The Best of Greece

10 Day Tour from Athens to Athens

Vacation Overview

On this Best of Greece tour, discover the highlights of historic and mythical—as well as modern—Greece. As the birthplace of Western civilization, Greece has some of the world’s most fascinating archaeological sites, and now is your chance to explore the Greek mainland and the Peloponnese peninsula. Your affordable tour of Greece starts and ends in Athens with overnights along the way in Nauplia, Sparta, Olympia, Delphi, and Kalambaka. Step back in time as you visit some of Greece's ancient sites where the Mycenaean civilization thrived between 1600 and 1200 BC. Enjoy the included guided sightseeing tour of the Mycenae archaeological site and learn about its history and legends. In Athens, visit the Acropolis, still standing after 2,500 years. Your Local Guide will give you many insights on this ancient masterpiece. Dedicated to the goddess Athena, the Acropolis sits high on a rocky hill and is a symbol of the wealth and power of Athens at its apex. In Epidaurus, climb the limestone steps of the amazingly well-preserved, 2,300-year-old open-air theatre and marvel at the perfect acoustics. You'll step back into the Middle Ages when you walk around the medieval Byzantine Citadel of Mystra, a castle founded in 1249. You’ll also love the mystic mountain landscape of Meteora with its 24 rock-top monasteries set in almost inaccessible sandstone peaks. On this affordable Greece tour, you’ll travel to Olympia, legendary home of the Olympic Games, and Delphi, where people visited in ancient Greece to seek the advice of the Oracle. But that’s not all…you’ll experience modern Greece as well, as you cross over one of the world's longest cable-stayed bridge, the spectacular Rion-Antirion Bridge, linking the Peloponnese peninsula to the Greek mainland. From ancient ruins to contemporary engineering —with beautiful landscapes in between—this affordable Greece tour is perfectly designed for value-minded travel lovers. You’ll agree that your Greece vacation is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Itinerary


Day 1 ARRIVE IN ATHENS, GREECE Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to start exploring the Greek capital with the help of the CosmosGO app. Later, meet your Local Host.
Day 2 ATHENS A day to relax and discover Athens at leisure. Our suggestion: join an optional day cruise to the islands of Aegina, Hydra, and Poros. In the evening, free time to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the tavernas and nightclubs in the old Plaka district with its narrow streets and sound of bouzouki music. Breakfast
Day 3 ATHENS–CORINTH–NAUPLIA Join the included guided tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of this ancient capital with a visit to the Acropolis. Cross the Corinth canal, a project conceived in ancient Greece but only completed in 1893, and head for the coast to the picturesque seaside town of Nauplia. Today’s Distance: 90 mi/ 145 km Breakfast
Day 4 NAUPLIA–EPIDAURUS–MYCENAE–SPARTA This morning, stop in Epidaurus, located in the hilly countryside dotted with pine trees and oleanders. In this magnificent setting, visit the ancient open-air theatre, which can still seat 14,000 spectators. Later, enjoy the included guided excursion to the archaeological site and museum of Mycenae, with the imposing ruins of the great city that dominated the eastern Mediterranean world from the 15th to the 12th century B.C. It played a vital role in the development of classical Greek culture and is linked to the Homeric epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey. Travel into the Peloponnese to Sparta, where history hangs between reality and legend. Today’s Distance: 126 mi/ 202 km Breakfast Dinner
Day 5 SPARTA–MYSTRA–OLYMPIA Enjoy the included visit of the medieval Byzantine citadel of Mystra, at one time known as the “Florence of the East.” Before arriving in Olympia, visit an olive oil museum. Today’s Distance: 99 mi/ 160 km Breakfast Dinner
Day 6 OLYMPIA–PATRAS–DELPHI Explore Olympia, where the athletes of antiquity performed as a tribute to of the king of deities. Spend some free time in this pretty town, or learn more about the history of the Olympic Games on the optional archaeological site sightseeing tour. Later, drive north to Patras, the capital of the Peloponnese and the west coast’s largest port. Continue crossing the spectacular Rion-Antirion bridge through the picturesque fishing villages along the south coast of the mainland to legendary Delphi. Today’s Distance: 134 mi/ 215km Breakfast
Day 7 DELPHI–KALAMBAKA Enjoy free time in town or join the optional morning sightseeing tour of the archaeological site in Delphi, where the oracle of Apollo spoke. It was the site of the omphalos, the 'navel of the world'. Blending harmoniously with the superb landscape and charged with sacred meaning, Delphi in the 6th century B.C. was indeed the religious hub and symbol of unity of the ancient Greek world. On to Kalambaka. Today’s Distance: 143 mi/ 230 km Breakfast Dinner
Day 8 KALAMBAKA–METEORA–ATHENS Discover Meteora, a cluster of spectacular Christian-Orthodox monasteries perched in an unforgettable manner on a set of rising rock formations. They were originally built by hermit monks living in caves carved into the rocks. Your included visit is certainly the day’s highlight. Continue south to Athens. Today’s Distance: 224 mi/ 360 km Breakfast
Day 9 ATHENS Spend a full day at leisure to explore the unseen parts of the city, do last-minute shopping, or to visit a museum. Tonight, enjoy the optional Greek dinner. Breakfast
Day 10 ATHENS Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Breakfast

