• Parthenon, Athens, Greece
    Acropolis in Athens
  • Athens' National Archaeological Museum
  • Ancient Delphi
  • Mani Peninsula, Greece
    Mani Peninsula
  • Monemvasia, Greece
    Monemvasia
  • Dining on Fresh Seafood
  • Hydra Harbor

Tour Questions? See our FAQ | Email tour@ricksteves.com

Athens & the Heart of Greece in 14 Days Tour

from $3,745 per person + air

Single Supplement $675

See Dates & Prices

The Rick Steves Athens & the Heart of Greece tour is an odyssey of time-travel thrills, from Athens' majestic Acropolis to the must-see ancient sites of Delphi, Olympia, Epidavros, and Mycenae. With knowledge and a nudge from your Rick Steves guide, you'll walk among marble monuments where Plato pondered, splash in the turquoise Aegean where Odysseus sailed, gaze up at god-dwelling mountains, sample family-crafted olives and wines — and maybe learn to play backgammon at a whitewashed taverna on the island of Hydra. Join us for Athens & the Heart of Greece in 14 Days!

Dates & Prices

2023

2024

What's Included

You'll get at least 17 group sightseeing events — at no extra cost!

Here's what you'll see and do on our Greece tour:

  • Acropolis
  • Acropolis Museum
  • Ancient Delphi
  • Scenic Diakofto–Kalavryta Railway
  • Olive and olive oil tasting
  • Ancient Olympia
  • Mani Peninsula villages
  • Monemvasia orientation
  • Cooking demonstration
  • Byzantine Mystras
  • Nafplio orientation
  • Wine and ouzo tasting
  • Ancient Mycenae
  • Folk music evening
  • Theater of Epidavros
  • Hydra orientation
  • National Archaeological Museum

Plus you'll get all this, too.

  • A small, friendly group of 24–28 people — half the size of most tour groups
  • Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of Greece come alive for you
  • All group transportation from Athens to Athens
  • 13 nights' accommodations in memorable, centrally located hotels
  • All breakfasts and 7 other meals
  • All tips for guides and driver
  • A tour kit including a guidebook (when available) and a moneybelt
  • Guaranteed tour price, locked in the moment you make your deposit
  • Tour alum discount of $50 for each tour you've taken with us
  • Flexibility should you need to transfer or cancel your tour

Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing. See our Tour Conditions for important details regarding everything listed above.

Group sightseeing events subject to change.

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Greece

At 6 p.m. we'll gather at our hotel for a "Welcome to Athens" group meeting. Then we'll get oriented to our neighborhood and walk to a nearby restaurant where we can get acquainted over dinner.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. No bus. Sleep in Athens.

Day 2: Athens' Acropolis

This morning we'll hike to the top of Athens' legendary Acropolis, where we'll take a walking tour of its 2,500-year-old Golden Age temples, dominated by the dramatic Parthenon. We'll then work our way down and tour the sleek new Acropolis Museum, custom built to showcase the amazing Parthenon sculptures. Your afternoon and evening are free for exploring Athens' marketplaces — the ancient Agora and the modern Plaka's labyrinth of inviting streets, squares, shops, and cafés.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. No bus. Sleep in Athens.

Day 3: Delphi

This morning we'll leave the city behind and drive into the rugged countryside. In a dramatic setting on the flanks of 8,000-foot Mt. Parnassus, we'll enjoy the fresh air and tour the mystical ruins of Delphi. Here, 25 centuries ago, the celebrated oracle allowed mere mortals to converse with the gods. This evening we'll enjoy dinner together.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Bus: 4 hours. Sleep in Delphi.

Day 4: Peloponnese Mountains

Today we'll cross over the Gulf of Corinth to the Peloponnese, where we'll temporarily leave our bus for a steep, scenic cog railway ride up to the historic town of Kalavryta, past the waterfalls and caves lining the narrow Vouraikos Gorge. Just beyond, at a riverside café in the mountain village of Planitero, we'll enjoy a lunch of freshly caught trout and other Greek specialties before our bus takes us to our destination high up in the Menalon Mountains. Tonight, we'll enjoy a performance of traditional music and dancing before dinner together.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Bus: 5 hours. Train: 1 hour. Sleep in or near Lagkadia.

Day 5: Ancient Olympia

This morning's winding mountain drive will take us to Olympia, site of the world's first Olympics over 2,700 years ago. There we'll take a vivid walking tour of Olympia's ancient athletic venues, temples, and museum, followed by lunch together. This afternoon's drive will take us along sweeping views of the Ionian Sea to a relaxed seaside village on the Mani Peninsula.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 5 hours. Sleep on the Mani Peninsula.

Day 6: Seaside Discoveries

The Mani is an ideal place to enjoy a "vacation from your vacation." After some orientation by your guide, the day is all yours. You might hike along the ancient cobbled paths that wind their way through the nearby hills, or just relax on the beach and end your day with a grilled seafood dinner and a view from the little taverna you've discovered.

Walking light to strenuous: your choice. No bus. Sleep on the Mani Peninsula.

Day 7: Mani Villages

We'll follow the coast to the isolated Mani Peninsula, home to generations-long clan wars, salt-of-the-earth villages, and unique pyrgospita — tower houses. If Greece had a Tombstone and an O.K. Corral, they'd be here. We'll enjoy lunch together, and after making a few off-the-beaten-path discoveries, we'll ride on to the dramatically set medieval town of Monemvasia, where you'll be free for dinner.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Bus: 5 hours. Sleep in mainland Monemvasia.

Day 8: Medieval Monemvasia

This morning we'll cross the causeway to tackle the massive rock that shoots straight up out of the blue-green Aegean Sea. After an orientation walk around Monemvasia's cozy little Lower Town, you'll have free time to wander more of the romantic walled town or take a swim in the Aegean. Those who want a workout can hike to the very top of the rock. You'll be rewarded with sweeping Aegean views and a chance to explore the ruins of the Upper Town — a living museum of Byzantine, Ottoman, and Venetian history. This evening we'll enjoy a cooking demonstration, followed by dinner together.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. No bus. Sleep in mainland Monemvasia.

Day 9: Byzantine Mystras

Today we'll head up into the heart of the Peloponnese, where we'll tour the haunting ruins of the fortress town of Mystras and its still-standing group of Byzantine churches. After stopping in nearby Sparta for lunch, we'll continue north to our destination: the delightful, fortress-topped harbor town of Nafplio, where we'll enjoy a Greek wine and ouzo tasting.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Bus: 5 hours. Sleep in Nafplio.

Day 10: Mycenae and Nafplio

After breakfast we'll take a short drive to mysterious Mycenae, the fortified city founded by Perseus a thousand years before the Parthenon was built. We'll take a walking tour through the grand Lion Gate, along the "cyclopean" walls, and into a remarkably domed tholos tomb. Then we'll return to Nafplio for a free afternoon to explore the colorful alleyways of the Old Town, ride a boat to the little castle island in the harbor, or hike up to enjoy a Venetian fortress view. We'll regroup for dinner together this evening.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 1 hour. Sleep in Nafplio.

Day 11: Ancient Epidavros

This morning we'll drive to nearby Epidavros. Once the most famous healing center in the Mediterranean, Epidavros' star attraction today is its ancient theater, large enough to accommodate 14,000. We'll learn about the roots of medicine and drama here, before hopping a boat to the idyllic traffic-free island of Hydra.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 2 hours. Boat: ½ hour. Sleep on Hydra.

Day 12: Island of Hydra

Your entire day is free to soak up the whitewashed architecture as you wander Hydra's narrow streets and harbor promenade. You might swim at a nearby beach, hike across the island, or try to make friends with a donkey. We'll cap our island vacation with a relaxing sunset happy hour.

Walking light to strenuous: your choice. No bus. Sleep on Hydra.

Day 13: Athens' National Archaeological Museum

This morning we'll take a ferry ride to Piraeus, where our bus will be waiting to take us to Athens' impressive National Archaeological Museum, home to amazingly preserved masterpieces in marble, bronze, and gold. Your afternoon is free to wander and shop through the Plaka, or explore other parts of this bustling city. Tonight we'll gaze at the floodlit Acropolis and enjoy a final dinner together, sharing travel memories and toasting new friends. Opa!

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Bus: 1 hour. Boat: 2 hours. Sleep in Athens.

Day 14: Tour Over After Breakfast

Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. You can easily catch a cab to the airport or to nearby Piraeus, where a fleet of ferries awaits to transport those with time to even more Greek destinations. Antio!

Itinerary specifics subject to change.

Physical Demands

Our tours are physically active! It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. On our Athens & the Heart of Greece in 14 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily…

  1. Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways to reach your hotel, then up several flights of stairs to reach your room.
  2. Be on your feet, walking and standing, for up to three hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions.
  3. Sleep with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning.
  4. After orientation and transportation lessons, be able to navigate towns and cities on your own.
  5. Travel on a bus without a toilet (rest stops every two hours).
  6. Hike over steep, slippery, uneven terrain at several ancient sites, including 200 stairs to the top of the Acropolis.

Reviews

Philip

Tour: 05/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent travel experience. The content was exceptional (sites visited, special events, group meals - all were great). The hotels were fine - no significant issues. The local guides deserve special mention. Their presentations were riveting and full of information. Even more special were our travel mates. They were caring and interesting and interested. You couldn't ask for a better group. I would enjoy touring a turnip farm with these people and with Maria as our tour leader. Thank you to all!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I will always remember the last ride on the bus. I sat back and reflected on all we had seen and all we had done over the past 12 days. The history, the scenery, the diverse conversations, the laughter. We did so much and had so much fun. Wow..."

Karen

Tour: 05/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Interesting things to see and do. Great guides. Great food. Great folks on the tour with us. And great weather!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Olympia in general and the Olympic stadium in particular were my favorite things, but there were lots of close seconds."

Wesley

Tour: 05/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great trip. Very well planned with lots of time for everything.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Traveling the countryside in the bus, on a train and on a highspeed catamaran."

Sandra

Tour: 05/15/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide, Maria, was very good. Loved getting all the historical information. I felt the tour was well thought out - longer days and one night stays at the beginning of the tour and then 2 nights in same town(s) later on in the trip. Which was much needed and appreciated! Liked that there was usually a fun stop during the days on the bus: bakery, olive mill, great lunch spot, traditional Greek coffee, shopping spot, etc. The places we stayed at were always good- nothing too fancy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really don’t have a “wow” moment. There were lots and lots of “ oh my gosh I can’t believe I’m getting to be there, see and experience moments. So much beauty and history!"

Robert

Tour: 05/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I expected to see ruins of an age long gone. The tour brought ancient Greece alive and tied past to present. Our group bonded within the first two days and we functioned as one group. Exceeded my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Oracle. I realized the message of the Oracle is that decisions and actions have consequences. If I do this, what will happen next and am I prepared for the possible outcomes. A good lesson for the ancient's and, of course, the present's."

Robert

Tour: 05/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 5th Rick Steves tour and it was amazing. The tour was the perfect blend of city, country, mountains, sea-side villages, ruins and museums. Our guide, Maria did an exceptional job (as did the local guides). All of the hotels were great and the food was wonderful (and plentiful). Maria taught us history, culture, the love of Greek food and music, and prepared us extremely well for time on our own. We were also blessed to be with a wonderful group of fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As always, "wow moments" were plentiful, but exploring the top of the Acropolis and climbing to the top of Monemvasia just blew me away."

Rebecca

Tour: 05/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved our tour. Our group was friendly and mixed well. Our guide, Danae, was wonderful. Danae was so full of knowledge and she thoughtfully presented information to grow our understanding of Greece. I loved her selection of group meals that exposed us to things we might never have tried otherwise. She went above and beyond to ensure we had a positive experience. I loved the places we visited as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think Monemvasia was my favorite Wow. I loved the tiny streets of lower town and the climb to the upper town. But a favorite wow is hard to choose as there were so many."

Jennifer

Tour: 05/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the first meet and greet dinner to our farewell dinner I was enthralled and delighted with our whole group, guide and bus driver. Our guide (Danae Kousouri) entertained us with so many mythology stories, she explained folklore customs and kept us all on schedule. She hosted several cocktail hours and dinners with live entertainment. If anyone had request for help with a reservation she was right on it, helping us spend our time wisely.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Acropolis, really enjoyed the city of Nafplio and the island of Hydra. Each day was an adventure, stopping for a Greek coffee in a small village, eating fresh smelt in a costal village, participating in Greek dance and cooking classes.Seeing and exploring Greece's ruins that are 2500 years old was was the biggest high light."

