Mainland Greece - Self Drive

Welcome to Greece! Upon your arrival at Athens International airport, meet and greet our representative in the arrivals hall that will assist you with your car hire and inform you how to proceed on your departure day. As soon as you are all set, make your way to the hotel and check-in. The afternoon is free at leisure for exploring this city that never sleeps. You may optionally experience the city’s vibe by visiting its very heart - Syntagma Square. Enjoy shopping in one of the most popular streets of the city in the Kolonaki area or Ermou, and have a nice, quiet walk at the beautiful alleys of Plaka where you can also find numerous small shops selling souvenirs and other local arts and crafts. In the evening you have the opportunity to book our optional tour “Night out in Athens”. The tour will begin with a short panoramic drive through the city centre where you’ll also have the chance to admire and take photos of the illuminated Acropolis. Then a pleasant walk through the narrow picturesque streets of Plaka will bring you at a Typical Greek Tavern where you will enjoy your dinner accompanied by live music and Greek folk dances. Overnight in Athens. 

Wake up to your tasty breakfast (included) at the hotel and get ready for Athens discovery. You will have the whole day free to explore Greece’s capital city. In order to discover the secrets of this city, we are offering an optional half day sightseeing tour which includes the famous Acropolis and the Acropolis museum. It starts around 07:30 am and ends at 1.30 pm. During the tour the guide will take you to see the city centre, the Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the Memorial of the Unknown Soldier and the National Library. On your way to Acropolis, you will also witness many more important ancient sights that have been standing in the city for millennia. Alternatively you can also book the Athens Food Tour, which starts at 10:00 am and lasts approximately 3.5 hours. There you will discover Greek flavours and their history and taste a variety of traditional delicacies. In the afternoon you may take a walk around the city or be part of another optional tour that we are organizing to Cape Sounio. This tour will take you through the coastal road, passing the wonderful beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni & Varkiza to Cape Sounio, where the white marble pillars of the Temple of Poseidon stand. After visiting the Temple of Poseidon, you have time to walk at leisure on the rocky promontory of Sounio. You will head back to your hotel around 7.30 pm. Overnight in Athens. 

Rise and shine to your luscious breakfast (included) at the hotel and get ready for your first adventure to the Greek mainland. Hop in to your car early in the morning and leave by the coastal road to reach the Corinth Canal. Then it’s a must to visit two of the most important archaeological sites of Greece, that of Mycenae and Epidaurus. Mycenae, the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon, was the richest palatial centre of the Late Bronze Age in Greece. Just an hour away you will find Epidaurus. On your way there you will pass by small villages where you can stop for lunch (not included). In Epidaurus you will admire the Ancient Theatre which was constructed in the ancient times to host religious ceremonial events in honour of god Asclepius. It is world–renowned for its symmetry and the incredible acoustics. Late in the afternoon make your way to Tolo check-in to your hotel and spend the afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Tolo. 

Start your day with a tasty breakfast (included) at your hotel. Then get in your car and lose yourself in the streets of beautiful, small village of Tolo that has grown into a successful tourist resort while retaining its traditional Greek charm. Stop by one of the beaches found all around the area and dive in the crystal-clear waters. After cooling off, take to the road to Olympia. Just 20 minutes outside Tolo, you will find Nafplio, the past capital of Greece and one of the most beautiful towns in the area of eastern Peloponnese. There you will find plenty of taverns with local cuisine to kill your hunger. In the afternoon, you can either take the route passing through the mainland to Olympia or drive along the Gulf of Kyparissia. Once you check-in to your hotel, enjoy this ancient vibrant Greek afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Olympia. 

Morning breakfast (included) at the hotel is followed by driving to the following must stop: Olympia! In western Peloponnese, in the beautiful valley of the Alpheus River, lies the most celebrated sanctuary of ancient Greece. Dedicated to Zeus, the father of the gods, it is the birthplace of the most important athletic event of all times; the Olympic Games. Visiting the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus there is a must. Within minutes’ walk from the archaeological site lies also the Archaeological Museum. Your journey continues. You will pass by dozens of small villages where you can enjoy tasty local dishes. Going a little bit out of your way to pay a quick visit to Patra, Greece's third-largest city, is also an option, before ending in Delphi to overnight. Overnight in Delphi. 

Keep yourself fuelled throughout the day with a big breakfast (included) at the hotel. Delphi offers a landscape of untamed beauty and was considered to be the navel of the world for the ancient Greeks. At the foot of Mount Parnassos lies the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Apollo and the world-famous oracle of ancient Greece that you may visit along with the museum. The road to Kalambaka is quite long so it’s suggested to make one or two short stops. Many smaller cities are to be found along the way that suit all tastes. Before the night falls, arrive in Kalambaka and witness the astonishing complex of Meteora as you will be entering to the city. Overnight in Kalambaka.

After breakfast (included), get ready for an amazing site! Visit Meteora, among striking scenery, perched on top of huge rocks which seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless Monasteries, where you can see exquisite examples of Byzantine art. The word Meteora literally means “hovering in the air”; what created this rare geological phenomenon is still one of the mysteries of nature. Due to its uniqueness, it has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. Depart for Athens as soon as you finish your visit. On your way back, you may stop by the cities that you didn’t have the chance to see on the previous day. Overnight in Athens. 

Today marks the end of your adventure. At the appropriate time return the vehicle to the rental car office and move on with your holiday. If you want to see more of Greece, we are looking forward to welcoming you in one of our Greek destinations.