Day 1 ARRIVE IN ATHENS, GREECE

Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to start exploring the Greek capital with the help of the CosmosGO app. Later, meet your Local Host.

Day 2 ATHENS

A day to relax and discover Athens at leisure. Our suggestion: join an optional day cruise to the islands of Aegina, Hydra, and Poros. In the evening, free time to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the tavernas and nightclubs in the old Plaka district with its narrow streets and sound of bouzouki music.

Breakfast

Day 3 ATHENS–CORINTH–NAUPLIA

Join the included guided tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of this ancient capital with a visit to the Acropolis. Cross the Corinth canal, a project conceived in ancient Greece but only completed in 1893, and head for the coast to the picturesque seaside town of Nauplia.
Today’s Distance: 90 mi/ 145 km

Breakfast

Day 4 NAUPLIA–EPIDAURUS–MYCENAE–SPARTA

This morning, stop in Epidaurus, located in the hilly countryside dotted with pine trees and oleanders. In this magnificent setting, visit the ancient open-air theatre, which can still seat 14,000 spectators. Later, enjoy the included guided excursion to the archaeological site and museum of Mycenae, with the imposing ruins of the great city that dominated the eastern Mediterranean world from the 15th to the 12th century B.C. It played a vital role in the development of classical Greek culture and is linked to the Homeric epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey. Travel into the Peloponnese to Sparta, where history hangs between reality and legend.
Today’s Distance: 126 mi/ 202 km

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 5 SPARTA–MYSTRA–OLYMPIA

Enjoy the included visit of the medieval Byzantine citadel of Mystra, at one time known as the “Florence of the East.” Before arriving in Olympia, visit an olive oil museum.
Today’s Distance: 99 mi/ 160 km

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 6 OLYMPIA–PATRAS–DELPHI

Explore Olympia, where the athletes of antiquity performed as a tribute to of the king of deities. Spend some free time in this pretty town, or learn more about the history of the Olympic Games on the optional archaeological site sightseeing tour. Later, drive north to Patras, the capital of the Peloponnese and the west coast’s largest port. Continue crossing the spectacular Rion-Antirion bridge through the picturesque fishing villages along the south coast of the mainland to legendary Delphi.
Today’s Distance: 134 mi/ 215km

Breakfast

Day 7 DELPHI–KALAMBAKA

Enjoy free time in town or join the optional morning sightseeing tour of the archaeological site in Delphi, where the oracle of Apollo spoke. It was the site of the omphalos, the 'navel of the world'. Blending harmoniously with the superb landscape and charged with sacred meaning, Delphi in the 6th century B.C. was indeed the religious hub and symbol of unity of the ancient Greek world. On to Kalambaka.
Today’s Distance: 143 mi/ 230 km

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 8 KALAMBAKA–METEORA–ATHENS

Discover Meteora, a cluster of spectacular Christian-Orthodox monasteries perched in an unforgettable manner on a set of rising rock formations. They were originally built by hermit monks living in caves carved into the rocks. Your included visit is certainly the day’s highlight. Continue south to Athens.
Today’s Distance: 224 mi/ 360 km

Breakfast

Day 9 ATHENS

Spend a full day at leisure to explore the unseen parts of the city, do last-minute shopping, or to visit a museum. Tonight, enjoy the optional Greek dinner.

