Athens & the Heart of Greece in 14 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

All excellent tour guides: Anastasia, Faye, Penny, Zoe, Dimitrio and Patty. Excellent bus driver, George. Comfortable bus. I enjoyed the tour group. We had many interesting conversations. Through the tour guides, I learned a lot about Greece, its history, its culture, its politics, its music and especially its cuisine. The tour went through a variety of landscapes in Greece in 2 weeks, from the Athen to the mountain, then to the coast and to Hydra, the island. Too many wonderful memories.Delphi

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Delphi, I always wanted to see; the Peloponneso Mountains, especially Lagkadia, free of tourist; the Cooking demonstration in Monemvasia Panarama hotel was fun; the tour of Mycenae’s Lion Gate and Beehive Tomb; the city of Nafplio was beautiful; the interesting conversation with our tour group during happy hour at Hydra."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first Rick Steves tour greatly exceeded my expectations! It was extremely well organized with a perfect mix of group time and time on our own and was like a 3 credit class in Greek History and Culture thanks to our very knowledgeable guide who filled us with facts and wove myths into the talk. My biggest surprise was what a wonderful group we were part of that had no divas or whiners. Sooo good!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Olympia and seeing the sites of the first Olympics."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I was very satisfied with the overall tour experience. Everyone of the tour guides were outstanding. Anastasia was 'outstanding +', meaning her personal energy, attentiveness, humor, ability to make connections between a diverse amount of information required a separate kind of outstanding. I am thinking of only a very good rating for the meals, the hotels, the minimum 'MC-ing' of the musical events and the overall travel schedule.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment happened during a happy hour on Hydra Island when Anastasia initiated and guided an impromptu and wide ranging dialogue amongst the members of the group that didn't leave the site of the happy hour. I felt I really connected with the group and Anastasia as we shared our thoughts, jokes and sentiments about a number of topics as the afternoon transitioned into twilight. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We have done several RSE tours before and this is certainly a highlight. Rivals Turkey for us. The fellow travelers are the most fun group yet. Everyone understood the physical requirements and the agreement to stay cheerful. Our guide Anastasia was truly outstanding. The local guides were very knowledgeable and very interesting. Anastasia is the best storyteller I’ve met.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Monemvasia was a great surprise. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall this was an amazing trip! The many different experiences made the trip anything but boring. Every day was a new adventure

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many of those but probably Delphi was my favorite experience "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I've had a lifetime of travel and this tour (my first RSE tour!) stood out as the trip of a lifetime!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Honestly, it was all "wow" worthy but if forced to pick, I really enjoyed the Archeological Site of Mystras."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The entire experience was exceptional! Our guide Nikki and driver were superb! Once again Rick Steves does not disappoint!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Olympic Stadium"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary was well thought out and interesting. We had never been to Greece before, and the country exceeded our expectations. The Greek people are so friendly, hospitable, and accommodating. Our tour guide Niki had a great sense of humor, is very knowledgeable about Greek history and culture, and kept our group moving at an appropriate pace.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved the two days in Kardamyli when we had time to explore a gorgeous new place on our own. We enjoyed the amazing views from our hotel room, a fun hike up to St. Sophia above the town, an afternoon walk along the beach road with multiple stops for beer and appetizers. It could not have been more idyllic."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fantastic time! From the weather, our guide "Mama Niki", our local guides, the food, the history, and the Greek people, we couldn't ask for a better holiday.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"OMG - so many!!! One that stands out for me was at the ancient theater in Epidarus, where our local guide, Patricia, demonstrated the amazing acoustics by clapping her hands - first very close to the ground, and then slowly raising them up above her head as the sound reverberated through the theater. The fact that the ancient Greeks figured out how to do this 3000 + years ago was even more astonishing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Apostolos, was fantastic….knowledgeable and personable. Tour sights chosen were amazing. Local guides were great as well. The people in Greece were friendly, welcoming and helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Delphi was definitely a “wow” moment. The location and history were breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful selection of sites to visit to get the authentic “flavor” of Greece. The carefully selected places to visit, in conjunction with the hotels’ central locations, the choices for group meals & the outstanding tour guides made a good itinerary into a great experience. I cannot say enough about our guide Apostolos who certainly enriched our experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My “wow” moment has to be rounding the bend & seeing Monemvasia coming into view. The light was just perfect to view this magnificent wonder of nature rising out of the ocean. I have been looking forward to seeing it much of my adult life & it did not disappoint. There were other notable moments as well, but this was the topper."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was well organized, the guides were very knowledgeable and enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had wanted to see sites like the Acropolis for many years, the biggest surprise was Delphi, very impresive."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Except for my motion sickness (surprisingly on coastal winding roads rather than mountainous terrain), I again enjoyed being back on a RS tour. Fellow travelers were mostly like-minded in wanted to learn about history, culture, art and local people and "color". The itinerary was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A hotel! Hotel LaIkoto in Kardamyli where a woman must have put in the finishing touches with hooks in bathroom, Kleenex tissues, stocked kitchenette, and baked cookies along with gifts for the guests. My friend and I walked the town, visited the cemetery, bought a huge ripe tomato and walked back to the seaside hotel. We dined al fresco on our patio, enjoying leftover taverna dinner, tomato, and cookies. Yes, Olympia, Delphi, Athens, Hydrae were wonderful but we LOVED this hotel!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip exceeded our expectations. We originally signed up for all the sights of Ancient Greece, and they delivered! But it was so much more! Incredible mountains, views, turquoise water in March, and so much information about modern day Greece too. We had absolutely lovely people as fellow travellers, and incredibly passionate and knowledgeable tour guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Olympia. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fantastic tour guide, Apostolos. He was everything one can want in a tour guide: friendly, approachable, knowledgable, organized, very personable, funny, and so much more. I feel a very important factor is to have locals as tour guides. And in this tour, all the vendors are locals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Olympia. Penny (I think) as the on the site guide is great. She really brought life into the rubbles along with lots of stories to go with it. We also loved the slower pace of the tour in the 2nd half of the tour. There is just so much information and tour bus sitting. Surprisingly just sitting on the bus is exhausting. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I would have to start with the Tour Guide, Apostolos. His continual efforts in keeping the quality of the Tour at a highest level, from day one to the last day, made this trip both exciting and informative of the Greek culture and history. He was continually offering little surprises of some of the most exceptional Greek pastries and other treats. He also, after hearing of the group's interest in Greek dance gave a small lesson one evening. These are a couple of examples of going beyond expectat

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was continually amazed at the smooth logistical flow of this trip. Every stop on this trip was well thought out. My personal favorites were Delphi, The Acropolis, and Island of Hydra. Accommodations were all nice, where there was an experience of the Greek culture."

The guides were excellent; the hotels were good; and the included meals were repetitive but good. The itinerary was ambitious, particularly the return to Athens for one day before the trip’s end.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved Hydra!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a bucket list trip and we were extremely pleased! Our guide, Apostolos, laid the framework for a great trip. Our fellow travelers were very nice and interesting. The hotels and shared meals were very good. We especially loved our free time to explore the ancient ruins and fortresses as well as hang out on a beach or two.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was not one 'wow' moment but several! Just walking among the ruins and knowing the amount of effort that went into the engineering and building of them was truly amazing! "

