The Ultimate Trip to Greece for Sports Fans: 5-Day Travel Package

Day 1 Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Tour

Evening: Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Tour

The Acropolis of Athens and its monuments (UNESCO World Heritage Site) are universal symbols of the classical spirit and civilization, forming the greatest architectural and artistic complex bequeathed by Greek Antiquity to the world. You simply cannot visit Greece without visiting the Parthenon, which continues to serve as a beacon of the ideals of Freedom and Democracy. As well as the Acropolis, a visit to the new Acropolis Museum is not to be missed and it’s here that you will unearth the intriguing history of the Parthenon in all its glory.

During our evening tour to the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum, we will travel back to the era of Ancient Greece as the Sacred Rock of Athens comes alive before your very eyes with state-of-the-art digital multimedia. You will also be introduced to our theme, the Olympic Games and the Marathon, and learn about concepts like Nike (victory), which was actually the name of a Greek goddess!

With the aid of 3D virtual and reconstruction technology, you will also have the chance to see how Acropolis Hill and its buildings really looked thousands of years ago, and walk through doors and rooms otherwise locked or lost forever.

Note: This is a walking tour.

Overnight: Athens

OPTIONAL: Morning Walk in Athens With a Local Guide | A Private 2-hour Tour

Day 2 Morning: Olympic Games Workout | Athens Olympic Museum Tour

Olympic Games Workout (2 hours): 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Highlight: Race in the Panathenaic Stadium, home of the 1896 Olympic Games! 

Enjoy this unique opportunity to run in the magnificent Panathenaic Stadium, which is the only stadium in the world to be built entirely of marble. This was the venue for 4 of the 9 contested sports during the first modern Olympics that took place in 1896. Today, it is also the finishing point for the annual Athens Classic Marathon, the first Marathon race in the world!

Your tour will start at Zappeion, a beautiful neoclassical building near the lush National Gardens in the center of the city. Here, your sports trainer/guide will explain how important the Olympics were to Ancient Greek society, and
recount how even wars were canceled so the games could take place! You will also have the opportunity to learn more about the ancient athletes and their training program and discover how the Modern Olympics took its inspiration and was reborn in Athens.

Moving on from Zappeion, you can then visit a historic gymnasium nearby and this is where things start to get really exciting! You will have the chance to learn the techniques involved in correctly holding and throwing the discus and javelin; two sports with ancient origins. You can also have a go at the high jump and shot put as well, seeing how you are fair in these Olympic sports. Which one of your family will be able to throw the farthest?

Finally, it’s time to move on to the Panathenaic Stadium, which will now hold the final event of your very own Olympics as you prepare to race around its 607ft (185 m) track. With such incredible surroundings, it doesn’t matter who wins… it’s the taking part that counts!

11:30 AM – 3:00 PM: Free time for exploration and lunch

Tip! You can take a walk in the National Gardens, located behind the Zappeion building and next to the Greek Parliament, before heading for lunch.

Afternoon: Athens Olympic Museum Tour (3:00 PM – 4:30 PM)

When you visit the Athens Olympic Museum, you will gain a greater understanding of the Olympic Games from Antiquity to date, the spirit of fair play as a universal value, Greece’s critical role in promoting Olympism, and Athens’ promotion as an Olympic Capital. This is an unrivaled experience for visitors, especially sports fans like yourselves.

Thanks to the latest technology, visitors to the museum can embark on an exciting journey through the past and present. The race starts in Antiquity, using a rich collection of physical, digital, and interactive exhibits. You can hear about the history of the Olympic Movement, from its humble birth to the extravagant modern-day events. Using extensive audiovisual material ranging from videos, animation, interviews, and graphic displays to screens and interactive applications, you will experience a range of emotions that cannot be replicated.

The Museum operates under the aegis of the International Olympic Committee and the Hellenic Olympic Committee and is a member of the International Olympic Museums Network. the Museum is located in the northern suburbs of Athens, inside a shopping mall.