Breakfast

Day 10 ATHENS

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Breakfast

Vacation Highlights

Adventure is knocking with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, complimentary headsets, private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!

Hotels

Athens

Moxy Athens City

Hotel as shown or similar

First-Class

Located in the heart of the historical town just steps away from cultural attractions with a metro station nearby, the interior decor of this funky eco-friendly hotel displays a voguish concept that integrates bold color splashes with modern decorative elements. All guest rooms boast Free high speed Wi-Fi Internet connection, safety deposit boxes, 42-inch flat screen HD televisions with high quality sound systems, high-thread count bedding with motion activated LED guidelighting below the bed and backlit glass panels to add ambience. Amenities include a fitness centre, bar and lounge areas with 24/7 'grab and go vending machines for snacks and drinks.

Nauplia

Rex

Hotel as shown or similar

First-Class

Hotel Rex is located in the city center of Nafplio,very close to the port in a cozy atmosphere guarantees a pleasant stay.With 42rooms and a cafeteria-bar the hotel offers rest and relax to the customers .All the archailogical sites and museums are very close to the hotel and that gives you the opportuity to visit them very easy.

Sparta

Maniatis

Hotel as shown or similar

Superior Tourist-Class

The modern Maniatis Hotel is situated in the center of Sparta. It houses a marble lobby with elegant seating areas and lounges, an a la carte restaurant and a breakfast area. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.The stylish rooms are warmly decorated with contemporary light-wood furnishings and soft soothing colors. Each room is equipped with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, 28'' LED PHILIPS HOTEL TV, DVB-T2 and DVB-S2, MPEG-4, fridge, hairdryer and wall-to-wall carpeting. All rooms have balconies with city view.The Ino Restaurant and the Milky Way breakfast area boast one of the tastiest buffet breakfasts in town. The up-market Ζeus Restaurant serves fine Greek and International dishes.Located in the city centre of Sparta, Maniatis Hotel provides a great starting point for excursions in Laconia, visits to the city's archaeological museum, art museum, the Greek Olive museum, and more.

Olympia

Olympia Palace

Hotel as shown or similar

First-Class

The Olympia Palace is a 3-storey building with 65 spacious rooms, indoor and outdoor restaurants, located in the town on Ancient Olympia.

Delphi

Apollonia

Hotel as shown or similar

Superior Tourist-Class

The Hotel Apollonia is 4 * accommodation with the majority of rooms overlooking the Corinthian Gulf, located in the village of Delphi.

Kalambaka

Famissi Eden Resort Hotel

Hotel as shown or similar

Tourist Class

Nestled at the base of the magnificent towering rocks of Meteora on the outskirts of Kalambaka, this welcoming property has an in-house restaurant offering both Mediterranean and International cuisine and a beautiful seasonal outdoor swimming pool open during the warmer summer months. Modern guest rooms are equipped with air-conditioning / heating and coffee / tea-making facilities.

No Excursions are available at this time.

Dates and Prices

View the following dates and prices to find just the right date for your vacation. Below you'll find, the date your vacation starts and the date your vacation ends.

Once you've selected your date, click on “Check Availability” to book your vacation.

Departure Details	Tour Start Date	Return Date	Land/Cruise Price Only		Status
	2024-05-11	2024-05-20	$2,529		Not Available
	2024-05-18	2024-05-27	$2,529		Please Call
	2024-05-25	2024-06-03	$2,529		Please Call
	2024-06-01	2024-06-10	$2,529		Please Call
	2024-06-08	2024-06-17	$2,529		Not Available
	2024-06-15	2024-06-24	$2,529		Not Available
	2024-06-22	2024-07-01	$2,529		Not Available
Popular Departure	2024-06-29	2024-07-08	$2,499	Get a Quote	Book Now!
Popular Departure	2024-07-06	2024-07-15	$2,499	Get a Quote	Book Now!
Popular Departure	2024-07-20	2024-07-29	$2,489	Get a Quote	Book Now!
	2024-08-03	2024-08-12	$2,489		Not Available
	2024-08-17	2024-08-26	$2,489		Not Available
	2024-08-24	2024-09-02	$2,499		Not Available
	2024-08-31	2024-09-09	$2,609		Not Available
	2024-08-31	2024-09-09	$2,609		Not Available
	2024-09-07	2024-09-16	$2,639		Not Available
	2024-09-07	2024-09-16	$2,639		Not Available
Popular Departure	2024-09-14	2024-09-23	$2,639	Get a Quote	Book Now!
	2024-09-14	2024-09-23	$2,639		Not Available
Popular Departure	2024-09-21	2024-09-30	$2,639	Get a Quote	Book Now!
	2024-09-21	2024-09-30	$2,639		Not Available
	2024-09-28	2024-10-07	$2,609		Not Available
	2024-09-28	2024-10-07	$2,609		Not Available
Popular Departure	2024-10-05	2024-10-14	$2,399	Get a Quote	Book Now!