Thomas

Tour: 05/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful Trip with an excellent guide Danae Kousouri! Longer Bus rides were well broken up with stops along the way. The itinerary allowed us to experience much more than what Athens had to offer alone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Lion's gate and castle remains built on steep hillsides was most impressive. Getting to know the Greek resilience during WWII also left a lasting impression of the Greek people's resolve and spirit."

Kevin

Tour: 05/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Danae is the best guide I've ever had! I loved listening to her stories, she's very knowledgeable, and she loves being a guide. The itinerary was perfect, great experiences. Lived it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Group Greek dance lesson!"

Lynda

Tour: 05/08/23

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

We had to leave the tour after 3 nights due to my husband testing positive for Covid. However I want to say it was such a great start and we very much enjoyed our time in Athens and Delphi. Ionna was a terrific guide and we also seemed to be in with a great group. We are going to try it again next year.

Dolora

Tour: 05/08/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very positive, friendly guide and participants. Our guide, Ioanna was very friendly and knowledgeable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I thought Hydra would be my favorite but actually I liked the medieval town at the Rock."

Julie

Tour: 05/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my third RS tour and, like the previous 2, this one was outstanding. Our guide, Ioanna, was amazing--sharing the wonders of Greece including: ancient Greece; the beautiful mountains and seas; the abundance of plant life; an insight to Greek families and religion, and more. We also had an incredibly skilled bus driver who took us through mountain passes with hairpin turns and tiny streets. And lastly, we traveled with a great band of travelers who were all easy-going and friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"3 "Wow" moments: #1 A morning walk with Ioanna through old Kardamyli, seeing so much plant life (olives, lemons, pomegranates, artichokes, flower), and meeting a local elder out in his garden. #2 A hike up to the monastery and Mt. Eros on Hydra, including the narrow walkways in town up to the trailhead, the trail of beautiful stone switchbacks up to the monastery, and the incredible 360 degree views looking back from the top. #3 Being immersed in such ancient history."

Karl

Tour: 05/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour! This was my 4th RS tour and all of the tour guides have been great. However, Ioanna was fantastic - fun, enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. The hotels were great. The sites unbelievable. Fresh seafood off the charts.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick. Walking all of the ancient sites or eating grilled fresh seafood literally right off the boat."

Michele

Tour: 05/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 5th RS tour. Overall, we had a FANTASTIC time, thanks mostly due to our OUTSTANDING guide, Ioanna (can't rave about her highly enough) and secondly due to our fellow travelers. You're correct when you show this as "very active" tour - we definitely got a good workout every day! And all that walking and hiking was needed due to the overwhelming amount of food we were served - no such thing as portion control!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many WOW moments, from finally getting to climb the Acropolis to visit the Parthenon, to a surprising train ride, to dockside lunch in Limeni, to the hike to Old Town Kardamyli."

Connie

Tour: 05/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour, a lot of education and a lot of fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dinner in Nafplion at a small restaurant with some local entertainers--singing and dancing."

Rachelle

Tour: 05/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first group tour and I was so impressed with the organization, the ease of seeing and having so many incredible experiences I would have never had in Greece alone. Iris was an amazing tour guide and my group was filled with fun, interesting people. I absolutely loved the whole trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Climbing to the top of the Acropolis and Parthenon, walking around the Mani Peninsula, experiencing the beauty and diversity of Greece from the mountains to the ruins and the sea. Also, dinner and Greek dancing at a restaurant in Nafplio listening to live folk music being played just for our group."

Vernon

Tour: 05/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was initially skeptical of a tour where a bus was the mode of transportation. However, once the tour began the bus became a respite from the energy, excitement, and activity of the tour. Our guide Iris was spectacular, her knowledge, sense of humor, hospitality, outgoing personality, and command of the tour made the tour exceed my expectations. Our bus, driver George, towns for stops, overnight, restaurants, and historical sites all complimented the immersive experience. Top notch local guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking the same paths, and stones walked by those historic personalities of Greek civilizations of 1,500 to 2,500 years ago."

Jonathan

Tour: 05/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Greek history came alive on this tour with help from our tour guide, Iris, and the local guides. Kardamyli and Hydra were welcome respites. The mountain and coastal scenery of Greece was spectacular.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ancient Olympia was the best site. Walking amidst the stadium, gymnasium, and temples of the ancient Greek athletes was thrilling."

Marsha

Tour: 05/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

For first time RS traveler, very pleased. Loved the authentic and unique family run hotels, great Greek food, sightseeing, beautiful spring flowers, and wonderful guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Island of Hydra was a "wow" for the slow pace-walking the island, donkeys, small streets, and relaxing."

Christie

Tour: 05/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I wasn't sure what to expect, but the tour far exceeded any expectations I may have had. The sites and towns were incredible, as was our guide, Maria. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and a joyous and informative one at that.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were two. The first was seeing the sunset over the sea in Kardamyli as the weather cleared for the first time. The second was seeing a mule carrying what appeared to be a refrigerator on Hydra."

Ian

Tour: 05/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was excellent with the right pace. The hikes that we went on our own were really enjoyable and left us with a big appetite for dinner. I feel like I got a work out on the tour but still gained weight since the food was so amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the food on the tour and in particular the fish lunch with white wine. The whole tour the food was outstanding with Greek salads, and delicious sea food including squid. We often ordered souvlaki and learned how to order it in Greek without tzatziki or mayonnaise."

Janice

Tour: 05/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour of Greece was wonderful. Every time you turned around there was the most beautiful scenery to behold, and the ancient history was outstanding. Our guide, Maria was especially great. She was very careful to take care of everyone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Kardamylli was my favorite spot in Greece. It was great! We were able to have each of our meals in a restaurant on the coast with wonderful views. The only drawback was the very hard beds. However, I have to say, the tour group that we were traveling with was outstanding! Everyone was very considerate of everyone else in the group, and very friendly."

Patricia

Tour: 05/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So organized and flexible! I was a bit skeptical about doing a tour, but this exceeded my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How knowledgeable our guide Maria was about every aspect of the tour and about Greece in general."

Donald

Tour: 05/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was surprised by the beige colored buildings, I was expecting white washed buildings such as along the coast. It was such a beautiful country, I love mountainous country and I wasn't disappointed. Our tour guide Maria was very knowledgeable and very efficient but all so very warm. It was a very enjoyable tour, but a little exhausting, probably because I will soon be 82 years old.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This may seem surprising with all the beautiful scenery that we witnessed in Greece, but my biggest wow moment would have to be the Motorcycle riders in Athens. They were driving in between cars and zipping in and out in front of cars at ridiculous speeds, quite astounding for an old country boy. Another wow moment would be the number of Olive trees in Greece.The beautiful scenery that was everywhere was awesome."

Mary

Tour: 05/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A truly amazing, fun and relaxing trip! Each day was so very well coordinated and managed that I went to bed happily tired, stress-free and excited for what the new day would bring. We had a fun & interesting band of travel buddies to share the adventure with and our Tour Guide, Maria, is an absolute treasure!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Greece with all it's history and ancient grandeur is full of WOW, but I actually teared up and said "Wow" upon a most heavenly bite of pastry that was shared with me in Monemvasia by a sweet counter clerk who just smiled at me with a twinkle in her eye that said, " I know, right?!" And then there was the "Wow!" I expressed upon opening the door to the beautiful little stone room at Pension Marianna, Nafplio - slept like a fairy-tale princess I did!"

Neicole

Tour: 05/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had never done a tour before so weren't sure what to expect. We were blown away. We loved the all the sights, the information, the little surprises and nuances, the flexibility, and the people. There was plenty of attention to detail. The accommodations were good, the food was excellent, and the guides were superb. We didn't have to think about anything, just show up and enjoy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Delphi was my favorite location. Especially coming from Athens which, though impressive, was tourist heavy and had a lot of restorations. Delphi was far less busy when we went. And a lot more of the original stones and monuments were there. Plus, a thunderstorm rolled in while we were there which actually added to the ambience as we watched the fog cover the valley and heard the thunder rumble over the temple of the oracle."

Michael

Tour: 05/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was excellent, from our first welcome dinner to the last, our tour met all our expectations. We were looking for the small group tour where we could discover the less road travel experience, and this tour did not disappoint.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Honestly, seeing my wife's excitement when we were given the "stone" room in Nafplion. I also thought Monemvasia was a great island village experience."

David

Tour: 05/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Had a fantastic time. Over 14 days with an outstanding guide and bus driver, we visited ancient ruins for multiple different civilizations, visited towns big and small, went on beautiful hikes, were given time to shop and just explore. Through all of that we also got to know our fun and interesting fellow travelers, were exposed to Greek culture both past and present, and of course ate some fantastic meals. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many "wow" moments, it's impossible to list just one. The Mycenaean ruins, Monemvasia, Delphi, Olympia, Hydra. It was all great."

Gail

Tour: 04/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent. Angelos was friendly and very patient.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had many."

Walter

Tour: 04/29/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a wonderful trip and returned home with many precious memories!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think a "wow" moment was when we arrived at our hotel in Athens and went up to the rooftop restaurant and saw, not far in the distance, the acropolis. It didn't look real!"

David

Tour: 04/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was expertly planned. The fellow travelers became good friends. Our guide was extremely helpful, caring and funny. Our experiences of visiting and understanding the various sites were outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Climbing to the top and exploring the summit of Monemvasia rock. I loved the many spring wildflowers all over the Peloponnese."

Lynne

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour experience was exceptional. The pacing was nearly perfect - travel time, education, sites, meals, free time, rest. Our guide, Apostolos was knowledgeable, organized, delightful, and thoughtful. His guidance provided the "glue" and positively influenced the momentum of the adventure. Greece is a beautiful country and we experienced it deeper and wider because of the tour's framework. It was helpful to know, ahead of time, the rigor of the tour. Even the bus ride was smooth.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were numerous "wow" moments: Hiking to the medieval fortress of Monemvasia. Walking in the shallow, pebbly waters in Kardamyli. Wrapping my mind around the age of the artifacts at the ancient sites. Sampling sweet pastries in every region. Enjoying house wines. The exceptional food including the organic trout farm, the food demonstration and our final meal in Athens. Our guide - Apostolos - was exceptional. I am glad I kept a journal so that I could recall the highlights!"

Melinda

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip exceeded all of our expectations! Foremost, was our guide, Apostolos, who provided a mini course in Greek history and culture along our journey. He also consistently demonstrated care for the welfare of our group. The pace of the trip was vigorous, but allowed us to see and do so much. Our group was fantastic and we enjoyed meeting so many interesting, friendly people. We can’t wait to take our next trip in the fall!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although there were many, the beauty of the Aegean Sea, particularly as viewed from the island of Hydra, was truly breathtaking. I wish we could have spent a week there!"

Liz

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

One of the best Rick Steve’s Tours I’ve been on! Apostolos was amazing—he made all the difference on our tour! He was so informative and a wonderful ambassador for his beautiful country! He not only introduced us to Greek history and culture, he introduced us to friends and fellow countrymen along the way—so special!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the island of Hydra! It was so relaxing being on an island with no cars or trucks! We walked everywhere—the beautiful port, winding streets with gorgeous views around every corner, and to the little beach villages along the pathway high above the sea!"

Margo

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Greece was so much more than we expected! Athens and the Peloponnese had it all...big city, mountain villages, ancient sites, coastal towns, wonderful food and more. We learned so much of the history of Greece, but also the daily lives and culture of the people. We can thank our wonderful tour guide, Apostolos, for the many insights and local experiences that we would have missed if we were traveling on our own. The local guides were excellent. A great mix of planned time & time on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Such a hard question! Olympia, Monemvasia, & the authentic Greek musicians and dinner in Napflio all stand out as favorites. Our local tour guide in Athens, Faye, was outstanding. She made the visits to the Acropolis & Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeological Museum so meaningful and entertaining."

Dawn

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Apostolos! My husband and I would take a tour with him anywhere, any time. Learned, generous, patient and experienced. He had a magic about him where we walked into new experiences (such as a local baptism, meeting Mr. Kristos in Kardamyli, and reading futures in coffee grounds) where Apostolos simply included us in the moment. We learned more about Greece and all things Greek because of Apostolos' willingness to share his personal stories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing at the top of the ruins at Delphi overlooking the valley. Watching a spectacular sunrise over Monemvasia is a very close second."

Roger

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wow! Great scheduling and fabulous tour guide, local Greek Apostolos. He took us “ off the beaten path”, to experience authentic Greece culture and archeological sites! Made memories that will last forever! Local guides were “the best” especially “Mama Fay”! Lodging accommodations were excellent especially our room in Nafplio. Ready to book our next tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two “wow” moments. The beautiful train ride in the mountains to Kalavryta with traditional dancing and music at dinner. The other was the island of Hydra and a beautiful morning walk along the sea stopping at two quaint villages and having cappuccinos enjoying the sea views."

