Athens: Hidden Walking Tour with Picnic

Hidden Athens walking tour starts outside of Benaki museum where we meet our guide. We start off with a stroll through the streets of Plaka, the old town of Athens. In this picturesque, historical neighborhood we will follow along a maze of cobbled streets lined with numerous examples of Neoclassical architecture, Byzantine churches, and busy shops. On the northernmost streets of Plaka, lies the area known as Anafiotika, an idyllic cluster of whitewashed houses that are reminiscent of buildings in the Greek islands. In the 19th century workers from the Anafi island of Cyclades, homesick for their native island life, built these houses and painted them bright white to remind themselves of home. While listening to some of the stories about the area and its history from our guide, we walk to the Rock of Ares (Aereopagus), which is just a bit further up the slopes of the Acropolis on Mars Hill. The colossal rock marks the site that once was the supreme court of ancient Athens, a place that is also surrounded with tombs of former Kings. After we continue to Philopappou Hill, passing the prison where the Greek philosopher Socrates was sentenced to death on controversial charges (short stop). We reach at the top of Philopappou Hill to enjoy breathtaking views over Athens. Here we enjoy a glass of white wine and a picnic of various Greek delicacies. As our tour comes to an end, we head back into town with our guide, following the pretty UNESCO World Heritage-listed walkways down the hill. We pass the famous Philopappos Monument and then finish our tour back at the start point, near Benaki Museum.