The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information. View 2025 departures

Popular Departure - due to itinerary and time of year, this departure historically sells out quickly. Early booking is encouraged.

AIRPORT TRANSFERS & EXTRA NIGHTS
View details and pricing on airport transfer times and extra nights. Learn more about what's included with your vacation and how you can personalize it.

Travel Terms & Conditions
The purchase of any travel services offered by Cosmos, constitutes a contractual arrangement between you and Cosmos, and represents your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions. Please ensure that you read carefully and understand the Terms & Conditions prior to booking. These Terms & Conditions cover Deposit & Final Payment information, Air-Inclusive Deposits & Final Payment, Revisions & Revision Fees, Air Arrangements, Participation, Travellers Who Need Special Assistance, Young Travellers, Smoking, Price Policy, Visas and Passports, Hotels & Accommodations, Baggage Allowance, Travel Documents, Not Included in the Land Price, Refunds, Service Inquires After the Vacation, Holidays, Safety, Photos & Pictures, Optional Excursions, and Responsibility.
View full Terms & Conditions

Important Notes

Vacation departures, itineraries and prices are subject to change.
A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $250 per person per vacation is required for Cosmos to reserve space for you. View full Terms & Conditions for limited exceptions.
Charges not included in the land vacation price: airfare to/from the start/end of your vacation; airline baggage fees including checked and/or excess baggage fees; Federal inspection fees for the Federal Customs and Immigrations; agricultural tax; GST/HST/ PST or other per person taxes imposed by government entities; applicable cruise taxes, fees, fares and port charges; passports; visas and vaccinations; transfers; tips to your Tour or Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ships' crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); additional excursions and activities not listed as 'included' in the itinerary; porterage at airports or train stations; Travel Insurance premiums; and all other items of a personal nature.

Booking your Vacation with Air
For air departure dates within 331 days, you'll be offered a choice of carriers and flight schedules as well as price points to choose from when selecting your flights. Your schedule will be provided to you at the time of booking (schedules are subject to change by carriers). Cosmos offers 2 air options: Flex Air and Instant Purchase Air. Flex Air allows flexibility if you want to make changes to your vacation schedule. Instant Purchase Air may offer additional airline options but has more restrictions. Some vacations may only offer one Air type option.

Guaranteed air-inclusive prices: air is only available to passengers travelling from Canada (with some exceptions from the United States, depending on the selected itinerary). An additional $300 per person non-refundable air deposit is required for Flex Air booked in conjunction with any land vacation (i.e. air-inclusive vacation). Air can only be booked by Cosmos in conjunction with a vacation package. Instant Purchase Air requires air payment in full at time of booking (i.e. air-inclusive vacation) plus a non-refundable service fee of $80 per person. Once booked, Instant Purchase Air is non-refundable, and non-changeable. Once your airfare is confirmed and Cosmos has received your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed.

Air-Inclusive Vacations — Applicable Taxes & Fees
Air inclusive price quotes will include all government-imposed taxes and fees applicable at the time of booking and will be shown as a Total Amount. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply. At the time of booking your air-inclusive vacation online, carrier Websites will be provided to check baggage fees, or you can visit www.iflybags.com for up-to-date baggage pricing/restrictions. The total airfare price, the base airfare price, and the applicable government taxes and fees are broken-out line-by-line and shown while booking online and on the invoice after your travel is booked. For return travel from some countries, international travellers are required to pay entry and/or exit fees at the airport. These fees will be collected by the local government and are payable by the traveller at time of travel. Your confirmation booking information will contain information about these fees.