Nora

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour through Greece was stunning. The vistas were breathtaking and the countryside charming. Our tour guide, Apostolos, made our tour experience exceptional. We felt like we were immersed in the culture. We would highly recommend this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our favorite “wow” moment was at the Olympic Stadium and suddenly being surrounded by a group of school children who wanted to know where we were from. They wanted to know our names and have their picture taken with us. They were so friendly and genuine."

Charles

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Apostolos was the perfect guide. His knowledge of the sites and love of the people made our experience intimate and relatable. We were offered a rare glimpse of Greek culture. The local guides were exceptional. Our tours were focused and informative. I loved the way that local guides built on our experiences in Greece. Mama Faye was the best, but all of the guides were good. Organized activities and free time was well balanced. A's attention to logistical detail made for smooth travels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vistas of the Peloponnese. The unscripted moments: watching students dance in the street, meeting Apostolos' friend Cristos, hiking to the peak of Monemvasia, discovering orange pie, wading in the Aegean Sea and making new friends. The scripted moments: hearing authentic Greek music in Nafplio, learning Greek dances, learning to cook Greek dishes, visiting ancient sites, exploring small towns, enjoying fresh fish, tasting Greek wine, sharing meals with the entire group and enjoying every minute."

Timothy

Tour: 04/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent planning and execution throughout the trip. Great tour guide and local guides. It was wonderful to see the places we learned about in school.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Acropolis without a doubt"

Joanne

Tour: 04/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Greece was so much more than we knew! More mountains, more antiquity and history at each ancient site, more beautiful coastal views around each bend in the road, and more yogurt and phyllo dough offerings than we ever expected.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Monemvasia was absolutely incredible. Seeing that giant rock from our hotel the first night and then looking at it again the next night having climbed up to the citadel fortress at the top was just an incomparable experience."

Glenn

Tour: 04/22/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great people in our group, guides and driver as always with Rick Steves groups.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking up at the Parthenon in Athens."

Paul

Tour: 04/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful adventure in an incredible country. A very good group of fellow travelers. We had a blast!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The amazing history and the mountains. Mountains everywhere."

Margaret

Tour: 04/22/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was great, well organized and interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The group buffets we shared"

David

Tour: 04/22/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had many pleasant surprises on this tour about Greece itself! First were the people of Greece! They are so gracious and friendly! We loved be guests in their country! the second was how mountainous Greece is. The views are stunning! Dafni ( our guide ) did a great job and we really appreciated her "checking in" with the tour members throughout the tour! She was a joy to travel with!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me it was the day we spent in Monemvasia! We had spectacular weather and after Dafni did an orientation tour of the old town on "The Rock", several of us ascended to the very top! The views were absolutely breathtaking!"

Earlene

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My 3rd tour and another fantastic experience! Greece is a beautiful country and the people were so welcoming. Fantastic food and sights led by our wonderful guide Iris! Love this tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many but I choose 3 "wows". The first is the day in Olympia. The museum and local guide were fantastic and then walking where the 1st Olympics were held was amazing! Second was the old town of Monemvasia. It was so unique, charming, and beautiful with a great hike to the top of the hill. And lastly, being at the sight of Mycenae and a group of Greek teenage girls who wanted to talk to me. They wanted to practice their English and were so friendly and asked about me. Such lovely young ladies!"

Howard

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Greece has been on my list of places to visit for a long time. Yet, I was amazed at the beauty of the country and seeing the ancient sites. The group became a team thanks to Iris, our guide. This was my eighth Rick Steves tour, and probably this was the best group. Also, this tour was without doubt the most strenuous of the tours I've been on but we all were there for each other to ensure a successful tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was several - of course, walking on the Acropolis, but also, Olympia where the first Olympic games were held. The two days on Hydra was magical."

Margaret Ann

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was SOOO well planned on a micro level as well as a micro level. I have already recommended this tour to my friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Delphi was a big surprise for me. The whole experience, especially of the ancient ruins, was amazing. The local expert guide really educated us and made it so interesting."

Donna

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great tour start to finish. The itinerary was well balanced. Loved the local guides at the big sites. Hotels were excellent. Comfortable and very centrally located. We were able to walk anywhere we wanted to go. Only took the subway one time because we didn’t need to. Our Guide, Iris, was fantastic. Besides just being a really nice person, she was very organized and thoughtful and her talks prepared us for what we were going to see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The dinner in Nafplio at a “mom and pop” restaurant with local musicians playing Rebetiko music and dancing."

Perry

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I'm a terrible writer, so I'm afraid my words won't do justice to our trip. When family and friends at home ask me about my experience, all I can say is "perfect." A trip of a life time to say the least.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Running on the Olympic track, amazing."

Dean

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour was a great variety of cities and countryside. Our guide, Iris, was very knowledgeable and excellent at managing the group and all the logistics and activities. Panagiotis, our driver, was highly skilled and we always felt safe and comfortable on his bus. This is a very strenuous tour. The early part of the tour is tough because of the one night stays in Delphi and Lagkadia. All the local guides were excellent and added so much value to the tour. April is an excellent time to visit.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Delphi, Mystras, Olympia, Mycenae, the Acropolis in Athens were all incredible, especially with the excellent guides provided by Rick Steves tours. I would say two moments stick out as my favorites. After completing our tour of Delphi with our excellent guide, Penny, we continued to hike up to the stadium. As we hiked down it began to rain. Across the valley below a double rainbow formed. Breathtaking! My other "wow' moment was spending a relaxing day on the beach in Kardamyli."

Barbara

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Had a wonderful time and saw so many places that we wouldn’t have seen if we had planned it on our own. Iris was terrific and all the additional tour guides were amazing. The wild flowers added to the experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many. Kardamyli was beautiful and the water was stunning. Walking to Ratsi beach and having lunch under the olives trees was magical. Also seeing the Acropolis both day and night was jaw-dropping."

Carol

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour totally exceeded my expectations. The exceptional guides at each ancient site did a great job at bringing the "crumbling rocks" to life. The tour was a nice mix of historical and natural experiences. I enjoyed trying many Greek specialties at our group meals. The longer bus rides were broken up well so they were not...too long. Greece is a beautiful country..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite WOW moment was not a moment. It was the wonderful Greek people. They were cheerfully helpful, interesting, willing to share their lives and experiences, decent, and worked hard to make us feel welcome. It really made our experience much richer as well as comfortable. Even the cab drivers were like little tour guides on our ride to and from the airport. Their kindness was appreciated."

Karen

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour experience was solid. Everything was well coordinated or handled quickly if it wasn't. Knowledgeable tour guide who was skilled at group and individual management. Nice flow to the tour - time as a group and time individually was well balanced. Tour guide prepared us ahead of time for transitions

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Greece. I was amazed by the beauty of the country side and the areas we visited which weren't the usual Greek visuals of the Acropolis or the islands. Seeing the Parthenon was very moving."

Vicki

Tour: 04/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I've been slow to experience a Rick Steve's Tour out of concern of such a structured 'vacation'. I was enticed to join this one to celebrate a friend's 50th birthday. And I'm so glad I did. I found the structure beneficial, providing me with experiences I would not have been likely to plan on my own. There was just enough downtime not to feel overwhelmed. I will definitely consider Rick Steves' for my next European adventure, currently looking at Scotland for my next destination.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I'm original from Olympia, WA so was very excited to go to Ancient Olympia and it did not disappoint. I fell in love with Kardamyli and also Hydra. Probably not a coincident that I enjoyed the two locations we had the most downtime in. These breaks were perfect timing for an otherwise hectic itinerary."

Eileen

Tour: 04/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip went so well, especially with our expert guide and bus driver. The logistics were very smooth!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Olympia!"

Claudia

Tour: 04/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We’ve uses other small group tour companies and been very pleased, but I will now being using Rick Steves tours exclusively for a number of reasons: 1.Our guide created activities that were off the tour track and allowed us to have more intimate experiences. 2. I enjoyed the free time, not having every minute planned. 3. Our guide set clear expectations and was also available to share his knowledge.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had no idea how mountainous Greece was and how amazingly beautiful it is in the Spirng."

Mary Grace

Tour: 04/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide made the tour an exceptional experience. His enthusiasm, sense of humor, and always on top of our agenda was awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Some of the views from our hotel rooms was to die for...view of the Sea right outside our balcony, the site of Monemvasia, and the city of Nafplio!"

Will

Tour: 04/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Phillopos did a great job of navigating our trip through Orthodox Holy Week, making adjustments for changes in site schedules, working late to help us experience services on Friday and Saturday night (even supplying candles), and arranging an Easter dinner in a village square. The blend of guided activities and free time was good for me. The hotels were very good with nice rooms and good internet. There was a nice variety of menus for the included meals to reflect different areas.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Passing the light at the Easter service in Kardamili, receiving and passing along the flame. Kristos anesti, Alithos anesti."

Sandra

Tour: 04/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our 5th Rick Steves tour. It was fantastic in sites, history, tour guide, Fillipos, and group cohesiveness!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the Easter celebrations, the cooking class, and amazing history!"

Douglass

Tour: 04/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was delightful in every way!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Greek Orthodox Easter - all of it!"

Stuart

Tour: 04/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was outstanding! From the food to the hotels, and especially our guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ydra !!!!!"

Margaret

Tour: 04/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary was so perfectly planned--ample free time where it was most appreciated. On our free days, our guide, Apostolos took us on a brief tour and told us where the highlights were based on our interests (hikes, museums, restaurants, etc.). Each place we stayed had its own magic. Staying at family-owned hotels provided a much more meaningful experience--relationally and gastronomically! After a full day of rich experiences, it was nice to have a beautiful and comfortable place to stay!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While the trip took us to so many places, I have to say that most of my wows had to do with Apostolos, our guide. He taught us so much about the history, geology, and culture of Greece, and he did so in a way that held up the positives and negatives of all sides, without judgment. He had daily "little surprises" and embodied an accepting and loving stance. I have been changed by his example. He helped me walk in the country of my ancestors with deeper understanding."

Mary

Tour: 04/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

There was the perfect mix of group activities with self exploring time. With the expert guidance of our tour guide, we became a cohesive group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had realized Greece was an old culture but to learn of the prehistoric Greece and the layers of cultures over time was amazing. Also, how the Greeks maintain their identity to this day."

William

Tour: 04/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I assumed this would be an amazing experience, but the tour went far beyond my expectations. Apostolos was the best tour guide I could imagine: so knowledgeable, kind, creative - I could go on and on, but I can definitely say Apostolos's leadership was key to making this a trip of a lifetime. And I assumed I would love being in Greece - the historic sites, the food, the people - but again, it all went beyond my expectations. I fell in love with Greece, homeland of my spouse's ancestors.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many "highlights" kept piling up day after day, but perhaps the top "wow" moment was hiking with my spouse through the countryside of the island of Hydra. The weather was perfect; the wildflowers were in full bloom, a virtual riot of colors; and we were even followed by one of the iconic Hydra cats for a good part of our hike. The views of the Mediterranean were spectacular. And to top it off we had a lovely lunch in a seaside taverna. Hydra was the ideal place to finish our tour."

Patricia

Tour: 04/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"View of the Acropolis from the top of the hotel the first night. It was all up hill from there in experiences."

Russell

Tour: 04/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great country, well planned, good group, great guide, new sights each day. Great food. Good lodging.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"5000 years of history. Acropolis view on first night."

Brian

Tour: 04/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was first rate. Our tour guide - Apostolos was terrific! Can't say enough good things about him. He was knowledgeable, efficient, organized, humorous, and kind. Our walk on tour guides were also great. The sites visited were impressive. Learned so much about Greek history and it's people. Memories made to last a lifetime!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking up the steps of the Acropolis. Definitely a "pinch me" moment!"

Gary

Tour: 04/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The perfect cadence of "guided" tour to free time. Apostolos is an outstanding tour leader!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Acropolis; yes! it's really there and better than imagined."

Teresa

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My Rick Steves tour to Greece was my very first over seas trip! Was was a fantastic experience. My tour guide Maria was the most energic, funny, was the most fabulous story teller and her knowledge of Greek history was amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moments were the views of Greece, the mountains, the sea, visiting the villages and the food! The food was top notch. Maria knew all the best places to eat and encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and try new foods."