5:00 PM – Return to Athens center/ hotel – free time

Optional: After the Museum visit, you can stay longer and spend some time picking up gifts in the Golden Hall, the most luxurious shopping mall in Athens. Please let us know well in advance so that we can arrange a separate pick-up for you (at an additional cost).

Overnight: Athens

Day 3 Marathon Run Museum | Delphi Site, Museum, and Stadium

Morning: Marathon Run Museum Tour

Marathon Run Museum Tour and Movie: 09:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Everyone has heard of the marathon sporting event and now it’s your chance to visit the birthplace of this famous test of endurance. The museum’s exhibition, which is located just a few hundred meters away from the battleground
of Marathon, presents the history of the Olympic Marathons from 1896 to 2000. You can examine texts and photographs about the history of the Olympic Marathons, International Marathons, the Women’s Marathon, and more, as well as many exhibits from great Greek and foreign Marathon winners.

You will also enjoy a short movie in English, which presents the birth of the Marathon race, connecting the past with the present.

Short snack stop on our way to Delphi: try the famous traditional Greek Pie.

Afternoon: Delphi Archaeological Site, Museum and Stadium Tour

Delphi Archaeological Site, Museum and Stadium Tour: 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Highlight: Race in the original stadium of the Pythian Games!

The sanctuary of Delphi (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is the place where the oracle of Apollo spoke. This sacred site was thought to be the ‘navel of the world’ not only for the ancient Greeks, but also for others around the Mediterranean. Blending in harmony with the superb landscape and charged with sacred meaning, Delphi was indeed the religious center and symbol of unity of the ancient Greek world. It was also home to the Pythian Games, one of the four Panhellenic Games in Ancient Greece.

Immerse yourself in the incredible history of this unique location and travel back in time. Cool off at the Castalia Spring and retrace the Holy Route to the Temple of Apollo to consult the oracle of Pythia. Then, head north to visit the ancient theater and imagine the music of ancient concerts ringing through the air. Climb to the highest spot in the ancient Stadium and envision the wonderful athletic contests that took place back then before taking your place at the starting line and running along the original track of the Pythian Games. Victory is yours for the taking!

In the superb Delphi Archeological Museum, you can admire unique treasures like the world-famous bronze Charioteer, the Naxian Sphinx, the Statue of Antinous, and other masterpieces of classical Greek art. Many of the exhibits show the importance of sports back in that time, such as a small statue of a man celebrating his well-earned victory.

Late Lunch: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Enjoy a traditional lunch in Delphi, breathing in the unique aura and energy of the ‘center of the ancient world’.

Return to Athens: 7:00 PM

Overnight: Athens

Day 4 Nemea Archaeological Site and Stadium Tour | Epidaurus Tour : Sanctuary of Asklepios & Ancient Theater

Morning: Nemea Archaeological Site and Stadium Tour

Meeting Point: Hotel Lobby at 8:30 AM, after your check-out. Departure at 8:30 AM

On leaving Athens, you will first cross the world-famous Corinth Canal, the waterway that separates the Greek mainland from the Peloponnese. You can stop for photos while our guide gives you some background history behind
the canal’s construction, and also reveals the rivalry that once existed between the ancient Athenians and Corinthians.

After leaving the Corinth Canal, the road trip continues as our guide talks you through the importance of the Isthmian Games, one of the 4 Panhellenic Games that used to take place in Isthmia of Corinth. Unfortunately, time
has ravaged the archeological site, leaving little evidence of its past significance.

Nemea Archeological Site and Stadium Tour: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Highlight: Race in the original stadium of the Nemean Games!

The Nemean Games were once held in ancient Greece during the month of July and comprised both athletic and musical competitions held in honor of Zeus. They took place biennially, concurring with the Isthmian Games, on the
second and fourth year of each Olympiad.

The Stadium of Nemea, which hosted the races during the Nemean Games, still survives today! Back then, it had a seating capacity of 40,000 people and is still impressive on account of its location and size. Inscriptions remain evident even today on the domed stoa that used to be the entrance point for the athletes and starting point for the games. Pass through this very stoa with your family as you prepare to take part in an epic race in this incredible venue!