This was our 8th Rick Steves Tour and another great one! The itinerary was great, and we really enjoyed all the sights, food and history on this trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We really loved Olympus. The stunning sunsets in Monemvasia were hard to beat as well!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, the tour was great, but some of the sites were challenging with steep and rocky paths--particularly going down!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several wow moments, but the sunsets at Kardamyli were pretty spectacular!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guides, lodging, bus driver, and itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This tour included experiences that can't be duplicated by video or by reading about them - such as surveying the spectacular mountain scene at Delphi, entering the massive beehive tomb at Mycenae, and hiking on the top of the Monemvasia "rock". These were all awe-inspiring experiences that I'm so glad to have had the opportunity enjoy in person."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ioanna our tour guide was outstanding. Her kindness, humor and knowledge was beyond compare. The places we stayed at and visited were lovely.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Delphi with our expert Penny. Her telling of Delphi was full of such passion."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great leaders for our trip! They were both very knowlegeable and entertaining. I felt a bit lost coming in to Athens by myself the Sunday before the tour start day and was afraid to venture out from my hotel, but I used the guidebook to force myself to go to the Central Market and have a cup of the traditional coffee at Mokka per your sugestion. Once I did that, I found my courage and proceeded to wander around the various squares and sites. The rest of the trip was just pure magic!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking to the top of the mountain at Monemvasia and on Hydra- I really enjoyed ALL of the hiking and walking with a mixture of being part of the group and occasionally branching off for a few alone moments to marvel at being in these sacred places. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Was a great trip - we saw a lot, but did enjoy some free time. Really enjoyed the smaller towns and the family run hotels.Ioanna was an outstanding tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really enjoyed Hydra."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Informative. Lots of opportunities to increase the activity level if desired. Plenty of unscheduled time. Great accommodations and food. Friendly fellow travelers and the best tour guide ever.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many because Greece is such a beautiful country. But one moment that stands out is when our bus driver pulled over because the view of the sun on the water was so spectacular and our tour guide wanted us to get pictures. It might happen on every tour, but it seemed spontaneous. Even if it was scripted, it was a wonderful moment."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour guide was very knowledgeable and excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not any one wow moment, but the whole process of learning the Greek history was interesting."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved Ioanna!! She was truly amazing and brought the trip to life.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many. The Parthenon overlooking our hotel was a complete surprise. We went to the roof top restaurant the first night there and surprise there it was all lit up in all of its glory. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The food, hiking, guides and the places we visited in Greece were outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The outstanding food and the depth of the history."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an excellent tour! I learned so much about the country; its people and culture. Hearing about the history and mythology; seeing a lot of the geography and tasting the various foods were all very interesting and enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the locations of the various ruins of the Acropolis / Parthenon; Delphi, etc., and learning about how the Greeks documented these locations was amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip, my first with Rick Steves, exceeded all of my expectations!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moments every day because of our outstanding guide!"

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

I'm sort of an outlier and don't like group guided tours. My wife and I have been to Europe about twenty or so times. Most of those trips we make our own transportation and accommodations. While my wife liked this tour I was put off by the constant guide narratives and herding on and off busses and around museums. I turned off my receiver during site and museum visits so I could read the displays at my own pace and interest and not be brow beat by the guides. I'm an artist and landscape architec

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moments where when away from the group on my own with my wife or another group member. Climbing to the fortress at Naplio, climbing the island rock at Monomvasia, or hike out of town in Hydra with out the group"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guides were all exceptional however Ioanna was without a doubt the best. She handled everything and everybody beautifully. Hotels and food were great....loved having those breakfasts with the best yogurt I have ever tasted!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I did not expect this to be one of my favorite moments but I really liked Olympia and the history of the games. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was a typical Rick Steve's tour experience; well designed tour, great guides, plenty of opportunity to explore on your own, interesting places to visit and last, but not least, a great group of people to travel around with! Traveling early in the season and the way the tourist site visits were scheduled made the experience more relaxing and enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Realizing after a few days into the trip that your able to travel half way around the world and converge with 20+ other people from all over the USA to see some magical places with a fantastic tour guide and great food!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, this tour was well organized with a good balance of group activities and free time. Our guide, Dafni, personified the hospitality of the Greek culture. Our travel mates were friendly and fun! The food was delicious, and hotel staff went above and beyond to make our stay memorable. I feel like we were immersed in the history/culture of Greece and I better appreciate the influence the Greeks had on our modern world.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Greece is beautiful with more land formations than I realized! The wildflowers among the ruins WOWed me time after time, as did the blue and green hues of the sea. The hikes off the beaten track were lovely with various landscape perspectives. Venturing out at sunrise in Monemvasia for a photo shoot is a memory I will cherish and have well documented!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

History overload in a positive way. The tour put in perspective the history of western civilization. The Greek people were friendly and enthusiastic, very fun to converse with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have two; the engineering ability of those ancient people was astounding and BLUE...the sea and the sky made my jaw drop and my eyes pop."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an informative and entertaining overview of Greek history, current events, and with a lot of natural beauty and hospitality added!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gaining a better understanding of Greece's founding contributions to Western Civilization, which continue to the present day. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Meeting new people is one of the best parts of joining a RS tour. A great, enjoyable group of people. Our tour guide Dafni was fun, authentic and enthusiastic. Dafni loves Greece!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Sphinx of Naxos in the Archaeological Museum of Delphi took my breath away. Upper Town on Monemvasia was breaktaking (literally & figuratively)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As great as expected

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The hotels were nice and the guides were excellent and seemed to love what they were doing a pm

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were too many to pick just one"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always it was impeccably planned and followed through. The lodging was great and so were the meals included in the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When a bolt of lightning pierced the clouds and Zeus appeared. Then we embraced. Seriously, Monemvasia sticks in my mind."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my second Rick Steves' Tour, it was well run, had fun people, great guide and so much food!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being on the Mani Peninsula, the laid back feel of the town, the bright blue water visible outside our hotel room. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was outstanding. Everything was well organized and the logistics were perfect from the tour director to the hotels to the meals to the transportation to the site tour guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hydra"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Greece has everything - a multilayer history, unique culture, outstanding food, vibrant cities, laidback villages, mountains, seashores,,,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Tomb of Agamemnon blew me away - so old, so high - and built by bronze age people."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Impeccably planned and guided.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Urban strolling/exploring throughout Hydra and Monemvasia."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, great sites, great bus driver, great time of year to go!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The passion and pride of the music in Napflio."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip/tour was phenomenal. The sites, the people, and especially the food were fabulous but I think our guide Apostolos was key in making this an unforgettable experience. His charming personality, wit, knowledge of Greek history, and recommendations for things to do on our non-tour days contributed to our high satisfaction with this tour. Apostolos is one of the best guides ever!!! .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Its hard to pick just one 'wow' moment since there were so many. As nice as it was to see the archeological sites and museums, overall I was 'wowed" by the beauty of the country and the hospitality of the people we met in the small villages along the tour. . "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well originated by Apostolos our tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The night view from The Acropolis Select Hotel in Athens of the Acropolis. The Peloponnese. Ancient Theater"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

our guide on the TOUR was the best so personal even on his free time he took us for more experiences of the area

Favorite "WOW" moment

"climbing to the very top of the ROCK BEAUTIFUL DAY AND LOTS OF PICTURES AND MEMORIES"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great tour led by our outstanding tour guide, Apostolos Douras. Being the first RS Greece tour of the year we didn't have to deal with large crowds and our weather was great, sunny and 65F the average. The group was punctual and convivial, the bus was very comfortable and our driver, George, took us smoothly through many hairpin turns. Apostolos was very well organized and provided us with unexpected opportunities like our visit to the Kalavryta Holocaust Museum.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We really enjoyed our climb to the top of the Rock of Monemvasia, viewing Greek ruins and the Byzantine Church along the way."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The whole tour exceeded my expectations - the guide was the best, the food was fantastic, and the destinations were interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The dinner we had in the old Jewish quarter of Nafplio was incredibly special with the musicians and our hosts. To hear their stories of what life was like, how they had to hide their musical instruments, and to experience their joy in sharing their music with us. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This active tour had amazing sites, great views, and delicious food! The people made this trip memorable. Our tour guide, Dafni, is warm, caring and taught us so much about everything Greek. She was always attentive to the needs and preferences of her travelers. Our group bonded early and we enjoyed each other’s company. The local guides, Mama Faye, Penny, Niki, Nikos, and Patty, were excellent. Our driver, Christos, expertly drove our bus through narrow roads and hairpin turns. A great tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many "wow" moments, but what I remember so vividly was the hospitality of the brothers who own and run the Hotel Marianna in Nafplio. They welcomed us with open arms and served us fresh cold homemade lemonade made with lemons from their orchard. They also carried our luggage for us up and down many flights of stairs. Taking time to chat with us at breakfast was another way they displayed their genuine Greek hospitality."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