Leslie A

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very well organizes and planned to minimize bus time and maximize guided and free time at sights. Unique hotel experiences added to the charm. Our guide went way beyond expectations to add beach walks, town orientation walks, and to tailor advice to each traveller’s needs.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking on pedestrian only Hydra. Visiting the oracle at Delphi."

Rosemarie

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was very good, enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the bus driver navigate the hairpin turns, in the mountains, in a large bus. I was relieved every time he made the turns safely."

Beatriz

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was well planned. It was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the big mountains and the driver being able to handle the roads."

Kerry

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything about this tour was excellent - our guide, Maria was fantastic, the sites and activities were interesting and fun. The local guides were also very, very good and added to the overall experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Difficult to choose one. Participating to a degree in Greek Easter was a highlight; the beautiful scenery was a constant wow; our local guide brought ancient Olympia to life for us and it ended up being a surprise favorite. Kardamyli came just in time with a fantastic hotel, beautiful weather."

Warren

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was good to see the variety of places in Pelopenessia

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Pelopenessian mountains"

Joan

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well planned trip, taking us to all the highlights on the Peloponnese peninsula. Free time was interspersed with tour group time seamlessly and our guide was an expert in every way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had amazing views from our balcony in 4 hotels. A real wow moment seeing the Rock Island Monemvasia , the Parthenon from rooftop bar in Athens hotel, the amazing view of Nafplion harbor , and beautiful Kardamyli and all its wildflowers produced many wow moments."

Kevin

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded my already high expectations! Amazing country to visit , but the informative guides, good tour group, great places to stay, delicious food, and wonderful people we met along the way, all were delightful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning to cook Greek food in the cooking class."

Kathleen

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Greece is more beautiful and rocky than I expected. The little villages are time capsules, and the people friendly and respectful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going inside the "beehive" (tholos) tomb in Mycenae, 1000's of years old and so well engineered and executed. Humbling and awe inspiring!"

Michael

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My Greece experience was enriched by visiting so many parts of Greece. I had some fuzzy expectations of Grecian life, culture, and environment and all those expectations were clarified into real experiences. The small center of the huge city, the small villages, the rugged terrain, the many many neighborhood churches, the beautiful seaside, and the lovely, healthy, tasty food were all key parts of my experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite WOW moment was visiting the Acropolis and the Parthenon. The site itself was awesome in its partial reconstruction and the museum was exceptional in its physical representation of the Parthenon. The fact that this history has been developing over 3 millennia with so many cultural/religious purposes was carefully and powerfully displayed."

Joy

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 14th RS tour, and it’s one to remember, largely due to the tour guide Maria and a well planned itinerary. Every country has something to offer, and the highlights, be it the old, the new, the customs, the culture, the food, the cities, the outdoors, the people, we sure had a bit of a taste of it all with this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Last year we took the RS Scotland tour,the guide told me that Rick has done away with the little funds put aside at the guide’s discretion in little treats we might receive throughout the trip; I was disappointed then but, desperate times call for desperate measures, so no complaints. This year, when Maria showed up with little souvenirs, lovingly selected, individually wrapped, at the happy hour, for each and everyone of us, I was overwhelmed! I have never seen one more dedicated than her. Wow!"

James

Tour: 04/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed this trip. I was amazed by the amount of information we gained about the development of our early civilization in Greece. There was so much more to the mythology than we were ever taught and the civilization was so much more advanced than I thought. I also really enjoyed the people and how open and friendly they were to visitors. I hope visits like ours will help Greece continue on its way back into prosperity.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The most fun moment was the chance to race in the stadium at Olympia where so much history was made. But the biggest Wow was the realization of how advanced (running water, plumbing and knowledge they had) the early Greeks had. We regressed a lot before we relearned many of those advancements."

Katherine

Tour: 04/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Almost exactly as I imagined it. After reading the materials and itinerary, I expected an efficiently run tour; clean, local hotels; a balance of scheduled and free time; an education of sites, sounds, and culture; and an opportunity to meet some nice folks. Expectations met and exceeded! I didn't count on this country getting under my skin in a good way, waking my desire to know and see more related to my half-Greek ancestry.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Realizing the mountainous and gorgeous terrain over which our bus was driving was the same my Yiayia walked on her way to Sparta when she was young."

Ellen

Tour: 04/01/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Thank you for making it possible for us to experience Greece. Our third RS tour and it lived up to our expectations. Organized, efficient, with good lodging and amazing meals. Our guide Iris did an excellent job and the local guides were interesting and passionate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to mention on this wonderful tour."

George

Tour: 04/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed the travel within the tour- seeing Greece, the mountains, the plains and everything in between. I thought the accommodations were good- not spectacular, but then I did not go on the tour expecting or wanting spectacular accommodations. Our guide, Iris, was wonderful. She was very considerate and helped me immensely when I misplaced my wallet with my credit cards. The only problem was that there was so much to absorb. I’m sure that I will not remember some important parts.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is too hard. The history is overwhelming. There is so much. I would love to have been able to return to the archeological museum in Athens. I think the travel itself was the highlight. Winding through the mountains was a visual feast. Experiencing the culture- the dance, the food, the way people interact was all I had hoped it would be."

Mary

Tour: 04/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a delightful combination of history, culture, and fun. Greece was not at all what I had expected, and it was so much fun to be surprised, to learn so much, and to enjoy myself in the process. And the food! The food was incredible! This was our fourth RS tour, and this was the most congenial group we've ever had (and there wasn't anything wrong with the other groups). I really enjoyed spending time with different people throughout the tour and getting to know them a bit.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There wasn't one discrete moment, but entering the historical site at Delphi, visiting Olympia and Mycenae, and seeing the Parthenon in person gave me such feelings of awe, reverence, and excitement! I'm not sure my middle school self would have believed I'd actually see these things in person someday."

Jeannie

Tour: 04/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Iris set the tone for our fabulous tour. Funny, caring and competent-she made us feel like a family.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"First view of the Acropolis at night. Every place we visited had a “wow” moment!"

Kathy

Tour: 04/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first experience with Rick Steve's tours. The travel groups came highly recommended by a family member and did not disappoint! We appreciated the experiential approach, the educational focus, the quality and value. Outstanding all around!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I continue to appreciate the ability to engage with the people, food and customs of the country. Going into the small mountain towns to see how the communities really are was priceless."

Ethan

Tour: 04/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Greece was magnificent and Iris/George were great hosts. Iris was very knowledgeable, courteous, and helpful. She is a real treat and I was thankful that she answered all the questions I had. George didn’t talk much, but he was quite humorous and is a highly skilled driver. The locations were marvelous and I already look forward to returning.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Likely seeing the sun shine through the valley at Delphi."

Karen

Tour: 04/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great combination of a beautiful country steeped in history, a knowledgeable tour guide, and congenial fellow travellers made our time in Greece unforgettable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is one thing to read a history book and look at pictures, but quite another thing to visit Athens, Delphi, and Olympia. While walking among the ruins, it is humbling to witness the depth of the sophistication of Greek antiquity. We"

Glen

Tour: 04/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Out of shape out of breath and will do it again. The first few days killed me but as Ben told me once this is a tour not a vacation, LOL. CLICKED OFFa few bucket list items and just enjoyed the adventure. Never got the hang of the language but everyone seemed happy that I tried. Had lots of fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The stay at mani peninsula. General consensus was it was the best place on the trip. Found to Springer spaniels, our fav, and was able to pet and play for a while. They also severed good food as Rick had advised in the book. Neighbor saw pictures from the room and told me stay there forever, he would be there in the near future."

Michalle

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, the tour was exceptional, the guide was knowledgeable and personable, and our tourmates were congenial. We had a great time in Greece!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Olympia was the most impactful site I visited. All those years ago, the Greeks were able to stop wars and come together to compete in fairness and peace. Since we STILL attempt to carry on that tradition all these years later, it speaks to the ideology that peace between nations is possible. To stand in the place where it all began was a mind-blowing experience for me."

Sharon

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Touring Greece with Daphne, our guide, Chistos, our driver, and tour members was amazing. We saw many parts of Greece that we probably would have never been to on our own. The local guides provided history and culture that enriched the tour. The hotels were unique in each location and breakfasts were delicious. The group dinners were delicious and lots of fun. The extras: a cooking demonstration, wine tasting, Greek dancing, and Greek music were icing on the cake. Loved it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was visiting the rock in Monemvasia. This castle/fortress, build on the side of a rock that has stood the test of time since the 1400's. Every step of the way was was enchanting!"

Barbara

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very thorough and well-thought-out in every detail. It was a great way to get to know Greece, its culture, and people. Completely enjoyable and unforgettable!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The lovely mountain and sea views from the bus!"

Robin

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great trip with our wonderful tour guide! I was especially impressed that pretty much everything that could possibly be done as a visitor to Greece was something we experienced. So special to stay in smallish boutique hotels, even one that shared their oranges they grow, which were the best ever! The olive oil production facility was fascinating, some special meals that were served us as a group, and all suggestions from Daphne made the trip interesting and especially good!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The spectacular views from our bus rides and places where we stopped to explore--with breathtaking views. Also, I loved our overnight towns, which each had something unique to offer. Also, the museums were incredible with great tour guides recalling all the history, incorporating the most interesting Greek mythology. I loved seeing and hearing all about the Olympic games and seeing where they actually started. It felt like this whole tour gave me a good, thorough feeling of what Greece is."

James

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great people and tour guide! Very informative with wonderful museums.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really enjoyed King Agamemnon’s tomb!"

Bruce

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I thoroughly enjoyed the powerful impact that Greece delivers - the amazing long, various history, the beautiful mountains and seacoast towns. It was one day after another of wow. The people were interesting and friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was a train ride put a gorge whose name I can't find just now. Unbelievable."

Jeanne

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful, great guide and tour bus driver and beautiful Greek countryside.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Hydra for the first time, gorgeous island without cars but with donkeys who do all the heavy lifting."

Barry

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well balanced between history, culture, and pleasure.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Athens"

Carol

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall the tour was wonderful. We saw many sites with great information.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Greeks were the wow. Friendly and positive people"

James

Tour: 03/25/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a great time on the tour, but had to leave tour midway when my wife came down with Covid. We want to go back to Greece to see the places that we missed. Unfortunatey, I have not been able to get through to the Rick Steves office to discuss whether we will be able to apply credits to future tours. That has been frustrating.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our director and interpreters were all so knowledgeable. They really made the tour a wonderful experience"

Dori

Tour: 03/25/23

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Our tour director, Niki, was a very well-informed and knowledgeable guide, which made our trip very enriching. The bus was comfortable, with plenty of room to stretch out. The group as a whole was fun to be with. Lots of diverse travel experience and plenty of things to talk about.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not "favorite" but my wow moment was when the first couple on the tour had COVID and left the trip, we kept running into them in various places - and despite their COVID diagnosis, they did not wear masks. It was strange to me that the covid couples would show up and stay at the very same hotels we were staying in, even though they were no longer part of the group. I felt very uncomfortable in the large dinner group settings after that, particularly where there was dancing and singing."

Amy

Tour: 03/25/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Greece. Niki's and all the guides we encountered provided the group with a rich tapestry of Greek history from pre-history through to modern times giving a deeper meaning to each ancient site we visited. I arrived a couple of days before the tour to spend some time in Athens. Friendly fellow tour group members welcomed this solo traveler to join them to sightsee in Athens before the actual tour started.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Waterfront hotel room in Kardamyli and the region's hiking options."

Dmitry

Tour: 03/25/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent pacing, nice hotels, outstanding guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Climbing to the 7th floor bar/restaurant in the Athens hotels on the first day. The Acropolis is RIGHT THERE."

Philip

Tour: 03/25/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Niki was an outstanding Guide and made the trip the best I have taken. We were fortunate to have wonderful weather. Our March April trip caught the shoulder season, so places we visited were not crowded. A few stores and restaurants were closed, all the better since I do not like to shop. Restaurants picked by Rick Steves' were excellent and on our own we found others that were also wonderful. Great local guides as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Unexpected surprises including insights on both historical & current Greek government conditions. We learned a great amount from Niki about challenges associated with development & construction in Greece associated with history and current challenges of archeological requirements. Whereas past development may have not been as responsible. I was amazed by the Peloponnesian Peninsula, much more challenging terrain, rocky, vegetated, and sparsely populated than expected."

Pamela

Tour: 03/25/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We’re blessed to have Nikki leading us on our Greece adventure. The group we toured with were fun people that enhanced our time together. Food and history were all fabulous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How old and extensive Greece is."

