athenians
Discover the alternative side of Athens in small groups, normally 12 people max but will be reduced to 8 while Covid-19 is still an issue.
Reviewers say that this 2 ½ hours free walking tour is filled with interesting details about modern society, politics, and culture.
Visitors can enjoy this service every day except Tuesday at 18:30 (6:30 pm), which means it could also be considered a sunset tour or night tour.
Find out additional details or book this tour.
ATHENS FOOD TOURS
There are a lot of fantastic restaurants, cafes, and bars in Athens where you can enjoy a wide range of delicious Greek foods.
If you need help finding the best dishes and eateries, consider taking one of these free food tours!
Each of these outings is pay-what-you-wish, but the food won’t always be free.
What this means is you control how much you’re going to spend and what you choose to eat rather than paying one flat price for everything.
You can expect to visit some of the following sites on these tours:
- Athens Central Market
- Evripidou Street Market
- Monastiraki Square
- Kydathineon Street
- Adrianou Street
- And more!
Each of these outings is well-reviewed and typically has at least 4 or 5 out of 5-stars ratings.
If you want to learn more about the best food in Athens, these pay-what-you-wish walking tours are an excellent opportunity.
Taste Athens With Sam
This service focuses on the best local restaurants and markets in Athens.
Sam limits the size of his tour groups to just 10 participants.
Reviewers report that the tour is cozy and reveals a lot of great restaurants where you can find reasonably priced and delicious authentic Greek food.
You can take this free walking tour any day of the week at 13:00 (1 pm), which is the perfect time for lunch!
Athens Street Food Tour
If you’re more interested in trying street food than visiting local restaurants, this is an excellent free food tour that will give you a taste of the best dishes you can get from Athenian vendors on the street.
These tours are kept to small groups to ensure a more personalized experience. Did we mention this tour is vegetarian and vegan-friendly?
Check their availability with the link below to see if there are any tour dates during your visit.
This 2 ½ hour tour is available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 18:00 (6 pm) – just in time for dinner!
Athens Bite
This is another option that lasts for approximately 3 hours and is available in either English, Russian or Greek.
Sign up for this tour from Monday - Saturday at 11:30 am or on Sundays at 10:45 am.
NIGHT TOURS/PUB CRAWLS IN ATHENS
Discover what the city looks like after dark or during sunset on a free night tour in Athens.
Your knowledgeable guide will show you some of the best, most well-lit, and notable locations in the city.
These are essentially history tours, and one of the services we’ve already listed also counts as at least a sunset tour – See Athens Walk offers a 5 pm tour with runs until 8 pm.
It’s also worth noting that the Street Art tour offered by the Athenians begins at 6:30 pm and runs until 9 pm.
The Athens Street Food Tour also starts at 6 pm, making it an excellent option during sundown.
There is also at least one free pub crawl you might want to consider.
Here are just a few of the landmarks you can expect to see:
- Temple of Zeus
- Agora of Athens
- Hadrian’s Library
- Acropolis of Athens
- Tower of the Winds
- Kallimármaro Stadium
- Panathinaikos Stadium
- And more!
Free Tour Atenas
This is essentially another Athena history tour, but it’s available at 17:30 (5:30 pm) and lasts for approximately 3 hours until around 8:30 pm.
Even during the summer months, this should ensure that you can at least enjoy the historic sites and landmarks of the city at sunset.
This tour is limited to just 8 people per group, so you can rest assured that their guide will provide a lot of personal attention and answer any questions you may have.
Offered in both English and Spanish, this free walking tour is provided every day of the week both in the evening and in the morning at 9:30 am.
Into Athens
This company offers a free sunset walk in Athens which takes place as the sun is going down.
You can expect to visit a lot of the same sites you would see on a daytime history tour.
The hour at which this tour begins will depend on the time of year, as it literally takes place at sunset.
You’ll meet your tour group at the entrance of the National Gardens.
Additional Night Tours/Pub Crawls
If you’re looking for another type of night tour or pub crawl in Athens, there are several other ways to see the city after dark.
Whether you want to take a tour by segway, by bike, or by foot, there are quite a few options to consider.
Ticket prices range from €35-€80 and tours last between 2-4 hours on average.
Although these aren’t free Athens walking tours, you may still want to consider taking one of the following night tours or pub crawls.
Check this list of Athens night tours/pub crawls for additional services.
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