First time on a guided tour, Guide Dafni made it great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Food"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The tour organization was good. The tour director Dafni was good. I was hoping for more organized tour time and less free time to do our own thing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Parthenon. Walking Delphi sites."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was an excellent mix of ancient sites, culture, people and food with stays in off the beaten path locations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The impressive ancient theatre of Epidaurus with its perfect acoustics, imagining 14000 spectators filling the stadium to hear music and plays."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour visited most of the sites we wanted to see on the Greece mainland, except for Meteora. Lots of antiquities, which was why we were on the tour. Tour was on the go, but we did get some down time in two places. A good balance of group activities and time to do our own thing. Well organized tour. Excellent tour guide and local guides. Some good, some bad hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No one favorite "wow" moment on this tour. We visited Meteora after the tour on our own and that was my "Wow" moment in Greece."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

My husband got Covid and we were asked to leave.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Acropolis from below."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was meticulously organized and executed but still managed to feel easy and open to possibility, with free time integrated at the right times. The shared meals were all experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing and learning about the beehive tomb, climbing to the top of Monemvasio and finding the ancient church, smoky with incense and a docent to tell us about it."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very informative and comfortable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Olympia "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Dafni, was wonderful. Informative and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch at Limeni village was magical. The fisherman cleaning the fish at waters edge and delivering it directly to the grill!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A tour guide makes all the difference in a vacation destination, and the Rick Steves guides are excellent. Second in importance is the attitude of the tour group, and this tour was lucky to have good people who were very supportive of each other despite differences in personalities and attitudes. Rick does a great job of attracting participants who value these attitudes and seek tours like Rick’s.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I am hard to surprise but as an engineer was very impressed by the structures built 3000 years ago"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wowed every day by the beauty, food, history, and most importantly, the people of Greece

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Parthenon through our local guide Mamma Fay's eyes for the first time up close "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I very much enjoyed the Athens & The Heart of Greece tour. Our guide, Ioanna, was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My WOW moment happened upon our arrival at the Athens hotel and going to the rooftop restaurant seeing the Parthenon illuminated. I also had a WOW moment on our coastal walk in Hydra to the beaches of Kaminia and Vlychos. We walked the coastal path both directions and the views!!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Educated and fun

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visit Ancient Greek Ruins"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent itinerary, great hotels/inns on the Pelleponese, super guide (Ioanna), wonderful food experiences, and some of the most beautiful scenery I have seen.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to pick just one"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Greece was stunning in so many ways - history, scenery, culture, food! We loved the tour, our group was great, our guide was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It may sound cliche, but the Parthenon left me speechless. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great tour. It was full of wonderful, ancient treasures. But it also gave me a real opportunity to get to know Greece, it’s history and its people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When we walked up to the giant beehive tomb, in Mycenaea, I was blown away"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring the Olympia site. Excellent local tour guide. I leaned a lot."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Apostolose is an amazing guide! The sites and activities are amazing! Out of the 6 tours we have taken, this was the most physically demanding but I think also the most historically loaded. Totally surprised by the Peloponnese. I loved all the hotels except for one. Wishing our vacation within a vacation stay was different. Very uncomfortable. Our farewell dinner feast was by far the best I've ever had.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was the traditional dance. So much fun. The village of Langodia was just charming. But our visit to Delphi was a close second. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour covered a lot of ground. I learned so much about Greece, both ancient and modern. I am generally not one to enjoy group tours, but this was the only way possible to experience such a wide range of locations and activities. I had a great time, wonderful guide (Apostolos), nice people, and plenty of free time. We were informed beforehand that this tour was very strenuous, and it was. Lots of walking and many, many stairs.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming in the Sea."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Full of valuable education plus great fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing how wild and empty the Peleponnese is."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded our expectations even though we are experienced travelers who frequently travel on Rick Steves tours. We spent a lot of time planning for this tour. Reading and viewing videos are a poor substitute for the "real" thing and this tour exhibited this facet more than ever.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day was a "wow" moment. Seeing the parthenon at night from our hotel rooftop restaurant was such a surreal moment. Running on the ancient track in Olympia was one of my highlights...my grandsons were thrilled that grandma "won" the race. Sitting at the top of the Epidaurus ancient theater was so worth the climb up. Every moment walking around the sights and viewing these fabulous artifacts from the past was a "pinch me" moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything about this tour was great, the sites, the people, the food. Our guide Maria is fantastic and she helped make this an outstanding experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many beautiful sites, but seeing the Acropolis for the first time from the top floor of our hotel was our wow moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A Rick Steves tour is reliably professional and intelligently conceived. Our Greece tour exceeded expectations for variety, hands-on experiences, and cultural immersion. Guides were uniformly amazing, hotels were welcoming and immaculate, and our group was most convivial.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow indicates immediacy. Was it walking into the Olympic stadium to the imagined roar of the crowd? Was it dancing wildly to banned music of the oppressed? Or did Wow depend on reflection, seeing the threads of Greek history in our everyday lives? As Mana Faye said, there’s nothing new under this sun. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was great. The group came together quickly, always looking out for other members of the tour. Combine that with a great, knowledgeable guide and you have the makings of a great tour. Having taken nine RS tours perviously, we were surprised with the ruggedness of the access to the sites visited. Some of the trails used to access the sites were what I considered treacherous and I was concerned for my safety and safety of others on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The massive amount of huge stones quarried and moved to mountain tops several thousand years ago to build such massive structures. Combine that with the complexity of the structures and technology needed to complete the tasks."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Such a surreal experience to be totally immersed in Greek culture. Guide Danae Kousouri was a suburb story teller and made the history and the mythology come alive. We survived a torrential rain storm at Delphi and knew that Zeus was watching us too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wiw moment was walking through the tunnel out onto the Olympic track. We walked from the start line to the finish line and cheered on the people running the course, some barefoot as the first Olympians ran it. We also loved Hydra and with tour friends took a boat shuttle to a nice beach and swam in the sea and soaked up the sun. Many steps and hills to climb but you could take your time and it was worth it every step of the way."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip to Greece was life changing. It is almost impossible to put into words how awe inspiring it was to learn more about the art, architecture, mythology and history of the country that was truly the birthplace of western civilization.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of several "wow" moments on the tour was seeing the Rebetiko musicians and learning about Rebetiko's subversive history, from being banned in the mid-1930s by a dictatorship to being designated in 2017 as a UNESCO intangible heritage. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour and it was fabulous from start to finish. Our guide Danae was brilliant, filled with knowledge and enthusiasm and a clear love of Greece that made the entire tour a memorable experience for us. Many members on the tour who had taken other tours said the Greece tour was the best ever and that Danae was the best guide they had ever had.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many, but the island of Hydra and the stadium at Olympia were definitely "wow" moments."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an outstanding tour that enabled us to experience Greek history and culture. It was well organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moments were when the guides would bring to life the past in the midst of ancient ruins. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I grew up in a Greek family and Filippos took me back to my childhood fond memories. My husband and I loved seeing all the different areas of Greece from the iconic cities to the impressive mountains and ancient sites to the gorgeous water. The Greek people were so welcoming, it was like being home with all the amazing food and we never wanted to leave. The tour was full of wonderful experiences every day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Greek people and the food were phenomenal. The theater at Epidavros was such a beautiful place along with the island of Hydra. Wow moments were many."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

the overall history of Greece that was presented by both our guide and the local guides. all were excellent and extremely knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the vistas from the mountain top villages to the ports and seeing the largest continuous olive grove in Greece"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking up the stairs and seeing the Epidaurus Ancient Theatre, amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Rick Steves’ tours are terrific in general and Athens and the Heart of Greece is no exception.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I thought my favorite moment would be touring the Parthenon but it turns out that all of the ruins, the stories, the myths, the people, and the food were equally charming! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Phillipos was fantastic. He made this tour. His connections and historical knowledge allowed us to experience authentic Greek food and locations, especially in Athens where he grew up.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Monemvasia.....unbelievable. The view from our 2nd floor hotel room from the Panorama Hotel was the best. We had a perfect view of the Rock.....Monemvasia."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Was a grand time and enjoyed Phillpose as our guide. He was fantastic