Mark

Tour: 03/25/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Good balance of ancient ruins and museums and time to relax explore and hike. Guides were a very good

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring the Acropolis"

Catherine

Tour: 03/25/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My experience was limited to four days, as I caught Covid. Although this was a huge disruptor and disappointment, we are grateful for RS's covid reimbursement policy. During our four days, the locations and events were well-planned and memorable. Niki was amazing; she's a people -connector, who helped everyone feel part of the group. Her insights into Greek culture and history were fascinating. And when I got sick, she went out of her way to make sure we knew our next steps.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Riding in the bus and hearing about the culture and history. I can see sights on my own, but to have a well-traveled and well-informed guide explain things as we traveled was something I could not arrange on my own."

Jim

Tour: 03/25/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great trip, lots to see and enjoy

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Night looking out of the hotel in Limeni with the moon shining on the Ionian Sea"

Michael

Tour: 03/25/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Guides' subject matter expertise was outstanding. Our Tour Director, Niki was an excellent leader with tremendous insights into the history, culture, and present day of Greece.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring the Olympia museum and grounds"

Marie

Tour: 03/25/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great. I have quibbles with maybe 2 hotels, including the acropolis select, but overall excellent. The shower sprayer at the acropolis select could not be put in the attachment above the shower because when put in that attachment, it turned and sprayed the whole bathroom. I tried to remove the sprayer from the attachment and because it was so high, I fell and grabbed the shower curtain- ended up on my back on the floor and my head struck the edge of the door.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mycenae because of all the history. But lots of wow moments"

Timothy

Tour: 03/20/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed the mix of historical sites, cultural activities, small towns, and beautiful scenery. The hikes up into the mountains, citadel climbs, and coastal walks were as memorable as the top ten ruins, and dropping in on local cafe loitering, town celebrations, and farmers markets makes me think I would like to come back and try an extended stay in a few of the towns.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Delphi was probably my favorite “wow” moment. The setting is so unique, tucked up against Mt Parnassus along a rift valley that drops down to the sea. After our group tour I walked up along the old approach past the Tholos of Athena, and it’s easy to see why the place was regarded as sacred to the ancient Greeks."

Edwin

Tour: 03/20/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall experience was very good. Apostolous was an awesome tour guide. More bus time than I cared for and some of hotels were average, but overall very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Monemvasia was my favorite stop."

Theresa

Tour: 03/20/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my favorite RickSteves tour to date. We have done 5 total. The country ofGreece is breathtaking the people are warm and Inviting and the food was so amazing. Apostolos is a superior guide. He is warm and gracious and so knowledgeable about history culture and was able to give us a sense of the real everyday life of the people ofGreece. I loved the balance of this tour the museums s and ruins were in great balance to the free time I would definitely recommend this tour to others

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many I loved the beautiful blue sea and sky. The scenery has no equal. The acropolis was stunning and Olympia were the highlights forme . Walking on the track where people competed long ago was so awesome. The beehive was an engineering marvel"

Scott

Tour: 03/20/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a fabulous vacation! It was just the right amount of activity and down time. Our guide, Apostolos was super knowledgeable and caring. I can't really begin to tell you how wonderful he was to us: incorporating lots of surprises and extras that made the trip extra memorable. He put the tour “over the top” for us. Of course, Greek scenery and history was fascinating and alluring and the food was delicious (too much, but delicious!)

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing at the starting line of the original Olympic stadium. Wow!"

Thomas

Tour: 03/20/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding guide, great variety of experiences, informative cultural immersion.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gaining an appreciation of the ancient history; just as you learn about a culture that seems impossibly old, there's another culture that was just as impossibly old to that "impossibly old" culture!"

Linda

Tour: 03/20/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We really enjoyed Athens, Delphi, Olympia, Monemasia and Hydra. Our tour guide Apostolos was wonderful and was very knowledgeable about Greece. You couldn’t have asked for a better guide! The members of the tour group were very nice. We had lots of great dinners together with wonderful food. The weather was perfect for 90% of the trip. The towns we visited were smaller than I was expecting. We learned that the majority of the population lives in Athens. Everything was very reasonable to buy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Olympia was my favorite wow moment. Enjoyed walking the grounds where the Olympians competed for the first time."

Larry

Tour: 03/20/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour gave many insights on modern and ancient Greece. This was our fourth Rick Steves Tour, and I would rank it just as highly as all of the others. Our main guide, Apostolos, was superb. His years of experience showed. The same is true of our guides at specific sites on the tour, such as the Acropolis, Delphi, Olympia, etc. The Peloponnese Peninsula is wild and beautiful, which made the bus trips much more enjoyable. I also enjoyed our cog railway adventure up a deep gorge to the mountains.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching the townspeople and schoolchildren of the small coastal village of Kardamyli celebrate Greek Independence Day was an event that will stay with me. The seriousness of the schoolchildren and the joy they displayed while dancing, reciting patriotic poetry and applauding the village elders (including a WW II resistance fighter!) seemed genuine, and was very touching."

Thayne

Tour: 03/20/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful group and Apostolos was the best guide we have had on any of our tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"visiting the Parthenon and the immensity of the structures"

Theresa

Tour: 03/20/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great sites, great guides and loved meeting new people from all over!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Acropolis"

Bill

Tour: 03/20/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Apostolos was outstanding. The local guides were as well. They really made the whole experience exceptional. I came away with insights and understandings I could not have attained elsewhere.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into our hotel room in Kardamyli, opening the windows. and seeing the view of Messenian Bay with the sea just steps away."

Medro

Tour: 03/20/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Extremely pleased and impressed by our guide Apostolos. All of our specific tour guides were informed and entertaining.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had no idea how big the Olympics area was. Quite a learning experience"

Bruce

Tour: 03/18/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first tour with Rick Steves. It met all my expectations. The tour guides were all expert in their knowledge on the sites we visited. The accommodations were fine and what we would expect for some locations that were somewhat remote, all clean, and suitable. I had no idea how mountainous Greece was and given that fact I so glad I left the driving to someone else.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would have a hard time picking just one “wow” moment. There were so many exciting sites, so much antiquity, so many artifacts to see, the whole trip was amazing."

Beth

Tour: 03/18/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall guide was wonderful and timing of visits and sights was just right. Wonderful food and experiences and just the right amount of explanation and background given. Was kept informed and felt welcomed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Olympia was pretty amazing as was the Acropolis. Such history, it’s amazing to witness with my own eyes."

Keri

Tour: 03/18/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall great tour. Our guide, Anastasia was amazing. Very, very knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While on Hydra having a drink at a corner table on the top of a cliff that overlooked the harbor and bay."

Janis

Tour: 03/18/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A perfect mix of history, culture, geography, food and present day life in Greece.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A new WOW everyday. I went to see the Acropolis and saw so much more."

Eric

Tour: 03/18/23

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The sites were wonderful and the guide was very good. I think the COVID precautions were if anything counter productive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to pick one, but Mycenae was an amazing surprise."

Margaret

Tour: 03/18/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many good things to highlight just one."

Howard

Tour: 03/18/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Anastasia and the local guides were outstanding. The sites visited were amazing and well presented. The group lunches and dinners were mediocre except for the final dinner which was excellent. The one drag on the trip was that over half the people developed a significant respiratory illness. I feel that once Anastasia was aware of the illness, that masks should have been required on the bus and other indoor sites. Your health policies should be reviewed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I got a chance to sing in the Epidaurus theater- the acoustics were amazing"

George

Tour: 03/18/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed the itinerary, our guide and driver, the meals and accommodations as well as fellow travelers and fine weather experienced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many epic views in Athens, the mountains and the sea - the unexpected sheep herding through the mountain village of Planiteron after our excellent trout lunch!"

Peter

Tour: 03/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was as physically demanding as advertised. My difficulties were not with the conditions of the tour but that I found it difficult to keep up the pace set by those in their 60s (I am 80). This was a new experience for me as on previous tours I have been the one to outpace everyone. The rest days were perfectly timed and in my case needed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The theater as a part of a healing center definitely was an eye opener for me. This is part of the Greek culture I hadnot known about. In general I got a good sense of how remarkable the development of Greek culture was considering the limitations of geography and population that were involved. A miraculous achievement that gives one a profound appreciation for the vigor of the Greek people."

Mary

Tour: 03/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was excellent and our guide, Danae was a huge reason why our experience was so good. She is so knowledgeable about Greek history, culture and archeology. She also has excellent leadership skills and her positive attitude and attention to the needs of tour members made a huge difference.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I'm so happy I had the opportunity to see so many archaeological sites. I had studied Greek mythology in high school so seeing sites that I had read about was fun. Driving the Peloponnese Peninsula was a wow moment every day that I was on the bus. I would never have been able to see this if I had tried to tour Greece on my own because I would not have been able to cover so much territory. I did not realize there was so much beauty and that Greece was so mountainous."

Ana

Tour: 03/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing and unforgettable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many wow moments. One of my favorite ones was when I first saw The Parthenon at night from our hotel restaurant"

Patricia

Tour: 03/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Greece tour exceeded our expectations in every way. The tour definitely opened our eyes to the history, culture and beauty of Greece. So many beautiful sites, fabulous guides (especially Danae), and delicious food on the tour. We also made use of the RS guide book many times for walks, restaurants and things to do in our free time, including a 3 day stop in Santorini before the tour started.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was literally a “wow” moment every place we went. A couple of highlights for us personally are 1) having lunch on a beautiful day, eating fresh fish we picked out in the kitchen, at Kodylenia’s Taverna in Kaminia, Hydra and 2) sitting high up in the ancient theater in Epidavros and hearing one of our fellow tour members recite from Homer, and hearing every word crystal clear. Wow!"

Ann

Tour: 03/13/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was well-organized. Guide was friendly. Driver Panos was impressive!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Greece, from mountains to the sea, carpeted in spring wildflowers was incredibly beautiful"

Theresa

Tour: 03/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

One of the first questions asked was, what are your expectations from this trip? My response was that I didn’t have any expectations. I knew that I would be with people who enjoyed travel like me and I thought that I might meet some very nice people on this tour. All of that was true. Our tour guide was wonderful! She was knowledgeable, helpful and had a very friendly way about her. The country is more beautiful that I imagined and the people of Greece were lovely.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gorgeous waters around Greece and also the contrast between the snow capped mountains and the ocean together."

Jane

Tour: 03/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an excellent tour: well-organized, well-run, and highly informative and enjoyable. Danae was an outstanding tour guide, and all the local guides were knowledgeable and entertaining as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Acropolis in Athens was a definite “wow” moment for me."

James

Tour: 03/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary of this tour was brilliantly conceived. The circle from Athens to Delphi and then around the Peloponnesus gave us access to so many wonders, ancient, medieval and modern. That every day was like opening a new present. Danae was a fantastic guide, and the local guides were well-chosen and informative.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are so many to choose from. I’d have to pick two “on this very spot” moments — the stadium at Olympia and the theater at Epidavros."

Kathleen

Tour: 03/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Given the chance to view in person the start of civilization and meet with the wonderful people of Greece in many small rural areas was a true blessing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Parthenon had to be one of the most memorable, but the museum was equally fascinating and listening to the acoustics at the theater at Epidavros was truly unbelievable."

Roberta

Tour: 03/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful guides, well organized itinerary, altogether a great overview of Greece.

John

Tour: 03/06/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

bright and enthusiastic and extremely competent guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"talking with a 92 y/o gentleman who was a barefoot runner in his youth on a early morning walk who still walks a mile uphill with significant elevation gain to pick greens to eat as he described them weeds that only grew at a hinger elevation"

Steven

Tour: 03/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great time on this tour! The mix of free time and planned activity seemed to be perfect. Lots of interesting things to see and do at every stop.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"At most locations, I had seen videos or read about the places and things that we saw. But I was most impressed and surprised at ancient Olympia. Very excellent museum, a great local guide (Nikki) and extensive ruins at the site of one of the wonders of the ancient world."

Evan

Tour: 03/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We always enjoy the tours as they give us so much more than we can imagine. There was a lot bout Greece that I did not know.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the Ancient Olympia. I was surprised at how much was still left there. It was impressive to see the original marble starting line for the races."

Roxanne

Tour: 03/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tours are always very well done. Accommodations are always great and and have very competent bus drivers. Received a lot of information about the country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I probably had two. One was the visit to Delphi. I did not know anything about it and was very impressed. The guide was very good at relating it's history and stories. Also the site of Mycenae was fascinating. Again had no idea it existed."

Hans

Tour: 03/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent experience: great leader, driver, and local guides, and a wonderful group of fellow-travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Olympia with the local guide Nike bringing to life the pomp and ceremony of the games amid the fallen stones."