The Temple of Nemean Zeus with its imposing columns was built by combining all three of the most important ancient Greek architectural styles (Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian Orders). A lot of columns still stand today and just by standing next to them, you can get an idea of how imposing this temple would have looked back in the day.

You can enjoy exploring the temple and its surrounding buildings, which are beautifully situated in a picturesque landscape, before making a short visit to the on-site archeological museum to check out a wide variety of significant exhibits on display there.

1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Lunch (Short drive to Epidaurus and stop for lunch)

Epidaurus Tour – Sanctuary of Asklepios & Ancient Theater: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Highlight: Experience the amazing acoustics of the Ancient Theater of Epidaurus

Back in Ancient Greece, athletics and sports games weren’t the only competitions taking place. Theatrical games were also a big thing, many of them taking place in the epic Ancient Theater of Epidaurus, on the east coast of the Peloponnese.

The ancient theater was so well designed all those thousands of years ago that, even today, you can hear people whispering on the stage when you are sitting up in the seats high above. The acoustics here are truly extraordinary
and you will have a lot of fun testing them out for yourself, whether whispering or even singing!

The second outstanding feature of Epidaurus is the Asklepios Healing Sanctuary, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. People would once travel here from hundreds of miles around to be healed from their ailments, and there were even guest houses available for the patients to stay in over 2000 years ago! The Sanctuary is the earliest organized sanatorium and is significant for its association with the history of medicine, providing evidence of the transition from belief in divine healing to the science of medicine. The Sanctuary developed into the single most important therapeutic center of the ancient world.

5:00 PM – Departure for Nafplion and Arrival in Nafplio: 6:00 PM

Nafplion is a picturesque, seaside town and the first modern capital of Greece. With its charming Venetian architecture and quaint little cobblestone alleyways, it offers an ideal setting for evening walks and is a very romantic destination for couples.

Stroll around the winding backstreets to admire the stunning array of buildings influenced by Venetian, Frankish, and Ottoman architecture. You can’t miss Bourtzi Castle, which was built by the Venetians in 1473, located on a tiny island in the bay. The town’s oldest castle, Bourtzi is a fascinating sight to behold!

During your walk of exploration, you will stumble upon the first Parliament of Greece and Syntagma Square. After an evening stroll through the picturesque cobblestone alleys of Nafplio, you can relax at a seafront taverna
with a glass of wine in hand and admire the views while soaking up the vibes of this enchanting Greek city.

Overnight: Nafplion

Day 5 Ancient Olympia, Stadium & Museum Tour | Return to Athens

Ancient Olympia, Stadium & Museum Tour: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Highlight: Race in the original stadium of the Olympic Games!

After leaving Nafplion, you will be driven to Ancient Olympia, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is where the first Olympic Games were held thousands of years ago, and it’s from here that the Olympic Torch is still lit to this day! Along the way, you will enjoy the abundant olive-groves and vineyards that symbolize the landscape of the Peloponnese peninsula.

The modern Olympic Games are undoubtedly the world’s most important sporting competition and sports enthusiasts will be thrilled to visit the actual birthplace. From the modern marathon to the olive wreath and the
frequency of the event, you will immediately recognize clear influences today from ancient Greek times.

Step into the stadium in Olympia as you imagine the roar of the crowd cheering the athletes on. You are standing on the same track where athletes of old raced for glory millennia ago! The remains of dozens of buildings and temples
sit among the shade of trees on the archeological site, some of which were specifically built for sporting events, and others for the worship of Zeus.

With the aid of 3D virtual and reconstruction technology, these buildings will take shape right in front of your eyes, looking just as they did thousands of years ago for you to marvel at.

You will then enjoy a guided tour of the Archeological Museum of Olympia, which ranks among the most important museums in Greece. The museum is renowned for its sculptures and the collection of ancient Greek bronzes is the richest in the world. You can inspect statues of warriors, charioteers, and, of course, athletes such as the mid-6th century BC discus thrower and the early-5th century runner.

Lunch: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

7:00 PM – Return to Athens – End of trip

Contact us to check availability for this kid-friendly tour for sports fans