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The diversity of the landscapes from the mountains to the seas made an impression on us. Also, the history of Greece going back millennia."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves’ tour. Our guide truly set the gold standard for future tours. From the intro to the final dinner, the engaging Filippos Kanakaris guided our group through experiences from historical sites to village explorations to savory Greek food, all accompanied by “lectures” and stories, peppered with humor. He kept us safe, on schedule, and maximizing every moment. This tour sealed our zeal for Rick Steves that was born with the first book that we used in 1998 for Spain.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Only one? The hidden village of Kastania was memorable to see colorful frescos in 2 Byzantine churches. Walking through the village's cobblestone paths, an angel kitty who adopted us, later turned into a demon cat. Coffee in the leafy village square was followed by a tour of an 18th c. typical Mani tower house. Tours of the ancient sites were educational and Monemvasia was striking. Cooking with Lucy and Ethel was a hoot. Hydra was picturesque, relaxing, and critter-filled, especially cats!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an awesome experience, so much beauty and history, we were totally amazed!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to pick just one…just seeing the topography, the mountains, villages and sea driving thru Greece was a “wow” !"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thought the tour itinerary was very well selected. Our guide Fotios was very knowledgeable, pleasant, handled all situations with a calm demeanor, and did a great job overall.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sites the thrilled us, the most included the following: the acropolis with the Parthenon was awesome. The museum to follow was incredible. The site it Delphi was much more extensive, and provided a greater insight into the era. The charioteer in the Delphi museum was striking. The tomb at Mycenae was only able to be appreciated when we were inside of it. Finally, the climbs to the citadel, and to the fortress were a lot of exercise, but well worth it. Food was excellent."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Niki was a fantastic tour guide. So helpful, so organized, so knowledgeable. I couldn’t ask for better.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to narrow down to just one. Some include my amazement at the skill of the archaeologists in preserving and reconstructing the ancient relics. The scenery around in Delphi and the temple of Apollo. The comparatively low prices for food and drink. The integrity and honesty of the Greek people."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good selection of activities and places to visit with good your guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The train ride through the mountain and amazing seminaries."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a very enjoyable experience until I had to leave the tour prematurely due to a (mild) case of Covid. In retrospect I wish I'd worn a mask in crowded museums. The highlight of the tour was our excellent guide, Niki. She was extraordinarily knowledgeable and fun besides. Our fellow travelers were also a pleasure. It was quite strenuous, though a person could have skipped some of the activities and not missed too much.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The first view of the Parthenon at night"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded my expectation. The itinerary was well put together covering the sights that made Greek history and culture come alive. Our guide Niki Vlachou was superb, capable and resourceful. Niki was our Greek mama. She took really good care of us. She was also a great Greek ambassador. Her passion for her country was palpable. It was a joy listening to her exposition of Greek mythology, adding lots of fun to the bus rides -- we covered a pretty large area of Greece. Highly recommended.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking the Agora and had goose bumps when realizing that Socrates walked the same path."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I felt I got a really good sense of Greece and it's citizens, their culture and history. Niki's commentary during the bus rides was excellent for providing historical, political, and economic context in a balanced way. She is obviously a proud Greek, but all to be realistic about pros & cons.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Acropolis and its history are of course fundamental. Monemvasia and Kardamyli were also very memorable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour of Greece was outstanding as our guide Iris kept our group organized and was always approachable and fun to be around. We had such a great group of people that it made every shared experience and meal a delight.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It really is hard to select just one wow moment. What surprised me most was that the Greek people were all so welcoming and kind. I have done a fair amount of traveling and so often tourists are really made to feel like they are imposing on the community they are visiting. This is often true in the US. In Greece, the locals just welcomed us and really tried to help if help was needed. Our guide Iris was also really welcoming and helpful. "

Overall rating: rating 1 of 5

On the 3rd morning of the 14 day tour I tested positive for COVID and was left behind in Delphi. I traveled with 2 other ladies and did not want their trip ruined so I sent them on without me. It was the most alone I've ever been in my life.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"seeing the offerings at the "convenience store" we stopped at on the way to Delphi"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We found our guides to be very insightful, our tour director was awesome. The hotels were great. The food was terrefic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Acropolis was breath taking"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was excellent, from the itinerary, the guides, food and accommodation. Outstanding value!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the ruins at Delphi and Olympia. The extent and magnitude was mind blowing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Developed Covid and had to leave the tour halfway. Iris, our guide, was very helpful and empathetic. She checked on us frequently. I would like to commend her as an individual and as a guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hydra"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was stupendously well informed and charismatic and the itinerary was full of interesting activities and destinations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The dinner and the music at Misirlou, "The Girl from Egypt" restaurant."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary, with a wide variety of travel experiences. Our guide was the absolutely the best...a wealth of information presented in a humorous and entertaining way, while sweating all the details to assure us a fun and trouble-free experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Delfi had such historic significance and well-preserved ruins."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Greece tour was amazing. Balance mix of tour time and free time. Friendly group of fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting all the interesting archeological sites and seeing Greece's beautiful scenery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip was amazing. Varied, active, informative and so much fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Exploring the ruins of Delphi. I was overwhelmed with such emotion, it was simply incredible."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was great, so many sights and experiences. There was an excellent balance between group and free time. Everyone was friendly and helpful, a very memorable experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having the opportunity to visit so many archeological sights, museums, and communities throughout Greece."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a wonderful and detailed exposure to Greek history, mythology, archaeology, culture, landscape and cuisine.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having visited Greece years before, I was thrilled to revisit the major sites. However, my real Wow moment was in Napflion when as a group we walked to a local restaurant outside the usual tourist area and had a multicourse meal of local and unfamiliar delicacies, all the while being entertained by a group of three musicians/singers of rebetiko music."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great group and an excellent guide who did a great job keeping everyone engaged (and entertained).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No one thing in particular - seeing all the sites I've read about all my life was great."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great value! Not having to deal with the logistics was so refreshing, allowing us to see more places with less stress than in past vacations. Our guide was hilarious, helpful, and knowledgeable. The local guides gave us excellent history lessons, our group meals sumptuous and filling, the hotels comfortable, and the mix of group vs. personal time was perfect! Our fellow travelers were all friendly. We very much enjoyed our first (why did we wait so long!) but not last Rick Steves adventure.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful clear refreshing waters of the Peloponnese coast. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As a veteran of 4 previous tours, I expected and was gratified to experience another excellent trip. Our guide, Angelos, was extremely competent, personable, and attentive. He provided a great deal of "color" commentary during the bus rides, and was especially well-versed in Greek culture. All hotels and group meals were outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had not expected the beautiful mountainous landscape and the seaside sites we visited. All of the visits to the Peloponnese and Mani sites were visually spectacular. The food was probably my biggest "wow"."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent overview of Athens & the Heart of Greece as it was our first visit to Greece. I felt I had experienced the "real" Greece - away from the tourists masses (other than Athens).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not just one "wow" moment - loved exploring the Mani Peninsula - Kardamyli, Monemvasia & The Rock, Nafplio (esp the dinner @ local restaurant w/ Greek musicians), & Hydra. Every stop had a take-away and incredible scenery!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour met and exceeded our expectations. Angelos, our guide, was very knowledgeable and entertaining. His instructions to us were very thorough, just shy of being excessive. The hotels at which we stayed were very good, nicer than we had been led to expect. The local guides were also very knowledgeable. It was refreshing to hear their perspectives on the history and culture. I wished we had been able to fill our own water bottles from a larger common source, (not disposables).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"First look at the Acropolis, (so high above Athens); Parthenon lit up at night; the sad stats on the percentage of the Jewish population of Greece that the Nazis killed; view of the Mediterranean from the top of Monemvasia; participating in Greek dancing and Greek cooking; proprietor at Antica Gelato di Roma in Nafplio; Monk Parakeets mingling with pigeons in Syntagma Square, Athens; approaching Hydra harbor by boat; farewell dinner at The Balcony."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely loved it! The mix of history and fun was perfect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing amazing items from ancient civilizations amazed me. Eating a fresh fish lunch at a restaurant on the water, watching giant turtles swim by. Hanging on an idyllic beach on the island of Hydra. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every aspect of the tour was excellent: the lodging, the meals, the sites and the way that our tour guide, Maria Sioulas, gave us a masters class on Greek history and culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The way that our tour guide, Maria Sioulas, made everything interesting and exciting. "

