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 them. Your affordable tour of Greece starts and ends in Athens with overnights along the way in Nauplia, Sparta, Olympia, Delphi, and Kalambaka and covers the Greek mainland and the Peloponnese peninsula. 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 into this ancient masterpiece. Dedicated to the goddess Athena, the Acropolis sits high on a rocky hill and is a symbol of Athen’s wealth and power 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. 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!
The world is within reach 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. Your Tour Includes:• Guided sightseeing in Athens, including a visit to the Acropolis, the iconic hilltop citadel overlooking the Greek capital• Corinth Canal crossing, the remarkable waterway linking the Aegean and Ionian Seas• Visit to the Epidaurus archaeological theatre, celebrated for its exceptional acoustics• Guided walking tour of Mycenae, one of Greece's most important ancient archaeological sites• Orientation tour of Mystras, featuring the Byzantine citadel• Visit to an olive oil museum en route to Olympia to learn about one of Greece's oldest traditions• Orientation tour of Delphi, the legendary sanctuary once considered the center of the ancient Greek world • Orientation tour of Meteora renowned for its dramatic rock formations and cliff-top monasteries
Meals
Meals & Itinerary
Buffet breakfasts daily; 3 dinners
Notes:
This tour requires walking on uneven terrain, especially at archaeological sites, which may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or those reliant on mobility devices such as wheelchairs.
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. Later, meet your Local Host.ATHENS-STREET-SCENE.jpg
Day 2 ATHENS
A day to relax and discover Athens at leisure. In the evening, enjoy free time to take in the lively atmosphere of the tavernas and nightclubs in the old Plaka district with its narrow streets and sound of bouzouki music. ATHENS-PLAKA-AGORA.jpg
Breakfast
Day 3 ATHENS–CORINTH–NAUPLIA
Join the included guided tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of this ancient capital and a visit to the Acropolis. Cross the Corinth canal, a project conceived in ancient Greece but only completed in 1893, then head for the coast to the picturesque seaside town of Nauplia. ATHENS-ACROPOLIS.jpg
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. EPIDAURUS-THEATER.jpg
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 5 SPARTA–MYSTRA–OLYMPIA
Enjoy the included orientation of the medieval Byzantine citadel of Mystra, at one time known as the “Florence of the East.” Before arriving in Olympia, stop to visit an olive oil museum. MYSTRA.jpg
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 6 OLYMPIA–PATRAS–DELPHI
Explore Olympia, where the athletes of antiquity performed as a tribute to the king of deities, Zeus. Spend free time in this pretty town or score a perfect 10 with an optional guided tour of the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Later, drive north to Patras, the capital of the Peloponnese and the west coast’s largest port. Continue by crossing the spectacular Rion-Antirion bridge, and through the picturesque fishing villages along the south coast of the mainland to legendary Delphi. OLYMPIA.jpg
Breakfast
Day 7 DELPHI–KALAMBAKA
Enjoy an orientation of the town of Delphi. 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. Enjoy free time or join an optional excursion to the archaeological site of Delphi. If you wish, you can take part in a visit to this historic location, where the Oracle of Apollo once spoke at the omphalos, known as the “navel of the world". On to Kalambaka. DELPHI-TEMPLE.jpg
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 8 KALAMBAKA–METEORA–ATHENS
Discover Meteora, a cluster of 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. METEORA.jpg
Breakfast
Day 9 ATHENS
Spend a full day at leisure exploring the unseen parts of the city or visiting a museum. Tonight, it’s all Greek with an optional dinner of local specialties, served with the rhythmic dance steps of the Sirtaki keeping time with the sounds of the bouzouki lute. ATHENS-CARYATUD-PORCH.jpg
Breakfast
Day 10 ATHENS
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. ATHENS-SKYLINE.jpg
Breakfast
Optional Excursions
No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else,
we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.
When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination,
so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities.
Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value.
Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences.
We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.
The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.
Price Ranges
$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)
Athens
Nauplia
Olympia
Delphi
Athens
Saronic Islands Cruise
Visit three Greek islands and enjoy lunch on board your modern cruise ship.
Price Range: $$$$
Greek Dinner & Culture
Enjoy an unforgettable evening of authentic Greek food, culture and music at this fun dining experience.
Price Range: $$$
Nauplia
Caïque Boat to Bourtzi and Taverna Dinner
Discover one of Nauplia's most popular landmarks, the Fortress of Bourtzi, on this remarkable evening excursion that includes dinner and Greek bouzouki music at a local taverna.
Price Range: $$
Olympia
Discover Ancient Olympia
This ancient site is the most famous of Greek sanctuaries, where Zeus was worshiped and where his ivory and gold statue was counted among the Seven Wonders of the World.
Price Range: $$
Delphi
The Wonders of Ancient Delphi
Experience the magic of Delphi, home to Apollo's famous Oracle, as you visit the Delphi Archaeological Site and its impressive museum.
Price Range: $$
Private Touring
Private Touring: Cosmos European Private Touring enables you to experience all of the attractions, sights and highlights of your selected Cosmos tour as a private experience - delivered just for you and your traveling party. With Private Touring, you'll have your own dedicated Tour Director, your own private transportation and driver, and your own professional local guides. All with greater flexibility in pace and your experience.
For your selected tour, there will be additional per-person cost for the size of your party - from 1 to 24. This additional supplement is reduced with each traveler you add to your party.
Here's a sample of the additional cost:
6 guests in a party: $1,640*18 guests in a party: $388*
Contact Cosmos or your preferred travel agent for pricing for your specific party size as well as any other information on Cosmos Private Touring.
*Supplement pricing is per person (CA) and will be added to the standard published price for your given departure date and is based on availability.
Supplement price is valid for 2021 travel year. Occasionally some included and optional activities & excursions may be operated with other guests.
Additional restrictions may apply. Not applicable for custom groups. No Group allowances or promotions are available on Private Touring.
Published itineraries only. Note that blackout dates may exist where the Private Touring option is not available.
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.