Robert

Tour: 03/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was even better than we had imagined it would be. From start to finish everything was outstanding. We were prepared to tour the archaeological sights, but we did not realize that the professional guides would add so much to our experience. Each guide was first rate. Our tour leader was Apostolos. We can't say enough about Apostolos. From our first meeting he brought the group together and kept us moving with his warmth, his knowledge of all things Greek, and his happiness in

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many. However, two in particular come to mind. Standing in the tomb of Agamemnon, the 3300 year old structure at Mycennae, and admiring the masonry work was stunning. The museum at Epidavros holds a number of stunning artifacts. However, what struck me most were the inscritions on the sections of walls which told of the history of the buildings--as they were being constructed, including the name of the architect, the name of the foreman of construction, and how the building was don"

Terry

Tour: 03/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was interesting, informative, challenging…a great introduction to Greece.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many. The small churches in the mountain village after Delphi is my most memorable. The sunset over the mountain and Aegean sea were spectacular."

Nancy

Tour: 03/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed every minute. My only problem was keeping all the different time periods straight but I will work on that now that I have the basics thanks to this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Listening to live Greek music while eating a delicious dinner in Nafplia(sp) Greece."

Kimberly

Tour: 03/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Apostolas was awesome, kind, happy, and a great Greek ambassador.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Overall experience on Hydra. A wonderful evening and day."

Keith

Tour: 03/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Truly outstanding in all regards - this was our 4th RS and by far the best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wow moment for me was experiencing the kindness and generosity of the Greek people. Can a wow moment last an entire tour? Yes it can!"

Eileen

Tour: 03/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour! Greece is a beautiful country. I’m not really sure what I expected beforehand, but I wasn’t at all disappointed. There were so many surprises!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to Olympia was a big “Wow.” The site is huge and so well cared for. Visiting the site of the original Olympic Games was magical!"

Debra

Tour: 03/06/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved having lots of time to be outdoors. The weather was great - we all felt very lucky for that. Our guide, Apostolos, was wonderful - very open, caring, friendly and organized. Loved listening to his stories about his life in Greece and his honest impressions of Greek life.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Monemvasia on a very windy but sunny day - hiking all around the ramparts next to the crashing waves, and up to the top of the hill, followed by a nice rest stop in a cafe/wine bar (all on free time)"

William

Tour: 10/03/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Everything that Rick Steves and Apostoulos controlled was outstanding ; the guides, hotels, meals transportation. This was our first ever tour and we found it a bit challenging to travel with other participants.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Momenvasia, Athens and the ancient theater and talking to Apollo through the Oracle :-) were highlights of our trip."

Jeanne

Tour: 10/03/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing experience. Our guide was fun and very knowledgeable. Hotels, food and transportation all made the trip easy and enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can’t pick out just one wow moment as everything we did was different. I did really enjoy Hydra."

Jeffrey

Tour: 10/03/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized, smooth traveling during the whole trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The island of hydra, very unique and interesting."

Kristie

Tour: 10/03/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another wonderful experience with Rick Steves' Europe! The tour activities, guide, group members, hotels, and included meals combined with the beauty of the Greek people and scenery resulted in an amazing and memorable trip. It exceeded our expectations!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enjoying the gorgeous sunset while sipping a tasty cocktail at a cute seaside cafe while chatting with new friends as a Greek band played into the evening in the wonderful village of Kardamyli - absolutely magical!"

Sarah

Tour: 10/03/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steve’s tour and I was impressed by the overall organization and quality of experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed Delphi - our tour guide was incredible and the views were amazing"

Julie

Tour: 10/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour went off without a hitch. Every site I visited and every guide I had was amazing. The food was unbelievable. The explanation and stories told by Yoanna was really informative. I have traveled with a number of other tour companies, but this was one of the best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I believe see Olympus was my wow moment. It was such a large site to see and understand. It was really amazing. I could picture the athletes there on the site."

Mary Beth

Tour: 10/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Once again, a RS tour was a great experience. This was my 6th trip and they never fail to be top-notch. Ioanna, our guide, was so knowledgeable and energetic. She really brought the group together. Things were well organized. George was a great driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Viewing the Acropolis at night from the Hera Hotel’s restaurant."

Thomas

Tour: 10/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great. Loved Greece.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Acropolis. Seeing Athens. Villages by the sea."

Julia

Tour: 10/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first Rick Steves tour and found the guide and the group to be outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not sure, Greece is so full of ancient sites."

Michael

Tour: 10/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Two weeks filled with immersion of Greek history, significant sites, culture, language and cuisine led by an outstanding travel guide (Ioanna) and many very informative local travel guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the ancient sites where Western civilization was born."

Todd

Tour: 10/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was excellent from start to finish. Ioanna (our guide) was outstanding at providing us information and making us feel comfortable in a new country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment was walking the track at ancient Olympia and climbing to the top of the path at Delphi after learning about the site and the Oracle."

Suzanne

Tour: 10/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Greece has been on my hucket list for a very long time. This tour was everything I was hoping for and so much more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was alot more than one. If I have to pick one I would say it was standing at the site in Olympia where the Olympic flame is lit for every Olympia Games."

George

Tour: 10/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Olympia"

Douglas

Tour: 10/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were very pleased with the Greece tour. It provided a great overview of the history, culture, geography and challenges of the country both historically and current day. This is an active tour which was quite manageable for us but, if you have difficulty with steps and elevation, may not be your best choice. We enjoyed time with our tour group members and the freedom to explore areas on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The historical sites and museums for Athens acropolis, Delphi were stunning. The beautiful village of Lagkadia and the fun dance troupe. Learning about olive trees, harvesting and processing."

Adrian

Tour: 10/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, this tour was one of the best we have ever taken. The mix of being guided to the amount of “me time” was perfect! Our guide Ioanna was absolutely awesome, bringing history, mythology and general knowledge to us with humour and patience, she was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wow moments, the temple at epidavarus, the Acropolis at night and the outstanding food everyday!"

Leanna

Tour: 10/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I truly enjoyed this trip with our excellent guide, Ioanna. Every turn and town brought new sights and experiences. The history was amazing and overwhelming, nonetheless, I highly recommend this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Views. This tour offered several hikes to fantastic views of; Athens, Delphi, Kardamyli, Monemvasia, and Hydra. Loved, loved, loved it."

Vicki

Tour: 10/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a different picture of Greece before the trip and was pleasantly surprised by our journey. Ioanna was a wonderful guide, always smiling and upbeat. She is very knowledgeable and gave us information in an entertaining way. The other guides at various stops were very good too. The food was great! We saw some out of the way places that were interesting. We enjoyed our fellow travelers. Our hotels were always comfortable. We had some special moments: Greek dancing, music & cooking.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There is so much beauty and history in Greece. I think my "wow" moment combining both of those was visiting Monemvasia. It had the quaint island village, the beautiful views of the water and surrounding area from our hike to the top, a pretty lighthouse and interesting ruins. From our hotel we had gorgeous sunrise and sunset views of the rock."

Mary

Tour: 09/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first trip to Greece since 1974 when I was a college student...and I only saw a bit of Athens. So I was amazed by all that I saw and experienced. Angelos was fun and engaging. His archeological background made such a difference in that he could answer questions on the spot. But I have to give a shout out to all of the local guides. All were excellent. I feel that the local guides set RS tours apart from others. I loved the special touches....the dancing in Delphi and music in Napflio

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I absolutely loved the little villages we visited. Seeing the sunset on Monemvasia was magic. But I have to go back to Athens and say that seeing the Acropolis lit up at night was stunning. The music in Napflion was wondeful. Understanding the stories behind the words as well as the traditional instruments brought Greece to life for me. And lastly, the cooking class was such fun. And the outcome was even better...to be able to eat what we cooked. We started comparing our Mousaka to other places"

Elizabeth

Tour: 09/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thought the depth and variety of the sites we visited were outstanding. I really enjoyed getting to know our guide Angelos and my fellow tour members. Most of them had been on multiple Rick Steves tours, and that tells you something about the quality of the tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view of the Acropolis from the top of our hotel which was perfectly situated for the Athens portions of the tour. Striking. Gorgeous."

Brian

Tour: 09/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Most physically stressful of the 6 tours I’ve been on to the point of some of the walks being actually dangerous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Acropolis at night."

Char

Tour: 09/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The entire tour was fantastic! Our guide, Angelous was an expert in the archeology, history and culture of Greece. With each site we visited, he always made connections to what we previously saw and to what we would see next. Driving through the mountains and dining by the seaside were wonderful surprises throughout the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Acropolis for the first time -during the day and at night!"

Ellen

Tour: 09/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The sites were so much more than I expected especially the ones outside of Athens. (Those I expected to be riveting.) Delphi, Olympia, the Mani Villages, Hydra, all where interesting and different. I loved the challenges like walking up the 999 steps to the fort in Nafplio and the top of the Monemvasia rock . I loved Angelos our director. He listened, cared, and gave 110% to giving us the best experience. I had some dietary issues and he was very helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was seeing the Acropolis and Parthenon lit up at night. It was amazing and just to be able to witness something so historic and actually be there was breathtaking."

Melissa

Tour: 09/26/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being on the Acropolis is Athens"

Laura

Tour: 09/26/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We chose RS tours because we want to learn and have experiences that we could not achieve by traveling alone. The Greece tour sites and guides provided an outstanding glimpse of ancient and modern life. I was amazed how much we saw. The pace was fast but not overwhelming. A perfect mix of going and rest. I thought the tour was brilliantly constructed, and we got a high value experience for the money spent. We absolutely loved Maria, our guide. Lots of laughs, super organized, a real treasure!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our group was particularly special- by the end we felt like our family. It’s very special to share travel with enjoyable people. The oldest standing theaters, stadiums, and temples - it gives me chills when I think of all the people using these so long ago, and they still exist and are even used today."

Joellen

Tour: 09/26/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This RS tour was a wonderful introduction to Greece. From the awe inspiring Parthenon to the small mountain villages Maria S, our lovely knowledgeable tour guide, made ancient Greece come alive. We loved the small family run hotels that made us feel so welcome. Hiking the trails to small villages along the coast in Hydra was magical. Our genial group was driven by expert driver Dimitri and enjoyed local guides Fay and Patty but our star was Maria S who helped us learn and made us laugh.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our *wow* moment was standing inside the bee hive tomb in ancient Mycenae. This truly showed the skills of the ancient builders as brought to life by out local guide Patty."

Gwyneth

Tour: 09/26/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From start to finish our guide made sure that we were well informed about what sites we were going to see and what each stop would require from us. The sites were interesting and beautiful and the pace was just right. Cultural events such as the Greek dancers were mixed with archeological wonders and beautiful natural scenery.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but Delphi was the hit for me. The setting is spectacular, and the guide made it come alive for us. I could easily imagine being a pilgrim visiting to seek guidance from the oracle."

Hollie

Tour: 09/26/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first tour, and everything about the tour exceeded my expectations. But by far the best thing about the two weeks was our tour guide, Maria! She was just phenomenal. To drive through the beauty county of Greece with Maria telling us the history and mythology was just spell bounding. She was so incredibly knowledgeable and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Acropolis was definitely a highlight."

Cherie

Tour: 09/26/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Greece was so much more than I had imagined - I was awed to stand on the same stones that the ancients trod thousands of years ago, but also discovered a complex story of triumph and tragedy, varied landscapes, small villages, generous people, rich culture and delicious food. This trip showcased what is special about RS tours, which is the relationships that Rick and his team have developed with the families that host us in their pensions and tavernas. We really felt like extended family!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Goat Traffic Jam! After our delicious lunch of freshly caught trout in Planitero, we had to patiently wait while a shepherd and his dog herded his goats across the old stone bridge and small road through town."

Janet

Tour: 09/24/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My goal was to see as many Ancient Greek sights as I could, and that goal was certainly met! It was extraordinary to see such a wealth of beauty in Greece, modern and ancient. Beautiful country!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would have to say Delphi was the ‘wow’ experience for me. I didn’t know much about Delphi, but I just loved the site and learning about the Oracles!"

Beth

Tour: 09/24/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 6th and favorite RS tour. Dafni was one of our best guides. I enjoyed the Greek Mythology stories she shared when we were on our bus rides. Christos was an excellent driver. The hotels were all wonderfully located, and the owners made us feel right at home. The activities brought us into Greek culture: dancing, music, and a cooking lesson. The city guides were fantastic, especially Mama Faye and Patty. The city guides are one of the best reasons to take a RS tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of my favorite WOW moments was seeing the Parthenon from our hotel rooftop terrace lit up at night. Many WOW moments were the views of the Ionian and Aegean Seas. We were able to get the most out of their beauty with a seaside lunch at the small village of Limeni, kayaking on the Mani Peninsula, and swimming on a beach day at Hydra."