Overall rating: rating 1 of 5

It will not fit here. I will email it to you.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour met or exceeded my expectations. I learned so much about the history and culture of Greece. I enjoyed the people on the tour. We all got along and had a lot of laughs. Just the right amount of free time as well. Cont wait to join another tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Olympia was a favorite. Swimming on Hydra was also a favorite. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tourguide, Maria, was wonderful in every way! I loved her warmth, knowledge, optimism and sense of humor. Her anecdotes about her life in Greece were entertaining. She was terrific at handling all the details and expertely navigated last minute alternatives when the weather didn't cooperate. She was available via email for last minute restaurant recommendations and guided us on post-tour stops.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aside from the stupendous historical archeological sites, Kardamyli and Limeni on the Mani Peninsula were enchanting and restful - unspoiled, authentic little Greek villages where we floated in the deep blue Aegean, ate the freshest fish in coastside tavernas, and strolled through charming streets."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderfully run - we cannot say enough good things about our guide, Maria Sioulas - she was professional, extremely knowledgeable and just a very nice person - a joy to be around and spend two weeks with. Overall we enjoyed the pacing of the tour - two days was plenty in Athens - it was great to leave the crowds to explore the Peloponnese. I particularly enjoyed Olympia, all the little villages we visited, the wonderful hosts at several hotels and the free time we had to explore.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Olympia and Hydra"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Without visiting, I wouldn't have been able to understand how mountainous Greece is, and how that terrain directly affected the development of the country. The tour did an excellent job of exposing us to all the major attractions of Greece and did an excellent job of explaining the history and culture of the land and peoples.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Brian-opportunity to run at Olympia Brian & Becky-Plakas beach in Hydra"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour made ancient Greek history come to life. Seeing the geography helped to understand why each city-state was separate in ancient times. Our guide, Anastasia, filled in the details of life in the era of gods and very beautiful goddesses. Hotels were great with locations that allowed walking to many points of interest. Food was good and very plentiful

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Delphi was amazing! Seeing the ruins showed the importance of the Oracle. So much treasure was given to have an audience with her. Such unexpected drama came to life here. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Parts of the trip were outstanding, parts were just Good and parts disappointing. Overall - it was a good experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The group dinner at a local, family restaurant when our bus driver and guide got up and danced! A true “Rick Steves” tour experience. Appreciate the opportunity to experience local music and culture."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Predominantly an archeological tour that showcased ancient ruins that we thoroughly enjoyed. However, I could not appreciate what I was seeing because I lacked the historical chronology of the early Greek civilizations ie. Mycenaeans, Spartans or Minoans. Specialized guides were excellent. Challenging hikes to historical sites. Unanticipated emphasis on mythology which became confusing. Cultural events were very enjoyable. Food was excellent. Properties were good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Athens Archeological Museum and the Athens Acropolis Museum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Apostolos, was outstanding. He shared a lot about everyday life in Greece, and taught us a lot about Greek history. The guides at the sites were great too. I loved the extras such as Greek dance troupe, wine tasting, and cooking demonstration to name a few. We had a great group of people, which added to the experience. I felt like we really got to know the 'real Greece', not just the main sites. This was our first Rick Steves tour, but it will not be our last.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Delphi was so amazing. So much of the artifacts and buildings have been preserved, and the museum is incredible. We really enjoyed this location because we were the only group there. I'll never forget this experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best ever - very well organized and executed. RSE tour guide and bus driver were excellent. No hassles and no tension. It was a real bonus to have Apostolos as our guide - a native Greek and local resident of Athens. All the museum tour guides were excellent and entertaining - kept everyone moving and engaged. A fabulous tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed Delphi and its museum. (The Acropolis/Parthenon had too many people.) But the last day and the Acropolis Museum was incredible. What an architectural marvel with all its glass floors and window walls. That was the best way to view the Acropolis/Parthenon. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour's itinerary is perfectly designed with the combination of visiting historical sites and lingering in picturesque seaside small villages, a vacation from vacation. Our tour guide, Apostolos Douras, made this vacation even more enjoyable with his enormous outgoing personality, openness, knowledge, and the love to his country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "WoW" moment is when we visited the haunting ruins of the fortress town of Mystras. At the gift shop, a sweet, petite lady dressed all in black, hand out home made sweet treat to all of us. An image of an elderly lady dressed in black walking in the narrow, stone-path alleys has always been in my mind, and she is a perfect in that image. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was overall very enjoyable. The local guides gave talks on history, folklore, myth, and fact that brought the locations we visited to life. Our guide, Apostolos Douras, gave us unfiltered and honest perspectives on Greece as a country with regard to its economy, the role of the Greek Orthodox Church, and other important topics. I found the tour rewarding because I had lots of fun and learned a lot.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Participating in traditional Greek dancing in Lagkadia."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an amazing trip!! Well organized and executed. Good mix of group activities and free times on our own. Apostolos is an excellent tour guide who not only shared historical facts and culture of his country, but also showed us how modern Athenians live by sharing stories from his personal life. My family and I felt that he was not just doing a job, he was showing friends his beloved country. All the local guides were good as well. We enjoyed our trip very much!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Acropolis and view of the Rock in Monemvasia"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was so comprehensive and fun. From our guide to our ace bus driver, we saw a Greece you'd never see on a cruise ship. Our tour guide made our trip, we saw Greece through his eyes. Great value, almost too much food! (Our tour guide did have a sweet tooth, lol). Great group of people who shared our love of travel, and were familiar with the "Rick Steves" way of traveling.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list! From the spectacle of the ruins we saw, to the little towns we were able to see, I loved the experience of going to a restaurant in a non-tourist neighborhood that our tour guide picked, and listening to music from a local band the restaurant hostess secured. Traditional food was served, not the group trip banquet food I've had on other tours. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour of Greece was by far the best of the nine RS tours I have taken over the past 20 years. The itinerary in itself, which included tours of the Acropolis and the National Archaeological Museum in Athens along a week in the Peloponnese, would support an outstanding rating; Apostolos made this tour exceptional. In so many ways he fostered an atmosphere of friendliness, cooperation, and engagement that enhanced the experience beyond my expectations, and that is quite an accomplishment.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Engaging Greek history first-hand, creating an understanding and association that it is a building block of Western Civilization and the seed of our "democracy"."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Ioanna was outstanding. I enjoyed the time spent in the more rural, yet historic regions of Greece outside of the Athens area. The history from ancient Greece through Roman, Byzantine,the Orthodox Church, Venetian, Ottoman and early years of what we know of as modern Greece was fascinating. I've studied and read about these period but I learned so much more during this tour. The scenery was also awe inspiring grom the mountains to the sea.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to pick one moment but I would say that seeing the ruins on site and artifacts in museum in person that I've only seen photographs of in books would be number one. Also, how much different the Parthenon now looks after years of restoration."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing scenes, Lots of history and culture experiences. Excellent tour guide (Ioanna). She was perfect (exceptional). The bus driver (George) was awesome. All local experts were great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to pinpoint one. Athens, Monemvasia and Hidra are on the top of my list"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As with our previous tour, it was outstanding! We had a lot of fun, learned a lot and got to go to places we'd never have been on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The way our guide put Delphi together for us. She really made me comprehend what that must have been for the folks back then to be there, to go through a likely very long voyage, then all that it was for them then. That was awesome!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well planned and good pace of activities. Anastasia was a terrific tour guide and the extra guides at the museums were friendly and knowledgeable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Olympic ruins"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour throughout Greece in 14 days was amazing. From the Parthenon, Delphi, Olympia to all of the archeological museums -- what an experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many unbelievable 'wow' moments throughout the tour. I guess my biggest 'wow' was the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus -- stunning !!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Heart of Greece tour absolutely blew us away! Anastasia was a spectacular guide. She was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. This tour has everything to offer!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Listening to traditional Greek music at a charming restaurant in Nafplio. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic! Our tour began with a good group of like-minded travelers and a perfect guide. We saw way, way, WAY MORE than we could ever see on our own traveling large distances across high mountains to stay in historic towns. Ancient greek history was seen at sites far off the beaten path. Thousands of years worth of structures and artifacts discovered and preserved were at our feet. From museums to food & music, our guides gave us unforgettable experiences. Our locations were explored fully.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"ALL OF IT. Ancient Athens and our journeys into the old towns, villages and cities of the Peloponese, plus all the great museums were BIG WOWS. Personally, the statues and ancient weaponry & armour within each museum were highlights. WOW includes ALL things historic and brought to life by our guides."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great guides, well balanced free time/sightseeing, great local foods and musicians/dancers. Such tiny showers everywhere. My favorite hotel was also the hardest to get to—lots of hills/stairs. Bus driver was amazing getting us around such tight roads and the busy cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide Anastasia connecting Greek mythology with history. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour. Just the right amount of tour vs free time.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I just loved this entire trip! The food was great. Our wonderful guide set up a wide variety of authentic Greek experiences for us to enjoy on our itinerary to include a Greek cooking class, Greek dancing, music and more. While sightseeing, our guide's knowledge of the history, mythology, and her sense of humor made this trip sensational.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment (in addition to visiting Ancient Olympia) , was the scenery at each of the beaches we went to. The water was warm, easy to swim or float in, and we had many fun bonding conversations with the members of our group of who also enjoyed the being in the water. Our time spent on the Island of Hydra was also one of my favorites."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Extremely well-planned. Balanced a lot of information about past and present Greece with "downtime" to take a breath, relax, and simply enjoy being there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the oldest piece of written western music at the museum in Delphi."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The Greece Tour was excellent with sites of interest and well-paced. The thoughtfulness and design of the tour were impressive with a counterclockwise tour of the Peloponnese. Unfortunately, Anastasia Gaitanou was at best an adequate tour guide who seemed aloof and had difficulty connecting with her patrons. To Ms. Gaitanou’s credit, she performed better on the 2nd half of the trip and her narratives of Minoan myths were interesting as well her history of Venetian, Ottoman and modern Greece.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The stars of the trip were the excellent day guides: Penny, Nikki, Dimitrious and Patty. They were informed and experts in their field. Their enthusiasm was infectious, especially Penny (Delphi) and Nikki (Olympia), and their presentations were first-rate. Patty seemed annoyed by questions and was late to meet us at Epidavros. Fay was awful and had difficulty explaining archeology and history in a coherent manner. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was just the right balance of adventure and rest. Our tour guide, Ioanna, was amazing, and went above and beyond to make sure we all had a great time and were taken care of. The blend of big, “bucket list” sites and “off the beaten path” experiences was appreciated.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have two: seeing Delphi, which was in the pouring rain, but stunning nonetheless, and listening to music performed by a local trio in a taverna in Napflio. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic 2 week tour of Greece. Wonderful guide, group, and sights. My family loved it! Ioanna, our guide, was outstanding. She was knowledgeable, personable, funny and very engaging. Loved her!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several. One was watching the sun set at a sea food restaurant on Hydra. Another was listening to Mama Fay's tour at the National Archaeological Museum. She brought everything together for us. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Ioanna is fabulous. Her personal stories of Greece and the history were great. and her sense of humor was very entertaining. Very nice group,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think Olympia was very interesting. And our guide was so informative. And the mediterranean sea is absoluty beautiful. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour pace was comfortable. The sites were as grand as one would hope. The food was fresh and delicious. I have only positive memories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking through the lions' gate at Mycenae.."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

In short, my experience in the tour exceeded any expectations I had! not only the beauty of the chosen locations and cultural depth of the local guides. I felt like traveling through time and space to immerse in the history and geographical diversity of Greece. This was once of my greatest vacations ever!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Even if it's hard to pick a single "wow" moment, setting foot on the Acropolis and seeing the Parthenon while looking down at the Dionysius theater was marvelous!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So Deeply Touched. So Grateful for the Vision you have and how you Mastefully allowed my eyes to open and see the beauty that is Greece. The many loving touches of your tour transformed many adventurers in a bus into a laughing joyful and deeply connected family. Our tour guides stories on the bus helped to connect spiritually to every site we visited and walked. Each tour guide we met had a passion and joy to make sure we truly understand the ground we walk, the sites we see and the things not.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Home cooked meal listening to bouzouki music while sipping a cold ouzo…"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was not sure if take a tour was a good idea becasuse I don't want to rush when I am in a museum for example. Also, I love to combine indoor and outdoor activities but this tour is one of the best experiences I have had. It is very well balanced. The amount of activities, the free time, the food, our tour guide was "awesome", our driver incredible, every detail was taken care of. This trip will be "unforgetable".

Favorite "WOW" moment

"WOW! this is a tough question. So many WOW moments during the 14 days. To me since day 1 when we went to the Acropolis in Athens until the last group meeting on Athens were WOW moments. Ioanna was just amazing,she gave us the best "herself" and the other local guides were very good. Mama Faey is an encyclopedia and an authority. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Rick Steve's Athens and the Heart of Greece 14 day tour was a beautiful whirlwind of experiences, flavors, history, sites and friendships created. It packed more memorable experiences into two weeks than almost anything we could imagine. One of the best vacation experiences my family has ever had. A true life event, lead deftly by Apostolos, our guide, with great skill, friendliness, and humor. This is the real deal. Not a drive-by tour, but immersive, eye-opening, informative.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking to the top of the medieval town of Monemvasia."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall tour experience was wonderful. I learned so much about the history of Greece at the different historic sites and museums, was amazed by the gorgeous mountain and coastal scenery, and enjoyed walking around the quaint villages and towns. The hotels were friendly and comfortable and ideally located. Restaurants were high quality and very accommodating of my vegan diet. The cooking class, olive oil tasting, wine shop visit, live music and dancing were all so interesting and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is difficult to pick just one "wow" moment, but if I must it would be the view from the stadium near the top of the archaeological site at Delphi, looking down onto the lower levels of the site and the enormous olive grove in the valley, and reflecting on the many generations of people who had stood in that spot before me over thousands of years. Awe-inspiring."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beat European tour I have ever had. Very well organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Numerous favorite moments, from sightseeing, group dining at restaurants, to Greek cultural shows ( dance, cooking)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I cannot say enough good things about this tour. It was a dream. From the group of people I travelled with to the experiences we had to the things we saw to the interactions with the locals..."memorable" is not a strong enough word. I have fallen in love with Greece -- the real Greece -- and I can't wait to go back.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I don't know if I can pick just one...climbing the Acropolis was surreal. I studied the architecture in school and to suddenly BE THERE walking amongst the ruins was amazing. The Oracle of Delphi and the atmosphere of the place. And Hydra. I loved Hydra, I could have spent forever there. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized with great choices of hotels. A good balance of free time and planned activities. We saw a great cross section of the different parts of the country. Apostolic our guide was amazing. He kept us all informed and shared details about Greece as a life long resident.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All the amazing scenery- said wow so many times."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great experience! Exceed my expectation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The culture elements of the tour."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was extremely an interesting look into Greek culture through the many towns. I appreciated Apostolos’ information about aspects of the country and culture I wouldn’t have thought to ask about. I will say, however, that i think the number of museums and archaeological sites should be narrowed down for future tours as it became repetitive and hard to decipher the real importance of so many places, they became blurred together.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hydra as a whole"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The combination of epic historic/cultural sites and fascinating local experiences facilitated by our extraordinary guide, Apostolous, wowed us each and every moment of each and every day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is impossible to parse one moment . . . so many were extraordinary."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide Apostolos' commitment to an authentic experience within Greece. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour has been thoughtfully laid out with a perfect mix of guided moments and free time, learning opportunities and simple playtime, time to be on the move and time to sit back and relax. The tour guide, Apostolos Douras, is a masterful host and the local guides added a lot of value to our sightseeing experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day contained a wow moment and so it's very difficult to choose just one. If pressed I would say the best "unscripted" moment was having lunch at a seaside restaurant in Limenion, en route to Monemvasia, and watching a sea turtle swim back and forth in the sea, which our table was perched right beside. The waters were turquoise, the lunch was fantastic and the sea turtle was a delightful uninvited guest. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Greece tour was phenomenal . From the hotels , the locations, the tours , our group guide everything was simply outstanding. Not one bad hotel. Everything was really great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many , but I think Limini when we walked from the bus down the road and got to our restaurant right on the sea, with two fellows cleaning fish at the water , tables set up right at the edge for our fresh fish lunch, that was a real wow moment "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Such a well thought out and curated itinerary. Each guide had a magical way of making the history and ruins we were seeing come to life. The hotels were adorable family run establishments, immersing us in the culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The greek folk music concert was intimate and moving. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved all the ancient sites and museums.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the site of the first Olympics was awe inspiring for me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It exceeded my expectations in every way possible! Our tour guide is a born leader, beautiful inside and out! Great tour group and the beauty of Greece did not disapppoint.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to find one as there were so many omg moments! Watching a gorgeous sunset on the island of Hydra is a moment in time that I will never forget."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very enriching and fulfilling.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Greek dancing in the village of Lakadia. I got to dance myself which is an experience I was not expecting. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour could not have been better, from our guide, our driver, and the others on the tour with us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking down at the harbor at Monemvasia from the ruins at the top. The view was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was absolutely fantastic. Lovely group to travel with, outstanding itinerary and a knowledgeable, personable guide. What an experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As with all Rick Steves tours, there’s never just one. But Olympia was a favorite site for me. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide; great tour members; great country; great itinerary