Deborah

Tour: 09/24/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The pace was brisk but we also got open time to enjoy the villages and beaches and Athens.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing in the Olympic stadium on the marble starting line. And the rock in medieval Monemvasia."

Majorita

Tour: 09/24/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Positive experience overall. Guide and bus driver were exceptional. Hotels were good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tour guide Daphne was our "wow" moment. She went above and beyond to provide any support at any time."

Thomas

Tour: 09/24/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was tour number 5 for us with Rick Steves, as with the previous tours it was well run and a delight to be on.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That had to be Delphi! So amazing!"

Joel

Tour: 09/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Start to finish, we were very happy with the tour. The guides were amazing and the sites were incredible. Our tour group got along like a house on fire and hence our days were fun and full of good conversations. The hotels were comfortable and our driver was a gem.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't pick a favorite wow moment as there were so many ! daily !"

Dan

Tour: 09/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great experience. We chose Greece because neither my wife nor I had been there before and we were both very interested in ancient Greece; what we discovered was that it wasn't all about Greece's Golden Age: contemporary Greece is fascinating, vibrant, and beautiful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list just one: Climbing Mars Hill at dusk, looking up at the Acropolis while standing where the apostle Paul had preached 2000 years ago; running the length of the ancient stadium in Olympia; and a personalized introduction to the literature of Hydra in the town archives by the founder of the Hydra Book Club were all great."

Sheila

Tour: 09/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I did this tour with my 28 year old granddaughter, worrying if she would fit in and it turned out to be just the best , the rest of the people loved her and she had a great time and I have the wonderful memories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One afternoon we stopped at a little village on the Mani Peninsula for an Octopus lunch(yummy) my granddaughter and I sat there in the rocks and watched the turtles swim around. What could be better."

Annabelle

Tour: 09/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First and best Rick Steve's tour. Danae, our guide, was the absolute best ever. She made the whole trip wonderful, Fostering a close bond with Greece and fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A village where we lunched on fresh caught grilled by the most exquisite clear aqua water with a large sea turtle swimming nearby."

Margaret

Tour: 09/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour! Having planned a few prior trips to Europe on our own, we appreciate the details that are involved. Every aspect of this tour was well thought out. All the hotels were good and represented a variety of places. Every meal was delicious. I never could have found those types of experiences on my own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We stopped in a small town, Itlio, and ate at Limeni restaurant It is a fantastic setting, right on the water, we watched people swimming, along with turtles, and small fish. The owner gutted fish on steps nearby, and we could see the fish being grilled. We had a few minutes to walk around and found a delicious gelato shop too."

Robert

Tour: 09/17/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first guided tour in Europe and it was FABULOUS! I was a solo traveler but the group felt like a family. Tour Guide Apostolos gets 5 stars for his knowledge and small personal touches. Meals were great (how does one gain 16 lbs. while walking 15,000-18,000 steps almost daily!) The pace while vigorous, worked for me. Rooms were generally very good. Overall, a packed-solid adventure of a lifetime and every part flowed smoothly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dephi. The ruins and history of the site and what the Greeks accomplished is incredible."

Kay

Tour: 09/17/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As expected, really well organized, absolutely fantastic guide, well chosen combination of beautiful and important sites, lovely interesting places to stay, great food, and cultural experiences, wine/ouzo tasting, cooking demonstration.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the beauty of Delphi in the late afternoon, looking over the ruins and beautiful valley all the way to the sea."

Michael

Tour: 09/17/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was strenuous but overall well planned with open days along way. Included sites & activities were all excellent. Apostolos was the best!! He added so much with information, special stops along the way & provided treats & small gifts to everyone. He is so knowledgeable & gave a personal touch that made the tour memorable. Beyond just sightseeing, tour let me with special feelings for culture, history, food & warmth of the people of Greece. Outstanding experience, enhanced by Apostolos

Favorite "WOW" moment

"On a walk in Kardamylii, Apostolos met & introduced us to 2 elderly citizens that he knew from previous visits. It was so touching that he saw them both again after time of covid. Through Apostolos' translation, we learned of their life experiences. Most memorable moment. Awe of being on the Acropolis. A lifelong dream. Mycenae overall, especially thalos 'beehive' tomb, was incredible. Seeing the mountainous terrain of Peloponnese was eye opening to me. Musicians in Nafplio. Food throughout."

Kay

Tour: 09/17/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very organized. Great tour guide who was very knowledgeable and taught us so much about his country. Her really went the extra mile to make an excellent tour experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beehive tombs"

Eric

Tour: 09/17/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had to postpone our tour because of Covid with everything being closed. So this was a long awaited trip and we were not disappointed. Thank you so much to Rick Steves and our amazing tour guide Apostolos. From all the amazing site, museum and delicious foods. The stories and history that Apostolos would share with us. Meeting our tour friends (and buddies), truly an amazing experience. We will miss the friends we made.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being surrounded by history. Swimming in the Aegean and Ionian Sea. Seeing the sites from The Rick Steves' show in person."

Frank

Tour: 09/17/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything worked out great. Our guide, Apostolos was the "Google of Greece". Weather was surprisingly good, the tour group was nice, and the itinerary was fulfilling.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was not a place or building, but rather the people and experiences we had other than the major sites that were memorable."

Marcia

Tour: 09/15/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my first ever organized tour. It covered so many sites and information in a short amount of time, giving me the opportunity to see a lot of Greece on my first visit there. I am used to independent travel for the last 30 years and appreciated the convenience of not having to worry about transportation, timing or planning. The group of fellow travelers was wonderful to get to know and the guide was outstanding. I am over 70 and it was a “push” to keep up with the pace and physicality.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment of the tour had to do with the music and culture. We had a small music group play traditional bouzouki and other instruments in a small restaurant in Nafplio. I sat next to them and watched them closely as their fingers flew over the frets and they sang traditional Melodies."

Kathy

Tour: 09/15/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ioanna our guide made the tour so playful as we learned and experienced a myriad of Greek people, places, history, tastes, sounds, and vistas. The group was coherent and everyone was honored as an interesting individual with something to offer each other. Dimitre was a happy and excellent driver as we careened around the winding roads of the country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Greek coffee time sitting in a small mountain village beside an old church next to the towns headstone of soldiers from WW1&2. So many people and experiences had occurred right on that spot."

Dennis

Tour: 09/15/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an absolutely outstanding experience made possible by our guide Ioanna. She was spectacular in guiding us throughout Greece.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "wow" moment was realizing toward the end of the trip at how well all of us bonded together. Ioanna set the tone for our merry band of travelers. The team made the experience."

Donna

Tour: 09/15/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was a mixture of history, food, culture and beauty! I now have a better understanding of the Greek people and the vastly different scenery, from island living to the quaint mountains.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I am second generation Greek, so for me it was the stories about the "population exchange" that happened between Turkey and Greece in the 1920's. My family was part of that history and Ioanna gave me a lot of information that I was unaware of. She has a deep passion for the Greek people, their history and their future. I truly connected wit her!"

Mike

Tour: 09/12/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My wife and I are veteran Rick Steves travelers, this tour ranks as one of our most favorites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "food and wine" rates a "wow". Every time you had a meal thinking it couldn't get any better....it did."

James

Tour: 09/12/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was outstanding. We loved how efficient the tours were at showing us a quality experience of sites and museums with no wasted time. Our tour guide and local guides were fantastic, all contributing to a trip that provided us such intimate appreciation of the sites, locales, culture, and history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was awed by the views from Delphi. It was easy to imagine travelers coming to the site so many years ago from the sea and up the valley, and up, up, up to hear prophecies from the oracle. I had imagined it would have been an easier place to get to -- but then it would not be such a magical place, close to the heavens. And then, you have to have a stadium and theater to round out the attractions! So cool to see and imagine the footsteps before me."

Ricka

Tour: 09/12/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Maria is fabulous. Really knows the country and culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to limit it to one. Fabulous to finally see so many of the archeological wonders that I had been reading about for most of my life."

Jeff

Tour: 09/12/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My overall experience was outstanding. This is the second RS tour I have taken, and I have enjoyed both of them.. The guides are knowledgeable and personable, and are able to help you focus on what you want to learn and see. RS tours also attract an interesting and a semi-diverse group of people who are fun to travel with. RS tours are a great way to travel and avoid having to make all the arrangements yourself..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The whole trip was great and it is difficult to pick our a single event, although hearing one of our site guides chant in an ancient church ruin (he was the son of a Greek Orthodox) priest was very moving."

Gretchen

Tour: 09/12/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my first "tour" and I enjoyed not having to worry about hotels and transportation. Our guide was AMAZING, she had the best recommendations and obviously a wonderful relationship with all the people she interacted with at hotels and restaurants. I feel like I really got to know Greece and the people that live there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing my first sea turtle while eating an amazing fish lunch at a oceanside restaurant in Limeniom"

Kimberly

Tour: 09/10/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We loved Niki and the places we visited. The guides in general are very knowledgeable and friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I'm not sure I had a "wow" moment but I really enjoyed all the sites."

Doris

Tour: 09/10/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Invigorating. Great guide. Wonderful companions. Everything looked after.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stunning vistas in the countryside"

Walter

Tour: 09/10/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 10th Rick Steves tour and was one of our favorites. It was everything we hoped for. Great guides, great food, amazing experiences, and a fun group of fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How do you pick? Ancient Athens is an obvious choice. Nafplio stands out, especially an evening of live Rembetiko music ??. Oh, and Hydra was sublime with zero cars or motorcycles."

Sue

Tour: 09/10/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful trip overall. Great guide. A group that worked well together.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The museums - I was concerned we'd be 'museumed' out, but each one complimented the ruin site so nicely. Best meal was in Nafplio - unique food and the live music was so fun."

Nancy

Tour: 09/10/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Just wonderful. Exceeded my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When my guide "read" my Greek coffee grounds and told me that I would be marrying within a year--and that I must call her when it happens!"

Deborah

Tour: 09/10/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was amazed by the beauty of Greece. From the mountain villages to ones by the sea. The monuments and sites were breathtaking and the Byzantine churches were unbelievable. Our guide, Niki and the tour group were so much fun. She made the history so interesting while weaving in the mythology.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was visiting the Byzantine churches. They are so tucked away only a guide would know about them. Their preservation is remarkable."

Zeena

Tour: 09/10/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We Loved it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Acropolis"

Doug

Tour: 09/10/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

In our experience we thought the guide was the best, we regret not be prepared for the rocky terrain through out the tour, and slippery marble surfaces.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The preserved Archaio theatre in Epidavros. We had a former actor in our group who performed a spoken sonnet and his wife a singer, song a song, wonderful acoustics. WoW"

Mike

Tour: 09/05/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great time, guide was outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing ancient history"

Diane

Tour: 09/05/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my third Rick Steve's tour and I would say the BEST! I loved the itinerary, guides and most everything else. Apostolos Duras was knowledgeable, funny and very thorough. The targeted guides were excellent also, really made a difference as there was no way we could have read quickly all of what they shared with us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When we drove over the hill to ??Limenion? and saw the bright blue coastline. Very inviting! We had a fabulous lunch there on the water. Another was being at Ancient Olympia where the first Olympics were held! A lifelong quest and glad to fulfill it"

Dawn

Tour: 09/05/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was very educational and enjoyable. The days were busy with fun activities, yet we always had plenty of “downtime “ to relax.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming in the sea on our free day and enjoying a little beach town. Realizing I was on a very decadent vacation."

Jill

Tour: 09/05/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide was great! Greece was beautiful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking to the top of Monemvasia"

Rod

Tour: 09/05/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Olympic flame location"

Diane

Tour: 09/05/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Apostolos, was all and more than one could ask for. He is intelligent, kind and knowledgeable. He made the tour more incredible than I even expected.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have read the Homer many times since I first discovered his works as a student. The archeological tour of Mycenae, with a knowledgeable guide, brought the tales of Agamemnon to life for me. So much of this tour was memorable but Mycenae was the wow for me."

Josephine

Tour: 09/05/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everyday was fun, different & amazing! There was always something new, some surprise that awaited our tour group. Our tour leader Apostolos kept everything rolling along and provided us with tons of information about everything. I also enjoyed the other local guides, the hotels we stayed at and the activities we participated in, especially the cooking class & buffet afterwards. Hydra was beautiful and serene...I especially enjoyed the absence of noise & cars!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Tombs of Mycenae was a “wow” moment for me."

Steven

Tour: 09/03/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Guide Dafni was the most personable guide we've had on a Rick Steves tour. The guides at the attractions were all excellent. The bus driver was a true professional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sunset on Hydra."