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not a moment, but Joanna's knowledge and discussion of Greek mythology"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was well thought out, organized , and run by a very capable and extremely friendly guide. Thoroughly enjoyed every single event, timing, duration and the sequence if the program was completely well thought out and executed . Our guide, Ioanna in Greece, was out very first experience of having a tour guide fir an extended time and she was supreme in everything. Cannot tell you enough how great she was. she was friendly and caring and yet managed everyone and every event to the best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to say! we were very delighted all together. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent itinerary with extra special stops added by our guide. Comfortable hotels, excellent food, amicable fellow travelers and excellent guides and driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Early morning visit to the acropolis with the Temple of Athena crowned by the sun dispersed in thin high clouds. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

loved Greece, the sites were well chosen by you, loved staying at Greek Family run hotels, I have seen Rick Steve episodes on PBS numerous times each and the trip was much more than I expected.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"my favorite wow was Ioanna Papakosta our Guide! she completed what we could not see or read about Greece, Greek family life, and backgrounds on how they became today's modern Greek people. She was (and still is) full of information for an American who is really interested to know Greece and its people."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first trip to Greece, and our first Rick Steves tour. The Heart of Greece tour was a great introduction. Most Americans go to Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini and never travel throughout the Peloponnese which is so rich in Greek history, culture, and beauty. I was impressed with how well thought out this tour was. I would have never been able to plan this trip on my own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think standing on top of the Acropolis and looking at the remains of the temples and realizing that we were seeing such an important archaeological site with our own eyes. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well-designed, well executed tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Parthenon "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The beauty and hospitality of Greece and the activities / places we visited exceeded our expectations. Anastasia, our guide, was the best!! Great tour companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ancient sites of Athens, Olympia, Epidavros, and Mycenae as well as the beautiful relaxing island of Hydra"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

1. Anastasía, our guide for the tour, was great. She provided so much information and insight about Greece, its history, myths and legends. She was always upbeat and a joy to be around. 2. The guides chosen for the specific sites were also excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many "WOW" moments to pick just one. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very enjoyable. Our guide, Anastasia, was extremely knowledgeable and a lot of fun. I particularly enjoyed that as well as the important historical sites and tourist attractions we also visited out of the way, interesting and fun locations that we would never have seen if we had traveled on our own. It was a very memorable vacation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In the tiny, remote village of Lagkadia in the mountains of the Peloponnese peninsula a group of traditionally dressed Greek dancers entertained our group and encouraged everyone to get up and join in. It was great fun and we all really enjoyed ourselves."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well designed tour with knowledgeable guides and excellent tour manager, Apostolos.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The first sighting of the Acropolis in Athens and the temple in Delphi."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent food, lodging, sites. This was my third trip to Greece but I feel like I'd never experienced it so completely as I did this time. Seeing the Peloponnese was magnificent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Riding in a small boat to a restaurant on Hydra."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent RSE quality, range and scope of activities and sights. While many of the sights require strenuous uphill and downhill hikes to reach, the visions and lessons of all the places will forever remain in mind and spirit. Very educational, enlightening and inspiring.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching sunsets in Athens, Kardamyli, Monemvasia, Nafplio and Hydra. Olympia and Epidavros."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well-planned and took to outstanding sites. Apostolos was a fabulous guide.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour provided just the right balance between group and individual activity. Our guide, Apolostolos, was very knowledgeable, approachable, and a most gracious host.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved the entire experience, but the wow moment for us was the multiple blue hues of the sea! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Endless climbing, but exquisite views, history, and food when done!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The group dinner in Nafplio, with rebetika music and homestyle cuisine. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide was very knowledgeable. Some of the guides at particular locations were a bit long in their stories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Greek dancing experience. Olympia - seeing where athletes competed despite "political" differences."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our second Rick Steves tour and it was just as impressive as the first. We fell in love with Greece's beauty, the people's warmth, and the delicious food. Our tour mates were such amazing people and we enjoyed getting to know them.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "Wow" moments, but for me, the top ones were the Greek dance demonstration in Lagkadia, the Treseary of Atreus in Myceanea, and swimming in the Aegean in Hydra."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thought I was well prepared and informed on what to expect on this Rick Steves adventure but I wasn't. Beautiful beyond words, the mountains falling down to the edge of a small village with untouched, deserted beaches with deep clear blue water. Always feeling SAFE here in a world that seems unsafe. I was unaware that Greece is so rural, a land that seems to still be untouched, unchanged and so different from Athens, perhaps it has been that way for last 35 centuries. #1 RS tour for me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the people on this trip, all like minded: the love of beauty, history, native food and adventure...I miss them."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The villages were charming. We enjoyed meeting the locals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Spectacular mountains. Also, the delivery donkeys in Hydra. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I felt that this tour was way more active than I expected, and as a result, it was physically exhausting. The sites were fantastic. Our guide, Denise was good and it was a good group of people to travel with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing and walking in the Acropolis and Parthenon. That was fantastic. Also the island of Hydra was such a beautiful pleasure. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, it was an amazing trip. The itinerary was a very good mix of history, archeology, byzantine, modern culture, physical beauty, and some relaxing island places. The restaurants and hotels were all fine. The other members of the tour were terrific people. I do have a few serious concerns to discuss, but I assume there will be room below.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Kastania!!! How did you find that place? We had the whole town to ourselves and were able to experience a Byzantine town with incredible art and religious feeling. What a treat!! A second wow was the dinner in Nafplio with the musicians in a community of Greeks who had been discplaced. Again , it was something I never could have found on my own. It was so real and so true."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Greek tour was a long-anticipated family trip (including our 3 teenage girls). This tour packs into a short 2 weeks plenty of history, Greek culture, scenic beauty, and food/dancing fun. Our guide, Dafni, was fantastic, as was our group. An experience well worth the wait and anticipation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The archeological sites at Olympia and Delphi surpassed my expectations, but I most enjoyed a kayaking excursion along the coast (and seaside supper) at a quiet Peloponnesian village"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic, and on par with our previous Best of Italy tour. Exposure to Greek culture and history, as well as wonderful food, made this trip memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Parthenon at night from a distance, followed by a day trek to see it up close."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my third Rick Steve’s tour & as always it was well organized & well executed. The RS guide was extremely knowledgeable about the many different aspects of Greek history, Greek life, agriculture & wildlife. The group that we toured with were very friendly & watched out for each other. Getting the chance to see the Greece that is away from the beaches & into the mountains, really was a plus for me. You do need to be in fairly good shape because this was an active tour-I loved it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had 3 wow moments. Two of them, everyone on the tour did. 1) Delphi was beautiful, historical and exceptional, 2)Monemvasia was a different kind of beauty with a good mix of ruins and tourist shops. 3) many of our tour group people went on a guided kayaking trip in Kardamyli that was a big highlight! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely phenomenal. Our trip was everything we could have hoped for and then some. Thank you for a truly wonderful experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views from Delphi. I've been to many beautiful places, but the view of that valley was truly special."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So much variety in 14 action-packed days! From Athens to the rugged countryside filled with millions of olive trees, to charming villages reached by hairpin turn roads, to an island experience on Hydra. And, oh!, the ruins - ancient sites we had previously only read about, and now were seeing for ourselves. Our top-notch guide, Ioanna, filled our bus time with history lessons and stories of Greek mythology and our driver Christos safely guided us over those narrow roads. Amazing memories!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our favorite “Wow!” moments started the first night we arrived and realized we were viewing the spot-lighted Parthenon from our hotel room balcony - breathtaking and a real “welcome to Greece!” Other wows included views from the upper stadium at Delphi, the ruins of Olympia, and the fortress town of Mystras. So many, really! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From check-in to farewell dinner everything so was so well organized and efficient. We always knew what to expect and Ioanna made the entire trip just a joy to experience. In summary - wonderfully executed, great people, fabulous sights, many laughs, good food, and lasting memories made!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Kardamyli - while taking a walking tour on our day off we met the wonderful 91 year-old gentleman who had such an expressive face. He was glad to speak with us and show us his garden. He had the best tomato plants and he used local tree branches as support for the plants rather than buying a trellis - it was a lesson for all of us. There were many others of course, but this one stands out among the rest... "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Professional, thoughtful, friendly people. Varied activities made the tour exceptional for everyone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several outstanding moments. Music event, dance lesson, train ride, group dinners were awesome, wine tasting, olive oil factory tour, exceptional local guides who made the ruins so much more memorable. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Ioanna, was exceptional! She is genuine, knowledgeable and charming. We could not have loved her more! Having now visited most of Europe, I do not feel I would need to repeat Greece. It can't compete with the splendid food of France or Portugal or the grandeur of the French and Italian architecture, The cathedrals of Spain. Athens is gritty. Although I do admire Greeks ancient history. And the plethora of cats!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Monemvasia. A tiny, ancient, breathtaking village / island. The Mystras ruins. Wow! The port of Ydra (Hydra) - bustling and photogenic. The Greek mountains. I had no idea how lush and mountainous the country is."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Iris (Andre?) was outstanding in every way. I particularly appreciated her commentaries during our bus rides. A++!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The consistently interesting commentaries delivered by Iris during our bus rides. These made the trip even more rich. She has a delightful combination of academic orientation / rigorous interest in history / sense of humor that led us to name her "PBS Iris" (Public Broadcasting Service")"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