Linda

Tour: 09/03/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The best thing about a Rick Steves tour is the carefully crafted itinerary and the type of travelers it attracts. Independent, educated, diverse, and flexible.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Acropolis of course. But my favorite day was our “free” day on the Mani Peninsula. We rented ebikes and rode along the stunning coastline exploring villages, cafes, and beaches along the way."

Julie

Tour: 09/03/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I've wanted to do a Rick Steves tour for years, and finally got to go! We were delayed 2 years due to Covid. We thought about delaying again, but read the blog and were reassured after seeing low rates of infection for 2022 tours. We had a great time with great people, and stayed healthy. The tour packs so much in, efficiently, and is so much easier than planning it all ourselves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming in the Aegean Sea at Kardamyli. It was our mid-trip "vacation from our vacation." We rented e-bikes and traveled along the Mani coast, stopping for lunch along the way. Before returning the bikes we rode to the beach. It's described as a pebble beach, but it's rocks--super smooth rocks, new to me and very do-able. The water was such a clear blue, and the perfect temperature. The long coast meant no crowd. Sublime."

Richard

Tour: 09/03/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The experience was all over the map-literally. The other travelers were the usual mix of personalities and the accommodations, meals and tours first rate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch virtually on the Mediterranean with the freshest seafood ever."

Cynthia

Tour: 09/03/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and it surpassed all my expectations. Our guide Dafni was outstanding and all our stops were beautiful and interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching the sunset on Hydra with a lovely glass of wine."

Dianne

Tour: 09/03/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Dafni was a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide for our Greece Tour. Flying into Athens I was surprised at all the wind turbines on the high hilltops as well as the solar panels on people's rooftops to heat their water. Greece is a beautiful and historic country with so many small towns full of friendly residents, cobbled streets, and covered open air spaces to enjoy a meal or a drink. I loved all of the cats everywhere and the burros in Hydra. Great food and friendly people!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Parthenon from our dinner at the roof top restaurant of the Hera Hotel on our first night! Also seeing the sight of the first Olympics. We enjoyed our entire experience at so many historic and varied sites! The museums were very interesting with so many antiquities dug from the soil of Greece. Our bus driver did a fantastic job ferrying us around more hairpin turns than I've ever experienced. We saw everything from high mountains to the seashore and the scenery was fabulous!"

Kimberly

Tour: 08/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful time on the Athens & Heart of Greece tour. Our guide, Ioanna, was great. She was very positive and knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was taking the cog train and having lunch in Planitero. The views from the train were amazing. The park and plane trees around the restaurant in Planitero were beautiful and relaxing."

Doris

Tour: 08/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall my experience was a wonderful time. Our tour guide was excellent. They get you to the sites, ie. Acropolis, Delphi at the times of the least amount of other travelers. The bus was very comfortable. There was a excellent mixture of time with the tour, and time to yourself. There were a couple of hotels that were small, but they were all clean. There was a story with each hotel and restaurant that was chosen associated with Rick Steve. I thoroughly enjoyed our Greece trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view of the Acropolis from the top of the hotel restaurant."

William

Tour: 08/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Perfect! This tour was the carrot that forced me to get back into travel shape after a life altering event, eight months earlier. As expected, we had the most amazing guide, acceptable accommodations, incredible bus-driver, great food, and went to beautiful places that would be very difficult to duplicate, like this, on our own. I can't say enough about our tour group. Amazing folks that all shared a thirst for adventure and exploring. I enjoyed everyone very much. Where we all going next?

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our wow moment was the restaurant we had dinner at in Delphi. High on the side of a steep mountain overlooking the olive tree filled valley below with the most beautiful sunset shining on the ocean in the distance."

John

Tour: 08/29/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The trip was our 3rd, and as wonderful and exciting as each of the others.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are too many to count, but standing at the grounds in Delphi, or beneath the Lions gate have always been dreams of mine; two more things checked off the bucket list."

Anne

Tour: 06/27/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip was a wonderful intro to Greece and all I hoped for and more. It was amazing to see so many iconic sites with expert guides. However, I found some quieter moments just as memorable: a day at the beach in the seaside town of Kardamyli and a cappucino on a VERY windy outcrop in Momevasia. Last but not least, our tour guide Apostolos went above and beyond to share his knowledge and humor every day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mycenae, a fortress city from 1600 to 1200 BC, that I had never heard of prior to the tour."

Teresa

Tour: 06/27/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I took our two 18 year old grandchildren with us on our trip to Greece. We all had a wonderful time exploring the ruins and museums and basking in the sun at the beaches.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to choose a favorite “wow” moment in seeing all of the antiquities of Greece and references to Greek mythology that I’ve read about my entire life. It’s all a “wow”."

Rafael

Tour: 06/27/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time on our tour of Greece. Our tour guide was gracious, kind, intelligent and funny. Our fellow travelers were also great company!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were quite a few "wow" moments including hiking up the Acropolis early in the morning, but it was the open day traversing the walkways in medieval Monemvasia that will stick with me for a lifetime."

Jason

Tour: 06/27/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We absolutely loved our Rick Steves Athens & the Heart of Greece Tour! It's difficult to imagine a better tour guide than Apostolos Douras... or a more beautiful country than Greece. Apostolos has a radio friendly voice and extensive knowledge of his country that makes him an ideal teacher. The tour moves at a perfect pace and has an excellent balance of guided activities and free time. I love how RS takes you to places that you didn't know that you wanted to go to, making the most of our time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our favorite wow moments were the numerous times that we were surprised by the beauty of our location. The description of the day never seemed to sound as exciting as the locations were once we were able to visit them. Sometimes the lunch stops (which were not included on the itinerary) proved to be the most beautiful location of the day."

Michael

Tour: 06/27/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour guide and great driver. Maybe not as memorable as our previous 3 tours.... but maybe I am just getting older.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Live music in typical Greek neighborhood.... Group meal on the crystal clear water with the sea turtles."

Korin

Tour: 06/27/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Apostolus was an amazing guide! The tour was absolutely wonderful. It’s hard to put into words what it was like standing among ruins and imagining the pictures painted for us by the local guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing in Delphi and imagining what it was like and the energy and excitement the Greeks must have felt."

Lori

Tour: 06/27/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was fantastic. It struck the right balance of organized and free time. My family and I felt energized with each new experience and would do it all over again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My family and I each had our own "wow" moment. Our college-bound daughter loved the Greek dancers and was happy to be included in the show. My husband was intrigued by the walled town of Monemvasia and I enjoyed the stories of Olympia."

Lisa

Tour: 06/27/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Apostolos, was amazing. His insights into Greek culture and history was always interesting and helped to inform the activities each day. I was nervous traveling to Greece; a country that I couldn't speak the language or understand the alphabet, but being on the tour made everything easy and Apostolos gave us the confidence to venture out on our own too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick one.. seaside group lunch group lunch in Limenion, the ruins of Delphi, and our time on the island of Hydra."

Bruce

Tour: 06/27/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about how the Greek mythology was used socially."

Robert

Tour: 06/16/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I appreciated that the tour visited places that avoided large tourist locations but gave us a good experience of ancient and contemporary Greek life. My Greek friend said that we visited the places the Greeks like to go.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide Ioanna was the highlight of the tour."

Tony

Tour: 06/16/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic! One major reason was our guide. She was knowledgeable, personal, and organized. The best we have ever had. When we finished, we truly felt She was much more than a guide. She was family! Overall, the tour was one of the best we have had.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ruins of Olympia and seeing the Acropolis would have to be a tie."

Kim

Tour: 06/16/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved our tour guide Ioanna. She made us feel safe. She knew our hotel owners everywhere we went and you always felt like you were in good hands with them. She took time to walk each town with us and point out all the fun things to do and she kept us informed on all the fun local gossip. Ioanna knew all the right places to eat and would tell us how much we were supposed to be paying for everything so we didn’t get taken advantage of, she made us feel like locals. She was incredible!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I needed to check off the Acropolis for sure! But I was blown away by Delphi! It’s history and location was unbelievably beautiful and when we were done we just walked back to our hotel. I loved Lagadia too. It has this tree that watched over Main Street with lanterns and white lights in it. The locals were out talking and kids were riding their bikes while we fed the local stray dog ice cream. It was like being on a movie set; magic!"

Lynda

Tour: 06/16/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our 4th Rick Steves tour and was the best yet! Every hotel was a great experience in itself. Our tour guide was beyond wonderful, we were fortunate to have a great group of people, and the itinerary has been perfected over the years.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Before going, I thought it might be standing on the Acropolis or the Olympic Stadium. However, one night in Nafplion we were enjoying a multi-course, delicious Greek outdoor dinner listening to three musicians playing stringed instruments. Next to us was the largest Greek Orthodox church in the city and a wedding was taking place. Bells rang out, the bride and groom appeared, and somehow my fellow travelers became my family and I truly felt a part of Greek village life."

Marjorie

Tour: 06/16/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fantastic tour guide and driver. I really enjoyed the pace of the tour and the rest times too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Delphi!! Time spent there was priceless."

Jodi

Tour: 06/16/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary, wonderful guide, lots of hiking/walking opportunities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Delphi!"

Deborah

Tour: 06/16/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First trip (and not last) with Rick Steves' Europe. My children and I had an amazing time. It surpassed what I was expecting, which was pretty high to begin with! The entire experience brought us closer by letting us experience something new and memorable in a group setting that was spectacular. The guides were incredible. The bus driver, incredible. All the hotels, incredible. This is a trip we won't ever forget and it won't be our last!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Turning to see my teenage son and daughter smiling and enjoying themselves; truly enjoying themselves as they experienced a new country, new people, and a new culture. In recent years, due to a family tragedy, we hadn't experienced true joy and bonding. I will never forget the moment I looked at them and saw unabashed and sincere happiness on their faces! RSE was the catalyst for that. Our tour made us stronger and helped us reconnect and find true joy. Can't get more "wow" than that! Priceless!"

Jeff

Tour: 06/16/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From start to finish, the tour was amazing. Every detail was taken care of by our guide, Ioanna, and she did a fabulous job of showing us the wonder of Greece. The local guides who took us through some of the sites were knowledgeable and enjoyable. The hotels and food we experienced were first rate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While seeing the Parthenon for the first time stands out, the incredible beauty of Delphi is unforgettable. The views from Mt. Parnassus are simply stunning."

Kelly

Tour: 06/16/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is the best way to get an in-depth and diverse taste of Greece in a short amount of time! Our guide Ioanna shed so much perspective on Greece past and present and made every moment an outstanding experience. The tour has a good balance of ancient sights, modern cultural experiences and free time. This tour allowed me to cover the highlights of the Peloponnese and have unique local experiences that I would not have had traveling on my own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Joining in with locals to learn traditional Greek dances!"

Debra

Tour: 06/16/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our experience was outstanding. Ioanna, our tour guide, was exceptional! She made Greece come alive for my family. Her vast knowledge of Greek culture and history was incredible as was her way of sharing it. We were never bored of listening to her talk about her country. We so appreciated her kindness, patience and energy. Loved her mom's baklava! Best in the world! Shout out to Christo who is an amazing bus driver! AJ and Jared so enjoyed getting to know you. Best trip ever!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour guide and driver were so personable. It was evident they loved what they were doing. It wasn't just another job. They made it feel as if our group was a family. Ioanna took special care to make sure my son's food allergies were addressed at each restaurant."

Deborah

Tour: 06/13/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed every minute of this tour! The pacing, the sites, the fellow travelers, the hotels, the food, and the guides were all exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our wow moment happened at Delphi. After a brief downpour, we were standing on a high pathway above the ruins with a view of the valley below, when a rainbow appeared!"

When To Go & Weather

Any time between March and October is a good time to take an Athens & the Heart of Greece tour. However, the months of April, May, September, and October are Greece's most pleasant travel months, with comfortable weather, no rain, and lighter crowds.

Greece / Athens

Athens Weather

Hotels & Flights

Tour Hotels

In case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations, the contact information for the tour's first and last hotels is included in your tour confirmation email, as well as in your tour account. About one month prior to the tour departure, you'll find the directions to your first tour hotel and a complete list of hotels where we'll be staying while on tour in your tour account.

Flights

Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements and transfers are completely up to you.

Most tour members arrange to fly in and out of Athens (ATH).

We suggest arriving a day or two before your tour begins to allow ample time to get over jet lag and be well-rested for the first few days of your tour. For more information about transportation options for getting to and from your tour, or traveling to the Greek Islands, see your Rick Steves Greece guidebook.