One of our favourite RS tours. We visited popular and less known sites, while learning about ancient civilizations, their folklore and creations. Our exceptional guide, Iris, was informative, humorous, understanding and managed us well. Site guides Fay, Penny and Nike were outstanding. The tour is well designed. We enjoyed a variety of Greek foods.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The alleys of Monemvasia and hiking to the citadel. The traditional Greek dancing night… OPA! Coffee and walnut cake in the hidden mountain village of Kaztanea. The costumes and jewelry in the historical mansion in Hydra. Baklava in the National Archeological Museum. Incredible ancient artifacts, from 1000 BC worship figures to the chariot driver."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide and driver, wonderful food, fun accommodations and sights worth seeing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The people that we met every place that we went. Friendly and accommodating. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an incredible trip! Our guide Iris was a true gem-her organizational skills, historical knowledge, and great humor made for an awesome trip. As par usual for RS tours, we were blessed with a great group—Greece is a beautiful country and the itinerary is well thought out and put together—each day was a new adventure full of little surprises.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to not be wowed by the Acropolis/Parthenon, Delphi, and Olympia but the charm to me was in the small towns, the Mani Peninsula, the fabulous Greek food, and the sunset dinner in Hydra!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Had a great time. Everything was well organized and executed. We were able to see all of the sites we had planned on seeing, had excellent guides, enjoyed our tour leader and fellow travelers, and saw lovely parts of the country that we would not have known to visit otherwise.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many to choose from - probably our visit to Monemvasia - for the history, scenery, and the cooking lesson!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was great. Our guide Iris was exceptional. I thought it was a little long, maybe 2 days could have easily been cut out. There seemed to be more Free time this tour, which I think prolonged the tour without adding any value.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The original site of the Olympics and all of the history in general was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great tour for us, our third Rick Steves tour. Our guide Iris was wonderful, very thoughtful and knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Parthenon was spectacular, and the island of Hydra was delightful at the end of the trip."

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."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, 3rd trip with Rick Steve's and just so pleased with everything! Our guide Maria was amazing,! So knowledgeable, witty and so friendly! We saw so many amazing places, ate such yummy food and experienced Greek culture like a local! I love RIck Steve's tours because they always surprise me!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is so hard! There were so many great moments! I loved Hydra! But the seafood lunch in Lumeni was my favorite food experience! Olympia was brilliant! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, the tour was wonderful! I love learning about the history, and thoroughly enjoy spending time with the local people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Athens was surprisingly more beautiful than I expected & spending the day on the beaches in Kardamyli & Hydra was spectacular! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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."

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... "

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!"

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."

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."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Got a great overview of the history of Greece, both ancient and more recent. Viewed and explored multiple ancient ruins, including the Parthenon, Delphi, Olympia, and more. Learned about Ancient Greek mythology, intellects, art, religion, and culture. Our guide was very knowledgeable and very organized. Lodging was very good. Food was excellent. Scenery was awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking around the site of the original Olympics. "

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. "

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!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really got to know Greece!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list, Food, country side, Hydra, Parthenon"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As usual it was a great Rick Steves tour. Of the 4 tours we've taken this was probably the best, most compatible group, which made the trip even more enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were were so many highlights with all the history, but for me the time spent in Monemvasia was probably the best. Exploring the walled and upper towns were neat and the views were terrific. "

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. "

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. "

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 Papakosta (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. "

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."

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.

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."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a nice blend of ancient culture and modern food. Ioanna was fantastic. She was an incredible guide and knowledgeable! Her Greek mythology stories were fantastic, and the olive press tour was wonderful. It would have been nice to have compared flavors of different aged olives, similar to what we did with the olive oil tasting. If arriving a day or two early, having a pre-tour recommendation list of what to see that is not planned for the RS tour would be a helpful addition.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Had the Sanctuary of Athena in Delphi all to ourselves during the golden light hour. This site was not on the agenda and understandably there are challenges for the tour group to visit this site based on schedule and the additional walking distance. But since it is such an iconic location, the visual reference of Delphi, it seems unfortunate for tour members to be so close and yet not to walk among it. Also, getting chosen for the traditional dancing in Lagadia was extremely memorable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour itinerary was exceptional with thoughtful consideration of the sites, meals, activities, free time, and recovery. Ioanna did an outstanding job as the overall guide. She was superb in the planning, the organization, explaining Greece cultural and historical facts and filling in gaps of knowledge all with an engaging and informative manner. Finally, the other tour members were all interesting and brought their own pe

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are so wow moments. Some of them include visiting the Acropolis and the Parthenon for the first time, viewing Delphi and the far away mountains from the high point of the ruins, eating baklava baked by Ioanna's mother, having a fish dinner in Kardamyli with fellow travelers overlooking the sea, breakfast in Gefyra (with views of the big rock Monemvasia) and Hydra including hiking to the top of Mt. Eros and dinner overlooking the town. "

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."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ioanna made our tour experience so amazing. She has such a wonderful gift in her knowledge and charismatic personality that each day was exciting to learn more and more about Greece. We enjoyed getting to know our Greek tour buddies and immersing ourselves in all the flavors of Greece.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was plenty of “wow” moments on our tour. I was struck by the Medieval Monemvasia. The history and Aegean Sea that surrounds this hidden town was fascinating. "

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."

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."

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."

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. "

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."

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."

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."

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."

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!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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 tadziki or mayonaise."

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."

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."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was very impressed with the tour guides and their ability to put both current and past history into context. The accommodations and meals were excellent. Our first tour, but certainly not our last!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hearing about the fairly recent archeological discoveries in Delphi, led me and few others to hike the trail to the ancient stadium. As we the path slowly rose to allow us to peek over the wall, we felt like we were discovering ourselves. Suddenly the age and history of the site blended with the wonder that we were actually standing there seeing it. Pure awe."

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. "

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."

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!"

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."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent. Angelos was friendly and very patient.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had many. "

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!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wow! Great scheduling and fabulous tour guide, local Greek Apostolos Douras. 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. "

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!"